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Jul 17, 2021

The best shows to binge-watch on Netflix right now

The Netflix library is filled with great TV series, whether you’re a fan of classic sitcoms, recent hits, or original shows you’ll only find on the streaming service. The size of the Netflix vault can make it difficult to navigate when you’re looking for the next series to binge, so we created this list of the best shows currently available to stream on Netflix.

Alien Worlds

When is a documentary not a documentary? When it’s Alien Worlds, a new sci-fi series produced in a documentary style. The show explores four fictional planets and uses input from real scientists to create dramatizations of how life and evolution would play out in those wildly different environments. The creatures and landscapes are all created with CGI, but they are convincing enough that you can almost buy into the illusion that the show is a glimpse of places that have their own rules and reality.

Created by: Tim Lambert, Jeremy Dear Cast: Sophie Okonedo Number of seasons: 1


New Girl

Zooey Deschanel plays the quirky Jess in this Fox comedy about a woman who moves into a loft in LA with three guys she meets online. While Jake Johnson’s Nick character serves as the second lead behind Deschanel, it’s performances from Max Greenfield (Schmidt) and Lamorne Morris (Winston) that steal the show. This single-camera sitcom perfectly blends elements of drama into its comedic writing and remains one of the wittiest shows on TV. To top things off, it even created its own drinking game called “True American.” What other show has that on its résumé?

Created by: Elizabeth Meriwether Cast: Zooey Deschanel, Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield Number of seasons: 7

Never Have I Ever

Never Have I Ever is a coming-of-age dramedy about a young woman who, after the death of her father, decides she wants to change her life and elevate her social status. However, Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan), an Indian girl raised in America, finds that her family and friends aren’t fully on board with this renaissance. Considered a standout in a crowded field of coming-of-age dramedies on Netflix, Never Have I Ever delightfully balances the traditional perils of high school like teen romance and popularity with the challenges of grief, being a first-generation American, and finding yourself in a crowd of loved ones.

Created by: Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher Cast: Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Jaren Lewison Number of seasons: 1

Atypical

Keir Gilchrist portrays autistic teenager Sam Gardner in this Netflix original series that follows Sam’s journey through high school and — in later seasons — college, navigating the complicated social situations he’s presented with at school and home. After a shaky first season, Atypical found its groove in its second season and followed that up with a third, critically acclaimed season that saw Sam begin college and deal with an entirely new set of challenges. Jennifer Jason Leigh and Michael Rapaport play Sam’s mother and father, respectively, while Brigette Lundy-Paine plays Sam’s talented and protective sister. The series wrapped up with its fourth and final season, and all four seasons are now available on Netflix.

Created by: Robia Rashid Cast: Keir Gilchrist, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Michael Rapaport Number of seasons: 4

Peaky Blinders

Set in the aftermath of World War I, Peaky Blinders is a crime drama about a British crime family, the Shelbys. After Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) returns from the war, he sets about trying to expand the family’s control of Birmingham, stealing a shipment of guns to give his gang an edge in the world of crime. The show follows Tommy and his family as they move up in the world, butting heads with other crime families and the British government. Peaky Blinders is gorgeously shot, and the story it tells is one of complicated people and muddy morality.

Created by: Steven Knight Cast: Cillian Murphy, Paul Anderson, Helen McCrory Number of seasons: 7

Song Exploder

Have you ever wondered what it took to create some of your favorite songs? Hrishikesh Hirway’s popular podcast, Song Exploder, gets the answers straight from the artists themselves. The TV incarnation of the show is back for a new season on Netflix, with episodes on The Killers, Nine Inch Nails, Dua Lipa, and Natalia Lafourcade. Naturally, the first season is also available, with spotlight episodes for R.E.M., Alicia Keys, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Ty Dolla $ign.

Created by: Hrishikesh Hirway Cast: Hrishikesh Hirway Number of seasons: 2

Hilda

This clever, all-ages animated series follows the adventures of Hilda, a young girl who — along with her adorable “deerfox” named Twig — explores the world in and around the city of Trolberg, where all manner of fantastic creatures keeps things interesting for her and her pals. A collaboration between American, British, and Canadian studios and based on Luke Pearson’s popular series of graphic novels, the show earned heaps of praise (and quite a few awards) when it premiered in 2018, and it received a second season that premiered in late 2020. Infectiously optimistic and loaded with childlike wonder, Hilda is the sort of series that will bring a smile to the faces of both kids and adults.

Created by: Luke Pearson Cast: Bella Ramsey Number of seasons: 2

Orange Is the New Black

One of Netflix’s first breakout original series is still one of its most powerful shows to date. Orange Is the New Black started as a story about Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling), a woman who was locked up in prison over some bad choices she made over a decade before the series started. But over seven seasons, it became a much richer story about the large cast behind bars as they came together and grew apart. It’s also a scathing indictment of the prison industrial complex that works equally well as both a comedy and a drama. This one is for the ages.

Created by: Jenji Kohan Cast: Taylor Schilling, Laura Prepon, Kate Mulgrew Number of seasons: 7

Chef’s Table BBQ

The Chef’s Table documentary series may be the spiritual follow-up to Jiro Dreams of Sushi, but it’s quickly taken on a life of its own. After six seasons on Netflix, creator David Gelb has added a spinoff: Chef’s Table BBQ. Only one season of the new show is currently on Netflix, but it retains the cinematic stylings that made the original Chef’s Table so compelling. Get ready to feel hungry as the show profiles pitmasters from the United States, Mexico, and Australia.

Created by: David Gelb Cast: N/A Number of seasons: 1

Big Mouth

Netflix tends to take chances on animated series that other outlets wouldn’t touch. Case in point: Big Mouth, an animated comedy show that relentlessly tackles taboo topics of sexuality. The show explores the coming of age and sexual development of young Nick Birch and Andrew Glouberman, as well as their friends. Almost all of the boys and girls are haunted by literal hormone monsters as they make their way through puberty. It’s a wild show, and it’s going even further now that the fourth season has hit Netflix.

Created by: Andrew Goldberg, Nick Kroll, Mark Levin, Jennifer Flackett Cast: Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, Jessi Klein, Jason Mantzoukas Number of seasons: 4

Monty Python’s Flying Circus

These days, we could all use a good laugh. Fortunately, Monty Python’s Flying Circus excels at creating laughter. Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam created their legends with this surreal comedy sketch show that refused to obey any rules except its own. The Pythons had such a unique sense of humor that it took a while for American fans to catch on to the British sensation. Now, the series is a classic, and it’s always ready for a new generation to discover it.

Created by: Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Eric Idle, John Cleese, Graham Chapman Cast: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam Number of seasons: 4

Alone

Alone is a reality show that could probably be called “Real Survivor.” Unlike CBS’s Survivor, Alone sends its contestants into the wilderness with the bare minimum of survival tools and little or no human interaction. It’s up to the players to get themselves through the ordeal — or decide that they need to quit because of medical or other reasons. There have been seven seasons to date, but Netflix only has season 7, which was filmed at the Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories of Canada.

Created by: N/A Cast: N/A Number of seasons: 1


GLOW

The job market isn’t great for aspiring actors, so when Ruth Wilder (Alison Brie) answers a call for “unconventional women,” she ends up trying out for the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, an all-female wrestling league overseen by washed-up director Sam Sylvia (Marc Maron). Wilder’s former friend Debbie Eagan (Betty Gilpin) also tries out, and Sylvia decides to make the two the center of the league’s story: Eagan the heroic “Liberty Belle,” and Wilder as the villain “Zoya the Destroya.” What follows is a raucous story of misfits chasing their dreams, complete with a melange of ’80s tropes, including cocaine parties and hokey montages. One scene even busts out Stan Bush’s Dare, which, if you haven’t seen The Transformers: The Movie, is an absolute gem.

Created by: Liz Flahive, Carly Mensch Cast: Alison Brie, Marc Maron, Betty Gilpin Number of seasons: 4

History of Swear Words

Regardless of whether you actually use them, swear words are an indelible part of our daily discourse. Plus, it can be fun to cut loose with a couple of expletives. Netflix not only realizes this, but it also embraces it with a six-part documentary series, History of Swear Words. Nicolas Cage is the perfect host for this show, as he examines the backstory and cultural impact of dick, damn, and a couple of words that we can’t actually repeat here. Actual linguistics experts also chime in for historical notes, while comedians like Sarah Silverman, Nick Offerman, Jim Jefferies, Nikki Glaser, and more also get in on the bleeping bleep-bleep.

Created by: Bellamie Blackstone Cast: Nicolas Cage Number of seasons: 1

When They See Us

Ava DuVernay’s When They See Us tells the story of Kevin Richardson (Asante Blackk), Antron McCray (Caleel Harris), Yusef Salaam (Ethan Herisse), Korey Wise (Jharrel Jerome), and Raymond Santana (Marquis Rodriguez): Five young Black men who were falsely accused of rape and sexual assault in the infamous Central Park Five case. After serving years in prison, they became known as The Exonerated Five when the real rapist was caught. But the injustices suffered by these men and their families extended far beyond prison walls. It’s a difficult story to relive, but it’s also one that needs to be told.

Created by: Ava DuVernay Cast: Jharrel Jerome, Asante Blackk, Jovan Adepo, Michael K. Williams Number of seasons: 1

Sweet Tooth

This adaptation of Jeff Lemire’s comic book series of the same name is a dark fantasy set in a world where a terrible virus is quickly whittling down the remnants of human society. The show follows a half-human, half-deer boy as he embarks on a cross-country journey to find his mother, accompanied by a mysterious loner who saved him from violent poachers. The series balances the naivety and wonder of its title character, portrayed by Christian Convery, with the harsh world outside the only home he’s ever known.

Created by: Jim Mickle Cast: Christian Convery, Nonso Anozie Number of seasons: 1

Kim’s Convenience

One of the most popular Canadian sitcoms of all time, Kim’s Convenience premiered in 2016 and concluded its award-winning, five-season run in 2021. The show depicts the trials and tribulations of a Korean-Canadian family that runs a convenience store in Toronto and follows the lives and loves of both the family members and various members of their social and professional circles. Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and Jean Yoon play the family’s father and mother, respectively, while Andrea Ban plays their live-in daughter and Simu Liu plays their estranged son. Heartwarming, hilarious, and surprisingly poignant at times, the series is an ode to the importance of family — both the families we’re born into and the ones we create for ourselves.

Created by: Ins Choi, Kevin White Cast: Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Jean Yoon, Andrea Bang, Simu Liu Number of seasons: 5

Outlander

Outlander is Starz’s breakout adaptation of Diana Gabaldon’s sweeping romantic novels, but the first four seasons are now available on Netflix. Within this series, World War II nurse Claire Randall (Caitriona Balfe) finds herself transported from 1945 to the Scottish highlands in 1743. She quickly meets and marries Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan). Their love spans the centuries and even expands into the early days of the American Revolution.

Created by: Ronald D. Moore Cast: Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan Number of seasons: 4

Dawson’s Creek

Not only was Dawson’s Creek the quintessential romance/drama that launched James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, and Joshua Jackson into stardom, but it also launched some pretty memorable memes. Cry, Dawson, cry! All six seasons of the soapy series are currently available on Netflix, offering the opportunity to revisit the life and times of Dawson Leery and his friends in the surprisingly eventful town of Capeside. If you’re looking for a fun nostalgic rewatch, it’s hard to go wrong with this one.

Created by: Kevin Williamson Cast: James Van Der Beek, Michelle Williams, Joshua Jackson, Katie Holmes Number of seasons: 6

Waffles + Mochi

When good friends Waffles and Mochi decide to leave their frozen home to learn about foods that aren’t served on ice, they find a new home full of friendly people at a supermarket run by former first lady Michelle Obama. The pair work at the supermarket while also traveling around the world on adventures that teach them all about the origins and importance of various foods. As adorable as it is educational, the kid-friendly Waffles + Mochi also features an impressive list of guests from across the spectrum of famous chefs, foodies, and celebrity food experts.

Created by: Erika Thormahlen, Jeremy Konner Cast: Michelle Zamora, Piotr Michael, Michelle Obama Number of seasons: 1

Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous

Dinosaur-loving kids who are a little too young for the Jurassic World franchise don’t have to miss out on all of the gasping, screaming, and roaring with this animated series that manages to be entertaining for all ages. Camp Cretaceous maintains some continuity with the Jurassic films as it follows Darius Bowman (Paul-Mikél Williams) and five other kids who win a trip to visit Camp Cretaceous on Isla Nublar. Naturally, things go awry, and a dinosaur jailbreak leaves the teens stranded on the island and forced to rely on each other for their own survival. Certain scenes may be a little intense for younger viewers, but it’s still a family-friendly adventure.

Created by: Zack Stentz Cast: Paul-Mikél Williams, Sean Giambrone, Kausar Mohammed, Jenna Ortega Number of seasons: 3

Spycraft

Hollywood has glamorized spies for decades, but films and television shows aren’t known for their accurate depictions of real spies. Netflix’s Spycraft aims to change that by taking a documentary approach to its subject matter while breaking down how modern spies conduct their business. Episodes are dedicated to drone warfare, poisons, covert ops, recruitment, and even “sexspionage.” In some ways, being a spy hasn’t changed much at all. But the tools of the trade are only getting more advanced.

Created by: Henry R. Schlesinger Cast: Dylan Berry Number of seasons: 1

Castlevania

Adaptations of video games don’t have a great history, but Netflix struck gold with Castlevania, its animated series based on Konami’s game franchise of the same name. The series is penned by acclaimed comic book writer and novelist Warren Ellis and follows the trio of vampire hunter Trevor Belmont, half-vampire Alucard, and sorcerer Sypha Belnades as they attempt to stop the legendary Vlad Dracula Țepeș from destroying humanity with an army of monsters. Ellis’ compelling script, combined with the series’s beautiful, stylized Japanese animation and a voice cast led by Richard Armitage (Trevor), James Callis (Alucard), Graham McTavish (Dracula), and Alejandra Reynoso (Sypha), make Castlevania a unique, fascinating saga told over four critically-praised seasons.

Created by: Warren Ellis Cast: Richard Armitage, James Callis, Graham McTavish, Alejandra Reynoso Number of seasons: 4

Pretend It’s a City

Pretend It’s a City is not the first documentary that Martin Scorsese has made about writer and humorist Fran Lebowitz. The first documentary, Public Speaking, came out about a decade ago. Pretend It’s a City takes things even further with a bigger spotlight on Lebowitz herself. Although Scorsese often engages in conversations with his subject, Lebowitz carries most of the spotlight with her occasionally unconventional opinions. She can be a lot to take in, but Lebowitz never shies away from expressing herself.

Created by: Martin Scorsese Cast: Fran Lebowitz, Martin Scorsese Number of seasons: 1

This Is a Robbery

The March 18, 1990, robbery of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston is the largest art heist of all time to remain unsolved, with the culprits behind the robbery — which is estimated to involve more than $500 million in stolen works of art — still unknown, with no arrests made and none of the stolen art recovered. The details surrounding the infamous heist are chronicled in this four-part documentary series directed by Colin Barnicle and co-produced by Barnicle and his brother, Nick. Filmed over a seven-year period, the series features interviews with just about everyone involved with the event in one way or another, from the security guards who let the robbers into the museum to the FBI investigators put on the case, offering a fascinating account of one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of both the art world and the world of high-stakes crime.

Created by: Colin Barnicle, Nick Barnicle Cast: NA Number of seasons: 1

Firefly Lane

Firefly Lane is the latest sensation from Netflix that features two lead actresses, Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke, as lifelong friends Tully Hart and Kate Mularkey. In the present, Tully is a wildly successful TV talk show host, while Kate is a divorced housewife who wants to rebuild her life. Tully and Kate have pulled each other through some tough times before, and they’ll do it again. We even get to see Tully (Ali Skovbye) and Kate (Roan Curtis) as their friendship grows.

Created by: Maggie Friedman Cast: Katherine Heigl, Sarah Chalke, Ben Lawson, Beau Garrett Number of seasons: 1

Shadow and Bone

Netflix adapted Leigh Bardugo’s popular Grisha novels for this fantasy adventure series set in a world divided by darkness. Jessie Mei Li portrays a young woman who discovers she is a “Grisha” — able to wield magic and create light in darkness — and soon finds herself caught up in a war against powerful forces, both internal and external, in her kingdom of Ravka. Although the series leans into its YA literature roots, it also takes Bardugo’s saga in some new directions, offering plenty of surprises for fans of the novels and earning praise for its spectacular visual effects and fantastic world building.

Created by:  Eric Heisserer Cast: Jessie Mei Li, Archie Renaux, Ben Barnes Number of seasons: 1


Altered Carbon

An adaptation of a popular cyberpunk novel by Richard K. Morgan, Altered Carbon is set a few hundred years in the future, by which point humanity has developed the technology to download a person’s consciousness into computers. People can now transfer themselves into new bodies, called “sleeves,” effectively making themselves immortal — provided they have the money. Into this world steps Takeshi Kovacs (Joel Kinnaman), a former soldier who has spent the last 250 years in cold storage. He is back, in a new sleeve, courtesy of Laurens Bancroft (James Purefoy), a wealthy man who wants Takeshi to find the man who killed Bancroft’s previous body. Altered Carbon draws on classic noir elements, as Takeshi explores a grimy city where everyone seems to have a hidden agenda.

Created by: Laeta Kalogridis Cast: Chris Conner, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Joel Kinnaman Number of seasons: 2

Lucifer

Tom Ellis is quite literally the devil in this loose adaptation of the Lucifer comic book series. After leaving hell behind to chart a new path in his life, Lucifer encounters Detective Chloe Decker (Lauren German) and quickly falls for her. To remain a part of Chloe’s life, Lucifer helps her solve murders in Los Angeles with his talent for making suspects give up their secrets. No one can say that Lucifer isn’t open about who and what he is. But it takes a while for Chloe to realize that she really has partnered up with the original fallen angel.

Created by: Tom Kapinos Cast: Tom Ellis, Lauren German, Kevin Alejandro Number of seasons: 5

Disenchantment

The creative team behind The Simpsons and Futurama reunited for Disenchantment, an animated comedy that tackles the fantasy genre. Unlike its predecessors, Disenchantment also seems to be building toward a larger story for the series. The focus falls on Princess Tiabeanie, aka Bean (Abbi Jacobson); her personal demon, Luci (Eric Andre); and Elfo (Nat Faxon), the half-Elf who is desperately in love with Bean. There’s something rotten in the kingdom of Dreamland, and someone close to Bean may be behind the plot to unseat the royal family. The latest batch of episodes also sends Bean beyond the confines of Dreamland, in addition to providing some answers to long-standing mysteries within the show itself.

Created by: Matt Groening Cast: Abbi Jacobson, Eric Andre, Nat Faxon Number of seasons: 3

Alice in Borderland

This Japanese series based on the manga of the same name by Haro Aso follows an aimless gamer named Arisu (Kento Yamazaki) who suddenly finds himself and his two best friends transported to an eerily empty Tokyo where they’re forced to compete in deadly games to survive. A mix of Battle Royale and The Hunger Games with a fascinating mystery and a talented cast, Alice in Borderland earned praise from critics and general audiences alike for its clever first season and was renewed for a second season just two weeks after the show’s Netflix. Its underlying premise will keep you guessing, and so will the sense of creeping dread as key characters are killed off — sometimes in gruesome fashion — from one episode to the next.

Created by: Shinsuke Sato Cast: Kento Yamazaki, Tao Tsuchiya, Yūki Morinaga, Keita Machida Number of seasons: 1


Pacific Rim: The Black

An animated spinoff of the Pacific Rim film franchise, Pacific Rim: The Black is set in Australia after the monstrous Kaiju have overrun the continent. A pair of siblings discover an abandoned Jaeger — one of the giant robots built to battle the Kaiju — and attempt to use it to find their missing parents, forcing them to contend with both Kaiju and desperate human survivors who want the Jaeger for themselves. The animated series is aimed at the same audience as the films and not only offers plenty of giant robot-vs.-monster brawls, but also expands the franchise’s mythology quite a bit.

Created by: Greg Johnson, Craig Kyle Cast: Calum Worthy, Gideon Adlon, Erica Lindbeck Number of seasons: 1

Halt and Catch Fire

How does one of the best shows of the decade get lost on a network? By contending with The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, and Mad Men, Halt and Catch Fire carved out its own identity in this ‘80s period piece that chronicled the rise of personal computing, video games, and the internet. If you’ll pardon the expression, the series really catches fire in the second season when Cameron Howe (Mackenzie Davis) and Donna Clark (Kerry Bishé) launch their own gaming company. Meanwhile, Donna’s husband, Gordon Clark (Scoot McNairy), and the enigmatic Joe MacMillan (Lee Pace) had compelling stories of their own. This is a show that deserves a second chance to find its audience.

Created by: Christopher Cantwell, Christopher C. Rogers Cast: Lee Pace, Scoot McNairy, Mackenzie Davis Number of seasons: 4

Ozark

In Ozark, the Byrde family has a knack for getting into overwhelming trouble. Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman) had a scheme to launder money for a Mexican drug cartel. And when that goes wrong, Marty packs up his wife, Wendy (Laura Linney), and their kids for an abrupt move to the Ozarks — where he proceeds to set up an even more dangerous money laundering operation. In addition to starring in the series, Bateman has made a name for himself behind the camera as an Emmy-winning director. There’s only one more season to come, so now is the right time to catch up on Ozark’s twists and turns.

Created by: Bill Dubuque, Mark Williams Cast: Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, Sofia Hublitz Number of seasons: 3


Black Mirror

Each episode of Black Mirror tells a single story, with a theme of modern and near-future technology running through each unnerving tale. It’s often compared to The Twilight Zone for its episodic nature, and just like that classic, some of the stories will leave you sitting and staring at a blank television, wondering what you just watched. Beyond all of the thought-provoking, mind-bending, and world-building, the acting and aesthetic are smart and nuanced and will leave even the best spoiler guessers out there reeling from the sharp twists and turns in every episode.

Created by: Charlie Brooker Cast: Daniel Lapaine, Hannah John-Kamen, Michaela Coel Number of seasons: 5

Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts

This brilliant animated series that premiered in January 2020 defied expectations in many ways, including the decision to release all three 10-episode seasons in the same year. Created by Radford Sechrist and produced by DreamWorks Animation, Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts is set in a post-apocalyptic world where giant, mutated animals rule the surface of Earth while humans are forced to live underground to survive. When a young girl named Kipo decides to leave her underground shelter to search for her father, it kicks off an amazing adventure filled with action, emotion, humor, and one of the best soundtracks you’ll hear in an animated series. (A pair of scholarly wolves voiced by GZA and John Hodgman, rapping about the creation of the universe? It’s in there.) Smart, inclusive, and full of cheer-worthy moments, Kipo is the sort of series children and adults can genuinely enjoy together.

Created by: Radford Sechrist Cast: Karen Fukuhara, Sydney Mikayla, Coy Stewart, Deon Cole Number of seasons: 3

Broadchurch

For anyone in search of a gripping mystery with darkly emotional overtones, Broadchurch is exactly what you’ve been waiting for. It’s centered on the small English town of Broadchurch, which is rocked by the senseless murder of an 11-year-old boy named Danny. Police detectives DI Alec Hardy (David Tennant) and DS Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman) are on the case, but they each have secrets of their own. The search for Danny’s killer takes a high toll on both Hardy and Miller, as well as the entire town. But even when the murderer stands revealed, the story is just beginning.

Created by: Chris Chibnall Cast: David Tennant, Olivia Colman, Jodie Whittaker Number of seasons: 3

Russian Doll

Natasha Lyonne brings her signature comedic stylings to this comedy-drama as Nadia, a woman stuck in a time loop who keeps reliving the same day over and over again, each time dying in increasingly freakish ways. She eventually discovers another man going through the same thing, and together, they try to figure out how to get out of the recurring nightmare. Earning four Primetime Emmy Award nominations, the mind-bending series will keep you puzzled and have you guessing all the way through. It’s the kind of series with lots of water-cooler-chatter potential by the end.

Created by: Natasha Lyonne, Leslye Headland, Amy Poehler Cast: Natasha Lyonne, Greta Lee, Yul Vazquez, Charlie Barnett, Elizabeth Ashley Number of seasons: 1

Cobra Kai

YouTube’s loss is Netflix’s gain! Cobra Kai is the sequel series to the original Karate Kid films, with William Zabka and Ralph Macchio reprising their respective roles as Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso. Three decades earlier, Daniel and Johnny were rivals. Now, their rivalry has extended to the next generation. The third season forces Johnny and Daniel to pay the price and even reintroduces a few characters from The Karate Kid Part 2. But even if the kids of the Cobra Kai and Miyagi-Do dojos can move past the enmity of the past, John Kreese (Martin Kove) is ready to escalate things even further.

Created by: Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz. Hayden Schlossberg Cast: Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Courtney Henggeler Number of seasons: 3

Schitt’s Creek

Even Netflix couldn’t have predicted that the final season of Schitt’s Creek would sweep the Emmy Awards for comedy in 2020. But this little Canadian comedy has turned into a TV powerhouse, thanks in part to Netflix itself. The father-and-son duo of Eugene and Dan Levy created and starred in Schitt’s Creek for six seasons. The show follows the formerly wealthy Rose family after they lose their fortune and circumstances force them to move to a small town they once purchased as a joke. On the surface, that may sound shallow. But this is a comedy that has a lot of heart to go with its side-splitting moments and unique characters. The final episode even nailed the landing for the series, which is always a rarity. This month, Netflix is adding the sixth season, which completes the show’s run. But now it’s ready to be discovered by a new audience.

Created by: Eugene Levy, Dan Levy Cast: Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Dan Levy, Annie Murphy Number of seasons: 6

Supernatural

The longest-running American live-action fantasy series in TV history, Supernatural follows brothers Sam and Dan Winchester — played by Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, respectively — as they hunt all manner of ghosts, demons, and monsters across America. Mixing stand-alone “monster of the week” adventures with season-long story arcs that built an impressively deep mythology around the show, Supernatural kept fans coming back with its infectious chemistry and colorful cast that grew as the series progressed. A scripted television series has to be doing something right to run for 15 seasons without being canceled, and Supernatural finally ended its 327-episode run in November 2020 with the sort of satisfying, well-received series finale that few shows receive.

Created by: Eric Kripke Cast: Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles Number of seasons: 15

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

In the ‘80s, She-Ra was He-Man’s sister and the star of her own animated series and toy line. Netflix’s She-Ra and the Princesses of Power isn’t as interested in selling toys as it is building upon relationships. The series completely reimagined the story to center around Adora and Catra, a pair of orphans raised by the evil Horde army. When Adora finds her power through She-Ra’s magic sword, it sets her against her best friend, Catra, who also happens to be the person she loves the most. This series broke new ground for animated LGBT themes and characters and carved out a place for itself in the hearts of fans.

Created by: Noelle Stevenson Cast: Aimee Carrero, AJ Michalka, Karen Fukuhara Number of seasons: 5

Community

NBC never quite knew what to make of Community, but the series found a devoted audience that embraced its hilarious blend of pop culture comedy. Future Marvel directors Joe and Anthony Russo helmed several memorable episodes that earned them a chance to hit the big screen. But this show belongs to its mismatched study group as portrayed by Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Yvette Nicole Brown, Alison Brie, Donald Glover, and Chevy Chase. Despite several personality clashes, the group becomes a makeshift family. Ken Jeong and Jim Rash also steal a lot of scenes as Dean Pelton and Ben Chang. We’re still waiting for a Community movie, but all six seasons are on Netflix.

Created by: Dan Harmon Cast: Joel McHale, Alison Brie, Donald Glover Number of seasons: 6

Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan

At times, this docuseries about the warring clans of 16th-century Japan feels more like an edgy action film than a traditional documentary, but the six-part series does a masterful job of exploring the political drama and intrigue of the Sengoku period — one of the most tumultuous eras of feudal Japan’s history. The series follows the rise (and, often, violent fall) of several prominent historical figures whose paths shaped the nation at a time when samurai, warlords, and powerful families were engaged in a near-constant civil war, and does so with a combination of historical (and graphic) reenactments and expert commentary. History lessons this deep have rarely been this intense, or compelling.

Created by: Simon George, Matthew Booi Cast: Masayoshi Haneda, Masami Kosaka, Hideaki Itô, Hayate Masao Number of seasons: 1


Breaking Bad

Walter White (Bryan Cranston) is a high-school chemistry teacher diagnosed with late-stage lung cancer. To secure his family’s finances before he dies, White uses his chemistry background to cook and deal premium blue meth. His partner is a former student and burnout named Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul). Breaking Bad is teeming with moral consequences and family issues, and fittingly, it’s as addicting as the crystal meth White produces in his beat-up van in the desert.

Created by: Vince Gilligan Cast: Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn Number of seasons: 5


Stranger Things

The opening sequence of Stranger Things lays out the TV show’s sci-fi aspirations clearly: A scientist flees down an empty hallway, pursued by some unseen force that eventually nabs him as he waits for elevator doors to close; it then cuts to a group of kids playing D&D in a suburban basement. From Alien to E.T. in a matter of seconds. The show is a stew made of various influences from the ‘80s. A mysterious creature and a secret government agency, a group of kids having adventures around their rural town, teens experimenting with sex, drugs, and peer pressure.

There are pieces of Stephen King, Steven Spielberg, and John Hughes strewn throughout Stranger Things, and the result is a show that will feel immediately familiar to people who grew up with that source material. The show is not shallow in its emulation, either. The acting and direction are superb, giving even the most derivative scenes some heft.

Created by: Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer Cast: Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Winona Ryder Number of seasons: 3


The Witcher

A lone swordsman rides into town, a grotesque beast slung over his horse. The townsfolk cast scornful glances, although he’s slain the monster that plagued them. He’ll get no thanks; at best, the bounty he was promised in full. Such is the life of a witcher. Based on the popular fantasy series, Netflix’s The Witcher follows Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill), a monster hunter with magical powers: A witcher, to use the parlance of his world. Over decades, Geralt hunts monsters for gold, crossing paths with the cunning sorceress Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) and the refugee princess Ciri (Freya Allen), whose fate is bound tightly to his own. Bloody battles, complicated characters, and memorable songs — courtesy of the bard Jaskier (Joey Batey) — are just some of the charms this dark fantasy series has to offer.

Created by: Lauren Schmidt Cast: Henry Cavill, Freya Allan, Anya Chalotra Number of seasons: 1

Lupin

Sometimes, finding the best TV shows means going international. For example, the French series Lupin is an exciting update on Maurice Leblanc’s legendary gentleman thief, Arsène Lupin. In a clever twist, the Lupin stories exist within the world of this show, and they inspire a man named Assane Diop (Omar Sy) to adopt the Lupin persona as his own to avenge his wrongfully accused father. Assane certainly has the skills of a master thief, but pursuing his revenge turns out to be far more dangerous and complicated than he anticipated.

Created by: George Kay, François Uzan Cast: Omar Sy, Ludivine Sagnier, Clotilde Hesme Number of seasons: 1

Dark

Dark is one of Netflix’s most ambitious sci-fi series to date, but you’ll have to read the subtitles unless you’re fluent in German. Regardless of its original language, Dark presents an engrossing missing children mystery that starts in the present but soon expands into the past and the future as the implications of time travel tear four families apart. The end of the world is also in play, but even the Earth as we know it may not be the only battleground. There are a lot of twists and turns to follow, so you’ll want to pay close attention to this one.

Created by: Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese Cast: Louis Hofmann, Andreas Pietschmann, Maja Schöne, Gina Alice Stiebitz Number of seasons: 3

Unorthodox

Deborah Feldman’s memoir Unorthodox was lightly fictionalized in the TV miniseries of the same name. It follows Esther “Esty” Shapiro (Shira Haas), a 19-year-old woman who escapes both her unhappy marriage and her ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn to find a new life for herself in Germany. Esty’s estranged husband, Moishe Lefkovitch (Jeff Wilbusch), follows her in an attempt to get her to come home. However, Esty is extremely dedicated to completing her own journey, even when it doesn’t always work out as intended.

Created by: Anna Winger, Alexa Karolinski Cast: Shira Haas, Amit Rahav, Jeff Wilbusch Number of seasons: 1

The Great British Bake Off/The Great British Baking Show

There are many cooking reality competition shows, but there’s only one Great British Bake Off. Although Netflix calls it The Great British Baking Show, it’s the same lovely program that has run for 11 seasons. However, only a selection of episodes from eight seasons are currently available. Regardless, the show still captures the quest of amateur bakers to impress the judges and out-bake each other to win the show’s final prize.

Created by: Andy Devonshire Cast: Mel Giedroyc, Sue Perkins, Sandi Toksvig, Noel Fielding, Matt Lucas Number of seasons: 8

The Queen’s Gambit

A compelling chess drama wasn’t on our 2020 bingo card, but Netflix’s skillfully made adaptation of Walter Tevis’ The Queen’s Gambit has given us the series we didn’t know we needed. Anya Taylor-Joy stars as chess prodigy Beth Harmon, a young woman who is driven to become the very best in the world. Beth’s ability to visualize chess movies in her mind brings the game to life in unexpected ways. However, Beth’s inner demons may stand in the way of her ambition.

Created by: Scott Frank, Allan Scott Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Bill Camp, Moses Ingram Number of seasons: 1

Our Planet

Occasionally, we could all use a reminder of just how beautiful our world is, and how close we are to potentially losing the best things about it. Netflix’s original documentary miniseries, Our Planet, reunites the team behind Planet Earth, Frozen Planet, and The Blue Planet for a fresh look at biodiversity around the globe. The miniseries was filmed in 50 countries and showcases spectacular wildlife imagery, while firmly establishing how climate change is affecting these creatures, and, in turn, everyone on Earth. Heed the warning while you can.

Created by: Alastair Fothergill, Keith Scholey, Cast: David Attenborough Number of seasons: 1

Avatar: The Last Airbender

When it comes to animated series, few rival Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender. The beloved series continues to garner a following more than 15 years after its initial release, likely due to the way it deftly balances child-friendly themes with more sophisticated narratives, ones that revolve around war and the oft-ambiguous line between good and evil. The show is centered on the titular Aang, a master of the elements, and four nations, each of which is named after a different element (Earth, Air, Fire, and Water). The main story follows Aang and his companions in their effort to quell unrest and an ongoing feud with the Fire Nation, but the show’s detailed world-building and character development extend well beyond the scope of any one individual. To this day, it’s still considered a masterclass in storytelling, and considering Netflix is currently working on a live-action adaptation, there’s no better time to watch than now. The sequel series, The Legend of Korra, is also on Netflix now.

Created by: Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko Cast: Zach Tyler Eisen, Mako Iwamatsu, Mae Whitman Number of seasons: 3

Pose

Pose is one of the rare TV dramas that fully embraces its LGBTQ cast, which is essential to the period and premise of the show. The series begins in the late ‘80s and chronicles the lives of several gay and gender-nonconforming dancers in the ballroom culture scene. But the series also takes a hard look at the HIV and AIDS epidemic, which hits the community hard just when the subculture begins to go mainstream in the early ‘90s. It’s truly a TV show like no other.

Created by: Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Steven Canals Cast: Evan Peters, Kate Mara, James Van Der Beek Number of seasons: 2

The Haunting of Hill House

One dark and ominous night, Hugh Crain (Henry Thomas) gathers his children and flees their vast, gothic mansion, leaving his wife, Olivia (Carla Gugino), behind. Olivia dies that night, her death ruled a suicide, and the tabloids run wild with stories of the haunted Hill House. The five Crain children — Steven, Shirley, Theo, Nell, and Luke — all grow up dealing with their trauma in varying ways, whether writing a successful memoir about the haunting of Hill House (Steven), or abusing drugs to numb the pain (Luke). As adults, the Crain siblings are barely on speaking terms, until a tragedy forces them all back together, and back to Hill House. Mike Flanagan’s The Haunting of Hill House is a character-driven story, delving into the psychological problems of its many protagonists. It’s no mere family drama, though. In addition to their personal demons, there are some very real ghosts haunting the Crains, and Flanagan orchestrates some intense scares in the first episode alone, building tension but also knowing when to bust out a jump scare.

Created by: Mike Flanagan Cast: Henry Thomas, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Kate Siegel Number of seasons: 1


Better Call Saul

Starring Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul takes fans of Vince Gilligan’s Breaking Bad back to the New Mexico desert for a look at Saul Goodman’s origin story. Before Goodman became the quirky, crooked lawyer Walter White played like a fiddle, he was Jimmy McGill, an aspiring lawyer who just couldn’t seem to keep his hands clean. The show is set six years before the events of Breaking Bad and throws out the convention that a spinoff must pale in comparison to its source material. It also proves Gilligan and company remain at the top of their game.

Created by: Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould Cast: Bob Odenkirk, Rhea Seehorn, Jonathan Banks Number of seasons: 4

Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness

The “crazy true crime” documentary has become the iconic genre of the streaming age, and Tiger King might be the Platonic ideal. The setup is simple enough: Director Eric Goode is making a documentary about a snake dealer in Florida, stumbling from there into the world of big cat owners, and the eponymous “Tiger King” in particular: Joe Exotic, the grandiose owner of a big cat zoo (and country musician) who was convicted in 2019 of trying to put a hit on animal rights activist Carole Baskin. From the moment he appears on screen, Exotic is an outlandish figure, and the story only gets wilder from there.

Created by: Eric Goode, Rebecca Chaiklin Cast: Joe Exotic, Carole Baskin Number of seasons: 1


The Good Place

Bureaucratic mix-ups can be a nightmare — just ask anyone who has needed to apply for a passport — but on occasion, they can work out in your favor. Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell) finds herself on the good side of a paperwork snafu when, after dying, she ends up in the Good Place, a serene afterlife neighborhood built by a cosmic architect named Michael (Ted Danson). In reality, Eleanor was an abrasive person who only looked out for herself. Now, to avoid being discovered and sent to the Bad Place, she must learn how to behave like a nice person. The Good Place is an upbeat comedy whose unique setting and surprising plot set it a notch above most sitcoms.

Created by: Michael Schur Cast: Kristen Bell, William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil Number of seasons: 4


BoJack Horseman

Netflix’s original animated show features voices from some of the brightest stars on TV today (i.e., Will Arnett, Alison Brie, Aaron Paul). Comedian Amy Sedaris also lends her voice to this raucous show about a washed-up celebrity horse who attempts to reignite his stagnant career. Ridiculous in all aspects, BoJack Horseman is good for some hearty laughs at the expense of the commonplace celebrity. Season 1 starts off goofy, but by the first season finale, the show evolves into a shockingly sad, yet still hilarious examination of depression and pop-culture into the second season.

Created by: Raphael Bob-Waksberg Cast: Will Arnett, Amy Sedaris, Alison Brie Number of seasons: 6

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