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Netflix has a library full of exclusive series, fan-favorite sitcoms, and other award-winning shows available to subscribers, and its vault just keeps getting bigger. Whether your interests lie in fascinating documentaries, critically acclaimed dramas, or hilarious sitcoms, there’s something for everyone. With all those options, it can be tough to decide what to watch next, so we’ve put together a list of the best shows currently available to stream on Netflix.
We’ve also rounded up the best movies on Netflix, the best shows on Hulu, the best shows on Amazon Prime, and the best shows on Disney+.
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
Watch on Netflix
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
Watch on Netflix
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
Watch on Netflix
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
Watch on Netflix
The Last Dance
In the fall of 1997, the Chicago Bulls had won five of the last seven NBA championships and were primed to earn their second three-peat of the ’90s. Nonetheless, owner Jerry Reinsdorf and GM Jerry Krause seemed fully prepared to fire coach Phil Jackson and begin rebuilding the franchise after the 1997-98 season, despite the opposition of the world’s greatest player, Michael Jordan. That fall, the Bulls allowed a film crew to follow them as they embarked upon what Jackson deemed “The Last Dance.” This 10-part docuseries chronicles that season and contextualizes it in Michael Jordan’s remarkable, world-changing career. Following Jordan from being cut from his high school basketball team, through his illustrious college career and battles with Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, all the way to his iconic game-winning shot in the 1998 NBA Finals, The Last Dance is one of the most immersive and exciting sports documentaries of recent memory, even though Jordan’s production company had the final editorial say. The series doesn’t shed much light on the many controversies that followed Jordan throughout his career, but it does help solidify just what an enormous, transcendent icon Jordan really was.
Created by: Jason Hehir
Cast: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Phil Jackson
Number of seasons: 1
Watch on Netflix
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
Watch on Netflix
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
Watch on Netflix
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
Watch on Netflix
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
Watch on Netflix
The Umbrella Academy
Based on the comic book series of the same name by Gerard Way, this superhero series follows the lives of seven of 43 children born to women who mysteriously never knew they were pregnant until they went into labor. It turns out they are superheroes, and when these seven children are adopted by an eccentric billionaire, he turns the siblings into a superhero team called The Umbrella Academy. Later, however, the children become estranged from one another and their father. But when they discover he has died, they reconnect for his funeral. Warnings of a pending apocalypse prompt them to band together again to stop it, though it isn’t without clashing personalities and plenty of familial dysfunction.
Created by: Steve Blackman
Cast: Elliot Page, Tom Hopper, David Castaneda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher, Mary J. Blige
Number of seasons: 2
Watch on Netflix
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
Watch on Netflix
Twin Peaks
This cult classic of the early ’90s came from the mind of director David Lynch. After homecoming queen Laura Palmer is murdered, FBI agent Dale Cooper arrives in the small Washington town to investigate. Weirdness ensues, featuring everything from homicidal demons and cryptic dreams to doppelgängers of dead people and an FBI agent who really likes cherry pie and a “damn fine cup of coffee.” Twin Peaks was a revelatory series in its heyday, and it still holds up thanks to its uniquely eccentric characters and memorable moments, even if the murder mystery fizzles out eventually.
Created by: Mark Frost, David Lynch
Cast: Kyle MacLachlan, Michael Ontkean, Mädchen Amick
Number of seasons: 2
Watch on Netflix
Eric Liebowitz / Netflix
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
It’s four seasons, plus a fun choose-your-own-adventure-style interactive special, full of silly hilarity. The sitcom takes a serious premise — a girl is kidnapped and kept in an underground bunker for 15 years until finally being rescued — and makes it funny. Now 29, Kimmy has been completely cut off from the real world and still has the attitude of a 15-year-old girl living in the ’90s. But despite emerging to a world filled with negativity and stress, she is determined to live life to the fullest and make every moment count, which prompts her to move to The Big Apple in hopes of fulfilling her dreams … whatever they may be. While Kimmy, played by Ellie Kemper, is the title character, the real star of the series is arguably her lazy, effeminate, eccentric, and judgmental roommate and friend Tituss (Tituss Burgess). With a cast that also includes comedic icons like Carol Kane and Jane Krakowski, along with Jon Hamm in a recurring role, it’s an unconventional, sugary-sweet, and uplifting comedy full of color and old pop-culture references that will make you smile.
Created by: Tina Fey, Robert Carlock
Cast: Ellie Kemper, Tituss Burgess, Carol Kane, Jane Krakowski
Number of seasons: 4
Watch on Netflix
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
Watch on Netflix
Blood of Zeus
Netflix’s investment in original anime continues to pay off with Blood of Zeus, one of the most visually dazzling animated shows on the streaming service. The series dives into re-envisioned Greek mythology by a young man named Heron. One day, Heron discovers that he is literally the son of Zeus, and possibly the only hero who can save both the heavens and the Earth. Fair warning, it’s not for the faint of heart, and the series has moments of graphic violence. But it also has an impressive voice cast and a story that keeps us coming back for more.
Created by: Charley Parlapanides, Vlas Parlapanides
Cast: Derek Phillips, Jason O’Mara, Claudia Christian
Number of seasons: 1
Watch on Netflix
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
Watch on Netflix
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
Watch on Netflix
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
Watch on Netflix
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
Watch on Netflix
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
Watch on Netflix
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
Watch on Netflix
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Netflix has wrapped up its adaptation of Archie Comics’ horror comic Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Unlike the previous lighthearted TV series, Chilling Adventures offers a much darker take on Sabrina Spellman (Kiernan Shipka). She’s half-human and half-witch, and Sabrina may be destined to be the dark bride of Lucifer himself. However, Sabrina pulls back against the evil in her life and finds love with Harvey Kinkle (Ross Lynch), a descendent of witch hunters who has picked up some of his family’s skills.
Created by: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Cast: Kiernan Shipka, Ross Lynch, Lucy Davis
Number of seasons: 4
Watch on Netflix
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
Watch on Netflix
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
Watch on Netflix
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
Watch on Netflix
Bridgerton
Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton romance novels have become a buzzy original series on Netflix, thanks to showrunner Chris Van Dusen and mega-producer Shonda Rhimes. This is an alternate history tale that on the Bridgerton family, as well as their eight children, as they vie for position and romantic matches in London’s high society. In particular, Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) is pursued by several potential suitors, even though she may have her eye on Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page), the Duke of Hastings. But there are some significant obstacles in their way.
Created by: Chris Van Dusen
Cast: Phoebe Dynevor, Regé-Jean Page, Adjoa Andoh
Number of seasons: 1
Watch on Netflix
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
Watch on Netflix
Hannibal
New fans of Hannibal may be surprised to learn that this series originated at NBC. That’s because it is a genuinely chilling and suspenseful thriller that didn’t hold back on its horrifying elements. It’s also oddly beautiful in an extremely dark way. Mads Mikkelsen takes over the role of Hannibal Lecter and makes it his own. Hugh Dancy also stars as Will Graham, an FBI profiler whose talent for getting into the minds of killers has left him mentally unstable. Hannibal sees Will as a kindred spirit, but before they can be partners, he’ll try to drive Will out of his mind and get him to become a killer as well.
Created by: Bryan Fuller
Cast: Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen, Laurence Fishburne, Caroline Dhavernas
Number of seasons: 3
Watch on Netflix
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
Watch on Netflix
Shameless
You don’t need Showtime to catch Shameless, but you will be one season behind. The American incarnation of Shameless follows the Gallagher family as they struggle to get by on the south side of Chicago. William H. Macy stars as Frank Gallagher, the family patriarch who is more interested in feeding his addictions than feeding his family. Emmy Rossum also stars as Frank’s oldest daughter, Fiona, who tries to take care of the family herself. However, Fiona’s desire for a new life and the poor choices of her dysfunctional siblings often turn the Gallaghers’ lives into a dark comedy. And yet, after 10 seasons, most of the family is still together.
Created by: Paul Abbott
Cast: William H. Macy, Emmy Rossum, Cameron Monaghan, Ethan Cutkosky
Number of seasons: 10
Watch on Netflix
Mindhunter
Mindhunter flew under the radar during its two seasons on Netflix, but this stylish crime thriller still deserves to find a wider audience. The series is set in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, at a time when the FBI was struggling to understand how the minds of serial killers functioned. Agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany), with psychologist Wendy Carr (Anna Torv), take it upon themselves to study these men as they attempt to build the criminal psychology field from the ground up.
Created by: Joe Penhall
Cast: Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, Hannah Gross, Anna Torv
Number of seasons: 2
Watch on Netflix
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
Watch on Netflix
The Magicians
The Magicians has ended its run on SYFY, but now all five seasons live on Netflix so that a new audience can discover this fantasy series. You may get some Harry Potter vibes from this show, but it doesn’t shy away from the darker and adult impulses of its main characters. Jason Ralph stars as Quentin Coldwater, a man who discovers that he is a magical prodigy and enrolls at Brakebills University for Magical Pedagogy. Meanwhile, Quentin’s friend, Julia Wicker (Stella Maeve), finds her own path to magical powers outside of Breakbills. Their paths will converge again, as danger awaits from without and within.
Created by: Sera Gamble, John McNamara
Cast: Jason Ralph, Stella Maeve, Olivia Taylor Dudley, Hale Appleman, Arjun Gupta
Number of seasons: 5
Watch on Netflix
Jeopardy
The incomparable Alex Trebek has left this world, but his incredible legacy remains. Netflix has two collections of the very best Jeopardy episodes hosted by Trebek. This addictive quiz show has been on the air for decades, and it’s still enthralling to watch contestants test their trivia knowledge while also remembering to make every response in the form of a question. Can you beat the best of the best? Test yourself with these episodes and find out.
Created by: Merv Griffin
Cast: Alex Trebek
Number of seasons: 2
Watch on Netflix
Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy
Transformers: War For Cybertron Trilogy gives fans of the long-running franchise a more mature take on the “robots in disguise.” The CGI animated series is essentially a prequel to the saga, as the Autobots and Decepticons battle for the soul of their home world, Cybertron. The second season finds Optimus Prime and a few of his allies off-world, while forces from the future offer Megatron the chance to crush the Autobots forever. Meanwhile, the soldiers on both sides of the war have never seemed more human, as they find themselves questioning whether their respective causes are even worth fighting for.
Created by: F. J. DeSanto, George Krstic
Cast: Jake Foushee, Jason Marnocha, Joe Zieja
Number of seasons: 2
Watch 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
Watch on Netflix
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
Watch on Netflix
Challenger: The Final Flight
In 1986, the space shuttle Challenger was destroyed shortly after takeoff, as a stunned nation watched on TV. The entire crew — Francis R. Scobee, Michael J. Smith, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Judith Resnik, Gregory Jarvis, and Christa McAuliffe — lost their lives in the accident. The Challenger disaster was also a major setback for NASA, but this was a tragedy that could have been prevented. Challenger: The Final Flight examines everything that led up to the failed launch, as well as the fallout that came after. It’s not always easy to watch, but this is a story that needs to be told.
Created by: Steven Leckart, Glen Zipper
Cast: N/A
Number of seasons: 1
Watch on Netflix
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
Watch on Netflix
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
Watch on Netflix
Unsolved Mysteries
The original Unsolved Mysteries had a long run on network television as it tackled possible paranormal activity and very real cold cases. Incredibly, that show also led to some of those cases being solved. Netflix’s reboot doesn’t have the same track record yet, but it does offer a compelling mix of new cases and stories. Unsolved Mysteries’ reboot has also eschewed the idea of using a host, because who could ever replace the incomparable Robert Stack? Regardless, the documentary-style approach suits the new show well. Keep watching, and maybe you can solve the mystery.
Created by: John Cosgrove, Terry Dunn Meurer.
Cast: N/A
Number of seasons: 2
Watch on Netflix
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
Watch on Netflix
Kelly Schwerman / Netflix
The Baby-Sitters Club
Just released in summer 2020, this television adaptation of the popular children’s novel series of the same name by Ann M. Martin has become an instant hit, with a 100% approval rating on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes and critics calling it “sweet, sincere, and full of hope.” Like the books, the series follows five middle-school girls who start their own babysitting business in Connecticut, and their adventures as they do so. Each girl has her own unique passion and personality, and a different job in the club, from Kristy Thomas (Sophie Grace), the president who makes it a point to call out social injustices, to the shy Mary Anne (Malia Baker), who serves as secretary. It’s a great show that pre-teens and young teens will love, and nostalgic parents who might have read the book series when they were kids will appreciate it, too.
Created by: Rachel Shukert
Cast: Sophie Grace, Momona Tamada, Shay Rudolph, Malia Baker, Alicia Silverstone, Mark Feuerstein, Xochitl Gomez
Number of seasons: 1
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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
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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. 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
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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
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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
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American Crime Story
The real-life legal saga of O.J. Simpson was both a circus and the trial of the century. The first season of American Crime Story dived into that tale full throttle with The People v. O. J. Simpson. Amazingly, the series offered a very grounded, human take on all of its principal figures. That’s especially true of Sarah Paulson’s Marcia Clark and Sterling K. Brown’s Christopher Darden, the prosecutors assigned to put O.J. Simpson (Cuba Gooding Jr.) behind bars. The second season, The Assassination of Gianni Versace, is also on Netflix. But the two stories have been separated, so you’ll have to click here for that season.
Created by: Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, Tom Rob Smith
Cast: Sterling K. Brown, Cuba Gooding Jr. Sarah Paulson
Number of seasons: 2
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The Midnight Gospel
Comedian Duncan Trussell and Adventure Time creator Pendleton Ward teamed up for one of the most bizarre animated series on Netflix. The Midnight Gospel is partially inspired by Trussell’s podcast, and he stars in the series as a spacecaster named Clancy Gilroy who interviews guests as their worlds undergo an apocalyptic event by using a universal simulation machine. Few topics are out of bounds, and the comedy goes to some very strange and dark places. That’s par for the course for a series that ends almost every episode with an extinction-level disaster. And yet, it’s still really fun.
Created by: Pendleton Ward, Duncan Trussell
Cast: Duncan Trussell
Number of seasons: 1
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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
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High Score
How well do you know the story of video games? From the rise and fall of Atari to the emergence of Nintendo and beyond, Netflix’s High Score proves that there are still surprises to be found in the history of gaming. Throughout the first season, High Score tracks the beginning of the medium and interviews some of the pivotal figures who shaped gaming as we know it, many of whom remain unknown outside of gaming circles.
High Score also takes a deep dive into the console wars of the ‘90s, as well as the roleplaying and fighting genres, before examining the advent of 3D graphics. It doesn’t quite take us to the era of modern gaming, but the series is just getting started.
Created by: France Costrel
Cast: Charles Martinet
Number of seasons: 1
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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
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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
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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
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The Crown
Britain’s current and longest-reigning monarch is also one of its most unassuming. Elizabeth II ascended to the throne in the aftermath of World War II, at a time when the monarchy had ceded much of its power to Parliament and the Prime Minister. Despite a lack of governmental power, the Queen remains one of the most important heads of state in the world, and civic duties abound. Netflix’s The Crown traces Elizabeth’s (Claire Foy) life from her marriage to Prince Philip (Matt Smith) in 1947 to the present day, digging into the web of agendas and alliances the Queen must navigate. Heavy on political intrigue, The Crown is sure to satisfy viewers who appreciate Machiavellian television, as well as those who love TV shows like Downton Abbey. However, the show also has a deeply intimate side, in that it examines Elizabeth’s personal relationships and the toll exacted by her duties as Queen.
Created by: Peter Morgan
Cast: Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, Matt Smith
Number of seasons: 4
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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
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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
Watch on Netflix
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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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 Gilpin (Betty Gilpin) also tries out, and Sylvia decides to make the two the center of the league’s story: Gilpin 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
Watch on Netflix
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
Watch on Netflix
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