Best series to watch on Netflix right now (October 2020)
From original series like The Crown and Stranger Things to favourites such as Doctor Who and Sherlock, check out the best TV shows to watch with our Netflix recommendations.
As we get closer to Halloween, you might be on the hunt for some particularly chilling tales and thankfully, Netflix has everything you might fancy and more.
The streaming giant just released The Haunting of Bly Manor as well as psychological thriller, The Alienist, which are sure to give you enough jump scares this spooky season.
If you fancy something a little lighter, Netflix thankfully has plenty of options to delve into from the old and the new.
We know it can be a bit overwhelming scrolling through the thousands of titles, but RadioTimes.com has done the hard work for you and below is our selection of the very best.
You can even use Netflix secret codes to explore different genres of TV shows – but don’t fret, we guarantee there’ll be something on this list for everyone.
So have a browse, find something you like, and start streaming!
Updated 20th October 2020
The Alienist
Ahead of The Alienist season two arriving on Netflix for UK viewers, why not catch up with the original first season, starring Daniel Brühl, Dakota Fanning and Luke Evans?
The psychological thriller is based on the bestselling novels by Caleb Carr – The Alienist, and The Angel of Darkness in season two – and focuses on progressive criminal psychologist, or “alienist”, Laszlo Kreisler (Brühl).
Set in 1890s New York, the first season of the period drama sees Laszlo attempt to solve a series of brutal ritualistic child murders.
Buy Caleb Carr’s books The Alienist and The Angel of Darkness on Amazon.
The Haunting of Bly Manor
The makers of The Haunting of Hill House have created a brand new series, this time based on Henry James’ classic novella The Turn of the Screw.
The nine-part series (released just in time for Halloween) blends horror with a dark romantic storyline, and ghostly love triangle. Hill House alumnus Victoria Pedretti plays American au pair Dani, who is hired to look after the Wingrave children of creepy English country estate Bly Manor.
RadioTimes.com has called the series “terrifying” and “chilling” in our The Haunting of Bly Manor review, adding that the series is “packed with almost as many scares as Flanagan’s earlier project” The Haunting of Hill House: “A chilling tension… pervades much of the series – with several genuinely horrifying figures seen inhabiting the manor and occasional moments that will undoubtedly cause viewers to audibly shriek.”
Buy Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw on Amazon.
Ash vs Evil Dead
The legendary Bruce Campbell returns to the role of Ash Williams for this successor to Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead trilogy. As you would expect, this is a firmly tongue-in-cheek affair that sees Ash team up with two fellow department store employees, Pablo and Kelly, to take on all manner of terrifying ghouls.
Those looking for a Halloween-themed binge watch that doesn’t take itself too seriously will be well-served here, while die-hard followers of Raimi’s original saga will simply be thrilled to see Campbell back on top form. While it doesn’t look like we’ll be getting an Evil Dead 4 anytime soon, this 15-hour love letter is a worthy substitute.
Cobra Kai
Another nostalgic hit, Cobra Kai first found life over at YouTube Premium, where it lived for two seasons and proved to be a breakout hit for the video sharing platform. Recently, Netflix has snapped up the rights, giving it a new home and renewing Cobra Kai for a fourth season (before the third has even debuted).
The fan favourite show is a successor to the original Karate Kid film series, set 34 years later and reintroducing Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) as he opens his own dojo. It’s an act that rekindles his rivalry with Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and sets the wheels in motion for another martial arts epic.
GLOW
Fans of wrestling comedy drama GLOW were recently dealt a crushing body blow – the series has been cancelled by Netflix.
But props to the streaming giant for giving us this breath of fresh air in the first place. Sometimes it can feel like TV only has three plots – love triangles, murky crimes, and aliens. But GLOW offers something brand-new alongside the nostalgia of a great 1980s soundtrack.
The series tells the story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (aka GLOW), a real-life group formed to promote women’s wrestling on telly. The characters in this series are fictional though. Alison Brie stars as Ruth, a struggling actress who ends up auditioning for the wrestling group to make ends meet. Little does she know that her former best friend Debbie has already been hired – the two got along famously until Ruth stole Debbie’s husband. It seems certain that their bitter feud will either destroy the show or raise it to a whole new level.
If you can see past the leotards, there are three seasons of this excellent drama and there’s great fun to be had.
- Why Netflix’s GLOW was cancelled: 4 crucial problems that halted season 4
- GLOW star Marc Maron wants to end wrestling drama with a two-hour movie
The Haunting of Hill House
New series The Haunting of Bly Manor has just arrived on Netflix, so why not familiarise yourself with the original if you’re not already a fan?
Shirley Jackson’s novel is one of the scariest novels of all time, so adapting it was always likely to result in some major frights – and Mike Flanagan’s 10-part TV placement delivered on that front. This is a loose adaptation of the source material, adding in an element of family drama, but clearly playing homage to the book frequently throughout.
The show alternates between two different timelines: one in 1992, the night that something went horribly wrong for the five now-adult siblings who were living at Hill House and were forced to flee, and one in the present day where four of the siblings continue to be haunted by the brutal events.
Unsolved Mysteries
Netflix’s revamp of iconic American documentary series Unsolved Mysteries – which takes a look at paranormal phenomena and cold cases – was a smash hit earlier this year, and new, second series is fast approaching.
Over 20 years since the show wrapped up NBC and CBS, Netflix brought us 12 new episodes have been made featuring unexplained events from all over the world. The attraction of this series lies in the fact that as the facts of the cases are presented, it is left up to the audience at home to play amateur detective and theorise whodunnit, why and how. So not only is it a thrilling watch, but it might just perform a public service, too.
- Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries isn’t just lurid entertainment – it inspires us to become amateur detective
- More on Unsolved Mysteries
The Fall
All three seasons of the nail-biting BBC crime drama recently arrived on Netflix, and are wowing audiences all over again.
The psychological thriller, which is set in Northern Ireland, stars Gillian Anderson as Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson, who has been drafted from the Metropolitan Police to catch a serial killer, played by Jamie Dornan.
The show originally aired between 2013 and 2016 on BBC Two (and RTE in Ireland) and won significant acclaim, being long-listed for best drama at the National Television Awards for all three of its series.
If you missed it the first time round, grab this chance with both hands.
Schitt’s Creek
This utterly brilliant Canadian sitcom recently took home a suitcase full of Emmy awards, smashing the record for most wins in a single season for a comedy. Shouldn’t that be recommendation enough?
The show – whose sixth and final season landed on Netflix back in May – follows the privileged, once-wealthy Rose family, who attempt to rebuild their lives in the amusingly named titular town. Dad Johnny bought Schitt’s Creek as a joke in 1991, when money was no object. It’s the only place they can think of to go, and they are hoping the red carpet will be rolled out, but their influence isn’t as great as they would like.
Forced to live in adjoining motel rooms, the family of four – including grown-up spoilt children David and Alexis – have to make the best of a bad situation. A nightmare for them to live through, a delight for us to watch.
- Why the underrated Schitt’s Creek should be your next comfort TV watch
- Schitt’s Creek star explains why last episode “doesn’t feel final”
The Umbrella Academy
Superheroes tend to be loners, so it’s fun to see them in a family setting. But living with people who wear capes and save lives every two minutes is never going to be plain sailing.
Ellen Page and Mary J Blige star in this fantasy series set in alternate universe, adapted from comics written by My Chemical Romance singer Gerard Way. Ellen plays Vanya, one of seven children adopted by a billionaire. Unlike her brothers and sisters – all of whom were born on the same day to mothers who didn’t know they were pregnant (a terrifying concept for all women to get their heads around!) – Vanya doesn’t have superpowers. She can only watch on as her estranged siblings get back together to try to solve the mystery of their foster father’s death. Oh, and they also plan to save the world while they’re at it.
The Umbrella Academy has proved a huge hit – it was the third most popular show on Netflix in 2019. And now there’s a second season to enjoy as well.
- Full guide to The Umbrella Academy team’s powers
- The Umbrella Academy cast teases “a whole new world” for season three
Misfits
Eleven whole years. That’s how long it’s been since superhero comedy caper Misfits first took E4 quite literally by storm – and over a decade since the series picked up a BAFTA for best drama. Fortunately, however, Netflix has gifted viewers the power of time travel, with all five seasons now available to binge on the service.
Packed with laughs, surprising twists and poignant moments of drama, Misfits’ success can be largely explained by its central premise: it followed a group of young offenders serving community service as a strange electrical storm gifts them all special abilities. Cue the carnage as the rabble of law-breakers wrestle with powers from telepathy to time-jumping.
However, another huge part of the show’s acclaim was also down to its acting talent. The show was a playground for young actors, performers who would soon score roles in major big-budget shows and film – from The Umbrella Academy’s Robert Sheenan to Love Sick’s Antonia Thomas. See how many famous faces you can recognise.
Tuca & Bertie
Executive produced by Raphael Bob-Waksberg, Tuca & Bertie struggled to escape the long shadow cast by Bojack Horseman upon release, making it an underrated gem in Netflix’s animated line-up. Sharing the same talking animal aesthetic and adult humour as its more prolific counterpart, the series explores the chaotic friendship between two 30-year-old women at very different stages in their life.
Ali Wong’s Bertie is settling down with her longterm boyfriend (voiced by The Walking Dead’s Steven Yeun), while Tiffany Haddish’s Tuca is refusing to tone down her anarchic lifestyle. It’s a classic odd couple pairing that really pops thanks to some great voice work and creative animation, which delivers sight gags in abundance. The series was cancelled by Netflix after its first season, but was recently revived for a second run by Adult Swim (the home of Rick and Morty).
Staged
Even if you enjoyed Staged during its recent airing on BBC One, this Netflix offering features unseen moments, so there are even more reasons for you to revisit.
Good Omens pals David Tennant and Michael Sheen play exaggerated versions of themselves in this series of quick-hit 15-minute episodes, filmed in lockdown.
Staged owes something to The Trip, though no-one goes anywhere, but it’s deliciously funny in its own right. A needy, anxious director wants the two actors to rehearse, for three hours a day on Zoom, Pirandello’s Six Characters in Search of an Author.
Tennant, at home with wife Georgia and their children, is unsure, but promises to broach the subject with a slightly deranged Sheen, who thinks birds are about to take over the world.
It’s a discursive and hilarious potter around the insecurities of the acting profession and the leads are utterly, utterly terrific.
Criminal
The trend towards suffocating and intense police interview scenes that twist and turn and keep the audience guessing is one that we have seen develop more and more in television over the last decade – from Scandi-noirs to our very own Line of Duty – it’s undeniably a recipe for a truly gripping detective drama.
Enter Criminal, Netflix’s international anthology series set within the walls of a police interrogation suite, and you immediately have another hit from the same stable.
Perhaps more ambitious and high-concept than many of the shows that have gone before it, the drama takes place across four countries – the UK, Germany, France and Spain – and is made up of 12 individual stories (three episodes per location). Each country’s episodes are shot in its local language, written and directed by native stars – and with David Tennant and Hayley Atwell featuring in the cast of the UK version, this is a show with an impressive cast as well as an intriguing and very on-trend concept – and one you won’t want to miss if you’re a lover of this genre. A new second season arrived on Netflix recently, with one episode featuring Game of Thrones favourite Kit Harington, so there’s plenty to keep you going.
Borgen
Ahead of a new, much-anticipated fourth season, new to Netflix in September is this silky, political thriller from the same production company that gave us The Killing. When Borgen (“Government”) originally aired in 2012, it became our TV editor’s obsession.
Birgitte Nyborg is a wildcard in Denmark’s general election, a married mother-of-two with unwavering beliefs and old-school honesty. But the leaking of a financial indiscretion involving the incumbent PM catapults her career.
The whirling-dervish spin doctoring grips from the start, while the second-string characters (aspiring TV journalist Katrine, pushy adviser Kaspar) are deftly depicted. But Sidse Babett Knudsen is superb as Birgitte – unshowy but commanding – and the scenes of her home life (the kind of thing British drama often conveys in advert-style shorthand) have the ring of truth about them. It’s Denmark’s answer to The West Wing.
Giri/Haji
A BBC/Netflix co-production that aired earlier this year in the UK, Giri/Haji (translated as Duty/Shame) is a masterful and sprawling thriller set between London and Tokyo, which went down a treat with critics and viewers. Thus the recent news that the series has been scrapped is a real blow.
Giri/Haji primarily concerns a Japanese detective by the name of Kenzo Mori (Takehiro Hira) who travels to London in an attempt to track down his missing brother Yuto, a member of Japanese crime syndicate the Yakuza.
With its ambition, suspenseful plot and stylistic flourishes, Giri/Haji was described as “a breath of fresh air” and “one of the best shows of 2019”. And now destined only ever to live as one season, so make the most of it.
Hemlock Grove
This one might be an acquired taste, but those who like dark fantasy with a distinctly B-movie spin might well find themselves engrossed by the weird world of Hemlock Grove. Loosely based on the horror novel of the same name, the series takes place in a Pennsylvania town full of supernatural secrets that prove deadly for some unlucky inhabitants.
At the centre of it all are two families who couldn’t be any more different. Descended from vampires, the wealthy Godfreys gather a huge amount of sway in their sleepy town by funding its ominous medical facility, while the travelling Rumancek’s have little to their name but are fiercely loyal to each other – perhaps owing to their history of werewolf-ism. The youngest sons from each family form a doomed friendship, as they are gradually manipulated by forces beyond their understanding.
Bill Skarsgård gives a memorable turn in the early days of his career, before bagging his iconic Pennywise role in Stephen King’s IT movies. X-Men star Famke Janssen chews the scenery in a delightfully villainous capacity as his scheming mother, while Landon Liboiron provides a compelling underdog hero (or should that be underwolf?).
There’s certainly some awkwardness to the script and performances, but there’s a fascinating charm to Hemlock Grove that should satisfy die-hard genre fans.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
While many sitcoms opt for warm and cuddly humour, sometimes a bit of cynicism acts as the perfect palate cleanser and It’s Always Sunny has plenty to go around.
The first series of this offbeat comedy introduces narcissistic bar owners Dennis, Mac, Charlie and Dee, their woefully skewed moral compasses and extremely unhealthy friendship. However, the series really kicks into high gear with season two, where Danny DeVito joins the cast as the hilarious Frank Reynolds, Dennis and Dee’s irresponsible father.
Now in its 14th season, the show is perhaps not quite as sharp as it used to be, but it packs some truly iconic comedy moments in its golden age. From rum ham to the Night Man Cometh, there are scenes in Always Sunny that will have your sides splitting in no time.
After Life
Ever since The Office exploded onto the scene at the turn of the millennium, completely changing the expectations of viewers in modern comedy, every project that Ricky Gervais has been involved with on the small screen (whether with his Office writing partner Stephen Merchant, or alone) has garnered a huge amount of excitement in the TV comedy world.
Regarded by many as some of Ricky’s finest TV work since Extras, After Life is – as you would expect from Gervais – a very awkward and at times quite troubling comedy that explores the theme of grief. Following the story of a man called Tony whose life is turned upside down after his wife dies of cancer, we see a man who, after contemplating suicide, decides instead to take his misery out on the rest of the world by saying and doing whatever he likes.
It’s a lot funnier than it sounds, and there are two seasons to enjoy – so fill your boots (and be prepared for a bit of bad language).
- After Life season 3 confirmed by Ricky Gervais
- Meet the cast of After Life on Netflix
- More on After Life
Breaking Bad
Even if you’ve been living under a rock for the last decade, it’s unlikely you haven’t at least heard of Breaking Bad. In a poll we conducted a few years back, Vince Gilligan’s masterpiece was voted the show most people lied about having seen, such is its recognition as one of the best box sets of the modern era – so if you’re one of those people, perhaps it’s about time you did yourself a favour and watch the story unfold.
Following the fortunes of a chemistry teacher, Walter White (played by Bryan Cranston) – who is diagnosed with terminal cancer and decides to “break bad” and embark on a life of crime as a crystal meth drug kingpin alongside one of his former students, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) to provide for his family after his death – this is one of the most fantastically written, directed and executed television dramas you will ever have the fortune to view.
Set against a backdrop of a dusty Albuquerque universe of good, bad and ugly players whose stories twist, turn and evolve over five gripping series, this is a story that makes the viewer question everything until the very end.
Co-starring Anna Gunn, Bob Odenkirk, Dean Norris and Giancarlo Esposito to name but a few, Breaking Bad is as much about the way its incredible cast of characters react to the world around them changing, as it is about Walt and Jesse’s incredible central journey.
Try it. It’s brilliant. Trust us…
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Ozark
It’s been compared by many to Breaking Bad, and although Ozark is very different in many ways, it’s hard to disagree that the moody atmosphere and theme of a family under siege in unusual circumstances certainly shares some similarities. The most obvious reason the comparison is made, however, is that like Breaking Bad, Ozark is a very, very good drama that will be talked about for many years to come.
The story centres around Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman) and his wife Wendy (Laura Linney), daughter Charlotte (Sophia Hublitz) and son Jonah (Skylar Gaertner) as they are forced to go on the run from Chicago to the Ozark lakes in Missouri after Marty’s money-laundering operation for a drug gang goes wrong and their lives are in imminent danger.
But things just get more complicated once they start afresh in the Ozarks, because not only are they instantly embroiled in a strange and brutal world they don’t understand – but they quickly learn that your problems have a habit of catching up with you and that secrets are harder than you think to keep.
Three seasons of this excellent show are available on Netflix now. You’ll soon get used to seeing the world with a blueish-grey tint…
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- Jason Bateman shares hints about Ozark season 4: “I know how it ends and it’s great”
- More on Ozark
Black Mirror
It wasn’t so many years ago that Charlie Brooker was reviewing telly for The Guardian with a style that every young entertainment journalist desperately tried to imitate with varying degrees of success – but now he is a TV writer and showrunner who is just as influential in the creation of television content as he was when he was reviewing it.
Black Mirror is without a doubt his most compelling and celebrated work to date – a dystopian and often chilling vision of how technology may change our lives, let’s face it, largely for the worse.
It began as a Channel 4 shot in the dark, but Charlie Brooker’s drama quickly became one of the most bleakly gripping series on TV. Then Netflix jumped in and it went from a cult show in the UK to a global phenomenon that attracts huge-name guest stars from Jon Hamm and Bryce Dallas Howard to Andrew Scott and Miley Cyrus.
The fifth season features some of its most ambitious and gripping tales to date, and of course Bandersnatch, the choose-your-own-adventure special, was a one-off mega-hit from the Black Mirror brand.
The Crown
One of Netflix’s flagship shows across the globe, The Crown is reported to also be one of the most expensive television shows ever made.
The glossy and sumptuous drama from the pen of Peter Morgan (The Queen and Frost/Nixon), the drama aims to chart the life and times of Queen Elizabeth II over several seasons, with some deliberately planned resets and cast changes to “age” the cast where time moves forward.
The first two seasons starred Claire Foy and Matt Smith as Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, with Olivia Colman and Tobias Menzies taking over the same key roles for seasons three and four.
A really compelling watch, it gives some insight (and plenty of artistic licence) into the lives of one of the most famous families ever to have lived.
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Stranger Things
Paying homage to a 1980s Spielberg inspired world of walkie-talkies and Chopper bikes, the Duffer brothers’ Stranger Things is one of the biggest hits ever to be created by Netflix. A supernatural adventure filled with intrigue and horror, it tells the story of a group of four friends in Hawkins, Indiana that befriend a telekinetic super-girl and try to unpick a complicated and strange series of phenomena.
Starring Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown and many more, this is unmissable telly.
As the seasons pass, the tension ramps up and more characters and mysteries are intertwined in this fantastically watchable tale. Oh, and and it has a completely unmissable soundtrack too. The “exhilarating and devastating” third season was the latest to drop – and season four is expected next year…
- Stranger Things season 4 has a tentative new date for production restart
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The Sinner
The Sinner is a crime mystery series that caught fans’ attention in season one by flipping the “whodunnit” format into a “why-dunnit”. Jessica Biel plays a woman who, in one of the most shocking and gripping starts to a series we’ve ever seen, stabs a man to death on a beach. But has absolutely no idea why she did it. The series then unpicks the crime over eight episodes.
Season two tells a completely different story, but maintains the same sense of intrigue – this time we’re focusing on a child criminal, a 13-year old boy. Meanwhile, in the third and latest series, Detective Harry Ambrose (Bill Pullman) investigates a tragic car crash in upstate New York that turned out to be much more sinister than initially thought…
Lots here to keep you occupied.
Fargo
At first there were a few raised eyebrows: how would the classic Coen brothers film work as a TV show? Would they ruin it? Then we watched it and felt an instant wave of relief – this series is nothing short of exceptional.
The “true” story of crime in Minnesota has three largely stand-alone series on Netflix, all of which are 100% worth your precious viewing time. Series one stars Sherlock’s Martin Freeman as a mild-mannered insurance salesman in a provincial Minnesota town. His life unravels after meeting a mysterious stranger played superbly by Billy Bob Thornton. The twists and turns keep you guessing right up to the end of this moody and intelligent drama.
Series two had a new cast including Kirsten Dunst, Patrick Wilson and Ted Danson. Set in March 1979 the story acts as a prequel to the first series and follows the complex story of the town during investigations of three murders. Meanwhile series three of Fargo stars Ewan McGregor in a dual-role as brothers Emmit and Ray.
Apart from the weirdness of hearing Martin Freeman do an American accent, this is near-perfect TV.
Selling Sunset
Reality series don’t get much more glamorous – or dramatic – than Selling Sunset, which follows a group of estate agents working for the The Oppenheim Group as they sell some of the most opulent houses in Los Angeles. A third series of the show has recently been added to the streaming platform – and each new season only seems to ramp up the drama even further, as the agents experience weddings, divorces and everything in between.
So sit back and enjoy the pure escapism as you watch the cast continue to share the ups and downs of their personal and professional lives.
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Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
If you need cheering up at the moment – and let’s face it, who doesn’t? – look no further than the endlessly optimistic Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
For its first original sitcom, Netflix went to legendary actress and writer Tina Fey, who dreamt up this delightfully odd story with her 30 Rock collaborator Robert Carlock.
After being abducted by a cult leader, Kimmy Schmidt (Ellie Kemper) spent 15 years in an underground bunker with three fellow abductees, believing the Earth had been reduced to a nuclear wasteland. But the Indiana Mole Women (as the media quickly labels them) are rescued by a SWAT team and discover that the world remains full of life…
While the premise may initially sound a little dark, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is a comedy through and through, with the same zany sense of humour that made Fey’s previous series such a hit.
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When They See Us
Ava DuVernay’s harrowing series is a hard watch, but an important one. Starring Desperate Housewives actress Felicity Huffman, it tells the true story of the Central Park Five, five black and Hispanic teens who were wrongfully convicted of a rape that took place in New York City in 1989. They were accused and charged on flimsy evidence, and a racist system saw them incarcerated for a heinous crime they had no involvement with. Beautifully acted, the drama will leave you spitting with outrage as you witness an incredible miscarriage of justice.
Across four episodes, we follow these confused and terrified young men and their families, as they attempt to navigate police interviews and courtroom trials with the odds stacked against them. It’s then worth finding “Oprah Winfrey Presents: When They See Us Now” to see Oprah interviewing the men behind the drama, about their experience and the terrible impact their convictions had on their lives.
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Lucifer
Such is the love for this show that when Fox announced they were going to stop making the show a huge campaign was launched online by the fans which took the hashtag #SaveLucifer to the world, and was eventually received loud and clear by Netflix who decided to bring the show back on the streaming platform.
Based on the character created by Neil Gaiman for The Sandman comic-book series, Tom Ellis plays Lucifer, the handsome and seductive Lord of Hell who has made a home for himself in the sleazy glamour of Los Angeles…
What could possibly go wrong? You’ll have to watch to find out…
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BoJack Horseman
Widely regarded as one of the best animated series of all time, this fantastic offering – the brainchild of Raphael Bob-Waksberg – has been the talk of the comedy world since it exploded onto the scene in 2014.
One might say that any show that features anthropomorphic horses attempting to get beyond existential crises would be funny without a class-act cast and script – but luckily BoJack takes the comedy to 11 with both of those in abundance.
Enter the wonderful Will Arnett (Gob Bluth in Arrested Development, among many others) as the lead role and a star-studded cast including Amy Sedaris, Alison Brie, Paul F Tompkins and Aaron Paul and you have an international hit on your hands.
Comedy fans beware – you may end up spending a lot of time on this!
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Money Heist (La Casa del Papel)
Money Heist – better known as La Casa de Papel in its native Spain – is not only the most-watched non-English show on Netflix, but one of the most-watched series overall on the streaming service.
The crime drama, which follows a crack team of thieves assembled by “The Professor”, sees the gang attempt to walk away with billions of euros after a daring heist on the Royal Mint in Spain.
There are four seasons on Money Heist to watch, so why not see what all the fuss is about?
Watch Money Heist (La Casa del Papel) on Netflix
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Fans will have been dismayed at the news that the fourth series of this hit drama will be the last.
Sabrina the Teenage Witch was a huge hit in the 1990s when the Archie comic of the same name was brought to life by Melissa Joan Hart in the lead role. Several decades later, Netflix has rebooted the show with a darker and more mysterious edge, this time starring Kiernan Shipka, best known to drama fans as Sally Draper (daughter of Don) in the smash-hit AMC show Mad Men.
Originally conceived as a companion series to Riverdale, the show eventually got a life of its own when it moved to Netflix and began telling the story of a half-witch, half-mortal and her sometimes challenging existence.
Also starring Ross Lynch, Lucy Davis, Chance Perdomo and Michelle Gomez, there are three seasons available to watch on Netflix, so you have plenty to keep you busy…
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Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich
This four-part documentary brings to life the sobering stories that made newspaper headlines across the world last year when financier Jeffrey Epstein died in prison while facing charges of sex trafficking.
Using footage of Epstein being interviewed for an earlier charge alongside comments from prosecutors, associates and investigators, plus film of Epstein’s homes, director Lisa Bryant’s documentary is a fascinating and horrifying look at how one man escaped justice for decades, possibly with the help of wealthy connections – and one that rightfully prioritises the survivors over the perpetrator.
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Chewing Gum
If you enjoyed Michaela Coel’s recent BBC comedy drama I May Destroy You, you’re bound to love her first – but very different – sitcom Chewing Gum. The series, which began in 2015, stars Coel as Tracey Gordon, a 24-year-old religious virgin who is desperate to have sex in order to avoid becoming like her uptight oldest sister Cynthia (Susan Wokoma).
A hilarious and raunchy comedy full of fourth wall-breaks and cringe-worthy moments, Chewing Gum is an under-appreciated Channel 4 gem that you can now binge on Netflix.
Black Earth Rising
Michaela Coel shot to fame and became the toast of the TV world off the back of her brilliant sitcom Chewing Gum. She gave a very different, dramatic performance in this political thriller though, playing Kate Ashby, a woman who was rescued as a young child during the Rwandan genocide and adopted by Eve Ashby (Harriet Walter), a world-class British prosecutor in international criminal law.
With acclaimed talent behind the camera too, in the form of BAFTA-winning writer Hugo Blick (who also gave us The Honourable Woman starring Maggie Gyllenhaal), this is a classy eight-part drama tackling the prosecution of international war crimes and the thorny issue of the West’s relationship with Africa. It’s not the lightest watch, and for that reason it didn’t get the ratings it deserved, but this is incredibly well made, beautifully acted and well worth your time. You just need to be in the right mood as you sit down to watch.
- Where is Netflix’s Black Earth Rising filmed?
- Black Earth Rising writer Hugo Blick: “The darker things go, the funnier it is”
- More on Black Earth Rising
Orange Is the New Black
Back when Netflix was desperately trying to prove to the world that its original dramas were worth watching, they needed a series to follow the success of House of Cards and to keep the momentum going. That series was Orange Is the New Black, an addictive ensemble drama set in a women’s prison, following naïve, middle-class Piper Kerman (Taylor Schilling) as she embarks on a 15-month sentence for moving drug money. It was a crime she committed years ago, for her girlfriend, before she settled into a quiet life. As her world falls apart she must adapt to prison life and get to know her fellow inmates…
Of course it’s not the first drama about women behind bars (bring back Bad Girls!) but it’s unique in its production values, the quality of its strong, funny, racially diverse cast and the way in which it gripped its audience. If you missed it first time round, we’re jealous you’ve got it all still to enjoy.
- Everything you need to know about Orange Is the New Black season seven
- Orange Is The New Black creator reveals character she most regrets killing off
- More on Orange Is the New Black
Mindhunter
David Fincher’s gloomy serial killer drama didn’t quite make it to the watercooler when it first arrived, but as with many on-demand shows, its slow-building intrigue gripped enough people for Netflix to renew it for a second season.
The show follows soft-spoken FBI agent Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and his gruff partner Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) as they tour the USA interviewing the nation’s most heinous serial killers.
While it takes a bit of time to truly get going, the series soon develops into an intriguing character study, as Ford becomes more and more emotionally entangled in his work.
As well as the fantastic scripts and performances, this show stands out for its incredible visuals and mood, as you might expect from Mr Fincher.
- Mindhunter season 3 is on indefinite hold at Netflix
- David Fincher’s extraordinarily dark crime drama Mindhunter is brilliant – but you won’t want to binge-watch it
Sex Education
One of the biggest questions around this sharp-witted comedy is where and when is it set? Although the characters are British, they all have different accents – and the school they attend looks more like a high school from 1980s USA than the sort of comprehensive most Brits would have attended. Everyone seems to drive old Volvos, but people have smartphones…
The reality is, the ambiguity of time and location is a deliberate move by Laurie Nunn and the show’s producers to pay homage to a John Hughes-style teen world that a generation grew up watching on TV.
The show follows the fortunes of Otis (Asa Butterfield), Maeve (Emma Mackey), Eric (Ncuti Gatwa) as they navigate their school days, their parents and the challenges that come with both. Also starring Gillian Anderson as Otis’s sex therapist mother, this is a critically acclaimed show not just for its comedy – but for the bold way it challenges important issues head on.
Season two arrived earlier in the year, and season three has at last started filming.
- Netflix’s Sex Education is set in a British school – so why does it feel so American?
- More on Sex Education
Russian Doll
There’s no getting round the fact that this show is rather strange, and at times incredibly surreal – but that’s what makes this acclaimed comedy drama from creative powerhouses Leslye Headland, Natasha Lyonne and Amy Poehler so compelling and such a runaway hit.
The eight-part series follows chain-smoking New Yorker Nadia, as she weaves her way through a mysterious time loop that sees her celebrating her 36th birthday – and then dying. Over and over and over again. Starring Lyonne, Greta Lee ,Yul Vazquez, Charlie Barnett and Elizabeth Ashley – this is no simple Groundhog Day rehash, it’s a lot more sophisticated than that. With a New York sass all of its own and a high concept pay-off, it’s oh-so surreally satisfying.
- Russian Doll is weird – and that’s just how Netflix likes it
- When is Russian Doll season 2 released on Netflix and what can we expect?
Rick and Morty
If you were to cross Back to the Future, Doctor Who and maybe BoJack Horseman – that’s the closest you can get to describing the nihilistic animated comedy that is Rick and Morty.
Following the misadventures of drunken mad scientist Rick Sanchez and his neurotic grandson Morty Smith (both voiced by creator Justin Roiland), this Adult Swim series takes place in multiple realities and various planets as Rick drags his grandson across the universe.
With an impressive voice cast including Scrubs’ Sarah Chalke, 30 Rock’s Chris Parnell and Greek’s Spencer Grammar, as well as a star-studded list of guest stars (Christina Hendricks, Jordan Peele, Nathan Fillon, Jermaine Clement, Susan Sarandon), Rick and Morty is a complex, sometimes dark but always witty intergalactic adventure.
Watch all four seasons on Netflix
Making a Murderer
A poster child for Netflix and one of the true-crime documentaries that spurred hundreds of similar shows in the following years, Making a Murderer has become one of the streaming giant’s most talked-about shows since the ten-part documentary premiered in December 2015.
Following the story of Steven Avery, a Wisconsin man who served 18 years in prison after being wrongly accused of attempted murder and sexual assault, and was subsequently convicted of a different murder, this series gripped the world and become the focus of much debate. Made by film-makers Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos, the extraordinary piece of television was filmed over a decade. A must-watch for any true crime fans – with the second season blowing the story wide open all over again, it’s unlikely the public’s fascination with this case is going to wain anytime soon.
- The creators of Making a Murderer on the making of a television phenomenon
- Who is Kathleen Zellner? Meet the lawyer representing Steven Avery in Making a Murderer Part 2
Dead to Me
Christina Applegate puts in a career-best performance in brilliantly binge-worthy black come from writer Liz Feldman, which became the must-see, most-talked-about Netflix show when it first dropped last year.
Here’s the set-up: Jen loses her husband in a hit-and-run accident and is consumed by her loss. Against her better judgement she attends a group grief counselling session and begrudgingly starts talking to Judy. They bond over mutual loss and quickly become firm friends, turning to each other in their darkest hours, much to Jen’s great surprise. However, one of the women is guarding a terrible secret that threatens to upend their friendship and derail both of their lives entirely. It’s a touching, funny and addictive exploration of bereavement and female friendship with a gripping, soapy undercurrent that will have you telling yourself that one perennial Netflix lie, “I’ll just watch one more episode before bed.”
Two series are available to watch now.
Unbelievable
Netflix has begun to build a fearsome reputation as creators of drama content in recent years and one of the most prolific content creators in the world, with many of its most popular shows also focusing on stories inspired by true-life events. Unbelievable is a gripping eight-part limited series starring Toni Collette, Merritt Wever and Kaitlyn Dever that explores a series of police blunders and miscommunications that allowed a serial rapist to operate undetected in the United States.
One of the most talked-about new Netflix releases of 2019, this hard-hitting show is at times very difficult to watch – made to feel even more real by its incredible script, direction and dramatic performances from a fantastic cast. The mini-series is based on the 2015 news article An Unbelievable Story of Rape, written by T Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong.
Unorthodox
This four-part miniseries is based on Deborah Feldman’s 2012 autobiography Unorthodox: the Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots, and follows a young woman, Etsy, living in the Orthodox Jewish Community in Williamsburg, Brooklyn New York, and her attempts to escape from her arranged marriage to Berlin – where her estranged mother currently lives.
In Germany, Etsy makes new friends with students at a music school and auditions to join the school herself, while she is pursued by her husband who travels to Berlin with his cousin to try and track her down, as ordered by the rabbi.
Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness
It’s really quite difficult to summarise such a bizarre, wacky and downright fascinating documentary such as Tiger King – but here goes. The story centres around Joe Exotic, a big-cat owner in the United States who has had lions, tigers and many, many other animals in his GW Zoo, Oklahoma.
Exotic is a colourful man who, aside from having multiple husbands, became fixated with the “thorn in his side”, Carole Baskin. She is an animal rights activist, who tried multiple times to shut down GW Zoo, believing Exotic’s actions to be troublesome. But in a way of firing back, Exotic claimed she killed her own husband and fed him to her own collection of wild cats – a claim she vehemently denies.
The culmination of their rivalry came when Exotic tried to hire a hitman to kill Baskin as his hatred spiralled out of control. His attempt to put a hit on her failed and, according to The Washington Post, Exotic is currently in prison for a 22-year sentence for attempted murder for hire on top of other animal cruelty charges.
If that doesn’t sound completely insane already, be assured Tiger King gets a lot stranger. We promise you’ll be glued to your TV for this one and, with more episodes on the horizon and a dramatisation, now is the perfect time to catch up.
- Carole Baskin says “no amount of money” will get her to return for Tiger King season 2
- More on Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness
Our Planet
From the makers of landmark series Planet Earth and Blue Planet comes a groundbreaking look at the world we live in: the problems the natural world faces, the solutions to fix those issues, and examples of complete rehabilitation.
Narrated by veteran natural historian and global treasure David Attenborough, this fascinating series take viewers on a journey through different biological realms, from the deepest oceans and the wildebeest migrations in Africa to the wolves living in Chernobyl’s forests.
Dark
Netflix’s first German-language series is a mind-bending, time-warping and completely engrossing series that proves that Scandinavia doesn’t have the monopoly on excellent subtitled drama.
The show instantly drew comparisons to Stranger Things and it’s easy to see why. After all, it tells the story of a child who goes missing from a small town under mysterious circumstances, leaving everyone baffled (so far so Hawkins). But this programme is darker and weirder, and doesn’t revel in any 80s throwbacks or a nostalgic soundtrack. Of course, once you get past the initial premise there are lots of differences, and the show deserves credit in its own right.
As children continue to vanish from the German town of Winden, we follow four estranged families. They find themselves unravelling a complex mystery involving time travel and conspiracies across many generations, and all we can do is try to keep up with them!
Three seasons of Dark are available, so get stuck in.
- Dark season 3 review: Sci-fi at its most mesmerising, confounding and exhilarating
- Netflix needs to do more to push its foreign language titles
- More on Dark
Marcella
When we first heard that the creator of incredible Swedish series The Bridge, Hans Rosenfeldt, had written a new drama for ITV we were excited – a British twist on the Nordic noir genre sounded right up our street. And the result was just as dark, intricate and complex as we were hoping for.
Anna Friel stars as troubled female former detective Marcella Backland, who lives in London and suffers from violent black-outs. Apart from dealing with her mental health struggles, Marcella’s life is thrown into disarray when her husband leaves her and uproots their children’s lives in the process. She throws herself into work – returning to the police for the first time in 15 years to investigate an unsolved case when it appears a serial killer has become active again. With the weight of the world on her shoulders, it’s difficult for her to hide her woes from her colleagues – especially when her own life starts to interweave with the case.
Two seasons are available to view in the UK – but fans at home will be disappointed to learn that Netflix is already showing series three to the rest of the world, while it won’t arrive on ITV until the autumn.
- When is Marcella series three on TV? Who’s in the cast?
- Damaged detective Marcella is nothing like Saga from The Bridge says the man who created them both
The Last Dance
You have heard of Michael Jordan. You know Michael Jordan. It’s Michael Jordan. Of course you know Michael Jordan. But do you actually know Michael Jordan?
The cultural impact of the basketball titan is splashed across the globe, the brand, the iconic Jumpman logo is stamped onto every Nike product – from shoes to PSG football jerseys – that image is pressed into our mind.
If you grew up watching Jordan in action, Netflix’s docuseries The Last Dance will be a solid nostalgia trip for you, a sporting fix designed to evoke the romanticism of sport in the 90s. If Jordan’s meaning to you has been inadvertently limited to a silhouette designed to sell shoes and shirts, The Last Dance is your chance to learn the legend for yourself.
The Last Kingdom
You might remember seeing the first couple of series of The Last Kingdom – which is based on the Saxon Stories novels by Sharpe creator Bernard Cornwell – on the BBC, but the show switched hands to Netflix for season three.
Set in the 9th-century AD, the show tells the story of rugged hero Uhtred son of Uhtred, a Saxon boy who is brought up by Danes, after they capture him and decide to raise him as their own. Of course this leads to split loyalties and Uhtred is eventually accused of killing his adoptive father, forcing him to flee to another kingdom.
Four series are available to watch on Netflix, so you have plenty to keep you going – enjoy!
- When is The Last Kingdom season five on Netflix?
- The real history that inspired Netflix’s The Last Kingdom
The Good Place
American network sitcoms have often got a bad wrap from British reviewers, with a few notable exceptions, they are sometimes considered less sophisticated than British comedies with “obvious'”jokes and characters. These are not charges that can be brought against NBC’s high-concept philosophical comedy The Good Place, which not only makes you laugh, it makes you think.
From the pen of Michael Schur, the co-creator of critically acclaimed Parks and Recreation, the show stars Kristen Bell as Eleanor Shellstrop, a woman who finds herself arriving in the “The Good Place” after her death by mistake. She’s joined in this secular afterlife by a group of other new arrivals played by William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil and Manny Jacinto, who all live in a neighbourhood created by bumbling architect, Michael, portrayed brilliantly by Ted Danson.
A series of twists and turns throughout the first season prelude a massive shake-up in season two, which consistently leaves the audience wondering where on earth it can go next. Season three somehow repeats the feat, brilliantly – and have the tissues ready for the final ever episode, available now.
Better Call Saul
The spin-off is usually something that history remembers as a bad idea. For every Cheers that produces a Frasier, there’s at least ten Friends that produce a Joey. So, when it was announced that Vince Gilligan, the creative force behind the critically acclaimed Breaking Bad intended to make a spin-off, alarm bells sounded across the TV world. The idea of ruining the legacy of one of the great boxsets was troubling, and it was with trepidation that many tuned into Better Call Saul.
Now, with the fifth season the latest to arrive on Netflix, it’s hard to see how anyone could have seen this Breaking Bad prequel as anything other than a solid gold hit. Following the shady dealings of Bob Odenkirk’s shyster lawyer Saul Goodman, one of the central characters in the latter parts of the Breaking Bad story, it takes viewers back to the same Albuquerque universe of the original show. It strikes a slightly lighter tone than Breaking Bad, but still has an incredible pacing and depth that made the original show so popular. Featuring many of the original cast – from Jonathan Banks to Giancarlo Esposito – anyone who has seen and enjoyed Breaking Bad should immediately set their Netflix to full Better Call Saul mode and start watching post haste!
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
You can’t move in TV land for crime dramas, so it’s nice for a show to reveal the funny side of a police station for once. And there’s a whole lot of heart to this silly yet surprisingly sharp workplace sitcom set in a New York City police precinct.
SNL and Cuckoo actor Andy Samberg leads the cast as Jake Peralta, a cop who somehow manages to be the star detective on his team despite his childish approach to life. He’s surrounded by exquisitely drawn characters, including the show’s secret weapon, Andre Braugher – we know him best for his dramatic performances, but he plays a blinder as the overly serious Captain Raymond Holt, delivering his lines with unrivalled deadpan.
With seven series under its belt, this show has rightly earned a devoted set of fans, who are already looking forward to season eight. If you get hooked you’ll find yourself in good company.
- When is Brooklyn Nine-Nine season 7 coming to the UK?
- Brooklyn Nine-Nine gets early renewal for season eight
Community
This beloved sitcom from Rick and Morty co-creator Dan Harmon features the same irreverent meta sense of humour as its animated successor. The series follows a group of loveable misfits who attend a poorly run community college and get into all manner of zany antics.
While it sometimes gets a little too eccentric for its own good, there can be no denying the ambitious creativity and originality that Community consistently displays. The show also boasts a killer ensemble cast that includes global superstar Donald Glover, as well as Joel McHale, Alison Brie, Ken Jeong and Chevy Chase.
Modern Family
In the US, this is huge. Modern Family has won countless Emmys for outstanding comedy series along with crates of other awards and audiences of millions. But on this side of the Atlantic it remains a minor Sky One cult.
The curious thing about the show, created by two former Frasier writers in 2009, is it’s so simple. The premise is: a family. That’s it.
To make it interesting, the family is an extended one, split between patriarch Jay’s household (ruled by his curvaceous Colombian second wife), his daughter Claire’s brood and his son Mitchell’s relationship. About the only angle is that Mitchell is gay and soon (in the finale of season 5, in fact) to be married to his partner Cameron.
So, there you have it. On paper, nothing fancy. But not since Dad’s Army has a comic ensemble worked so perfectly, so adorably, together.
Locke & Key
Based on the popular series of graphic novels by Joe Hill, the son of horror legend Stephen King, Locke & Key has an intriguing sci-fi concept at its core. Following a terrible tragedy, the Locke family move to the coastal town of Matheson where their father grew up, only to discover his childhood home harbours a fascinating secret.
The Locke children begin finding magical keys all over the estate, each one capable of an amazing power including turning the user into a ghost or allowing them to enter their own mind. However, they aren’t the only ones aware of these abilities, and it isn’t long before a malevolent force begins hounding them.
While it isn’t quite as memorable as Stranger Things and occasionally leans too heavily on cliched melodrama, there’s a lot to like about Locke & Key. A second season has been confirmed and fans of the original comic books will know there’s plenty more action in store.
The Rain
One of Netflix’s biggest hitters when it comes to foreign language dramas is Danish series The Rain, which takes place in a post-apocalyptic future after a virus carried by rainfall just about wipes out the entire population of Scandinavia.
During the show’s three series we follow a group of survivors – led by siblings Simone and Rasmus – as they search for their scientist father, who is apparently their only hope for finding a cure or some other solution to the devastation that has wreaked havoc in their country.
The series is part post-apocalyptic drama, but is also to a huge extent a coming-of-age tale, as the young survivors discover that although just about everything else has changed since the virus hit, adolescence comes with all the same troubles as usual.
- The Rain season 1-2 recap: what happened in the first two seasons of the Netflix sci-fi series?
- The Rain season 3 ending explained: How did the Netflix sci-fi series wrap up? (spoilers)
Bodyguard
Even with Line of Duty creator Jed Mercurio at the helm and a cast led by Keeley Hawes and Richard Madden, nobody could anticipate quite how massive this drama would become when it aired in 2018. The six-part series followed Home Secretary Julia Montague as she got rather too close with her bodyguard. The pair dodged attacks and romantic liaisons before a mid-season shock moment that nobody saw coming. We were floored.
The series begins with one of the most compelling opening sequences we’ve even seen – it’s 20 minutes of nerve-jangling tension on a train – and got us all pretending to be government security agents, whispering “Lavender on the Move!” into our shirt cuffs (or was that just us?). It was one of the most discussed TV shows in years and ratings went through the roof. Enough time has passed now that it’s worth a rewatch, especially as a second series seems inevitable.
- “Freaking good” – US viewers and critics react to Bodyguard on Netflix
- Will there be a second season of Bodyguard?
Friends
The most popular TV show of all time caused quite the stir when it landed on Netflix, as a new generation of viewers started to tune in and pick holes in the scripts. Millennials were upset the series wasn’t as politically correct as it should be and raised their objections on social media, while the show’s loyal army of fans leapt to its defence. It got tense.
Despite that burst of controversy, Friends is still one of those shows that we love to watch over and over again – the characters, the friendships, the impossible-to-afford central New York apartment, everything about it represents the life we wish we were leading. And even though we know each of the 236 episodes word for word, it’s weirdly comforting to watch them all again.
Although it’s never hard to find this series somewhere on the telly, Netflix gives us the chance to either binge a series from start to finish or hand-pick our favourite episodes – the one with Ross’s sandwich, the one with the apartment swap, the one where Ross and Rachel were on a break – whichever one you fancy. The dream.
- When is the Friends reunion special released? Cast, latest news and everything you need to know
- The 15 funniest Friends episodes on Netflix, ranked
- More on Friends
Peaky Blinders
One of the biggest drama hits the BBC has produced in the last decade, Steven Knight’s Peaky Blinders is so popular it now even has its own festival in Birmingham where fans can come along, dress up, meet the cast and listen to bands playing songs from the soundtrack of the show.
This Cillian Murphy-starring crime epic has an ensemble cast including Helen McCrory, Paul Anderson and Sophie Rundle and has won acclaim all over the world, with everyone from Tom Cruise to the late David Bowie singing its praises. That’s quite a broad fanbase, but the Brummie-based 1920s gang series really does have something for everyone. Sharp suits, sharper razor blades and performances that cut through all the usual period dross. All five series are available to watch on Netflix.
- Where does the name Peaky Blinders come from?
- Peaky Blinders music – all the songs on the soundtrack for seasons 1-5
- More on Peaky Blinders
Narcos/Narcos: Mexico
This is a spectacular drama series, too often unfairly dismissed as a successor to Breaking Bad. The story, based on real events, follows the never-ending game of cat and mouse between infamous drug king Pablo Escobar, the Colombian authorities and the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration), breaking down the myths and telling the story of Escobar’s turbulent life. The first two series were filmed in Colombia, where Escobar made his billions distributing cocaine, and takes us from the late 1970s to the early 1990s, when the authorities finally caught up with him.
The series returned for a third outing, but with the Escobar story told it turned its attention to the new drug lords on the block the Cali Cartel. Season four was initially intended to follow the same path, but development led the writers in another direction entirely, with a spin-off called Narcos: Mexico, exploring the country’s war on drugs and taking inspiration from real-life incidents.
- Narcos: Mexico season two – out now
- Who are the Guadalajara cartel? The real history behind Narcos: Mexico
- Narcos: meet the real DEA agents who were on the trail of Pablo Escobar
Fear City: New York vs the Mafia
There’s something incredibly gripping about stories of the Mafia. Look at the success of gangsters in pop culture and you’ll see we positively love them – the likes of The Godfather, Goodfellas and Peaky Blinders set the precedent for gritty, hard-hitting and captivating series. Only last year, Netflix made its way into the Mob world with The Irishman.
Now, the platform has combined this apparent passion for the Mafia with its skill for producing slick and fascinating documentaries. Fear City: New York vs the Mafia centres on the FBI mission to shut down The Five Families of New York City in the 1970s and 1980s. Then, mobsters ruled the entirety of the Big Apple for years, but in particular, those two decades were the peak of the Italian American dynasties.
Anyone with a mild interest in the Mafia will find this essential viewing – and if you thought The Wire was exciting, wait until you see the real thing.
- Netflix’s Fear City’s gripping true story – from RICO to Lucky Luciano and The Commission
- More on Fear City: New York vs the Mafia
RuPaul’s Drag Race
Gentlemen: start your engines. While the UK’s first series of the drag queen competition aired to critical acclaim, the US – and original – version of the contest is available to watch on Netflix. It follows the same format as the British show: a group of fierce queens fight for the title of the next drag superstar, each hoping to impress head judge RuPaul Charles with their charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent (we’ll let you work out that acronym for yourself).
Sure, it’s not the most high-minded TV, but the contest, now in its 12th season, is packed with shady shenanigans, high couture, plenty of gags (ahem) and unmissable drama. And that’s before we mention the guest judges, which have included Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, Whoopi Goldberg, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jeff Goldblum and Lizzo.
Most importantly, however, it’s all very warm-hearted. Despite the regular arguments, each episode also sees the queens support each other through the contest’s hardships. And this well-meaning feel is hammered home by Ru herself, each week reminding contestants and viewers alike: “If you don’t love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?”
- RuPaul’s Drag Race season 13 and All Stars 6 confirmed
- RuPaul’s Drag Race queens star in brand new spin-off series
- More on RuPaul’s Drag Race
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
For at least a certain generation, knowing all the lyrics to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme tune was a right of passage just as important as snogging behind the bike sheds or owning a shiny Charizard – depending on what kind of kid you were at school.
With the recent news that legendary Will Smith sitcom is being rebooted as gritty drama Bel-Air, why not go back to where it all began and relive the magic on Netflix?
It’s a whopping 30 years since rapper Smith made his acting debut in an NBC sitcom in which he played a fictionalised version of himself: a swaggering, wise-cracking teenager who is sent to live with his wealthy aunt and uncle after getting into a fight.
All six seasons are there for you to savour, and in our opinion, that’s a weekend well spent. All together now:
“Now this is a story all about how
My life got flipped turned upside-down…”
The Staircase
The original true crime documentary, the remarkable story of the trial of Michael Peterson is the result of film-maker Jean-Xavier de Lestrade’s vision for a new style of crime reporting. Originally airing in 2004, Netflix acquired the rights and released the series in 2018 with three new episodes that delved back into the troubling case and within a few days it became one of the most talked-about shows of the year.
“I’ve spent 16 years of my life on this story,” de Lestrade told Radio Times. “And while that isn’t full-time filming and editing across the years, there’s not really been a day when it hasn’t been in my head.”
Unmissable television for anyone interested in the true crime genre.
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
Celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain’s engaging, charismatic style and warm personality helped him gather a huge following before his tragic death in 2018, with Parts Unknown establishing itself as one of the most refreshing and entertaining cookery shows on television.
All 12 series of the Emmy Award-winning show are available on Netflix, as Bourdain travels the world and investigates the culinary culture of lesser-known locations in countries as diverse as Peru, Congo, Italy and Thailand. Although some episodes are rendered tough to watch given the tragic circumstances of his death, the series remains a wonderful exploration of food and culture – and well worth a watch whether you consider yourself a foodie or not.
Marvel’s Jessica Jones
There’s always a detective, there’s always a dangerous man in an impeccable suit, there’s always untrustworthy clients and lucky left hooks, and there’s always a dame, right at the centre of it all. Cherchez la femme fatale, as fancy waiters say.
This is perhaps the least superheroic (Marvellous?) of Marvel’s output. Krysten Ritter is superb as an indestructible woman who’s broken inside, hiding from her history. Funny, foul-mouthed, brittle and ballsy, Jones feels like the role the Breaking Bad actress has been waiting for. The super-strength is almost a distraction; she’s at her best simply playing a shopworn gumshoe in the big city.
As for David Tennant… he gleefully stamps on your memories of Doctor Who. He allows himself to be utterly vile – you don’t love to hate him, you simply hate him. He is every abusive spouse and controlling boyfriend you’ve ever had, the ones who made you not yourself, the ones you can’t escape.
Three seasons are available to savour on Netflix.
Marvel’s Daredevil
Many fans believe that Netflix’s Daredevil is one of the best pieces of entertainment that the MCU has ever spawned – for a franchise that features some of the biggest films of all time, that’s no small feat. But it’s a fair comment, as this gripping drama brought Marvel’s Man without Fear into live action stunningly well, telling an action-packed story filled with suspense that delves into New York City’s criminal underworld.
Charlie Cox plays Matt Murdock, an attorney who was blinded in a terrible accident as a child, which heightened his other senses to a superhuman level. By day, he seeks justice in the courtroom and by night, he cleans up the streets in the guise of a vigilante known as Daredevil. His portrayal of the character has been lauded by fans and critics alike, with many still hoping he’ll make the leap to the big screen one day (we can dream!).
Deborah Ann Woll co-stars as troubled legal secretary Karen Page, alongside Elden Henson as Matt’s old friend Franklin “Foggy” Nelson. The series also features memorable portrayals of other major Marvel characters, including Jon Bernthal’s The Punisher, Élodie Yung’s Elektra and, most of all, Vincent D’Onofrio’s frightening performance as Kingpin.
The Stranger
Following on from 2018’s Safe, this is the second collaboration between Netflix and bestselling thriller writer Harlan Coben. It’s a classier, sturdier affair, albeit still crammed with unlikely twists and turns whenever you’re starting to feel comfortable.
Richard Armitage holds it together as the comfy upper-middle-class dad whose world is destroyed by – you guessed it – secrets, lies and perhaps even murder.
The show has a great cast including Ready Player One’s Hannah John-Kamen, Siobhan Finneran, Jennifer Saunders, Shaun Dooley, Paul Kaye, Dervla Kirwan and Anthony Head that will keep you guessing what it was all about until the very end.
Well worth a binge if you like a mystery.
- Find out more about The Stranger on Netflix
- The Stranger season 1 ending explained: Who was the Stranger? (spoilers)
- Will there be a second season of The Stranger on Netflix?
Top Boy
An award-winning drama about gang life and drug dealing on an east London estate, Top Boy ran for two series on Channel 4 in the UK between 2011 and 2013 and completely changed the face of drama. For once this didn’t seem like a middle-class, disconnected writing team trying to throw together a programme about the youth on the streets. The voices and performances felt authentic, and the show won huge acclaim for its realism.
It also caught the attention of rapper Drake. Unlike the rest of us, who have to lump it when our favourite series end, Drake worked with Netflix to finance a revival and get the original writer back on board. He even executive produces the new episodes. Series three, which sees Ashley Walters and Kane Robinson reprise their lead roles, is now available to view and a fourth is on its way. It might take you a couple of episodes to get into the style, but it’s worth it. And it’s so cool that rapper Dave has even joined the cast.
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Star Trek: Discovery
Back in 2017 (long before the excitement of Picard), this was the first Star Trek TV series since Enterprise ended in 2005, and anticipation was high. Luckily the show found its feet in a fiercely confident manner, giving Trekkies exactly what they wanted from the off. The seventh series in the franchise introduces us to a brand-new set of characters boldly going where no man has gone before on the USS Discovery. Jason Isaacs stars as Captain Gabriel Lorca, who tries to balance his personal issues with his responsibilities to the crew.
This series is actually a prequel, so the action takes place a decade before the original series, which featured William Shatner Captain Kirk and Leonard Nimoy as Mr Spock. The United Federation of Planets is at war with the Klingon houses for much of the first season.
Two seasons are available on Netflix, with the third expected at some point in 2020.
Atypical
A warm, heartfelt coming-of-age drama, set in Connecticut, about a family whose 18-year-old son Sam is on the autism spectrum. We follow him as he navigates the trials of dating and relationships, and tries to strengthen his fractured bond with his dad.
The show is created by Robia Rashid, who formerly worked as a producer on How I Met Your Mother and The Goldbergs, so you know you’re in safe hands, and the series goes to great lengths to give an accurate depiction of one man’s experience of autism. There is an autistic writer on the team as well as autistic actors in the cast.
Series 1-3 are available to watch on Netflix, with a fourth and final season expected in 2021.
Arrested Development
This show is the definition of a cult hit. Either you’re obsessed with it and like to go round making chicken noises when you discuss it, or it has passed you by. This is the time to catch up though, as TV’s most dysfunctional family has made its home on Netflix.
The comedy series, starring Jason Bateman and Portia De Rossi, was the brainchild of Hollywood director Ron Howard and originally ran on Fox for three seasons from 2003 to 2006. It’s the story of a spoilt, once-wealthy family who continue their lavish lifestyle despite the fact they can no longer afford it.
After its cancellation there was a long wait before Netflix revived the show in 2013, much to the excitement of its loyal fanbase. The show’s return to screen has not always been smooth though, and the controversy surrounding Jessica Walters and Jeffrey Tambor in the run-up to season five certainly coloured fans’ expectations and left us wondering what the future of the show would be. But it doesn’t change the ground-breaking impact the series once had.
Queer Eye
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy was a big hit in the early noughties. Netflix spied an opportunity to revamp the feel-good series and the reboot struck a chord with viewers around the world, leaving us all crying happy tears. In fact the all-new Fab Five have proved an even greater success than their predecessors.
The misconception with Queer Eye is that it’s purely a makeover show, but actually the wardrobe transformation is a tiny part of the process. It’s really a programme about people who have lost their confidence and stopped caring about themselves. When they start to open up and discuss what’s happened in their lives, the Fab Five respond with the perfect mix of compassion, sensitivity and inspirational ideas. Nobody is forced to cut their hair or paint their living room, it’s a gentle approach that gives people their self-esteem back. The results are life-changing, emotional and joyous.
Tan France provides the style advice, Jonathan Van Ness specialises in male grooming, Bobby is the design expert, Karamo deals with culture and Antoni occasionally chops an avocado.
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Doctor Who
We don’t need to tell you what Doctor Who is all about! But if you’ve recently got back into the show in the Jodie Whittaker/Chris Chibnall era, or if you just fancy a bit of telly nostalgia, why not treat yourself to a few episodes from the NuWho back catalogue? And if you’ve only heard about this show but you’re too embarrassed to admit you’ve never seen an episode, there’s no judgement here – we just recommend you get stuck in now and see what all the fuss is about!
Ten series will take you from the Christopher Eccleston’s headline-grabbing revival of the show in 2005, through to David Tennant’s stint in the TARDIS, Matt Smith’s time as the Doctor and of course Peter Capaldi’s appearances too. But of course it’s not just about the Doctor, you can relive Billie Piper’s iconic performance as Rose and Jenna Colman’s popular turn as Clara as well.
- Karen Gillan wishes she could “redo” her acting on Doctor Who series 5
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Pride and Prejudice
Yes, the Pride and Prejudice, the one with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, guaranteed to make you smile on a sick day, rainy Sunday or Christmas holiday (or period in quarantine at home). If you haven’t seen this definitive TV adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic novel, we insist you do so as soon as is humanly possible.
It’s the story of the five Bennet sisters and their flapping mother, who is obsessed with making sure they all marry well. They have varying levels of success in this pursuit, but it’s headstrong Lizzi we’re most interested in. Very much her own woman, she’s not interested in finding a wealthy match and is repulsed when introduced to the wealthy but arrogant Mr Darcy. Little does she know she’s about to fall in love with him.
Featuring a bizarrely erotic scene in a pond and some of the nation’s best-loved stars, this is a treat from start to finish. Also worth pointing out that the novel was the original inspiration for Bridget Jones’s Diary, so the plot might feel familiar…
You
Elizabeth Lail stars alongside Gossip Girl’s Penn Badgley in this extremely popular stalker thriller, which proved to be a huge hit for Netflix. Don’t look for subtlety or nuance in this show – it’s an unapologetically crowd-pleasing, twisty-turny drama that prioritises gasps and shock value over realism. Go with it and you’ll really enjoy it.
The drama tells the story of a New York book-keeper (who just happens to be a serial killer), who becomes instantly infatuated with one of his customers. Infatuation turns into a dangerous obsession and soon he is consumed by the thought of her, keeping a close eye on her social media and needing to know where she is at all times. She’s blissfully unaware – but how long for?
There’s two series to enjoy (the second season takes place in Los Angeles but we don’t want to spoil series one by telling you any more!) and series three is on the way in 2021.
- You season 2 review: The return of Netflix’s enjoyably trashy thriller
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Sense8
If you’re planning to check out this series, please can we recommend that you put your phone down and give the show your full attention. Because the truth is that even if you’re concentrating with all of your might there’s a good chance you still might not understand what’s going on!
The series is an intricate, sprawling sci-fi invention from the minds of The Wachowskis (who gave us The Matrix series and Jupiter Ascending). It follows a group of eight strangers from different corners of the globe who are connected by shared prophetic visions, known as Sensates. What follows is a tailspin of sex, acrobatic fight scenes and endless intrigue – all sadly cancelled after two seasons.
The show relies on its ensemble cast featuring Daryl Hannah, Tuppence Middleton and Freema Agyeman and is shot all over the world. It has won praise for its inclusion of LGBTQ+ storylines as well as its sense of ambition and scale.
Gilmore Girls
Remember when TV wasn’t all about crime dramas and alternate universes? This sharp-talking, caffeine-fuelled comedy from the early ‘00s was defining moment for many of us and ran for seven seasons. Set in a fictional town in Connecticut, it’s the story of a single mother, Lorelai, and her daughter, Rory as they navigate their lives. While they both face their own challenges, it’s the central relationship between them that’s the beating heart of the show. You’ll feel a huge rush of nostalgia and warmth as you watch.
You may remember this series also made a remarkable comeback thanks to Netflix, with A Year in the Life reuniting the cast for four much-enjoyed episodes.
Watch out for a couple of huge stars who were part of the cast – Melissa McCarthy as Lorelai’s best friend, Sookie St James and Milo Ventimiglia as a love interest for Rory. And if you’re wondering why Rory looks so familiar, we’ll help you out: Alexis Bledel who plays her also stars opposite Elisabeth Moss in The Handmaid’s Tale.
- Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino has “freedom” to make more when timing is right
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Black Books
Britain is famously a nation of shopkeepers, so some of our best-loved sitcoms have been set in shops. From Miranda to Open All Hours, some this nation’s greatest TV pratfalls have taken place in stores.
Somewhere quite a way to the left of those lies a darker, surreal gem from 2000 – new to Netflix this month – that feeds on the particular peculiarities of second-hand bookshops. Black Books is set in a shabby emporium in Bloomsbury, run by one of TV comedy’s greatest characters: Bernard Black.
Played by co-creator Dylan Moran, Bernard is an irascible morass of misanthropy, drunken idiocy and heavy smoking. The only reason he owns a bookshop is so he can spend all day reading. It’s certainly not for meeting the public: he’s wont to chase customers out. The dynamic between Bernard and Manny (Bill Bailey), a mild-mannered accountant hired as a factotum in the first episode, is the driving force of most of the comedy.
The Witcher
Ever since Game of Thrones has ended, people have been looking for the new Game of Thrones – and although almost any fantasy series that’s been made in the past few years has given itself this label, The Witcher has probably had one of the biggest impacts on the fantasy world.
Based on a series of books by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher franchise was already developed for TV and was a very popular video game series before this Netflix adaptation – so it came with a ready-made fan base and weight of expectation.
Starring former Superman Henry Cavill as the titular monster-hunter Geralt of Rivia, a gruff and taciturn swordsman hated and feared by the people he protects from supernatural beasties, it has been received well – and is certainly worth your time if you’re a lover of the fantasy genre.
- The Witcher review: Netflix fantasy series is flawed but fun
- When is The Witcher season 2 on Netflix? Who’s in the cast?
- More on The Witcher
Motherland
Recently added to Netflix, this BBC Two comedy from Catastrophe’s Sharon Horgan looks at the exhausting life of a middle-class mum Julia (Anna Maxwell Martin), who struggles to juggle the demands of her job and her children whilst navigating the catty world of school-gate politics.
Along with keen stay-at-home dad Kevin (Paul Ready) and blunt single mother Liz (Diane Morgan), Julia has to organise the perfect children’s birthday bash, show willing at the school fundraiser and deal with her own mother without letting the “Alpha Mums” and their leader Amanda (played by a superbly sanctimonious Lucy Punch) get to her.
The third series is due out later this year, leaving you plenty of time to sink your teeth into this hilarious take on the stress of parenthood.
When is Motherland season 3 on TV?
Maniac
We’ve seen a fair few bizarre shows in our time, but this series is right up there. The question is: is it trippy and weird in a brilliant way, or just too confusing to get into? That’s for you to decide.
One thing we can promise is star power: Emma Stone and Jonah Hill lead the cast, which also includes legends Sally Field and Gabriel Byrne. The story is loosely based on a Norwegian drama of the same name and introduces us to two strangers who meet during the course of a mind-boggling pharmaceutical trial. What happens next is difficult to explain on paper, but it’s certainly not boring.
There’s only one series of Maniac, so why not brace yourself and see if you can fathom it. Interestingly, it’s directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, who also worked on highly acclaimed drama True Detective, and directs upcoming Bond film No Time to Die.
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- “There is no normal”: Emma Stone and Justin Theroux on mental illness in Netflix’s Maniac
American Crime Story
This anthology series may be a spin-off from American Horror Story, but by no means is it a poor relation. The People vs OJ Simpson, starring Cuba Gooding Junior as OJ and David Schwimmer as Robert Kardashian, was one of the most talked-about series of 2017, and rightly so. It took a case we all think we know and turned it into compelling, edge of your seat drama. At the heart of the story was Sarah Paulson’s stunning performance as lead prosecutor Marcia Clark, who found herself in the glare of the media lens when she was just trying to do her job.
The follow up came with The Assassination of Gianni Versace, starring Darren Criss, Ricky Martin and Penelope Cruz, telling the story of the famous fashion designer’s murder. Both series are currently available to view, while season three, Impeachment is on its way. The third instalment will tell the story of the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky scandal that shook the White House.
- The People vs OJ Simpson brought to life a crucial cultural event for a new generation
- We need to talk about Darren Criss’s killer performance in The Assassination of Gianni Versace
Wild Wild Country
True crime has become one of Netflix’s specialist genres, and there are few better examples of it than Wild Wild Country, the bizarre story of an Indian guru, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, who attempts to build a utopian city in the Oregon desert – and soon sees his followers come into conflict with the locals ranchers.
Released in 2018, the show used extensive archive footage and interviews to chronicle the story, which goes in some pretty unexpected directions that include an attempt at fixing a local election and the first bio-terror attack in the United States and a massive case of illegal wiretapping. There are some extremely memorable interviewees, none more so than the candid and charismatic Ma Anand Sheela, who had served as Baghwan’s right-hand woman.
Fuller House
The slightly cheesy 1980s/90s US sitcom Full House didn’t seem as if it was crying out to be remade back in 2016, when this new version started – but it became a hit. If you’re not familiar with the original, Full House is about Danny Tanner, a recently widowed man trying to raise his three daughters, DJ, Stephanie and Michelle, in San Francisco, California. Because he has a hard time balancing work and raising his kids, he calls on his best friends Jesse Katsopolis and Joey Gladstone to help him out, and they move into his home, effectively making it a “full house”.
Following on, Fuller House is about DJ Tanner-Fuller, Danny Tanner’s eldest daughter, recently widowed and trying to raise her three sons, Jackson, Max and Tommy, in San Francisco, California. Because she has a hard time balancing work and raising her kids, she calls on her sister Stephanie and her best friend Kimmy Gibbler to help her out, and they move into her home, effectively making it a “full(er) house”… (Danny, Jesse and Joey also stop by intermittently to help out.)
It offers a heartfelt but not entirely corny stories about parenting and family wrapped up in jokes viewers of all ages can enjoy.