We get the appeal of a weekly episodic rollout. There’s a little time to breathe between episodes, to let the story marinate, to build up anticipation. That all sounds good, but it crucially requires one thing we don’t like to do: wait.
Enter the binge. A beautiful gift from the 21st century to us television lovers who cannot and will not be told to take a break in between episodes, thank you very much. We are all Veruca Salt: We want the world, and we want it now. Thankfully, Netflix is there for us. For your viewing pleasure, and on your own schedule, here are the best shows to binge on Netflix, from period dramas to Australian comedies and everything in between. Consume at your leisure!
1. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, is a lavish, ebullient triumph, and further evidence that Shonda Rhimes just doesn't miss. Delving into the personal history of the tragic, impulsive, and steely queen we know and love from Bridgerton Seasons 1 and 2, we watch a young girl transform into a formidable monarch — and fall in love along the way. The costumes are sumptuous, the drama juicy, and the romance slow-burning. It checks all the boxes while still making space for a thread of sadness that lends gravitas and complexity to the entire Bridgerton world. An ambitious and beautiful show that fully earns its shining crown as Netflix's newest darling.* — Kristina Grosspietsch, Freelance Contributing Writer
How to watch: Queen Charlotte is now streaming on Netflix.
2. The Diplomat
One of Netflix’s biggest hits of 2023, The Diplomat is a gripping political thriller with a dysfunctional marriage at its core. Keri Russell is Kate Wyler, a career diplomat who is unexpectedly appointed as the new U.S. ambassador to England after a British warship is attacked. Her husband (a magnetic Rufus Sewell) is a former ambassador with a splashy track record and an inability to keep his fingers out of the political pie. With the stakes growing higher each episode, the Wylers attempt to maintain peace, both globally and in their marriage.
The Diplomat is a riveting, refined drama that manages to make international diplomacy thrilling. The performances here are particularly skilled, with its characters each conveying multiple layers of meaning in a single glance. There’s a reason it’s been at the top of streaming charts for weeks — plus, a second season is already in the works.* — K.G.
How to watch: The Diplomat is now streaming on Netflix.
3. Wellmania
Liv Healy (Celeste Barber) is a New York-based Australian food writer who doggedly sticks to her mantra: Seize the day. To Liv, that means partying and living large every second she can. But when she collapses after a fast-paced weekend back in Sydney, she's forced to evaluate her health — or risk losing her American green card and getting trapped in Australia with her family but without her career. Based on the hybrid memoir by Brigid Delaney (who co-created the series with Benjamin Law), Wellmania is a smart, funny, super charming exploration of grief, wellness, and what it means to be OK. A lovely, complex, hilarious watch.* — K.G.
How to watch: Wellmania is now streaming on Netflix.
4. Narcos
Looking for more Pedro Pascal in your life? The internet’s newest crush has been in high demand since his star turns in The Mandalorian and The Last of Us. But before all the “daddy” jokes, Pedro was making a name for himself playing real-life DEA agent Javier Peña in the gripping crime drama Narcos.
Peña and his partner, Stephen Murphy (Boyd Holbrook), work alongside Colombian authorities to take down Pablo Escobar (played with panache by Wagner Moura) and stop the flow of cocaine into the United States. It’s a dark and tense watch that doesn’t shy away from its true-to-life commitment, no matter how brutal. (Peña himself even served as a consultant for the series!) The production value alone will have you hooked, but the writing is smart, the pacing is seductive, and the story is undeniable. — K.G.
How to watch: Narcos is now streaming on Netflix.
5. Arcane
No one expected a show based on a 20-year-old video game to be anything special, but when Netflix's League of Legends TV show Arcane debuted, it straight-up blew everybody out of the water. With breathtaking animation, expansive worldbuilding, and riveting action sequences, Arcane is a wonder to watch — and we haven’t even gotten to the shockingly moving plot yet.
The city of Piltover is divided between the haves and the have nots, the latter all corralled and forgotten in an underground section of the metropolis, Zaun. There, sisters Violet and Jinx and their misfit crew have scraped by on petty thefts and loyalty to each other. But as time goes on and new technology proliferates in Piltover and Zaun, the sisters find themselves on opposite sides of a conflict years in the making. Arcane tells a gripping story of family and love, but also of generational cycles of violence and the ramifications of systemic inequality. It’s captivating, beautiful, imaginative, and stirring — and the soundtrack absolutely slaps. A modern masterpiece. — K.G.
How to watch: Arcane is now streaming on Netflix.
6. From Scratch
Zoe Saldaña has spent much of the last few years in green makeup (for Guardians of the Galaxy) or in a motion capture suit (for Avatar). But in this beautiful, heart-wrenching adaptation of Tembi Locke’s memoir, Zoe Saldaña is just a human in love — and it is captivating.
As Amy, Saldaña travels to Florence to study art against her father’s advice. There she meets Lino, Eugenio Mastrandrea in an electric and swoon-worthy performance as a passionate Sicilian chef who is all in on Amy with his first glance. After a few false starts, a profoundly moving romance ensues, and we watch the pair’s love grow and evolve as life throws challenges their way. From Scratch is enthralling in its intensity, boasts a stellar cast (Danielle Deadwyler, Keith David, Giacomo Gianniotti, and more), and luxuriates in its gorgeous shots of food. You will fall in love with this couple and simply will not be able to stop watching or move on with your life until you find out how their story ends.* — K.G.
How to watch: From Scratch is now streaming on Netflix.
7. Transatlantic
The year is 1940. France has been invaded by Germany, and all-out war is imminent. But hope remains at the Hotel Splendide in Marseille, where a scrappy, ambitious org called the Emergency Rescue Committee is corralling all its resources, legal and…not so legal, to evacuate artists, writers, and thinkers wanted by the Nazi Party. Led by Varian Fry (Cory Michael Smith), Jayne Gold (Gillian Jacobs), and Albert Hirshmann (Lucas Englander), the ERC refuses to abandon their mission, even as the stakes grow ever higher for them and their charges.
This stylish and captivating drama is based on a remarkable true story. The Emergency Rescue Committee helped find safe passage for Hannah Arendt, Max Ernst, Marcel Duchamp, Marc Chagall, and countless other dissenters wanted for the audacity of their ideas. Created by Anna Winger (Unorthodox) and Daniel Hendler, and adapted from Julie Orringer’s original historical fiction novel The Flight Portfolio, Transatlantic is an affecting and scenic mini-series with a sensational international cast.* — K.G.
How to watch: Transatlantic is now streaming on Netflix.
8. Never Have I Ever
Coming-of-age comedies are a dime a dozen, but we’ve never seen one quite like Never Have I Ever. For starters, it’s the rare high school show with an Indian-American girl as its protagonist (Devi, played by Maitreyi Ramakrishnan). For another, it’s narrated by tennis legend John McEnroe, of all freaking people. For yet another, underneath all the uproariously teen hijinks, it turns out to be a sensitive exploration of guilt and grief. We laughed, we cried, we came around on poor little rich boy Ben, we wondered if Devi was kind of a terrible person (she is!), and we loved her all the more for it.* — Angie Han, Former Deputy Entertainment Editor
How to watch: Never Have I Ever is now streaming on Netflix.
9. The Night Agent
Gripping, labyrinthine, and at times disarmingly sweet, Netflix’s spy action-thriller series The Night Agent is an immediate hit. Gabriel Basso is Peter Sutherland, an FBI Agent who mans a phone in the basement of the White House that never rings — until the one night that it does. In helping the person on the other end, Peter suddenly finds himself in the middle of a massive conspiracy, unsure of who he can trust. Based on Michael Quirk’s novel of the same name, The Night Agent feels like Netflix’s 24. It’s a fast-paced, breathless suspense show with a few somewhat implausible plot points that you’ll soon forgive because of its excellent and exhilarating action sequences.* — K.G.
How to watch: The Night Agent is now streaming on Netflix.
10. Beef
Amy Lau (Ali Wong) and Danny Cho (Steven Yeun) both spend a lot of energy taking shit from other people, so when the two strangers almost get into a car accident in the parking lot, something snaps in both of them. They're not letting this one go. Beef is a dark, dark comedy about an escalating series of acts of revenge. And as the characters try hard to mess with the other's life, they end up learning more about each other in the process. It's a provocative, daring social satire that's unlike anything else out there.* — K.G.
How to watch: Beef is streaming on Netflix.
11. Heartstopper
If you missed this impossibly charming British show, please drop everything you’re doing and get to Netflix as quickly as possible. You don’t want to spend another second without this sweet love story in your life! Written by Alice Oseman, adapted from her very popular graphic novel series of the same name, Heartstopper follows an anxious gay high school student, Charlie, who strikes up an unlikely friendship with Nick, a charismatic, seemingly straight rugby player at his school. The two are sat next to each other at the beginning of the semester, and they quickly become inseparable. They’re just friends… Or are they?
Heartstopper is a total triumph. The cast is magnetic, the story is fresh, and the love will leave you feeling warm and bubbly for the rest of the day. Seriously, why aren’t you watching this yet?!* — K.G.
How to watch: Heartstopper is now streaming on Netflix.
12. Wednesday
One part mystery, one part supernatural show, and one part teen drama, Wednesday was an undeniable 2022 breakout hit. The internet was abuzz with star Jenna Ortega’s take on the classic Addams family character, and it’s no wonder — Wednesday is a delight!
After getting kicked out of yet another high school, Wednesday is sent by her parents (Luis Guzmán and Catherine Zeta-Jones, having a ball as Gomez and Morticia Addams) to their old alma mater, Nevermore Academy. There, Wednesday meets werewolves, gorgons, and impossibly broody teens — and finds herself at the center of a complex murder mystery that threatens to engulf the school in scandal. It’s soapy, supernatural teen fun peppered with fantastic characters and plot twists to spare.* — K.G.
How to watch: Wednesday is now streaming on Netflix.
13. Bridgerton
Do you want your period romances to have a little less prestige and a little more sex? Shonda Rhimes is here for you. In Regency-era London, the titular Bridgerton family has a plethora of kids approaching marrying age. Season 1 follows the eldest daughter Daphne’s debut and subsequent love story, while Season 2 sees her brother Anthony (An absolute cad! A veritable rake!) attempt to find himself a suitable wife. All these matches happen under the watchful, indomitable eye of Queen Charlotte, who herself earned a spectacular spinoff in 2023, and the commentary of anonymous gossip columnist Lady Whistledown.
Based on Julia Quinn’s popular novels, Bridgerton has all the trappings of a sweeping period romance: suppressed emotions, longing glances, oppressive societal expectations, gorgeous costumes, and dance scenes dripping with hidden meaning. But it adds to the mix a refreshingly modern sexual intimacy and a cheerful willingness to pander — and that’s what makes it so completely irresistible. — K.G.
How to watch: Bridgerton is now streaming on Netflix.
14. All of Us Are Dead
Combine zombie outbreak with teen drama and you've got All of Us Are Dead. Based on the webtoon by Joo Dong-geun, the South Korean series was written by Chun Sung-Il, directed by Lee Jae-kyoo and Kim Nam-su, and includes superb cinematography from Park Se-seung. The series takes place during a pretty damn intense zombie apocalypse that emerges from Hyosan High School, wherein students balance fighting off their former classmates with...their crushes.* — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor
How to watch: All of Us Are Dead is now streaming on Netflix.
15. The Last Kingdom
If you’re still grumbling to yourself about the last season of Game of Thrones and need a new medieval series to cleanse your palate, The Last Kingdom will certainly do the trick. Adapted from Bernard Cornwell’s historical fiction novels The Saxon Series, The Last Kingdom concerns itself in the tumultuous period of Britain’s past when the Vikings and the Anglo-Saxons were in constant conflict for territory. Uhtred of Bebbanburg (Alexander Dreymon) is an Anglo-Saxon warrior who, as a boy, was ripped from his ancestral home and raised by Danes. Because of his unique position occupying both cultures, and his impressive battle prowess, Uhtred finds himself a key player in King Alfred’s quest to unite the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.
With a sparkling cast of fresh faces (David Dawson, Eliza Butterworth, and Millie Brady, to name a few), thrilling battle sequences, and an endless parade of fantastic Viking braids, this exciting investigation of civility, savagery, and honor will leave you energized and ready for more. To Bebbanburg!!!* — K.G.
How to watch: The Last Kingdom is now streaming on Netflix.
16. Dead to Me
Liz Feldman’s Dead to Me is a genre-defying sensation. Is it a crime show, a buddy comedy, or a mystery? Folks, this series is all that and more. It’s unapologetically focused on women’s stories; its main characters are all over 40; and it times out at 30 minutes an episode. That’s what we in the biz call “a triumph.”
Christina Applegate found a fantastic role in Jen, an angry and sarcastic recent widow who is getting precisely nothing out of her SoCal grief group — until she meets the impossibly nice Judy (a criminally charming Linda Cardellini). Judy and Jen become fast friends, but how much does Jen really know about her new companion? With all its mystery, murder, and subterfuge, Dead to Me remains a funny and optimistic watch. Thanks to the bubbly chemistry of the two leads and an inspired casting of James Marsden, Dead to Me goes down like a nice glass of wine, which Jen and Judy consume in abundance.* — K.G.
How to watch: Dead to Me is now streaming on Netflix.
17. The Dragon Prince: Mystery of Aaravos
Set in a rich fantasy world, The Dragon Prince is a fun and adventurous epic full of dragons, magic, and evil courtiers. The story centers around a young, idealistic human prince, his caring half-brother, and a playful elf-assassin, all brought together by a quest to heal the rift between their two peoples. They and their friends are deeply relatable, in part because the show allows them to make mistakes and change their minds. It’s certainly an achievement for a cartoon to explore both the nuances of the human condition and deliver a sweeping magical set-piece in under 30 minutes, but The Dragon Prince does so with grace — and a whole lot of whimsical jokes.
Need another reason to watch? The Dragon Prince’s cast of characters features a full spectrum of skin color, sexual orientation, and physical ability, and all are treated with simple, almost mundane respect by those around them. This casual, wholehearted inclusion of under-represented groups elevates The Dragon Prince from a great show to an exceptional show, and one of the few in the fantasy genre to get diversity right. — K.G.
How to watch: The Dragon Prince: Mystery of Aaravos is now streaming on Netflix.
18. Top Boy
Created by Ronan Bennett, Top Boy first aired in the UK from 2011 to 2013, originally set in the fictional Summerhouse public housing estate in East London, and featuring drug dealers Dushane and Sully (Ashley Walters and Kane Robinson). Drake revived the show for Netflix alongside Adel Nur, Maverick Carter, and Jamal Henderson in 2019, with Walters and Robinson returning to their roles, and Lover's Rock star Micheal Ward joining as new gang leader Jamie.
This meaty drama, which has been compared to HBO’s The Wire, is startlingly grounded, anchored by a young, talented cast that radiates with vulnerability. This is television at its best.* — K.G.
How to watch: Top Boy is now streaming on Netflix.
19. Squid Game
Thanks to a nail-biting premise and life-or-death stakes, it's almost impossible not to binge the record-breaking phenomenon Squid Game in one or two sittings.
The 456 participants in the titular Squid Game are all in financial trouble and have agreed to play children's games in exchange for money. The catch? If they lose, they die. Squid Game leans fully into the brutality of its premise, contrasting pastel playground aesthetics with tragedy and gore. However, the show also makes time for plenty of substance by fleshing out the relationships between its leads and interrogating the royally messed-up circumstances that led to each player ending up in this position.* — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: Squid Game is now streaming on Netflix.
20. Sweet Tooth
Love post-apocalyptic science fiction, but wish it could be a little bit cuter? Then Sweet Tooth is the show for you. At the same time that a pandemic wipes out a huge chunk of the population, human babies start randomly being born with various animal features (monkey tails, elephant trunks, you name it!). Humanity, unsurprisingly, does not respond well to these new hybrids, ostracizing and hunting them into hiding. Enter Gus (Christian Convery), a sweet little boy with deer antlers on a journey to find his mother, under the reluctant, begrudging care of Big Man (Nonso Anozie).
Sweet Tooth is both lovely and dark, with some twisted revelations beneath that childlike wonder that will leave you reeling. It's kind of like The Last of Us, but, you know…sweeter.* — K.G.
How to watch: Sweet Tooth is now streaming on Netflix.
21. You
Developed by two drama veterans, Greg Berlanti (Dawson's Creek, Everwood, Riverdale) and Sera Gamble (The Magicians, Supernatural), You was bound to be a hit. Adapted from Caroline Kepnes' novels, the thriller series follows Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley), a New York bookstore manager who becomes obsessed with an aspiring writer. Obsession evolves to stalking evolves to… Well, we can’t tell you. You have to watch and find out! It’s a darkly magnetic show that deconstructs romantic comedy tropes and deeply investigates the roots of violent behavior. Disturbing and superb.* — K.G.
How to watch: You is now streaming on Netflix.
22. Derry Girls
Set in the '90s in Northern Ireland during the Troubles (sectarian conflict between nationalists and unionists), Derry Girls follows teenagers Erin, Clare, Michelle, and Orla, who attend Our Lady Immaculate convent school in the town of Derry. And yes, there's James, too.
Created and written by Lisa McGee, who grew up in Derry, the show examines what daily life during the Troubles was like, and presents a fresh, stereotype-shaking portrayal of Northern Irish women. As Mashable's Rachel Thompson writes, "An inaccurate — and extremely irritating — TV and film stereotype is doing a disservice to the women of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Often, in TV and films, female characters from the island of Ireland are portrayed as victims. But Derry Girls...is turning that tired-out trope on its head." Plus, the soundtrack is packed with '90s nostalgia.* — S.C., R.T.
How to watch: Derry Girls is now streaming on Netflix.
23. Maid
Created by Molly Smith Metzler and adapted from Stephanie Land’s bestselling memoir Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive, Maid is an absolute gut punch that will likely make you cry more than once. Margaret Qualley is excellent as Alex, a young woman struggling to leave an abusive relationship while continuing to care for her toddler daughter; she’s paired with her real-life mother Andie McDowell, who is fantastic as Alex’s well-meaning but unreliable mom.
We follow Alex’s agonizing journey, from navigating a women’s shelter to facing the baffling catch-22’s of the American welfare system (she can’t get state-sponsored child care without a job, but she can’t get a job without child care), and more. It’s a powerful meditation on perseverance, as well as a brutal examination of how incredibly short the United States falls in supporting those struggling to survive.* — K.G.
How to watch: Maid is now streaming on Netflix.
24. Sex Education
Awkward teen Otis Milburn’s (Asa Butterfield) mother Jean (Gillian Anderson) is a sex therapist, so he follows in her footsteps and sets up a sex therapy clinic at his high school with the rebellious and independent Maeve (Emma Mackey). Students from all over the social hierarchy show up to get advice on intimacy, their relationships, and everything in between. It’s a refreshingly sex-positive and cringe-free show that leaves space for each character, Otis included, to figure themselves out at their own pace. Created by Laurie Nunn, Sex Education has been a bona fide launching pad for its cast, which is sparkling: Ncuti Gatwa, Connor Swindells, Aimee Lou Wood, Simone Ashley, and more. — K.G.
How to watch: Sex Education is now streaming on Netflix.
25. The Empress
The year is 1853, and Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria needs a wife! The headstrong Elisabeth "Sisi" of Bavaria accompanies her demure sister Helene to meet Franz, as Helene has been groomed to wed the young monarch. Much to everyone’s surprise, Franz is completely taken with Sisi’s rebellious, self-assured, and unpredictable nature — but will the traditional empire fall for her as well?
The Empress is a sumptuous German period drama, full of ornate costumes, courtly maneuvering, and longing glances from opposite sides of a perfectly manicured garden. Don’t let the subtitles hold you back: This addicting, swoon-worthy love story was one of the most popular non-English series of 2022.* — K.G.
How to watch: The Empress is now streaming on Netflix.
26. When They See Us
The most culturally significant project Netflix released in 2019, Ava DuVernay's When They See Us revisits the case of the Central Park Five in excruciating detail. Examining the wrongful convictions of five Black and Latino men — Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise — for rape in 1989 (for which they would be exonerated over a decade later), this poignant true-crime miniseries offers a heart-wrenching look at the ongoing flaws in our justice system. A powerful watch, When They See Us highlights the insidious biases that plague our society and the vulnerable people put at risk.* — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporte
How to watch: When They See Us is now streaming on Netflix.
27. The Umbrella Academy
Based on the comic book illustrated by Gabriel Bá and written by Gerard Way (of My Chemical Romance fame!), The Umbrella Academy is a highly stylized, darkly funny superhero series about seven kids with powers and the eccentric billionaire who tried to make them all into both a family and a crime-fighting team (the titular Umbrella Academy). Things…didn’t go so great on either front. Years after they’ve all gone their separate ways, the dysfunctional group reconvenes at their father’s unexpected funeral and discovers there’s more to his mysterious death than meets the eye. Specifically, the impending apocalypse.
The Umbrella Academy is splashy, geeky, and exciting, with a truly fantastic cast (Elliot Page, Kate Walsh, Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher, Mary J. Blige, Cameron Britton, John Magaro, Adam Godley, Colm Feore — the list goes on!) that brings a grounded layer of emotion to this magnetic and imaginative ride. — K.G.
How to watch: The Umbrella Academy is now streaming on Netflix.
28. The Haunting of Hill House
Inspired by Shirley Jackson’s novel of the same name, The Haunting of Hill House is a remarkable feat of both horror and drama, as its cast of characters are forced to reckon with ghosts both literal and figurative. Alternating between past and present, the show explores the Crain family’s paranormal experiences at their childhood home, and all the ways the house's ghosts followed them into adulthood. A bundle of plot twists, Easter eggs, and perfectly executed jump scares, The Haunting of Hill House is an exploration of fright as much as it is of feeling, with a supernatural story grounded in the complexities of family.* — Yasmeen Hamadeh, Freelance Contributing Writer
How to watch: The Haunting of Hill House is now streaming on Netflix.
29. Peaky Blinders
Cillian Murphy is captivating as Tommy Shelby, troubled head of the Birmingham gang the Peaky Blinders, known for sticking razors in their caps and slitting throats with them. He’s a thinker, and his elaborate plans, be they for money, family, or revenge, will always keep you gasping. As will the very real trauma Tommy and his brother silently shoulder from their horrific experience as trench diggers in WWI.
Peaky Blinders is a brutal, violent, and deeply affecting show with a raucous soundtrack and a fantastic cast (RIP Helen McCrory). It will swallow you whole with its authenticity and stunning cinematography. You’ll be shocked by how quickly you’ll find yourself rooting for these murderers, smugglers, and thieves — proof positive of the elegant writing behind each episode of this absolutely superb series.* — K.G.
How to watch: Peaky Blinders is now streaming on Netflix.
30. Ginny & Georgia
Taylor Swift's least favorite show about a dysfunctional mother-daughter duo, Ginny & Georgia, is back for another insane season!!! Brianne Howey is Georgia, the magnetic and impulsive 30-year-old mother of teenage Ginny (Antonia Gentry), who is quiet and serious. (There's a younger brother too, but he's not in the title so we don't care about him.) It's like Gilmore Girls, if the Gilmore Girls writers swore a solemn vow to never reject a pitch, no matter how unreasonable. What starts as a soapy family drama quickly expands to include motorcycle gangs, identity theft, fraud, murder, and more! Anything is possible in Ginny & Georgia, and Season 2 is no exception. Beautiful, perfect nonsense. There's nothing like it.* — K.G.
How to watch: Ginny & Georgia is now streaming on Netflix.
31. Russian Doll
Russian Doll gets as close to a perfect Netflix binge watch as possible.
It’s short, with eight 30-minute episodes forming its first season. It’s bold, covering themes of mortality, trauma, and human connection against the backdrop of New York’s East Village. And it’s flat-out hilarious to boot. Natasha Lyonne co-created and starred as Nadia, a woman who becomes trapped in a time loop after dying on her 36th birthday. Nadia’s Groundhog Day–esque adventure becomes increasingly complex as the series progresses and she races against the loop to discover why she can’t stop dying — and what her loop has to do with Alan, an alleged stranger who’s experiencing the exact same cycle.* — Alexis Nedd, Senior Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: Russian Doll is now streaming on Netflix.
32. The Great British Baking Show
Few cooking competitions are as comforting — or as compulsively watchable — as The Great British Baking Show, which is full of challenging bakes, lovable contestants, and so, so many innuendos. What really makes The Great British Baking Show special are the contestants, who are all gifted amateur bakers. Once you see the kinds of elaborate concoctions they’re able to whip up, you'll be tearing through season after season, rooting for everyone you see and marveling at their scrumptious works. It won't be long before you're jumping to put on an apron and get baking yourself. Just be sure to avoid the dreaded soggy bottoms.* — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Fellow
How to watch: The Great British Baking Show is now streaming on Netflix.
33. Avatar: The Last Airbender
Haven't seen Avatar: The Last Airbender yet? Consider this a sign to binge it immediately. Avatar is an absolute banger of a series, with enough jaw-dropping fight scenes, memorable characters, and meme-able moments to satisfy all your TV needs. I dare you not to fall in love with Aang and his friends, or sympathize with Zuko, or recite the show's iconic opening every time you watch a new episode.
On top of all its awesomeness, Avatar is full of solid life lessons and sage advice, mostly coming from World's Best TV Father Figure Uncle Iroh. You'll feel just as comforted watching this show as you'll feel floored by its epic storyline. And once you're done bingeing Avatar, check out its sequel series, The Legend of Korra (another absolute banger), also streaming on Netflix. — B.E.
How to watch: Avatar: The Last Airbender is now streaming on Netflix.
34. The Chair
The Chair isn’t without its flaws, but you do get a lot for a little with this smart dramedy from creators Amanda Peet and Annie Julia Wyman. Set on the campus of the fictional Pembroke University, Season 1 of The Chair follows English department head Dr. Ji-Yoon Kim (Sandra Oh) as she grapples with a scandal involving her fellow professor and love interest (Jay Duplass). Choppy pacing and some muddled messaging around cancel culture make this an imperfect yet worthy binge, clocking in at six episodes in just three hours.* — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter
How to Watch: The Chair is now streaming on Netflix.
35. The Good Place
If you haven't seen Mike Schur's captivating tale of life after death, then you're in for a mother forking good time. Starring Kristen Bell, Ted Danson, Jameela Jamil, D'Arcy Carden, Manny Jacinto, and William Jackson Harper, the series takes a hard look at what it means to be a good person through the best comedic lens since The Office.
As any true Good Place fan knows, you can't detail the events of this series without risking giving something away. So, you're gonna have to trust us. Get through the first episode, and we promise you'll be hooked.* — A.F.
How to watch: The Good Place is now streaming on Netflix.
*denote the blurb originally appeared in another Mashable streaming list.
UPDATE: Jun. 13, 2023, 4:11 p.m. EDT This post has been republished to reflect Netflix's current offerings.
Topics Netflix Streaming Watch Guides
