20 of the Best Netflix Shows
It's got to the point where it's hard to complain about the selection of movies and TV shows you've already seen on Netflix since they are going hard with their original content!
It's time for this site to weigh in on which Netflix shows are worth investing in!
TV Show/Rank:
#20- Big Mouth (September 29, 2017)
Reason Why:
Despite the bright colours and children at the center of the stories, it's clear this show is made for adults to think back to when they were the age of the main characters. A lot of what gets brought up in Big Mouth forced me to assess what was going on in my head before and during puberty. Even though some of it made me feel very uncomfortable, it was all funny to see versions of what was going on in my head represented on the screen. It didn't hurt that I was led to assume that I was getting insight into what happened to the women in my life.
TV Show/Rank:
#19- Atypical (August 11, 2017)
Reason Why:
I didn't want to watch this show, but I finally broke down and thoroughly enjoyed watching with Pauline. The magic trick with this show is making sure that the audience doesn't have cause to laugh at Sam. While Sam is the source of many of the comedic moments, it is because he's navigating the dating world not just because of his Autisim. Atypical also delves into heavy topics as Sam's parents and sisters try to carve out a life for themselves while also being their for their son/brother with Autisim.
TV Show/Rank:
#18- American Vandal (September 15, 2017)
Reason Why:
It took me a while to get into American Vandal but I'm not sure why. It's got all the trappings of Serial and a great mocumentary. Unfortunately, like Serial, I fear this show may suffer in the second season as the focus shifts and the magic of the first season isn't able to be captured. The good news is, as a one off, the show has levels and episodes that force you to start the next episode without a bathroom break. There is the humour that comes with following high school students but there is also a genuine interest in getting to the bottom of the mystery with a bitter sweet resolution... that kind of just ends up being bitter.
TV Show/Rank:
#17- Love (February 19, 2016)
Reason Why:
I wasn't the biggest fan of the second season since the first season made a good case for me to root for the two leads of Love to part ways. Having said all of that, it is a show I still enjoy watching mostly to see how the supporting characters interact with Mickey and Gus. I also enjoy how Los Angeles is photographed on this show and have no real explanation for why.
TV Show/Rank:
#16- Dear White People (April 28, 2017)
Reason Why:
For my full thoughts on why Dear White People is so good, you should read the initial review I wrote HERE. I don't have anything new to say about the show. I liked it and want to see more of it!
TV Show/Rank:
#15- Lady Dynamite (May 20, 2016)
Reason Why:
I've also talked about Lady Dynamite and my love for Maria Bamford before. But what I like about the show is the fact that, for the first season at least, you couldn't passively watch. Depending on the hue of any given scene you may be in a different time period of Maria's life. The jokes come at you quickly and the pace of the show doesn't really give you time to relax. I'm sure that can be off putting for people but I believe Maria is likeable enough that people will be willing to put in the work to keep up.
TV Show/Rank:
#14- Chewing Gum (Acquired 2016)
Reason Why:
Chewing Gum benefits from such a likeable main character. It helps that Michaela Coel writes the show herself. She has been able to truly create a one of a kind character with really funny supporting characters to spare. You can be just invested in Tracey's sexual awakening as her sister, Cynthia, or her best friend, Cynthia's, story lines.
TV Show/Rank:
#13- Orange is the New Black (July 11, 2013)
Reason Why:
Orange is the New Black, like most shows on this list, features enough engaging characters that you don't mind, or notice, when the focus has shift away from the ostensible main characters. It's also a show that has brought me to tears. You can't help but caught up in the trials and tribulations of the inmates and some of the staff.
TV Show/Rank:
#12- Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (March 6, 2015)
Reason Why:
I'm all about the jokes per minute ratio being high. As such, I'm all in for Tina Fey comedy. I love how densely the jokes are packed into each scene and how at the core of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is a woman who survived something that should have broken her and she is still optimistic about life. Nothing wrong with living in that world for 13 or so episodes at a time.
TV Show/Rank:
#11- Daredevil (April 10, 2015)
Reason Why:
I know everyone thinks Daredevil is the strongest of the Marvel Netflix shows, and it is a strong show, but I think he took too long to get a suit in season one and season two had too many moments of Foggy nagging Matt without making the decision to just part ways like Karen. Anything that has me tapping on the table hoping to move on can't be the strongest. Here are my thoughts on Season 1 and Season 2 in Spoiled Rotten form.
TV Show/Rank:
#10- Black Mirror (Continued October 21, 2016)
Reason Why:
I wanted Black Mirror to be just like the Twilight Zone where people got their comeuppance or I learn something about myself and universal truths. This show is not exactly that. Sometimes horrible things just happen to people because they can. In that sense, I have to respect this show for not following another show's playbook but it gets too dark for me sometimes. The post-Netflix season was a little more balanced though. All I know is if anything sticks with me the way some Black Mirror episodes do then I have to respect it.
TV Show/Rank:
#9- Luke Cage (September 30, 2016)
Reason Why:
My initial reaction to Luke Cage can be found HERE as part of the Spoiled Rotten podcast. I guess I could add that I will look at you funny if you don't appreciate what was on screen during this show. Sure Luke Cage is the least interesting character in his own show, but that mostly speaks to how amazing everyone else is. I'm also not sold on the idea that certain audiences had a hard time adjusting to the predominantly black cast. Bring on season 2!
TV Show/Rank:
#8- BoJack Horseman (August 22, 2014)
Reason Why:
I hated on BoJack Horseman initially. I can't deny it. I watched like 3/4s of an episode with Pauline and was put off by how unfunny I thought it was. It wasn't until I went back because I wanted to see more than gifs of Vincent Adultman that I realized that BoJack is good because it examines everything that is sad in the world while still giving you enough to laugh about. I binged this show but good recently, now I'm sad that I actually have to wait for another season instead of when I was thinking about the 3+ seasons I still had to get through.
TV Show/Rank:
#7- Jessica Jones (November 20, 2015)
Reason Why:
For my money, Jessica Jones is the strongest of the Marvel Netflix shows. It suffers the least from the bloated season length, and has a truly captivating main villain. I also feel like Luke Cage comes off as way more interesting in this show than his own show. Either way, you can hear my thoughts on the show in more detail HERE Spoiled Rotten style!
TV Show/Rank:
#6- Arrested Development (Continued May 26, 2013)
Reason Why:
I get that people don't like the Netflix season of Arrested Development. There are two things at play here though. One was that no one was going to love this show after building it up in their heads for years. It's a dope show and it had the uphill battle with nostalgia that every remake or late sequel faces. The other thing is I don't know that people were used to the Netflix binge model yet. They were used to every episode telling a more or less contained story. Arrested Development has always had overarching story lines and jokes so it fits in the Netflix binge model for sure. Instead of saying "I didn't like the second episode" people just needed to finish the season and see how everything came together. Definitely more active than passive viewing for this one.
TV Show/Rank:
#5- Stranger Things (July 15, 2016)
Reason Why:
I enjoyed Stranger Things' first season and wrote about how I felt about Stranger Things 2 HERE. I'm here for the amazing casting and refusal to follow the usual tropes for stories like this one. Yes some of the tropes remain like bullies like Billy, but, on the whole, the show has interesting characters that feel realer than archetypes or 80s nostalgia place holders.
TV Show/Rank:
#4- House of Cards (February 1, 2013)
Reason Why:
Well it looks like House of Cards may have come to an end but it's the OG Netflix show and had an extremely strong first two seasons with some good stuff sprinkled throughout the rest of the run. I don't want to focus on the face of this show because a big part of this show's magic comes from Claire Underwood. Claire's ascension to power throughout the seasons came from showing that you should be just as scared of her as her husband, if not more scared. The way the Underwood's plans would unfold would genuinely surprise me and I rooted for them to stay on top even though they're evil. Quite the magic trick.
TV Show/Rank:
#3- GLOW (June 23, 2017)
Reason Why:
I'm a sucker for the ragtag misfits join forces with a disgraced/surly mentor to achieve something that will most likely impress the misfits family members. GLOW is The Mighty Ducks, Cool Runnings, and any other sports movie you grew up with and respect as much or more than the ones I mentioned but with some dark roads to go down and some truly amazing characters to spend time with. I watched this whole season twice in a row because I liked what was going on so much!
TV Show/Rank:
#2- Master of None (November 6, 2015)
Reason Why:
Everything I have to say about Master of None was said HERE and to Pauline ad nauseum. I dig stories about trying to make connections plus I love just pal-ing around so this show has it all for me. Just watch it and tell me you didn't find something to relate to in this show.
TV Show/Rank:
#1- Ozark (July 21, 2017)
Reason Why:
I like to keep this on the hush, but I'm not the biggest Breaking Bad fan. I always thought, until the final season that was broken into two, that there was a lot of wheel spinning till the final 4 episodes of a season. I also wasn't a fan of how indecisive Walt was in the beginning. I get that it's realistic, but I don't need to watch people be as clueless as I am on TV. I want bold choices to be made, even if they're the wrong ones. There's no point in telling ordinary stories about ordinary people. Enter Ozark. All of the secrets and lies are stripped away for Marty. What we get is a guy and his family who all have the same info (for the most part) and are constantly trying to get out of sticky situations. I love it! Marty knows how to talk to people, and even when he doesn't he knows how to talk to the person who might be able to help. I loved that every character had their own struggle and no one was painted into a nagging role. Just great edge of your seat TV.
-YG