From Spine chilling thrillers to Sci-fi, Netflix has lots of award-winning original TV shows to ‘Go Bingeing’!
In today’s world of streaming entertainment, Netflix is undoubtedly been the game changer. Netflix popularised the phenomenon of binge-watching, this is why most Netflix original TV shows are written in such a way that they make you glued at the edge of your seat.
In 2013, Netflix original series House of Cards became the first Netflix original streaming series to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy. In 2021, Netflix’s received 129 nominations, eventually winning 44. But ever since their first, the original content library has grown exponentially with an enormous volume of original and classic content, including Netflix’s library of television shows, there is literally something for everyone. Choosing what to watch amid Netflix’s endless scroll can be daunting. So I am here to rescue ,below is the list of top Netflix Original Series you should be binge-watching if you haven’t already.
1. Stranger Things
Genre: Science fiction, Horror, Drama
IMDb Rating : 8.7/10 ; Rotten Tomatoes : 97%
What happens when you combine E.T., Carrie, The Goonies, Firestarter, and Super 8? You get this awesomeness called Stranger Things. Every single thing about it is perfection. Set in the 1980s, the series revolves around the mysterious disappearance of a young kid in a small, suburban town of Hawkins, Indiana. Each of the main characters has undergone dramatic changes since the first season and it’s easy for the audience to become somehow attached with at least one of the characters. Secondly, the pacing is excellent. Never in the series will you feel bored, there is always something happening! I guess that’s a perk of having a large ensemble cast of characters. Overall, this series is brilliant and definitely worth the watch for anyone, despite the genre.
2. Dark
Genre : Science fiction, Thriller, Mystery
IMDb : 8.8/10 ; Rotten Tomatoes : 95%
In 2019 an eleven year old Mikkel Nielson goes missing from Winden-a small town in Germany. What follows is a series or rather a can full of unimaginable events. Dark is a mind-boggling, sci-fi series involving complex time travel paradox. It’s a labyrinth of multi-layered timelines, complex relationships with all their fates interlinked. It is a baffling show with wormholes, blackholes and even the god particle! This show explores the possibility of the existence of parallel universe that humans have been contemplating since years. It will leave you speculating your role in the universe and make you realize that ‘you are just a drop in the ocean’. This is definitely one of the most intriguing and memorable show I have ever seen so far.
3. Sex Education
Genre : Comedy-drama, Sex comedy, Coming-of-age story
IMDb : 8.3/10; Rotten Tomatoes : 96
The story is set in an American-themed, British high school. The series is hilarious and bawdy throughout, promising a burst of good laughter. The writers have done a brilliant job in balancing the thought-provoking/emotional moments and humorous sequences very well. Sex Education explores so many important topics, sexual assault, abortion, a massive range of LGBT representation, family issues, sexual health, just to name a few. All these topics are treated with sensitivity, but the show manages to remain light hearted and upbeat throughout all this. It’s an amazing web series and you will definitely get an eye opening, enjoyable, visceral and immersive experience while watching it. It’s a much watch for everyone.
4. Narcos
Genre : Crime drama, Biographical
IMDb : 8.8/10 , Rotten Tomatoes : 89%
Narcos depicts the Columbian cartels during the 80’s. The construction and pacing of the narrative immerses the viewer inside the drug trafficking underbelly. Holbrook’s and Pascal’s subtle and sarcastic narrative adds to the intensity of the series. The storyline revolves around the efforts of two agents from different countries working together to take down the cartels and the obstacles they faced. It addresses the drug trade from all points of view including law enforcement, politicians, traffickers, media and the victims left in the wake. The most notable kingpin targeted is Pablo Escobar and unless you’ve been living under a rock, that name is well known. Narcos is a pure, raw and gritty, definitely worth a watch.
5.The Witcher
Genre : Action-adventure, Fantasy
IMDb : 8.2/10 ; Rotten Tomatoes : 68%
The Witcher is a story about three characters, a mutant monster hunter named Geralt, (the Witcher), a sorceress named Yennifer and a princess named Ceri. How they live in different time lines, doing their own things, until eventually Geralt meets both of them. Henry as Geralt is a perfect choice it’s difficult to imagine other actors playing that particular character. The Witcher certainly had the setting, they got the music right and the story was well told. It has so much complexity due to its characters. Every character brings a different aspect of how the story makes you feel. I highly recommend adding “The Witcher” to your watch list.
6. Lucifer
Genre : Occult detective fiction, Urban fantasy
IMDb : 8.1/10 ; Rotten Tomatoes : 88%
The show is about Satan himself getting tired of the same old damnation and torture of restless souls. So he decides to take a vacation in LA for a few months. After a lot of sex, drugs, and drinking, he decides to stay for a little longer, and then he gets caught up in a murder investigation with a very pretty detective who he starts to catch feelings for. Thanks to great director who managed to pull this off and create something amazing out of a comic character who never got enough attention. This TV show has everything in it, it’s a chaotic mix of emotions all the way through, from first episode to the last one. Characters are very lovable, and actors did amazing job at bringing fiction to reality. It felt like they are living their characters. Don’t skip the show.
7. You
Genre: Psychological thriller, Crime drama
IMDb : 7.7/10, Rotten Tomatoes : 90%
A mysterious dark romanticised series that’s engrossingly entertaining in a contradicting sleuth of emotional roller-coasters ,the writing is captivating and vividly fascinating. This series portrays the world seen through the eyes of a psychopath who’s obsessed with a girl to such a point that he would take the life of anyone who may even slightly inhibit her from being the best version of herself or bring any kind of harm to her. And it’s so well delivered that sometimes you may find yourself that the actions of this psychopath are somehow justified. If you like thrillers and tense scenarios then this is the one.
8. Lupin
Genre : Crime, Thriller, Mystery, Drama
IMDb : 7.5/10 ; Rotten Tomatoes : 97%
The French action crime drama series with the main character inspired by the fictional character Arsene Lupine, famous gentleman thief and master of disguise. It begins with briskly paced wrapped in a story of revenge, racism and power that is presented in a solid and easy to understand. The family drama is totally enjoyable to balance the story, and Omar Sy as Assane Diop also has a strong character who can easily make people feel sympathetic to his character. If you like the Sherlock Holmes type of story, you will definitely like this series.
9. Never Have I Ever
Genre : Comedy, Teen Drama
IMDb : 7.9/10, Rotten Tomatoes : 95%
This isn’t just a series showcasing the school life of an Indian teen named Devi, instead it is a perfect blend of family, love, friendship, school-days and fun memories of teenage life. It is set in the counties of LA, United States and that’s where the show’s main lead character Devi resides. This show had my emotions all over the place! The acting, the writing- very well done. It makes you go back to thinking about your own high school days. The representation is really nice, but the thing I love most about the show is that it is raw, and authenticity it portrays what actual teens talk about and no matter who or what you are, you can find something to relate to. Over all, this a refreshing take on the classic “coming of age story”.
10. Squid Game
Genre : Drama, Thriller, Action fiction
IMDb : 8.3/10 ; Rotten Tomatoes : 94%
Korean content continues to set the standards with a riveting, deliciously dark thriller series called Squid Game. Taking inspiration from the simple childhood games played in Korea, a shadowy organization embarks on recruiting out-of-luck people who are burdened by large debts. They then proceed to make these contestants participate in life-or-death versions of these simple games with a large pot of cash as a reward on offer for the final victor. Squid Games is literally trending everywhere right now, Netflix seemingly has another worldwide sensation on its hands , highly recommended. The perfect weekend binge!