The Best TV Shows to Watch on Netflix Right Now

Black Doves (2024)

Creator: Joe Barton
Cast: Keira Knightley, Ben Whishaw, Sarah Lancashire
Genre: Thriller, Drama
Rating: TV-MA
Number of Seasons: 1

If you love thrilling action sequences and espionage, it’s hard to resist one of Netflix’s newest spy thrillers: Black Doves. After Helen (Knightley), a Black Dove spy, realizes that her identity is at risk following the murder of her husband, she joins forces with an old friend to investigate the death. Bursting with twists and secrets, Black Doves has plenty to offer viewers, including some dark humor and excellent chemistry from its two leads.

While Black Doves has only just premiered on the strreamer, it’s already getting buzz. Knightley was nominated for a Best Actress in a Drama Series award at this year’s Critic’s Choice Awards, and the show’s score on Rotten Tomatoes is an impressive 98%.

The Crown (2016-2023)

Creator: Peter Morgan
Cast: Claire Foy, Vanessa Kirby, Olivia Coleman
Genre: Historical Drama
Rating: TV-MA
Number of Seasons: 6

Not since Downton Abbey has a historical drama been as much of a cultural phenomenon as Netflix’s The Crown. Following the life of Queen Elizabeth II and others in the Royal Family, this drama starts in the 1940s and ends in the early 2000s, offering decades of drama and intrigue across its six seasons.

While Claire Foy’s portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II is a clear breakout performance from the series, since the cast rotates as time passes, The Crown has also helped showcase the range of a variety of other stars. Matt Smith’s performance as Prince Philip and Helena Bonham Carter’s and Lesley Manville’s portrayals of Princess Margaret in separate seasons are just as riveting. With the series coming to its finale in December of 2023, it’s the perfect time to binge the historical drama if you’ve yet to jump on the bandwagon.

The Witcher (2019 - Present)

Creator: Lauren Schmidt Hissrich
Cast: Henry Cavill, Anya Chalotra, Freya Allan, Joey Batey
Genre: Fantasy, Drama
Rating: TV-MA
Number of Seasons: 3

Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) travels from town to town for those who need his services. He is a Witcher. That means he is trained in the art of hunting those monsters and creatures that plague the citizens. Along the way, he has become linked to a royal bloodline. Princess Ciri (Freya Allan) carries Elder Blood, the most powerful of all magic. This makes her a target. Geralt is fated to protect the princess at all costs, no matter what danger it puts their party in. The Witcher scratches an itch that has plagued fantasy fans for much too long.

Love Is Blind (2020 - Present)

Cast: Nick Lachey, Vanessa Lachey
Genre: Reality
Rating: TV-MA
Number of Seasons: 7

Nick and Vanessa Lachey gather fifteen men and fifteen women to find love. All from the comfort of a hotel pod. This reality dating show takes the notion of sightless connection being pure and goes with it. Those looking for love communicate without ever seeing one another via a speaker in the rooms. Even dates are conducted this way. It isn't until a marriage proposal is accepted that these two come face to face. As they get to know each other outside a confined space, will there still be a connection?

The Diplomat (2023 - Present)

Creator: Debora Cahn
Cast: Keri Russell, Rufus Sewell, David Gyasi, Ato Essandoh
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Rating: TV-MA
Number of Seasons: 2

Kate Wyler (Keri Russell) has just been named the United States ambassador to the UK. Her job is to help diffuse escalating tensions and stop a war before it begins. The biggest thorn in her side is her husband (Rufus Sewell). He's a former long-time ambassador who keeps inserting himself into the situation, much to her annoyance. She finds an uphill battle as she fights to prove her own validity. This political thriller was created by an executive producer of Showtime's Homeland.

Cobra Kai (2018 - Present)

Creator: Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg
Cast: William Zabka, Ralph Macchio, Courtney Henggeler
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Rating: TV-14
Number of Seasons: 6

Based on The Karate Kid and set more than 30 years after the events of the film, Cobra Kai centers on an aged-up Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) who reopens the Cobra Kai dojo and his old rivalry with Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) in the process. If you loved the original Karate Kid movies, you’re bound to love the fact that Zabka and Macchio reprise their roles in Cobra Kai—but even those with only a passing familiarity with the 1980s films will find just as much to enjoy in this martial arts comedy series.

Some IP reboots can feel like real cash-grabs, but Cobra Kai’s winning blend of character development, 80s nostalgia, and just the right amount of corniness makes for a hilarious send-up masculinity in the modern age.

Baby Reindeer (2024)

Creator: Richard Gadd
Cast: Richard Gadd, Jessica Gunning, Nava Mau
Genre: Dark Comedy, Drama, Thriller
Rating: TV-MA
Number of Seasons: 1

One of Netflix’s most shocking series in recent years, Baby Reindeer was almost universally critically acclaimed, winning six of the eleven Emmy Awards it was nominated for. Written by and starring creator Richard Gadd, the miniseries deals with themes of stalking and assault as Gadd’s character, a bartender named Donny, becomes the target of a woman named Martha (Jessica Gunning).

The intensity of Baby Reindeer is made all the more tense by the whirlwind of fan speculation and “how-true-is-it?” court filings that accompanied the hit show’s premiere. As of writing, a defamation case from the real-life Martha has been allowed to proceed.

Bojack Horseman (2014-2020)

Creator: Raphael Bob-Waksberg
Cast: Will Arnett, Aaron Paul, Amy Sedaris
Genre: Animated/Comedy/Drama
Rating: TV-MA
Number of Seasons: 6

This Netflix original series follows a washed-up former sitcom star (who also happens to be a horse, voiced by Will Arnett) as he attempts to stage a comeback with an autobiography. In addition to Arnett, the impressive vocal cast also features the talents of Aaron Paul as Bojack’s slacker sidekick, Amy Sedaris as Bojack’s agent, Princess Carolyn, and Alision Brie as Diane Nguyen, the ghostwriter hired by Bojack to help with his book.

Bojack Horseman may look like a kids’ cartoon with its brightly-colored world populated by humans and talking animals, but this animated dark comedy series really puts the “dark” in “dark comedy.” Yet, even with its heavy themes of addiction, mental health, and the cost of fame, the series is routinely hilarious. Bursting with tongue-twisting wordplay and goofy scenarios, the show is one of the most inventive and critically-acclaimed adult animated series ever created.

Derry Girls (2018-2022)

Creator: Lisa McGee
Cast: Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Louisa Harland, Nicola Coughlan
Genre: Comedy
Rating: TV-MA
Number of Seasons: 3

Who knew that you could create such an effective teen comedy amidst a backdrop of the guerilla warfare and unrest of Ireland in the 1990s? In Derry Girls, The Troubles might be happening around the teenage girls the series follows, but the real “troubles” they face are the same sorts of self-centered fixations of any angst-ridden teenager.

Full of hysterical one-liners and absurd inconveniences, Derry Girls shows that writer and showrunner Lisa McGee can make comedic lemonade out of scenarios ranging from bomb scares to wakes. The show also features an awesome soundtrack of 90s throwbacks, featuring artists ranging from The Cranberries (Ireland, duh) to House of Pain and Salt-n-Pepper.

Beef (2023 - Present)

Creator: Lee Sung Jin
Cast: Steven Yeun, Ali Wong, Joseph Lee, Young Mazino
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Rating: TV-MA
Number of Seasons: 1

Amy (Ali Wong) is not feeling great. Neither is Danny (Steven Yeun). Both are on the verge of a breakdown. Then, they met each other. While in a parking lot, Danny backs out in front of Amy. She honks and flips him off. Somehow, it escalates from there. The two begin to obsess over getting one-up on one another. It starts to seep into their everyday lives. The thought of revenge overtakes their mind. This dark comedy plays out the fantasy that we all may entertain when we are wrong. Even if we would probably never act on it.

You (2018 - Present)

Creator: Greg Berlanti, Sera Gamble
Cast: Penn Badgley, Victoria Pedretti, Elizabeth Lail, Tati Gabrielle
Rating: TV-MA
Number of Seasons: 4

Boy meets girl. Boy finds girl's social media profiles. Boy becomes obsessed with girl. An unexpected encounter with "Joe" turns several women's lives into nightmares. After being given a dose of his own medicine last season, he finds himself starting anew in London. Still lusting after Marienne, he vows to change who he was. The problem is, does he even know who he really is?

Squid Game (2021 - Present)

Creator: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Cast: Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Wi Ha-joon
Genre: Thriller, Drama
Rating: TV-MA
Number of Seasons: 2

Sometimes, a series just hits at the right time — and that was certainly the case with Squid Game, a show that was so popular when it first hit the streamer during the COVID-19 pandemic that it seemed like all anyone was talking about for months. The show’s premise is terrifyingly compelling: 456 contestants, all facing financial hardships, agree to compete in a series of deadly children’s games for a huge cash prize.

Season 2 of Squid Game is upon us this December, with creator Hwang Dong-hyuk teasing even more brutality. It’ll be exciting to see if the show can top its first season’s acclaim — a season that landed the series at the top spot on Netflix’s most popular series when it was first released.

Emily In Paris (2020 - Present)

Creator: Darren Star
Cast: Lily Collins, Lucas Bravo, Ashley Park, Kate Walsh
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Number of Seasons: 4
Rating: TV-MA

Netflix’s guiltiest pleasure returns! Emily Cooper was sent to Paris to give her Chicago marketing firm an edge over the competition. Having never left the country or her Midwestern town, she feels like a sightseer. While she may have had a bumpy start, she has now become almost independent. When we last left her, she was torn between two men (Alfie and Gabriel) and two cities (Chicago and Paris). She may not be able to decide anything yet but if she keeps her options open, she’s bound to find what works for her. Or so she hopes.

Bodies (2023)

Creator: Paul Tomalin
Cast: Shira Haas, Stephen Graham, Kyle Soller
Genre: Mystery, Drama, Science-Fiction
Rating: TV-MA
Number of Seasons: 1

This time-bending Netflix mini-series follows four different detectives investigating dead bodies in four different eras. Adapted from the DC Vertigo graphic novel by Si Spencer, Bodies takes viewers from the 1890s to the year 2053 — with stops in 1941 and 2023 for good measure. Featuring a stand-out performance from Stephen Graham as Mannix, the way the show weaves together narratives and timelines into a satisfying conclusion makes it totally binge-worthy.

If you love the way Christopher Nolan plays with time in his films (or if you want a complete show to binge rather than waiting year-after-year for the next season) Bodies is sure to be right up your alley.

The Haunting of Hill House (2018)

Creator: Mike Flannagan
Cast: Victoria Pedretti, Katie Siegel, Henry Thomas
Genre: Horror, Drama
Rating: TV-MA
Number of Seasons: 1

Mike Flannagan has made a name for himself in the horror world, releasing what amounts to almost a mini-series a year for Netflix. While there’s plenty of enjoyment to be had with shows like The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass, The Fall of the House of Usher, and The Midnight Club, it’s hard to argue that any of those shows top his first series, The Haunting of Hill House.

Hill House centers around the Crain family and the tragic, supernatural ways that their lives have intertwined with an old mansion they were living in while renovating it. Featuring incredible performances, an epic orchestral soundtrack, and some of the wildest jump scares ever put to screen, this show’s winning mix of supernatural character drama and bone-chilling scares is well worth the watch.

Blue-Eye Samurai (2023)

Creator: Amber Noizumi, Michael Green
Cast: Maya Erskine, Brenda Song, Kenneth Branagh
Genre: Action, Animation, Adventure
Rating: TV-MA
Number of Seasons: 1

If you couldn’t get enough of FX’s Shōgun this year, do yourself a favor and check out Blue-Eye Samurai while you wait for the next season to drop. Set in Japan’s Edo period, this action series pairs beautiful animated landscapes with impressive, bloody fight sequences to thrilling effect. It’s like a female-led adult version of Samurai Jack.

A visually-striking revenge tale paired with an impressive voice cast (from Maya Erskine and Brenda Song to Kenneth Branagh) makes this extra bingeable. Good thing it’s already renewed for a second season.

All the Light We Cannot See (2024)

Creator: Steven Knight
Cast: Aria Mia Loberti, Louis Hofmann, Lars Eidinger
Genre: Historical Drama
Rating: TV-MA
Number of Seasons: 1

This miniseries adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning bestseller by Anthony Doerr charts two lives during World War II: a blind French girl (played by Aria Mia Loberti) and a German boy who is forced to become a Nazi (Louis Hofmann). Over the course of the historical drama, their lives become intertwined thanks to a series of radio broadcasts.

One of the coolest things about All the Light We Cannot See is that Loberti, who plays Marie-Laure LeBlanc, is actually from the low-vision community. This brings even more authenticity to the adaptation, something you don’t always see in period dramas.

Sex Education (2019 - 2023)

Creator: Laurie Nunn
Cast: Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson, Ncuti Gatwa
Genre: Comedy
Rating: TV-MA
Number of Seasons: 4

What happens when a teenage boy (Asa Butterfield) is pressed to leverage his knowledge as the son of a sex therapist (Gillian Andersen), even though he himself is both inexperienced and insecure? Hilarity, that’s what. Created by Laurie Nunn, Sex Education is a laugh-out-loud comedy that still manages to dispense quite a bit of clear-eyed wisdom about relationships and intimacy in between the punchlines.

In the first month after Sex Education was released, it was streamed by 40 million viewers, per Netflix. You could say that that has a lot to do with the old saying that “sex sells” — but we think it has more to do with the endearing way the series tackles a taboo subject with warmth and humor.

Is it Cake? (2022 - Present)

Creator: Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz
Cast: Mikey Day
Genre: Reality, Game Show, Food
Rating: TV-PG
Number of Seasons: 3

One thing Netflix has been able to capitalize on since starting to create original shows is binge-worthy reality competition series. Up there with Nailed It! and Floor Is Lava, Is It Cake? delivers exactly what its title promises. In this show, bakers known for their realistic replications of inanimate objects are tasked with recreating other objects and fooling a panel of judges.

It’s mindless, delicious fun—the perfect kind of show to put on in the background when you know you’re also going be texting friends or scrolling TikTok. With holiday episodes just dropped, there’s plenty to veg out to.

Wednesday (2022)

Creator: Alfred Gough, Miles Millar
Cast: Jenna Ortega, Gwendoline Christie, Riki Lindhome, Christina Ricci
Genre: Comedy
Rating: TV-14
Number of Seasons: 1

Tim Burton finally takes a swing at The Addams Family. After a prank goes awry, Wednesday is expelled from school. Her parents decide to enroll her at Nevermore Academy, a school for outsiders. It also happens to be where they fell in love. Despite the change of scenery, Wednesday still finds herself bored and on the fringes of school society, until a series of peculiar deaths occur. She decides if anyone is going to get to the bottom of what’s happening, it might as well be her. Scream and X star Jenna Ortega stars as the Addams’ daughter. Taking on the role of Gomez and Morticia are the perfectly cast Luis Guzman and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Cunk on Earth (2022)

Creator: Charlie Brooker
Cast: Diane Morgan
Genre: Comedy
Rating: TV-MA
Number of Seasons: 1

Diane Morgan brings out her Philomena Cunk character once again. This time she is exploring the origins of civilization on Earth. Traveling all over the world, Philomena seeks out where we’ve come from and where we are going. Cunk’s interview skills leave much to be desired, which is where much of the humor comes from. She is somehow always underprepared for doling out information or when interviewing experts on the subject.