With Disney+ as the newest member of an already wide array of streaming platforms, the debate surrounding which is best has once more been restarted. While each platform offers their own unique benefits and particular downsides, Netflix has been progressively upping their game in terms of their own original series. But often times these series go unlooked either because people have not heard of them or because people don’t think of a Netflix original as high quality television or film.
Well, as someone who watches her fair share of both movies and shows, I can absolutely say this is not the case. If anything, I have enjoyed most Netflix originals more than any other shows I’ve watched. But if you don’t believe me (or if you need something to do over Thanksgiving or winter break) find out for yourself by checking out the shows below:
- Peaky Blinders
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Set in 1920’s Birmingham, England, Peaky Blinders follows the notorious street gang active following the first World War and headed by the Shelby family. Not only does this show have a story line that sucks you in off the bat, but it has round characters that make you hate them as much as fall in love with them. All the while, the show features the classic British dry sense of humor that makes the show lighter than the gruesome things that take place during it.
- The End of the F***ing World
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Yet another British show with a dark sense of humor, The End of the F***ing World follows two high schoolers through their journey that just keeps spiraling downwards as the show goes on. As an unlikely duo brought together by individual interests, the story unfolds in a beautiful way. Along with this, the show’s videography, cinematic style, and aesthetics make it all the more enjoyable to watch.
- Dark
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Dark is a German series set in the small (somewhat fictional) town of Winden. Centered around the disappearance of a young boy, the show looks at similar events in the town that have occurred in 30 year intervals. With it’s strange imaging, eerie setting, and nodes to nuclear disaster, the show will constantly keep you on your toes and hooked to see what happens next. Personally, I recommend watching with subtitles rather than dubbed English audio as it keeps with the feelings meant to be conveyed.
- Atypical
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On a lighter note, Atypical follows the story of main character Sam as he tries to navigate high school and dating. For the weight of subjects that the show deals with, it does a fantastic job of conveying life while on the spectrum of autism as well as a range of other heavy topics. If you need a show to make you feel good after watching it, this is for you. Also Netflix just released the third season, so binge away.
- Mindhunter
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This show first started catching people’s attention when previews started circulating on Twitter. Set in the late 70’s, Mindhunter follows two FBI detectives as they travel around the country to sit down and interview some of history’s most notorious serial killers and better understand the way they think. Based on a true story, this work by the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit was controversial, but proved helpful to profiling and solving criminal cases later on.
- Derry Girls
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From the 1960’s until 1998, Northern Ireland experienced a period of conflict known as The Troubles. Although not formally considered a religious conflict, often times those who supported each side were split between Catholics and Protestants. While Derry Girls follows a friend group of five who attend a Catholic school, the show portrays a different side of life other than simply riots, gunfire, and low-level war. And that is where the beauty in the show lies. Aside from this, the show is also hilarious, and simply looks at the troubles and insane occurences of this crazy group.
- Elité
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Have you ever wondered what the Spanish version of Gossip Girls mixed with a splash of murder mystery would be? Well, that’s Elité. The show begins with the addition of three scholarship students being welcomed to Las Encinas – an elite school for the insanely wealthy. The interesting thing, however, is that the show bounces back and forth between police interviews and flashbacks. Ultimately, it creates a show where you know the beginning and close to the ending, but nothing in the middle or who committed the murder. It creates a tense environment where you have to watch and see what happens next.
- The Umbrella Academy
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The Umbrella Academy is a superhero-type tale unlike any other. Based off of a comic book series, the show centers around a dysfunctional family full of secrets, deception, and spooky prophecies that you are waiting for the whole time. The end of the first season leaves a huge cliffhanger, but rumors are circulating that a second season is underway.
- Sex Education
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Ah yes, the birds and the bees, high school, and navigating first loves…all while growing up with a sex therapist for a mother. Sex Education follows the story of three kids who decide to make a side hustle offering sex therapy for their peers at school. Combine this with a hint of first love and coming of age, and this show is a perfect story.
- Maniac
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This show is a trip from start to finish. From the weird, futuristic setting, to the endless stories within the actual plot, it can be difficult to keep up. But, the limited series starring Emma Stone and Jonah Hill will make you laugh and keep you hooked until the end.
- Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
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After being kidnapped by an apocalypse cult and locked in an underground bunker for 15 years, Kimmy Schmidt and three other women are discovered and released into the real world. But, as you can imagine, 15 years without contact with the outside world and being dropped into a new life in New York isn’t easy for Kimmy. Still, this funny and ironic show is a good laugh when you need to feel better about yourself.