The 60 Best Shows On Netflix Right Now (November 2022)
When you go to watch something on Netflix these days, are you looking for a new original series, or an older show whose entire run is streaming on the platform? Or, more realistically, are you just scrolling through an endless list of series until you fall asleep with the TV still on the menu screen?
For better or worse, the Netflix library is always changing — even the service's own productions aren't guaranteed to stick around, as evidenced by the surprise departure of "Daredevil, "Jessica Jones," "Luke Cage" and the rest of Netflix's Marvel shows in March 2022. It's not like you'll run out of shows to watch, though. Netflix is always releasing new original series, adding old hits to its library, and licensing some of the top international hits for streaming.
But you don't care what's coming up. You want to know what you can watch today. So, to help narrow your choices down, these are the best shows on Netflix right now.
13 Reasons Why
What it's about: After a teenage girl dies by suicide, she sends out tapes detailing the bullying and sexual assault that she experienced and witnessed before dying.
Number of seasons: 4
Why you should watch it: "13 Reasons Why" had the cards stacked against it. Its premise, which draws from Jay Asher's YA novel of the same name, is inherently problematic. The 1st season glorified death by suicide to the point that warnings had to be placed in front of certain episodes. But Pulitzer Prize-winning showrunner Brian Yorkey turned subsequent seasons of the show into a fascinating exploration of both rape culture and what it would actually be like to go to school with a girl who blamed you and your friends for her suicide, and what that would do to your psyche. The best teen dramas are ones that make your loyalties shift with every episode. "13 Reasons Why" achieves this not just by unveiling secrets, but also through genuine character growth.
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
The 100
What it's about: Juvenile delinquents become the first human beings to recolonize Earth generations after a nuclear apocalypse.
Number of seasons: 7
Why you should watch it: It's always good to have a few shows on hand that are a longer binge that you can check in several times a week. For that, "The 100" is a great option. It's also based on a book series, so if you want to you can read along and really dive into this world.
"The 100" is a science fiction series with a post-apocalyptic aesthetic and subject matter that will remind you of "The Maze-Runner" and "The Hunger Games." It also just has an interesting premise: They sent the bad kids to colonize a planet. There's a bit more to it than that, of course, but that's metal as hell. With 7 seasons, you really get to live with these characters and watch them grow — the ones who survive, that is.
American Vandal
What it's about: Teenagers take their documentary about a silly crime on their high school campus very seriously.
Number of seasons: 2
Why you should watch it: This short-lived mockumentary series absolutely roasts us and our obsession with true crime. And you know what? We deserve it.
In season 1, high schoolers Peter and Sam investigate the crimes of an esoteric graffiti artist who painted penises on all of the cars in the faculty parking lot. By the end, you'll be so investigated in "who drew the dicks" that you will forget they're not investigating a serial murder. For season 2, Peter and Sam are commissioned to investigate an incident at another school where students were "poisoned" by lemonade laced with laxatives. There's an incredible twist involving an IRL iPhone glitch you probably forgot about. "American Vandal" is a dry criticism of true crime documentaries, a perfect portrayal of what it's like to grow up with social media, and seriously laugh-out-loud funny. It's the complete package.
Anne with an E
What it's about: Anne Shirley, an optimistic 13-year-old orphan, is adopted by two elderly siblings in rural Canada.
Number of seasons: 3
Why you should watch it: When the fanbase for a show that aired for three seasons declares that it was canceled too soon, you know the series must have something going for it. "Anne with an E" expanded on Lucy Maud Montgomery's "Anne of Green Gables" novels to tell thoughtful stories about Black and LGBTQ+ communities in 19th-century Canada. Amybeth Mcnulty's Anne is a beam of light, but she's also realistic, never becoming a manic pixie dream girl.
If only they had been able to keep going! Any fan of the books or the 1985 miniseries and subsequent films can tell you that there was a lot of story left to tell about Anne and her friends. Nevertheless, "Anne with an E" is a great show with a soothing score and a cottage core aesthetic that's perfect to put on during a rainy day, a snowstorm, or a relaxing night.
Arrested Development
What it's about: As Ron Howard informs us at the top of every episode, "Arrested Development" is "the story of a wealthy family that lost everything, and the one son who had no choice but to keep them all together."
Number of seasons: 5
Why you should watch it: The so-called "Netflix seasons" of this cult comedy weren't exactly on par with the pre-revival installments, but that doesn't negate the fact that the first three seasons remain excellent. It's weird to think of Mitchell Hurwitz' sitcom as a classic, but enough time has passed. It absolutely is. Many of its jokes, like "That's why you always leave a note," Gene Parmesan, and the chicken dance, have become part of our cultural lexicon. In fact, this little-show-that-could has permeated the zeitgeist so thoroughly that when "Succession" first dropped on HBO, it felt like everyone was comparing it to "Arrested Development." (Sure, "Succession" is a comedy, but the two shows could not be more different in tone.)
The Babysitter's Club
What it's about: A group of friends with different styles of leadership start a baby-sitting business to help out busy parents in their town.
Number of seasons: 2
Why you should watch it: I'm just gonna say this, and hope it doesn't sound too weird coming from a childless millennial: Netflix has really good children's programming. Granted, I was drawn to this series because I read the books when I was a kid, and was curious to see how they would update it for the 21st century. I also wanted to support Alicia Silverstone ("Clueless"), who plays Kristi's mom.
What I found was a smart, delightful show that I wish I'd had when I was growing up. This series is progressive in ways that you may not expect. It's expected that a show made in 2021 will have LGBTQ+ characters and storylines, but the Babysitter's Club also starts a worker's rebellion at summer camp. Even long-time fans didn't see that one coming!
Black Mirror
What it's about: Technology meant to make our lives easier torments people in a variety of heartbreaking and horrifying ways.
Number of seasons: 5, not including the Christmas special and "Bandersnatch"
Why you should watch it: "Black Mirror" is often compared to "The Twilight Zone" because every episode features new characters and a unique spine-chilling premise, but "Black Mirror" is much more focused on its subject matter: the pitfalls of modern technology. In fact, "Black Mirror" is so good at satirizing social media and imagining the depths to which smartphone tech will take us that it has predicted more than a few things that ended up happening in real life.
It also has an incredibly stacked cast. Actors love to do "Black Mirror," presumably because it's great material and not a huge time commitment. Not every episode will make you want to throw your devices in the river, and not every story has a sad or morbid ending. But most will! Don't just watch it; wallow in it.
Bodyguard
What it's about: A war veteran takes on a new job: protecting a politician whose controversial policies make her a target.
Number of seasons: 1
Why you should watch it: The short answer? Richard Madden is very hot, and he says "ma'am" so many times that you'll stop recognizing it as a word. He actually won a Golden Globe for this show, so you know that "ma'am" was powerful.
The long answer is that "Bodyguard" is a thrilling action series that goes deep on PTSD, human rights, privacy, terrorism, and xenophobia. The series, which dropped in 2018, feels intertwined with Brexit. The mystery will consume you as the stakes get higher, and you'll become increasingly attached to the characters — and with only six episodes, it won't take you that long to watch. It's an obsession that'll only last for a single weekend. Sometimes, that's exactly what you need!
Bojack Horseman
What it's about: A former '90s sitcom star, who happens to be a horse, stages a comeback.
Number of seasons: 6
Why you should watch it: This twist on a "true Hollywood story" isn't the only adult animated show on Netflix, but "Bojack Horseman" has received so many accolades that I simply have to choose it over "Big Mouth" and others of its ilk. Look, it won the Critics' Choice Television Award for best animated series four times. The only other show to do that is "Archer." Granted, this category has only been around since 2012, but still!
At first, "Bojack Horseman" may seem like a goofy show business comedy with too many (admittedly excellent) animal puns, but it very quickly becomes a searing examination of depression, addiction, the price of fame, and so much more. It's not afraid to go to some very dark places, and has slowly grown its audience to the point where it's now regarded as one of the best animated series of all time. Pretty fly for a horse.
Bridgerton
What it's about: In this series based on the romance novels by Julia Quinn, the Bridgerton siblings search for love during the annual London marriage market.
Number of seasons: 2
Why you should watch it: Jane Austen wrote social satires, but the romances at the end of her novels became her legacy. "Bridgerton," by contrast, cuts straight to the kissing ... and more.
Isn't it fun to watch a period drama let loose and have some fun? Because "Bridgerton" is pure fun. The series is executive produced by Shonda Rhimes ("Grey's Anatomy," "How to Get Away with Murder," and many more), so you know it's going to be dramatic and sexy. In addition, the team at Shondaland also drew on the very real historical possibility that Queen Charlotte was a Woman of Color to pave the way for a racially diverse cast and accordingly diverse stories. However, if one of your friends is really into historical accuracy when it comes to hair and fashion, do not get them started. "Bridgerton" takes a lot of liberties in that regard, although it's all in the name of a sexy good time.
Call My Agent!
What it's about: The agents and their clients at a Parisian talent agency.
Number of seasons: 4
Why you should watch it: Instead of "Emily in Paris," why not watch this authentically French sitcom? With the likes of "Elite," "Squid Game," and "Lupin" in its catalog, Netflix has many excellent non-English language streaming options available, making it easy to diversify your media diet by queuing up a series from beyond your own borders. Don't speak French? Look, you're probably already watching Netflix with the subtitles on. What's the difference?
"Call My Agent" still feels like a little bit of a hidden gem in the United States. It was co-created by a woman named Dominique Besnehard, who used to be a talent agent herself. As a result, even the most outlandish comedic situations are likely based on true events. The show was a big enough hit overseas thata U.K. version starring Jack Davenport ("Smash") is coming soon. So, you should probably watch the original ASAP, if only so you can tell your friends how much better the original was than the remake.
The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
What it's about: Teenage witch Sabrina Spellman tries to lead a double life instead of choosing between her mortal friends and the dark, Satan-worshiping world she was born into.
Number of seasons: 2, though they were released in four installments.
Why you should watch it: If you thought that "Riverdale" had an unhealthy obsession with David Lynch and classic horror, prepare to get your socks knocked off by its spooky spin-off, "The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina." This is not the teenage witch millennials grew up with. Yes, she has a cat named Salem. She lives with Aunt Hilda and Aunt Zelda. She even has a himbo in her life named Harvey. But this show is dark. Not in a dull, glum, or gritty "Batman" kind of way. It's dark in that Satan-himself-is-a-character kind of way, and that it's sometimes genuinely scary. "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" has the same amount of drama, mystery, and musical numbers as "Riverdale," but it's about 110% more occult — and that's what makes it so good.
The Circle
What it's about: Regular people compete to make friends and influence people using a social media platform called The Circle that allows them to be themselves — or to catfish whomever they please.
Number of seasons: 3
Why you should watch it: This American take on a British reality series weirdly predicted what life would be like during a pandemic. Every contestant lives alone in their own apartment, and communicates only through social media. Fortunately, that doesn't make it any less fun to watch. If you've ever thought of social media as a game that you could win, you might get sucked into this show. Despite the $10,000 cash prize, it's a pretty low-stakes reality competition. All that the contestants are trying to do is make friends and convince people that they're who they say they are, even if they're not. What could go wrong?
Be warned, however, that you may find yourself talking in the perky, stilted language you hear on the show due to the fact that the contestants are dictating messages into the app ... zany face, heart emoji, fire emoji.
Cobra Kai
What it's about: "The Karate Kid" rivals Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso, now grown up, face off again at the re-opened Cobra Kai dojo.
Number of seasons: 4
Why you should watch it: Because it makes Andrew Garfield cry.
If you love "The Karate Kid," you'll love this series. It's hard for me to watch "Cobra Kai" without thinking about Barney Stinson from "How I Met Your Mother," and how a show where Johnny Lawrence is the hero is kind of his dream come true. But maybe that change of perspective is what makes it great!
Of all the reboots and revivals out there, "Cobra Kai" is one of the more successful. It blends old and new characters seamlessly, and while it's heavy on the fanservice, it tells its own story. Even if you've never seen "The Karate Kid" or its sequels, you won't feel left behind. "Cobra Kai" is also a nostalgic series specifically about the dangers of nostalgia, which is a brave thing for a show that relies on a recognizable IP to tackle. Thankfully, "Cobra Kai" pulls it off.
Community
What it's about: A group of students form a study group at a community college that's suspiciously susceptible to elaborate bits.
Number of seasons: 6
Why you should watch it: It's annoying how good this perpetual underdog of a sitcom is. Its jokes are funny. Its genre homages are top notch. Its characters form the perfect found family. It's cynical without making me depressed, something I always look for in a comedy. Mostly, though, it's a show that proves that television doesn't have to be "important" to be good.
If you watched "Community" back in the day and dropped off around the middle, you should definitely watch the final two seasons on Netflix. I'm a season 4 apologist myself, but there are some truly stellar episodes in season 5 and season 6, and I know there are bunches of fans out there who still haven't watched them. Season 6 was nearly impossible to stream when it initially dropped on Yahoo — trust me, I tried — but, thankfully, it's on Netflix now, making it more accessible to fans old and new alike.
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
What it's about: Rebecca Bunch makes the impulsive decision to chase a childhood crush across the country when what she really needs is to start taking better care of herself. Also? It's a musical.
Number of seasons: 4
Why you should watch it: I'm going to make a bold, but not totally unpopular, claim: "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" is the only television show that has ever understood musical theater. There are many musical shows and musical numbers that I like, but "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" is the only series that knows what it truly means for a character to break into song. Many of the tunes parody show tunes, but the show isn't ashamed to be a musical. All the ribbing comes from a place of love.
On the other hand, the show does legitimately skewer why we, as a culture, call women "crazy" for a myriad of reasons, most of which we'd never apply to men. This is one of those shows that feels important; it just happens to be great television, too.
The Crown
What it's about: Queen Elizabeth II's reign, as it unfolds over multiple decades, generations, and actors.
Number of seasons: 4
Why you should watch it: After "Stranger Things" and "The Witcher," "The Crown" is the closest thing that Netflix has to a true event series at the moment. Even though the show overhauls the cast every two seasons and it's sometimes so dry it's dull, it gets people talking. I'll never forget that episode about it being too foggy to do anything. What a wild, boring ride that was.
Jokes aside, "The Crown" is a fascinating look into what it means to be a monarchy in the 20th century. It's never really clear whether or not "The Crown" is in favor of the continuing presence of the royal family — creator Peter Morgan himself has gone back and forth — and maybe that's a good place for it to be. We get to be the final judge on the issue, if we even want to judge it at all.
Dawson's Creek
What it's about: Dawson wants to make films, but first he has to graduate from high school.
Number of seasons: 6
Why you should watch it: There used to be many more classic shows on Netflix — and yes, all my fellow millennials and Gen X-ers just groaned at me for calling "Dawson's Creek" a classic. We're not that young anymore. Get over it.
While many older shows have moved to other streaming networks, Dawson and his friends remain on Netflix. Good thing, too. If you're looking for the show that defined a generation of 'shipping and love triangles, this is the one. If you're looking for a show that's heavy on teenage angst but light on social media, this is the one. "Dawson's Creek" ended in 2003, which was still a pre-Facebook world. There are a couple of stories about the early internet, when meeting up with someone you met online was about the scariest thing you could do, but that's about it. It also has an incredible soundtrack.
Dead to Me
What it's about: Jen and Judy meet at a grief counseling group and become co-dependent besties ... for reasons that would comprise about 10 different spoilers.
Number of seasons: 2
Why you should watch it: Somehow, this show has become a hidden gem amongst the wave of "complicated women over 40" shows that have popped up in the last couple of years. Put it on the top of your watchlist right now. There are twists you'll never see coming, and twisted situations that you won't believe.
You may know Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini from their sunnier roles, but "Dead to Me" is a true tragicomedy. As the type of person who's always good for a morbid joke and laughing to get through the hard times, this show gets grief right. James Marsden and Natalie Morales make up the supporting cast, and they're very good, too. Seriously, there's not too much I can say; the big reveals begin early in the first episode. Just trust me and watch it.
Derry Girls
What it's about: A group of childhood friends come of age in occupied Northern Ireland.
Number of seasons: 2
Why you should watch it: This is another show about laughing through hard times, but it's a coming-of-age story and instead of death, the troubles are ... the Troubles. The titular girls (and one English boy) just want to go on field trips and crash cool parties as serious political turmoil boils in the background. Like any group of teenage friends, their social circle falls apart and ultimately comes back together at least five times.
Siobhán McSweeney's character, Sister Michael, the nun the "Derry girls" clash with most often at their Catholic girls' school, is one of the funniest characters on television. The show is also a great bit of '90s nostalgia, especially if you happened to grow up during that decade. When you're done, also make sure to watch the cast's special episode of "Great British Bake-Off" — it's a joy.
GLOW
What it's about: Out of work actors and other misfits empower themselves and take control of their own narratives by joining the world of professional wrestling.
Number of seasons: 3
Why you should watch it: "GLOW" was executive produced by Jenji Kohan, the creator of both "Weeds" and "Orange is the New Black," and probably our best working satirist. Based on the real "Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling" promotion, the show is always ahead of the joke. It's colorful. The drama is sometimes serious, but the wrestling shows that the ladies put on are always delightfully corny. This is a series that recognizes that professional wrestling is just a soap opera, and has so much fun exploiting that.
If you're bored by the stereotypical options that pop up in Netflix's curated "Strong Female Character" lists, give "GLOW" a try. It's a show that celebrates all kinds of strength, and that makes you laugh without making feminism the punchline or watering it down to an easily digestible "girl power" message.
Gilmore Girls
What it's about: Rory Gilmore and her young mother, Lorelei, are thrust back into the latter's upper-crust life when they ask Lorelei's parents for scholarship money.
Number of seasons: 7, plus the "A Year in the Life" revival season on Netflix.
Why you should watch it: We all know what kind of reputation "Gilmore Girls" has. Mention this show to passers-by and they'll say it's just about women who talk too fast, or maybe that it's a mother-daughter melodrama like "Beaches." But Rory and Lorelei wish they were in "Beaches." In reality, this show is probably a lot nastier than you think it is. Some of the jokes have aged like milk, and the characters are constantly fighting. They make terrible choices. It's still fun to watch, of course, but it's not the pumpkin-spiced group hug you think it's going to be at all.
Amy Sherman-Palladino and her husband and co-writer Dan Palladino went on to make "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" for Prime Video, and you can feel them exhaling every time a character drops an f-bomb. That edgier sensibility was bubbling just under the surface in "Gilmore Girls"; watch it after seeing Sherman-Pallido's later work, and you'll spot it right away.
Girlfriends
What it's about: Joan, Maya, Lynn and Toni are friends. What more do you need to know?
Number of seasons: 8
Why you should watch it: Another '00s sitcom that should be considered a classic is "Girlfriends," which starred Tracee Ellis Ross, Golden Brooks, Persia White, and Jill Marie Jones as the titular comrades. Like "Golden Girls" before it, "Girlfriends" is a hangout show that centers female friendship. No Joeys, Chandlers, or Rosses here to get in the way. Because all four of the main characters are Black, "Girlfriends" was able to tell intersectional stories that other sitcoms couldn't come near. It also had a Black female showrunner, Maya Brock Akil, who was a producer on "Moesha" and went on to create the BET series "Being Mary Jane." There are 172 episodes, so if you're looking for a long-term binge but don't want to get bogged down by drama, look no further.
The Good Place
What it's about: Eleanor Shellstrop attempts to better herself after death in order to be deemed worthy of "the Good Place."
Number of seasons: 4
Why you should watch it: Come for the Mike Schur ensemble sitcom warm fuzzies, and stay for a free PhD in moral philosophy and epistemology. If you've been living under a rock and somehow haven't been spoiled by the Big Twist of the first season of "The Good Place," I won't give it away here. Just know that the show gets ... complicated, and becomes about more than a self-proclaimed "Arizona trash bag" trying to become a good person.
What does it even mean to be a good person? "The Good Place" would like to know as well. The people running the afterlife are confident that time in the Great Beyond is shaped like the name "Jeremy Bearimy," but less confident as the show goes on about the meaning of life itself. The show was heavily inspired by "Lost" and "The Leftovers" in some pretty creative and not super obvious ways, so if you're a Damon Lindelof-head and haven't checked out "The Good Place" yet, you should probably get on that.
The Great British Bake-Off
What it's about: Amateur bakers face off in an annual competition that's as friendly as can be ... unless it's a hot day and their cakes are melting.
Number of seasons: 5, not including the holiday specials.
Why you should watch it: A very bizarre thing happened when Americans started watching this British competition series: They discovered that you don't have to be ruthless and snarky to make compelling reality television. The bakers on "Bake-Off" are nice people. Sometimes they even help each other out! At first, it literally felt like a foreign concept.
I think we should cut ourselves some slack. The snarkiest, grumpiest hosts on American reality shows — Simon Cowell, Gordon Ramsay, and that lady from "The Weakest Link" — are all from the United Kingdom. So, it's not entirely a cultural thing. Still, even though someone goes home at the end of every episode, "The Great British Bake-Off" is soothing. It will help take your mind off of more stressful things as you learn about new kinds of pastries and start to wonder if you should invest in a proofing drawer.
Grey's Anatomy
What it's about: The lives, loves, trials, and tribulations of the surgical residents and staff at the Seattle Grace Hospital.
Number of seasons: 17 (on Netflix)
Why you should watch it: "Grey's Anatomy" has been on for most of the 21st century. Ever think about that? This is a soap opera. It's an "elevated" nighttime soap opera, if you want to be snobby about it — but I don't encourage snobbiness. Watch "Grey's Anatomy" because you can utterly escape into these character's messy lives. There's something incredibly satisfying about watching smart, capable people excel at their jobs and fumble through romance, despite being smoking hot. They're the best. This show is the best. And, just like "Law & Order," another long-running procedural, you would not believe the guest stars this show has had over the years. That alone is a great reason to do a rewatch, or to catch up if you stopped watching at any point between now and 2005.
The Haunting of Hill House
What it's about: Adult siblings reunite and are haunted by a traumatic experience they shared in the old house where they once lived.
Number of seasons: 1
Why you should watch it: Mike Flanagan's three shows for Netflix ("The Haunting of Hill House," "The Haunting of Bly Manor," and "Midnight Mass") are all excellent. Catch me on another day, and I might tell you that another is my favorite. But, for the purposes of this list, I'm choosing to focus on "Hill House."
Flanagan is not the first person to adapt Shirley Jackson's novel, but what he did with the text is extraordinary. While there are plenty of ghosts, jump scares, and spooky children, what kept me up after watching "The Haunting of Hill House" is the way it made metaphors out of depression and suicidal ideation. The image of the "Bent Neck Lady" is scary, sure, but the implication behind it is absolutely petrifying.
Heartstopper
What it's about: Charlie, a nerdy and out gay teenager in a toxic situation-ship with a closeted popular boy, forms an unexpected — and adorably romantic — connection with a sweet jock named Nick Nelson.
Number of seasons: 1
Why you should watch it: You could easily binge "Heartstopper" on the strength of Nick and Charlie's relationship alone. It's disgustingly cute, complicated without being too angsty, and super satisfying. It's also a show that's just as queer and British as "Sex Education," except it's rated PG, so think of it like a younger sibling.
But the series, which is based on a webcomic, has a host of other sweet characters you'll root for, come to love, and love to hate. "Heartstopper" was renewed for two more seasons in May 2022, so catch up before there's more. It won't take long. With only six half-hour episodes, you could watch "Heartstopper" dozens of times before it returns — and honestly you might want to. Finally, if you're a "Doctor Who" fan, you need to check out this show so you can go into the new season already obsessed with Yasmin Finney, the "new Rose," who plays Elle on this series.
I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson
What it's about: A sketch series in which every segment features one person who sticks out and who everyone else wishes would skedaddle.
Number of seasons: 2
Why you should watch it: Because this show is more than just a meme and I want more people to know what I'm talking about when I quote Patti Harrison's folding table sketch. Watch for two minutes, and you'll see that Robinson's sense of humor was clearly too strange for "Saturday Night Live." This show is like what would happen if every "SNL" sketch was the final one of the night. You know the ones I'm talking about.
The episodes of "I Think You Should Leave" are short, but they'll stick in your mind for a long time. This isn't one of those shows that you binge and instantly forget. In addition, if "I Think You Should Leave" leaves you hungry for more sketch comedy, I absolutely recommend "The Astronomy Club" and "The Characters" as well.
Jane the Virgin
What it's about: The religious and abstinent Jane's life is thrown into turmoil when she's accidentally artificially inseminated.
Number of seasons: 5
Why you should watch it: This CW series set up an epic love triangle and kept it going for five seasons. Do you know all of the twists and turns and dramatic reveals it takes to pull that off? You will if you watch "Jane the Virgin." The show is based on a telenovela, and acts like a telenovela in all of the best ways. There are crimelords. There are long-lost twins. There are characters who come back from the dead. The actress who plays the show's villain, Bridget Regan, was briefly scooped up by the Marvel Cinematic Universe to play a villain in "Agent Carter," but nothing can compare to the deliciously campy work she did on this show. "Jane the Virgin" was not only a popular hit, it also won a lot of awards, including a Peabody and a Golden Globe for Gina Rodriguez.
Lost in Space
What it's about: The Robinson family is chosen to join a space colony, and then they get — you'll never believe this — lost in space!
Number of seasons: 3
Why you should watch it: "Lost in Space" is a nice little science fiction adventure about a nice little family. They're really good at science, and not in a way that feels ham-fisted, like Disney's STEM-girl army. The Robinsons are supposed to be good at solving these kinds of problems; that's why they were chosen for this mission.
If you were a fan of the original series or the 1998 film, you might not love the 2018 reboot's take on Robot. He eventually becomes besties with Will Robinson, but he's a little bit scarier at first, especially when compared to his previous incarnations. What really stands out about this show are its production values and visual effects. Quite simply, it's a beautiful show to look at. Parker Posey's take on the evil Dr. Smith is really good, too.
Lovesick
What it's about: Dylan learns that he has chlamydia and, while informing his past sexual partners, reflects on his romantic history.
Number of seasons: 3
Why you should watch it: "Lovesick" may be my favorite romantic comedy series of all time. It's a great slow burn. There's so much longing. Every season has the perfect beginning and the perfect ending. In this case, three seasons is enough! Watch it again if you want more!
Also, even though an STD fuels the premise of this show, it's sex positive and emotionally mature in how it deals with break-ups and casual dating; Dylan is a more evolved version of Ted Mosby from "How I Met Your Mother." Finally, it must be said that the show was initially called "Scrotal Recall," and the producers changed it to "Lovesick" to make it more palatable to audiences. Come on, that's a funny name. They should have stood by it. Cowards!
The Magicians
What it's about: Quentin Coldwater learns magic at Brakebills University's graduate program and discovers that the mystical land he read about as a child is real.
Number of seasons: 5
Why you should watch it: Feeling down because your love of "Harry Potter" has been tarnished by a TERF? Watch "The Magicians." It features young adults studying magic. It spotlights queer characters. The subject matter is all around little more mature, making it perfect adults who also happen to be recovering "Harry Potter" addicts.
But while "The Magicians" starts off feeling like a grittier, grown-up, American version of the Boy Who Lived's story, it quickly becomes its own thing. The fantasy realm that the characters on "The Magicians" discover, Fillory, is as idiosyncratic and dangerous as something you'd find in "Angel," "The Witcher," or "American Gods." If you're that kind of fantasy fan, "The Magicians" also has plenty of world-building and a lot of rules, but it's the characters that'll keep you coming back for more. It's one of SyFy's best fantasy shows, and it happens to be streaming on Netflix.
Merlin
What it's about: A young Merlin fulfills his destiny by protecting a young Arthur despite the fact that magic has been outlawed and that Arthur is an arrogant prince instead of a king.
Number of seasons: 5
Why you should watch it: If you're looking for a fantasy show that's a little less stressful (until the series finale, but we can't get into that), watch "Merlin." It's a light and quirky take on Arthurian lore that's super watchable. Fantasy shows don't really have this tone anymore. They take themselves way too seriously. But "Merlin" is just here to have fun and make friends, and it's better for it.
This show also may or may not be a touchstone for low-budget CGI, but don't hold that against it. You can't help but love the cheesy special effects. If that's not enough to tempt you, as the rest of the Knights of the Round Table start to show up in season 3, the hunk factor doubles. Not to give away my search history, but at the end of the day this show features hot British (and Irish) boys being doofuses. What more could you possibly need?
Mindhunter
What it's about: FBI agents try to catch serial killers by studying their psyches and getting inside their head. That always works out well, right? We've all seen "Silence of the Lambs."
Number of seasons: 2
Why you should watch it: "Mindhunter" was created by a man named Joe Penhall, but it's director and executive producer David Fincher whose name is most closely associated with the series. If you've watched "Zodiac," "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," "Gone Girl," or even "The Social Network," you'll see why. His signature cool tones are all over the series.
"Mindhunter" is a must watch for fans of true crime. Even though the characters, played by Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, and Anna Torv, are fictional, the show uses real unsolved cases and serial killers as the basis for its stories. It dances on the edge of alternative history. And who knows? Maybe Penhall and Fincher will make a season 3 one day.
Nailed It
What it's about: Amateur bakers with limited abilities are given not quite enough time to recreate complicated creations to hilarious effect.
Number of seasons: 6
Why you should watch it: So, you've watched all of "The Great British Bake-Off" and you're feeling overwhelmed with how talented everyone on that show is. You might be able to make cookies that are good enough for the local potluck, but you'd never be able to pull off a showstopper challenge. In comes "Nailed It," a show where ordinary people make extraordinarily bad-looking and bad-tasting baked goods.
The trick to this show is that the baking itself is usually pretty simple. It's the decorating that trips people up. In addition, host Nicole Byer creates an environment that's so friendly and silly that, even if she's insulting your work, you agree and laugh along. It's easy to be mean-spirited while mocking incompetence. Thankfully, "Nailed It" doesn't ever cross that line.
Never Have I Ever
What it's about: After her father's sudden death, Devi takes a chance and pursues the boy of her dreams.
Number of seasons: 2
Why you should watch it: Since "The Office" wrapped, Mindy Kaling has created five shows: "The Mindy Project," "Champions," "The Sex Lives of College Girls," and "Never Have I Ever." While I've enjoyed something about every series, "Never Have I Ever" is probably my favorite. This is also probably Kaling's most personal show, even more so than the one that had her name on it.
If you can't tell already, I'm a sucker for a teen show. High school is a great setting for storytelling in any medium. Plus, it feels like only recently that we've seen raunchy stories about girls breaking the rules and getting laid. After the likes of male-centric productions like "Superbad" and "The Inbetweeners," the scales need to be balanced, and Kaling is putting in the work. Devi is a disaster, but she's also young and complicated. You can't help but root for her.
New Girl
What it's about: Jess moves in with three single guy friends after a break-up and shakes up their lives.
Number of seasons: 7
Why you should watch it: Sitcoms make great binges, and "New Girl" is a great sitcom. Jessica Day may be the main character, but the bromance between her roommates is what kept this show going for seven seasons. It's actually astounding how well this show bounced back from those early advertisements that called Zoey Deschanel "adorkable." It was so easy to make fun of that, but thankfully "New Girl" had the last laugh.
The show overstayed its welcome. It tried to wrap things up with a hand-waving time jump, and become a little too obsessive about pairing up all of the main characters before the series finale, two tropes that many long-running shows fall into. However, I was never mad because I was happy to see these actors gainfully employed. Why am I saying so many negative things about a show I love? It's good! How adorkable of me.
Old Enough
What it's about: Real Japanese toddlers embark on simple errands like buying groceries, visiting a parent at work, or picking up laundry.
Number of seasons: 1 (on Netflix)
Why you should watch it: You know how "Stranger Things" calls back to a time when we trusted kids to go out by themselves? This show puts that attitude to the test, albeit with much younger children, and might make you think about whether or not kids are too coddled in Western culture. But it's also an entertaining show, not just a thought experiment. "Old Enough" ran on and off in Japan in the 1990s, and the kids are so stinkin' cute. Some are more responsible than most of the adults you know, while others are agents of pure chaos.
If you like cozy reality shows like "The Great British Bake-Off," it doesn't get more low-stakes than "Old Enough." The children and their errands are totally real, but they are never unsupervised — producers and camera people are stationed everywhere, just in case. And yet, you'll get so invested in whether or not a four-year-old remembers to pick up everything on her list that you'll be screaming at the television like it's the Super Bowl.
Orange Is the New Black
What it's about: Piper Chapman becomes a part of the prison system when a crime she committed in her 20s catches up to her.
Number of seasons: 7
Why you should watch it: With "Orange Is the New Black," Jenji Kohan famously used a white woman protagonist as a Trojan horse to tell an intersectional story about the prison-industrial complex. Piper Chapman is less of a main character, and more of a person with main character syndrome. Her story is far from the most important in the series, and the show is really good about checking her every time she starts to get a savior complex.
That said, "Orange Is the New Black" is the kind of satire that will leave you feeling powerless and mad about the world we live in. That'll happen sometimes. But, if you're going to face those hard truths about society and put yourself in that kind of mood, you might as well laugh about it, too. "Orange Is the New Black" was a very influential show, launching the careers of Uzo Aduba, Dascha Polanco, Laverne Cox, Danielle Brooks, Diane Guerrero, and Samira Wiley.
Outlander
What it's about: Claire Randall, a former World War II nurse, gets sucked back in time to 1743 while on her second honeymoon in Scotland and enters into a marriage of convenience with a Highland warrior named Jamie Fraser.
Number of seasons: 4 (on Netflix)
Why you should watch it: Catriona Balfe has been in and out of the awards season conversation with films like "Belfast" and "Ford v. Ferrari," but this is the show that shot her to fame. It's still going, by the way. You can catch up on Netflix or rewatch some of your favorite, ahem, episodes, but you'll eventually need to switch over to Starz to get the latest installments. Otherwise, "Outlander" is a romance novel adaptation developed by the same guy who made "Battlestar Galactica." That's wild in and of itself, right? It's very sexy and not all that much more historically accurate than "Bridgerton," with wigs and tartans for days.
Peaky Blinders
What it's about: A street gang called the "Peaky Blinders" in Birmingham, England vies for power just after the First World War.
Number of seasons: 5
Why you should watch it: I should confess that I have not seen "Peaky Blinders." I am waiting until marriage, because it seems like every single fan I know has watched it with a spouse (or a partner, but they act like spouses and brag that they're "such grandparents" for staying in on a Thursday night).
However, because I know so many of these types, I can surmise that "Peaky Blinders" has a chokehold on the population and should be included in Netflix's top shows. The cast is also very impressive. I may not know much about "Peaky Blinders" other than the basic plot and the grimy English accent you're supposed to affect when you say the title, but I know who Tom Hardy is. I know who Cillian Murphy is. I know who Anya Taylor-Joy is. They all did a show together? Cute!
The Queen's Gambit
What it's about: Beth Harmon rises to fame and fights addiction as a chess prodigy in the '50s and '60s.
Number of seasons: 1
Why you should watch it: Well dang, speaking of Anya Taylor-Joy, this Netflix original miniseries really captured our hearts in 2020. Watching people play chess, a famously cerebral and interior game, has never been more interesting. If there are two types of protagonists who always fascinate audiences, it's geniuses and orphans. Beth Harmon is both of those things. But those stories are often lonely; "The Queen's Gambit" stands apart by emphasizing that community, friendship, and teamwork are ultimately better than singular genius. Beth learns chess from a custodian at the orphanage, in a nice if not necessarily intentional homage to "Good Will Hunting," and becomes a champion because of her own talent and the support system that's solidified around her along the way.
You should also watch "The Queen's Gambit" for auteur director Marielle Heller's turn as the woman who adopts Beth when she's a teenager, Alma Wheatley. It's an underrated gem of a performance.
Queer Eye
What it's about: The "Fab Five" make over the lifestyle, appearance, and spirit of a different "hero" each episode.
Number of seasons: 6, not including a special Japan season
Why you should watch it: I was very into "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" when I was a teenager, and was hesitant about the remake. While the original series did, in its way, move the needle by bringing queer people into the homes of middle America, I knew it had problems. I knew it was ultimately harmful to reduce gay men's existence to simply a way to make things more aesthetically pleasing for the straights.
The reboot takes all of that into consideration. It's more of a life-coaching show than a makeover show, although there are some makeover moments to be had. It should be noted that not all of the heroes are cisgendered straight men this time around. "Queer Eye" is corny at times, tear-jerking at others, and ultimately about shaking up your life and getting out of your comfort zone to do some healing.
Russian Doll
What it's about: Nadia gets stuck in a time loop on her birthday that resets when she dies. She's uniquely qualified for this existential crisis because she works as a video game developer.
Number of seasons: 2
Why you should watch it: You've seen "Groundhog Day"-inspired storylines before, but you haven't seen Natasha Lyonne in a "Groundhog Day"-inspired storyline before. Because Nadia's day resets every time she dies, and she can't seem to outlive the day no matter what she tries, "Russian Doll" has a pretty dark sense of humor. It was renewed for a second season, and given the cerebral nature of the show I'm curious and cautiously optimistic to see what they do with it. "Russian Doll" seems like the kind of series that benefits from not answering questions and solving mysteries. It's nice to sit in the unknown and let it wash over you. But we'll see!
The Sandman
What it's about: Morpheus, the King of Dreams, is imprisoned for over a century. Upon his escape, he must set things right in his kingdom and the waking world.
Number of seasons: 1
Why you should watch it: This new fantasy series, based on Neil Gaiman's acclaimed comic book series, introduces new genres and new characters at a rapid rate. Every episode adapts one to two issues of the comic, and is distinct from the rest. One is even animated! The visuals are gorgeous. Everyone is very good-looking. It's funny, spooky, and, at times, heartbreaking. The characters represent big, daunting concepts like Death, Desire, Despair, nightmares, demons, and hope, but you'll find yourself rooting for the interpersonal relationships.
Take it from me: You don't need to have read the comics to understand what's going on. While Gaiman's work is famously dense, the show does a good job translating it to the screen without relying on the audience to do extracurricular reading or podcast-listening.
Seinfeld
What it's about: Nothing, famously.
Number of seasons: 9
Why you should watch it: Now this is a classic sitcom. Many shows have tried to do what "Seinfeld" did. The sitcom about a stand-up comedian whose jokes bookend every episode is practically its own sub-genre. But, even after all this time, nobody has done it better than "Seinfeld." Watch it because the jokes still hold up (well, not all of them, but that's to be expected). Watch it for Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Watch it for some seriously dated dating storylines. Watch it for Kramer. Watch it to understand the dream that all of your favorite comedians are chasing. Watch because it's the best show set in New York City, and while co-creators Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David may be arrogant about a lot of things, they never had the hubris to claim that NYC was "like its own character" in their series.
sense8
What it's about: Eight strangers connected through their minds and visions try to figure out why.
Number of seasons: 2, including special episodes
Why you should watch it: Lana and Lilly Wachowski's series drew on some of the themes the duo first explored in "Cloud Atlas," including empathy and interconnectivity, with an original story. It also has some weird mind orgies.
In order to create a truly global story, the Wachowskis cast actors from all over the world and shot the series across multiple continents. The members of the sensate cluster are located in Kenya, South Korea, two regions of the United States, India, Mexico, Germany, and England. Unfortunately, "sense8" was canceled after two seasons. This one hurt, too, because season 2 ended on a cliffhanger. Thankfully, Lana Wachowski and co-creator J. Michael Straczynski were able to wrap things up with a two-and-a-half hour long "series finale" that aired in 2018. Later, many of the cast members were reunited in Wachowski's 2021 film, "The Matrix: Resurrections." It's not much, but it's something.
A Series of Unfortunate Events
What it's about: The Baudelaire siblings become orphans when their parents die in a fire, drawing them into a dangerous world of incompetent adults with a love of literature.
Number of seasons: 3
Why you should watch it: In my humble opinion, "A Series of Unfortunate Events" is one of the best adaptations of a YA series ever made. The tone is consistent throughout, and the books were finished before the series began, so the showrunner was able to adapt the series with the end in mind. Your mileage may vary when it comes to Neil Patrick Harris' song-and-dance approach to Count Olaf, but Harris and the rest of the adults in the supporting cast, which includes Patrick Warburton, Lucy Punch, Nathan Fillion, Coby Smulders, Will Arnett, Aasif Mandvi, Joan Cusack, and Allison Williams, are having so much fun that it's hard to not be charmed. On the page or on the screen, what has always made "A Series Of Unfortunate Events" great is a darkly comic sensibility that respects the intelligence of its young audience.
Sex Education
What it's about: Otis, an awkward high school student whose mother is a sex therapist, starts a sex clinic at school to help a cool girl, Maeve, make money.
Number of seasons: 3
Why you should watch it: Gillian Anderson wears a lot of fabulous jumpsuits. That's really all you need to know.
Kidding! "Sex Education" is a thoughtful show about sex and intimacy that imagines what it would be like if teenagers were actually taught about intercourse instead of simply told not to have it. It touches on corners of the sexuality spectrum, like pansexuality and asexuality, that are not often explored on television outside of science fiction. It's also a British show that plays with a lot of American high school tropes, including popular cliques, the big man on campus (sporting a varsity jacket, even), and drama at the lockers and school dances. However, because it's set in the U.K., "Sex Education" isn't saddled with America's Puritanical values and shame surrounding s-e-x. It's the best of both worlds, and a true fantasy in that respect.
Shadow and Bone
What it's about: A soldier named Alina might have the power to stop an ongoing war, and is therefore a target for factions both good and evil.
Number of seasons: 1
Why you should watch it: Do you like throwing things at your television and screaming for two people to kiss? Watch "Shadow and Bone." This show doesn't have gratuitous sex scenes like some other modern fantasy shows, but the lust is out of this world. The first season of this show has magic, childhood crushes, war, a trio of street-level criminals who pull off daring heists, and Ben Barnes wearing a dramatic black cape. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, two characters who can't stand each other get lost in the woods and have to strip naked and share a bed to keep warm. That happened on the actual show, not in fanfiction. Unreal!
Shameless
What it's about: Families don't get much more dysfunctional than the Gallaghers, but Frank and his six children have to figure out how to get by anyway. The eldest daughter, Fiona, is kind of in charge, but it's a good thing that none of them cares what anybody else thinks.
Number of seasons: 11
Why you should watch it: If you didn't watch "Shameless" when it was on Showtime, why not stream it on Netflix? "Shameless" is based on a British series, and while both had avid fanbases and critical acclaim, they're not really the same. How could they not be? The working, "no collar" classes in the United States and the United Kingdom are very different. Having an addict for a father has distinct ramifications in each country as well.
With so many seasons, "Shameless" will keep you busy on your nights in for a long time, and while the show probably ran a few years too long, the performances from William H. Macy, Emmy Rossum, Justin Chatwin, Cameron Monaghan, and guest star Joan Cusack are not to be beat.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power
What it's about: An orphaned Horde soldier named Adora inherits the power of She-Ra and begins fighting for the Princesses on the other side.
Number of seasons: 5
Why you should watch it: Creator ND Stevenson is known for the comics "Lumberjanes" and "Nimona"; this is their slightly more kid-friendly project, based on the very popular characters from the "He-Man" franchise. "She-Ra" is another Netflix original series that is geared at children, and that probably would have changed the lives of many of us if we'd had it as kids. Adult reader, if you want to relive your Saturday morning cartoon days and not cringe at sexist jokes, "She-Ra" is a must-watch. This show presents a full spectrum of what gender can be and look like. Further, a queer relationship is at the center of the series,although the two characters involved don't realize what they mean to each other until the very end.
Sister, Sister
What it's about: Much like "The Parent Trap," two twin sisters with opposite personalities are separated at birth and reunited as teenagers.
Number of seasons: 6
Why you should watch it: This '90s show was a thing on The WB, but unlike a lot of the other shows that millennials used to watch after school, this one's on Netflix. You can whip yourself up some Lunchables and take yourself right back to middle school ... minus the homework.
"Sister, Siter" won a lot of Image Awards in the '90s, and remains a solid sitcom. Tia and Tamera Mowry's characters get into a lot of trouble, occasionally going so far as to break the fourth wall. There are tons of fun guest stars to look out for too, including Brittany Murphy, Kenan and Kel, RuPaul, Kobe Bryant, Taraji P. Henson, perpetual teen Bianca Lawson, as well as the other famous twins of the '90s: Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen.
Squid Game
What it's about: Lower class citizens compete for cash in games that seem simple but have horrifying consequences.
Number of seasons: 1
Why you should watch it: You were around in 2021 when it seemed like everyone was obsessed with this show, right? The South Korean series makes the economic commentary in "The Hunger Games" look like a fairy tale. It was a breakout hit on Netflix and took home multiple Screen Actors Guild Awards as well as a Golden Globe. It's violent and scary. There's a giant doll that will haunt your nightmares. Much like "Orange is the New Black" and "Black Mirror," this show will make you feel depressed and powerless about the world we live in — and they're making a season 2, so there's more pain to come. Sometimes, that's what we need. Escapism is for the weak.
Stranger Things
What it's about: A mysterious girl breaks out of a lab just as a young boy goes missing and his three adventure-seeking friends set out to find him.
Number of seasons: 4
Why you should watch it: Have you heard of Steven Spielberg? This director has been in the news recently. Before his "West Side Story" became a box office underdog, he made blockbusters that defined a generation and inspired the nostalgia bomb that is "Stranger Things."
But, aside from a gazillion homages to '80s pop culture, "Stranger Things" is a well-made science fiction adventure with a charming cast and a laundry list of unsolved mysteries. It appeals to our collective memories of past films and TV shows, but is actually an original story and not based on any one IP. You don't watch "Stranger Things" to reminisce about the days when kids rode their bikes all over town and had little to no adult supervision. You watch because the stakes keep getting higher and you can't wait to see what happens next.
The Umbrella Academy
What it's about: A jaded team of former childhood superheroes reunite at their caretaker's funeral and get sucked back into supernatural action.
Number of seasons: 2
Why you should watch it: Superhero fatigue is real, but "The Umbrella Academy" has a tone all of its own. It's not genuine and optimistic like the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It's not dark and gritty like your DC or "Batman" film of choice. Instead, it's based on a comic book series written by My Chemical Romance's Gerard Way, so it may not surprise you to learn that "The Umbrella Academy" is a little bit emo, a little bit goth, and a little bit punk.
The ground the Umbrella Academy treads is pretty familiar territory for fans of the genre. Vanya's storyline in season 1 will remind you of the Dark Phoenix saga in "X-Men," and the time travel plot in season 2 is similar to Stephen King's novel "11/22/63." Ultimately, however, those similarities don't matter because the characters feel fresh. They even brood differently, and not for the usual reasons we're used to seeing superheroes sulk. You've seen these stories before, but not starring these specific heroes, and that makes all the difference.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
What it's about: Kimmy was abducted as a child and grew up in an underground bunker. Now that she's been rescued from the cult that raised her, she tries to make it in New York City.
Number of seasons: 4, and one special "Choose Your Own Adventure"-style movie.
Why you should watch it: At times, Tina Fey's post-"30 Rock" series is outlandish and shocking. At others, it's silly and goofy. Kimmy's unflappable attitude hints towards the "Paddington" era of sincere comedy that later led to "Ted Lasso" and "Schitt's Creek," but the series maintains Fey's signature sarcastic streak throughout. In the lead role, Ellie Kemper is a delight with a dark side. Carol Kane is complete chaos. Jane Krakowski does it again, Tituss Burgess is the show's true star, and Jon Hamm is finally, completely unleashed. "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" is a weird sitcom that gets away with many jokes you probably wouldn't see on network television. By this point, they've permeated the zeitgeist as well, so get ready for a lot of "oh that's what that's from" moments if you're watching "Kimmy Schmidt" the first time. No face journeys!
The Walking Dead
What it's about: Rick Grimes wakes up from a coma to find the world in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, leading him to reunite with his family and gather more like-minded survivors.
Number of seasons: 10 (on Netflix)
Why you should watch it: Believe it or not, but in 2022, "The Walking Dead" franchise is still going strong. Not only are numerous spin-offs in production, but the final season of the flagship series is currently airing on AMC. Still, the bulk of this show is on Netflix, if you somehow missed this one-time juggernaut when it debuted.
After all this time, why should you watch "The Walking Dead," anyway? Much like the "Fast and Furious" franchise, "The Walking Dead" is about family. It's a character-driven story set during the zombie apocalypse. While it takes place in the South, it leaves every redneck stereotype you can think of behind in season 1 and moves on to judgment-free human drama. Above all else, this is a show about surviving. The zombies were never the bad guys. Other people are. It has a big cast, too, so if one character annoys you, there's another waiting around the corner for you to love. By the time the next episode rolls around, you might have a new favorite.
The Witcher
What it's about: A monster killer for hire crosses paths with a power-hungry witch, a wisecracking bard, and a young princess on the run.
Number of seasons: 2
Why you should watch it: Every network and streaming service scrambled to fill the dragon-sized hole left by "Game of Thrones," and one of the first to truly hit was "The Witcher"; it certainly has enough sex scenes and fantasy braids to satisfy the average "Thrones" fan. Henry Cavill, who looks like a superhero in real life but builds gaming computers in his spare time, is clearly having the time of his geeky life in the title role.
If you're starting "The Witcher" for the first time, keep in mind that the first season jumps back and forth in time, with some storylines taking place chronologically before or after others. I'm not trying to insult your intelligence, I promise. I'm a pretty smart television watcher, and I didn't immediately pick up on the multiple timelines; the show plays their reveal like a twist, but it's much easier to follow if you know what's happening from the beginning.