Netflix has a lot of content. Like a lot. Sifting through all the TV shows streaming there can cause chronic indecision, leaving us scrolling down the Netflix main page just trying to pick something to watch. Instead of getting overwhelmed rewatching a Netflix OG classic Stranger Things, The Queen's Gambit, and The Crown, here's a strategy suggestion: only watch the good Netflix shows.
Of course, finding out which ones are good takes time. Let us carry some of that burden and list the best new Netflix original series released in the past 12 months.
1. Bridgerton Season 2
Yes, technically a second season of a hit show isn't exactly "new," but Bridgerton's clever anthology format ensures that each season has its own main character, love interest, and a totally unique story. Season 2 focuses on Anthony Bridgerton, Daphne's elder brother and the 9th viscount Bridgerton. Anthony's search for a suitable, perfect wife gets totally derailed when he meets the Sharma sisters: sweet, suitable Edwina and argumentative, difficult Kate. The drama, the love triangles, and of course the music are all in top form for a slightly raunchy, always fun British romantic period piece. — Alexis Nedd, Senior Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: Bridgerton Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.
2. Heartstopper
Speaking of adorable British people falling in love, Netflix also debuted Heartstopper, a charming story of queer teen love based on the webcomics and published work of Alice Oseman. Set at an all-boys school, Heartstopper tells the story of Charlie, an anxious gay 11th former, and his enduring crush on classmate Nick. Cute? Yes. Funny? Also yes. Fans of Hulu's Love, Victor will certainly see the appeal. — A.N.
How to watch: Heartstopper is now streaming on Netflix.
3. All Of Us Are Dead
This South Korean series from Lee Jae-kyoo and Kim Nam-su follows a zombie outbreak that begins at a high school then spreads ruthlessly throughout the city. As zombie thrillers go, the action and gore are spectacular, displayed with slick cinematography and outstanding production design. Chun Sung-Il’s writing follows constantly unspooling narratives and new character combinations, so the survivalist side of the drama never grows stale. Through all that, our anchor is Hyosan High School, ground zero for the outbreak, where a dwindling group of students fight to survive and escape. A zombie apocalypse can be pretty terrible, but living through it with a crush who doesn’t want to kiss you even on the brink of death? Brutal. — Proma Khosla, Senior Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: All Of Us Are Dead is now streaming on Netflix.
4. Murderville
Murderville is not so much a parody as it is a work of cleverly experimental comedy that toys with our mystery-solving expectations by layering in the spontaneity of improvisation. With Will Arnett's steady hand guiding every episode and the energy shifts each new clueless celebrity guest brings, Murderville carefully splits its time between challenging viewers to follow the clues and leaving them breathless with anticipation and laughter as they watch to see which talented performer breaks character next. —Adam Rosenberg, Senior Reporter
How to watch: Murderville is now streaming on Netflix.
5. Squid Game
Do we really have to recap? Netflix's South Korean superhit Squid Game landed on the service in mid-September and exploded like none other, shattering the record for the most-watched Netflix show of all time (the record has since been beaten by Arcane). Its dystopian premise, in which indebted civilians compete with each other in death-match versions of schoolyard games for money — is as dark as it comes, but Squid Game's candy-colored aesthetic makes the deadly proceedings substantially creepier. Squid Game is a whip-smart satire that calls out the loss of individual humanity in late-stage capitalism, which for some weird reason resonated with millions of people all over the world. —A.N. (*)
How to watch: Squid Game is now streaming on Netflix.
6. Arcane
It would have been so easy for Netflix's League of Legends TV show Arcane to be just "okay." Nobody expects great things from video game adaptations in the first place, and coasting on the worldwide appeal of LoL was always going to be an option for the show's creators. This is all to say that Arcane didn't have to go anywhere near as hard as it does, but it does. The results are spectacular. Arcane takes the premise and lore of League of Legends and makes it merely the backdrop of a wholly engrossing tale of family, betrayal, inequality, and the generational cycle of violence. Its animation is also beyond top-tier, with a one-of-a-kind combination of 3D and 2D that is as impressive during action sequences as it is simply setting the scene for the show's quieter moments. So thanks for slapping so dang hard, Arcane. Season 2 is going to be a blast. — A.N.
How to watch: Arcane is now streaming on Netflix.
7. Sweet Tooth
Sweet Tooth was a surprisingly fantastical addition to the Netflix lineup this year and its big bet on childlike wonder paid off in spades. Even though it takes place after a deadly virus has decimated the human population and caused the collapse of civilization (yikes), Sweet Tooth is more of a fairy tale told from the perspective of one of the other side effects of the apocalypse — a human-deer hybrid named Gus, whose father sheltered him from the worst of the world until shelter became untenable. Gus's journey through the world he barely knew existed is a beautiful coming-of-age story with a talented supporting cast and a flawless cute-to-concerning ratio. —A.N. (*)
How to Watch: Sweet Tooth is now streaming on Netflix.
8. High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America
A laundry list of successful titles proves Netflix knows how to make a good cooking show. But High on the Hog is really more than that. In this stunning four-part docuseries, food journalist Stephen Satterfield follows the journey of African cuisine across West Africa and the United States. It's a celebration of culture and cultural preservation that not only inspires but also urges viewers to appreciate the complex origins of food and family tradition as part of our global history. —Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter (*)
How to Watch: High on the Hog is now streaming on Netflix.
9. Love is Blind: After the Altar
We’re still eagerly waiting for Love Is Blind Season 2 to send a new batch of sexy singles into Netflix’s infamous dating “pods.” Thankfully, while we wait, we have Love Is Blind: After the Altar — a juicy, three-episode reality event that follows up with the contestants who appeared on the series two years ago. Nearly every member of the Season 1 cast returns, with major life developments and personal news to share. See who managed to make it and who, well, didn’t. (Plus, a highly dramatic crossover event with a cast member from Too Hot To Handle sets off an all-time great reality TV storyline with Giannina Gibelli and Damian Powers...) — A.F.
How to Watch: Love is Blind: After the Altar is now streaming on Netflix.
10. Masters of the Universe: Revelation
Masters of the Universe: Revelation is nostalgia first and foremost, but it's also far more than that. Kevin Smith's sequel to the classic '80s cartoon series (which owes its existence to a line of toys) is peddling the idea that even the childhood things we remember most fondly can live on in new and updated forms. They can change as the world changes. Just as it is in He-Man's Eternia: The magic may be fading, as it is in this new story, but fresh faces and new ideas are always waiting in the wings to save it. —A.R.
How to Watch: Masters of the Universe: Revelation is now streaming on Netflix.
11. The Chair
The Chair isn’t without its flaws, but you do get a lot for a little with this smart dramedy from creators Amanda Peet and Annie Julia Wyman. Set on the campus of the fictional Pembroke University, Season 1 of The Chair follows English department head Dr. Ji-Yoon Kim (Sandra Oh) as she grapples with a scandal involving her fellow professor and love interest (Jay Duplass). Choppy pacing and some muddled messaging around cancel culture make this an imperfect, yet worthy binge, clocking in at six episodes in just three hours. —A.F.
How to Watch: The Chair is now streaming on Netflix.
Asterisks (*) indicate this entry previously appeared in another Mashable streaming list.
from Mashable https://ift.tt/ipDR3TV
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