Last March, ComingSoon.net took a look at the 10 Best Netflix Original Series, and it’s been one of our most popular posts of the year. There’s just one problem: Netflix’s lineup of original programming has grown exponentially, and our first list is no longer up to date. Netflix doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time in the near future, as it has already committed billions of dollars to creating new series in 2017 and beyond.
Our theory is that Netflix is getting ready for the day when its original programming outnumbers the shows it runs from other sources. Netflix built its empire on the movies and TV shows that it didn’t own, but now its reputation has been staked on a wide variety of shows like House of Cards, Orange Is the New Black, Daredevil, Master of None, Bloodline, and many others. We covered those signature series in our previous Netflix Original list, which is why it’s time to put the spotlight on some of the newer shows as well as some fan favorites that barely missed the cut in our last roundup.
The amazing thing is that we’ll probably need to update the list again in just a few months, since Netflix has A Series of Unfortunate Events, Iron Fist, The Defenders, Frontier, Santa Clarita Diet, Mindhunter, and Dear White People slated for next year… and that’s far from the complete lineup!
Part of Netflix’s formula for success is that its shows are geared towards many different audiences. There’s something for almost anyone on Netflix, if you know where to find it. For now, these are our picks for Part 2 of our Best Netflix Original Series feature. But feel free to share your picks in the comment section!
Best Netflix Original Series – Part 2: Stranger Things
Netflix’s executive producers went on the record months before Stranger Things was released and predicted that the show would be a breakout hit. But it’s doubtful that anyone could have predicted just how popular the eight-episode first season would be. Stranger Things became the show of the summer, and the kids from the series appeared everywhere from The Tonight Show to the Emmy Awards as it kept building up awareness.
With this series, Matt and Ross Duffer made a loving tribute to the ‘80s while creating their own mythology that included parallel dimensions, a superpowered girl, a monstrous creature, and the lengths that three teenage boys went through to find their missing friend. Stranger Things even went the extra mile by giving its supporting character important roles to play in the story, so that by the end of the season, the multiple plotlines came together in a satisfying way. Season 2 is on the way for release next year, and we can’t wait to see what’s next!
Best Netflix Original Series – Part 2: Luke Cage
So far, Marvel is batting three-for-three with its Netflix original shows. Daredevil and Jessica Jones were already renewed, and now Luke Cage will also get a second season. The recent news wasn’t that surprising, since Netflix had a rare outage the weekend that Luke Cage debuted and it was widely believed that the show’s popularity had something to do with it. Mike Colter proved he was good choice for Luke Cage back in the Jessica Jones series, but he truly came into his own for this solo series.
What many fans seemed to appreciate about this show is that it was not only about the first African-American lead in a Marvel Cinematic Universe television series, it was also very much about the black experience in NYC. This was one of the few series that even dared to touch upon those topics, even when it was wrapped up in a modern superhero story. Luke Cage had its own identity and it arrived at a very timely moment for both Marvel and Netflix. Luke is the hero we need right now, but his solo adventures probably won’t pick up again until 2018.
Best Netflix Original Series – Part 2: BoJack Horseman
BoJack Horseman has been around since 2014, and it’s easily the most popular animated original series for adults on Netflix. It’s already been renewed through next summer’s fourth season, and it just narrowly missed the cut in our first list of Netflix originals!
This show plays like it could have been an Adult Swim series. Will Arnett voices the title character, BoJack, as an actor fighting his fade into obscurity… who just happens to be an anthropomorphic horse. BoJack Horseman is also a hilariously bleak take on Hollywood and celebrity culture with a voice cast that includes Amy Sedaris, Alison Brie, Paul F. Tompkins, and Aaron Paul. On a network, this show would have probably struggled to find an audience. But on Netflix, BoJack Horseman thrives… and we may get even more seasons out of it!
Best Netflix Original Series – Part 2: The Crown
With The Crown, Netflix has a new British prestige drama series that already has a second season lined up. This show is all about the life of Queen Elizabeth II, as portrayed by Claire Foy. And unlike most period dramas, The Crown has found a way to present a compelling story while remaining relatively accurate to what actually happened during the early years of Elizabeth’s reign as England’s monarch.
Impressively, Netflix and Left Bank Pictures lined up former Doctor Who star Matt Smith to play Prince Philip, Elizabeth’s husband of nearly 70 years. If The Crown gets to run a full six seasons as planned, then Foy and Smith will be sharing the screen for many years to come.
Best Netflix Original Series – Part 2: Black Mirror
Netflix already has the streaming rights for The Twilight Zone, but it also went the extra mile and picked up the streaming rights to its modern successor, Black Mirror. This show began as a British import, but the recently-released third season was produced as a Netflix original, and it was just as twisted as the two previous seasons.
Black Mirror can be a difficult show to describe, since it’s an anthology series that deals with “the unanticipated consequences of new technologies.” That it does so with some of the darkest humor and twists means that Black Mirror isn’t for everyone. But if you can handle a journey through humanity’s worst instincts, then it might be for you.
Best Netflix Original Series – Part 2: The Get Down
Amazingly, The Get Down is reportedly one of the most expensive series on any network or streaming service, with a $10 million dollar budget per episode. That’s insane, but the show is an unquestionably ambitious undertaking. Baz Luhrmann and Stephen Adly Guirgis spent years developing The Get Down, which explores the origins of hip-hop, punk and disco in New York during the ‘70s.
The first six episodes of the series are out now, with the remaining six episodes of the first season slated to hit Netflix in 2017. Because of the production costs, this show may not be getting a long run, but it should be a popular series on Netflix for many years to come.
Best Netflix Original Series – Part 2: Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life
If Gilmore Girls hadn’t been such a strong performer for Netflix, it’s doubtful that the revival miniseries, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, would have ever happened. Another key factor was that series creator Amy Sherman-Palladino left Gilmore Girls before the final season, leaving her originally planned ending behind… until now.
Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, and the majority of the original cast returned for these four episodes, which managed to revisit the characters and give most of them a satisfying sendoff. Although now that we know what the final “four words” were, it does make us wonder if the Gilmore Girls will stage another comeback down the line.
Best Netflix Original Series – Part 2: Love
Even Judd Apatow has an original show on Netflix, but Love is very much its own thing compared to most of Apatow’s films. Gillian Jacobs and Paul Rust star in the series as Mickey and Gus, respectively. They’re an unlikely couple with self-destructive tendencies, and both Mickey and Gus are often their own worst enemies.
The first season explored the odd courtship of Mickey and Gus, and we’re eager to see what happens in Season 2 early in 2017.
Best Netflix Original Series – Part 2: W/ Bob & David
Anyone who ever wanted a new season of HBO’s Mr. Show got their wish with Netflix’s W/ Bob & David. Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul, Breaking Bad) and David Cross (Arrested Development) reunited for a new four episode sketch comedy series that recaptured some of their old magic together. The only downside is that we’re not sure when a second season is coming, or if it’s even happening! But for a quick dose of humor, it’s hard to go wrong with this comedy duo.
Best Netflix Original Series – Part 2: Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp
In theory, nothing about Wet Hot American Summer should have worked. The original film was a bomb in 2001 and it seemed destined to be forgotten. Instead, it got a cult following as most of the actors and actresses went on to become major stars in Hollywood. Somehow, Netflix managed to lure back the entire cast to play younger versions of themselves in the prequel series, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp. And that included Elizabeth Banks, H. Jon Benjamin, Bradley Cooper, Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, Janeane Garofalo, and more more!
Both the film and the Netflix series are parody of teen sex comedies, and First Day of Camp won’t be the end of the story. Netflix has commissioned a new season, which will be a true sequel to the film: Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later. And once again, most of the cast will be back!
Don’t forget to tell us which of the best Netflix Original Series makes your top 10 list in the comment section below!
Netflix Original Series
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Lilyhammer
To get the most out of your Netflix experience, ComingSoon.net is running down all 51 scripted series that are currently online. And there are a lot more than 50 new original shows on the way!
First up is the one that started it all: Lilyhammer, a crime drama and comedy about Frank "The Fixer" Tagliano (Steven Van Zandt),a former gangster in witness protection who was relocated to Lillehammer, Norway. It ran for three seasons.
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House of Cards
House of Cards was the series that made Netflix a major player in the original programming market. Netflix signed a deal with Kevin Spacey and David Fincher for two seasons up front, which was reportedly worth more than $100 million.
The series follows Spacey's Frank Underwood as he slowly rises to the highest office in America while ruthlessly dispatching his enemies. House of Cards will be back for season 5 next year.
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Hemlock Grove
Although Hemlock Grove didn't enjoy the critical response of House of Cards, it had a three-season run on Netflix.
This was a horror series based on the novel by Brian McGreevy, which dealt with the cruel and unusual monsters that inhabited the town of Hemlock Grove.
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Arrested Development
One of Netflix's biggest coups was the revival of Arrested Development over a decade after it was cancelled by Fox.
The entire cast returned to resume the comedic story of the Bluth family, but most of the characters were separated because of conflicting cast schedules. There may eventually be a fifth season, but it hasn't happened yet.
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Orange Is the New Black
Orange Is the New Black was a game-changer for Netflix, and the first original series to be renewed through seven seasons.
Although initially focused on one woman's darkly comic stint in prison, the sprawling ensemble cast has taken on a life of its own.
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BoJack Horseman
BoJack Horseman was one of the biggest surprises to come out of Netflix. This animated series stars Will Arnett as the title character, a washed-up star in a darkly comic look at Hollywood and show business.
Of course, it helps to have a supporting cast like Amy Sedaris, Alison Brie, Paul F. Tompkins, and Aaron Paul. Season 3 is coming this summer.
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The Killing
For a show named The Killing, this one seemed to be immune from death. It survived multiple cancellations from AMC before Netflix picked up the series for a short six-episode season to wrap it up.
For the fourth season, Sarah Linden and Stephen Holder were forced to cover up a murder to protect themselves, as it wore away at their partnership.
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Trailer Park Boys
Trailer Park Boys is a Canadian comedy series that spoofed reality shows while chronicling the residents of a trailer park in Canada. After it ran its course on Showcase, Netflix picked it up for an additional four seasons.
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Marco Polo
Marco Polo is one of the bigger gambles in Netflix's history. It's a big budget period series that follows the famous titular explorer during his time in the court of Kublai Khan.
The second season of Marco Polo is coming in July.
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Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt was rescued from inevitable cancellation by NBC even before it aired. Netflix gave it a two-season commitment, and it has become one of its signature hits.
The title character is played by Ellie Kemper as a young woman who attempts to reinvent herself after spending years in a cult. A third season has already been ordered.
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Bloodline
Netflix commissioned the creators of Damages to unleash Bloodline, a dark and twisty show about a family with a lot of secrets. Season 2 debuted last month.
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Daredevil
Daredevil was the first of four planned Marvel live-action shows for Netflix... but now that The Punisher is coming, that's five and counting.
This series quickly became the best superhero drama on TV simply by staying true to the spirit of the source material and going dark when needed.
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Between
Between is a Netflix original that's been overlooked. It's a sci-fi teen drama set in a town where a mysterious illness has wiped out the adult population. Anyone over 21 is dead, and the government isn't letting anyone out.
Season 2 will premiere at the end of June.
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Grace and Frankie
It says a lot about the status of Netflix, that Grace and Frankie attracted Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin for the title roles. They play women who have to deal with the fact that their husbands are gay and in love with each other.
The series has already been renewed for a third season.
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Sense8
The creators of The Matrix and Babylon 5 teamed up for Sense8, which follows eight strangers from around the world who have a shared consciousness between them.
Season 2 is currently in production, and there may be a Christmas special this year.
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Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp
Somehow, almost the entire cast from the cult comedy Wet Hot American Summer came back a decade later for a "prequel" series on Netflix.
Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp must have done well, since there's now a sequel series on the way.
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Club de Cuervos
Club de Cuervos is a Spanish-language comedy/drama about a family's power struggle for control of the football (soccer) team Cuervos FC, after the father and primary owner dies.
Like many other shows on this list, it has been renewed.
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Narcos
Narcos is a fictionalized account of the life of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, and the American agents assigned to bring him down. Season 2 will premiere in September.
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Longmire
Despite excellent ratings and a preexisting fanbase for the novels, A&E cancelled Longmire after three seasons.
Netflix happily picked up the older skewing crime drama for a fourth season, and now a fifth season is also coming.
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Master of None
Shortly after Parks and Recreation ended, Aziz Ansari co-created, co-wrote, and starred in Master of None, an unexpectedly bold comedy about a struggling actor and his attempts to find love.
Stop me if you've heard this before, but a second season is on the way.
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W/ Bob & David
Former Mr. Show co-stars Bob Odenkirk and David Cross reunited for a new sketch comedy show on Netflix called W/ Bob & David. It was filmed around Odenkirk's Better Call Saul schedule.
This series may return, but there's no definitive word yet.
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Jessica Jones
Marvel's second live-action Netflix series introduced fans to Jessica Jones, a hard drinking and emotionally-damaged heroine played by Krysten Ritter.
It was another home run for Marvel TV, and Jessica Jones will be back for another season.
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F is for Family
F is for Family is Netflix's second animated sitcom, which was co-created by comedian Bill Burr. In the series, Burr provides the voice of Frank, the head of a very, very dysfunctional family.
This series has been renewed for a second season.
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Love
Judd Apatow and Paul Rust co-created Love, a relatively new comedy series starring Rust and Gillian Jacobs as a pair of dysfunctional friends turned romantic interests. Season 2 is already on the way.
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Fuller House
Is Fuller House really more popular than The Walking Dead? Some unofficial numbers from outside of Netflix have suggested that this very conventional follow up to Full House has a bigger audience than almost any show on TV.
Of course, Netflix doesn't actually release its numbers, so there's no way to independently verify that. But if it lasts for several seasons, that may provide an answer. Season 2 has already been confirmed.
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Flaked
With Flaked, Netflix now has three Will Arnett series, following Arrested Development and BoJack Horseman. Flaked puts Arnett in the role of a self-help guru/fraud named Gus, who can barely keep his own lies straight.
Surprisingly, there is currently no indication that Flaked will get another season.
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Netflix Presents: The Characters
Netflix Presents: The Characters is one of the more unique shows on Netflix. Eight comedians -- Lauren Lapkus, Kate Berlant, Dr Brown, Paul W. Downs, John Early, Tim Robinson, Natasha Rothwell, and Henry Zebrowski -- were tasked with writing and starring in their own half-hour show. So, this is like eight different shows in one.
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The Ranch
The Ranch may be the most conventional comedy series that Netflix has done to date... although the occasional F-bomb is still something you won't hear on CBS.
This show has an impressive cast including Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson, Debra Winger, Sam Elliott, and Elisha Cuthbert...but it has less than stellar reviews. That said, it has also been renewed for a second season.
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Marseille
Marseille is a pretty big departure for Netflix. It's a French language political drama starring Gérard Depardieu as the mayor of Marseille, who suddenly finds himself having to defend his position against his former protégé. A second season is on the way.
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Lady Dynamite
Lady Dynamite is a very surreal comedy starring comedian Maria Bamford as a fictionalized version of herself who attempts to deal with her bi-polar condition and rebuild her life and career.
It's not a show for everyone, and it's not clear yet if Lady Dynamite will get another season.
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Hibana (Spark)
Hibana (Spark) is a Japanese drama based on a novel by Naoki Matayoshi, which is extremely popular in Japan. The show follows a comedian named Tokunaga.
Some of the humor may be lost in translation, but we wouldn't be shocked to see more of this series.
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Turbo FAST
Now we're moving on to the animated series and programs geared towards younger viewers. First up is Turbo FAST, an animated series spinning out of the DreamWorks Animation film Turbo.
You're gonna notice a lot of DreamWorks animated series on Netflix. It's not a coincidence. The companies signed a multi-year deal, which is still playing out.
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Star Wars: The Clone Wars
One of the unfortunate consequences of Disney buying Lucasfilm meant that Star Wars: The Clone Wars was pulled from Cartoon Network before it came to a natural end.
The previously unaired episodes from the sixth season made their debut as a Netflix exclusive. But the entire series is here, and this is the show that made Star Wars cool again.
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VeggieTales in the House
VeggieTales in the House is an animated series geared towards very young kids that places anthropomorphic vegetables as leading characters in stories that teach moral lessons.
It's run for three seasons on Netflix.
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All Hail King Julien
All Hail King Julien is a prequel series to the Madagascar films from DreamWorks centering on King Julien, the unconventional ruler of the lemurs. Critics love this show, and it's one of the most popular DreamWorks' animated series.
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The Adventures of Puss in Boots
There is no Shrek: The Animated Series, but Puss in Boots has his own show on Netflix. The Adventures of Puss in Boots has been very well received, and there are at least 52 more episodes of the series yet to come... which will be released over the next few seasons.
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Richie Rich
DreamWorks also produced the new live-action adaptation of Richie Rich, the youngest 1%er ever.
For this incarnation, Richie is a little more environmentally conscious, and he made his trillions (yes, trillions) by turning vegetables into an energy source.
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DreamWorks Dragons
DreamWorks Dragons is a continuation of the How to Train Your Dragon franchise that premiered on Cartoon Network for two seasons before moving to Netflix. It also happens to be one of the best DreamWorks shows on Netflix.
The fourth season will debut near the end of June.
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Project MC2
Project Mc2 is a live-action comedy / educational series that puts a spotlight on "a highly-secretive group of female operatives that are trying to protect the world."
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Dinotrux
Dinotrux is kind of like Transformers for very young children. The heroic dinosaurs are mashed up with construction vehicles, and they even fight evil mechanical dinosaurs called D-Structs.
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The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show
Unlike the DreamWorks feature film, The Mr. Peabody and Sherman Show has a more conventional 2-D style, as the title characters attempt to host a time-travel comedy and variety show.
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Popples
If there is anything that is so cute that it's almost grotesque, it would be the Popples. This show is based on a popular toyline, but it looks like the stuff of nightmares to us.
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Care Bears & Cousins
The Care Bears and their cousins are definitely meant for the youngest of viewers. They share and they care, and that's pretty much what they're all about.
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Atelier
It's pretty odd to follow up on Care Bears & Cousins with Atelier, a Japanese teenage drama whose title loosely translates to "Underwear." But this is chronologically the show that debuted after it!
This show is about a group of teenagers working in "a lingerie design house," but it's about as inoffensive as teen dramas get. If it was any less threatening, it would be a Disney show!
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Dawn of the Croods
Another DreamWorks show, this time based on The Croods. Dawn of the Croods uses traditional 2-D animation for this prequel series that follows the adventures of the titular family in prehistoric times.
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Degrassi: Next Class
Degrassi is a long-running Canadian teen drama franchise that is currently on its fifth incarnation with Degrassi: Next Class. Netflix is the official U.S. home for this series, and it has already been renewed through season 4.
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LEGO Bionicle: The Journey to One
The new era of LEGO Bionicle debuted earlier this year. LEGO Bionicle: The Journey to One follows "the Toa, part-organic, part-machine heroic beings with power over the elements in their quest of safeguarding their island home of Okoto and protecting its inhabitants from the evils of Makuta, the main antagonist."
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LEGO Friends: The Power of Friendship
LEGO Friends is a LEGO brand specifically meant for young girls. The first episodes of the LEGO Friends: The Power of Friendship animated series debuted earlier this year.
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Lost & Found Music Studios
Lost & Found Music Studios is a light teen drama that comes from Canada. It follows a group of young musicians who participate in an elite music program as "they explore and discover their musical identities."
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Kong: King of the Apes
Kong: King of the Apes is a very strange take on King Kong. Basically, it takes place in the future, where Kong has been framed by an evil genius for crimes he didn't commit. So, the big ape teams up with three kids to stop the nefarious schemes of the man who framed him.
Also, Kong gets to fight robot dinosaurs, so there is that.
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Voltron: Legendary Defender
The classic '80s animated series, Voltron has been completely reimagined by the creative team behind Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra.
So far, the critical response to Voltron: Legendary Defender has been good, but there's no word yet about a renewal.
