{"id":2394,"date":"2021-07-29T15:20:10","date_gmt":"2021-07-29T13:20:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=721219"},"modified":"2021-07-29T15:20:10","modified_gmt":"2021-07-29T13:20:10","slug":"best-series-to-watch-on-netflix-right-now-updated","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/best-series-to-watch-on-netflix-right-now-updated\/","title":{"rendered":"Best series to watch on Netflix right now \u2013 updated"},"content":{"rendered":"

From original series like The Crown and Bridgerton to favourites such as Peaky Blinders and Line of Duty, check out the best TV shows to watch with our Netflix recommendations. <\/p>

By Radio Times Staff\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 29 July 2021 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

No matter if it\u2019s a gripping drama or a side-splitting comedy, new Netflix<\/a> series always promises high production values, talent in front of and behind the camera, and \u2013 most importantly \u2013 the entire season ready to binge at once.<\/p>\n

One such Netflix show is hilarious teen comedy\u00a0Never Have I Ever<\/a>, co-created by The Office US star Mindy Kaling, with fans already clamouring for the third instalment following the recent season two drop.<\/p>\n

This weekend there\u2019s plenty to choose between from all genres including Netflix comedies<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and the best Netflix romance movies<\/a>. And if you don\u2019t fancy spending an episode\u2019s worth of time endlessly scrolling yet again, then we have you covered with a pick of our favourites from the Netflix library.<\/p>\n

Glossy drama Firefly Lane<\/a>, starring Grey\u2019s Anatomy actress Katherine Heigl has been newly renewed for a second season on Netflix, while over in comedies,\u00a0there\u2019s the hotly-anticipated\u00a0Sex Education <\/a>season three.<\/p>\n

Netflix has also become the home of several critically acclaimed adult comedies recently, with the BAFTA-nominated Mae Martin\u2019s\u00a0Feel Good<\/a> returning for a second season along with absurdist sketch show I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson.<\/p>\n

We make sure to update our recommendations every week, so keep this page bookmarked for\u00a0RadioTimes.com<\/strong>\u2018s expert picks \u2013 or check out our guides for best Netflix movies<\/span><\/a>\u00a0for other suggestions.<\/p>\n

Make sure to tweet us\u00a0@RadioTimes<\/b>\u00a0if we\u2019ve missed your favourite off the list \u2013 otherwise, start strolling and happy streaming!<\/p>\n

Updated: 29th July 2021<\/em><\/p>\n

Firefly Lane<\/h2>\n
\""Firefly\"<\/div>
Netflix<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Katherine Heigl and Scrubs star Sarah Chalke play childhood best friends in this Netflix adaptation of Kristin Hannah\u2019s book<\/a> of the same name, Firefly Lane<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The drama has now been renewed for a second season, so what better time to catch up with longtime friends and later colleagues, Tully (Heigl) and Kate (Chalke) through 30 years of love, heartbreak and divorce.<\/p>\n

In the present-day, Heigl plays a famous talkshow host who has her own show, The Girlfriend Hour, while Chalke plays Kate, Tully\u2019s longtime best friend who quit journalism to focus on raising a family. \u2013\u00a0Flora Carr.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Atypical<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Keir\"<\/div>
Netflix<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Robia Rashid\u2019s comedy-drama about a teenager on the autism spectrum recently returned to Netflix for a fourth and final season, so why not binge-watch the hit series from the beginning?<\/p>\n

Atypical<\/a> follows 18-year-old Sam Gardner (played by\u00a0Keir Gilchrist), who works at local appliance store Techtropolis and is obsessed with penguins and Antarctica. At the start of the series he begins to explore the world of online dating.<\/p>\n

The show also focuses on Sam\u2019s family, including matriarch Elsa, who begins a flirtation and later extra-marital affair with a bartender; and Casey, Sam\u2019s younger, athletic sister who begins to have romantic feelings for a close female friend. \u2013\u00a0Flora Carr.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Never Have I Ever<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Devi,\"<\/div>
Netflix<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Created by Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher, this joyful coming-of-age comedy-drama recently launched its second series, once again following Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan)\u00a0as she attempts to improve her social status in high school while simultaneously dealing with her (almost literally) crippling grief.<\/p>\n

Before the events of Never Have I Ever<\/a>, Devi\u2019s beloved father had a heart attack and died during a school concert in her freshman year, after which she lost the use of her legs for three months. But it\u2019s a new school year, and Devi is desperate to forge a new identity for herself, beyond both her public loss and her fiery temper (appropriately, famously quick-tempered\u00a0tennis player John McEnroe narrates the show).<\/p>\n

The series is laugh-out-loud funny, and has been widely praised for its South Asian representation and for breaking Asian stereotypes.\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Flora Carr.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Young Royals<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Young\"<\/div>\n

Swedish-language, coming-of-age boarding school drama Young Royals<\/a> takes the well-worn \u201clove versus duty\u201d predicament and turns it on its head, telling the story of a Swedish prince who is packed off following a public scandal.<\/p>\n

Prince Wilhelm (Edvin Ryding) is the disaffected, second-born royal prince, but he still feels suffocated by the weight of expectation placed upon him. At Hillerska (a fictional, prestigious boarding school in Sweden, where Young Royals was filmed<\/a>), he\u2019s expected to mix with Sweden\u2019s most elite teenagers; but he finds himself drawn to ostracised scholarship student Simon, who is shown to be (almost literally) from the \u2018wrong side of the tracks\u2019.<\/p>\n

While the series feels predictable in some places (you can find out more in our non-spoiler\u00a0Young Royals review<\/a>), in others the heartfelt six-part drama subverts the viewer\u2019s expectations completely, with a gut-wrenching twist. \u2013\u00a0Flora Carr.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Feel Good<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Feel\"<\/div>
Netflix<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

When it comes to Netflix comedy-dramas, you don\u2019t get much better than Feel Good<\/a> \u2013 Mae Martin\u2019s semi-autobiographical series that will have you laughing one minute and crying the next.<\/p>\n

The romcom stars Martin as\u00a0Canadian comedian and ex-cocaine addict Mae, who meets repressed middle-class woman George (Charlotte Ritchie) at a comedy club and the two strike up a relationship. Following the couple as they face hurdles in their intense relationship, from George\u2019s hesitancy to introduce Mae as her girlfriend to Mae\u2019s addiction past, the series is an intimate, hilarious and yet utterly heart-breaking look at complex queer relationships.<\/p>\n

While Ritchie and Martin stand out in Feel Good, Friends star Lisa Kudrow is always a scene-stealer in the few episodes she appears in as Mae\u2019s uptight, cold mother, while the likes of Sophie Thompson, The Umbrella Academy\u2019s Ritu Arya, Ophelia Lovibond, Adrian Lukis and Anthony Head fill out the rest of the talented cast. \u2013\u00a0Lauren Morris.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson<\/h2>\n
\""I\"<\/div>
Netflix<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Returning for a second season, Saturday Night Live star Tim Robinson\u2019s absurd sketch show is back for more of the strangest yet most side-splitting hours of television on Netflix. The first season became the breakout critical hit of 2019 for its offbeat, irreverent and wholly original reinvention of the format, with sketches including a man singing yacht rock at his mother\u2019s funeral, a hotdog car crashing into a clothes shop and an octogenarian at a car focus group that has become a viral sensation.<\/p>\n

Robinson\u2019s sketches are undeniably bizarre, but what makes them work is that they are (mostly) deeply relatable, with the comedian targeting the usual cringe-worthy situations and social faux pas before hijacking them to extreme levels of absurdity. Better Call Saul\u2019s Bob Odenkirk and Cruella\u2019s Paul Walter Houser are among the celebrities joining in the surreal skits in season two, joining an already impressive list of guest stars that has previously included Andy Samberg, Will Forte and Steven Yeun. \u2013 Daniel Furn.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lupin<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Lupin\"<\/div>\n

Part Two of French mystery thriller Lupin<\/a> arrived on Netflix last week and quickly shot up the platform\u2019s Top 10 most-watched list, with fans desperate to check back in with \u2018gentleman thief\u2019 Assane after Part One\u2019s tense cliffhanger.<\/p>\n

If you haven\u2019t yet streamed Lupin, then you\u2019re seriously missing out. The ever-charismatic Omar Sy stars as Assane Diop, a man seeking revenge against the creepy tycoon Hubert Pellegrini (Herv\u00e9 Pierre), who framed his late father Babakar for a crime he didn\u2019t commit 25 years prior. Inspired by the adventures of literary icon Ars\u00e8ne Lupin \u2013 (think a French combination of Sherlock Holmes and Robin Hood) \u2013 Assane sets out to harness Lupin\u2019s powers of persuasion to get justice for his father.<\/p>\n

An exciting, gripping and action-filled heist caper featuring a terrific performance from Sy, Lupin is guaranteed to steal your heart. \u2013\u00a0Lauren Morris<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\n

Sex Education<\/h2>\n
\""Sex\"<\/div>
Netflix<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

With season three of comedy-drama Sex Education<\/a> on its way, there couldn\u2019t be a better time to visit Moordale Secondary School and its puberty-stricken, lovelorn, angsty students. Created by Laurie Nunn, this Netflix original stars Hugo\u2019s Asa Butterfield as Otis Milburn, an insecure teen who struggles with his mum Jean (Gillian Anderson) being a very candid sex therapist. While initially desperate to distance himself from his mum\u2019s line of work, he finds himself inadvertently helping the school bully with his sexual performance anxiety and subsequently sets up his own sex advice clinic with troubled classmate Maeve (Emma Mackey).<\/p>\n

A hilarious, heart-warming and at times infuriating comedy-drama about the ins-and-outs of teenage adolescence, Sex Education is well worth the watch for the performances alone \u2013 Ncuti Gatwa shines as Otis\u2019s openly gay best friend Eric, while Aimee Lou Wood (Maeve\u2019s friend Aimee) comes into her element in season two.\u00a0\u2013 Lauren Morris<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Sweet Tooth<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Sweet\"<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

If you\u2019re looking for your next fantasy obsession, then look no further. Now available to stream on Netflix is Sweet Tooth<\/a> \u2013 a post-apocalyptic fantasy drama executive produced by Marvel mensch Robert Downey Jr.<\/p>\n

Starring The Last Man on Earth star Will Forte and Game of Thrones<\/a>\u2018s Nonso Anozie, the eight-parter follows Gus (Christian Convery) \u2013 a half-human, half-deer living secretly in the Nebraskan woods with his sickly father in a time when humanity has been nearly wiped out by a deadly virus. With the remaining humans unsure whether the virus caused the human-animal hybrids or vice versa, Gus ventures out into a hostile world when his father dies and is rescued by a mysterious loner named Jepperd.<\/p>\n

A heart-warming tale of adventure with a post-apocalyptic horror twist, this drama certainly lives up to its name. \u2013\u00a0Lauren Morris<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Kim\u2019s Convenience<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Kim's\"<\/div>
CBC<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

The fifth season of Canadian comedy Kim\u2019s Convenience has just dropped on Netflix, with Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Jean Yoon, Andrea Bang and Simu Liu reprising their roles as the much-loved Kim family.<\/p>\n

Since making its CBC Television debut in 2016, the sitcom from Ins Choi has slowly become a word-of-mouth hit in the UK on Netflix (\u00e0 la Schitt\u2019s Creek) thanks to its sharp, quick-witted dialogue and comical characters. Set in Toronto, the comedy follows Korean immigrants Sang-il Kim (Sun-Hyung Lee) and Yong-mi Kim (Yoon), whose lives revolve around their corner shop in the Moss Park neighbourhood and their children \u2013 university student Janet (Bang) and Jung (Liu). A screw-ball sitcom with bite, Kim\u2019s Convenience is worth a watch if you\u2019re in need of a chuckle. \u2013\u00a0Lauren Morris<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lucifer<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Lucifer\"<\/div>
Netflix<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Miranda star Tom Ellis has completely reinvented his image with this fantasy drama, going from innocent chef next door Gary to the literal Lord of Hell. Impressive! But an even greater accomplishment is the dedicated fandom this series has built up since its debut back in 2016, with legions of so called \u201cLucifans\u201d ready to defend it to the ends of the earth.<\/p>\n

The show follows the devil himself, Lucifer<\/a> Morningstar, after he relocates from hell to Los Angeles and begins solving murder cases with the local police department. He quickly strikes up a bond with detective Chloe Decker (Lauren German) and their romance becomes the focal point of the show, with no shortage of obstacles in their path to happiness.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a slightly odd show that occasionally pokes fun at its own eccentric premise, which plays out like Midsomer Murders meets Twilight. The show holds a dear place in the heart of many viewers, as proven by the staggering one million tweets that were sent to protest its premature cancellation by FOX in 2018 \u2013 prompting Netflix to rescue the show and renew it for an additional three seasons. \u2013 David Craig<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Master of None<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Master\"<\/div>
Netflix<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Aziz Ansari\u2019s dramedy Master of None<\/a> is back for a third series, but with a completely different focus this time around. While Ansari reprises his role as Dev (who took centre stage in seasons one and two) a handful of times, the third season shines a spotlight on Denise (Westworld\u2019s Lena Waithe) and her relationship with Alicia (The End of the F***ing World\u2019s Naomi Ackie).<\/p>\n

Titled Master of None Presents: Moments in Love, the third season follows Denise, a 37-year-old lesbian novelist, as she navigates her marriage to Alicia, who embarks on an emotional IVF journey. Waithe and Ackie are superb in this five-parter, written by both Ansari and Waithe, with the minimised cast really emphasising Denise and Alicia\u2019s relationship as the season\u2019s key focus point. If you were a fan of Master of None\u2019s first two seasons, you\u2019ll love this long-awaited season three and its rejuvenation of the comedy-drama genre even more. \u2013\u00a0Lauren Morris<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Below Deck<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Below\"<\/div>
Bravo<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

As trashy TV goes, Below Deck is a nautical rank above the rest with its entertaining deck crews, ridiculously wealthy guests and more than enough yachting drama to float your boat. Originally a Bravo show, this reality series is available to stream on Netflix for UK viewers and while you may initially just tip your toe in the enticing waters of Below Deck, you\u2019ll soon find yourself swimming through multiple seasons in one sitting.<\/p>\n

Each season follows the crew of a luxury super yacht, always captained by the no-nonsense \u2018Stud of the Sea\u2019 Captain Lee, from the beginning of their Caribbean charter to the very end. As the staff are run off their feet by demanding guests, incompetent colleagues and the unpredictable nature of the Mediterranean, we watch as spicy chaos ensues \u2013 from secret relationships and fiery rows, to hugely dramatic firings. You certainly won\u2019t be disappointed if you decide to board the exciting ship that is Below Deck.\u00a0\u2013 Lauren Morris<\/strong><\/p>\n

Castlevania<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Castlevania"\"<\/div>
Netflix<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Netflix is unfurling its wings one last time, as\u00a0Castlevania<\/a>\u00a0bows out with its final season. Following the cliffhanger ending of season three, the forces of Carmilla are ready to rid the world of humans, Isaac questions his loyalties to the vampire world, and Alucard seems to be following in his father\u2019s footsteps.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

At its core, Castlevania season four evolves from just being about Trevor Belmont (Richard Armitage) and Sypha Belnades (Alejandra Reynoso). After living Sypha\u2019s life of \u201cadventures and victories\u201d, things descend into the bloody world of Belmont. The bickering duo works together like a vampire-hunting Bonnie and Clyde, with the final season debuting a Belmont-esque Sypha that even swears. There\u2019s also plenty for the pale-skinned Alucard, who is at his most dangerous and shows the toll of what being Dracula\u2019s son really means..<\/p>\n

The real highlight though\u00a0 is Jaime Murray\u2019s performance as Carmilla. Not since Buffy butted heads with Drusilla has a vampire villainess been so enigmatic and interesting.<\/p>\n

Watch out too for an epic showdown in episode nine \u2013 a glorious shower of blood and guts that looks like it\u2019s been pulled directly from a Castlevania game. It\u2019s a symphony of the macabre that becomes one of the most beautiful things we\u2019ve seen on Netflix. \u2013 Tom Chapman<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Strang<\/strong>er<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""TheStranger-04.04.19-1.07b-30"\"<\/div>\n

Harlan Coben is fast becoming Netflix\u2019s answer to Jed Mercurio, and this series has all the tension and intrigue of Line of Duty. Hot off the heels of his hugely successful series Safe, The Stranger<\/a> tells the intriguing story of a woman who parachutes into people\u2019s lives, drops bombshells and then disappears as quickly as she arrived. For example, Adam (played by Richard Armitage) is minding his own business at his son\u2019s football match when The Stranger says hello, tells him his wife faked her most recent pregnancy (and subsequent miscarriage), and then dashes off before he can work out what on earth is going on. Unsurprisingly his life is thrown into a spin and he can\u2019t work out who to trust. But why does this woman want to stir trouble? And how does she find out these closely guarded secrets? With an exceptional cast including Jennifer Saunders, Siobhan Finneran and Dervla Kirwan, the mysteries will keep you guessing right up to the very end. In fact, we still have a couple of questions even though we devoured every episode in record time\u2026 \u2013 Emma Bullimore<\/a><\/strong><\/p>

Dark<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Dark"\"<\/div>
Netflix<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Netflix\u2019s first German-language show, Dark<\/a> is a terrific sci-fi series with a superb cast and a plot that redefines the word mind-bending.<\/p>\n

Equal parts gritty Nordic Noir mystery, early Twin Peaks and Back to the Future, the show introduces viewers to Jonas \u2013 a teenager whose father recently died who gets sucked into a mysterious plot concerning missing children and a portal that leads him to the 1980s.<\/p>\n

Ahead of the third and final season, released in 2020, the show set itself a difficult task: with a set-up so complex and a mythology so knotty, it seemed almost impossible the series could tie itself up in a neat little bow and reach a conclusion that would satisfy it\u2019s adoring fanbase.<\/p>\n

Thankfully however, it delivered\u2013 the final series was another irresistible piece of sci-fi television, equal parts mesmerising and confounding, with a sweeping scope that gave it the sense of a true epic. With its exhilarating finale Dark has earned its place among the list of the very best original series made for the streamer. \u2013 Patrick Cremona<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Haunting of Hill House<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""The\"<\/div>
Henry Thomas in The Haunting of Hill House<\/span><\/figcaption> Steve Dietl\/Netflix<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Now this is how you update a classic horror story. Mike Flanagan\u2019s loose adaptation of Shirley Jackson\u2019s classic novel of the same name is a stylish, heartbreaking and \u2013 most importantly terrifying \u2013 piece of television, one of the finest horror series to ever air on the small screen.<\/p>\n

At its heart is a group of five siblings, Steven, Shirley, Theodora, Luke, and Eleanor (Nell), whose lives continue to be profoundly affected by a traumatic incident they experienced in their childhood, while staring at the eponymous property. When another tragedy strikes, the family is brought together once again, finally getting the chance to confront their ongoing trauma. The series flits between both timelines and is awash with superb performances \u2013 with Victoria Pedretti and Oliver Jackson-Cohen among the standouts.<\/p>\n

It was followed in 2020 by The Haunting of Bly Manor<\/a>, a different story from the same creative team, this time finding inspiration in the work of Henry James, and specifically his novella The Turn of the Screw. Although not quite at the same level as its predecessor, it was another ambitious and bold series once again using ghosts as a means of exploring trauma and grief in an endlessly inventive way. \u2013 Patrick Cremona<\/strong><\/p>\n

Riverdale<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Veronica\"<\/div>
Veronica (Camila Mendes) in Riverdale<\/span><\/figcaption> The CW<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Still wildly careening down the teen drama tracks is the seemingly unstoppable train that is Riverdale<\/a> \u2013 The CW\u2019s stylised series loosely based on the long-running Archie Comics. Starring KJ Apa as protagonist Archie Andrews, the series follows the high school jock as he joins his friends Betty (Lili Reinhart), Jughead (Cole Sprouse) and new student Veronica (Camila Mendes) in their search for the truth around missing rich kid Jason Blossom.<\/p>\n

While Riverdale may have started in 2017 as a dark murder mystery that modernised Archie\u2019s legendary comic book characters, over the past four years it\u2019s ventured into a number of unpredictable, unrealistic, ridiculous and sometimes hilarious territories \u2013 from serial killer The Black Hood terrorising Riverdale residents and students becoming obsessed with the Gargoyle King, to the emergence of a local cult that\u2019s been secretly harvesting organs. Nevertheless, the show has hung on to a loyal group of fans who still tune for the outrageous plot twists, the random romantic relationships and the meme-worthy dialogue. With five seasons now available for UK fans to watch on Netflix and more series in the works, it doesn\u2019t look like the Riverdale railway is coming to an end anytime soon. \u2013 Lauren Morris<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

You<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Penn\"<\/div>
Penn Badgley stars in YOU season 2 on Netflix<\/span><\/figcaption> Netflix<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The world was completely gripped when You<\/a> launched on Netflix at the end of 2018 \u2013 and viewers haven\u2019t really stopped looking over their shoulders since. The psychological thriller set in New York (and later, Los Angeles) sees creepy (but also kinda likeable) Joe Goldberg (played by Penn Badgley) and his developing obsession for Guinevere Beck (Elizabeth Lail). Over the course of 10 episodes, we stare in horror as his lust turns into toxic desire. At times, the Netflix series makes you laugh, but as the tone shifts in the story, so too does a viewer\u2019s unease; this is quite simply not the kind of series you want to watch in the dark, before bed. A second season sees Joe move to Los Angeles where he attempts to start afresh, but soon discovers his obsessions can only be repressed for so long\u2026<\/p>\n

You might not be the most sophisticated thriller on the streaming platform, but without a doubt the story will have you gripped throughout. At times violent and deeply disturbing, You is a series to binge on one rainy weekend day, especially in anticipation of season three. \u2013 Helen Daly<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Good Girls<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Christina\"<\/div>
Christina Hendricks, Rette and Mae Whitman in Good Girls<\/span><\/figcaption> NBC Universal<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Considering the phenomenal success of Desperate Housewives, it\u2019s unbelievable how few shows have tried to replicate its very specific appeal. While the premise of Good Girls<\/a> is different, DH fans will love its vibe \u2013 the show gives us three leading ladies, living ordinary lives but facing extraordinary plot lines, wading through dangerous situations with humour and a perfect blow dry. We\u2019re also given three stellar actresses at the top of their game \u2013 Retta from Parks and Rec, Mad Men\u2019s Christina Hendricks and Arrested Development\u2019s Mae Whitman \u2013 playing women who all have legitimate reasons for needing a cash injection in their lives. They hatch a misjudged plan to rob a local grocery store, only to discover that a serious gang had their eye on the same payday. Spin forward a bit and three quietly brilliant housewives find themselves drawn into a life of crime, with brilliantly addictive results. Fresh, funny and fearless, the show is now on its fourth season, but still seems to fly under the radar. It never quite had the fanfare of Dead to Me, but the show is just as easy to obsess over. Give it a try. \u2013 Emma Bullimore<\/strong><\/p>\n

Snowpiercer<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Snowpiercer\"<\/div>
Snowpiercer \u2013 Netflix<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Adapting a hit film into a TV show is always a risky move, especially when that film is one as good as Bong Joon-ho\u2019s superbly whacky sci-fi Snowpiercer<\/a>. And while this series \u2013 which had something of a rocky production \u2013 doesn\u2019t reach the heights of the movie, it nonetheless has its charms, especially in its superior second season \u2013 which added Sean Bean to the cast in wonderfully scenery-chewing mode.<\/p>\n

Like the film, the series is set on a train that endlessly circles the Earth following a tragic climate disaster that has left the whole planet frozen over and completely uninhabitable. Within that set-up, the show examines the relations between different characters on the train, which has come to adopt a rigid class system that eventually leads to a major revolt from those on the lowest rung of society.<\/p>\n

The series isn\u2019t quite as bonkers as the movie in its stylistic approach, but there are some enjoyable performances and interesting character dynamics at play. It was with the aforementioned addition of Sean Bean in series two that the show really began to pick up \u2013 with his gleefully evil villain injecting much more life into the series. \u2013 Patrick Cremona<\/strong><\/p>\n

13 Reasons Why<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Katherine\"<\/div>
Katherine Langford in 13 Reasons Why on Netflix (Hannah Baker)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Hugely popular Netflix hit 13 Reasons Why<\/a> came to an end last year after four seasons, and while the teen drama generated a lot of controversy for its depiction of suicide, sexual assault and bullying, it raked in millions of viewers over its four-year run. Executive produced by Selena Gomez and based on Jay Asher\u2019s novel of the same name, 13 Reasons Why stars Dylan Minnette as Clay, a teenager who receives a collection of cassettes recorded by Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford) \u2013 a classmate of his who recently died by suicide. As he listens to the tapes one by one, he discovers what drove Hannah to end her life and how 12 people at their school, including himself, were responsible in some way.<\/p>\n

The show\u2019s approach to incredibly dark and gravely serious matters of mental health isn\u2019t as thoughtful, sensitive or tactful as it should be considering its teen target audience and on this front, it only seems to get worse as the seasons go on \u2013 however, Minnette, Langford and Kate Walsh, who plays Hannah\u2019s mother Olivia, deliver stunning performances as each of their characters emotionally unravel throughout this Netflix drama\u2019s first season. \u2013 Lauren Morris<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Last Kingdom<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Alexander\"<\/div>
Alexander Dreymon in The Last Kingdom<\/span><\/figcaption> Netflix<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Game of Thrones fans should feel right at home in The Last Kingdom<\/a> partly inspired by real British history. Alexander Dreymon (American Horror Story) plays fierce warrior Uhtred of Bebbanburg, who was born to a Saxon nobleman but raised among Danish invaders. Torn between these two clashing worlds, he is forced to choose a side as the war for England rages on.<\/p>\n

Dreymon is the breakout star of the show, with his roguish character embarking on many compelling quests as he strives to reclaim the land that is rightfully his. David Dawson (Year of the Rabbit) also earned acclaim for his performance as the pious King Alfred, who is both friend and foe to Uhtred at various stages in his life. Their complex bond is an electric component of the first three seasons.<\/p>\n

Based on the popular novels by author Bernard Cornwell, The Last Kingdom began life as a BBC Two drama before later converting to a Netflix original. While it\u2019s never enjoyed the hefty budget of George RR Martin\u2019s fantasy epic, the show has nevertheless orchestrated some ambitious battles in its four seasons so far \u2013 with no shortage of swords, horses and, inevitably, blood. \u2013 David Craig<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unforgotten<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Unforgotten"\"<\/div>
Unforgotten<\/span><\/figcaption> ITV<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Nicola Walker and Sanjeev Bhaskar play police detectives and long-time friends Cassie and Sunny in the first four seasons of dark British crime drama Unforgotten<\/a>. The pair team up to solve cold murder cases, unearthing historic crimes and secrets, alongside a fresh cast of guest actors in the roles of the suspects. The brooding drama has long been a RadioTimes.com<\/strong> favourite, and season four was no exception; the first episode opened to 5.1 million viewers, the show\u2019s highest ever overnight ratings, and follows Cassie as she is forced to return to the police force. She reunites with Sunny, who has already found their next case: an unidentified body that\u2019s been stored in a freezer since the Nineties. Guest stars included the likes of Sheila Hancock, Susan Lynch, and Liz White, and the show was once again penned by series creator Chris Lang. The season was the highest performing to date, with an average of 7.5 million viewers tuning in to the first five episodes, marking a 26 per cent viewership increase from last time out. And the ITV drama has already been renewed for a fifth season, although it will no doubt look very different following the death of a major character (which we won\u2019t spoil here) and an extremely dramatic conclusion. \u2013 Flora Carr<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Fargo<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Bokeem\"<\/div>
YouTube\/Channel 4<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

It can be a bit nerve-racking when one of your favourite films gets turned into a TV show, but this adaptation of the classic 1996 Coen Brothers movie, Fargo<\/a>, is absolutely exquisite. There have been four seasons so far, starring the likes of Ewan McGregor, Ted Danson, Jessie Buckley and Chris Rock, but the first is the true masterpiece. Billy Bob Thornton plays enigmatic hitman Lorne Malvo, as humorous as he is horrific, a character with such disturbing charisma that he could only be a Coen Brothers creation. A twist of fate means Lorne finds himself in rural Minnesota, where he bumps into life insurance salesman, Lester Nygaard, played by Martin Freeman (who, it turns out, does a good American accent). The pair have a seemingly casual conversation that ends up having huge consequences\u2026 Colin Hanks and Alison Tolman give scene-stealing performances in a perfectly-cast, rich and beautifully crafted drama that will make you wish all telly was half as good. While film fans will be happy with the result, it\u2019s worth saying that you really don\u2019t need to know anything about the movie to enjoy the series, so get stuck in. \u2013 Emma Bullimore<\/strong><\/p>\n

Virgin River<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Mel\"<\/div>
Mel and Jack in Virgin River on Netflix<\/span><\/figcaption> Netflix<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

If you\u2019re a sucker for romantic dramas, then you need to watch Virgin River<\/a> \u2013 the Netflix series based on Robyn Carr\u2019s novels of the same name. Starring The Walking Dead\u2019s Alexandra Breckenridge, this hugely popular series follows midwife Mel Monroe as she moves to the rural North Californian town Virgin River to start a new life and leave her painful past behind in the city. While she continues to battle heartbreak and still agonises over a deep tragic secret, Mel finds herself striking up a connection with local bar owner and former marine Jack Sheridan (Martin Henderson), who\u2019s haunted by his own traumas.<\/p>\n

Since arriving on the platform in 2019, Virgin River has regularly dominated Netflix\u2019s top 10 list, with season two even overtaking The Crown to claim the top spot towards the end of last year \u2013 which comes as no surprise considering how charming the small-town series is. Packed with endearing characters \u2013 from the stubborn yet caring local doctor Doc Mullins (Tim Matheson) to the honourable and kind chef Preacher (Colin Lawrence) \u2013 and more love triangles than you\u2019d expect to find in a tiny, unfrequented village, this romantic drama is a warm hug in TV form, so binge-able that you\u2019ll sail through its two seasons in just a few sittings. \u2013 Lauren Morris<\/strong><\/p>\n

Homeland<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Claire\"<\/div>
Claire Danes in Homeland (Channel 4, EH)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

An iconic piece of modern-day television, Homeland<\/a> ran for almost 10 years and, in this critic\u2019s eyes, will no doubt be looked back on as a defining TV show of the 2010s. However, the drama will probably be best remembered for its first three seasons, charting the cat-and-mouse relationship between Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis), an American soldier and prisoner of war held captive by al-Qaeda, and Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes), a CIA officer with bipolar disorder. After Brody returns home to the US and begins debating a career in politics, Carrie becomes convinced that Brody was \u2018turned\u2019 during his captivity, and is now working as a double agent. Both Lewis and Danes won Emmy Awards for their roles; and perhaps an even more prestigious recommendation is former President Barack Obama\u2019s well-known love for the show. In the UK, the series was released on Channel 4, with the season one finale drawing in 2.8 million viewers. Mandy Patinkin also stars as Saul Berenson, a CIA chief and Carrie\u2019s mentor; while Morena Baccarin plays Brody\u2019s wife Jessica, who had long assumed her husband was dead and had begun a relationship with his best friend. \u2013 Flora Carr<\/strong><\/p>\n

Brooklyn Nine-Nine<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""BROOKLYN\"<\/div>
BROOKLYN NINE-NINE \u2014 \u201cAdmiral Peralta\u201d Episode 710 \u2014 Pictured: Andre Braugher as Ray Holt \u2014 (Photo by: John P. Fleenor\/NBC)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

When it comes to silly sitcoms, few ever reach the dizzying heights of Brooklyn Nine-Nine<\/a> \u2013 the police procedural comedy starring Andy Samberg. Set in New York City\u2019s fictional 99th precinct, this NBC series (formerly Fox) follows its detectives: the immature but effective Jake Peralta (Samberg), his foodie best friend Charles Boyle (Joe Lo Troglio), hard-as-nails cop Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz) and bodybuilding lieutenant Terry Jeffords (Terry Crews). Overseen by their overly-formal, monotonous captain Raymond Holt (Andre Braugher), Brooklyn Nine-Nine focuses on the cops\u2019 various cases, their crime-solving attempts and the shenanigans they get up to when they\u2019re not out in the field.<\/p>\n

Hilariously wacky, fast-paced and consistently entertaining, all seven series of this Michael Schur-produced sitcom consist of bingeworthy gems, full of stellar guest stars (Nick Kroll, Bill Hader, Kathryn Hahn, Maya Rudolph and Zooey Deschanel among others) and heart-warming moments between the show\u2019s multi-layered characters. With an eighth (and sadly final) season on its way, now is the perfect time to revisit this feel-good comedy. \u2013 Lauren Morris<\/strong><\/p>\n

White House Farm<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""embargoed_until_00.01_16th_december_35"\"<\/div>\n

There\u2019s something about a true crime drama that hooks us in more than any other genre. Perhaps it\u2019s the opportunity to look behind the scenes of a case we\u2019ve read so much about in the papers, and this series depicts one of the most famous murders in British history. White House Farm<\/a> is the chilling story of a couple, their daughter and their two grandsons who were killed in their Essex farmhouse by their son, Jeremy Bamber in 1985, who claimed he had nothing to do with their deaths. Understandably, these shocking events hit the headlines at the time, and have been written about ever since, but this six-part ITV drama still feels fresh, sensitive and important. The ever-brilliant Stephen Graham plays leading detective DCI Taff Jones, and this is a chance to see mistakes that may have been made in the original investigation, while Freddie Fox plays Bamber. Although it\u2019s a disturbing watch, this is an excellently crafted drama with an important story to tell. And there\u2019s a reason that so many true crime series end up on ITV \u2013 they make them expertly, and White House Farm is no exception. \u2013 Emma Bullimore<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Queen\u2019s Gambit<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""The\"<\/div>
The Queen\u2019s Gambit on Netflix<\/span><\/figcaption> Netflix<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Chess might be a fascinating game, but it\u2019s probably fair to say most don\u2019t really view it as a spectator sport. On the face of it, then, a limited series revolving around the subject might not sound like a likely candidate for a mega word-of-mouth smash, but Scott Frank\u2019s series, The Queen\u2019s Gambit<\/a>, became exactly that when it arrived on Netflix in 2020.<\/p>\n

Based on a novel by Walter Tevis, the narrative follows Beth Harmon \u2013 a young orphan and chess prodigy whose rise to the top of the game is offset by frequent struggles with addiction. Anya Taylor-Joy turns in one of the best small-screen performances in recent memory in the lead role, and is helped by a brilliant supporting cast that includes Marielle Heller, Harry Melling and Thomas Brodie-Sangster.<\/p>\n

Lavishly produced and filled with wonderful period detail, the sumptuous series includes an array of expertly-staged chess match set-pieces and a plot that will keep you engaged for every minute of its seven-episode run. \u2013 Patrick Cremona<\/strong><\/p>\n

After Life<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Anti\"<\/div>\n

While there are lots of TV shows about death and murder, there are very few that really examine the experience of grief. And the last person you might expect to give us a sensitive depiction of loss is the man famed for cringe comedy, Ricky Gervais. But while it looks a little strange on paper, After Life<\/a> is exceptionally funny and devastating in equal measure. And very sweary in places (if bad language offends you, you\u2019re probably best to give it a swerve). When Tony loses his wife to cancer, the only reason he has to get out of bed in the morning is his dog. The rest of his life feels empty, his job at the local paper seems pointless and the world infuriates him. But gradually (and reluctantly) he begins to piece together a way to live his life again. The show features a brilliant cast (look out for Penelope Wilton as the woman who shares his grief at the cemetery), a great German Shepherd, and uncomfortable emotions that sometimes only comedy can confront. No wonder this is the only one of Gervais\u2019 shows that he has agreed to write a third season for. \u2013 Emma Bullimore<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Good Place<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""best-tv-shows-netflix"\"<\/div>\n

While the idea of setting a sitcom in the afterlife and spending four seasons examining different philosophical theories around morality and human existence doesn\u2019t sound like the best concept for a fun, light-hearted watch, The Good Place<\/a> is nothing like the comedies that came before it. Created by Michael Schur \u2013 the producer behind The Office US \u2013 this fantasy sitcom stars Kristen Bell as Eleanor Shellstrop, an inconsiderate Arizona-based pharmaceutical saleswoman who dies in a shopping trolley accident and finds herself in \u201cthe Good Place\u201d \u2013 an exclusive Heaven-like world populated by those who lived righteous and upstanding lives on Earth. After being welcomed by the utopia\u2019s architect Michael (Ted Danson), she soon realises that she\u2019s been let in by mistake and convinces her appointed \u201csoul mate\u201d, an ethics professor named Chidi (William Jackson Harper), to help her become a better person.<\/p>\n

Despite touching on a number of philosophical concepts throughout the show, The Good Place shares a sense of humour with sitcoms like Parks and Recreation and Brooklyn Nine-Nine and keeps fans entertained the ridiculous one-liners from its vastly different characters \u2013 narcissistic British philanthropist Tahani (Jameela Jamil) and unintelligent DJ and drug dealer Jason (Manny Jacinto) to name a few \u2013 and the hilarious performances from its stars, like Emmy-nominated D\u2019Arcy Carden who shines as the Good Place human-like database Janet. \u2013 Lauren Morris<\/strong><\/p>\n

Suits<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Patrick\"<\/div>
Patrick J Adams and Meghan Markle in Suits (Getty, EH)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

With everything that\u2019s happened in recent years (including that Oprah interview), it\u2019s naturally intriguing to look back at Meghan Markle as the world first met her \u2013 as an actress in long-running legal drama, Suits. But while it\u2019s fun to watch the Duchess of Sussex playing paralegal Rachel (she starred in 108 episodes), this show was getting huge audiences long before its brush with royalty. The series is all about Harvey, an established lawyer in New York City, and Mike, who manages to blag a job with him despite not going to law school. The two charismatic legal eagles work together on important cases, fight for justice and even have some spare time for love interests too (Markle\u2019s Rachel has an ongoing romance with Mike), keeping us entertained with drama in and out of the courtroom. When Suits first burst onto the scene it felt fresh, fun, pacy and witty, exactly the kind of show we love to binge after a long day. While it lost its sparkle a little by season nine, the show is still well worth your time \u2013 you\u2019ll fall in love with the characters instantly, and it might even make you want to swap those lockdown PJs for a suit. \u2013 Emma Bullimore<\/strong><\/p>\n

Modern Family<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""modern\"<\/div>\n

It\u2019s won 22 Emmys, lasted 11 seasons and it even gave us a scene with David Beckham and Courtney Cox in a hot tub \u2013 Modern Family is an undisputed comedy heavyweight. As with all shows featuring children that eventually grow up, the early seasons were the best, but the show managed to stay fresh for a long time. While plots included big subjects like same-sex marriage, adoption, age-gap relationships and step-parenting, the show\u2019s priority was always being ferociously funny rather than political. The humour is the kind that doesn\u2019t exclude your gran, but isn\u2019t so twee that it loses its bite. Each of the characters is gloriously recognisable yet unique and the relationships are full of love, but never saccharine. In short, it\u2019s everything you could want from a family comedy. As with all the best sitcoms, it\u2019s impossible to decide on a favourite character. Is it irrepressible Cam who is always embarrassing Mitch with his flamboyance? Or \u201ccool dad\u201d Phil who couldn\u2019t be less cool if his life depended on it? Or Gloria, the Colombian icon created by Sofia Vergara? Or maybe Stella the French bulldog? Perhaps the show\u2019s casting director should take as much credit for the show\u2019s success as the brilliantly observant writers. \u2013 Emma Bullimore<\/strong><\/p>\n

Love is Blind<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""LoveIsBlind_Season1_Episode10_00_06_53_11_R"\"<\/div>\n

Believe it or not, in a time before the pandemic we fell in love with a show all about self isolation. Love is Blind<\/a> is the dating show with a difference that took the world by storm in early 2020. The premise was simple, yet also quite extreme\u2026 30 men and women were looking for love and entered a show centred on speed dating. They would enter a pod where they could talk with a prospective partner, but never meet them. The couple would only meet with each other if they got married.<\/p>\n

We got adorable romances (we\u2019re looking at you, Lauren and Cameron!), high drama, a runaway bride and so many awkward moments we don\u2019t have enough space within this entry to name them all. If you love shows like Love Island and The Bachelor, you can\u2019t miss Love is Blind. Plus, we\u2019re expecting more drama in 2021 from the team so there\u2019s never been a better time to catch up with the gang. \u2013 Helen Daly<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bojack Horseman<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Bojack\"<\/div>\n

Across six wonderful seasons, this animated series about an alcoholic humanoid horse did something very few TV shows can manage: it perfectly blended laugh out loud comedy with dark, deep subject matter in a way that felt both effortless and profound.<\/p>\n

Will Arnett leads the voice cast as the titular Bojack, a washed up television star living in Hollywood and desperately angling for a comeback at any cost. Throughout the series, we also meet his affable former rival Mr Peanut Butter, his agent and ex-girlfriend Princess Caroline, and two human characters, Todd Chavez and Diane Nguyen, each of whom get numerous chances to shine in both humorous and serious storylines.<\/p>\n

Tackling issues including the perils of fame, addiction and depression but also containing an incredible range of visual gags and wordplay Bojack Horseman<\/a> is easily one of the best Netflix originals currently available, and arguably one of the finest TV shows of all time. \u2013 Patrick Cremona<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Suitable Boy<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""A\"<\/div>
A Suitable Boy, Lata Mehra<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC Pictures<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Vikram Seth\u2019s epic book about love and seduction in post-partition India has been adapted into a six-part series by BBC One, and is now available to stream on Netflix. A Suitable Boy<\/a> is an epic family saga, and a beautiful and vivid watch, having been shot entirely on location in India. Filming locations included Lucknow, and the atmospheric tanneries in Kanpur.<\/p>\n

Set in India in the 1950s, the series follows university student Lata, who gains independence in tandem with her home country. Her interfering mother is determined to find her a \u201csuitable boy\u201d to wed, but in the end it\u2019s Lata\u2019s decision, choosing between three very different suitors: a poet, a student, and a shoemaker. The series subplot centres around Maan, the brother to Lata\u2019s own brother-in-law, and who falls in love with a courtesan \u2013 a love that leads to violence and a descent into suspicion and jealous madness. The cast includes a number of Bollywood\u2019s biggest stars, including the legendary actress Tabu, and leading man Ishaan Khatter, who plays the hedonistic Maan. The series is also penned by the master of period drama, Andrew Davies, whose other works include Pride and Prejudice, War and Peace, and Sanditon. \u2013 Flora Carr<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Serpent<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""The\"<\/div>
The Serpent<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

This co-production first aired on the BBC as their prestige New Year\u2019s Day drama earlier in 2021, and is now available in full on Netflix. The current craze for true crime gets a 1970s spin in The Serpent<\/a>, a dramatisation of the life of Charles Sobhraj who was the chief suspect in the murder of at least twelve Western travellers along the Hippie Trail between 1963 and 1976. Spanning five or six countries over a twenty-year-plus period, the limited series is a truly globe-trotting crime odyssey detailing how Sobhraj earned his nickname of The Serpent by constantly slipping through police clutches, conducting numerous elaborate prison escapes and bouncing between borders with a bevy of stolen passports.<\/p>\n

A chilling Tahir Rahim steals the show with his understated and reptilian take on Sobhraj, but Victoria\u2019s Jenna Coleman gives him a good run for his money as devoted follower Marie-Andr\u00e9e Leclerc. MotherFaherSon\u2019s Billy Howle plays the dedicated Duch diplomat who dedicates his life to a cat-and-mouse chase with the criminal, with Les Mis\u00e9rables star Ellie Bamber rounding out the cast as his wife and fellow investigator. Indeed it seems a few dodgy accents and a tad too much time hopping are the only flaws in this international crime caper \u2013 otherwise The Serpent remains an unnerving examination of a serpentine serial killer, an obsessive focus on catching him and the attitudes and apathy of the time that let him get away with it. \u2013 Daniel Furn\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The OA<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""The\"<\/div>
The OA<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

It\u2019s hard to categorise The OA<\/a> at times. Throughout the 16 episodes you\u2019ll see elements of mystery, thriller, sci-fi, fantasy and teen-drama, but what it is, is brilliant. The complex and building series was created by Brit Marling (who also leads the cast) and Zal Batmanglij who had planned for five parts, but sadly only got two. Nevertheless, the captivating story of Prairie Johnson is unmissable.<\/p>\n

Prairie was missing for seven years and showed up completely unexpectedly with her blindness cured. Harbouring some nasty scars, her family desperately try to coax her story out of her. Now going by the name \u201cThe OA\u201d, she connects with people who have had a similar experience to her while revealing her terrifying story. You\u2019ll want to concentrate on this one, but the pay-offs are completely worth it. \u2013 Helen Daly<\/strong><\/p>\n

Orange is the New Black<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Orange\"<\/div>
Orange Is the New Black<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Orange Is the New Black<\/a> is not only Netflix\u2019s most-watched original series, but also its longest \u2013 and if that doesn\u2019t tempt you to it, then allow me to continue. Jenji Kohan\u2019s trailblazing series is famous for breaking boundaries, telling stories of humanity, and its fantastic cast. We follow Taylor Schilling\u2019s Piper Chapman, a 30-something woman who is sentenced to 15 months in a minimum-security prison after smuggling drugs. When she arrives at Litchfield Penitentiary, she finds an eccentric bunch of inmates all with very unique and personal stories to tell.<\/p>\n

Alliances are formed, broken and tested throughout the course of the seven seasons, with Piper constantly at the heart of the story. As you continue through the story, you\u2019ll laugh, cry, and have your heart-broken as the series delves into some hard-hitting topics including corruption, prison privatisation, racial discrimination and sexism. To put it simply, Orange Is the New Black is not only unmissable TV, it\u2019s essential viewing. \u2013 Helen Daly<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Umbrella Academy<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Aidan\"<\/div>
Aidan Gallagher plays Number Five on The Umbrella Academy on Netflix<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Based on the graphic novel by Gerard Way and Gabriel B\u00e1, The Umbrella Academy<\/a> follows an adopted family of super-powered misfits, whose exploits as child heroes have left them wounded, traumatised, dead or just disaffected despite their incredible abilities.<\/p>\n

Forced back together by the death of their cruel \u201cfather\u201d the Hargreeves siblings \u2013 played by Elliot Page, Robert Sheehan, Tom Hopper, David Casta\u00f1eda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Aidan Gallagher and Justin H. Min \u2013 stumble through a quest to save the world in the present day, before being thrown back through time and forced to do the same thing again in 1960s Dallas during the (superior) second season.<\/p>\n

Named as one of Netflix\u2019s most beloved series ever (apparently 43 million viewers streamed at least part of season two, making it the sixth most popular show of 2020) and with season three currently in the pipeline, on-demand shows don\u2019t get much bigger than this peculiar offering.<\/p>\n

The Umbrella Academy\u2019s lesson is clear \u2013 all the super strength, mind control and necromancy in the world can\u2019t mess you up more than your family. And amid all the action, dark jokes and death there\u2019s something quite sweet about that. \u2013 Huw Fullerton<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Black Mirror<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Fionn\"<\/div>
Fionn Whitehead as Stefan (Netflix)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

To say that Black Mirror<\/a> is one of the greatest TV shows ever made would be to do it a disservice. Always current, sharp and delicately terrifying, Charlie Brooker\u2019s series has flourished since it arrived on Netflix in 2016. All episodes are at your disposal on the streaming giant \u2013 and we really would recommend viewing them all. Despite there only being 21 episodes, a special and a film, every single episode is unique and completely like the one before it.<\/p>\n

Brooker and his co-showrunner Annabel Jones explore modern society, calling into question concepts such as the danger of new technologies, the dark world of celebrity and even prison-reform-gone-bad, always portraying a dystopian world that is actually more real life than you\u2019d ever think (or hope) possible. Plus, don\u2019t miss Bandersnatch, your chance to choose your destiny in a completely revolutionary format. \u2013 Helen Daly<\/strong><\/p>\n

Selling Sunset<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Selling\"<\/div>
Selling Sunset cast<\/span><\/figcaption> Netflix<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

A surprise hit of the last year came in the form of Selling Sunset<\/a>, a reality TV show centred on The Oppenheim Group in Los Angeles. The group operates in the wealthiest parts of LA selling multi-million dollar homes to those lucky enough to afford them. The glamour is high throughout with more pairs of Louboutins than we can count on both hands, and enviable outfits are a must. But what\u2019s most alluring with Selling Sunset, is the drama.<\/p>\n

The series is packed to the brim with gossip even the Kardashians couldn\u2019t produce and there\u2019s enough backstabbing to keep you gripped throughout the three seasons. There are weddings, babies, fall out and some seriously pricey properties which might well make for the perfect recipe for a reality show. Tune in before the highly-anticipated new series comes later in 2021. \u2013 Helen Daly<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Crown<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""The\"<\/div>
The Crown S4. Picture shows: Prince Charles (JOSH O CONNOR) and Princess Diana (EMMA CORRIN)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Of course, we can never really be sure of the balance between fact and fiction in this series, but how thrilling it is to get a glimpse behind palace doors, into the private lives of one of the world\u2019s most famous families. Claire Foy and Matt Smith set the tone with their stunning portrayals of a young Elizabeth and Philip whose relationship must survive the pressures of duty and the public gaze, and Vanessa Kirby made the world fall in love with a complex Princess Margaret. As the years roll by, Olivia Colman and Helena Bonham Carter lead the cast into a new era of the monarchy, with Josh O\u2019 Connor and Emma Corrin bringing to life the difficult marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Nominated for more awards than the producers can count, this show was a game-changer for Netflix, bringing prestige, acclaim and a whole new audience, who were dipping their toes into streaming service waters for the first time just because they wanted to see The Crown<\/a>. Beautifully acted, lavish and with a huge budget, it offers a tantalising new insight into a world we thought we knew, and people whose lives we\u2019ve followed so closely, from afar. \u2013 Emma Bullimore<\/strong><\/p>\n

Anne with an E<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Amybeth\"<\/div>\n

Netflix series Anne with an E<\/a> is the latest adaptation of Lucy Maud Montgomery\u2019s 1908 classic novel, Anne of Green Gables. However, the show immediately stood out from past screen versions for tackling more gritty issues, including trauma and child abandonment, mined from the original book\u2019s subtext. The three-season series follows Anne Shirley (Amybeth McNulty), an imaginative red-haired orphan adopted by an elderly brother and sister who live in Prince Edward Island, on their ancestral farm Green Gables. The Cuthberts, Marilla (Geraldine James) and Matthew (R. H. Thomson), had planned to adopt an orphan boy to help around the farm, but instead Anne arrives by accident, turning their lives upside down. Anne is whip-smart, but she\u2019s also scatter-brained, sensitive to slights, and accident-prone, resulting in countless scrapes \u2013 and a rather dramatic first encounter with a young man named Gilbert Blythe (Lucas Jade Zumann). Showrunner Moira Walley-Beckett scripted the first season, and was joined by an all-female writing team on later seasons. The series first premiered back in 2017, and ran for a total of three seasons. You can watch the entire series from start to finish on Netflix now. \u2013 Flora Carr<\/strong><\/p>\n

Too Hot to Handle<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Too\"<\/div>\n

When it comes to dating shows, not many come close to Love Island. With its stellar line-up of singletons, crazy challenges and twists which always stir the pot, it\u2019s arguably the cr\u00e8me da la cr\u00e8me of reality TV shows. So, when we saw the trailer for Too Hot To Handle<\/a> \u2013 which is basically Love Island minus the physical contact \u2013 we thought it had no chance!<\/p>\n

Fast forward to the series finale, where the super-hot singletons got to find out how much of the original \u00a3100k cash prize they\u2019d lost from breaking the rules (touching or kissing one another) and who would be taking home what was left of it, and we just couldn\u2019t get enough of the show.<\/p>\n

From contestants purposely breaking the rules (yes Hayley and Francesca, we\u2019re talking to you) to others forming what looked like promising relationships, as Rhonda opened up to potential dates about being a single mum, we fell in love with the show literally overnight \u2013it\u2019s pretty easy to binge with just 10 episodes.<\/p>\n

And with a new series on the way including a whole new cast, what better way to get started than by watching the first series. Trust me, you won\u2019t be disappointed. \u2013 Grace Henry<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Death in Paradise<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Ralf\"<\/div>\n

If you\u2019re having a bad day, what better escape than a trip to the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie? Sure, there might be at least one murder per episode \u2013 but this light-hearted crime drama is always a fun watch. Death in Paradise<\/a> originally starred Ben Miller as fish-out-of-water English detective DI Richard Poole, but since he departed the show we\u2019ve had three more lead actors so far across ten seasons: Kris Marshall, Ardal O\u2019Hanlon, and Ralf Little (the current star). Each new arrival has turned out to be brilliant at solving brain-teasing murder mysteries, helped by their trusty team of French and Caribbean cops at Honor\u00e9 Police Station. And even though cast members come and go, the show\u2019s central appeal remains the same: a murder takes place, and the Detective Inspector is summoned to work out who killed the victim. A small group of suspects are identified, but the whole thing seems inexplicable. And then! Our DI has a brainwave, solves the murder, and brings everyone together to reveal whodunnit. \u2013 Eleanor Bley Griffiths<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Ginny and Georgia<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Ginny\"<\/div>
Ginny and Georgia<\/span><\/figcaption> Netflix<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

If you\u2019re a fan of Gilmore Girls, then you need to watch Ginny and Georgia<\/a>. With a very similar premise, looking at the strained mother and daughter relationship between young mum Georgia (Brianne Howey) and her very head strong teenage daughter Ginny (Antonia Gentry), the Netflix series is very reminiscent of the 2000s drama. However, Ginny and Georgia is so much more than a series about the awkward dynamics between parents and their children, with the hour-long episodes touching on multiple issues from sexuality, to disability, self-harming and race.
\nAs a mixed-race girl, Ginny faces numerous microaggressions in the small, New England town they\u2019ve moved to as a family, along with Ginny\u2019s younger brother Austin.
\nThe series also presents itself as a crime drama with Georgia \u2013 who has had a seriously hard life and ran away from her drug addict mum and abusive stepdad when she was just a teen \u2013 covering her tracks, following the mysterious death of her latest husband.
\nWith lots of hilarious and heart-warming moments, Ginny and Georgia is a light-hearted teen drama, but it\u2019s also not with some very heavy topics throughout. Nevertheless, the series always brings us back to a place of warmth with Georgia going to the end of the earth to protect her kids \u2013 a must watch if you ask me! \u2013 Grace Henry<\/strong><\/p>\n

How to Get Away with Murder<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""How\"<\/div>
How To Get Away With Murder<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

With multiple TV awards and accolades, it\u2019s safe to say Peter Nowalk struck gold with the critically acclaimed How To Get Away With Murder<\/a>, which she debuted in 2014. Starring Emmy Award winning actress Viola Davis, who became the first black woman to win a primetime Emmy for her role as no-nonsense law professor Annalise Keating, HTGAWM has got to be one of the best legal thrillers that there is!<\/p>\n

As the title implies, it follows Keating who works at a prestigious Philadelphia university, who with five of her students becomes wrapped up in a murder plot.<\/p>\n

While Davis is impeccable as the complex character that is Keating, battling her own issues with alcohol, sexuality and so on, we also have an ensemble cast when it comes to her students known as \u201cThe Keating Five\u201d.<\/p>\n

We see Harry Potter star Alfred Enoch as the loveable orphan, Wes Gibbins, Jack Falahee as the ambitious, yet sometimes selfish Connor Walsh, Aja Naomi King as outspoken student, Michaela Pratt, Matt McGorry as Asher Millstone \u2013 who begins the series completely unaware of his white privilege \u2013 and Karla Souza as the headstrong, Laurel Castillo.<\/p>\n

And if that wasn\u2019t enough to draw you in, we also have Bridgerton\u2019s very own Shonda Rhimes as the executive producer. There\u2019s even a cross over with Scandal in season 7 \u2013 yes Olivia Pope and Annalise Keating were in a courtroom together. Talk about Black Girl Magic! \u2013 Grace Henry<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bridgerton<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Daphne\"<\/div>
Daphne Bridgerton and Simon Bassett (Netflix)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Netflix didn\u2019t have much of a reputation for period drama until recently (unless you count The Crown, which is hurtling towards the present day). But everything changed in the lockdown Christmas of 2020, when the world needed a little cheer. Santa Claus delivered the most glorious series onto the streaming service on 25th December, just in time for us to binge watch with our tins of Quality Street. Based on Julia Quinn\u2019s popular novels, Bridgerton<\/a> focusses on eight siblings looking for love in sparkling Regency London. First to meet her match is Daphne, played by Phoebe Dynevor, who starts a fake love affair with the smouldering Duke of Hastings, aka breakout star and potential Bond Rege-Jean Page. But will their show-mance turn into romance? Fun and fresh, with brilliant performances, lavish costumes and a modern soundtrack, the series is a joyous distraction from everyday life and it went down a storm. So much so that it has already been commissioned up to season four, although Rege-Jean Page has announced he won\u2019t be returning (boo). Each series will focus on a different sibling in search of a spouse. \u2013 Emma Bullimore<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ackley Bridge<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Jo\"<\/div>\n

We\u2019ve all spent years traipsing up and down corridors, weighed down by oversized backpacks and trying to avoid committing any social faux-pas, so it\u2019s no wonder that school-based dramas like Waterloo Road always attract an immediate and broad fanbase. While Netflix\u2019s Sex Education has the cringe factor of teen relationships well and truly nailed for now, Channel 4\u2019s Ackley Bridge<\/a> has a lot more ground to cover. The story starts when two Yorkshire schools are forced to merge, sparking instant rivalries and drama as two communities are thrown together. Never scared to address complex and uncomfortable subject matter, the show goes on to tackle storylines about sexuality, racism and poverty, while also giving us lighter moments and characters to fall in love with. There\u2019s an impressive cast too, featuring the likes of Jo Joyner, Sunetra Sarker, Paul Nicholls, Rob James-Collier and Amy-Leigh Hickman. Even Girls Aloud star Kimberley Walsh crops up as a home-wrecking netball teacher, what more could you want?! But the best part is that this show has an authentic, young voice, never speaking down to its teen audience and finding ways to explore the issues that matter to them. \u2013 Emma Bullimore<\/strong><\/p>\n

Power<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Power\"<\/div>
Power season 6<\/span><\/figcaption> Starz<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

You don\u2019t need to love crime dramas to be able to get on board with Power. Produced by Courtney A. Kemp in collaboration with Curtis \u201c50 Cent\u201d Jackson, it follows \u201creformed gangster\u201d and nightclub owner Jamie (or Ghost depending on who\u2019s asking), as he tries to get away from the hood life and build his empire. But with close alliances, including his best pal Tommy Egan, played by Joseph Sikora, still very much in the game \u2013 and also using his business to clean their dirty money \u2013 Jamie is never really able to get away from crime.<\/p>\n

One of Starz\u2019s most highly rated shows and one of cable\u2019s most watched shows, Power is a true gem, touching on various themes from love to violence, drugs and gangs.<\/p>\n

The soundtrack is pretty lit too, with the iconic, theme tune by R&B star Joe pretty much topping the show, as he sings: \u201cThey say this is a big rich town, I just came from the poorest parts\u201d over the beginning credits. \u2013 Grace Henry<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gotham<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""gotham"\"<\/div>\n

Making a Batman-inspired show that couldn\u2019t actually include Batman \u2013 that was never an enviable task, which makes it all the more impressive that Gotham<\/a> actually became a very enjoyable show over the five seasons and 100 episodes it spent on our screens.<\/p>\n

With young star David Mazouz growing into the central role of Bruce Wayne, Gotham gradually found its feet and cemented itself as a surprisingly wacky source of entertainment.<\/p>\n

As is often the case with DC Comics adaptations, you could argue that the best thing about Gotham is its villains. From Robin Lord Taylor\u2019s twitchy turn as The Penguin to Cameron Monaghan\u2019s multiple Joker-inspired roles, Gotham oozes with over-the-top performances that help bring the city to life.<\/p>\n

Even though there is the occasional dud of an episode (season 1 genuinely has a villain called Balloonman), it\u2019s worth sticking with Gotham to the end. Not only do the performances and plots get better, but you\u2019ll also get treated to a little glimpse of The Dark Knight himself at the end. It may have started as a Batman series without any Batman, but Gotham grew into an excellent show in its own right, culminating in a memorable finale that finally earns the iconic cape and cowl. \u2013 Rob Leane<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Marvel\u2019s Jessica Jones<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Krysten\"<\/div>
Krysten Ritter in Marvel\u2019s Jessica Jones (Netflix, HF)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

The Marvel Cinematic Universe\u2019s small screen spinoffs live on Disney Plus now, but it\u2019s worth taking the time to dig back into the Netflix era of the Marvel TV project.<\/p>\n

Spinning off from the Charlie Cox-starring Daredevil series (also worth a watch), Jessica Jones<\/a> might just be the best Marvel\/Netflix series of the bunch. It\u2019s a shame it didn\u2019t keep going, to be honest.<\/p>\n

Running for three seasons at 39 episodes, Jessica Jones is a fantastic mix of fan-pleasing elements. Not only do you get some superpowered action and a loveably grumpy central performance from Krysten Ritter, but you also get an emotionally charged undercurrent, with the story delving deep into Jessica\u2019s personal struggles as well as her superhero ass-kicking.<\/p>\n

Doctor Who legend David Tennant puts in an incredibly evil performance in season one, breathing life into the villainous Killmonger, a mind-controlling murderer that abused Jessica before the series began.<\/p>\n

Long before Amazon\u2019s The Boys explored the darker side of superheroes, Marvel\u2019s Jessica Jones series was delivering a fleshed-out portrayal of post-traumatic stress disorder without losing sight of the action that fans expect from the genre.<\/p>\n

Ritter reprised her role as Jessica for the underwhelming Defenders miniseries, but it\u2019s really in the core Jessica Jones series that you see the character at her best. \u2013 Rob Leane<\/strong><\/p>\n

Line of Duty<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Line\"<\/div>
Line of Duty cast<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

If you haven\u2019t watched Line of Duty<\/a> yet, you\u2019re probably sick of people asking, \u201chow have you not watched Line of Duty?\u201d But seriously: you should watch Line of Duty. Now in its sixth season, the drama follows the investigations of a police anti-corruption unit called AC-12, headed by Superintendent Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar), whose \u201cbest team\u201d includes detectives played by Martin Compston and Vicky McClure. Each season, AC-12 investigates another potentially corrupt police officer, played by a high-profile actor: past guest stars have included Thandiwe Newton, Keeley Hawes and Lennie James. Writer and showrunner Jed Mercurio makes sure the show is tense (full of twists) and dense (full of information), but viewers are rewarded for paying attention \u2013 as an overarching story about organised crime and police corruption is threaded through Line of Duty from the very beginning. Season five is on Netflix, and you can find all the other episodes on iPlayer. \u2013 Eleanor Bley Griffiths<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Irregulars<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Sherlock\"<\/div>
Henry Lloyd-Hughes as Sherlock Holmes in The Irregulars (Netflix)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

With so many different takes on Sherlock Holmes delivered over the years, Netflix\u2019s new take on the famous sleuth goes for broke with not one but two revisionist takes on Arthur Conan Doyle\u2019s greatest creation, plunging him into a fantasy world while also sidelining him in favour of side-characters from the original stories.<\/p>\n

Specifically, The Irregulars<\/a> follows a gang of homeless teenagers hired by Doctor Watson (Royce Pierreson) to investigate strange crimes while Sherlock Holmes (Henry Lloyd-Hughes) is indisposed. Simultaneously, this reframing of the story is accompanied by a supernatural reimagining of Holmes\u2019 Victorian playground, drawing from Conan Doyle\u2019s well-documented interest in the fantastic (and some of his supernatural short stories) in a contrast to the rational mind of his great detective.<\/p>\n

The final effect could be a bit of a mess, but anchored with winning performances from the younger stars (including Harrison Osterfield, Thaddea Graham, Darci Shaw, Mckell David and Jojo Macari) and fun monster-of-the-week stories, The Irregulars ends up as a compelling if slightly uneven fantasy adventure.<\/p>\n

Though if you\u2019re just waiting around to see Lloyd-Hughes\u2019 new take on Sherlock, you might have a while to pass the time \u2013 this particular detective isn\u2019t at Holmes until at least halfway through the series. \u2013 Huw Fullerton<\/strong><\/p>\n

Peaky Blinders<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Peaky\"<\/div>\n

Dramas don\u2019t get much more stylish than Peaky Blinders<\/a>. Set in Birmingham between the World Wars, it follows the exploits of the Shelby crime family \u2013 led by Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby, who has returned from the trenches to take over Birmingham (and beyond). The show would be worth watching just for Helen McCrory, who starred as the gang\u2019s matriarch Polly Gray; she stole every scene she was ever in, and will be much missed by the show\u2019s legions of fans. In the first five seasons, McCrory and Murphy were joined by actors including Sam Neill, Paul Anderson and Sam Claflin, as the show\u2019s writer Steven Knight built a story around gang warfare, socialism, fascism, poverty, violence, community, class, family, and Tommy Shelby\u2019s constant scrabble to beat his enemies and rise to the top. But no matter how far his journey has taken him, the demons are never far behind. The sixth and final season is in the works, and a feature-length movie looks set to cap the story off. \u2013 Eleanor Bley Griffiths<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Witcher<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""cavill\"<\/div>\n

\u201cToss a coin to your Witcher, oh valley of plenty, oh valley of plenty, woah-oh-ohhh\u2026toss a coin to your Witcher, a friend of humanity\u2026eeeee-eeee!\u201d<\/p>\n

If you didn\u2019t start instantly humming along to this legendary banger composed by The Witcher<\/a>\u2019s Jaskier (Joey Batey), then it\u2019s high time you checked out Netflix\u2019s fantasy monster drama \u2013 and not just for the sick (lute) beats.<\/p>\n

Starring Henry Cavill as mutant monster-hunter Geralt of Rivia, The Witcher uses a twisted timeline to tell three parallel stories \u2013 Geralt\u2019s adventures, the youth and training of sorcerer Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) and the travails of Princess Ciri of Cintra (Freya Allen) \u2013 as the fictional world they live in descends into war.<\/p>\n

Stuffed with bizarre creatures, fast-paced action scenes (particularly in the first episode) and plenty of weird and wonderful characters, it\u2019s no surprise that The Witcher has become one of Netflix\u2019s biggest series.<\/p>\n

And the creators of the earlier Witcher video game \u2013 based on the same collection of novels as the series \u2013 were probably pretty happy with the release too, given that sales of The Witcher 3 rose by 558 per cent following the Henry Cavill version\u2019s debut.<\/p>\n

So why not check out the Witcher \u2013 if nothing else, you\u2019ll have a new earworm stuck in your head. \u2013 Huw Fullerton<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dead To Me<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Dead\"<\/div>
Dead to Me<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Make sure you set a few hours aside for this show, because once you start watching you won\u2019t be able to stop. Dead to Me<\/a> is a gripping comedy-drama telling the story of two charismatic but very different women, thrown together by unfortunate circumstances to form an unlikely double act. Christina Applegate plays estate agent and mother of two, Jen, whose world falls apart when her husband is killed in a hit and run. She\u2019ll stop at nothing to find the person who ruined everything. Judy (Linda Cardellini) sees life through a very different lens \u2013 although she has experienced awful moments of her own, she\u2019s an optimist who sees the good in everything. The pair meet at a bereavement circle and strike up a friendship, but drama is lurking just around the corner\u2026 Nominated for armfuls of Emmys, the show sparkles not only because of its thrilling mysteries and brilliant twists, but because of its two female leads, who feel refreshingly relatable, intriguing and like they\u2019ve lived real lives. Oddly enough the show is executive produced by Will Ferrell, even though the humour is quite different to the kind you\u2019d associate with his movies. \u2013 Emma Bullimore<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Bold Type<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""The\"<\/div>
The Bold Type \u2013 Season Pilot<\/span><\/figcaption> Freeform<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The Bold Type<\/a>, which is loosely inspired by the life and work of the show\u2019s Executive Producer Joanna Coles (former chief content officer for Hearst Magazines), is about three millennial women working at global publication Scarlet. But this is not just a show about the intense and all consuming labyrinth of the magazine industry. While it does explore the women\u2019s careers, workplace drama and the ethical and moral dilemmas that come with that, the real crux of the show is the love story between three best friends whose bond began in Scarlet\u2019s fashion closet. Jane Sloan, Kat Edison and Sutton Brady navigate hectic careers, romantic relationships, sexuality, race, health, euphoric happiness and utter tragedy: candidly, imperfectly, and most importantly, arm in arm. Catch all four seasons before The Bold Type returns to Netflix with season five on May 26th 2021. \u2013 Anna Barry<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Chewing Gum<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Chewing\"<\/div>
Michaela Coel in Chewing Gum<\/span><\/figcaption> Channel 4 <\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The original Channel 4 series starring Michaela Coel is gloriously funny in that rude, cringey awkward way British TV comedy series do so well. Plus, if you\u2019re late to the party when it comes to realising the greatness of Michaela Coel then this is yet another series of her\u2019s to get stuck into. If you liked I May Destroy You then give this one a go. Chewing Gum<\/a> follows Londoner Tracey who is trying to escape her Christian upbringing and lose her virginity. Relatable and honest in that way only Coel knows how to bring to the small screen. \u2013 Jo-Anne Rowney<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Unorthodox<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Unorthodox\"<\/div>
Unorthodox \u2013 Netflix<\/span><\/figcaption> Anika Molnar\/Netflix<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Unorthodox may only be four episodes long, but it still packs a punch. The miniseries tells the story of Etsy, a 19-year-old Jewish woman who leaves her husband to escape her strict Hasidic Jewish upbringing. Etsy ends up in Berlin where she experiences a whole new way of life, makes new friends and realises how sheltered she\u2019s been. Meanwhile, her husband and his cousin are intent on tracking her down to bring her home. Based on the book of the same name, Unorthodox gives an insight into orthodox life through flashbacks and Etsy\u2019s experiences that makes for a gripping binge watch. While it veers sometimes into stereotypes, it always manages to pull it back thanks to the standout performance from Shira Haas, who plays Etsy. \u2013 Jo-Anne Rowney<\/strong><\/p>\n

Schitt\u2019s Creek<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Schitt's\"<\/div>
Rose (Catherine O\u2019Hara), Alexis (Annie Murphy), Johnny (Eugene Levy) and David Rose (Dan Levy)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

If you\u2019ve ever felt like a fish out of water, Schitt\u2019s Creek<\/a> is the show for you. The Rose family quite literally ends up at dead-end town Schitt\u2019s Creek without a paddle after their business loses their money and they are forced to give up their wealth. The easy-watch sitcom was penned by father and son duo Eugene and Dan Levy who also star as on-screen dad and child Johnny and David.
\nBut really, the star of the show is the impeccable Catherine O\u2019Hara, who brings too many fabulous outfits to count and the most sass seen on the small screen. Her timing is perfect, her acting is gently extra and we all really could be a little bit more like Moira. There\u2019s plenty of heart, genuinely hilarious moments and plot you won\u2019t want to miss. \u2013 Helen Daly<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stranger Things<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Stranger\"<\/div>\n

This 80s-set-and-inspired sci-fi drama turned Netflix\u2019s Original series output Upside-Down (sorry), becoming a pop culture touchstone and genuine word-of-mouth hit as fans around the world become obsessed with the strange happenings in Hawkins, Indiana.<\/p>\n

The meme-ification of this series can sometimes distract from just how warm, fun and scary Stranger Things<\/a> can be, full of plucky kids, terrifying monsters and laugh-out loud moments from the outset and continuing through its (admittedly patchier) second and third seasons.<\/p>\n

Originally following the threat of a single monster slipping through from another dimension and facing off with a telekinetic young girl called Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), the scope of Stranger Things has widened over the years to take in telepathic Mind-Flayers, teen romance, puberty, fashion, grief AND dastardly Russians \u2013 as well as a pretty rousing rendition of Neverending story at the end of the last season.<\/p>\n

Looking ahead, season four is still in production so why not catch up before it debuts \u2013 or if you have seen it before, it could be high time for a refresh. Either way, it\u2019s time to open the curiosity door once more\u2026 \u2013 Huw Fullerton<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the mood for a film? Check out the best Netflix movies<\/a> to watch right now<\/strong>. Want to see what\u2019s on the other streaming sites? Take a look at our best Disney+ shows<\/a> guide or best Disney+ movies.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Slow Wi-Fi stopping you streaming? Banish the buffering with the best broadband deals<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From original series like The Crown and Bridgerton to favourites such as Peaky Blinders and Line of Duty, check out the best TV shows to watch with our Netflix recommendations. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":2395,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2021\/07\/best-series-to-watch-on-netflix-right-now-updated-1.jpg",620,413,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2021\/07\/best-series-to-watch-on-netflix-right-now-updated-1-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2021\/07\/best-series-to-watch-on-netflix-right-now-updated-1-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2021\/07\/best-series-to-watch-on-netflix-right-now-updated-1.jpg",620,413,false],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2021\/07\/best-series-to-watch-on-netflix-right-now-updated-1.jpg",620,413,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2021\/07\/best-series-to-watch-on-netflix-right-now-updated-1.jpg",620,413,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2021\/07\/best-series-to-watch-on-netflix-right-now-updated-1.jpg",620,413,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"From original series like The Crown and Bridgerton to favourites such as Peaky Blinders and Line of Duty, check out the best TV shows to watch with our Netflix recommendations.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/2394"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2395"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2394"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2394"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}