The Top Netflix Shows You Should Be Watching

Choosing something to watch something on Netflix can be a daunting task. The overwhelming amount of content, between network and original, can definitely create an overwhelming moment of “what do I watch now?”. While Netflix has been the streaming giant for years, providing full seasons of our favorite shows, it is their original content in recent years that has captured the eyes of many. Orange is the New Black, The Crown, Glow and Stranger Things have dominated the streaming service, bringing critical acclaim and award nominations. Yet, while these are the most notable, they are not the only gems Netflix has to offer.

There is an unbelievable amount of diversity in the content Netflix has chosen to showcase, a diversity that continues to grow in breadth with each passing month. From movies to television series, Netflix has become a powerhouse many services and networks are struggling to contend with. With this in mind, and Film Inquiry’s own entry into the world of television, it seemed an appropriate time to highlight some of the lesser known, and potentially forgotten, gems of Netflix. While some you may have seen, others possibly not. Either way, these are some of the best shows Netflix has to offer.

Big Mouth

Adult animated content is far from new, the genre previously striking gold with The Simpsons, Family Guy, Archer, Bob’s Burgers and Rick and Morty. Yet, where eclectic adventures, foul mouthed antics and cut aways have dominated, Big Mouth has struck a new cord, animating the horrific and transformative years of puberty. Watching Big Mouth is one of the most terrifyingly accurate portrayals of the trials and tribulations we have all faced during this tumultuous time of growing up. Yet, it is through this accurate portrayal that Big Mouth finds its strength. The humor is unmistakable, its characters brilliantly cast and its representations epically memorable.

Created by Nick Kroll, whom many will remember from Parks and Rec, it creates a diverse group of characters, each representative of a stereotypical journey through puberty – and each haunted by their own hormone monster. Yes, they are each “blessed” with their own hormone monster, one who whispers authentic, and at times crude, thoughts and feelings into the minds of the children. Encouraging masturbation and premenstrual outbursts, each character finds their confusing and frustrating emotions brought to life. Big Mouth has become an instant classic.

There is such a love and confidence behind the series, Netflix has even dubbed it one of its best series, giving it one of the streaming service’s fastest renewals. With season 2 on the horizon, though, with no official word on release date, its return is anxiously anticipated by many. If you are one of the individuals who has not had a chance to witness this brilliantly crafted animated look at the years we wish we could all forget, you need to make this a priority. It will hit you with how real, literal and relatable it is when addressing teen puberty, hormones and the awkwardness of bridging into adulthood – all while cleverly satirizing the horror.

13 Reasons Why

While this one is sure to strike a cord in some, it cannot be ignored the quality of filmmaking and adaptation skill 13 Reasons Why exhibits. The book by Jay Asher has been a favorite of mine since its release. Asher was unafraid to dive into the fragile mind of a young teenager, displaying the immense struggles and challenges she, as well as others, would face – whether she was old enough or not. There is a taboo that surrounds suicide and sexual assault, an elephant in the room Asher was unafraid to defy. When Netflix had announced they would be adapting the popular novel, I had my doubts. There was no way that Netflix would be able to accurately represent Hannah Baker, and I highly doubted they would acknowledge the elephant in the room as Asher had.

Yet, Netflix delivered. Holding firm to the text and standing behind their content, the monstrous streaming service would prove itself a safe haven for controversial content and the artistic freedom of its team. They also did what many are afraid to do: depict suicide, the failings of society, and sexual assault. While graphic at times, there was no intent of utilizing the imagery as a form of “click bait” to draw in an audience but instead to permanently ingrain the messages of the show and the book into the minds of viewers. The tragic story of Hannah Baker, and those around her, reminds us that those suffering may not have the ability to ask for help, or even realize they need it until it is too late. 13 Reasons Why opens our eyes to the issues surrounding our teens, and the ways we can identify and assist them. Ignorance is not bliss as many would have you believe, yet, through education and awareness, this tragic story could possibly save a life (or lives) in the real world.

With two seasons under its belt, and a third expected for next year, Netflix continues to stand behind its decision to keep exploring this dramatic representation of issues facing our teens. As the seasons continue, so too will the controversial content and imagery it showcases.

Seven Seconds

If there is one series on this entire list I would label an “immediate” must-see, it would be Seven Seconds. There was not much marketing put behind the release of the series other than its trailer and dynamically captivating poster. For me, I might have skipped over it had it not been for its supporting actress Nadia Alexander – who had made an impressive mark in the previous year with Blame and The Sinner. This was an incredible, incredible limited mini-series, and unbelievably timely. This was the first series I can honestly say that took racism, power, injustice, profiling and cover-ups from every angle. Each element was given the time to be examined and understood. Seven Seconds is a true masterpiece.

Racing to meet his pregnant wife at the hospital following complications, Officer Jablonski (Beau Knapp) accidentally strikes a young man on a bike. It is important to note that it was an accident, yet what follows after the crash is not. When his fellow officers arrive and assess the scene, they decide to cover up the accident, believing that the officer will be burned at the stake for the crime he has committed. NO ONE will believe that it was an accident. In that moment, in seven seconds, a decision was made, its effects rippling beyond the cops and the young victim in the snow.

This is a series that not only succeeds on the strength of its story, but also the strength of its characters and the individuals that bring them to life. Michael Mosely (who also stars in Netflix’s Ozark), Clare-Hope Ashitey, Russell Hornsby, Coley Speaks, David Lyons and Nadia Alexander each were given a diverse character that differed from any of the others on screen. The depth and development that went into each was incredible and the performances behind them are resounding. Regina King, whose performance will break your heart, was recently nominated for an Emmy for her outstanding performance – one so deserved, and a win I will be rooting for.

While not renewed for a second season, Seven Seconds is a solid limited series and worth every minute of its screen time.

The OA

If there is one thing Netflix consistently showcases, it is its eye for talent – and when speaking of Zal Batmanglij and Brit Marling, their talent is undeniable. Having previously written The Sound of My Voice and The East, this dynamic duo has already proven themselves an undeniable force in the Indie film scene. Enter The OA. Quietly released in December of 2016, The OA has become a cult classic of the streaming service. While its viewer base was not huge at the start, the show’s impeccable ability to garner audiences through word of mouth has brought more and more attention to the series since its release.

The OA follows the return of Prairie (Brit Marling) after having disappeared without a trace. Yet, while her previous whereabouts are unknown, even more strange is that while she was blind before her disappearance, she now has her sight fully restored. Struggling to adapt to her former surroundings, Prairie begins to befriend the neighborhood children, and the mystery surrounding her disappearance is slowly revealed as though it were a grim fairy tale. Yet, as she slowly begins to intrigue their wonderment, questions of truth in her story and those around her begin to rise.

I have to admit there is a bit of bias to this one as I am a HUGE fan of Brit Marling. I fell in love with her work after watching Another Earth (which was filmed about 30 mins from where I live) and The Sound of My Voice. This was a show that was marked “Must Watch” after its quiet release in December. I watched it not for the content, but much like Seven Seconds, for its star. After watching the first season, I was hooked on the story, thirsty for more and crushed when the season’s final moments played. While slow in the beginning, Prairie will intrigue you as well, slowly pulling you into her story as she does with the children on screen.

The second season of The OA is currently in editing, as Marling announced on her Twitter and Instagram profiles, with Netflix’s officials commenting that the material coming out will please fans. While no release date has been announced, with the second season finally in post production, hopefully fans will not have to wait long. Until then, definitely check out Season 1 and discover the true nature of The OA.

Ozark

The Ozark, an area of mountains and plateaus spanning four states, has become a frequent location for films and TV. In recent years, Winter’s Bone and Leave NO Trace found their locales within the remote and desolate areas of the Ozark. In television, Ozark, taking its name from its location, is just the latest. Released last year in the summer of 2017, Ozark is a crime thriller from Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams that was well received by audiences and critics alike, Jason Bateman recently garnering an Emmy nomination for his performance.

Ozark was another word of mouth show that I immediately was enamored with, binging the entirety of the show in one day – no joke. From the moment Marty’s money laundering scheme flounders to the final moments of the season, I could not look away. There is an unending intrigue and a desperate need to know “how will they get out of this” as his family is relocated to the Ozark in an attempt to find a means to pay Marty’s crime boss back. If that wasn’t complicated enough, the tension only rises with each complication that the inhabitants of the Ozark have to offer the newcomers. From start to finish, the excitement and anxiety of what is to come never ends. Just when you think you have things figured out, know that you don’t.

Jason Bateman and Laura Linney lead an all-star cast – including Jordana Spiro (My Boys), Charlie Tahan (Gotham), Julia Garner (Perks of Being a Wallflower, We Are What We Eat) and Michael Mosley (Scrubs, Sirens) – delivering performances that are compelling, memorable and and a testament to their talent. Combined with gorgeous and illustrative cinematography, brilliant scriptwriting and a concept that could potentially span several seasons, Ozark is a must see. With season 2 just around the corner, premiering August 31, fans of the show will not have to wait long to get even more.

Nailed It!

Network television is littered with cooking shows, from Hell’s Kitchen to The Chew – lest we forget everything on The Food Network. Each show displays the exemplary talent of chefs from around the world and their ability to work under pressure and push their talents to the extreme. Viewers are fascinated with the creations, replications and high intensity competition that surrounds these talents. Leave it to Netflix to step into the cooking genre with a show that turns everything we have known as viewers on its head.

Netflix has begun to branch out into the cooking genre – showing once more they can literally do everything. Yet, with Nailed It!, this is a whole different ball game. Where bakers and chefs compete to showcase their talents, Nailed It! takes everyday average joes, places them within this high intensity environment, and asks them to recreate some of the most awe-inspiring cakes, displays and creations. As you can see above, they don’t always “nail it”.

This is one of the quirkiest cooking shows that I have ever seen and an unbelievably brilliant concept. Wannabe bakers enter a professionally set up kitchen, with the hopes and expectations of recreating masterpieces that they have little to no skill for. Hosted by Nicole Nags and Jacques Torres, Nailed It! breaks down the tired composition and structure of your run-of-the-mill cooking competition, displaying not the accidental mistakes of brilliant chefs and bakers, but the everyday average joe as they strive for greatness. Even the reality TV construct is broken, viewers many times seeing cameramen at work, retakes to get the perfect reveal and even Wes, stage manager and assistant director, whose initial “Nailed It” moment with props and stage direction has created an expected mishap of appearance within each episode.

This fresh and ingenious take on reality TV and cooking competition continues to showcase the diverse abilities of Netflix and their willingness to break the mold.

Somebody Feed Phil

Food and travel go hand in hand, and lucky for Netflix, so does comedy. This was a recommendation to me from a friend, and another of Netflix’s latest dip into cooking shows. Mixing travel and cooking was a no brainer, but with Phil Rosenthal, creator and writer of Everybody Loves Raymond, as your central figure, you have entertainment. Phil is no stranger to comedy, and fearless at the dinner table. Both a good combination when you have people, sometimes whom you have never met, showing you the local scene and ordering what they deem the best food around.

And boy, does he travel. Thailand, New Orleans, Venice and Ireland – he travels everywhere and eats pretty much anything. With all that in mind, that is not what makes this show stand out. It is the personality of its host Phil. Happy, carefree and quirky, he happily embraces each culture and delectable meal he is offered, even venturing off at times to see his current location’s traditions, jobs and rituals. There is so much that is brought into the show with a host who is as engaging as they come.

Now add the catchy theme song and you are all set. Oh, did I forget to mention Phil does not come alone? Not only does he have an amazing crew to follow on each of his adventures – a crew he shares his bounties with throughout the show – but also each episode features a brief segment sky-ping with his parents. It is such a heartwarming moment that provides humor, genuine regard for family, and the constant connection we will never lose no matter where we are. Honestly, the bit with his parents is what really seals each episode.

With two seasons currently streaming, there is enough Phil to go around.

Peaky Blinders

Okay, while not Netflix original content, this show is a must see. First and foremost, if you are a Cillian Murphy fan, you should watch Peaky Blinders on that alone – this is his best performance to date. Secondly, Peaky Blinders is just incredible. Each season is a tightly constructed 6 episode arc – each of these arcs pushing the timeline forward in a consistent and seamless manner. Peaky Blinders represents the beautiful result of the partnership between BBC and Netflix, content from overseas made available to a wider public.

Created by Steven Knight, Peaky Blinders, loosely based on the real life gang from Birmingham, England who sew razor blades into the brim of their caps, follows Thomas Shelby and his family as their small crime business escalates, bringing them closer to an empire. Following shortly after the events of World War I, the Shelby’s answer to their leader’s ambition and grow into a force to be reckoned with. Crime, violence, romance and tension builds into each episode, with the high contrast lighting and set design only heightening the viewer experience.

And the show is not without its delectable nuances and notable cast members. The hypnotizing and electrifying renditions of “Red Right Hand” by Nick Cave & The Band Seeds is altered with each new episode – many times highlighting and setting the mood for the upcoming episode. Sam Neill and Annabelle Wallis are the first big names to join Cillian Murphy, followed later by Tom Hardy and Adrien Brody. This of course only completes an already solid cast that seems as tightly knit as the family they portray, including: Paul Anderson, Helen McCrory, Joe Cole, Michael Gray, Harry Kirton and Sophie Rundle.

If you have not had the chance to be introduced to the Shelby family, consider this your invitation.

Conclusion

While this is only a taste of the amazing content available on Netflix, as I am sure there are gems still waiting to be discovered, these are some of the shows that have solidified my eternal dedication. With a diverse breadth of content available at the click of a remote, Netflix continues its stronghold in the industry – leaving us to reap the benefits.

What are you favorite shows on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below!