Movies & TV / Columns

What Are the Best Netflix Original Series?

April 25, 2020 | Posted by Steve Gustafson
Stranger Things Netflix Image Credit: Netflix

How are you? Running out of things to watch? If you’re like most you’ve seen Netflix’s original documentary series Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness, or at least have heard about it. Can’t say I’m a fan and made it through a couple of episodes before I got what I needed from the show. 

Not that it mattered as Tiger King  was a huge hit for the streaming service with approximately 64 million viewers watching the true-crime drama. It also garnered an 86% “Fresh” rating on review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes. Wonders will never cease. 

I’m always interested in the technical breakdowns and Tiger King racked up more than 5.3 billion minutes watched in its first fill week of release, according to Nielsen’s Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) Content Ratings.

While those numbers are impressive I wanted to turn the spotlight on Netlfix’s original series. 

Netflix began its own original shows in 2013, with House of Cards quickly becoming a hit for them. More shows soon followed and pretty soon Netflix had a fledgling library of hits like Ozark, BoJack Horseman, American Vandal, Russian Doll, Godless, Dead to Me, The End of the F***ing World, The Umbrella Academy, Sex Education, Dear White People, The Haunting of Hill House, Everything Sucks!, Stranger Things, Making a Murderer, Narcos, Orange is the New Black, Glow, Mindhunter, Black Mirror (Yes, I know it didn’t start at Netflix but give me some slack), Master of None…you get the idea. And I didn’t even mention any of the Marvel series!
Since its launch, Netflix has changed the entertainment industry and especially the way we take in our entertainment. Hate it or love it, binge watching a series has become a niche all on its own.

Bring it back around, I went back to look at the list of every original Netflix series they released and was surprised at the amount. Not just in volume but in overall quality, Netflix has a solid track record when it comes to quality viewing.

I know some of you want me to make a list of my Top…whatever so here it goes. And please keep this in mind…my Top…whatever changes on any given day. Tonight I feel like…

5. Stranger Things
4. Dear White People
3. Narcos
2. Ozark
1. Mindhunter

As you can tell, I’m in a more dramatic/dark mood, which is understandable given the circumstances. Mindhunter will usually be in my Top 3 as the first two seasons have hit high marks across the board with the acting, writing, and editing.

Opening up the comments below, which show do you think is Netflix’s best?