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We are deep in the era of box sets right now (even if we’ve actually past the point of actually buying DVD box sets, and just stream everything). Everyone is always halfway through some HBO or AMC series, and ready to go crazy at any hint of spoilers. But what happens when you finish that show, and you need to find something else to watch?
That’s where we come in. We’ve trawled through all of UK Netflix, and filtered through all the TV shows with our metaphorical fine toothed comb. And we’ve picked out 30 shows that are definitely worth your valuable time. There are dramas, there are comedies. There are US shows, and British ones,. There’s even some anime. But all of them are definitely worth watching past episode one.
Breaking Bad
Episodes Available: Seasons 1-5
Cast: Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, Dean Norris, Betsy Brandt, R.J. Mitte, Bob Odenkrik
If you happen to be one of those people that won’t watch something because everyone keeps talking about it, then all we can say is that you’re denying yourself a life fulfilling experience. Okay, ‘ life-fulfilling’ maybe a stretch too far but nonetheless you shouldn’t deprive yourself of watching Vince Gilligan’s classic series. There’s a reason why Breaking Bad was such a hit, just like another TV classic, The Wire, it’s a slow burner but each episode kept building up to a massive crescendo like it was a night at the opera (a really long night if we’re being totally honest). The story is obviously brilliant and it’s helped by Bryan Cranston’s portrayal as Walter White, a sympathetic man literally on death’s door that transforms into the cold-blooded manipulator/meth cook, Heisenberg. This is only matched by Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman—his unpredictable number-two, and the perfect antithesis to Walter, a factor key in defining their ill-advised, dysfunctional relationship. Also, who else could make the term ‘Bitch’ so refreshing?
Better Caul Saul
Episodes Available: Seasons 1–2
Stars: Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks
The much hyped Breaking Bad-spin off is the natural next step once you’ve watch all of Jesse and Walt’s adventures. Set six years before the events of its parent show, it has Bob Odenkirk take the lead as small-time lawyer Jimmy McGill — who you’ll know ultimately becomes Walter White’s sleazy attorney Saul Goodman. How does he end up as Saul? That’s what this show is about.
Brooklyn Nine Nine
Episodes Available: Seasons 1-2
Stars: Andy Samberg, Terry Crews, Chelsea Peretti, Melissa Fumero, Andre Braugher
While the ads for Brooklyn Nine-Nine make it look like an Andy Samberg vehicle, it is most definitely an ensemble police show. It’s a classic workplace sitcom, set in a Brooklyn police station, and like any ensemble show it lives or dies on how strong the cast of characters is — and this is one of those rare shows that had a perfectly formed gang right from the first episode. Every actor is perfectly cast, and every character has their own quirk or catchphrase that cracks you up every time they are on screen.
Bottom
Episodes Available: Seasons 1-3
Stars: Ade Edmondson, Rik Mayall
British humour has a stereotype of being wittier, smarter and more refined than American sitcoms. But Bottom is none of those things. It is however extremely rude, ultra-violent, transgressive and absolutely fucking hilarious. Ade Edmondson and the late, great Rik Mayall are deadbeat London flatmates Edward Hitler and Richie Richard, who spend every episode being broke, failing to get laid, and beating the crap out of each other. Kind of like Peep Show meets Itchy & Scratchy really.
Daredevil
Episodes: Season 1-2
Cast: Charlie Cox, Deborah Ann Woll, Vincent D’Onofrio, Elden Henson, Rosario Dawson, Vondie Curtis-Hall
The success of the MCU opened many doors and ventures for a lot of Marvel properties, one comic book character that benefited from this was Daredevil. You’d think after the Ben Affleck-led car-crash that ol’ horn head would be beyond redemption but lo and behold Marvel and Netflix pulled it off. Charlie Cox’s run as ‘The Devil of Hell’s Kitchen’ is something to be applauded and the fight scenes are truly amazing, particularly the season-defining corridor fight from the second episode. But the true star of the show has to go to Vincent D’Onofrio who’s on screen persona as the mythical Kingpin Wilson Fisk has got to be one of the most standout things this series has to offer. He’s also perhaps the most engaging Marvel villain since Tom Hiddlestone as Loki. As good as Cox was he was THAT much better. Daredevil as a whole was a welcome alternative to the MCU’s light-sided approach, viewers yearning for a darker side of the Marvel Universe were more than pleased with this offering.
Jessica Jones
Episodes: Season 1
Cast: Krysten Ritter, David Tennant, Rachael Taylor, Mike Colter, Carrie-Anne Moss
Whilst we await Marvel Studios’ first female led feature film in the form of Captain Marvel, the extended-TV universe has already crossed that area with Agent Carter and, more recently, the Netflix exclusive, Jessica Jones. Thanks to the success of the Daredevil series it was able to bring another grounded perspective for the MCU and taking a fairly obscure character like Jessica Jones and seeing it through her world was the perfect application. Krysten Ritter and David Tennant are cast perfectly as the (reluctant) protagonist and (obsessive) antagonist. Furthermore, more than any other recent Marvel property this show touches on some fragile subjects that not even Nolan’s elitist Dark Knight trilogy wouldn’t dare tread. Jessica Jones at its core isn’t even a conventional Marvel Studios feature as it has very little to do with being a superhero or performing heroic acts.
Gotham
Episodes Available: Season 1
Stars: Ben McKenzie, Donal Logue, Jada Pinkett Smith
The trick to enjoying Gotham is to ignore any concept of it being an actual Batman origin story, and instead just a crazy re-imagining of the Bat-family characters. Instead of being concerned about the Penguin and the Riddler being much older than Batman, just sit back and take in the madness the first season throws at you, including badass Alfred, Ryan from The OC punching out dudes as Detective Gordon, the insane storylines that Jada Pinkett Smith’s new character Fish Mooney has, ace boy detective Bruce Wayne, and plenty of comic in-jokes to keep nerds occupied.
Danger 5
Episodes Available: Seasons 1-2
Stars: David Ashby, Sean James Murphy, Natasa Ristic
Sadly, the classic horror spoof Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace isn’t on Netflix, but this little known Australian show is the next best thing. It’s sort of a parody of things like Thunderbirds, Power Rangers and The A-Team, but also works on its own mad logic (the setting jumps from WWII to the 80s between series with no explanation, and the Colonel is a dapper-suited man with a bald eagle’s head). It is just so full of insane costumes, intentionally bad special effects and surrealism, that it’s actually hard to binge watch as more than one episode is almost too much too take. But it’s definitely worth seeing.
Fargo
Episodes Available: Season 1
Stars: Billy Bob Thornton, Allison Tolman, Colin Hanks
Even by the Coen Bros lofty standards, the original movie of Fargo is a stone classic. Surely adapting it is just setting yourself up to fail? But shockingly, the series of the same name is nearly as good as the original. Instead of a straight adaptation, it tells another off-kilter crime story on the same snowy Minnesota backdrop, with a new cast of weird characters. The first series has an all-star cast, including Billy Bob Thonrton, Martin Freedman, Bob Odenkirk and Key & Peele taking on its murder mystery plot.
Gossip Girl
Available Episodes: Seasons 1-6
Stars: Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Ed Westwick, Chace Crawford
You know the drill; your girl is scrolling through Netflix and stops at Gossip Girl, at which point you immediately shout “veto” at the top of your voice. As understandable as this reaction is, maybe you shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the show, as its over-the-top, exaggerated displays of wealthy adolescence are the perfect way to while away a hungover morning or a couple’s night in. If you’re really stuck for excuses to help you justify to your significant other/best mate why it keeps popping up in your “continue watching” list, there’s some really good drinking games centred around the show. But we all know that really, you should just sit back and drink in the ridiculous opulence and wealth and daydream of what your life would be like if you were Chuck Bass unashamedly, because once you’re hooked, it’s actually a really, really good show. Apart from Ivy Dickens, no one likes her, ever.
Love
Episodes Available: Season 1
Stars: Gillian Jacob, Paul Rust
Another example of Netflix’s ability to pick up top tier talent to make show for them, Love stars Community’s Gillian Jacobs and is co-created by Judd Apatow. Much like Apatow’s movies, it another modern day romantic comedy, with an arch, cynical outlook. It won’t convince Apatow haters, but for the converted it’s just a good as any of his films.
Luther
Episodes Available: Season 1-3
Stars: Idris Elba, Ruth Wilson
When it was announced that Elba was returning to TV to star in a big BBC cop drama, we were sort of expecting the British take on The Wire or something. But where as David Simon’s opus was subtle and realistic, Luther most definitely not. DCI John Luther is the ultimate cop-on-the-edge, a broken man and a swaggering ball of rage, kicking the shit out of criminals and looking cool AF in a tweed coat and straggly red tie. As the show has gone on it’s just got crazier and crazier, and proved that Brit TV can match up anything the US puts out.
Sons of Anarchy
Episodes Available: Series 1-7
Stars: Charlie Hunnam, Katy Segal, Ron Pearlman
If you’re looking for another epic saga to keep you busy after you’ve watched Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, The Wire et al, then Netflix conveniently has all seven seasons of Son of Anarchy sitting there ready for you to watch. FX’s motorcycle drama initially flew under the radar for its first few years, but its reputation grew the adventures of Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, Redwood Original grew into a series to rival any of those other TV heavyweights.
Space Dandy
Episodes Available: Seasons 1-2
Stars: Junichi Suwabe, Uki Satake, Hiroyuki Yoshino
Director Shinichirō Watanabe previously made the seminal Cowboy Bebop, one of the coolest anime of all time. On paper, his new show seems pretty similar — a space pirate bounding around different planets. But where as Bebop’s Spike Siegal was cool AF, Space Dandy’s title character is a clueless idiot, more interested is an intergalactic version of Hooters than having adventures. What really sets the show apart though is its totally experimental nature. The animation style can change completely episode to episode, the entire cast can get turned into zombies, or even killed off, and are back the next episode. It’s a one-of-a-kind show.
Spartacus
Available Episodes: Seasons 1-4
Stars: Andy Whitfield, Liam McIntyre, John Hannah, Lucy Lawless
People say that TV is on the same levels as movies right now, and you can definitely make that argument in terms of drama. But not many TV shows can deliver a truly kick ass action scene. Spartacus however is one of the few shows that’s trying to be Conan instead of Scorsese. It’s the show for the for the 14 year old boy in all of us, layering only plenty of sex, violence and gore in the story of the legendary slave who led an uprising against his Roman masters.
The Trip
Available Episodes: Season 1-2
Stars: Rob Brydon, Steve Coogan
The Trip stars comedians Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon as fictionalised versions of themselves, going on a restaurant tour of the UK (and Italy in season 2) In one way it is a bittersweet meditation on fame and growing older. But it’s mostly an excuse for real life friends Coogan and Brydon to just improvise hilarious bickering and duelling celebrity impressions. Srsly, it’s all about their recreation of The Dark Knight Rises.
Top Boy
Available Episodes: Seasons 1-2
Stars: Ashley Walters, Kano
There’s been quite a few things that have claimed to be the UK’s answer to The Wire. Top Boy is definitely it’s own thing, and it’s reductive to have to compare it to a US series, it is the only show worthy of that title. Ashley Walters gives a performance of a lifetime in this intense and gritty examination of street gangs and dealers on a Hackney estate. If we can just get that third series…
W/ Bob & David
Available Episodes: Season 1
Stars: Bob Odenkirk, David Cross
Before you know them from Breaking Bad and Arrested Development respectively, Bob Odenkirk and David Cross made the little seen but much loved club HBO sketch series Mr Show. 15 years later, Netflix got them back together to do a reunion show. These sort of comebacks can often go wrong, with age and time having dulled everything that was good about the original. But W/ Bob & David feels fresh, unpredictable, and is very funny. Sketches bleed into each other, they play with the format, and Odenkirk and Cross have only got better as performers.
I'm Alan Partridge
Available Episodes: Seasons 1-2
Stars: Steve Coogan, Simon Greenall, Felicity Montagu
Failed radio host Alan Partridge remains one of the greatest British comedy creations ever. And of all his appearances (The Day Today, the movie, the recent stuff on Sky), the sitcom I‘m Alan Partridge remains the best. What makes it work so well is that despite Partridge being a despicable human being, there’s something strangely relatable about him. He just wants to be liked. He’s a fully three-dimensional character, not just a caricature, and that’s what makes it so funny (and painful).
Narcos
Episodes Available: Season 1
Stars: Wagner Moura, Boyd Holbrock, Pedro Pascal, Joanna Christie, Maurice Compte,
Last year Narcos was the talk of the town for those who had a Netflix account (or shared their friends’ password). Based on the exploits of the infamous drug kingpin Pablo Escobar and the DEA agent who was determined to bring him down we were hooked from the get-go. It’s equal parts biopic, stylized crime thriller and documentary. Narcos leaves no stone unturned in terms of story telling and pacing. The cast is incredibly strong and each episode is as gripping as the last. If you still haven’t jumped onto the hype train now is the time to do it.
Attack On Titan
Episodes Available: Season 1
Stars: Yuki Kaji, Yui Ishikawa, Marina Inoue
Attack On Titan has been pretty much the biggest anime success story of recent years — arguably the biggest since the likes of Naruto and One Piece. But unlike those, AoT has a lot to offer those who aren’t already massive otakus. It’s set in an alternate steampunk-ish past where the last remaining humans live in cities surrounded by massive walls — walls which are there to protect them from giant, naked flesh eating zombies. The narrative focuses on the young recruits trained to defend the city, and it’s weird tone is what makes it truly unique. There’s a mix of mystery, teen angst, and desperation, and a real sense of having no idea what will happen next, or who will survive. Imagine The Walking Dead, only the walkers are 60ft tall.
Arrested Develpment
Episodes Available: Seasons 1-4
Cast: Jason Bateman, Portia de Rossi, Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Alia Shawkat, Tony Hale, David Cross, Jeffery Tambor, Jessica Walter
Finding out about Arrested Development is the equivalent of discovering fire, it’s one of those rare sitcoms that is both hilarious and socially scathing. For real, nothing even comes close to matching the comedic genius that Mitchell Hurwitz and co. brought to the forefront. Criminally overlooked by network television, Arrested Development found a new lease of life on Netflix and brought forth a new generation of savvy viewers to the morally ambiguous world of the Bluth family, and we’re all the better for it.
Community
Episodes: Season 1-5
Cast: Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Yvette Nicole Brown, Alison Brie, Donald Glover, Chevy Chase, Ken Jeong, Jim Rash
Just like Arrested Development, Community is another example of an excellent, well-scripted comedy that was severely mistreated by its network overlords. But in spite of that, Dan Harmon’s series about a group of misfits who form a study group at the Greendale Community Collage endured—more than that, it prevailed. Under the direction of Harmon and the Russo brothers (of Captain America/Marvel fame) they were able to weave a show that was equal parts witty and niche. Every character on the show is endearing in their own way (even Ken Joeng’s character, the oddall Señor Chang). Perhaps what really sold the show was the lovable bromance between Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino) and Danny Puddi as Troy and Abed “…in the morning” (sorry we couldn’t help ourselves).
Master Of None
Episodes: Season 1
Cast: Aziz Ansari, Noël Wells, Eric Wareheim, Lena Waithe, Kelvin Yu, H. Jon Benjamin
Opinions are very divided on Aziz Ansari, some people love his off-beat sense of humour and his high-pitched nasally voice and others despise it to a level that they positively seethe with hatred at the mere mention of his name. For those that have no time for him scroll to the next part of our list, as for the rest of you—if you haven’t caught on to his Master of None series you’re actually missing out here. With only one season it’s already received rave reviews, Aziz pretty much plays an alternative version of himself as Dev, a struggling actor who’s only REAL paychecks come from less-than-flattering adverts. It’s engaging to watch him navigate his way through life as man coming towards the tail end of his twenties and listen to his hilarious observations as it has a very relatable quality to it. Also you’ve got to watch it for the out-of-place cameos from Busta Rhymes and his own mum and dad.
Firefly
Episodes: Season 1
Cast: Nathan Filion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin, Jewel Staite, Summer Glau,
Let’s call it right now, Joss Whedon is king of all nerds, from creating the Buffy franchise to taking Marvel to the promise land, his creative mind seems to know no bounds. If you needed proof of his genius look no further than Firefly, despite a less-than-‘Marvel’ budget and getting the same treatment as Arrested Development and Community from it’s network broadcasters, it still achieved seminal cult-like status. This was down to the excellent writing and a cast who’s chemistry worked well together, episodes like ‘Jaynestown’ and ‘The Message’ make this more than just your run-the-mill sci-fi series. We were naturally bummed out when Fox cancelled the series because there was so much more that could’ve been on offer from the crew members of the Serenity (but at least we got closure with the Serenity feature film).
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Episode: Season 1-7
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Head, James Masters, David Boreanaz, Kristine Sutherland, Charisma Carpenter, Amber Benson, Seth Green, Eliza Dushku
We love Buffy the Vampire Slayer for a number of reasons, too many for us to list off. But one thing we can all agree on is that we love it because it gave us Sarah Michelle Gellar, she was the dream girl of the late 90’s to the 2000s. But more than that, it introduced our generation to the idea of butt-kicking female leads who need no help from any man. Sarah Michelle Gellar’s portrayal as Buffy Summers is, for many of us, the original female superhero as we were way too young to appreciate comic book heroines like Wonder Woman or Black Widow. Also this came at time when vampires weren’t made to look like fuccboi emos—thanks a lot Stephanie Meyer.
Archer
Episodes: Seasons 1-6
Cast: H. Jon Benjamin, Judy Greer, Amber Nash, Chris Parnell, Aisha Tyler, Jessica Walter
We'll be honest, as much as we love James Bond he’s a bit of chauvinistic tool, he only gets away with it because of his charming British accent. That’s what Sterling Malory Archer lacks, and to be honest we wouldn’t have any other way, his tact—or lack thereof—is one of the reason we keep coming back season after season. H. Jon Benjamin does a perfect job of voicing the main character and is supported by an equally brilliant cast including: Julia Walter, Aisha Tyler, Chris Parnell and more. If you’re looking for an adult cartoon with a rib achingly episodes, fucked-up jokes and top-notch animation post-Boondocks then Archer will be right up your street.
Bojack Horseman
Episodes: Season 1-2
Cast: Will Arnett, Aaron Paul, Amy Sedaris, Alison Brie, Paul F. Tompkins
If Bojack Horseman has taught us anything about Hollywood it’s that show business is nothing but an endless spiral of drugs, lies and unfulfilled, empty lifestyles. Hardly sounds like a setup for a comedy but when you make it animated, throw in some wildlife and get Will Arnett as the lead voice and you’ve got a winner on your hands. Along with the a strong cast, including Aaron Paul and Alison Brie, we find ourselves routing for a guy—or in this case, a horse—who is so self-destructive and self-absorbed. Yes, Bojack is clearly a psychologically damaged, egotistical arsehole that pretty much deserves all the misfortune bestowed upon his equestrian existence, but dammit if we still don’t find him relatable as we’re begging the world of show business to cut some much needed slack.
Babylon
Episodes: Seasons 1
Cast: James Nesbitt, Brit Marling, Patterson Joseph, Adam Deacon, Bertie Carvel, Ella Smith, Johnny Sweet
You can look at Babylon as either a black comedy or a biting social commentary on the London Metropolitan Police’s fractured relationship with the City’s citizens. Starting out as a Channel 4 one-off, it manifested into a one-off series due to the positive reception of the original. There is humour in abundance but it’s subtle and convincingly dark to the point of uncomfortable. But it’s the final moments of the last episode, and the lead up to it, is what sticks out for us as it paints a stark reminder of the need for transparency within our law enforcement and expertly depicts the bureaucratic bullshit and backstabbing that goes hand-in-hand with policing the nation.
Limmy's Show
Episodes Available: Season 1
Stars: Brian Limond
Glaswegian comedian Brian Limond’s– aka Limmy – sketch show was made by BBC Scotland and thus was only show north of the boarder. But word of mouth spread about just how damn funny the guy was, and now everyone in country can watch it. Limmy’s Show is nothing more than a sketch, but Limond has the perfect combination of stupidity and surrealism. You might very well have seem some of his bits circulated on Youtube, particularly ‘Adventure Call’, a weird AF mash-up of Babestation and World Of Warcraft.