The Best TV Shows on Netflix to Add to Your Watchlist

Looking for something to binge-watch? As far as we're concerned, Netflix binges aren’t a guilty pleasure, they are a winter necessity. From tense dramas and shocking crime investigations, to laugh-out-loud comedies, these are our picks for the best TV shows on Netflix. Take note!

Narcos

Documenting the gritty, real-life story of Colombia's notoriously violent and powerful drug cartels, this critically-acclaimed series follows the infamous Pablo Escobar as he battles against the Columbian government and relentless DEA officers in a drug-hungry battle that’s embroiled in politics, narcotics, power and money. 

Three seasons

Mindhunter

A collection of interviews with some of America’s most notorious serial killers, FBI agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) discover what drives these men to murder, without ever revealing the graphic depictions of the crimes they commit. 

Two seasons

Ozark

Brutally dark and sinister, Ozark’s white collar crime tale follows Marty Byrde, a Chicago financial planner who gets mixed up with one of Mexico’s biggest drug cartels. His life is turned upside down when he’s forced to launder millions of dollars for the Mexican gangsters, and so moves his entire family to Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, to set up the large-scale laundering operation. But things don’t run as smoothly as expected.

Three seasons

The OA

Wonderfully weird and creepy to the max, The OA’s supernatural masterpiece will have you instantly transfixed. Britt Marling stars as a dimension-hopping angel with supernatural powers in a gripping, bizarre story that’s shrouded in mystery. Part romance, part mystery, part thriller with a sprinkling of sci-fi fantasy, this beautifully created, strangely harrowing tale, will leave you wide-eyed and reeling for more. 

Two seasons

Maniac

In this fast-paced sci-fi drama starring Jonah Hill and Emma Stone, two strangers connect during a mind-altering pharmaceutical trial that claims to permanently cure them of their mental-health issues. But strangely, the bond between the pair develops during the trial in the corners of their subconscious, while uncovering the traumas they were both desperately trying to bury. 

Teetering precariously between reality and fantasy, Annie Landsberg and Owen Milgram find themselves spiraling uncontrollably from one world to the next, all at the hands of a doctor with serious mother issues and an emotional complex computer. 

One season

Stranger Things

A cult classic with a giant scoop of ‘80s nostalgia, Stranger Things is a teenage sci-fi and ‘80s music lover’s dream. The latest series takes an even darker twist – anyone yet to watch is in for a real treat – which sees the screaming demagorgan return from the Upside Down, and this time, he’s even angrier. True to form, the gang form a Goonies-style alliance in a bid to take him down, but they discover this time, it’s not just a supernatural force they’re fighting. Because going head-to-head with a giant body-snatching monster wasn’t hard enough on its own. 

Three seasons

Black Mirror

Charlie Brooker’s sharp, satirical sci-fi anthology explores a twisted high-tech near-future where humanity's greatest innovations and darkest instincts collide. But in the most sinister, comedic and uncomfortable fashion. Catch the latest season (and all the others if you’re yet to watch) on Netflix now.  

Five seasons

Bodyguard

In this utterly absorbing British crime drama starring Richard Madden (Robb Stark, Game of Thrones) and Keeley Hawes, an Afghanistan war veteran finds work as a police sergeant with the London Metropolitan Police. After preventing a terrorist attack, he’s assigned to protect a politician who was a main proponent of the very conflict he fought in. But things get complicated when they become romantically involved. 

One season

The Sinner

This psychological thriller will have you gripped from the get-go. Jessica Biel plays a normal, slightly dissatisfied woman who takes her young son to the beach with her partner. Then out of nowhere, she is taken over by an overwhelming desire to attack a man set next to her. She doesn’t know him, but she stabs the man to death, and in the wake of his murder, the detective investigating the incident starts to uncover mysterious truths that lead to a chilling conspiracy. Season two (which adopts a completely new storyline) is equally as compelling, if you can brave it.

Three seasons 

Russian Doll 

When acerbic New Yorker Nadia dies (played by the brilliant Natasha Lyonnne), she’s forced to relive her 36th birthday party over and over again. She’s trapped in a surreal time loop where she dies at the end of each night. But each time she’s brought back to life, Nadia discovers more about that night and about her past, which could be the key to escaping her existential limbo. With plenty of twists and turns and a lot of sharp, cutting humour, this heartfelt comedy-drama is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. 

One season

The Crown

This critically-acclaimed, lavish drama documents the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, decade-by-decade, exploring her public and private life, as well as the political rivalries which changed the shape of the monarchy, and simultaneously the second half of the 20th century. Claire Foy is magnificent in the first two seasons – as are the elaborate set designs and opulent costumes – but as season three looms (with the wonderful Olivia Coleman taking the helm as the Queen during her 1964 – 1977 reign) Crown fans are in for a royal treat. 

Four seasons

Suits

Set in the shark-infested world of US corporate law, Suits is a swaggering, walk-and-talk drama about a New York law firm. Big deals and big bluffs come courtesy of Mike Ross – a genius-level university dropout with a photographic memory who lands a coveted associate job, despite having none of the legal credentials. 

Nine seasons

House of Cards

Based on the BBC’s 90s political drama, Kevin Spacey’s sneering adaptation of this British classic is nothing short of spectacular, and has become one of the best TV shows going around. The ruthless Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) together with his enigmatic, eco-activist wife Claire Underwood (Robin Wright) will stop at nothing to rise up through the ranks and achieve US presidency status. Devious, back-stabbing and utterly addictive, you’ll be hooked from the first episode.

Six seasons

Peaky Blinders

Slick, smart and grotesquely violent, Peaky Blinders is a powerful drama about a depraved Birmingham gang in the 1920s. The spectacularly talented Cillian Murphy – who is rather easy on the eye – plays Thomas Shelby, the hypnotic Peaky Blinders’ gang leader, who uses any means necessary to build his criminal empire. But there’s a hint of innocence to the ruthless gangster that you’ll fall for the minute you start watching. 

Five seasons

Utopia

Australia’s answer to The Office is set in the fictional Nation Building Authority, a bumbling government department tasked with building our country’s major infrastructure. Some of our finest comedic talents including Rob Sitch, Celia Pacquola, Kitty Flanagan and Dilruk Jayasinha play beleaguered civil servants whose grand visions are often stalled by bureaucratic blunders.

Four seasons

Dead to Me

Starring Christina Applegate and Linda Caredellini, this darkly humorous comedy is about two women thrown together in the face of grief. Having lost her husband in a tragic hit-and-run accident, Jen, a sardonic widow is left grieving, yet determined to solve the crime. Her efforts are thwarted however, when she meets a free-spirited, slightly kooky Judy, at a bereavement support group, and the two become unlikely friends. But their friendship quickly takes a sinister turn, as a dark secret attempts to come between them. 

Two seasons

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Follow the mishaps and minor successes of brilliant but immature detective Jake Peralta, played by SNL Alum Andy Samberg,  and his ragtag Brooklyn detective squad, as they bag baddies and cause trouble of their own.

Seven seasons

Derry Girls

Derry Girls is a quirky British sitcom about the trials and tribulations of a group of high school-aged girls (and one guy) living in 1990's Northern Island. Expect mischief, teenage angst and very thick accents.

Two seasons

Flowers

Mighty Boosh and Peep Show fans, prepare to rejoice. Julian Barratt and Oscar-winning Olivia Coleman combine forces – believe us, this comedic coupling is a force to be reckoned with – in this delightfully humorous, dark British comedy that follows a depressed children’s author and his eccentric, dysfunctional family. 

Touching on mental health, trauma, marriage and relationships, this unique series deals with the bittersweet (and often painful) reality of life in all its complexities, yet with a touching sense of humour that’s unwaveringly honest, uncomfortably funny and wonderfully surreal. 

Two seasons

Kath & Kim

Brilliantly funny, this satirical Aussie comedy follows mother and daughter duo Kath and Kim, a.k.a. the foxy ladies of Fountain Lake. While Kath gets the preparations underway for her wedding to Kel Knight, purveyor of fine meats, her vapid daughter Kim moves home and throws a giant spanner in the works. A guaranteed laugh-a-minute with plenty of ill-fitting lycra and shell suit faux pas to keep you entertained. Just be sure to re-stock the chardonnay. 

Six seasons

After Life

A witty and earnest depiction of life, love and death, Ricky Gervais’ poignant comedy tells the tale of Tony Johnston, a cynical journalist struggling to come to terms with his wife Lisa’s untimely death. In the wake of her passing, Tony decides his life isn’t worth living without her. But after a failed suicide attempt, he decides, instead, to punish the world around him by saying and doing whatever he wants. 

But despite his rather humorous attempts to insult everyone he comes into contact with, his friends, family (and even a few strangers on the street), he discovers the world isn’t as cruel as he once thought, and discovers glimmers of hope in the light of his heartbreak. Heartfelt yet incredibly funny, After Life will have you in hysterics and then sobbing, in complete succession. 

Two seasons

Sex Education

Sex Education tells the story of Otis, an insecure and socially awkward 16-year-old boy whose mum (played by Gillian Anderson) is a sex therapist. Despite lacking somewhat in the bedroom department, he’s been given all the advice under the sun. And so, using his skills to his advantage, he teams up with high school bad girl, Maeve Wiley, to offer sex advice to the kids at his school. 

Two seasons

Love

Judd Apatow’s quirky and brutally honest rom-com about the ups and downs of modern relationships. In Love, Gus and Mickey are thrown together in an unlikely coupling – Gus is a sweet, geeky guy who has just been cheated on by his long-term girlfriend, and Mickey is a self-destructive, recovering alcoholic/drug enthusiast, who seems to destroy everything and everyone around her. 

They’re in no way suited to each other, yet somehow, they are, and the series unfolds with a comical set of mishaps that in the end helps them figure out just what love is. Addictively infuriating, and hysterically amusing, Love will reaffirm any doubts you had about relationships, and leave you giddy. 

Three seasons

Cuckoo

This utterly bonkers, offbeat British comedy kicks off with Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Andy Samberg, who plays Cuckoo, a moronic hippie who winds up in a small suburban English town with his new wife, Rachel and her entire family. But Rachel’s parents (Greg Davies and Helen Baxendale) are less than impressed to learn that their daughter has jacked in her university plans to play Cuckoo’s doting wife. 

Each hare-brained series quite literally has a mind of its own, with plenty of ludicrous plot twists and bold character changes – just wait for Taylor Lautner in season two – to keep you belly-laughing and begging for more. 

Five seasons

Knocked over the best TV shows on Netflix and looking for more ways to pass the time at home? Try your hand at these creative Pinterest DIY projects, challenge a mate to these fun online games, or simply kick back with more binge-worthy TV shows and addictive podcasts.