I subscribe to every streaming service under the sun, but I’ve been a member of Netflix the longest. That means I’ve watched many of its shows. Unsurprisingly, not all of them are good, but I’m happy to dish out three recommendations that are actually worth your time.
All of these shows have finished, which means you can binge through their seasons to your heart’s content without having to wait for the next episode to drop.
3
GLOW
GLOW is set in the 1980s, telling a fictionalized story about the women belonging to the real-life Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, an LA-based group. Alison Brie stars as Ruth Wilder, an actress who auditions to be a wrestler because she needs the money rather than any passion for the project. Despite clashing with GLOW’s director Sam Sylvia (Marc Maron) and feeling frustrated that her former best friend has joined the show, Ruth commits to the job.
This is professional wrestling, meaning entertainment is the name of the game—think colorful personas, theatrical performances, and all the glamour you’d expect from the era. The show plays into this wonderfully (with some great costumes), but it doesn’t matter if you don’t care about wrestling because the characters are the draw. It’s a joy to see their professional confidence grow, but the interpersonal drama is equally engaging.
GLOW lasted for three seasons. Production on a fourth season was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Netflix later canceled the series entirely. Despite that, the show remains one of Netflix’s best older originals, and I recommend it without hesitation.
2
A Series of Unfortunate Events
A Series of Unfortunate Events is a faithful adaptation of the thirteen-book series by author Lemony Snicket. The Baudelaire children, Violet (Malina Weissman), Klaus (Louis Hynes), and baby Sunny (Presley Smith), find themselves orphaned after the mysterious death of their parents. The dastardly Count Olaf (Neil Patrick Harris) dons ridiculous disguises and pursues the trio as they move between unusual homes populated with eccentric people, with the aim of stealing their large inheritance.
It’s a morbid premise, but this isn’t a depressing show. Rather, it leans more darkly comedic, set in a world full of inept adults; the Baudelaires are always the smartest people in the room, combining their talents (inventing, reading, and biting) to escape the mad scenarios they find themselves in. That world is rendered fantastically, with some wonderfully detailed gothic-inspired sets and costumes. Everything feels slightly off-kilter, which suits the heightened, storybook nature perfectly.
Each book (except the last) is given two episodes, which means there is plenty of time for the story and characters to breathe. The show gets more intriguing as it progresses, diving deeper into the mythology and peeling back the layers on the mysterious V.F.D. organization that crops up throughout. This contrasts with the 2004 film, which crams the first three books together and stars Jim Carrey as Count Olaf. It’s a decent watch, but Carrey is doing his usual schtick, whereas Harris gives the villain a more menacing presence, which works better.
1
Lost in Space
Lost in Space is one of those Netflix shows that I feel isn’t as well-known as it should be. I often recommend it as an excellent sci-fi, but people initially assume I’m talking about the original 1965 series of the same name. The 2018 Netflix reimagining must have performed reasonably well, since it lasted for three seasons and the streamer is notoriously speedy at canceling shows, but it wasn’t a cultural hit despite decent reviews and many award nominations.
Set in 2046, with Earth no longer suitable for long-term habitation, the show revolves around the Robinson family, who are space colonists. On the way to the Alpha Centauri planetary system, their ship is attacked, causing them to crash-land on an unfamiliar planet. It’s a gripping opening, and things get more interesting from there as the family battles for survival, facing many dangers.
I was drawn to Lost in Space not only because I like sci-fi, but also because it stars Toby Stephens as the Robinson family father, whose performance as a pirate in Starz’s Black Sails I adored. He’s great, and so are the other cast members, including Molly Parker, Maxwell Jenkins, and Taylor Russell. The show isn’t as groundbreaking as other shows in the genre, but I think it looks good, and there is enough action, drama, and humor to satisfy all ages.
If you’re not currently signed up to Netflix and are wondering whether a subscription is worth the cost, these three series make a strong case, even if it’s just for a month. They’re also all produced by Netflix, so you won’t find them anywhere else.
- Subscription with ads
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Yes, $8/month
- Simultaneous streams
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Two or four
Stream all of these brilliant shows, along with plenty more licensed and original programming, with a monthly Netflix subscription.