15 Favorite Netflix Original Series — Ranked!

Netflix has been around since 1997, starting as a “mail-order” movie service. But 11 years ago, a new era was ushered in with the creation of long-form content, both TV programs and films produced by companies like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

In 2023, Netflix celebrated 10 years of original content. In the US alone, out of the 6,621 titles, the total number of Netflix Originals is 3,657. This includes films, TV Shows, Miniseries, and stand-up specials.

To celebrate such an incredible milestone, we’re honoring some of our favorite Netflix original series, with a focus on the ones that offered lighthearted comfort and representation.

Here are 15 Favorite Netflix Original Series — Ranked! 

15. Stranger Things

If you took characters from Stand By Me and The Goonies and Stephen King’s It, you would get Stranger Things. After all, it’s a nostalgic TV show that loves breaking the audience’s hearts.

We still haven’t forgiven the Duffer Brothers for what they did to Bob in Season Two! So cruel! He was the only person who was in the right headspace of saying, “Oh, this is not a good place we need to get out of here!”

This show has had some fun adventures, way too many to list here. However, the character development of Joe Keery’s Steve Harrington from the jerk to den mother is the best of the entire series!

Though the wait between seasons can sometimes get a bit long (hello, we are almost 10 years in and still waiting for Season 5), this show makes it worth it.

14. I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson

I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson is an incredible example of how to take sketch comedy and create a piece of gold. This show is a gold mine of good humor, with many meme-able moments.

Plus, the lack of a laugh track helps to increase the discomfort for some of the sketches where uncomfortable laughter would be on a laugh track show.

There are various types of comedy, but Tim Robinson–who only got a few moments to shine as a featured player on Saturday Night Live–is a chaotic comedy genius. With the Lonely Island producing this show, we have a great opportunity to see the weird comedy style of people like Tim Robinson, Patti Harrison, and Sam Richardson! Some of the best moments from this show are from sketches not even featuring Robinson!

13. Feel Good

From the incredible Mae Martin, Feel Good is about a comic who is sober and navigating life in a new city while U-Hauling with their girlfriend. It is a must-watch due to the portrayal of mental illness and mania along with recovery.

Mae talks about how most of the NA members have different addictions that would seem like compulsions to anyone else. But to an addict, it is the transfer addiction of giving up alcohol and replacing it with something new, and therefore, just repeating a process.

The cinematography shows a physical change in the environment every time Mae gets triggered. They tense up, and the light above (usually fluorescent lights) starts to flicker, and the music gets all serious.

Then they do the impulsive thing that they shouldn’t have and go back to just being chill. It’s brilliant.

12. Heartstopper

Heartstopper is a touching exploration of contemporary issues faced by today’s youth, emphasizing the theme of discovering one’s chosen family while navigating the challenges of familial rejection.

The series portrays the evolution of relationships, notably Elle and Tao’s journey from the complexities of friendship to a genuine teenage romance. The narrative skillfully avoids sensationalizing Elle’s trans identity, offering a refreshing perspective on positive queer representation.

Heartstopper stands out as a beacon of support for queer and trans individuals during a time when such representation is crucial.

11. One Day at a Time

One Day at a Time – which is a Latin spin on his original series with Bonnie Franklin, Mackenzie Phillips, and Valerie Burtinelli–is a fresh take on the original! It is incredible how Norman Lear wrote his way into America’s heart!

What Lear did is simply unheard of with any other showrunner! The way he pushed for diversity in his TV shows! He was a pioneer.

The stories that the characters go through are so real. Elena coming out to her dad and then being stood up by him at her Quinceanera, while sad, is something that happens today.

The whole issue of feeling stigma around Penelope asking for support because of the reality that mental health is not a discussion in Latin households is very indicative of the time.

Unfortunately, because the last season was aired on Pop TV, it is lost to the ether, as the episodes are not on Paramount+. 

10. Pretend It’s a City

Pretend It’s a City is a cultural limited series centered on New York through the eyes of Fran Lebowitz. She was known by everyone in the arts and culture world, but this show catapulted her into the spotlight at the peak of pandemic madness.

The way she can tear a young person down by just reading them for filth is so transcending. She became a household name and maybe even a Queer Icon.

This docuseries is the product of a partnership and friendship that Lebowitz has with Director Martin Scorcese. He directed her first film Public Speaking.

This series has the jaded cynicism of a person who has seen too much and is just fed up but also has such an earnest love for the city itself. Fran’s “Angry Old Lady” bit is the charm of the show. Her stories of going to clubs in the 70s to watch bands like The New York Dolls play or just riding the subway have such a way of drawing you in.

9. The Andy Warhol Diaries

Ryan Murphy has a hit on his hands with a docuseries that not only creates an artificial intelligence version of Andy’s voice – that sounds almost exactly like the original – but also shows Warhol at his worst and best. It is the perfect docu-series for those who are into queer history. 

Taken from his actual diaries, The Andy Warhol Diaries follows the career of the enigmatic artist. The one thing that captures our attention the most is that it has Warhol experts, including some of his friends.

One of the themes that constantly recurs in this series is the story of a love that only a few knew about, with a man named Jon Gould. Gould was one man who convinced Warhol to settle down, and the love Andy had for him was described by close friend Wilfredo Rosado as “goo-goo eyes” in love.

This series also discusses Warhol’s relationship with sex and how he was not asexual but “very close to it.” For 2022, when this came out, that made sense because of the lack of words to describe Ace folks back then.

8. The Get Down

The Get Down, an origin story of the birth of Hip-Hop and the rise of Grand Master Flash is created by the one and only Baz Luhrmann. Yes that Baz Luhrmann. This show came out in 2016 and stars Justice Smith, Jaden Smith(not related), and Shameik Moore.

It has some of the best scenes that represent NYC in the late 70s and early 80s with such beautiful stylistic cinematography. Although the show only lasted 2 seasons and was canceled unceremoniously, the show had a good rise, and the story holds up as a piece of historical media.

Before this came out, there was no Hip-Hop backstory that had been released yet. If there was, it usually existed as a documentary.

The Get Down was groundbreaking for the time and some could say, a long time coming. This ushered in a whole host of docudrama/biopic series, including Wu-Tang: An American Saga, which was shot on location in Staten Island, NY, the home of the Wu-Tang clan.

7. Space Force

The comeback of Greg Daniels after 8 years away from the showrunner chair, Space Force, is so much fun. Steve Carrell gives all of himself to playing the doting dad. The character is so sympathetic that you realize he’s just basically playing an older version of Michael Scott!

This show is charming in that it has a wholesome tone to it. It is a satire making fun of Trump, but because the show doesn’t want to get sued for using the president’s name, Daniels did a thing where he had everyone call the president POTUS. 

Steve Carell can work off of anyone because he’s an improv guy; that’s what he does. His chemistry with John Malkovich is so electric! It’s like they know what buttons to push to make their relationship seem like they’ve known each other for years!

6. Orange is the New Black

Orange is the New Black is based on a true story, and it opened people’s eyes to what goes on in prison. As the first in the Netflix family, this series was groundbreaking for centering non-white characters and making sure that they weren’t relegated to side characters.

It was so incredible how the show not only dealt with Corrections Officer brutality but also how the prison reacted to the death of one of their own. A death that sets in motion a series of events that shape the futures of all the inmates in the show.

This show is also the introduction of a humanized transgender character, Sophia Burset, portrayed by the incomparable Laverne Cox. Until that point, mainstream television had not seen an accurate or even respectful transgender representation. Cox’s star rose after her role in Orange is the New Black.

The way the show treats Sophia is very much like just one of the girls. It’s something that has kept this show on lists talking about the best LGBTQ+ representation for years.

5. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT

In 2014, the creators of 30 Rock launched Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, a campy TV series. Ellie Kemper, known from The Office, stars as Kimmy, a woman rediscovering life after being freed from a bunker after 30 years.

Teaming up with her quirky roommate Tituss Andromedon, the show adds humor to the serious theme of post-kidnapping recovery. It also cleverly blends satire with tabloid tales from the 90s and early 2000s.

Kimmy strives to shed the “mole woman” label and faces humorous situations, like being told she has “scream lines” by a plastic surgeon. The show addresses trauma with a touch of comedy, such as Kimmy having “trauma burps,” and when she tries to investigate the situation, she ends up blacking out and coming-to, on the Cyclone in Coney Island! 

Jane Krakowski’s portrayal of an oblivious, wealthy Lakota woman, who dresses as a white woman, adds another layer of humor, reminiscent of her character Jenna from 30 Rock. As a fun tidbit, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt shares its universe with Orange Is the New Black.

4. Dash & Lily

DASH AND LILY (L to R) DANTE BROWN as BOOMER and AUSTIN ABRAMS as DASH in episode 102 of DASH AND LILY Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX/NETFLIX © 2020

Dash & Lily is often overlooked as a Netflix series because of its existence as a holiday limited series. It is, however, a cozy watch. Set in the biggest indie bookstore in NYC, The Strand, Dash finds this book from a girl who is looking to play a game with a boy whom she may want to have a thing with.

Her name is Lily, and she considers Dash snarly. He and Lily are complete opposites, but Lily’s infectious Christmas cheer rubs off on Dash, and they teach each other to go outside their comfort zone. 

It’s best to watch during the holidays when you’re feeling in the spirit. Dash has a negative personality that causes him to hate Christmas because of trauma from childhood, and because of the book of dares, he begins to believe whilst falling in love with a cool chick!

3. Sex Education

Sex Education Season 3. Connor Swindells as Adam Groff, Ncuti Gatwa as Eric Effiong, Asa Butterfield as Otis Milburn in Episode 6 of Sex Education Season 3. Cr. Sam Taylor/NETFLIX © 2020

This groundbreaking show, Sex Education, challenges societal norms by casting adult actors as teenagers to delve into the pervasive influence of sex in today’s culture. It distinguishes itself from the explicitness of shows like Euphoria by making history with a respectful portrayal of the first trans-for-trans (T4T) sex scene in Season 4.

Initially grappling with trans representation, the series evolves by incorporating non-binary characters and placing a crucial emphasis on trans narratives in its later seasons. The addition of trans and queer people of color to the cast amplifies diverse voices, allowing Eric(Ncuti Gatwa), a gay, black, gender-nonconforming character, to shine in exploring themes of sexuality and spirituality.

Addressing real-world challenges, Sex Education sheds light on the struggles faced by those in environments with available but inaccessible trans healthcare, depicting the vulnerability of individuals with severe mental distress. In essence, the show serves as a poignant love letter to the queer community.

2. Tales of the City

Tales of the City is nostalgia meets fanfiction. Merging the cast of the original PBS/Showtime miniseries with a whole new younger cast was a great choice.

The showrunners fixed a classic casting mistake of casting a cisgender actress to play Mrs. Madrigal by casting trans actress and activist Jen Richards to be the younger portrayal of Mrs. Madrigal, and the Oscar winner Daniela Vega as Ysela who is one of the girls who becomes friends with Anna when she moves to San Francisco.

In this story, which is independent of the source material, gentrification is treated as a weapon against the tenants of 28 Barbary Lane. It sends a big screw you to the powers-that-be, that “you may take away our spaces, but you’ll never stamp out our pride.”

The story of this show both talks about the queer issues of today as well as celebrates the beauty of the universe that Armistead Maupin created almost 50 years ago. 

1. BoJack Horseman

BoJack Horseman stars Will Arnett as an anthropomorphic horse with all kinds of mental issues. He’s a washed-up actor living off of the residuals of the sitcom he worked on in the 90s, a la Full House.

The reason why we placed this show in the top spot is for its raw honesty.

Adult cartoons are usually around to make you laugh and have those moments that just break you. This one, however, actively explores the philosophy of Camus and Sartre and asks the questions, “Why are we really here?” and “What does it mean to be good?”

Spoiler Alert: BoJack isn’t good, and this show gives him the chance to redeem himself, unfortunately, it doesn’t work. The show does a great job of telling people to take accountability for the messed-up things they do.

We’ll leave you with a quote from the character Todd Chavez (Aaron Paul) that sums up the lesson of the show perfectly,

Todd Chavez: You can’t keep doing this! You can’t keep doing shitty things and then feel bad about yourself as if that makes it okay! You need to be better!

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So, did our favorites make your list? Tell us in the comments below!

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