Amazing news, TV lovers of the world: Since we first published this story in 2013, there have been leaps and bounds in the number of streaming platforms offering hours upon hours of programming to binge-watch whenever the mood strikes. In the interest of equal opportunity, we’ve decided to broaden the scope of this slideshow to look beyond the options available on Netflix Instant. There’s a whole wide world of streaming options out there and you deserve to know everything that’s available. Consider this the one-stop menu we'll be updating every week for your continued viewing pleasure.
We've been there. You've exhausted your Netflix queue, flipped through your entire spectrum of TV channels (twice), and seen every season of 30 Rock. It's tough, but don't despair. There's still uncharted territory out there! In fact, there's oodles of fun to be had from the comfort of your laptop this weekend. You just have to know what to look for.
These are our favorite finds on Netflix Instant Watch. Never heard of 'em? Good! Heard the word, but haven't gotten around to it yet? Now's the time.
Love romantic comedies?
Each of the episodes in Netflix's original original series Easy, is like a quirky miniature rom-com. Guest stars include the likes of Malin Åkerman, Orlando Bloom, and Dave Franco exploring everything from unplanned pregnancies to threesomes, breakups, and using Tinder to find a teacher for your child. (Ha!) And because this is an anthology series, each episode focuses on a different couple, making it perfect for the viewer looking for an enjoyable show with minimal commitment.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.
Love Jessica Jones ?
Marvel's latest comic book-based series, Luke Cage, stars Mike Colter as a regular human who ends up with super strength and capabilities after an experiment gone awry. Binge watch the Harlem-set series to see how Cage uses his new powers to fight the bad guys — and we're not just talking about superhuman villains.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.
Love comic-book movies and shows?
Then Gotham is for you. The Fox series revolves around the characters created in DC Comics' Batman, specifically Bruce Wayne, of course, and police commissioner James Gordon. But you can also expect special appearances by everyone from Catwoman to the Penguin, Poison Ivy, and Two-Face.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of FOX.
Love Twin Peaks ?
Sci-fi lovers, this one's for you. Netflix's hit series Stranger Things has captivated audiences with its tale of Joyce Byers, the mother of a little boy who goes missing from a small Indiana town in 1983. There are government conspiracy theory cover-ups, supernatural occurrences, and some really cute kids. So '80s.
Available on Netflix.
Love family dramas?
In Shameless, a gaggle of Gallaghers — that would be, the Gallagher family — are figuring out how to make it in life, despite their alcoholic father. And trust us, William H. Macy and Emmy Rossum's characters alone will keep you hooked. Seasons 1-6 are up now; happy bingeing.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Showtime.
Love Downton Abbey ?
The U.K. already took on a family tale centered on three daughters of marrying age during times of war. Now it's Germany's turn with Ku'damm 56, a new series hitting America via Netflix, set at the family's strict dance school. But of course, just like Lady Sybil in Downton, one of the daughters rebels. Binge with subtitles and enjoy.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: ZDF Enterprises.
Love fairy tales?
If magic, whimsy, and a contemporary spin on the fables you grew up loving sound like the makings of a great TV show, Once Upon a Time will keep you hooked. The fifth season of the ABC drama is now on Netflix; prepare to get acquainted with Snow White, Prince Charming, and the rest of their squad.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of ABC.
Love Ballers ?
If you love all things football — or even just the behind-the-scenes, off-the-field drama — then you'll easily become addicted to Netflix's docuseries Last Chance U, which follows NFL-bound college players from East Mississippi Community College. You'll get to know the men underneath the helmets and see firsthand the blood, sweat, and dedication it takes to succeed in the world of football.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.
Love Empire ?
Odds are fans of the Fox drama — and music-lovers in general — will enjoy the much-buzzed-about original series The Get Down. Baz Luhrmann's Bronx tale is set in the late-1970s and glamorously weaves together the coming-of-age stories of teenage love, New York history, and the rise of hip-hop. The show is perfect for binge-watching. Believe us, we know. Bonus: The soundtrack is just as dope as the show itself.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.
Love reality TV spoofs?
Season 4 of BET's The Real Husbands of Hollywood hits Netflix this week. Kevin Hart's hilarious series trolls The Real Housewives franchise from a celebrity male perspective, starring everyone from Nick Cannon to Nelly. We promise you, it's worth watching just for the laughs. Seasons 1-3 are already on Netflix, so get to bingeing just in time for the new one.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of BET.
Love Robin Williams?
Of course you do. You are a human. And that’s why you might enjoy Mork & Mindy. In this weird-as-hell sitcom, Williams plays Mork, an alien hailing from the planet Ork. And then he befriends Mindy, who becomes his roommate. An alien and a terrestrial in the same apartment? Hilarity probably ensues.
Available on Hulu.
Photo: SNAP/REX/Shutterstock.
Love voyeuristic shows about New York City ?
Then it’s time to watch Gossip Girl. In fact, even if you already experienced this show in real time, you should re-watch it. It’s a guilty-pleasure dramatic view of how Manhattan’s elite live — fictionally, anyway. The show centers around Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) and Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester). They’re the cream of the crop at the fancy Upper East Side high school, which is basically a political landscape none of us could even begin to comprehend. Drama! Fashion! Get into it.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Photofest.
Love John Krasinski?
Then you must experience him in his landmark role as Jim Halpert in The Office. Yes, technically Michael Scott (Steve Carell) is the main character, but you’ll see very quickly that the most addictive story line is the will-they-won’t-they between Jim and Pam (Jenna Fischer). It only helps that the show is hilarious.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Photofest.
Love Parks and Rec?
Then Veep is for you. Julia Louis-Dreyfus stars as Selina Meyer, the vice president who inevitably becomes president. She and her team hilariously make their way through the political landscape, while trying to do actual good work and leave their mark as an administration that made a difference. Kind of like if Leslie Knope made it to the White House.
Available on HBO Go.
Photo: Lacey Terrell/ Courtesy of HBO.
Love high school dramas?
Then it's time to get into Friday Night Lights. Let me tell you something about Dillon, Texas. It’s the home of the top football team in the state, and also home to some real soap-opera crap. You would think that when you combine those two things, you get a terrible show. But it actually works, here. You will fall in love with Tim Riggins (Kitsch). You will wish Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) was your dad. You will wish Tami Taylor (Connie Britton) was your best friend.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Photofest.
Love a badass heroine?
Then Buffy the Vampire Slayer is for you. Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is a teenage vampire slayer, but she also is in love with a vampire. It's all very strange, but Joss Whedon delivers an incredibly satisfactory show around that otherwise ridiculous plot.
Available on Hulu.
Photo: Getty Images.
Love waiting until the buzz dies down to watch a great TV show?
Then it’s time you committed to Breaking Bad. The hype is real, but it is justified. Walter White (Bryan Cranston) is a high school chemistry teacher who, diagnosed with cancer, must figure out a way to leave his family with enough money to survive when he dies. So, naturally, he starts making the best meth New Mexico’s ever seen.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Doug Hyun/AMC.
Love openly weeping on your couch?
Then Six Feet Under is for you. The Fisher family runs a funeral home in California. But when the patriarch dies unexpectedly in a car crash, they’re thrown into handling the family business — along with all of their pre-existing personal baggage. It’s five seasons of solid television, and the finale is bound to destroy you.
Available on HBO Now.
Photo: Courtesy of HBO.
Love witty banter and Benedict Cumberbatch?
Then you’re gonna freaking love Sherlock. Benedict Cumberbatch plays the modern-day Sherlock opposite Martin Freeman as Watson. Their chemistry — and comedy — is downright delightful. Don’t get put off by the hour-and-a-half length of each episode, either. This show’s so entertaining it’ll fly right by.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.
Love Making A Murderer?
Then Five Days is for you. In this BBC mini series, a young mother and her children go missing. The show wastes no time, taking us right to the police investigation. It’s the perfect amount of length, too, so you won’t find yourself in the shame spiral of a 15-episode binge.
Available on Amazon Instant Video.
Photo: Courtesy of BBC.
Love hilarious looks at everyday life?
Well, that’s pretty much Louis C.K.’s brand of comedy. Maybe that’s why his series, Louie, feels like such a natural fit for him. The scripted series focuses on the trials and tribulations of the comedian’s day-to-day existence, but with the smart brand of commentary we’ve come to expect from him.
Available on Amazon Instant Video.
Photo: Courtesy of FX.
Love The Americans?
Stay with us here: Imagine if the Axis powers (Nazi Germany, Italy, and Japan) had won World War II. That’s the scenario in The Man in the High Castle, Amazon’s adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s 1962 novel. The show is set in a dystopian version of the United States where the country has been divided into the Pacific States of America, a Japanese puppet state on the West Coast, the Greater Nazi Reich, a German puppet state that takes up the majority of the country through the midwest, and the Rocky Mountain States, which act as a neutral zone between the two.
Available on Amazon Instant Video.
Photo: Courtesy of Amazon.
Love The Mindy Project?
Just like T.M.P., Catastrophe flips the script on traditional romantic comedies by upending all the usual contrivances. They have sex immediately. She (Sharon Horgan) gets pregnant. They live on two separate continents and decide to give it a go. The humor is blunt and British. In other words, if you’re tired of boring rom-coms, this is the show for you.
Available on Amazon Instant Video.
Photo: Courtesy of Amazon Studios.
Love Downton Abbey?
If you love a good Masterpiece production (that might have some quality eye candy), journey to Cornwall shortly after the American revolution to find out how the Brits fared after they lost the war for the colonies. Poldark is the story of Ross Poldark, who returns home from fighting in the revolution to find that his father has died, leaving Ross penniless.
Available on Amazon Instant Video.
Photo: Courtesy of PBS/BBC/Mammoth Screen.
Love Homeland?
You really owe it to yourself to binge-watch all of FX’s The Americans. The tense, slow-burn series follows two Soviet spies (Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys) deep undercover in the United States during the Cold War in the 1980s.
Available on Amazon Instant Video.
Photo: Courtesy of FX.
Love Grace and Frankie?
Turn to another show about late-in-life personal discoveries that lead to larger familial repercussions: Transparent. As Maura Pfefferman (Jeffrey Tambor) — formerly Mort — transitions, tumultuous issues that had previously bubbled beneath the surface in her children’s lives also come to light.
Available on Amazon Instant Video.
Photo: Courtesy of Amazon Studios.
Love sci-fi and amazing acting?
If you aren’t on the Orphan Black train yet, you absolutely need to climb aboard. In the opening scene, a woman named Sarah watches someone who looks exactly like her commit suicide by jumping in front of a train. From there, things only get more involved. Sarah learns that she’s one of more than 10 clones (and counting) developed by a top-secret genetic engineering project. She also learns ther life is in peril, as is that of her daughter Kira. Tatiana Maslany stars as every single one of the clones. She’s amazing.
Available on Amazon Instant Video.
Photo: Courtesy of BBC America.
Love Big Love?
And investigations into fringe movements whose beliefs don’t quite match those of mainstream society? Watch Hulu’s The Path. Aaron Paul (of Breaking Bad fame) makes his return to TV — well, streaming — in this drama about a creepy movement called Meyerism. It started out with good intentions, but it’s become a cult. Many viewers and critics questioned whether creator Jessica Goldberg based the Meyerist movement on Scientology, but that’s something you’ll have to decide for yourself as you watch. There are some very eerie similarities, we’ll tell you that much.
Available on Hulu.
Photo: Courtesy of Hulu.
Love Skins?
Are ne’er-do-well British teens who just DGAF and look effortlessly cool while doing so your jam? Then why not add a dash of superhuman abilities into the mix? On Misfits, a group of teens doing court-mandated community service are struck by lightning during a freak storm. Afterward, they discover that the storm gave them all different superpowers.
This isn’t your typical sci-fi show, though. We’re still dealing with cheeky teens who really just want to rub their parts together, but now there's an additional element of intrigue because the superpowered group needs to hide their abilities — and the fact that they accidentally murdered their probation officer. And yes, that is Iwan Rheon, who plays the villainous Ramsay Bolton on Game of Thrones, on the right. You’ll fall in love with him on Misfits, and then be very confused by your feelings for him the next time you watch GoT.
Available on Hulu.
Photo: Courtesy of E4.
Love Billy on the Street?
If you can’t get enough of Billy Eichner’s sassy, in-your-face humor, it behooves you to watch Difficult People. It’s a perfect blend of Curb Your Enthusiasm and Will & Grace.
Available on Hulu.
Photo: Courtesy of Hulu.
Love Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt?
You, Me and the Apocalypse is a sardonically dark and funny look at what happens to the people of Earth when they learn they have only 33 days left to live. It’s even got Rob Lowe as a Catholic priest tasked with discerning which people claiming to be the second coming of Christ are the real deal.
Available on Hulu.
Photo: Nick Briggs/WTTV Productions Limited.
Love New Girl?
The blink-and-you-missed it marvel Happy Endings is finally (finally!) on Hulu — and it is a gosh-darn delight. Prepare to meet a group of friends with even better inside jokes than the gang on How I Met Your Mother, better chemistry than the Friends, and more bodily function discussions than Abbi and Ilana on Broad City.
Available on Hulu.
Photo: Courtesy of ABC.
Love Glee?
Well, the first few seasons. If you’ve been missing a show with diegetic musical interludes, you need to be watching Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. This series one-ups Glee, though, because all of the songs are original and Rebecca Bunch’s (Rachel Bloom) life is much more grown-up and relatable than those of the high-schoolers in Glee.
Available on Hulu.
Photo: Courtesy of Scott Everett White/The CW.
Love The Bachelor?
But ready to see it’s way-too-earnest peddling of unironic romantic journeys parodied to the hilt? Burning Love is the satire for you.
Available on Hulu.
Photo: Courtesy of Red Hour Productions.
Love Curb Your Enthusiasm?
If you thrive on seeing incredibly awkward human interactions, cue up Nathan for You. Comedian Nathan Fielder adopts the persona of a rube who just wants to help failing small businesses — and the outcomes are so uncomfortable you’ll actually squirm in your seat.
Available on Hulu.
Photo: Courtesy of Comedy Central.
Love The Office?
Fans of the mockumentary-style comedy will definitely enjoy Parks and Rec, which follows the lives and times of a local parks department. Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) is kind of like the Michael Scott here, though more adept by leaps and bounds. Come for the jokes, stay for the cast of incredible weird characters.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.
Love anthologies?
Then you’ll probably enjoy The Twilight Zone. You’re likely familiar with Rod Serling’s more timeless tales. (Think: William Shatner shouting that there’s something on the wing of a plane.) But there are so many episodes worthy of your attention, each more interesting and chilling than the last.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images.
Love House?
Nurse Jackie is for you. Edie Falco plays Jackie, a no-nonsense nurse who’s hiding a painkiller addiction. Her life begins to slowly spiral out of control. At moments, it’s hard to watch her make such terrible decisions. But you’ll want to stick with it for her sassy hospital friends and her babe of a husband (Dominic Fumusa).
Available on Netflix.
Photo: David M. Russell/SHOWTIME
Love Boy Meets World?
Of course you do. That’s why 3rd Rock from the Sun is right up your alley. This '90s sitcom features Saturday Night Live alum Jane Curtin, John Lithgow, and yes, a baby-faced Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The show centers on an extraterrestrial family visiting Earth to learn about human behavior. If you loved the fish-out-of-water feeling from Boy Meets World, then you’ll be delighted by the utterly strange cast of characters in this one. Did we mention JGL is in it? Just wanna make sure you got that part.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Alan Levenson/NBC/Getty Images.
Love old-school cartoons from your childhood?
Guess what’s on Netflix? Animaniacs! That’s right; those zany-to-the-max creatures and their joyous antics are finally available to stream on the 'flix. Unfortunately, you may no longer be able to watch them during those prime after-school hours on weekdays like you used to (due to a little annoyance called work). Oh well; that's what weekends are for when you're an adult: watching cartoons.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Love Better Off Ted?
If you can’t stand corporate doublespeak, buzzwords, and meetings that go absolutely nowhere (or in complete circles), watch W1A. This brilliant mockumentary follows Ian Fletcher (Hugh Bonneville), the BBC’s new Head of Values — yes, a completely bullshit position — as he tries to sort out the institutional jeremiads plaguing the U.K.’s most important broadcast company.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of the BBC.
Love Comedy Bang! Bang!?
If you love watching comedians showcasing their weirdest, wackiest, most creative characters, Netflix Presents: The Characters is right up your alley. In each 30-minute episode (there are eight in total), one up-and-coming comedian writes and stars in a series of sketches straight from his or her witty, clever imagination. Some notable comedians who are already on your radar include Lauren Lapkus ( Orange Is the New Black) and Paul W. Downs ( Broad City).
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.
Love Taylor Lautner?
And wondering what he’s been up to lately? Why, ol’ T. Lauts has been across the pond starring in the Britcom Cuckoo. He took the reins from Andy Samberg during season 2 of the show after Samberg was forced to step aside due to scheduling commitments to Brooklyn 99. On Cuckoo, Lautner gets the chance to demonstrate his comedy chops. Seasons 1 and 2 are available on Netflix, so you get a chance to watch both Samberg and Lautner play off of one of Britain’s current funniest actor/comedians, Greg Davies.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of BBC/Rough Cut.
Love You’re the Worst?
There’s been a shifting tide in television over the past few years wherein shows like The Mindy Project, Catastrophe, and You’re the Worst are more than undoing the cloying, completely unrealistic romantic comedies that came out in spades in the early aughts. Netflix’s Love is the latest entry in this canon. The show follows nice, nerdy Gus (Paul Rust) and cool girl Mickey (Gillian Jacobs) as they try to find love in Los Angeles.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.
Love Girlfriends?
You need to watch Being Mary Jane: The Series. Gabrielle Union plays Mary Jane Paul, the host of a successful talk show who’s also trying to support her extended family and find love at the same time. Her life is a whirlwind, her clothes are unreal, and the show is addictive AF.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Daniel McFadden/BET.
Love House Hunters?
But can’t stand the commercials you always end up watching during the H.H. and H.H. International marathons that always seem to suck you in on lazy Sundays? Sure, you could plan ahead and keep a few episodes stored on your DVR for whenever the mood for some shelter porn strikes, but that just sounds like something that would never happen.
Well, guess what? Our good friend Netflix has House Hunters, House Hunters International, and House Hunters Renovation collections at the ready for you to watch whenever you so please. Now, if only the couples where he wants to live in a one-story ranch located far away from the city, but she wants to be right in the heart of downtown could agree as easily as you will on what to watch tonight.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of HGTV.
Love Chelsea Lately?
If you’ve been missing Chelsea Handler’s signature brand of undercutting sass and refusal to accept the status quo since her late-night show on E! went off the air, tune into Chelsea Does..., the comedian’s new investigative docuseries on Netflix. In each episode, Handler explores a stand-alone topic, such as race, Silicon Valley, or marriage, from many angles. She doesn’t always reach a conclusion or even come to any groundbreaking realizations, but by looking at each subject through a unique lens, with help from many different interview subjects, Handler moves the conversation along in a way only she really can.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Saeed Adyani/Netflix.
Love Game of Thrones?
If your favorite part of George R.R. Martin’s sweeping saga is the various characters’ devious machinations and power plays for the Iron Throne, cue up The Tudors. There are no dragons or White Walkers, but the historical drama does tell the extremely scandalous story of England’s 16th-century royal court, led by King Henry VIII (played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers), and there’s just as much sex as you’ll find on Game of Thrones. There’s even some Thrones crossover: Natalie Dormer, who plays Margaery Tyrell on GoT, stars as the doomed Anne Boleyn on The Tudors.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Showtime.
Love Degrassi: The Next Generation?
Really, who doesn’t? The hallowed halls of Degrassi Community School saw more than their fair share of D-R-A-M-A throughout the show’s 14 (yes, 14) seasons. Not only did the series deal with serious issues, including teen pregnancy, drug addiction, eating disorders, and school shootings, it also introduced us to then-unknown actors like Jake Epstein (who’s now a Broadway star), Nina Dobrev, and Aubrey Graham (now better known as the rapper named Drake). The Next Generation had a long run, yet fans seemed surprised when TeenNick announced its cancellation in June 2015. Luckily, Netflix swooped in to make loyal Degrassi viewers very happy. Degrassi: Next Class premiered on January 4, 2016, with a whole new cast of characters and updated issues for a new generation, including cyberbullying in the world of e-sports.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.
Love Narcos?
Sean Penn claims in his Rolling Stone interview with Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman that Mexican actress Kate del Castillo is the one who connected Penn with El Chapo. del Castillo has since noted that some of the stories surrounding her involvement with El Chapo are untrue, but still, her involvement with a drug cartel leader is almost stranger than fiction. Why? del Castillo starred as Teresa Mendoza, who is also known as the “Queen of the South” on the popular telenovela La Reina del Sur. The telenovela is based on Arturo Pérez-Reverte's 2002 novel of the same name, which tells the story of the first woman to become the leader of a Spanish drug cartel.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Telemundo.
Love Serial?
It seems everyone came back from the 2015 holidays talking about one thing and one thing only: Making a Murderer. Netflix’s 10-episode true-crime docuseries follows the trial of Steven Avery, who was accused of killing 25-year-old Teresa Halbach in 2005. Avery had a troubled history with law enforcement officials in his home county of Manitowoc, WI, which led his defense attorneys to argue that he had been framed by the police. The series offers a riveting look at the criminal justice system that will leave you wondering what to believe.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.
Love The Shawshank Redemption?
Sundance TV's Rectify tells the story of Daniel Holden, who was put on death row after being found guilty of rape and murder as a teenager. Almost 20 years later, his conviction is overturned after new DNA evidence nullifies it, and Daniel is released. He returns to live in the town where everyone is still convinced of his guilt, except for his younger sister, Amantha.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Tina Rowden/SundanceTV.
Love Office Space?
Better Off Ted is a criminally underrated gem of a sitcom about Ted Crisp (Jay Harrington), who runs the R&D department at a soulless mega-corporation called Veridian Dynamics. It’s a send-up of everything that’s wrong with corporate America and evil companies content to destroy the environment without thinking twice. Yet the show always errs on the side of hopeful optimism while taking them to task. The biggest disappointment of all is that this delight of a series never got another season.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of ABC.
Love Friends?
But looking for a half-hour show grounded a bit more in reality with up-to-date references? You need Aziz Ansari’s Master of None. The series is a combination of lessons from the comedian’s book, Modern Romance, aspects of his own life, and the overall experience of being in one's late 20s and early 30s. The result is a poignant, funny, and an extremely accurate depiction of what it’s like to be alive right now.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: K.C. Bailey/Netflix.
Love Daredevil?
Netflix continues its dark dive into the Marvel universe with Jessica Jones. She’s not your typical superhero. Jessica (Krysten Ritter) works as a P.I. and floats along the outskirts of society. She’s suffering from PTSD after a mysterious man named Kilgrave (David Tennant) took control over her mind for months. The series has just the right amount of gritty badassary we’ve been longing to see from a female superhero. You can binge-watch all of season 1 along with us right here.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Myles Aronowitz/Netflix.
Love Top Chef?
You need The Great British Baking Show (or, as it’s called in the U.K., The Great British Bake Off) in your life. Picture all the things you like about Top Chef (drooling at the culinary creations, and worrying whether the contestants will finish them in the time limit provided) without the things you don’t like (the heavily sponsored and overly branded everything, and how they make the contestants extremely stressed and frazzled by keeping them isolated from their families). Add to that the most quaint, idyllic British location you can imagine — a tent outside a manor complete with a pond, adorable sheep, and rolling lawns for days — and two judges who take baking more seriously than you’ve ever thought anyone could. It’s basically a recipe for the most charming cooking competition you’ve ever seen, and it’s finally on Netflix.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Mark Bourdillon/BBC/Love Productions.
Love UnREAL?
If shows featuring strong, take-charge women who aren’t afraid to show that they’re also flawed (because seriously, who among us isn’t) are your television milieu, you’ll easily sail through Rita. This Danish dramedy (yes, there are subtitles, but we promise it’s worth it) follows a fiercely independent teacher and single mother-of-three as she navigates through institutional bullshit and personal affairs.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.
Love Downton Abbey?
Picture the beautiful period costumes and luxe settings, but transport them to a gorgeous hotel in Santander. On Grand Hotel, there's mystery afoot when a maid goes missing from one of Spain's most elegant hotels. Soon, her disappearance reveals other secrets, and the drama is positively Downton -esque.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Antena 3.
Love Outlander?
If you enjoy a bodice-ripping romance with dashes of true-to-life historical events mixed in, you’ll want to wait out the break between seasons 1 and 2 of Outlander with Reign. It’s a CW show, so the sex is much less explicit (sorry), but you’re still in for some sordid, nefarious plots against the monarchy in this story centered on the years Mary, Queen of Scots, spent in France during her youth.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Sven Frenzel/The CW.
Love Food Network?
If watching skilled chefs do their thing is your jam, Netflix’s six-part documentary series Chef’s Table is ideal for you. Each episode follows a world-famous chef, from Dan Barber of the renowned Blue Hill restaurants in NYC and Pocantico Hills, NY, to Niki Nakayama at N/Naka in L.A. You might want to eat before watching, though, because this series is going to make your mouth water.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.
Love Breaking Bad?
One of the taglines for Netflix’s newest original series, Narcos, which premiered on August 28, 2015, is “There’s no business like blow business.” It’s a pun on the famous line about show business, and also a true statement about the thriving drug empire run by Colombian kingpin Pablo Escobar in the 1980s and ‘90s. This series chronicles the inner workings of Escobar’s life and cartel, and the DEA’s increasing attempts to take him down.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Daniel Daza/Netflix.
Love Reading Rainbow?
Watch… Reading Rainbow! The beloved childhood show that instilled a love of reading in many generations is finally available on Netflix. Watching episodes from Volume 1 will make you feel all sorts of nostalgic for books like If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and Miss Nelson Is Back. Take a look, it’s in a book …on Reading Rainbow.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of PBS.
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Love Wet Hot American Summer?
The entire gang is back for Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, the prequel to end all prequels. Fifteen years after the cult classic film, head back to Camp Firewood for eight new episodes chock-full of absurdist humor, talking vegetable cans, and your favorite actors (Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, Bradley Cooper, Elizabeth Banks…the list goes on and on) playing 16-year-old camp counselors.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Gemma La Mana/Netflix.
Love Empire & Beverly Hills, 90210?
Throw in a dash of Melrose Place, and you’ve got The L.A. Complex. The short-lived cult favorite is a painfully honest portrayal of a group of twentysomethings pursuing stardom in Hollywood. In the most compelling and dramatic storyline, closeted rapper Kaldrick King (Andra Fuller) tries to stage a successful comeback while resorting to violence to hide his gay relationships.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of The CW.
Love True Blood?
Drop in on the supernatural creatures of Bristol, England, including a ghost, a werewolf, and a sexy vampire, all shacking up in a house and doing their best to fit in with the locals on Being Human. Go for the original U.K. version (although Netflix also has the American remake), with Looking ’s Russell Tovey as the werewolf who hates his time of the month, Poldark ’s Aidan Turner as the brooding vampire, and A to Z ’s Lenora Crichlow as the ghost with unfinished business.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of BBC Three.
Love Lost & The Matrix?
Sci-fi powerhouse siblings, the Wachowskis, have brought their flair for mind-bending, perception-and-reality-altering plotlines to the small screen with Sense8. The new Netflix original spares no expense in its scenic globetrotting (seriously, if you can’t afford to travel, this show might just be the next best thing) as it rambles through the lives of eight characters whose minds are somehow intertwined.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.
Love Supernatural?
Go deep into the paranormal YA archives with Roswell, the now-cult classic that ran from 1999-2002. On Roswell, not only did a UFO crash at Area 51, but it had three alien children aboard. When the show starts, they’re in high school trying to be normal teenagers and stay under the radar. They’re falling in love with humans and want to share their secret, though, so there’s clearly going to be some D-R-A-M-A.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Love 9 to 5 and The Golden Girls?
Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin star in Netflix’s newest original show, Grace and Frankie. The two play frenemies in their 70s whose husbands announce that they’re in love and are leaving Grace and Frankie to be together. What happens when you have to reboot your life as a septuagenarian? That’s what these two are bound to find out.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.
Love Gotham & Arrow?
Watch Daredevil, Netflix’s gritty new original series about Marvel hero Matt Murdock: blind lawyer by day, masked vigilante who protects Hell’s Kitchen by night (and, still blind). It’ll completely make you forget about that Ben Affleck travesty from 2003.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.
Love Friends?
Specifically, the episode where Joey models for a free clinic and unwittingly becomes the face of gonorrhea? Imagine a whole series using that conceit, only the protagonist (an affable British twentysomething named Dylan) really does have chlamydia, and he has to contact all of his past sexual partners to tell them. It winds up being sort of charming, because in the process, he reconnects with past loves who might have been the one. Also, the show is called Scrotal Recall, and if that’s not the best Arnold Schwarzenegger movie pun-based sitcom title ever, your pec-spectations are too high.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Channel 4.
Love Flight of the Conchords?
Cue up the dulcet sounds of comedy duo Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci, also known as Garfunkel and Oates. The duo writes and performs satirical songs about their personal and professional lives, which get incorporated into the framework of this clever half-hour comedy named for the pair.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Darren Michaels/IFC.
Love Dynasty and Dallas?
Sounds like you love a good multi-generational familial drama. Dig into Netflix’s new original series Bloodline, which stars Kyle Chandler (Coach Taylor on FNL) as the supposedly good son in the hard-working Rayburn family, who run a hotel in the Florida Keys.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Saeed Ayani/Netflix.
Love How to Get Away with Murder?
It sounds like you enjoy watching strong female characters who know a thing or two about dabbling in the grayer areas of the law. Watch Damages, which stars Glenn Close as a ruthless, all-star attorney of questionable morals and Rose Byrne as her wide-eyed protégée.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of FX.
Love Arrested Development?
Watch The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret. David Cross (who played Tobias Fünke) stars as the titular bumbling American businessman, who’s sent across the pond to promote an energy drink called Thunder Muscle in England.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of IFC.
Love Skins?
But also feel like the show can be overwhelmingly serious at times? Get ready for some laddish hijinks courtesy of The Inbetweeners. The humor’s a bit sophomoric, but just try not to LOL as you watch Will, Simon, Jay, and Neil fumble their way through high school in England.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of E4.
Love Game of Thrones?
Swords-and-sandals-clad warriors get even sexier and more bloodthirsty in Spartacus. If you thought the Unsullied were treated brutally in Astapor, just wait until you see the dregs from which the gladiators of Thrace had to rise.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Starz.
Love Homeland?
Maggie Gyllenhaal just won a Golden Globe for her work in the political spy thriller The Honorable Woman. The eight-part miniseries follows a British-Israeli businesswoman as she tries to work toward peace in the Middle East.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of BBC Two.
Love Jane the Virgin?
Watch JTV creator Jennie Snyder Urman’s last CW romp, Emily Owens, M.D. The short-lived show was a sweet mix of Grey’s Anatomy and Scrubs — plus it introduced the talented Aja Naomi King, who’s now blowing audiences away on How t o Get Away with Murder.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of The CW.
Love The Fall?
For starters, make sure you watch season 2, which hit Netflix back on January 16, 2015. Once you’ve done that, cue up Southcliffe, an extremely vivid portrait of a fictional English town wracked by a horrifying shooting spree. It’s a macabre study of the human condition you won’t forget.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Wrap Films.
Love Orange Is the New Black?
Get locked up in Wentworth, the equally compelling women’s prison drama from Australia. Bea Smith (played by Danielle Cormack) is thrown in jail while awaiting trial for trying to kill her violent husband, and the series follows her time behind bars learning the ins and outs of prison life.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Foxtel.
Loved The Imitation Game?
Watch The Bletchley Circle, a British mystery about four women who worked at Bletchley Park breaking codes during World War II and reunite in the early 1950s to solve new mysteries.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of ITV.
Love Boardwalk Empire?
Journey across the pond for the British historical crime drama, Peaky Blinders. In the aftermath of World War I, a detective (Sam Neill) is tasked with taking down the Birmingham gang, Peaky Blinders, led by the quick-witted Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy).
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of BBC Two.
Love The Twilight Zone?
Watch the spectacularly twisted Black Mirror. The Brit anthology series has just six episodes, each one telling a uniquely haunting tale about near-distant futures where technology can recreate dead loved ones, get the prime minister to commit bestiality on national television, and allow people to rewatch old memories that might destroy their lives. The scariest part is just how much of a reflection the series is of our current fixation with gadgets and the lives we lead online.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Channel 4.
Love The Sopranos?
Watch Lilyhammer. Steven Van Zandt plays a New York gangster named Frank “The Fixer” Tagliano who tries to start a new life for himself in the titular isolated Norway town after he’s forced into the federal witness protection program.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.
Love Friends?
Cozy up with the wry Britcom Coupling. It's a clever and humorous exploration of looking for love when you’re absolutely terrified of everything that comes with it.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of BBC.
Love Halloween?
Cue up Netflix’s horror series, Hemlock Grove. Executive produced by gore-lover Eli Roth, the show focuses on the mysterious goings-on in the fictional titular town, which range from the supernatural to the just plain sadistic.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.
Love Breaking Bad?
Take a gun-running thrill ride with Sons of Anarchy. Loosely based on Hamlet, it brings the intra-familial intrigue of Shakespeare’s Danish royalty tale to a motorcycle gang unofficially responsible for keeping things going in the fictional city of Charming, CA.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Prashant Gupta/FX.
Love Television?
We’re guessing you do because here you are, reading a slideshow of Netflix streaming recommendations. As an aficionado and appreciator of the finer TV series in life, we think you’ll also love The Writers’ Room. In this fascinating interview show, Academy Award-winning writer Jim Rash (who’s best known for playing Dean Pelton on Community) sits down with writers of some of your favorite shows to discuss how they’re crafted. In the first six episodes, he talks to the writers and creators of Breaking Bad, Parks and Recreation, Dexter, New Girl, Game of Thrones, and American Horror Story. If you’re a fan of television and love hearing about how it’s created, this is for you.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Sundance.
Love The Office?
Watch the British gem that is Peep Show. Part The Odd Couple, part The Office (British version), and filmed through each character’s eyes, the offbeat sitcom is perfect for a weekend binge.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Channel 4.
Love Supernatural?
Tune your spidey senses into Psych. This playful show features the overly clever, extremely witty Shawn Spencer who uses his heightened powers of observation to serve as the resident psychic for the Santa Barbara Police Department. Come for the ridiculous fake clairvoyant act, but stay for the lovable characters like Gus, O’Hara, and Lassie. And, did we mention that there’s a musical episode? Because there’s a musical episode.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Alan Zenuk/USA Network.
Love Flight of the Conchords?
Get your New Zealand fix with Short Poppies, a mockumentary series created and written by Rhys Darby, who you’ll recognize from his role as Murray, the Conchords’ clueless manager. On Short Poppies, Darby plays David Farrier, an entertainment reporter. Farrier interviews people he deems "extraordinary New Zealanders," who live in a fictional town known as The Bay. With just eight episodes, this is the perfect Sunday Funday binge-watch.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.
Love Friday Night Lights?
That’s a silly question; of course you do. You’re a human being with emotions and a heart, right? Also, you’ve seen Tim Riggins. Texas forever. Unfortunately, we don’t have any updates on the proposed movie (yes, that would mean a book that became a movie that became a show would be made into a movie again), but we do have a series currently streaming on Netflix that will make you feel as many feelings as FNL.
Jason Katims, the brilliant screenwriter who adapted Friday Night Lights for the small screen, also turned the 1989 dramedy Parenthood into a poignant drama now entering its fifth and final season on NBC. Warning: You will definitely need tissues for this one, but the emotional roller coaster of watching the Bravermans is so, so worth it.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of NBCUniversal.
Love The Mindy Project?
Check out the short-lived but hilarious Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23. Krysten Ritter plays the titular B, a hustler and legend in her own mind with a gorgeous apartment and a best friend/ex-boyfriend named James Van Der Beek. Yes, the Beek from the Creek. He plays a heightened caricature of himself complete with a tragic stint on Dancing with the Stars. Enter into the fray Dreama Walker, a small-town girl with a business degree who just wants to make it in New York City — plus a pervy neighbor across the air shaft — and you’ve got yourself a delightful little sitcom.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of ABC.
Love Twin Peaks?
After many requests, Netflix secured the rights to the newest British cult hit Happy Valley. Police sergeant Catherine Cawood is trying to cope with her daughter’s suicide, but things unravel when she spots the man she believes raped her daughter (which led to her death). She becomes obsessed with finding him, which uncovers an even larger mystery involving the kidnapping of a local girl.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of BBC.
Love Family Guy?
Or, any animated show for adults, really, including The Simpsons, The Critic, Bob’s Burgers, South Park, and Archer? Netflix debuted its first foray into original animated programming for grown-ups this week with BoJack Horseman. Will Arnett voices the titular character, a washed-up actor who starred in a popular sitcom called Horsin’ Around 20 years ago and has done nothing of note since. The world of BoJack is populated with humans and anthropomorphized animals alike, so it’s a bit surreal. Aaron Paul plays Todd, BoJack’s sycophantic perma-houseguest, and Alison Brie is Diane, who’s been hired to ghostwrite his memoirs. Can BoJack and his ragtag crew somehow turn his downward spiral of a life around? Watch and find out.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.
Love Downton Abbey?
If you’re especially attuned to the burgeoning role of women beyond the domestic sphere in Downton, cue up Call the Midwife. Imagine Sybil’s can-do nursing skills transported to a group of midwives in a convent in East London in the ‘50s. That’s exactly what you’ll find in this engrossing BBC series, which airs new seasons on PBS.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of BBC.
Love Pretty Little Liars?
First of all, read the books instead. They’re even more engrossing than ABC Family’s frothy mystery about Rosewood. When you’re done with those (or concurrently), cue up Skins. The British show made international headlines for the reckless lifestyle promoted by “ Skins parties ” and sent the U.K. into a nationwide panic about the hedonistic pursuits of Millennial teens. No matter what your takeaway, Skins will suck you right in.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Channel 4.
Love True Detective?
If you love a slow-build, extremely tense, psychological thriller, watch The Fall. Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan, here causing much inner turmoil when you find yourself attracted to a deviant sociopath) is a serial killer terrorizing Belfast, and Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson) is the detective trying to catch him before he strikes again. Season 1 is only five episodes, so you’ll burn through them in no time. Luckily, they’re filming the second season right now.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of BBC Two.
Love Gossip Girl?
Guilty pleasures: We all have them. Gossip Girl (well, the first few seasons) was one of ours. The South Korean series Boys Over Flowers follows the whole fish-out-of-water setup, only this time Lonely Boy is Jan Di, the daughter of a dry cleaner who finds herself falling for the spoiled rich kid whose clique runs their elite private school. It’s somehow even more addictive than Gossip Girl — maybe it’s the amazing vintage Bieber haircuts all of the boys sport. And, because of the subtitles, watching it feels a bit more highbrow. Get watching. XOXO.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of KBS2.
Love American Horror Story?
Dive even deeper into the uncanny valley with The Returned. The cult French show follows the lives — and afterlives — of a sleepy town where nothing is as it seems. Long-dead relatives return to life; residents try to leave — only to be thwarted by roads running in circles. There’s a serial killer on the loose, but no one seems to care. It’s a slow, eerie build but oh, is it worth it.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Via Canal Plus.
Love Silicon Valley?
Try turning your machine off and on again, then booting up The IT Crowd (that’s a joke you’ll get when you start watching). This hilarious British sitcom chronicles an odd couple of IT guys trying to do as little work as possible in their dungeon of an office at a horrible corporation. Chris O’Dowd (before he became a household name in Bridesmaids) plays Roy, the ringleader, while Richard Ayoade is Moss, his introverted, nebbishy foil. And, just like the Pied Piper guys on Silicon Valley, Roy and Moss’ world is rocked when a female enters their daily routine. Fire up the Internet and get watching.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Channel 4.
Love The Killing?
You've undoubtedly heard of Top of the Lake — everyone, or at least everyone in this office, is talking about it. Like Twin Peaks and The Killing, it centers around a mysterious, troubled young girl and a small town with a lot of secrets to hide. Recipe for a good time, right?
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Sundance.
Love Law & Order?
You'll go crazy for Swedish crime show Wallander. Though it doesn't cover sex-based offenses in particular, this thriller reminds us of SVU (our favorite iteration, obviously) because of its focus on the cops' and detectives' personal lives. There's also a Masterpiece Mystery version, but we recommend starting out with the original Henning Mankel l.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Canal+.
Love House?
Well, this is basically the exact same concept, but British. And that's usually a good thing. Doc Martin follows the antics of a curmudgeonly MD after he moves to a provincial town, abandoning his prestigious London surgical post for unknown reasons. Weird diseases, even weirder people.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Homerun Productions.
Love Parks & Recreation?
If you're a fan of all things dysfunctional, British sitcom Black Books is perfect for you. Focused on a perpetually down-and-out bookstore owner who regularly puts a mid-afternoon drink over customer service, this show should be heartbreaking — but instead, it's hilarious. Plus, if you're missing the glory days of TV, you'll dig the distinct early-2000s vibe.
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of Assembly Film & Television.
Love Homeland?
British series House of Cards is chock-full of political drama and underhanded scheming, guaranteed to get your blood pumping. It's also great if totally inappropriate and unethical sexual relationships are your thing. This is a great pick if you've already binged through the American version, but are still hungry for more!
Available on Netflix.
Photo: Courtesy of BBC.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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