If there’s one thing that’s certain about the entertainment landscape of 2022, it’s this: you either have a Netflix account, you’re borrowing someone else’s Netflix account, or at least you know someone who has a Netflix account . The service’s name alone is synonymous with all things streaming television, with a wide and diverse catalog of high-profile original series like stranger things, Squid Game, The Witcher, black mirrorand more.
With so much to watch and so few hours in the day, what are the best shows on Netflix? — let alone “What should I watch tonight?” — inspires voter paralysis. Relax; we have you Polygon assembled its staff to submit our picks for the best TV shows on Netflix. From hilarious mockumentary satirical dramas to magical girl fantasy series, here’s what to stream next. And if you search a little longer, check out our list of the best movies on Netflix.
American vandal
Genre: satire/drama
Consequences: 16
Creator: Tony Yacenda, Dan Perrault
Pour: Tyler Alvarez, Griffin Gluck, Jimmy Tatro
If it wasn’t made clear by our rave review, in-depth chat with the creators, or ranking as our 8th Favorite Show of 2022, we love esports comedy shows player. And the reason we’ve been so excited to see it in the first place is because of the co-creators’ earlier outrageously funny taunts, American vandal.
A loving satire of the true crime genre, co-creators Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault take the tones and beats of true crime and apply them to childish pranks in a school setting. If that was it – our days, it would be enough, because this playground (and a play occupation) is plenty to have a roaring fun time. But that helps vandal it’s not just funny, it’s good.
Despite being a very goofy mockuseries, the show is among the shows most aware of the role social media plays in modern youth culture. In this respect it was well ahead of its contemporaries and remains a gripping portrait of young people in a particular time and place, and a thoroughly laughable comedy. —pete people
arcane
Genre: Action/Adventure
Consequences: 9
Director: Pascal Charrue, Arnaud Delord
Pour: Hailee Steinfeld, Ella Purnell, Kevin Alejandro
You don’t need to know anything about it League of Legends love arcane, and frankly, maybe it would be better if you didn’t know anything. Remove all the weird magic, steampunk weaponry and convoluted politics and arcane is about flawed people who keep screwing up. It’s about sisters and what you would do for the people you love; it’s about progress and what you would throw away to make the world a better place; It’s about making tough decisions and facing the ramifications. And apart from an intriguing story (and great music), arcane is also deeply gorgeous and animated in a way so rarely seen in a show aimed at an older mainstream American audience. Each frame is created with such care and detail, and rendered with the lighting and depth typically only seen in concept art. – Petrana Radulovic
The Babysitters Club
Genre: comedy drama
Consequences: 18
Creator: Rachel Schukert
Pour: Sophie Grace, Momona Tamada, Shay Rudolph
Netflix canceled The Babysitters Club after only two seasons, but what an absolute joy those two seasons have been! Based on the mid-range novel series, the show updated the plots and characters for a more modern audience without ever losing the charm of the original stories. It centers on five girls who team up to start a babysitting agency. The Babysitters Club is simply an absolute delight for children and adults. The young characters are dynamic, each with different problems and different personalities and interests; But the adult characters are also wonderful and bring the whole series to life. —PR
Cyberpunk: Edgerunner
Genre: Action/Adventure
Consequences: 10
Director: Hiroyuki Imaishi
Pour: Kenn, Aoi Yuuki, and Hiroki Tochi
Besides being one of the best anime of 2022, Cyberpunk: Edgerunner is also one of the best shows on Netflix, period. Directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi (Gurren Lagann, Promare) and produced by CD Projekt Red and Studio Trigger, is the story of David Martinez, a teenager from the mean streets of the dystopian metropolis Night City, and his perilous journey to become a technologically-enhanced mercenary (or “edgerunner”) in order to krallen His journey out of the depths of poverty is as emotionally moving as it is visually electrifying.
Shares the same universe as Action RPG 2020 Cyberpunk 2077 and Mike Pondsmith’s original tabletop RPG, Imaishi and Co.’s 10-episode standalone anime series is a scorching, high-octane, big-hearted action-drama that will have you cheering for its cast of misfits and ne’er-do-wells and misfits , while knowing that death and tragedy looms around every neon-lit corner. And if you want more, here are some other anime that we think you will like if you like this one. – Toussaint Egan
Giri/Hajj
Genre: crime thriller
Consequences: 8th
Director: Joe Barton
Pour: Takehiro Hira, Kelly Macdonald, and Yosuke Kubozuka
Joe Barton’s criminally overlooked 2019 series Giri/Hajj, which roughly translates to “duty/shame” in Japanese, follows the story of a Tokyo detective who is forced to travel to London to apprehend his long-dead brother and de-escalate a possible gang war. Crossing paths with a detective constable who is ostracized by her peers for acting as a whistleblower, the pair join forces to hunt down the misguided brother and uncover the motivations behind his conspiracy. That’s more or less the elevator pitch for the series, but there’s more – So much more.
Giri/Hajj is a terrific combination of action, comedy, romance and drama that expertly balances an international cast of exceptionally talented actors, each of whom delivers scene-stealing performances. While the series was sadly canceled after one season due to low viewership, this tragedy again becomes an unintended strength: you can easily finish the entire show in a weekend, and given its excellence, there’s a good chance you will. -THE
I think you should go with Tim Robinson
Genre: Sketch comedy
Consequences: 12
Creator: Tim Robinson, Zach Kanin
Pour: Tim Robinson, Sam Richardson, Patti Harrison
As the saying goes: When Netflix’s i think you should go has a million fans, i’m one of them. If it has a fan, it’s me. If it doesn’t have fans, that means I’m dead. Tim Robinson’s slightly deranged and often hysterical sketch show hits the spot Saturday night live might be when it dish out quick bursts of bizarre constructs rather than bluff about actuality.
The world of i think you should go is populated with hot dog cars crashing into stores, focus groups and work meeting who are completely out of control, and choking on the lunch you were trying to swallow secretly in a newly scheduled meeting. Whether you’ve watched this show or not, you’ve almost certainly seen the plethora of memes. Each sketch has a relatable underpinning of social anxiety running amok, even as they get more surreal. Also, I can’t stress this enough: They’re just damn hilarious, whether it’s your first time or your fifth time watching. coffin flop! When the world is against it i think you should go, then I’m against the world. —Zosha Millman
I have never
Genre: Romance/Comedy-Drama
Consequences: 30
Created by: Mindy Kaling, Lang Fisher
Pour: Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Poorna Jagannathan, and Richa Moorjani
Tennis player John McEnroe tells the life story of a teenage girl named Devi, and it’s absolutely hilarious. I have never is a high school sitcom that also explores grief and the complicated emotions of growing up in a first-generation immigrant household. Maitreyi Ramakrishnan leads the cast as Devi, a prickly and defiant high achiever, but the show also focuses on her mother and seemingly perfect cousin, as well as her friends at school. Devi tends to be impulsive and judgmental, but watching her journey through the show as she matures into a more level-headed and confident person has been an absolute delight. The show’s fourth and final season will see the characters enter their final year, and it’s sure to be an emotional ride. —PR
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power
Genre: Science Fantasy/Action
Consequences: 52
Director: ND Stevenson
Pour: Aimee Carrero, AJ Michalka, and Karen Fukuhara
On paper, it’s easy to be cynical about rebooting She-Ra: Princess of Power. But ND Stevenson’s 1980s take on the character transforms the story from a simple good-versus-evil tale into one about defying fate and breaking out of predetermined cycles. It celebrates the power of friendship and found family in the face of evil. The characters are delightfully quirky and given more depth than their original counterparts. And besides, it’s just a wonderful childhood story from friends to almost lovers to enemies to lovers. She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Rules only, man! —PR
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