8 Netflix TV Shows Better Than Anything Has Ever Done

As a film and TV buff, I’ve always had a lot of respect for HBO – shows like The Wire and The Sopranos are just legendary. But honestly, I think some of the best series have been coming from Netflix lately. HBO’s been doing great work adapting to streaming with HBO Max, giving us hits like Hacks and The Pitt, but Netflix has really been raising the bar.

Despite some missteps and canceled shows, Netflix appears to have become the dominant force in streaming and looks set for continued success. Its best programs are truly exceptional and demonstrate the power of great television.

The Crown

2016-2023

Historical dramas are popular in books and on TV, but The Crown stands out for its incredible attention to detail. The show, based on the life of Queen Elizabeth II, focuses on the personal and political struggles within the royal family over six decades, including secret relationships and the immense pressures of being the monarch.

What truly sets The Crown apart as a top-tier historical drama is its dedication to realism. Instead of relying on makeup or digital effects to show the passage of time, the show recast its main actors every two seasons. This allowed Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, and Imelda Staunton to each give standout performances as Queen Elizabeth II, and those performances continue to be highly acclaimed.

Adolescence

2025

Netflix is known for successful, long-running shows, but it truly excels at limited series. Because these series have only a few episodes, every detail is crucial – there’s no room for unnecessary scenes or storylines. The series Adolescence took this approach to an extreme, filming each episode in a single, unbroken shot – a remarkable achievement in filmmaking.

Netflix’s miniseries, Adolescence, tells the disturbing story of Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper), a young boy who becomes a killer after being drawn into hateful beliefs about women. The incredibly realistic performances make this a truly chilling and unforgettable watch – it’s a rare and exceptional piece of television.

Sex Education

2019-2023

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I’ve noticed a lot of coming-of-age shows feel like they’re about teenagers, but not really from their perspective – like they’re viewed through the eyes of adults. But Sex Education is different. It genuinely feels like an exploration of what it’s actually like to be a teen today, all the awkwardness, the confusion, and the constant figuring-out-who-you-are. It’s a real tribute to that experience.

Otis, inspired by his sex therapist mother, starts a unique business at school, introducing us to a relatable group of characters, each with their own story. The show avoids stereotypes, offering a genuine portrayal of teenagers that allows young viewers to feel understood and represented.

Arcane

2021-2024

Netflix isn’t just great at creating original shows; it also excels at turning existing stories into compelling TV series, even when the source material seems unlikely to work. A prime example is Arcane, based on the popular game League of Legends. The series successfully transforms well-known game characters into fully realized personalities, supported by impressive voice acting, a richly detailed world, and a truly engaging story.

Arcane is widely considered the best video game adaptation ever made, setting a high bar for others to follow. Importantly, its appeal extends beyond fans of the original game, League of Legends, demonstrating that a quality adaptation can draw in a large, new audience.

The Haunting of Hill House

2018

Look, let me just say it: The Haunting of Hill House is as good as horror gets. Mike Flanagan is a genius, and this 10-episode series, inspired by Shirley Jackson’s classic novel, is honestly the best example of modern gothic horror I’ve seen. It’s just phenomenal.

As you’d expect from a ghost story, this miniseries is truly frightening, filled with subtle scares you might miss on the first few viewings. But it’s more than just unsettling; the story of the Crain family is a moving exploration of grief, mental health struggles, and the importance of facing difficult experiences.

Orange Is the New Black

2013-2019

While Netflix has become incredibly popular recently, its success story actually began with Orange is the New Black back in 2013. The show was a huge hit and showed everyone that Netflix – and streaming in general – was the way forward, silencing those who were skeptical at the time.

Even years after it ended, Orange is the New Black still stands out as a truly exceptional show. Its innovative approach to storytelling – focusing on the lives of a diverse group of women in prison – was ahead of its time and continues to make it one of Netflix’s most memorable series.

Mindhunter

2017-2019

Netflix’s Mindhunter was a particularly ambitious show, carefully navigating the sensitive topic of real-life crimes. While true crime can often be exploitative, Mindhunter handled its source material with such sensitivity that it was fascinating instead of upsetting.

Instead of simply showing gruesome crimes, Mindhunter—following FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench—delves into the minds of famous killers, offering a realistic look at the early days of behavioral science. Despite being cancelled after only two seasons, the show has already become a classic.

Squid Game

2021-2025

No one could have predicted how incredibly popular Squid Game would become. While other Korean dramas, known as K-dramas, had already appeared on streaming platforms, Squid Game stood out. Its high quality and universal themes made it one of Netflix’s biggest hits ever, appealing to viewers worldwide regardless of language.

The huge popularity of Squid Game boosted the popularity of Korean dramas, attracting many new viewers worldwide. It also paved the way for more foreign-language shows to become mainstream successes. Squid Game undeniably revolutionized television and secured its place as one of Netflix’s biggest hits.

2026-02-20 23:40