The A-Z of Netflix: The Best TV Shows to Binge-Watch

Netflix is the best video streaming service around, especially if you prefer watching TV shows over movies. It has such a wide variety of content available, we saw fit to make an A-to-Z list of the best shows to binge-watch on Netflix.

All of these shows are available on Netflix USA, while most of them should be available worldwide. And if you can’t access them in your country, you can always watch Netflix through a VPN.

A is for Altered Carbon

• Seasons: 2
• Episode Runtime: 45-60 minutes
• Genre: Science Fiction, Action, Thriller

Altered Carbon mixes a murder mystery with science fiction to make for compelling binge-watching. In the year 2384, anyone’s memories and consciousness can be transferred to a new body. To investigate his own death, a wealthy man in a new body recruits a rebel soldier. It’s a story full of twists and turns.

B Is for Black Mirror

• Seasons: 5
• Episode Runtime: 48-60 minutes
• Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller

Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror is a bleak look at how the gadgets you take for granted are shaping your present and future. Each episode is self-contained, with the common theme of looking at how science and technology affects society.

You don’t need to watch episodes in order, so you can start with the best Black Mirror episodes to mess with your head. Once you’re done with the series, watch the interactive movie, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch.

C Is for The Crown

• Seasons: 3
• Episode Runtime: 60 minutes
• Genre: Drama, History, Period

Queen Elizabeth II has overseen some of the most tumultuous times in modern history. The Crown takes a deep look at how she came into power, the early years of her reign, and her relationships with important political figures of the 20th century.

The actors deliver stunning performances, with Claire Foy leading the first two seasons and Olivia Colman taking over from the third. John Lithgow is especially great as Sir Winston Churchill.

D Is for Daredevil

• Seasons: 3
• Episode Runtime: 52 minutes
• Genre: Action, Superhero, Crime

It doesn’t matter whether you’re into comic book heroes or not. Daredevil is one of the best Marvel shows on Netflix. The world has gone gaga over the show’s breathtaking action scenes, and the acting performances by the villains.

Make sure you start watching this on a long weekend though, as you won’t be able to stop binge-watching it. Unfortunately, Netflix pulled the plug after the third season for corporate reasons, but it remains one of the best action shows you’ll watch.

E Is for Easy

• Seasons: 3
• Episode Runtime: 30 minutes
• Genre: Comedy, Drama

Easy is one of the Netflix originals everyone should be watching. Set in Chicago, it tells the stories of different people in each episode, usually played by recognizable actors like Orlando Bloom, Emily Ratajkowski, and others.

Easy has finished its three-season run, so you can get through all the 25 episodes in one weekend. Easy is a slice of life comedy that will appeal to fans of shows such as Master of None.

F is for Fauda

• Seasons: 3
• Episode Runtime: 45 minutes
• Genre: Action, Thriller

Israeli series Fauda is among the best TV shows on Netflix, earning critical acclaim across the world. The New York Times even voted it as the best international show of 2017. Fauda is set in the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Israeli counter-terrorist forces tracking down a mysterious Hamas terrorist.

With high production values, Fauda exposes the nuances of the conflict while being packed with action, drama, and politics. It’s hands-down one of the best foreign Netflix shows worth watching.

G Is for GLOW

• Seasons: 3
• Episode Runtime: 30-35 minutes
• Genre: Comedy, Drama, Sport

In the 1980s, during the peak of the pro-wrestling culture, an ambitious entrepreneur launched the Glamorous Ladies Of Wrestling (G.L.O.W.). This is the story of the women of GLOW, told with panache, dollops of humor, and plenty of throwbacks to 80s glam culture. Alison Brie is incredible as the lead, ably supported by the rest of the cast. The show gets Emmy nominations every year, and wins the stunt coordination award.

H is for Hemlock Grove

• Seasons: 3
• Episode Runtime: 45-60 minutes
• Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Mystery

The small town of Hemlock Grove is full of secrets: supernatural beasts, psychological and biological experiments, superpowered humans, and mysterious murders. Poor werewolf Peter must now uncover these secrets to clear his name, aided by his rich friend Roman. Hemlock Grove wrapped up its three seasons, so you can binge-watch it from start to finish.

I Is for Iron Fist

• Seasons: 1
• Episode Runtime: 60 minutes
• Genre: Action, Superhero

Iron Fist is, in some ways, “Batman Lite”. The heir to a billion-dollar company returns after being missing for years, with mystical powers and insane kung-fu skills. He is “Iron Fist,” tasked with the solemn duty of stopping the evil forces of “The Hand”. This is another collaboration between Marvel and Netflix, so superhero geeks will have a good time with it.

J Is for Jessica Jones

• Seasons: 3
• Episode Runtime: 52 minutes
• Genre: Drama, Action, Superhero

While Jessica Jones is also a part of the Marvel-Netflix franchise, it’s not only for those who like comic book characters. The show is far more nuanced, with plenty of commentary on feminist issues. Of course, there is also plenty of butt-kicking thrown in for good measure.

With its three seasons wrapped up, you can binge-watch the adventures of Krysten Ritter in the titular role with plenty of guest appearances from other Marvel characters.

K Is for The Kominsky Method

• Seasons: 2
• Episode Runtime: 22-30 minutes
• Genre: Comedy

Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin star in this buddy comedy that anyone who wants a lighter, sitcom-ish show will enjoy. Douglas plays the titular Kominsky, a grouchy acting coach, with a grumpy best friend in Arkin, who is also his agent and a recent widower.

The show has an excellent star cast of supporting actors in Nancy Travis, Jane Seymour, Paul Reiser, Lisa Edelstein, and Sarah Baker. It’s perfect binge-watching for some light fun.

L Is for Last Chance U

• Seasons: 4
• Episode Runtime: Around 60 minutes
• Genre: Sports, Reality, Drama

Last Chance U is like one of the typical American sports movies coming to life. A team of talented athletes, who come from challenging backgrounds, struggle with their academic performances. A tutor has to get them to graduate on time. The coach has temper issues.

Spread across four seasons with different cases, by the end of it you’ll start believing in the old adage that reality is stranger than fiction.

M Is for Making a Murderer

• Seasons: 2
• Episode Runtime: 60 minutes average
• Genre: True Crime, Thriller, Documentary

This documentary series focused on Steven Avery is like no other. Wrongly imprisoned for a crime, Avery finally got justice when DNA testing proved his innocence. But just as he celebrated his freedom, a new case was filed against him, and it seems like the authorities don’t want him free. Is the evidence against him real or planted?

Critics and fans laud Making a Murderer as one of the best true crime documentaries on Netflix.

N Is for Narcos

• Seasons: 3
• Episode Runtime: 50 minutes average
• Genre: Crime, Biography, Drama

Colombia is notorious for its cocaine exports, and drug lord Pablo Escobar was the kingpin. Narcos is a recreation of his infamous lifestyle and control over the country, and how American and Colombian forces took him down. It’s a gripping series for anyone who loves crime dramas. And once you’re done with it, watch the Narcos: Mexico spin-off about the drug trafficking world of Mexico.

O Is for Orange Is the New Black

• Seasons: 7
• Episode Runtime: 52-60 minutes
• Genre: Crime, Comedy, Drama

Piper Chapman, just another New Yorker, is convicted of an old crime and sentenced to 18 months in prison. Orange Is the New Black is a look inside women’s prisons, and the trials and tribulations of an outsider trying to adjust. That’s just the first season though; Chapman adjusts by season two, and the series then takes new twists and turns. Look out for “Crazy Eyes” Warren, the show-stealer.

P Is for The Punisher

• Seasons: 2
• Episode Runtime: Around 50 minutes
• Genre: Action, Thriller

After his debut in the Daredevil series, Frank Castle AKA The Punisher quickly became a fan favorite and got his own show. Jon Bernthal stars as The Punisher who is here to take out bad guys without any mercy. It received particular praise for its portrayal of PTSD and war veterans, a recurring theme in the grimy action-thriller series.

Q for Queen Sono

• Seasons: 1
• Episode Runtime: 30-45 minutes
• Genre: Action, Spy, Thriller

Are you looking for a good ol’ action-packed spy thriller? Queen Sono doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but instead gives it a new world. Set in Africa, the titular spy played by Pearl Thusi is full of attitude, action, and allure.

She and her geeky partner, both spies in a South African firm, will do what they can to rid the continent of violence. And behind it all, Queen Sono is out to find the person who killed her mother.

R Is for Riverdale

• Seasons: 4
• Episode Runtime: 42 minutes
• Genre: Drama, Young Adult, Mystery

Archie Andrews and the gang are back in this new take on the lives of the teenagers from the famous comic books. Apart from getting a 21st century makeover, Riverdale is also dark and gritty, unraveling a murder mystery in this small town. There are some consistent mature themes throughout this series, so it’s not exactly kid-friendly like the comics.

S Is for Stranger Things

• Seasons: 1
• Episode Runtime: 50 minutes
• Genre: Fantasy, Horror

Set in 1983, Stranger Things takes you back to an innocent time, reminiscent of how Steven Spielberg’s E.T. did. One among a group of 12-year-old friends goes missing, and his buddies will do anything to rescue him.

Enter a world of supernatural monsters and experimental mad scientists, as Stranger Things takes you on the ride of your life. And once you’ve finished it, here are some other shows for fans of Stranger Things.

T Is for Trailer Park Boys

• Seasons: 23-30 mins
• Episode Runtime: 50 minutes
• Genre: Comedy

Originally a TV series, Trailer Park Boys was saved by the internet and now resides on Netflix. Set in a fictional trailer park, the show follows the lives of three pals who frequently find themselves on the wrong side of the law. It’s an endless cycle of one scheme after another, but somehow it never gets old. Once you finish the series, check out the three mini-movies and the animated series.

U Is for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

• Seasons: 4
• Episode Runtime: 25 minutes
• Genre: Comedy

Kimmy Schmidt was held captive for 15 years in a bunker, conned into thinking the world had ended. Finally freed at 29-years-old, she is now trying to adjust to life in the 21st century, with her actor roommate and socialite employer. Created by 30 Rock’s Tina Fey, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt has finished its four season run so you can binge it from start to end.

V Is for Versailles

• Seasons: 3
• Episode Runtime: 52 minutes
• Genre: Drama, History

King Louis XIV, the king of France in 1667, decided to make the grandest mansion in the world. But while the Palace of Versailles is a historical landmark today, there were a lot of complications that went into building it. As noble families had to adjust to rural life, politics, intrigue, and drama weren’t too far away. Revisit this fascinating history through the now-finished series.

W Is for The Witcher

• Seasons: 1
• Episode Runtime: 47-67 minutes
• Genre: Fantasy, Action

Henry Cavill stars as Geralt of Rivia in a Netflix adaptation of the popular book and video game series. The Witcher is a “monster of the week” show with high production values and inspired action sequences. This is a show for mature viewers only, with unabashed gore, strong language, and nudity. Catch up on the first season now, with the second season slated to release in 2021.

Y Is for You

• Seasons: 2
• Episode Runtime: 45 minutes
• Genre: Psychological Thriller

Bookstore manager Joe Goldberg becomes obsessed with a customer, writer Guinevere Beck. In an exposition of how little privacy we have, You shows how Goldberg feeds his obsession by using technology to stalk Beck and get close to her. If you want to see how your gadgets can lead to a slow unraveling of your identity, while following a thriller storyline, You is for you.

Z Is for Z Nation

• Seasons: 5
• Episode Runtime: 42 minutes
• Genre: Action, Horror, Drama

A zombie virus has spread across America, and only one man has survived being bitten by a zombie. The man is in New York, and he needs to make his way to the last functional lab in California to help them create a cure with his sample. The remaining uninfected humans across the U.S. must help mankind’s last hope travel across the country, through hordes of zombies.

The five-season series has wrapped up, so get ready for a zombie-hunting binge-watch.

Binge-Watching Beyond Netflix

As you may have noticed, X is missing from our A-Z list of shows to binge-watch on Netflix. Simply because we couldn’t find a show worth recommending. However, if you know of one, feel free to recommend it in the comments below.

And remember, Netflix isn’t the only streaming service in town. An Amazon Prime subscription comes with Prime Video, and Disney+ is the hottest new streaming app on the market. All of which provide ample opportunity to binge-watch TV shows.

For more recommendations, check out our list of the best TV shows to binge-watch across streaming services.

Read the full article: The A-Z of Netflix: The Best TV Shows to Binge-Watch