The 40 Highest and Lowest Rated Netflix Original Series

Critics Score: N/A

Audience Score: 80%

Rob Schneider has never exactly been at the top of the comedy pile, content to ride on the coattails of most successful comedians like Adam Sandler after realizing that no one in their right mind would pay to see a third Deuce Bigalow movie. Real Rob was Schneider’s chance to show everyone that he’s still capable of a) being funny and b) carrying his own TV series. Unfortunately, this Netflix Original accomplishes neither of those. Real Rob steals heavily from the concept behind Louis CK’s FX series Louie, depicting an exaggerated version of the comedian’s actual life, with standup sets mixed in, but is a pale imitator on every front.

Almost nothing about this series works, from Schneider’s overreliance on playing into offensive stereotypes to featuring a lead character who is almost completely unlikable. With so many more talented comedians producing better, more insightful comedy series right now (such as Aziz Ansari’s award-winning Master of None, another Netflix Original), Real Rob is about as inessential as it gets and is easily one of the worst things Netflix has produced.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix Canada

Critics Score: 98%

Audience Score: 91%

With the popularity of true-crime TV series like Making a Murderer on the rise, it was only a matter of time before we got a parody of the genre. American Vandal is a mockumentary following a group of high school students who are producing a web series true-crime story about an incident at their school. What is that incident? Well, someone decided to spray paint “a bunch of dicks” on the teachers’ cars in the faculty parking lot.

What initially feels like an opportunity to resort to non-stop penis jokes (which are still hilarious), American Vandal ends up being a funny, well-crafted who-done-it? story. Despite the show being a farce, it’s hard not to become completely invested in finding out just who the culprit is. American Vandal is also an excellent high school drama featuring clever writing and some great performances and should be near the top of your list of shows to watch.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix Canada

Critics Score: 67%

Audience Score: 94%

Another series we really wanted to like is the big-budget Marco Polo. Netflix spent nearly $100 million producing the first season of this historical drama about the famed explorer. And that kind of spending generated a lot of hype, leading up to the 10 episode freshman season dropping on the streaming service. Alas, the ambitious project ended up being a letdown. While viewers seemed to enjoy the series, critics were harsh; labeling the show that follows Marco Polo through 13th-century China as “lifeless,” “sluggish” and “empty.” Many critics labeled this show a Game of Thrones rip-off. The whole thing feels like an expensive debacle. Yet despite the lackluster performance, Netflix renewed the show for a 10 episode second season, which premiered on July 1, 2016. It was officially canceled for good in December 2016.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix Canada

Critics Score: 73%

Audience Score: 92%

Jason Bateman is mostly known for his comedic roles in the likes of Hancock, Horrible Bosses and of course, Arrested Development. He even played the voice of a sly fox in the animated hit Zootopia. So we were definitely among those surprised to learn that he was going full Bryan Cranston and trading in the comedy for a role as a dramatic big-time cartel money launderer in Ozark.

Rather than a slow burn like Breaking Bad, this Netflix original kicks right off with the s**t hitting the fan, as Bateman’s character (Marty Bird) uproots his entire family to the Ozarks in an attempt to pay off Mexican drug lords after being screwed by his former business partner. Soon, the whole family is in on the action, hiding money in the walls and ducking the questions from both locals and FBI agents. Bird’s interactions with the local residents truly make this series worth watching, as he struggles to both keep his secrets and make enough money to prevent his family from being murdered by Mexican criminals. Season two was ordered by Netflix just a month after season one debuted and on October 2018, the series was renewed for a third season, which is scheduled to be released in 2019.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix Canada

Critics Score: 50%

Audience Score: 76%

Released in April 2019, Huge in France is a new comedy series starring French comedian Gad Elmaleh. In an attempt to reconnect with his estranged son, Elmaleh decides to move from France to Los Angeles but quickly realizes that although he’s a big star in France, nobody in America has any idea who he is.

Despite the likable characters and their quirky sense of humor, the story never gets off the ground and our opinion, Elmaleh just isn’t that funny. Huge in France is the kind of show you toss on while doing chores around the house. It’s not terrible by any means, but if you’re in need of a good laugh, we’d suggest something like Master of None or BoJack Horseman.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix

Critics Score: 94%

Audience Score: 94%

Dark is a bit of a strange inclusion on this list, but trust us — just give it a chance. Originally a German web-series, it debuted on Netflix in December 2017 to very little fanfare. Since then, however, it’s attracted a strong following for its creepy sci-fi story of disappearing children, troubled family relationships, and wormholes — yes, wormholes.

To make things easier, the show has been dubbed into English (although you have to endure that annoying thing where the actors’ lips don’t move in sync with their lines sometimes), but you can also enjoy the original German version with subtitles if that’s more your thing. Starring a cast of unknowns, Dark weaves a complex tale in three different times — 2019, 1986, and 1953. We did mention wormholes, right? The show has also been favorably compared to the oddball classic series Twin Peaks and the newer Netflix sensation Stranger Things, which is definitely some solid praise.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix Canada

Critics Score: 38%

Audience Score: 64%

Hemlock Grove was Netflix’s attempt at a horror-thriller. And while we applaud the effort, we can’t endorse the end product. The show is based on Brian McGreevy’s novel of the same name, and, like the book, it examines the strange happenings in Hemlock Grove, a fictional town in Pennsylvania. Starring actors Bill Skarsgard and Landon Liboiron, the show follows a wealthy heir and a newcomer to town as they work together to shed light on a series of brutal murders. Hemlock Grove was one of Netflix’s first original titles, premiering just after the acclaimed House of Cards. Yet Hemlock Grove sunk where House of Cards soared. The series was universally panned by critics, who called out the show for its poor acting and slow pace. Time magazine even named Hemlock Grove one of the worst ten shows on television in 2013. Despite the widely criticized first season, the show was renewed for two more seasons before finally getting axed in 2015.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix Canada

Critics Score: 89%

Audience Score: 89%

The Crown is Netflix’s most expensive TV show to date and indeed, one of the most expensive television productions of all time, but this royal drama’s charms go well beyond its $100 million+ budget. Through its first two seasons, The Crown dramatizes the early days of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, from her ascension to the throne as a young princess in the wake of her father’s death to her political jousting with such figures as Sir Winston Churchill and Jacqueline Kennedy. \

As much a character portrait as it is a broad examination of Britain’s tumultuous post-war years, The Crown pays continued lip service to the often unclear role of a constitutional monarchy in the twentieth century and even today. The series is anchored by incredible performances, particularly from its leads Claire Foy and Matt Smith, who present a royal couple with some serious (and surprisingly relatable) relationship problems. Period piece dramas certainly aren’t everyone’s cup of tea but Netflix has one of the best in recent memory on its hands with The Crown.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix Canada

Critics Score: 37%

Audience Score: 72%

While more recent efforts like The Defenders and The Punisher can largely be seen as a return to form, there was a point not so long ago there where Marvel’s Netflix offerings were on the serious decline. Luke Cage squandered its strong first half with a meandering final batch of episodes that tested viewers’ patience but that series looks like a masterpiece compared to what came next. With its mystical/supernatural-themed source material, Iron Fist could have been something special in the Marvel Netflix universe but instead, it’s a 13-hour slog filled with bad writing, shockingly poor fight scenes, and an absolute snoozefest of a lead character in Danny Rand.

It doesn’t help that Finn Jones turns in a performance that features all the charisma of a wooden door, making it all the more difficult to invest in Rand’s war against The Hand — the mysterious ninja order that, fittingly enough, dragged down the final third of Daredevil’s otherwise excellent second season. On the positive side, at least Iron Fist is largely devoid of essential material, meaning that viewers were able to easily skip it and still understand what was happening in The Defenders.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix Canada

Critics Score: 85%

Audience Score: 85%

A brutally violent R-rated Western starring Jeff Daniels as the bad guy? That’s all you had to say to convince us to watch Godless. The series debuted in late 2017 and was an instant hit — even people who aren’t traditionally Western fans ended up binging their way through this seven-part miniseries. On top of that, The Washington Post and Vanity Fair both named Godless one of the best 10 new shows of 2017, which is high praise when you consider the competition.

Along with a truly mesmerizing performance from Daniels as charismatic gunslinger Frank Griffin, Jack O’Connell (This Is England, Unbroken) and Michelle Dockery (best known for her roles on Downton Abbey and the TNT series Good Behavior) both deliver career-best performances in starring roles. Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Jojen Reed from Game of Thrones) and Merritt Wever (Denise from The Walking Dead) were so good in their supporting roles that we could barely recall their previous work — they were that convincing.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix Canada

Critics Score: 22%

Audience Score: 73%

Another muddled and weird Netflix original program is Between, a sci-fi drama about a pregnant teen (Jennette McCurdy) in the small town of Pretty Lake who discovers that a plague has killed everybody over the age of 21. The series is co-produced by Canada’s CityTV, which is an odd partnership. However, Between is also different in that its episodes air on a week-by-week basis, rather than being released all at once like almost every other Netflix original series. Critics and viewers don’t seem to think it’s worth waiting for the next episode to land. Though the acting has gotten a little bit of praise, most reviewers criticize the series for lacking depth and any kind of interesting storyline. The Hollywood trade magazine Variety called Between “an utterly ho-hum addition to Netflix’s original lineup.”

Source: Screenshot via Netflix Canada

Critics Score: 97%

Audience Score: 95%

Ever since The Silence of the Lambs wowed us all in 1991, interest in FBI serial killer profiling has skyrocketed. There have been dozens of books, TV shows, and movies dedicated to both fictional and non-fictional cases. In 2017, Joe Penhall had the idea to turn one of those books — Mindhuner: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit (by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker) — into a full-blown TV series.

Netflix snatched up the rights, and the show debuted in 2017 to rave reviews. Starring Jonathan Groff and Holt McCallany as a pair of FBI agents who come up with the (then) crazy idea to interview convicted killers in an effort to solve future crimes, Mindhunter gives us a somewhat historically accurate look at the very birth of criminal profiling, a tactic that is used by law enforcement everywhere today but was seen as a wishy-washy pseudoscience just a few decades ago. Like GLOW, a second season has been ordered, meaning we will get some resolution to the cliffhanger ending of season one. The second season of Joe Penhall’s Mindhunter is scheduled to release in August 2019.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix Canada

Critics Score: N/A

Audience Score: 43%

Generally speaking, the track record for anything associated with Richie Rich is not great. The comic book source material wasn’t that great to begin with and only really appeals to very young readers. A 1994 movie starring Macaulay Culkin was atrocious. So there was really no reason for folks at Netflix to think that a live-action program of Richie Rich would work. Nevertheless, this show probably didn’t deserve the lambasting it took online. Internet trolls had a field day with this Netflix original, which stared tween actor Jake Brennan as the world’s richest kid. Unlike the comics, Richie Rich in this series is a self-made “trillionaire,” and lives in a mansion filled with toys, contraptions, and a robot maid. The whole show is a mess and comes off like a terrible live-action Disney program. Richie Rich was part of a partnership with DreamWorks to boost Netflix’s original kid’s programs. It ran for two seasons before Netflix quietly canceled the program.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix Canada

Critics Score: 93%

Audience Score: N/A

Although the two shows are technically unrelated, Manhunt: Unabomber feels like a spiritual sequel of sorts to Mindhunter. It’s set 20 years later and details the massive FBI task force that was trying to discover the identity and whereabouts of the Unabomber aka Ted Kaczynski, a domestic terrorist who used homemade bombs to kill three people and wounded a couple of dozen others.

Starring Sam Worthington (Avatar, Hacksaw Ridge) as FBI profiler Jim Fitzgerald, the show demonstrates how slow the technique of criminal profiling actually progresses. The FBI’s original profile of a killer who was an uneducated airline mechanic from the Ohio area couldn’t have been further from the truth — a truth that was only realized after a careful study of the Unabomber’s writings and his particularly unique dialect. Paul Bettany (who plays the voice of J.A.R.V.I.S. and later Vision in the Marvel Cinematic Universe) is especially excellent playing the troubled Kaczynski. Manhunt: Unabomber is a gripping look at one of America’s most notorious criminals.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix Canada

Critics Score: 37%

Audience Score: 87%

Actor and comedian Will Arnett is great. And when it was announced that he was reteaming with Arrested Development creator Mitch Hurwitz for a Netflix original series, people got excited. But the Netflix show that resulted proved to be a serious disappointment. The eight episodes first season of Flaked follows Arnett as a self-appointed “guru” named Chip who falls for the object of his best friend’s desire. It’s not that funny and not that dramatic; Flaked basically depicts grown men acting like children. There also doesn’t seem to be enough of a story to justify an entire series, which might explain why it only has eight episodes. Entertainment Weekly summed it up best when they said that Flaked is “too cute to be serious and too lame to be funny.” Of course, the show was renewed for a second season, which was released on June 2017, but it’s only six episodes.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix Canada

Critics Score: 93%

Audience Score: 91%

One of the most binge-friendly Netflix originals to date — there are only eight episodes, and each one clock in around the twenty-minute mark — The End of the F**king World is a modernized take on the young rebels in love, Bonnie and Clyde story but with a dark twist. Right off the bat, James (Alex Lawther) explains that he’s a budding sociopath with a desire to kill someone and in walks his rebellious classmate Alyssa (Jessica Barden), who is sick of everyone in her life but sees a possible kindred spirit in James.

In keeping with the spirit of its title, this f**ked up young romance story goes to some totally unexpected places over the course of its short length and is much funnier and affecting than its dark premise would suggest. At its core, The End of the F**king World does what the best coming-of-age stories do, honestly portraying the confusion, horniness, and pain that teenagers deal with. 13 Reasons Why may get all the attention but this is the best of Netflix’s young adult series to date.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix Canada

Critics Score: N/A

Audience Score: 70%

This brings us to the worst Netflix original show to date, Fuller House. We’re not saying this series isn’t popular with viewers. We’re just saying it’s bad. Real bad. The main problem is that, despite a wave of nostalgia sweeping across TV-land, there was no reason to make a new version of the popular 1990s series Full House. Yet Netflix did, and we’re all a little worse off because of it. Really, Fuller House has nothing to offer except a nostalgia-fueled appeal to diehard Full House fans. The series follows the recently widowed D.J. Tanner (Candace Cameron Bure) as she recruits her sister Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) and best friend Kimmy (Andrea Barber) to help her raise her three sons. Most of the original cast members make cameo appearances in the show, which cutely reverses the situation of the classic family sit-com. But, like the original series, Fuller House is full of bad jokes and silly scenarios. The Boston Globe wrote: “Fuller House never justifies its own existence, let alone why the uninitiated should give it a chance.” That about sums it up. Yet, Fuller House is currently one of Netflix’s most widely-watched series on Netflix and as a result, was renewed for a fifth and final season in January 2019.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix Canada

Critics Score: 83%

Audience Score: 78%

Arguably Netflix’s greatest accomplishment when it comes to its stable of Marvel co-productions, Jessica Jones is an intense psychological thriller masquerading as a superhero show. Like its contemporaries, the first season of Jessica Jones suffers from pacing problems and characters and storylines that are little more than filler, but the foundational elements are so strong that these drawbacks are easy to overlook. Much of the praise can be heaped on Krysten Ritter’s title character and David Tennant’s sensational turn as the villainous Kilgrave, a serial abuser with a terrifying set of powers.

With the increased focus on sexual assault victims in the entertainment industry in recent times, Jessica Jones’ tackling of related issues serves as in important reminder that comic book movies and TV shows are capable of pushing the envelope and highlighting thematic concerns that resonate, while also being escapist entertainment.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix Canada

Critics Score: 79%

Audience Score: 81%

Another Netflix original that seems to suffer from its formatting is Chelsea Does. Billed by Netflix as a “documentary series,” Chelsea Does follows comedian Chelsea Handler as she explores different subjects – from marriage to drugs to Silicon Valley. Just how does Handler tackle these subjects? Well, she mostly sits around talking to her friends, most of whom are other comedians, as well as some of her family, and a few psychologists. The whole set-up and “handling” (pun intended) of the series is strange. It’s not a traditional documentary and it’s never very funny. Only four episodes of the series were made for Netflix when it debuted in January 2016 and no plans for a second season of the show have been announced. That’s probably best, as the whole project is pretty lame and you’re never quite sure why you’re watching Handler discuss racism with Reverend Al Sharpton.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix Canada

Critics Score: 78%

Audience Score: 76%

This show was one of the first Netflix Original series to become critically acclaimed, and House of Cards is still a major force to be reckoned with in the crowded world of dramas. The show has brilliant production value and is helmed by Kevin Spacey, who plays the role of a politician who is desperate to get into a higher power. The main themes of the show are manipulation and power, which make this political drama among the best out there. And we aren’t the only ones who feel this way; it was the very first web television series to receive major award nominations (Emmys and Golden Globes), a few of which it ended up taking home.

Of course, with Kevin Spacey’s departure in 2017 following numerous sexual harassment and assault allegations, House of Cards’ pedigree has diminished somewhat but the show remains one of Netflix’s finest offerings.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix Canada

Critics Score: 89%

Audience Score: N/A

Let us say off the top that we really wanted to like this series, as it is an update (or continuation) of the cult sketch comedy series Mr. Show with Bob and David that aired on HBO in the late 1990s. It also stars Bob Odenkirk of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul fame and David Cross, who plays Tobias Fünke on Arrested Development. Like a lot of fans of Mr. Show, we were primed for W/ Bob & David to revive the greatness of that series and update it for the 21st Century. Sadly, as is often the case with projects like this one, too much time has passed since the original series aired. Both Odenkirk and Cross (who were unknowns when Mr. Show debuted on HBO) are considerably older now and known for other work, and the sketch comedy format just doesn’t seem to translate well to a streaming service. The jokes seem flat and stale, and several of them were simply resurrected from the old Mr. Show series. W/ Bob & David ended up being a disappointment.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix Canada

Critics Score: 90%

Audience Score: 81%

This show has easily one of the best ensembles on TV today and its writing is unbelievable as well. Orange Is The New Black focuses on a female minimum-security prison and its inhabitants and is a show obsessed with detail: Every single character has a “voice” and purpose of their own, which is rare on TV today. This kind of character development allows each episode to focus on different ideas and be about different people, which when combined with the show’s willingness to run the gamut between being both hilarious and incredibly dark, make this show an easy choice for this list. The show has also been critically acclaimed and nominated for numerous Emmys and Golden Globes as well!

The seventh and final season of the award-winning series arrives on Netflix on July 26, 2019.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix Canada

Critics Score: 33%

Audience Score: 65%

Netflix’s first French original production, Marseille is a procedural crime drama starring Gerard Depardieu as the long-serving mayor of Marseille as he enters into a war of succession with his former protege, Lucas Barres (Benoit Magimel). Anyone who has watched a lot of procedurals knows that there are some distinct differences between ones produced in the United States and the UK when it comes to the subject matter and visual styles, so one would assume that a French production like Marseille would have a distinctly Francophone flavor.

However, outside of the setting, there is almost nothing unique about Marseilles, a show that borrows liberally from American dramas to the point where even it’s opening credits feel like they were stolen from the latest edition of Law & Order. In a market already crowded with many excellent European crime dramas, Marseille is certainly not worth your time unless you’re especially fond of cliched writing, hammy dialogue, or an overwhelming desire to see some (admittedly lovely) shots of the Marseille cityscape.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix Canada

Critics Score: 96%

Audience Score: 84%

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is a hilarious comedy with a dark side, created by 30 Rock’s Tina Fey and Robert Carlock. The show’s main character is Kimmy, a former victim of a cult, who dives headfirst into a New York City lifestyle with the help of her glamorous and gigantic roommate Titus and other colorful characters. The comedy in this show is great, as it can range from goofy to uncomfortably dark. In addition, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is extremely clever, making it a real shock that NBC passed on picking this show up. Oh well, NBC’s loss is Netflix’s gain.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix Canada

Critics Score: 50%

Audience Score: 75%

Billed as a comedy, Haters Back Off is more cringe-worthy than funny, focused on an unlikeable character and central concept that just can’t sustain a longer episode format. The series follows fictional YouTube star Miranda Sings as she attempts to launch her online career. The conceit is that Miranda is so bratty and overconfident that she’s unaware of how lacking in talent she is when it comes to singing, dancing, acting, and modeling. That being said, the actress/creator behind Miranda Sings, Colleen Ballinger, is undeniably talented and specific audiences will find a lot to enjoy about the show’s particular brand of comedy. The best litmus test is to watch a two-minute Miranda Sings YouTube clip; if you can make it through that and enjoy it, you’ll probably like Haters Back Off. Otherwise, it’s probably best to save yourself the headache and move on to something else.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix Canada

Critics Score: 89%

Audience Score: 94%

Narcos dives into the life of cocaine kingpin Pablo Escobar, and the resulting portrait is fascinating and brilliant all around. At its core, Narcos is nothing without Wagner Moura, whose portrayal of Escobar is hypnotic and near perfect in every way. The whole series feels full of life and fluidity, as scenes can flip from quiet and mundane happenings to blinding violence in a second. The show’s story about a poor kid who grew up to be among the world’s wealthiest drug lords is also about colonization, American intervention, and globalization. A worthwhile watch for anyone who has yet to dive in.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix

Critics Score: N/A

Audience Score: 72%

The fact that Ashton Kutcher has a starring role in this comedy series is quite fitting considering The Ranch is essentially just a Two and a Half Men ripoff, with the key difference being a shift from Charlie Sheen’s Malibu beachfront property to the ranchlands of Middle America. That said, Kutcher and the rest of the show’s cast, which includes Kutcher’s old That ’70s Show castmate Danny Masterson and the always fantastic Sam Elliott, are the least of The Ranch’s problems. The most glaring fault with this formulaic show is that it tries to strike a balance between being a traditional sitcom (laugh track and all) and a more edgy, topical brand of comedy offered by something like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia but ends up doing both formats a disservice.

The other main issue is that The Ranch largely wastes the talents of its cast, especially when it comes to Kutcher and Masterson who, despite their best efforts, can’t seem to achieve the chemistry they shared back in their That ’70s Show days. The Ranch had the potential to become one of the better sitcoms on not just Netflix, but television as a whole but with so many better comedic offerings out there, it’s hard to want to waste the time on the antics of the Bennett clan.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix

Critics Score: 100%

Audience Score: 76%

Based heavily on Nick Kroll and Andrew Goldberg’s teenage years, Netflix’s Big Mouth will remind you, in the most disgusting way possible, that experiencing puberty can be one of the most embarrassingly confusing moments of your life. The animated comedy follows best friends Nick (Nick Kroll) and Andrew (John Mulaney) as they experience everything for the first time; their first kiss, first crushes and in Andrew’s case, first unwanted guest. The Hormone Monster, which is also voiced by Kroll, is a brooding and inappropriately amusing (to some) monster that pops up whenever Andrew becomes aroused, which is a lot in 7th grade. Better yet, like the movie Drop Dead Fred, only Andrew is capable of seeing him.

While it may be hard to believe, hidden under all the dirty jokes and bodily fluid, Big Mouth’s dry humor is remarkable, as the kids say, ‘woke.’ It’s clear that Kroll and Goldberg’s goal was to explore both the lighter and darker side of growing up, and what that all means. Big Mouth also features the voices of Jason Mantzoukas, Jordan Peele, Jenny Slate and SNL alums Maya Rudolph and Fred Armisen. And that’s just the regulars. You can see why Netflix decided to greenlight the second season only a month after the show premiered – honest humor gets laughs, no matter how gross it is.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix

Critics Score: N/A

Audience Score: 62%

A reality series following social media influencer Cameron Dallas and his life of internet superstardom, Chasing Cameron could have been a valuable exploration of a subset of internet culture many are still trying to understand and come to grips with. Instead, the show is little more than a self-promotional tool for its star, who serves as an executive producer.

One gets the sense that Chasing Cameron is the product of two conflicting creative viewpoints: production team Magical Elves’ attempts to present a “warts and all” look at Cameron Dallas and Cameron Dallas’ desire to show a manufactured version of himself that plays well with his fans. Unfortunately, it’s the latter vision that gets the most screen time and indeed, Chasing Cameron played well with the social media star’s legion of followers. But then, if you’re not already one of the converted, it’s hard to know why you would bother watching a show like Chasing Cameron, to begin with.

Source: Netflix Canada

Critics Score: 93%

Audience Score: 91%

Netflix’s biggest pop cultural phenomenon also happens to be one of its best shows. Created by the Duffer Brothers, who shopped the idea around to many different networks before Netflix picked them up, Stranger Things is a melting pot of 80s homages but one that comes together into a satisfying whole that avoids feeling derivative. That’s because, behind all the nods to Spielberg, old school horror, and general 80s pop culture are a compelling group of characters brought to life by a cast of veterans and relative newcomers.

In particular, the young actors deserve credit as they are across-the-board excellent, a combination of talent and strong writing, as Stranger Things effortlessly tells adult stories with children, which is never an easy feat. It remains to be seen whether the show will be able to maintain its high level of quality as it starts to move into later seasons but for now, Stranger Things is required viewing for anyone with a Netflix subscription.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix

Critics Score: N/A

Audience Score: 85%

Netflix has produced a number of food shows, but not all of them are on the same level of quality as the fascinating documentary series Chef’s Table. Case in point: Cooked, a documentary series that follows host Michael Pollan as he explores cooking’s connection to major world issues such as health and the environment. It sounds like a fascinating and important topic, right? While Cooked undeniably raises the bar on food documentaries in terms of coverage, its actual execution leaves much to be desired.

The main problem with Cooked is that is the show’s length and lack of any real solutions or insight into the issues it highlights undermines its effectiveness. It makes for a viewing experience that is designed to make you feel bad about the food you eat but offers little in the way of alternatives. Cooked’s message of culinary advocacy is commendable, but it will probably leave an awful taste in your mouth.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix

Critics Score: N/A

Audience Score: 80%

This show is fantastic, but do not watch it on an empty stomach. Each episode profiles a different chef from various areas of the world and their history, with each episode ending with an up-close examination of their signature dishes, which can make you wish smell-o-vision was a thing. While food shows are normally bloated and overly complimentary, this show is thrilling, beautiful and thoughtful. There are no competitions, loudmouth hosts or otherwise, just the beauty and art of creating magnificent food and meeting the people behind the meal. The show has received critical acclaim by many and is a must-watch for anyone who appreciates good food.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix

Critics Score: 36%

Audience Score: 76%

Based on the true story of Sophia Amoruso, a startup millionaire who hit the big time with her vintage fashion brand Nasty Gal, Girlboss is a scripted comedy series that comes off as more annoying than funny. Much of this can be attributed to the show’s main character, as the fictional Sophia (played by Britt Robertson) could very well be one of the most irritating TV protagonists in recent memory. The self-centered and spoiled Sophia makes Girlboss an incredibly frustrating viewing experience and it’s even more disappointing considering Robertson’s performance is actually pretty good (yes, performance can be good and unlikable at the same time). Based on its premise, Girlboss should have caught on as an empowering feminist series but poor reviews and viewer apathy prompted Netflix to cancel it after only one season.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix

Critics Score: 83%

Audience Score: 81%

Technology is great, right? It makes our lives easier and has become an integral part of humanity’s daily routines. But for all the good things about scientific advancement, there are just as many bad implications. We’ve already seen the impact of things like online privacy concerns, government censorship, and difficult ethical questions over things like cloning, surveillance, and online bullying.

Black Mirror began as a Channel 4 exclusive in the U.K. before Netflix snapped up the exclusive rights to make Seasons Three and Four. Created by Charlie Brooker, the series explores the dark side of technology as it might develop in the not-to-distant future. The show is part sci-fi, part horror, and part a warning to humanity — telling us not to become too dependent on computers as we sprint into the coming decades. Black Mirror is as brilliantly entertaining as it is brutally terrifying.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix

Critics Score: 39%

Audience Score: 92%

A psychological thriller series starring Naomi Watts and Billy Crudup, Gypsy had the look of an A-list prestige series but a great cast and high production values could not mask what was at its core was just another bland drama. Watts stars as a Manhattan therapist who starts exploring a second life through an emotional affair with a female barista (Sophie Cookson). Gypsy ends up playing out like a watered-down version of Showtime’s The Affair, as its “dual lives” premise ultimately falls flat and is nowhere near as provocative as it thinks it is. One could best sum up Gypsy as having all the necessary components to create a compelling TV drama but has no idea how to employ any of those components effectively. Unsurprisingly, Netflix canceled this expensive misfire after only 10 episodes.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix

Critics Score: 93%

Audience Score: 95%

This is a unique inclusion on this list as it is an animated series. Animated series are rarely ever given a chance to produce an actual narrative or storyline, and are instead usually used to tell an endless string of stories in an unchanging universe on an episode to episode basis (Think Family Guy and The Simpsons). And then there’s BoJack Horseman, a Netflix Original series that delivers a surprisingly deep and meaningful story about the psychology and mind of a former sitcom star that also happens to be a horse. As voiced by Will Arnett, BoJack is an alcoholic trying to write his memoirs with the help of a ghostwriter. Yes, it’s a world in which animal puns flow like water, of course, but it’s also an interesting look at the ways in which fame can change people.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix

Critics Score: 19%

Audience Score: 83%

Disjointed follows the daily life of cannabis legend Ruth Feldman (Kathy Bates), as she lives out her dream of running a marijuana dispensary with the help of her newly graduated son Travis and other ‘budtenders.’ Now, while that may sound like the perfect ‘binge-worthy’ show for you and your mates, it’s so much worse than it looks. Sure, Kathy Bates running a dispensary is indeed funny from a conceptual standpoint but unfortunately, the show’s writers didn’t get the memo. Other than Bates and Carter the security guard (Tone Bell), the cast is completely forgettable. Making matters worse, the two annoying stoners who turn up in every episode — Dank and Dabby — will make you want to mute the TV and join a youth group.

In all fairness, the show does attempt to shed some light on the medical benefits of medical marijuana, but they did such a poor job, that it will confuse the unaware and turn away the converted. With a better cast and stronger writers, Disjointed could have been another hit for Netflix but instead, you can put it in the bargain bin with the Iron Fists of the world.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix

Critics Score: 92%

Audience Score: 92%

Daredevil is simply one of the best superhero shows on TV. It is superior to anything we have seen in a while, with a storyline that packs a far grittier wallop than anything else in the genre. The writing is solid, the conversation between characters is great, and rarely does TV get fight scenes as gorgeous and well-choreographed as this. That sort of thing is normally reserved for film. This is one of the most-watched Netflix Original series out there for good reason, as its entertainment value is through the roof. Its second season is even more ambitious than the first, introducing Jon Bernthal’s Punisher, a character who proved so popular that he ended up getting his own Netflix series! Despite an up-and-down second season, Marvel’s Daredevil is one of the most ambitious Netflix Originals to date and laid the groundwork for a compelling shared universe involving multiple heroes and series, including Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, The Defenders, and The Punisher.

Unfortunately, shortly after Marvel’s Daredevil was renewed by Netflix, the streaming service revealed that the show would be coming to an end at the conclusion of the third season, which aired on October 19, 2018.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix

Critics Score: 25%

Audience Score: 88%

With a cast comprised of names like Cobie Smulders, Keegan-Michael Key, Fred Savage, and Billy Eichner, Friends from College should have been one of the best new comedy series of 2017 but its strong stable of actors is about the only thing this disappointing sitcom has going for it. Following a group of old college friends, as they navigate their messy, intertwined (and often romantic) lives while living in New York City, Friends from College tries to be a Friends for a new generation but lacks the one thing that made that ’90s sitcom so beloved: actual friendships.

Pretty much every character in Friends from College is written as a terribly selfish person who treat each other awfully, which leaves you questioning how these people are even friends. It also doesn’t help that the show puts a heavy emphasis on a misguided adultery storyline rather than relatable early mid-life issues, which only makes these characters even more unlikable. The cast (Key especially) do their best to elevate the subpar writing by being as funny as possible, but it’s still not enough to make Friends from College a show worth recommending to your actual friends (unless you’re looking for a way to lose them forever).

Source: Screenshot via Netflix

Critics Score: 100%

Audience Score: 90%

Aziz Ansari’s comedic drama series is anything but your typical sitcom, presenting an emotionally honest depiction of the Millenial experience that has formed the basis of so much of Ansari’s work up to this point. Master of None’s ambitious structure is one of its greatest strengths, as the second season in particular features a selection of standalone episodes that deviate from the main narrative path involving Ansari’s character Dev and his experiences with modern love.

“First Date” is a manifesto for the Tinder generation as it explores the emptiness and confusion that comes along with dating in the internet age, while “Thanksgiving” may just be one of the best coming out stories in television history. Funny, enlightening and emotionally satisfying, Master of None is one of the best comedy series of the 21st century and one of Netflix’s absolute gems.

Source: Screenshot via Netflix