Is a lackluster season the greatest sin a TV show can make during its run? Is the test of a truly great show how it locks in season after season of supremely satisfying episodes? Netflix has produced hundreds of originals since debuted in 2013, and while it has had countless behemoths, its track record is certainly uneven.For every hit, there's been a show that's lost the plot along the way—even one of its more recent poster children, , had a less-than-stellar first season, and fans were not thrilled at all with the final season of the most-watched show in Netflix's history, .But a select few Netflix series have managed to pull off something pretty rare—every single season is a winner.
All killer, no filler, no disappointing finales, and all certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes (we checked).While we, of course, acknowledge the greatness of shows like , , and the groundbreaking , among others, they all had their stumbles.The following eight did not.
1 Stranger Things (2016 - 2026) 5 Seasons Never mind the fact that the fourth season of still reigns as the third most-watched Netflix show of all time, but all five of its seasons are certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, with (currently) 97%, 94%, 89%, 90%, and 83% in order.What started as a coming-of-age mystery about a gang of D&D-loving kids on BMX bikes in 1980's Indiana whose friend goes missing, exploded into one of the biggest and most ambitious sci-fi dramas in recent history.Creator brothers Matt and Ross Duffer crafted a gorgeous world of upside-down evil-monster chaos and an unlikely ensemble of young heroes (and bona fide stars) that expanded to new heights.
While the horror and pop-culture references ramped up, the show never lost its emotional core and cliffhanger endings throughout its epic run.Its fifth and final season was one of the most anticipated and satisfying endings (to most, at least) of any show in recent memory, locking down as one of the best shows Netflix has ever created.Stranger Things TV-14 Drama Mystery Horror Science Fiction Release Date 2016 - 2025-00-00 Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming Network Netflix Cast Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, David Harbour, Winona Ryder, Natalia Dyer, Joe Keery, Charlie Heaton, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Priah Ferguson, Maya Hawke, Cara Buono, Brett Gelman, Matthew Modine, Paul Reiser, Dacre Montgomery, Jamie Campbell Bower, Nell Fisher, Sean Astin, Christopher Convery, Eduardo Franco, Joseph Quinn Showrunner Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer Directors Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Andrew Stanton, Frank Darabont, Nimród Antal, Uta Briesewitz Writers Kate Trefry, Jessie Nickson-Lopez, Jessica Mecklenburg, Alison Tatlock Main Genre Drama Creator(s) Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer Producers Rand Geiger, Justin Doble, Lampton Enochs Franchise Stranger Things Seasons 5 Story By The Duffer Brothers Streaming Service(s) Netflix Executive Producer(s) Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen, Curtis Gwinn, Cindy Holland, Karl Gajdusek, Iain Paterson, Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer Powered by Expand Collapse 2 Dark (2017 - 2020) 3 Seasons It's no secret that I'm a big fan of the German sci-fi thriller , and that I personally would take it over any day of the week.
It's three epic seasons of twisting, turning, time-traveling mind-bending, scored a whopping (currently) 90%, 100%, and 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and is one of the most intricately-constructed shows ever made.Its similarities to are not unnoticed, but it's decidedly darker—it starts as a missing-child mystery that unfolds into a saga that spans centuries.The emotional thread keeps ramping up, as do the stakes of annihilation and, ultimately, repetition in an endless loop.
Crucially, also sticks the landing in an epic finale.Dark TV-MA Crime Drama Mystery Science Fiction Supernatural Release Date 2017 - 2020 Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming Network Netflix Cast Louis Hofmann, Lisa Vicari, Andreas Pietschmann, Maja Schöne, Stephan Kampwirth, Paul Lux, Jördis Triebel, Karoline Eichhorn, Axel Werner, Barbara Philipp, Christian Pätzold, Deborah Kaufmann, Hans Diehl, Julika Jenkins, Natascha Paulick, Nina Kronjäger, Nina Weniger, Oliver Masucci, Werner Wölbern, Eric Bouwer, Felix Kramer, Katharina Spiering, Anna König, Jakob Diehl, Lena Dörrie, Moritz Jahn, Nele Trebs, Sammy Scheuritzel, Tom Jahn Showrunner Jantje Friese Directors Baran bo Odar Writers Marc O.Seng, Martin Behnke, Ronny Schalk Main Genre Crime Creator(s) Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese Producers Max Wiedemann, Quirin Berg, Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese, Lars Gmehling, Kelly Luegenbiehl, Justyna Müsch, Erik Barmack Seasons 3 Story By Jantje Friese Streaming Service(s) Netflix Executive Producer(s) Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese, Max Wiedemann, Quirin Berg, Kelly Luegenbiehl, Justyna Müsch, Erik Barmack Powered by Expand Collapse 3 Arcane (2021 - 2024) 2 Seasons It's often referred to as the best adaptation of a video game ever made, and I tend to agree.
Well, so do the critics, as the incredible animated series based on still has a perfect 100% ratings for both of its epic seasons.transcends its source material with its emotional and fierce story of two sisters (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld and Ella Purnell) torn between two sides of a bloody revolution, one side driven by magical technology and the other by military might and politics.It's the most acclaimed animated series Netflix has ever created, and the winner of eight Emmy Awards and 16 Annies.
Arcane TV-14 Animation Drama Action Fantasy Release Date 2021 - 2024 Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming BUY Network Netflix Cast Hailee Steinfeld, Ella Purnell, Kevin Alejandro, Jason Spisak, Toks Olagundoye, Harry Lloyd, Katie Leung, JB Blanc, Shelby Young, Reed Shannon, Amirah Vann, Mia Sinclair Jenness, Yuri Lowenthal, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Roger Craig Smith, Miles Brown, MIYAVI, Fred Tatasciore, Erica Lindbeck, Krizia Bajos, Bill Lobley, Brett Tucker, Kimberly Brooks, Faustino Duran Showrunner Christian Linke Directors Barth Maunoury, Marietta Ren, Christelle Abgrall Writers Amanda Overton, Nick Luddington, Mollie Bickley St.John, Ben St.John, Giovanna Sarquis, Henry G.M.
Jones Franchise(s) League of Legends Main Genre Animation Seasons 2 Streaming Service(s) Netflix Executive Producer(s) Christian Linke, Brandon Beck, Thomas Vu, Marc Merrill, Jane Chung, Brian Wright, Melinda Wunsch Dilger, Arnaud Delord, Alex Yee, Pascal Charrue Powered by Expand Collapse 4 Mindhunter (2017 - 2018) 2 Seasons If you're a fan of slow-burn crime procedurals, but not the watered-down ones on network TV, then do yourself a favor and binge both unflinchingly-excellent seasons of The only complaint is there are two seasons of this groundbreaking show about FBI agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany), the pioneers of late-'70s and '80s criminal profiling who go around to prisons and interview the worst of the worst—from The Co-Ed Butcher to Son of Sam to Charles Manson—to see what makes the tick.Season two has a slight edge on the first, with its brooding BTK subplot, Sadly, even though it was speculated that there may be a third season, showrunner David Fincher's masterpiece series is no more.Rotten Tomatoes critics score currently sits at a huge 96% and 99%, respectively, for both seasons.
Mindhunter TV-MA Drama Crime Thriller Release Date 2017 - 2019 Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming Network Netflix Cast Holt McCallany, Munro M.Bonnell, Jonathan Groff, Hannah Gross, Anna Torv, Stacey Roca, Cotter Smith, Joe Tuttle, David H.Holmes, Julia Crockett, Jordan Gelber, Thomas Philip O'Neill, Lee Sellars, Joanna Lowe, Carter Bratton, Jordan Kantola, Zach Steffey, Leighton Samuels, Chris James Boylan, Felix Solis, Tommy Nohilly, Greg Lang, Peter Murnik, Judith Delgado, Andrew Sensenig, Sonny Valicenti, Zachary Scott Ross Showrunner Joe Penhall Directors David Fincher, Carl Franklin, Andrew Dominik, Andrew Douglas, Asif Kapadia, Tobias Lindholm Writers Joe Penhall, Jennifer Haley, Joshua Donen, Courtenay Miles, Carly Wray, Pamela Cederquist Creator(s) Joe Penhall Producers Jim Davidson, Mark Winemaker, Liz Hannah Seasons 2 Story By Joshua Donen, Josh Douglas, Mark Olshaker, Courtenay Miles Streaming Service(s) Netflix Executive Producer(s) Beth Kono, Ceán Chaffin, Charlize Theron, Courtenay Miles, David Fincher, Jennifer Erwin, Joe Penhall, Joshua Donen Powered by Expand Collapse 5 Derry Girls (2018 - 2022) 3 Seasons By the end of season three of , you might find yourself developing a Northern Irish accent and using words like craic, boke, and ride.
Set in the time of "The Troubles" in the 1990s, Lisa McGee's (check out her latest Netflix show, ) BAFTA-winning ensemble comedy follows five teenagers at a Catholic girls' school as they deal with the often absurd situations of youth against a backdrop of military occupation, political unrest, and, most joyously for the viewer (not the girls), the wonderfully dry antics of Sister Michael (Siobhan McSweeney).Two of its three seasons have a perfect 100% critics' rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the tiniest dip to 97% for season two.is a gem all the way through that's honest, emotional, and wildly hilarious.
Derry Girls Sitcom Release Date January 4, 2018 Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming Network BBC Cast Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Louisa Harland Showrunner Lisa McGee Directors Lisa McGee Writers Lisa McGee Seasons 3 Story By Lisa McGee Streaming Service(s) Netflix Powered by Expand Collapse 6 Castlevania (2017 - 2021) 4 Seasons Proof positive that video game adaptations can be just as incredible and compelling as any live-action series, hands-down, 's short first season was only four episodes, but boy did it make a bloody splash before growing into one of the most creative and action-packed animations Netflix ever released.Based primarily on the 1989 Nintendo game of the same name, the stunning series follows vampire hunter, Trevor Belmont, and sorceress Sypha Belnades as they team up to take on Dracula with the help of his powerful half-vampire, half-human son, Alucard.It's the mindbogglingly intricate fight sequences that will get you, and there are plenty of them.
's four seasons garnered an impressive 83%, 100%, 95%, and 100% ratings, respectively.Castlevania TV-MA Action Animation Adventure Release Date 2017 - 2021-00-00 Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming BUY Cast Lance Reddick, Jaime Murray, Emily Swallow, Adetokumboh M'Cormack, Bill Nighy, Graham McTavish, Tony Amendola, Jason Isaacs, Jessica Brown Findlay, Matt Frewer, Toru Uchikado, Richard Armitage, Rila Fukushima, Alejandra Reynoso, Theo James, Ivana Miličević, Peter Stormare, James Callis Showrunner Warren Ellis Writers Warren Ellis Franchise(s) Castlevania Seasons 4 Story By Konami (Castlevania franchise) Streaming Service(s) Netflix Powered by Expand Collapse 7 The Diplomat (2023 - Present) 3 Seasons I wanted to make sure to include a series that is actually still ongoing, and I immediately thought of Keri Russell's finely-crafted political drama, .My wife and I have thoroughly enjoyed this series for its sharp-as-hell writing, great performances, and the dynamics between many of its major character groups.
Chief among them is the magnetism between U.S.Ambassador to the U.K., Kate Wyler (Russell) and her infuriating husband Hal (Rufus Sewell), whose political ambitions always take front seat to their marriage.was raring to go out of the gate in 2023, and has only gotten better, with season 3 peaking at a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
With season 4 already in development, it's the most exciting currently-airing Netflix drama.The Diplomat TV-14 Documentary Release Date April 23, 2015 Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming RENT BUY Cast Christiane Amanpour, Madeleine Albright, Kofi Annan, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Ronan Farrow, Al Gore, Richard Holbrooke, John Kerry, Henry Kissinger, Strobe Talbott Runtime 104 minutes Director David Holbrooke Powered by Expand Collapse There are, of course, several other Netflix shows that could be added to the list, but we could be here all day running through them all.All of these picks were chosen with popularity and impact in mind, for sure, but each season also had to have at the very least a Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes to be included.
Let me know what else could have made the cut! Netflix Subscription with ads Yes, $8/month Simultaneous streams Two or four Stream licensed and original programming with a monthly Netflix subscription.Live TV No Price Starting at $8/month Visit Netflix Expand Collapse
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