Top 13 Netflix Original Series To Watch In 2020

Ever wonder what Netflis shows are actually good? Well hears a place to start off your Netflix binge fest.

1. The Witcher

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Imagine if Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings had a baby but it does take itself too seriously sprinkling in comedic relief and nurturing fantasy storytelling— that is The witcher! It pays homage to its muse The witcher game series by embodying all the aspects of the story based game play including side quests, POV battles and the bard, Jaskier, following our hero we love to hate while singing songs of his glory. There is no denying that at first the witchers story line is slightly confusing but you’ll catch up once you realize that we are following three separate stories that will soon converge. We follow Gerald of Rivia, our stoic witcher, a badass monster hunter for hire who just can’t seem to get away from supernaturally powerful females. Yennefer of Vengerberg our unimaginably powerful resident feminist sorceress, who has some emotional flare ups from time to time— YIKES! Finally, we have our innocent—and somewhat clueless— Ciri, a princess on the lam after the overthrow and genocide of her home, she may look like a meek little girl, she holds a powerful secret.

2. You

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Penn Badgley, from Gossip Girl, plays a devilishly handsome scumbag who goes by the name of Joe Goldberg. On the outside Joe seems like a sweet quiet man who runs a little bookshop in the city. Behind the the mask however joe is not as he seems, harboring a dangerously possessive personality, along with other psychotic traits. Soon he sets his sights on courting a beautiful mysterious blonde, Beck (Elizabeth Lail). Joe’s courting quickly turns to stalking Beck, finding a way in her apartment, taking her entitled on and off again boyfriend hostage, and peeping in on her— often. Dating in the modern world is like trying to navigate a hellscape, the show just solidifies that idea.

3. Atypical

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A family sitcom and coming of age story about Sam Gardner (Keir Gilchrist) an 18-year-old with autism. We follow him as he tries to navigate the world as a teenager and watch his trials and tribulations through figuring out how to be a “normal” boy. He decides he wants to start navigating the teenage world of dating and sex, like anyone else stepping into this world for the first time he’s awkward and doesn’t know what to do. We witnessed him have many awkward encounters with women, have a very misguided crush on his female therapist and his peculiar first relationship with a girl from his class. It also follows the relationship challenges of his father and mother along with his sister. She stands out as one of the most prevalent characters as she deals with her love-hate relationship of her brother and his daily struggles with autism. It’s a lovely show about learning to grow up and be independent, figuring out how to let go and continue on.

4. Big Mouth

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An animated, very adult coming of age comedy with over exaggerated yet familiar life problems. We follow a group of middle schoolers blossoming into the horrid avenues of puberty. At first we mainly follow Andrew who’s going through some of the most awkward and inconvenient changes as a boy experiencing puberty. All the middle school trauma comes from our wonderfully perverted yet funny hormone monster Maurice. He is the epicenter of all these hilarious happenings as he gains pleasure — sometimes literally— by torturing his charge, Andrew. The show can be so painfully accurate but makes us laugh about the angst ridden time that is now in most of our past.

5. Black Mirror

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Each episode of this show is it’s own complete story. So for the modern media consumer who can’t seem to stay on track with one lengthy show this is an amazing series. The themes revolve around either modern times with technological twists or fantasized technology of a far off future. It warns us about the dangers that can come with the misuse of all we have accessible to us in the modern age. More often than not it is compared to The Twilight Zone due to the thought-provoking nature in many of the episodes, leaving us wondering, staring at walls and contemplating what we’ve seen. The show is so brilliantly written in each story line that no matter how much you think you have a hold of television cliches you will still be surprised at some point. With Black Mirror sharp twist interns are the name of the game.

6. Sex education

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This awkward sex ridden comedy takes place in the UK. Following all the grungy, cringe worthy parts of being a teenager in public school, navigating the he said she said situations associated with blossoming sexual relationships. This series follows Otis as he tries to navigate the “talk” with his mother, a sex therapist, — no pressure there. He follows in his mother’s footsteps dealing out free sex therapy to his sex crazed peers in his underground therapy ring run by his friends. With its 80’s aesthetic in a modern age setting the show stands out among comedy of it genre. There is real thought put into each of the teenage dilemmas, making it all feel pure and raw.

7. Orange is the New Black

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Orange is the New Black is an interesting social commentary about prison that sprinkles in comedic relief at the exact moment you need it most. The cast is diverse in the best ways possible giving us a plethora of fans favorites. The show break down stereotypes about women's prison, what brought people to correctional facilities and people of different ethnic backgrounds. the acting is spot-on making you think this is some kind of hidden camera show in a real women's prison. The brilliant and witty writing keeps you on the edge of your chair begging for more prison hijinx. It shows us that no matter what poor decisions you have made in your life we are all human and can relate. The show hits all the good emotional points making us laugh, cry, get furious and quenching one’s thirst for romance.

8. Chilling adventures of Sabrina

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With the same aesthetic as the beloved Riverdale we settle ourselves in the peculiar town of Greendale. This wonderful town gives you a Halloween all year round kind of feel. However this Halloween eternity is not all jack-o'-lanterns and cute princess costumes, witches and the occult run rampid. When I say witches I don't mean sage and clearing chakras with rocks I mean praise Satan style witches. We follow Sabrina Spellman, not the classic Sabrina you know, but a badass witch who's ready to sacrifice anyone just to keep Satan himself away from her. She tries to juggle ordinary life and being a witch, in this universe it's one or the other. With her 16th birthday approaching she has to decide now, sign the book of the Beast or Be an outcast to her family and other witches alike. The creepiness of The Slice of life show is revitalizing as we see Sabrina deal with normal teenage things including boys and difficult friendships. Of course her Supernatural threats add a dire twist to everything any teenage girl has to deal with all the viewer can really think is good luck Sabrina.

9. Spinning Out

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Spinning Out is a Netflix original series featuring Kaya Scodelario from the popular U.K show “Skins' which is also on Netflix. In Spinning Out, Kaya plays Kat Baker, an aspiring Olympic ice skater who suffers a traumatic brain injury during a competition. After suffering this injury, Kat is terrified to do a triple jump because this is what she was doing when she fell during the competition. The show also follows her in her struggles with bi-polar disorder and her family issues due to her mother who also was a skater and has bipolar disorder. The show highlights her trials and tribulations in the skating community, her disorder, and her love life. The show makes a commentary on the pressures athletes are faced with and highlights Kat’s disorder and struggles. This is interesting, because when Kaya played the role of Effy Stonem on skins Effy also had bipolar disorder. This makes Kaya perfect for her role in spinning out.

10. Bojack Horseman

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An animated comedic, yet depressing show about the life of washed up celebrity Bojack Horseman. We follow him through his self-destructive shenanigans as we see him push everything good in his life away. Furthermore we watch as he tries to drunkenly stagger his way back up to the top in his acting career. Though Bojack is very misguided, constantly, the show is a good laugh that at times makes fun of your favorite celebrities. The show starts off goofy as it evolves into a more serious and somewhat sad plot still adding in hilarious elements as it comments on pop culture.

11. Stranger Things

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The show is a mix of 80s themed nostalgia, with a good dose of science fiction nightmare. The things that go bump in the night and the unbelievable become real in this engaging show. We open with the classic yet almost cliché scene of a scientist fooling quickly down the hall as a terrifying force follows close behind just out of frame. He seems to have just narrowly missed it when lo and behold he snapped up and he screams slowly fade out as we head to the next scene, a strong start for a strong show. Curious creatures chased by the government, kids who have gotten way too far in over their head with their little adventure, teenage angst and a terrifying psychic little girl, I give you Stranger Things.

12. The end of the F***ing world

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A wonderfully funny and heartwarming show Hidden behind the guise of a psychopathic teenage boy trying to kill an unsuspecting girl. The show manages to have it all. We follow James, our resident psychopath, and Alyssa, our carefree rebel who has been dealt the short end of the stick. She’s convinced our sociopath James to be her boyfriend and soon gets him to run away with her, which honestly wasn’t hard since he’s been itching to murder someone— lovely. They get into ridiculous shenanigans as James fails to murder Alyssa at every turn. Just when James thinks his murderous moment has come things take a turn for even worse and the two go from secret foes to complete allies as they go on the lam. The shenanigans and thrills continue to ensue.

13. Disenchantment

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From the creators of the Simpsons and Futurama we get this grungy fantasy world. We follow Bean as she tries to fight for her independence as a woman—which honestly doesn’t exist at the time. The jokes are hilarious as we watch Bean be a complete disaster at every turn, befriending a demon and a quirky little elf. And our first episode we see that she is meant to be married to someone she’s never met during the ceremony she accidentally murdered him— soon you see this is an everyday event for Little Bean. She’s fun-loving and free spirited, angering her father the very controlling yet loving King. In every episode she finds a way to leave a complete wake of destruction in her path but who would she be if she didn’t do that. Her shenanigans range from anything from murder to a complete collapse of an entire kingdom. Disenchantment has all the good parts of Futurama and the comedic idiocracy of The Simpsons, giving us a medieval masterpiece.