So it’s Friday afternoon and you’re already thinking about your weekend plans. For most of us, that includes at least a few hours on the couch with Netflix. Maybe the weather’s terrible outside. Maybe you’re just exhausted from holiday shopping. Maybe you ate too much at last night’s party and movement isn’t really an option right now.
Whatever your reason, you’re going to end up scrolling through Netflix at some point. And that’s where the problem starts.
Netflix has thousands of shows available right now. Like, actually thousands. Some of them are incredible television that’ll stay with you for weeks. Others? You’ll forget them before the credits finish rolling. The hard part is figuring out which is which before you’ve already wasted two hours.
I spent last weekend doing exactly that—scrolling for what felt like forever, starting three different shows, giving up on all of them. So this weekend, I did the research for both of us. Checked what’s trending best series to watch on netflix, dove into Reddit discussions, scrolled through TikTok reactions, and figured out what’s actually worth your time.
No fluff. No “give it three episodes and it gets better” nonsense. Just shows that grab you from the start.
What’s Blowing Up Right Now
Before we get into the full list, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Stranger Things Season 5 dropped Volume 2 on Christmas Day and it’s absolutely everywhere. Perfect timing if you need something to watch after your Christmas Eve dinner while everyone’s still in food coma mode.
If you haven’t caught up yet, this weekend’s probably your last shot before someone ruins the ending for you. The finale drops on New Year’s Eve, so the clock’s ticking.
But Stranger Things isn’t the only thing worth watching. There’s some really solid stuff that came out recently that’s flying under the radar.
1. Stranger Things (Season 5)
Genre: Sci-Fi Horror / Mystery
Episodes: Volume 2 just released
Why watch it: The Duffer Brothers are ending it. For real this time.
If you’re not watching Stranger Things right now, you’re either intentionally avoiding pop culture or you’ve been living off the grid. After eight years of building this story, they’re actually wrapping it up. No more seasons after this one.
Volume 1 left us hanging in the absolute worst way possible. Volume 2 answered maybe half the questions while throwing a dozen new ones at us. The finale runs over two hours and they’re doing theatrical screenings on New Year’s Eve—they’re really going for it.
What makes the show work is that mix of 80s nostalgia with genuinely scary moments and characters who feel real. If you started back in 2016, you need to see how it ends. If you’re somehow new to this—seriously, what are you waiting for?
Perfect for: Anyone with a Netflix subscription and a pulse. If you haven’t watched Stranger Things by now, we need to have a conversation.
2. A Man on the Inside
Genre: Comedy / Mystery
Episodes: Limited series
Why watch it: Ted Danson doing what Ted Danson does best.
Michael Schur created this one. Yes, the same guy who gave us The Good Place and Parks and Recreation. Ted Danson plays a retired professor who gets bored with retirement and decides to become a private investigator.
Sounds pretty straightforward, right? But Schur knows how to take a simple premise and make it work. The show’s funny without beating you over the head with jokes. It’s got heart without being syrupy. There’s enough mystery to keep things interesting without making your brain work overtime on a Saturday morning.
Danson’s perfect in this role—charming without being smarmy, funny without trying too hard. And it’s one of those rare shows where you can watch it with basically anyone and nobody’s going to hate it.
Perfect for: Lazy weekend mornings, fans of Only Murders in the Building, when you need something easy and satisfying
3. The Abandons
Genre: Western Drama
Episodes: Limited series
Why watch it: Two powerhouse actresses having a land war in the Old West.
Netflix has this pattern of dropping quality Westerns during the holidays. We got Godless a few years back, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, and now The Abandons continues that tradition.
The setup’s pretty intense: mid-1800s Washington Territory, Lena Headey plays an Irish immigrant who built a life on silver-rich land with her adopted family. Gillian Anderson plays a wealthy woman who wants that land and isn’t asking politely.
The tension between these two is electric. The cinematography’s stunning—they really captured that harsh, beautiful frontier feel. And the performances, especially from Headey and Anderson, are career-best level. If you’ve been missing the political scheming from early Game of Thrones (you know, before the final season happened), this scratches that itch.
Perfect for: Western fans, anyone missing peak Game of Thrones drama, people who appreciate really good acting
4. Adolescence
Genre: Crime Drama
Episodes: 4-part limited series
Why watch it: It’s getting “best show of 2025” mentions from critics everywhere.
Fair warning right up front: this show is rough. Emotionally rough. You’re going to need time to process it after you finish.
Adolescence follows a family whose entire world collapses when their 13-year-old son gets arrested for murdering a classmate. Stephen Graham—who was incredible in Boiling Point—gives maybe his best performance ever as the father watching his life disintegrate in real time.
There’s no sensationalism here. No dramatic music cues telling you how to feel. The show just sits with the horror and humanity of an impossible situation. Critics keep calling it one of the most important things Netflix has produced, and watching it, you understand why.
This isn’t something you put on for fun Friday night entertainment. Watch it when you’re ready to feel something heavy and real.
Perfect for: Serious drama fans, people who loved Mare of Easttown, anyone wanting award-caliber television
5. Emily in Paris (Season 5)
Genre: Romantic Comedy / Drama
Episodes: Full season available
Why watch it: Because your brain needs a break sometimes.
Look, Emily in Paris isn’t winning any Emmys. The fashion’s ridiculous, the storylines are absurd, and Emily makes baffling choices basically every episode.
But you know what? It’s fun. Season 5 has Emily ping-ponging between Paris and Rome, juggling career drama and romantic chaos. Is it realistic? Not even a little bit. Are you going to watch the whole season in one sitting? Probably yes.
Sometimes you just need a show where your biggest concern is which designer outfit someone wore to a café meeting. There’s no shame in that.
Perfect for: Brain-off weekend watching, wine with friends, fashion lovers, your guilty pleasure time
6. The Diplomat (Season 2)
Genre: Political Thriller
Episodes: Full season
Why watch it: Political drama that actually respects your intelligence.
Remember The West Wing? Now imagine that show had more international intrigue and actual explosions. That’s The Diplomat.
Keri Russell plays Kate Wyler, the US ambassador to the UK trying to prevent an international crisis while her marriage implodes and political conspiracies stack up around her. Season 2 picks up right after Season 1’s absolutely insane cliffhanger and the momentum doesn’t stop.
What I love about this show: it treats viewers like adults. The political maneuvering is genuinely complex. The dialogue is sharp and fast. Characters make real mistakes with actual consequences. This is Netflix doing prestige television the right way.
Perfect for: Political junkies, thriller fans, anyone exhausted by fantasy and wanting something grounded in reality
7. Squid Game (Season 2 Hype)
Genre: Thriller / Survival
Episodes: Season 1 complete (rewatch recommended)
Why watch it: Season 3 drops in June 2026—get ready now.
Okay, Season 2 isn’t available yet. But with Season 3 confirmed for June 2026, this is actually the ideal time to rewatch Season 1. Or finally watch it if you somehow missed the cultural phenomenon of 2021.
The concept: desperate people playing children’s games for life-or-death stakes. What starts as a wild survival thriller becomes this deeper commentary on capitalism, desperation, and human nature. And it’s just brilliantly executed television.
If you watched it back in 2021, you remember the major moments but probably not all the details. Rewatching when you know what’s coming changes the whole experience—you catch foreshadowing and character moments you completely missed the first time.
Perfect for: Getting ready for Season 3, thriller fans, Korean drama lovers, catching up on what everyone was talking about
8. Wednesday (Rewatch or First Watch)
Genre: Mystery / Comedy / Horror
Episodes: Season 1 complete
Why watch it: Jenna Ortega owns this role completely.
Wednesday was Netflix’s biggest English-language show when it launched, and that success isn’t surprising. Taking Wednesday Addams and dropping her into a supernatural mystery at Nevermore Academy is just smart programming.
Jenna Ortega completely nails the deadpan Wednesday energy. Tim Burton’s direction gives everything this gorgeous gothic aesthetic. The show isn’t trying to change your life or make grand statements—it’s just trying to entertain you for eight episodes. And it succeeds.
Plus Season 2’s coming at some point, so now’s a solid time to refresh your memory before new episodes drop.
Perfect for: Dark humor fans, Addams Family nostalgia, binge-watching with teenagers
9. The Crown (Final Season Rewatch)
Genre: Historical Drama
Episodes: All 6 seasons complete
Why watch it: A massive achievement in television history.
The Crown is finished now. Six seasons, three different casts, decades of British royal history brought to life. That’s a genuinely ambitious project and they actually pulled it off.
You can start from Season 1 or jump to specific seasons—Season 4 covering Princess Diana remains the standout. The acting, costumes, and cinematography are all top-tier throughout. This is prestige television done exactly right.
Perfect for when you want something sophisticated that’s still completely bingeable on a rainy weekend.
Perfect for: History enthusiasts, period drama fans, anyone needing a break from sci-fi and fantasy
10. Avatar: The Last Airbender (Live Action)
Genre: Fantasy Adventure
Episodes: Season 1 complete
Why watch it: They actually respected the source material.
The live-action Avatar had massive expectations to meet—the original animated series has a devoted fanbase for good reasons. And while it’s not flawless, it’s a genuinely solid fantasy show that clearly respects what came before.
The bending effects look impressive, the cast fully committed to their roles, and the world-building translates well to live-action. If you grew up with the cartoon, this’ll hit your nostalgia buttons hard. If you’re new to Avatar, it’s just a well-done fantasy adventure with real heart.
Bonus: it’s family-friendly, which is increasingly rare for Netflix. You can actually watch this with kids without constantly worrying about what scene might pop up next.
Perfect for: Fantasy fans, family viewing, anyone wanting visually impressive escapism
Quick Comparison Table
| Show | Vibe | Binge Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stranger Things | Epic finale energy | Full weekend | Everyone |
| A Man on the Inside | Cozy mystery | One evening | Comfort watching |
| The Abandons | Intense Western drama | Weekend afternoon | Drama lovers |
| Adolescence | Devastating and powerful | One sitting (4 episodes) | Serious viewers |
| Emily in Paris | Light and fun | Easy binge | Guilty pleasure time |
| The Diplomat | Political tension | Few evenings | Thriller fans |
| Squid Game | Dark survival | Rewatch over weekend | Korean drama fans |
| Wednesday | Dark comedy fun | Quick binge | Goth vibes |
| The Crown | Royal prestige | Pick your season | History nerds |
| Avatar | Fantasy adventure | Full season | Family viewing |
Final Thoughts
Netflix’s library is overwhelming. There’s more content than anyone could possibly watch in a lifetime. That’s simultaneously amazing and exhausting.
These 10 shows represent what’s genuinely worth your time right now if you’re watching in the US. Whether you want something intense like Adolescence or Stranger Things, something cozy like A Man on the Inside, or something in between—you’ve got options on this list.
My recommendation? Start with Stranger Things if you’re not caught up. Social media spoilers are inevitable at this point, and you don’t want to be the person who has the ending ruined by a random tweet. After that, pick based on your mood.
And if you somehow watch all of these this weekend? Squid Game Season 1’s always there waiting for another watch.
Enjoy your weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Stranger Things Season 5 is absolutely dominating Netflix in the US right now. Volume 2 dropped on Christmas and everyone’s talking about it before the finale hits New Year’s Eve.
Emily in Paris or Wednesday work perfectly for group watching. Both are light enough that you can talk during episodes but entertaining enough that everyone stays engaged.
Yeah, several new releases this month. The Abandons just premiered, Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2 dropped on Christmas, and Netflix launched a bunch of other shows. They’re not slowing down.
Try Wednesday for similar supernatural mystery vibes but with a lighter, more comedic tone. Or go with Squid Game for something equally intense but in a completely different style.
Yes, and it’s as emotionally brutal as everyone says too. It’s genuinely some of the best television you’ll see this year. Just be prepared going in—this isn’t light entertainment.
Go with the limited series if you’re short on time:
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- A Man on the Inside (short and completely satisfying)
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- Adolescence (just 4 episodes but you won’t forget it)
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- The Abandons (complete story, no long-term commitment)
