One of the best parts ofNetflixis that the streamer doesn’t just produce original shows, but houses many classic TV series for audiences to revisit again and again. There have been many cases whena show that was moderately popular while it was airing finds a significant second life on Netflix,making it into the top ten of shows being streamed around the world.
TheNetflix shows everyone forgot aboutare still available to watch on the service, even if most viewers didn’t dive into their stories while they were airing. However, much of Netflix’s backlog of series comes and goes. This means that audiences should enjoy the series that are currently available to stream on Netflix while they’re still there, and help spark a revival of their popularity.
10Portlandia (2011–2018)
ThoughPortlandiahasn’t gone unnoticed within the sketch comedy community, and has been rediscovered by new audiences many times since it went off the air, now would be a perfect time to revisit the series. While big names in sketch television likeSNLtypically dominate the conversation,Portlandiagot to be even more subversive and ahead of its time.
Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein are pitch-perfect in every sketch they perform.
Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein are pitch-perfect in every sketch they perform, taking on stereotypes and early internet humor of the 2010s. However,Portlandiadoesn’t feel dated as much as it does like a time-capsule of a unique point in comedy and TV history. With famous guest stars and plenty of love for its Portland, Oregon setting, the series has stood the test of time.
Portlandiais far from perfect, and some of the running gags haven’t aged as well as others, but it’s fun to look back on its influence on comedy in general, not just sketch. For viewers looking to take a break from more serious, serialized shows,Portlandiais the ideal series to throw on whenever audiences are in the mood to laugh.
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9Kim’s Convenience (2016–2021)
Generational Differences & Classic Workplace Antics Flesh Out The Story Of Kim’s Convenience
Running for five seasons, the Canadian TV show,Kim’s Convenience, deserves to be much more popular on the international stage, especially since it’s been added to Netflix. Following the titular Kim family, who own and operate a convenience store in Toronto after immigrating from South Korea, the series sees the oldest Kims,Sang-il and Yong-mi, grapple with their differences with their children.
Audiences will recognize Simu Liu, who plays the Kims' son, Jung,whose relationship with his father and their family business is a critical point of tension throughout the early seasons. Though Liu has gone on to star in many famous action franchises, he gives a grounded, believable, and funny performance in the series alongside his castmates.
Though the maintenance of the store and cementing the family’s legacy is a big part of the story inKim’s Convenience, it’s the interpersonal relationships between characters that take center stage. While the series does touch upon some serious topics, it’s a sharp comedy at its core, with actors who deliver when it comes to comedic timing.
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8Pantheon (2022–2023)
An Adult Animated Series That Pushes Boundaries Within The Genre
While audiences typically associate animation with children’s television,Pantheonis far from meant for kids, asit tackles grief, coming-of-age, and the way that new technologies are changing what it means to be human.Following the story of the young Maddie, voiced by Katie Chang,Pantheonsees her uncover a connection between her father’s past and a dangerous new innovation.
Even for viewers who aren’t interested in science fiction, there’s plenty to recommend aboutPantheon.
Pantheonis anAmerican animated TV show that’s as good as anime, thanks to both its vivid art style and the layered storytelling that takes the viewer on an unforgettable journey. Even for viewers who aren’t interested in science fiction, there’s plenty to recommend aboutPantheon. It takes a distinctly human approach to telling the story of its characters and their technological lives.
Though short-lived,Pantheonmade its mark on animated television, especially within the niche of sci-fi. It doesn’t take long to get sucked into both seasons of the TV show, andit won’t be long after finishing the series that audiences will be wishing there were more installmentsof the project.
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7Girlfriends (2000–2008)
A Tale Of Friendship, Family, & Romance Unfolds Over 8 Seasons
Everyone loves to dive into the comforting, hilarious world of a sitcom,and for audiences who have combed through almost every series available on Netflix,Girlfriendsis your perfect next watch. With a stellar ensemble led by Tracee Ellis Ross, Golden Brooks, Persia White, and Jill Marie Jones,Girlfriendsfollows the characters' ups and downs in love and life.
WhileGirlfriendstypically strikes a lighter tone, it doesn’t shy away from touching upon issues such as race, class, sexuality, and gender, which come into play in the characters' interpersonal lives and careers. The developing and complex friendships between the central women are uniquely nuanced, transcending the typical constraints of a sitcom.
Running for eight seasons, there’s no shortage of episodes availablefor audiences to dig into, and this comes with all the drama, love, and upheaval that viewers would expect from a show of this caliber. Though Ellis Ross would go on to star in the acclaimed seriesBlack-ish, it’s fun revisiting her early work, asGirlfriendsis strengthened through her performance.
6Into The Badlands (2015–2019)
This Post-Apocalyptic Series Puts A New Spin On The Genre
The post-apocalyptic genre has been exploding on television in the past few years, with many interesting takes on the tropes and formulas of these stories appearing. However,Into The Badlandsis one of the best and most overlooked additions to the canon,with amazing world-building, exciting action, and characters the audience can root for.
ThoughInto the Badlandsis set in the future, it puts a feudalistic slant on its story,with the characters having to return to traditional methods of warfare and conflict, eliminating the use of too much technology to the series' benefit. It’s fun to feel as if you’ve been swept back in time and are exploring a potential future simultaneously.
Into the Badlandsstrikes the perfect balance of these elements,and is memorable because it incorporates so many different ways that people reacted to the end of the world. Daniel Wu leads the cast as Sunny, a dangerous and powerful man who gets to exercise his skills as a fighter many times throughout the show, which also incorporates a fantastical edge to the narrative.
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5Younger (2017–2025)
Sutton Foster Demonstrates Her Range As A Performer In Younger
Though best known for her contributions to musical theater,Sutton Foster has led the cast of quite a few smart and successful TV shows,includingYounger. The premise of the show is charmingly offbeat, with a strong comedic element as Foster’s character, Liza, decides to get a new lease on life by pretending to be in her mid-20s and entering the publishing industry.
However, she’s in her early 40s and freshly out of a failing marriage, creating inherent tension and drama at every turn as she attempts to balance hiding both sides of her new life. Created by Darren Star, best known for his work onSex and the City,Youngerhas a similar sense of adventure and the ups and downs of navigating adulthood.
New York City also plays a significant role in the show, as Liza gets to reclaim her life and vitality while enjoying the benefits of being young once again in a thrilling metropolitan area. After watchingYounger, audiences should also check out Foster’s short-lived dramedy series,Bunheads, which came from the creators ofGilmore Girls, Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino.
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4Animal Kingdom (2016–2022)
This Intense Family Drama Tackles Some Of Life’s Biggest Questions
Loosely based on the 2010 movie of the same name,Animal Kingdomran for six successful seasons, carving out its niche on television with its unique mix of crime elements and family drama. Unlike most shows about underground criminal empires,Animal Kingdomfocuses on a matriarch,Ellen Barkin’s Janine “Smurf” Cody, who rules the family and provides a toxic form of love.
Every season ofAnimal Kingdomelevates the tension and intrigue as Smurf and her sons build their empire and push the boundaries of their complex relationships.Scott Speedman’s Baz is also a significant characterthroughout the early seasons ofAnimal Kingdom, with the young J (Finn Cole) serving as the audience’s stand-in throughout the series.
ThoughAnimal Kingdomdoesn’t reinvent the crime drama, it shouldn’t be overlooked.
ThoughAnimal Kingdomdoesn’t reinvent the crime drama, it shouldn’t be overlooked, as the performances elevate the well-known ups and downs of these stories, as do the characters' relationships. One of the most interesting parts of the series is the flashbacks to Smurf’s past as a young mother building her reputation and power in their small California town.
3S.W.A.T. (2017–2025)
Shemar Moore Leads A Timely Police Procedural
Fans ofCriminal Mindswill recognize the protagonist ofS.W.A.T., Shemar Moore,who plays Sergeant II Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson Jr., who is tapped to lead his S.W.A.T. unit in the wake of serious racial tensions. Set in Los Angeles,S.W.A.T.touches upon the very real issue of police brutality rampant in the city, and sees Hondo grapple with his position as an officer and an LA native.
Few procedurals are as demonstrably in touch with contemporary social issues, allowingS.W.A.T.to stand out right away compared with other comparable series like those in theChicago Onefranchise. While Moore is the most important character onS.W.A.T., the series does a great job of building out the ensemble as a whole and making each individual memorable.
Classic procedurals likeS.W.A.T.have historically done well on Netflix, with series likeSuitsand Moore’s ownCriminal Mindsall finding new audiences and increased popularity on the service. With eight seasons to dive into,S.W.A.T.is primed to be many viewers' next obsession,with plenty of thrills and excitement playing out onscreen.
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2Warrior (2019–2023)
A Period Setting & Intricate Fight Scenes Take Warrior To The Next Level
Andrew Koji leads the cast ofWarrioras Ah Sahm, a martial artist who arrives in San Francisco in the late 1970s, in search of his sister. With some of the best fight choreography in modern television, it’s shocking thatWarriordidn’t become a smash hit from the beginning, as these action-packed sequences were accompanied by intricate plotting and vivid characters.
It’s not long before Sahm gets caught up in the world of organized crimealongside the other Chinese immigrants who are trying to find their place in the U.S.Warriordoesn’t shy away from the cultural tensions between the immigrant communities in San Francisco. The politics of who controls the city and the illegal, but lucrative, business in its underbelly are a key piece ofWarrior.
It’s the fantastic fights that keep us on the edge of our seats.
Though there are only three seasons ofWarrior, each one is more exciting than the last, as Ah Sahm rises through the ranks of the tongs in San Francisco and comes closer to achieving his ultimate goal. While the narrative thrust ofWarrioris what emotionally connects us to the series, it’s the fantastic fights that keep us on the edge of our seats.
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1Dark Winds (2022–Present)
A Neo-Western Mystery Series With Compelling Central Characters
The neo-Western TV seriesDark Windshasn’t gone unnoticed by fans of the genre, but it’s nowhere close to popular enough, especially based on its narrative trajectory. Following the trio of detectives and FBI agents, Joe Leaphorn, Jim Chee, and Bernadette Manuelito,Dark Windssees the characters solve crimes in the Southwestern U.S.,tackling how these events affect Indigenous communities.
Dark Windsis loosely based on the novels by Tony Hillerman, but has expanded beyond the source material, pushing itself in terms of representation and truth.Set in the 1970s,Dark Windsalso has a nostalgic period feelthat allows for a lot of innovation and exploration in the sets, costumes, and aesthetic of the series.
As the series has progressed, it’s only become more obvious thatDark Windsis something special, and newcomers to the series have the opportunity to watch the first two seasons onNetflix. With only six episodes in a season, it’s easy to be drawn into the mysteries that the central characters have to solve and quickly become invested in the story.
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