Any avid Netflix viewer knows the struggle of waiting for new seasons of our favorite shows. With huge hit series like "Orange is the New Black" and "House of Cards" being binge-watched in less than a day (if you’re crazy-obsessed like me), you could be waiting another year for a new season. Luckily, Netflix has plenty of other original series that are under the radar to hold you over.
1. "The Fall" (Two Seasons Currently Streaming)
If you saw Jamie Dornan’s performance as Christian Grey in "Fifty Shades of Grey," don’t let that discourage you from watching this series. This crime drama follows the lives of two major characters, a Belfast detective who is brought in to solve a series of murders and the serial killer she is hunting. It was picked up for a third season earlier this year, which allows for plenty of binge-watching time before it returns.
2. "BoJack Horseman" (Two Seasons Currently Streaming)
If you need a good laugh and a break from reality, look no further. "BoJack Horsemen" is a washed-up star of a 80s sitcom, "Horsin’ Around," who is trying to make a comeback with a tell-all biography while also dealing with the troublesome people (or fellow animals) in his life. If you love shows that push the envelope and are borderline inappropriate (think "Family Guy") you will love this series.
3. "Marvel’s Daredevil" (One Season Currently Streaming)
Based on the Marvel Comic’s character of the same name, this show follows Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer who uses his heightened senses to fight crime at night as Daredevil. Although previous adaptations of Daredevil were not well-received, (see the 2003 film starring Ben Affleck), this show was generally praised by critics and audiences, scoring a 9.0/10 rating on IMDB. No, there is no Ben Affleck in this series, which is a personal disappointment for me. However, Charlie Cox is great as Daredevil, and isn’t so terrible to look at either.
4. "Sense8" (One Season Currently Streaming)
This show has become my recent obsession. "Sense8" follows the lives of eight strangers who mysteriously become mentally and emotionally connected to one another and try to live their lives as normally as possible while being able to use each other’s knowledge and skills as their own. This show only recently premiered on Netflix in June, but has already scored a 4.2/5 star rating on Netflix by over 900,000 users.
5. "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" (One Season Currently Streaming)
While Netflix has many great drama series, for a while it was seriously lacking in the comedy department. This sitcom, which premiered on Netflix earlier this year, follows the life of 29 year old Kimmy Schmidt as she adjusts to her new life in New York City after escaping a cult in Indiana. This series was nominated for seven Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series. If that isn’t enough to get your attention, it was also created and written by Tina Fey. Let’s face it, anything Tina Fey writes is amazing, (*cough cough* "Mean Girls").
6. "Chef’s Table" (One Season Currently Streaming)
This is Netflix’s one and only documentary series. Each of the six episodes follows a different world-renowned chef from across the globe. If you’re a foodie like me, you will love this series. Besides having a behind-the-scenes look into these chef’s kitchens and their delectable, unique dishes, you also get a look at their lives, passions and struggles. It’s a nice change from watching Gordon Ramsay scream his head off.
7. "Hemlock Grove" (Two Seasons Currently Streaming)
Sadly, this show was recently cancelled and will be coming back for a third and final season sometime in 2016. However, it is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated series on Netflix. Set in the fictional town of Hemlock Grove, Pennsylvania, this series follows Peter Rumancek and Roman Godfrey. Coming from very different backgrounds, the boys form an unlikely friendship and set out to solve the murder of two teenaged girls that Peter has been wrongly accused of. If you love horror, mystery and things of the supernatural nature, this show has all of that. Also, blood…. lots and lots of blood.
8. "Happy Valley" (One Season Currently Streaming)
This crime drama follows Catherine Cawood, a police sergeant who is grieving her daughter’s suicide while at the same time trying to find the man she believes is responsible. Originally a mini-series, the first season only has six episodes, which is perfect if you don’t want to spend a lot of time binge-watching. However, it was recently renewed for a second season due to premiere in 2016, so fans won’t be left hanging for too long.
