As a college student, I watch A LOT of Netflix. I don't have cable television in my dorm room, so Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming services like them are basically my only options when it comes to watching shows or movies. Netflix and I have become great pals throughout my first year of college, and with it being basically my only source of television, I have encountered a ton of great new shows that I have absolutely loved.
When I need (or rather want) to procrastinate, or on the (incredibly rare) occasion that I have nothing better I should be doing, Netflix is there for me. And it can be there for you too if you let it. For everyone else like me who sometimes feels like there is nothing left to watch, here is a list of every great show I've encountered on Netflix so far, in no particular order.
Santa Clarita Diet
Santa Clarita Diet is a Netflix original series featuring Drew Barrymore as an undead woman struggling to figure out how to adapt to her new identity. It is the perfect balance of dark and hilarious, and Drew Barrymore's onscreen husband, played by Timothy Olyphant, isn't bad to look at either.
Criminal Minds
Everything about this show is amazing. It keeps you engaged with stories of extreme violence without becoming so graphic that it's impossible to watch. The writers also find a way to incorporate humor into the show, which makes it even more entertaining.
The Office
This show may be basic, but that doesn't change the fact that it's also hilarious, and it gets funnier every time you watch it. Never underestimate the power of a good satirical comedy about the American workplace.
Bates Motel
Horror movie buffs, this one is for you. It tells the story of Norman Bates as a teenager, and it is FANTASTIC. Plus, have you seen Freddie Highmore??
The End Of The F***ing World
This show is weird and kind of creepy, which is exactly what makes a great show. It features two teenagers that run away from home and in turn encounter a ton of wild circumstances, including murder. I am not kidding when I say I watched the entire first season of this show in one day, and I CANNOT WAIT for season 2.
Insatiable
This show faced a lot of controversy when it first came out but in all honesty, I really enjoyed it. It's hilarious in a very satirical way, and the plot has more twists and turns than a daytime soap opera. The main story is about a teenage girl who loses a ton of weight in a freak incident and ends up becoming a beauty pageant queen, and the side characters are equally as interesting, if not more.
Stranger Things
If you couldn't already tell, dark aesthetic shows are kind of my thing. This particular show features pre-teens in the 80s, dungeons and dragons, and demagorgons. What more could you ask for?
The Good Place
This show stars Kristen Bell and is about a woman that is sent to heaven on accident. As you can probably imagine, it is both hilarious and dramatic.
Atypical
Atypical is a Netflix original, and I LOVE it. It's about a teenage boy with autism, and it is not only entertaining but informative.
The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
If you were a fan of the 90s Sabrina, you may or may not enjoy this show. It has some of the same elements as this Netflix original, but this one is much darker. If you like dark humor and shows about witches, I highly recommend it.
American Horror Story
If you know me, you know that I love this show. Every season tells a different story about some type of horror, and of course everything takes place in a different time period in the United States. It's creepy, it's violent, and it features Evan Peters. If you're a fan of horror at all, this show is definitely for you.
The Haunting of Hill House
This is another Netflix original (you should definitely start watching Netflix originals if by some miracle you haven't already) and it is SUPER creepy.
Grey's Anatomy
This is also a pretty basic show that a lot of you may have already seen, but if you haven't, I would HIGHLY recommend it. It's a medical drama filled with romance, tragedy, and even humor at times. Plus, there has never been an unattractive male actor in a significant role on this show, so that's always a plus.
Jane the Virgin
Y'all, this show is FANTASTIC. It's charming, it's funny, it's dramatic, and it's actually pretty informative about hispanic culture. It's set up like a telenovela, which is basically a Spanish soap opera, and I promise you it will keep you on the edge of your seat.
That '70s Show
That 70's show is hilarious and totally relatable, even if it is set in the 1970s (hence the title.)
Parks and Recreation
A lot of people claim that Parks and Rec is just a knock off version of The Office, but I wholeheartedly disagree. They definitely have their similarities, but Parks and Rec is a completely different style of humor that makes it worth watching even if you've already seen The Office. Plus, Leslie Knope is the feminist icon we never even knew we needed.
Glee
Glee is the show that made being a choir nerd cool, and we are forever grateful. If you love awesome covers of awesome songs, this show is for you.
Friends
Another basic show, but it's a classic. Netflix paid $10 million to keep it for a reason. It's hilarious and relatable, and I love it.
Gossip Girl
Rich New York teenagers and anonymous gossip bloggers = an emotional roller coaster that you definitely want to ride.
Scandal
A political drama for the ages. Shonda Rhimes has never disappointed me and I doubt she ever will. I haven't finished How To Get Away With Murder, but Shonda Rhimes also wrote it and what I've seen of it is also great, so it gets an honorable mention.
