We’ve had a lot of great shows this year and some of the best have never even aired on cable television. I’m talking about streaming and while Hulu and Amazon Prime have given us some quality tv series, I think we need to take a moment to acknowledge Netflix. Whatever we may feel about Netflix at the moment, they clearly are one of the best when it comes to their shows. The streaming site is a place you can rewatch Friends a thousand times and catch up on your favorite CW series, but it’s their original content that needs praise. Below is a list of top ten original content that Netflix has put out this year, whether it be a series premiere or a new season.
Iron Fist Season 2
That’s right. I said it. Iron Fist season one and Danny Rand in the Defenders are possibly the two biggest sources of criticism within the Netflix Marvel universe, but I have to give praise to season two. Only ten episodes, everyone was conscious of what they were putting out. There was a new showrunner, the actors had more time to practice their fighting skills before filming, and the season as a whole was a lot cleaner than we ever expected. The season was given to Colleen Wing and Davos was one of the best villains we’ve ever seen in the Netflix MCU. I’m saddened that we will not see the continuation of Danny and Ward’s adventures, because I believe Iron Fist only had room to improve even more.
Queer Eye
Both seasons one and two of Queer Eye premiered on Netflix in 2018. Why is this on this list? Simply because, it’s a great show. In a world where we are plagued by terrible news and violence everywhere we turn, Queer Eye is a perfect example of how great you can be by simply loving yourself. These five guys make it their mission to take whoever the episode is centered around and help their lives. Whether it be the way they dress, eat, the way their home looks, or their love life, everything is better once the Fab Five is done with them. Plenty episodes are real tearjerkers as we experience a trans man learning how to dress and thus feel better, a woman who wants the Fab Five to help build a community center, and a hopeless romantic wanting to propose to the love of his life. Each episode is full of tears, laughter, and fabulousness.
Travelers Season 3
Travelers’ third season was released exclusively on Netflix and we saw everything that had been building up for the past two seasons come to a head and then leave us on quite a cliffhanger. Starring Eric McCormack from Will & Grace, this is a unique sci-fi show that has mastered the ability of a “futuristic”/ “out of this world” theme while still remaining grounded. The most important part of this series is the characters and their storylines. While it has not been announced yet if Travelers is getting a fourth season, the third is definitely a must watch.
Listen: Interview with Patrick Gilmore.
Dogs
I wrote a full review for the Netflix docu-series Dogs, but it still warrants a small write-up here. It’s a documentary series on dogs, which if that isn’t reason enough, the storytelling and filmmaking should. Dogs opens us up, every episode; to different worlds that these dogs live in. From the competitive arena of dog grooming, to the importance of adoption, the best episode is “Bravo, Zeus”, which tells the tale of one man’s dedication to getting his dog back. This episode is particularly heartbreaking, as we are not only focused on Zeus (the dog) but the conditions that Syria is in right now. The documentary gives us a very human perspective and a language we can all understand; the love a pet provides.
Luke Cage Season 2
Another Marvel show for the win. What else, but Luke Cage season two? The first season was already a success, but Cheo Hodari Coker just took it to the next level. Whereas we had a change in villains halfway through season one, which changed the tone of the show; we have a common villain in Mariah Dillard (STOKES). The storyline is edgy and appealing and we see Luke realizing that being a hero is not all it is cut out to be. Luke Cage, of course, is full of real-life issues and it never shies away from addressing them. Mustafa Shakir gave us an amazing performance as John McIver aka Bushmaster, who takes the route of Frank Castle where we end up rooting for him more than Luke Cage. Another series that deserved an additional season, especially since it was set up for a third season. We’ll only have our imaginations to wonder what Luke Cage is up to now that he is the head of Harlem’s Paradise.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
If you grew up watching and loving Sabrina the Teenage Witch, the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is a much darker telling of the beloved childhood favorite. In fact, this Netflix series is so dark that it ran into a bit of controversy with the Satanic Church themselves, who had claimed the series used a statue of theirs without proper rights or permission. Kiernan Brennan Shipka has successfully won the hearts of many viewers for her portrayal as Sabrina and this is not a show you are going to want to watch with the lights out. Luckily, Netflix listened to the fans and not only gave us a Christmas special, but ordered a second season for us all to enjoy.
The Haunting of Hill House
Speaking of not watching something scar with the lights off, I’m not sure having the lights on will be enough to save anyone watching The Haunting of Hill House. A truly terrifying series, this show has succeeded in making just about everyone afraid to walk around their house in the dark. As a reimagining of a novel from 1959, the episodes go back and forth between multiple people and times, as five siblings are chillingly haunted. This is a horror series that is a cut above the rest and as much as you want to close your eyes, don’t. Watch The Haunting of Hill House and we can all not sleep at night together.
Seven Seconds
From the talented woman behind The Killing, Seven Seconds was a raw and stark slap of reality. Inspired by current events, Seven Seconds certainly deserved to be renewed. Following the story of a young African American boy recklessly killed by an off-duty policeman, this story hits home for many people who have witnessed our country’s justice system not do its duty. Of course, Vena Sud does what she does best and gives us everyone’s side of the story and makes their perception real, which makes for such powerful tv. Regina King’s performance in this series was intense and authentic, as most likely any mother would react in the wake of their child’s unnecessary death. Though only one season, the story wraps up enough to stand on its own and it’s a show that deserves to be watched.
Altered Carbon
Possibly one of my favorite shows to come out in 2018, Altered Carbon was a futuristic masterpiece. Not only did we have Joel Kinnaman looking like he was chiseled from stone, but the complicated concept of “sleeves” became less complex as the series went on. This was a story of gluttony and greed, with a very realistic message that if we are not careful there will only be two classes of people: the insanely rich and the extremely unfortunate. The fight moves in Altered Carbon are unreal and the climax of the season is extremely satisfying to watch (pun not intended). Although Kinnaman will not be returning for season two, we are indeed getting a second season where Anthony Mackie will take up the mantle as Takeshi Kovacs.
Daredevil Season 3
Just like you have to acknowledge Avengers: Infinity War as the movie of the year for 2018, there is no other choice than Daredevil season three for top Netflix show of the year. The previous two seasons were already strong, but they were both nothing compared to what we got in season three. Clean, dramatic, dark, and heart-stopping, it is actually hard to fathom how something so well-done can be put together. Charlie Cox IS Matt Murdock and there is no stronger villain than Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk. Every episode paced nicely and the storyline was good from start to finish. As always, Daredevil’s choreographed fights are the sharpest of all the Netflix Marvel shows, and they did not disappoint. That 11-minute fight scene alone in episode four put everything else we’ve seen to shame, except for Bullseye and Daredevil’s fight at the Bulletin a few episodes later. I don’t think we will ever see this level of perfectionism again in a world that is only concerned with putting out content to make money. In a lazy world, Daredevil season three rose above all else. How disappointing and heartbreaking it is that we will not get a season four and I can only hope other showrunners look to this season to see how it’s supposed to be done. Daredevil season three wins Netflix’s best show of the year and possibly of many years to come.
What do you think of this list? Do you agree/disagree? What’s on your list?
A girl with too many fandoms to count.
