Netflix has released some legendary and awful movies and tv shows over the years. With the help of popular consensus and my personal opinion, I created a list that will showcase some of the greatest sensations and blunders on Netflix in 2022.

Best:

Heartstopper (2022)

   Released only a few months ago, this show highlighted the LGBTQ+ community in a beautiful and realistic way. The romance itself between Charlie and Nick is heartfelt and unrushed. At the same time, the show explores the struggles of the individuals. Nick explores his sexuality throughout the show and the scenes show his struggle and happiness in a natural way. Combined with the overall upbeat, positive music choices and film style, the series showcases serious topics with wholesome scenes and an overall theme of love and support.

Stranger Things (2016 – Present)

   It’s almost impossible to talk about Netflix without a mention of one of its most successful original series, Stranger Things. Since season one, the series has risen in popularity and kept its relevance over the years. Netflix released in May that season 4 ended with over a billion total hours watched by users and stayed in the United States Top 10 for 16 consecutive weeks. The show itself takes place in the 1980s, and there is plenty of nostalgia in its costumes, setting, and soundtrack. In a mixture of supernatural action, mystery, and thriller, the series puts the audience at the edge of their seats, especially since the directors have shown they aren’t afraid to kill characters.

Arcane: League of Legends (2021 – Present)

   This animated series is more than just a cartoon based on a popular video game. Beyond its fluid and intricate visuals is a complex plot with a fantastic cast. The story mainly follows two sisters, Vi and Jinx, in a not-so-peaceful utopia where a revolution sets both sisters on opposite sides with tightrope tension and gorgeous battles. The incredible voice acting paired with the music and sound effects will instantly immerse the viewer into the show. The science-fiction, dystopian-like setting, and complementary outfits completely set the tone of the plot. Even the R&B, rock-style soundtrack woven into the story is very natural and supports many of the action scenes.

Cobra Kai (2018 – Present)

   A sequel to the Karate Kid movies in the 1980s, Cobra Kai makes a unique twist on a classic film series. While the show definitely references its previous movie plots- with villains and allies who appear from previous films- there is no need to binge the Karate Kid movies to enjoy Cobra Kai. With a mix of serious themes like post-traumatic stress and pure action fight scenes, the show has a great balance between earnest and chaotic moments. The plot highlights multiple characters and character arcs with minimal superficial rush. The plot itself mirrors the previous movies but constantly reinvents the narrative in its own unique twists based on the new generation of characters.

Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (2022)

   A more controversial show, this newest addition to Netflix has quickly risen to relevance in recent weeks. The show hit Netflix’s Top 10 within a month of its release due to its morbid and unique documentary that showcases an insane serial killer. Some have deemed the show repulsive for the romanticization of a murderer. Others argue the show’s detailed scenes of gore aren’t meant to romanticize the killer but to show the audience the harsh realities of what happened. Still, despite these viewpoints, the popularity of the show is undeniable. It continues to give insight into the events that occurred in the lifetime of one of the most notorious serial killers in the United States.

Worst:

Riverdale (2017 – Present)

   It has been on Netflix for more than five years and is bound to run into some streaks of a stale plotline. Often criticized for its superficial and convoluted plotline, the downfall of Riverdale was in motion by season three when the original murder mystery plot was overshadowed by cults, supernatural villains, or even the continuation of musical episodes intermittently in the season. One of the more frustrating parts of the show besides its lackluster plotline is the inconsistency and unrealistic events in general. For a show which features a group of high school students, not only do the teens spend little time in school, but they all act like fully grown adults. One even owned a “speakeasy” which is the equivalent of a modern-day bar.

Hype House (2022)

   The most famous TikTok creators all under one roof would theoretically make one of the most popular shows. Hype House was this idea executed in the worst way. Other than the fact that most of the famous influencers had already left the house, the plot itself seemed to gloss over its most interesting topics. Instead, the show consisted of a few main ideas: sponsorship, the drama within the content house, and those that leave the Hype House. Serious topics like culture cancelation and relationships in the public eye seemed to be brushed off by the influencers and producers. Even the end seemed rushed and didn’t satisfy audiences with its ambiguity and contradictory nature to the rest in the last episode.

Devil in Ohio (2022)

   A supernatural series that starts with a girl named Mae who wakes up with a bloody pentagram on her back in an Ohio hospital. After her doctor temporarily brings the girl to her house and a detective looks into her case, the extent of influence the cult has on the Ohio town becomes clear. The clear negatives of this series are the inconsistent characters and a quick plot decline. While the plot on paper held intrigue, the show had an extremely slow pace with mediocre subplots,which made the overall show seem dull. The characters themselves were also unrealistically oblivious to the events that surrounded them and the strange behaviors of people around them. Overall, this series was one with huge potential that was executed into a slow and bland show.

Marmaduke (2022)

   This movie is sort of an outlier with all the other TV series on this list, but it would be a mistake not to add it. Marmaduke stars former SNL host Pete Davidson, in this animated movie that was meant to be a comedy but failed miserably. With too much reliance on crude and slapstick humor, none of the jokes hit the mark. Since the animation was mediocre, the plotline was basic, and the audio quality for the music was horrible. There weren’t any noticeable redeemable qualities to this film. Instead, the internet seems to have made a viral joke to compliment the film through sarcastic praise on social media and on movie review websites.

The I-Land (2019 – Present)

   Ten people show up on a random island and a clichè plot ensues. Inconsistent acting led to awkward and unnatural interactions. The poorly written show led to a choppy and predictable storyline. The pace of the plot was too slow and too rushed simultaneously. While the series could be enjoyable if you don’t mind these qualities, a high-quality and well-written show isn’t what the audience should expect. However,the overall concept highlights a complex and unique topic in a stunning island setting. The characters themselves can be entertaining as long as you overlook the plot holes and tediously long backstories. Despite these few redeeming qualities, it lacks a cohesive storyline and consistent acting which makes it a difficult show to like.