Best Netflix Original Series
Between all streaming services Netflix is the king, with more than 260 million subscribers worldwide. The main reason is the large number of quality shows and movies premiering every month, including many high-quality original series.
In this post, I would like to talk about the best Netflix original series. What it takes to create these original series that become instant viewer favorites. And also, a list of the most popular original TV series, in case you have missed any of them.
How Netflix get ideas for original series:
Identifying Trends: Netflix uses data to understand what kind of stories resonate with viewers.
1. Tracking Viewing Habits: Netflix keeps a close eye on what you watch, including:
· What shows you choose: This is the most basic data point, but it tells them which genres and titles are popular.
· How much you watch: Do you binge a whole season in a day, or do you prefer to savor shows in small doses? This indicates the engagement level.
· What parts do you watch?: Do you skip intros and recaps? Fast forward through slow parts? This data reveals what keeps viewers hooked.
· Where you stop watching: Did you abandon a show halfway through? This might indicate the show lost your interest or there wasn’t a satisfying payoff.
2. Analyzing Search Behavior: What are you searching for on Netflix? This shows them what kind of content you’re actively seeking.
3. Social listening: They monitor social media conversations to see what people are talking about, recommending, and critiquing.
4. A/B Testing: Netflix uses A/B testing to see how viewers respond to different variations, like thumbnails, descriptions, or even different show recommendations.
5. Surveys and Focus Groups: Although data is king, Netflix also uses surveys and focus groups to gather more qualitative feedback and understand viewers’ preferences on a deeper level.
Concept Development: Armed with insights, creative teams brainstorm ideas and develop pitches.
The Pitching Arena: Ideas are presented, debated, and refined until the best ones get the green light.
Lights, Camera, Action!: Filming begins, and the magic unfolds!
By combining all this information, Netflix builds a comprehensive picture of what kind of stories resonate with their audience. This allows them to develop content that caters to specific cravings and keeps viewers glued to the platform.
Netflix Popular Original Series
Now that we know how they get the ideas for original series, let’s show a list of some of the best and most popular Netflix original series:
- The Crown: Go behind the scenes of the British Royal Family. This captivating drama chronicles the political rivalries and personal struggles of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign (Claire Foy, Olivia Colman).
- Stranger Things: Welcome to Hawkins, Indiana, where a group of kids uncovers a mystery involving secret government experiments, terrifying supernatural forces, and a very special girl named Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown).
- Ozark: Financial advisor Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman) relocates his family to the Ozarks for a seemingly harmless money-laundering scheme. Things get dark and deadly as they get entangled with a ruthless Mexican drug cartel.
- Squid Game: Hundreds of cash-strapped players accept a strange invitation to compete in children’s games for a life-changing prize. But the stakes are deadly, and the games are anything but innocent (Lee Jung-jae, Jung Ho-yeon).
- BoJack Horseman: This isn’t your typical cartoon. BoJack (Will Arnett) is a washed-up sitcom star who happens to be a horse. The show tackles complex themes like depression and addiction with surprising depth and humor.
- Arcane: Dive into a visually stunning world where magic meets science. Follow sisters Vi (Hailee Steinfeld) and Jinx (Ella Purnell) as they navigate a ruthless city.
- Never Have I Ever: Indian-American teenager Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) deals with the awkwardness of high school, family drama, and crushes, all while trying to improve her social status.
- The Witcher: Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) is a mutated monster-hunter for hire surviving in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts.
- You: Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) is a charming bookstore manager who develops an unhealthy obsession with his customers. Be prepared to be both creeped out and weirdly entertained.
- Emily in Paris: An ambitious young marketing executive from Chicago, Emily Cooper (Lily Collins), unexpectedly lands her dream job in Paris. Culture clashes ensue as she navigates work, love, and making friends in the City of Lights, all while trying to maintain her sense of self amidst the whirlwind of Parisian life.
- House of Cards: A political thriller that follows the ruthless politician Frank Underwood and his wife Claire as they manipulate their way to power in Washington D.C. Cast includes Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, Kate Mara, Corey Stoll, and Michael Kelly.
- Orange Is the New Black: A dramedy series set in a women’s prison, focusing on the diverse group of inmates and their relationships. Cast includes Taylor Schilling, Laura Prepon, Uzo Aduba, Danielle Brooks, and Kate Mulgrew.
- Narcos: A crime drama that tells the story of the rise and fall of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar and the Medellín Cartel. Cast includes Wagner Moura, Boyd Holbrook, Pedro Pascal, and Joanna Christie.
- Black Mirror: A sci-fi anthology series that explores the dark and often dystopian aspects of modern society and technology. Cast varies by episode but includes actors like Bryce Dallas Howard, Jon Hamm, Hayley Atwell, and Daniel Kaluuya.
- The Umbrella Academy: Based on the comic book series, it follows a dysfunctional family of adopted siblings with superpowers who reunite to solve the mystery of their father’s death and prevent an impending apocalypse. Cast includes Ellen Page, Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, and Robert Sheehan.
The list of Netflix original series is long and growing. I hope you enjoy the post and watch or re-watch these popular series.