For many, summertime calls for a packed social calendar full of barbecues, road trips, vacations and spending all the time outdoors. For the rest of us, summertime is way more low-key: It’s the perfect time to catch up on all those shows everyone raved about on Twitter for months, including a lot of Netflix originals, but we didn’t have the time to even start them.
Luckily for everyone, Netflix has plenty of original television shows, some of which are either filming the next season or recently dropped a new season. Santa Clarita Diet, starring Drew Barrymore? Yeah, Season 2 recently came out, and if you haven’t started, you have plenty of time to get into it. GLOW, starring Alison Brie? Better watch Season 1 before Season 2 drops 10 episodes on June 29. And let’s not forget about 13 Reasons Why and Dear White People, both of which also recently released second seasons.
And the list goes on and on — from science fiction thrillers to mystery teen dramas and satirical comedy-dramas. Here are 17 Netflix original series to binge this summer.
A version of this article was originally published in June 2016.
‘Santa Clarita Diet’
Drew Barrymore is an absolute delight in the Netflix original series Santa Clarita Diet. Recently releasing its second season, this hilarious comedy stars Timothy Olyphant and Barrymore as Joel and Sheila, husband-and-wife real estate agents living in the L.A. suburb of Santa Clarita — but just wait till you see the twist.
’13 Reasons Why’
Currently on Season 2, 13 Reasons Why is centered on a group of kids who try to figure out why their classmate Hannah took her own life — after listening to her 13 cassette tapes she left for them. The shows stars Dylan Minnette as Clay and Katherine Langford as Hannah.
‘Girlboss’
Girlboss is based on the true story of the founder of the fashion brand Nasty Gal, Sophia Amoruso, played by Britt Robertson. With just one season on Netflix, Girlboss is inspired by the New York Times best-selling book #Girlboss, and it'll not only inspire you, but it'll also make you laugh out loud.
‘Anne With an E’
Anne With an E is a reimagining of Anne of Green Gables is beyond adorable and a perfect summer adventure. With just one season on Netflix, prepare to fall in love with this coming-of-age story about an outsider, played by Amybeth McNulty, who fights for her place in the world.
‘Dear White People’
If you loved the 2014 film by the same name, you're going to enjoy every second of this series, which takes place in a predominantly white Ivy League university where racial tensions bubble up. Season 2 of Dear White People just dropped on Netflix, and it stars Logan Browning, Brandon P. Bell and DeRon Horton.
‘Stranger Things’
This one's basically a two-fer: If you haven't watched Stranger Things, watch it. Then obviously move onto Stranger Things 2, the second season. This massive hit is basically an homage to the '80s and includes everything from top-secret government experiments and creepy monsters to one particular kid with a very cool superpower.
‘Wet Hot American Summer’
Watch the hilarious 2001 cult classic about a group of teens on their last day as camp counselors, then the 2015 prequel (Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp), and then wrap it all up with Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later. These films have an all-star lineup cast, including Amy Poehler, Chris Meloni, Chris Pine, David Hyde Pierce, Elizabeth Banks, Janeane Garofalo, Joe Lo Truglio, Kristen Wiig, Molly Shannon, Nina Hellman, Paul Rudd, Jai Courtney, Alyssa Milano, Adam Scott and so many others.
‘Orange Is the New Black’
No Netflix original series binge-watch would be complete without the ladies of Litchfield. This critically acclaimed series has five seasons currently under its belt and just wrapped shooting Season 6 in February of this year. Orange Is the New Black stars Taylor Schilling, Laura Prepon, Danielle Brooks, Taryn Manning and more.
‘Master of None’
Season 2 of this Aziz Ansari masterpiece came out in the spring of 2018, so before you start that, be sure to dive into Season 1 first. This comedy series, Master of None, is loosely based on Ansari's own life experiences.
‘Bloodline’
This is honestly one of Netflix's most underrated originals, starring Kyle Chandler of Friday Night Lights. The third and final season came out in May 2018, so you have plenty to watch if you're just starting Bloodline. According to Netflix, the show centers on a "close-knit family of four adult siblings whose secrets and scars are revealed when their black sheep brother returns home."
‘GLOW’
This Netflix gem has one season available to stream now and a second season coming out at the end of June. Starring Alison Brie, Marc Maron, Betty Gilpin and more, GLOW is inspired by the real story of the 1980s female wrestling league.
‘Love’
Judd Apatow co-created this rom-com that explores — surprise! — dating and relationships. The third and final season of Love hit Netflix this year, starring Gillian Jacobs and Paul Rust — and we already miss Micky and Gus.
‘Narcos’
Starring Pedro Pascal, Wagner Moura and Boyd Holbrook, Narcos is perfect if you're in the mood for some darker fare focused on the drug trade. The description alone from Netflix should get you wanting to watch this original stat: "This raw, gritty series chronicles the gripping real-life stories of the drug kingpins of the late 1980s and the corroborative efforts of law enforcement to meet them head on in brutal, bloody conflict."
Heavy. You can watch all three seasons on Netflix now.
‘Grace and Frankie’
If you're not watching Grace and Frankie, a comedy about two former foes who form an unexpected bond, you're missing out. Jane Fonda ( who plays Grace) and Lily Tomlin (who plays Frankie) both find out their husbands are gay and leave them for each other. You have to watch all four seasons of this hilarious gem.
‘Dark’
If you loved Stranger Things, you just might like Dark, a much darker drama with a huge sci-fi twist. Honestly, we can't even say too much about this show without giving it away, so all we'll say is it's also set in the '80s… kind of. The show's also in German, so get ready for a lot of subtitles.
‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’
Tina Fey co-created this comedy that will make you laugh out loud and feel good at the same time. It's a simple premise, really, but one that leaves you with some of the best one-liners: Kimmy, played by Ellie Kemper, leaves a cult after 15 years and decides to start over her life in New York City. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt also stars Jane Krakowski and Tituss Burgess, and currently has four seasons available to stream.
‘Marvel’s Jessica Jones’
We're here for anything starring Krysten Ritter. Marvel's Jessica Jones centers around a New York City private investigator (Jones) who must put her life back together after murdering her tormenter. The show currently has two seasons and also stars Rachael Taylor, Carrie-Anne Moss and Eka Darville.
‘House of Cards’
When sexual assault allegations surfaced against Kevin Spacey, House of Cards booted him off the show, which currently has five seasons under its belt. The sixth season of this political drama will be its final season and will star Robin Wright, with Diane Lane and Greg Kinnear joining the cast.
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