The Best Shows on Netflix (March 2023)

Created by: David E. Kelley

Cast: Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Neve Campbell, Becki Newton, Jazz Raycole

The Lincoln Lawyer is everything a great legal drama should be: suspenseful, compelling, and unpredictable. Anchored by Manuel Garcia-Rulfo’s excellent performance as Mickey Haller, a skeptical yet optimistic criminal defense attorney as well as a recovering addict who runs his practice out of his town car, The Lincoln Lawyer is a solid adaptation of the Michael Connelly novel of the same name. Other standouts include Neve Campbell as Maggie McPherson, Halley’s first wife and a criminal prosecutor. If you’re looking for a sleek, sophisticated series, The Lincoln Lawyer is sure to deliver. – Taylor Gates

Created by: Joe Cornish, Jonathan Stroud

Cast: Ruby Stokes, Cameron Chapman, Ali Hadji-Heshmati

Starting a small business is always hard, but it gets even harder when you have to deal with being a teenager, big agencies, and bad ghosts. Lockwood & Co., based on the Jonathan Stroud novels, takes place in a London filled with malicious spirits and specialized agencies to deal with them. After being rejected by all the major agencies, 13-year-old psychically inclined ghost hunter Lucy Carlyle (Ruby Stokes) gets recruited to the small private investigation agency Lockwood & Co. — and by small, we mean a tiny two-man operation consisting of just Anthony Lockwood (Cameron Chapman) and George Karim (Ali Hadji-Heshmati). The three agents try to make a name for themselves by solving a big case before their competition, which spirals into more chaos than they can contain. This vibrant paranormal adventure moves fast and will possess viewers with joy, laughter, and a bit of angst. – Tauri Miller

Created by: Christian Torpe

Cast: Mille Dinesen, Lise Baastrup, Carsten Bjørnlund

Netflix has always had a good eye when it comes to importing international content that is relatable to people all over the world, and the Danish dramedy Rita is no different. The five-season-long show revolves around Mille Dinesen’s Rita Madsen, a no-nonsense teacher who strives to protect her students from their parents by always being straightforward — and oftentimes brutally honest. But being a great — although unorthodox — teacher doesn’t mean she has it all together. Rita has a bit of raunchiness to the humor and is steeped in sass, but at the core of the show, there’s a lot of heart – especially when it comes to Rita and her own kids, who are a constant source of stress, biting wit, and personal growth. – Tauri Miller

Creator: Jang Ho-gi

Created by Jang Ho-gi, Physical: 100 is a fascinating reality series that follows 100 contestants in peak physical shape as they compete in grueling challenges that push their limits in hopes of winning prize money. The South Korean series features obstacle courses more extreme than American Ninja Warrior and activities that rival The Titan Games and Special Forces — Physical: 100 truly puts these athletes to the test. Welcoming a variety of competitors from different backgrounds, including special operations soldiers, National Team gymnasts, and wrestlers, Physical: 100 aims to find the strongest body, regardless of gender, experience, or training. – Yael Tygiel

Creator: Charlie Brooker

Cast: Diane Morgan, Jim Al-Khalili, Shirley J. Thompson, Douglas Hedley

Cunk on Earth is a mockumentary series following Philomena Cunk (Diane Morgan) as she comically explores the history of the world’s greatest inventions. Featuring interviews with experts in their fields, Cunk on Earth asks probing questions that chronicle landmark moments in humanity’s progression from prehistory to the present day. Part investigative journalism, part travel show, Cunk on Earth comes from Charlie Brooker, who invented the hilariously ill-informed reporter. Cunk on Earth is a delightfully witty series, maintaining a tone similar to Sacha Baron Cohen’s Ali G or Who Is America? – Yael Tygiel

Creator: David Schulner

Cast: Ryan Eggold, Janet Montgomery, Jocko Sims, Freema Agyeman, Tyler Labine

Medical drama New Amsterdam found its stride and built an audience by leaning into the interpersonal relationships of the doctors on screen. Creator David Schulner adapted the series from Eric Manheimer’s book Twelve Patients: Life and Death at Bellevue Hospital and unabashedly used the fictional series to reveal real flaws in America’s healthcare system. The show stars Ryan Eggold (The Blacklist) as a new medical director whose intentions to do good require that he and his staff break the rules and uproot the medical system to heal patients in one of the oldest public hospitals in the country. Over the five seasons, New Amsterdam exposes viewers to entertaining medical mysteries, romance, and hope. – Yael Tygiel

Creators: Lauren Iungerich, Jamie Uyeshiro, Jamie Dooner, Eddie Gonzalez, Jeremy Haft

Cast: Keyla Monterroso Mejia, Bryana Salaz, Tenzing Norgay Trainor, Ciara Riley Wilson

Spinning off from the beloved series On My Block, Freeridge sees a new group of four teens in town working together to reverse a curse and end the misfortune they believe has begun to seep into their lives. Starring Keyla Monterroso Mejia, Bryana Salaz, Tenzing Norgay Trainor, and Ciara Riley Wilson, Freeridge connects directly with the original series, building a delightful foundation for this universe and even features charming cameos from characters — and their twins. Cleverly adding to the canon, Freeridge’s first season explains previously unexplored mysteries while setting up a few new questions of its own. – Yael Tygiel

Creator: Cécile Lorne

Cast: Audrey Fleurot, Julie De Bona, Camille Lou, Sofia Essaïdi

Women at War is a fresh perspective on war dramas created by Cécile Lorne. Praised for a non-exploitative approach, Women at War explores stories about wartime brothels, makeshift hospitals, and scandals on top of the expected period drama and romance, featuring layered characters. Those characters include Agnes (Julie De Bona), a nun of a requisitioned convent, a mysterious sex worker from Paris named Marguerite (Audrey Fleurot), Nurse Suzanne (Camille Lou), and Caroline (Sofia Essaïdi), who finds herself running her family’s factory. Diving into a traditionally male-dominated genre, Women at War creatively follows the lives of these very different women in 1914 France over the course of eight enthralling episodes. – Yael Tygiel

Creators: Sara Isabella Jønsson Vedde, Nicolas Winding Refn

Cast: Angela Bundalovic, Andreas Lykke Jørgensen, Li Ii Zhang

Copenhagen Cowboy is an unexpected, riveting, fantasy-leaning thriller series from Denmark that follows a young woman named Miu (Angela Bundalovic) seeking revenge against those who trafficked her as a good luck charm. Created by Nicolas Winding Refn with Sara Isabella Jønsson Vedde, Copenhagen Cowboy has a vividly graphic aesthetic as the heroine, after escaping slavery, travels deeper into Copenhagen’s criminal underworld. Navigating a quest for vengeance, Copenhagen Cowboy’s intriguing mystery unfolds as Miu embarks on an odyssey of morality, weaving between perilous landscapes of both the natural and supernatural world. – Yael Tygiel

Creator: Bonnie Turner, Lindsey Turner, Gregg Mettler

Cast: Callie Haverda, Debra Jo Rupp, Kurtwood Smith, Ashley Aufderheide, Mace Coronel

From Bonnie Turner and Lindsey Turner, with a story by Gregg Mettler, That ‘90s Show is a continuation of the hit comedy series That ’70s Show. Set in 1995, That ‘90s Show follows Leia Forman (Callie Haverda) as she visits her grandparents, Kitty and Red, in Point Place, WI. Reprising their roles as Kitty and Red are Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith. Built on the same premise of teen shenanigans, That ‘90s Show sprinkles in a slew of cameos from the original series, including Mila Kunis as Jackie Burkhart, Ashton Kutcher as Michael Kelso, along with Topher Grace and Laura Prepon as Leia’s parents. – Yael Tygiel

Creator: Eric Garcia

Cast: Paz Vega, Giancarlo Esposito, Jai Courtney, Peter Mark Kendall

From the intriguing mind of Eric Garcia (Matchstick Men), Kaleidoscope is a brand-new criminal anthology series that explores the heist genre in a clever new way. Fascinatingly presented, Kaleidoscope is a story of an elite crew of master thieves determined to break into an unbreakable vault for the score of a lifetime. Set across 25 years, Kaleidoscope uniquely allows audiences to piece together the puzzle however they wish, with eight immersive episodes that can be watched in any order. Starring Paz Vega, Giancarlo Esposito, and Jai Courtney, by the end of Kaleidoscope’s first season, the dots will be connected, but the results will vary. – Yael Tygiel

Creator: Declan De Barra

Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Lenny Henry, Nathaniel Curtis, Dylan Moran

A prequel series set over a thousand years before the hit action-filled fantasy drama The Witcher, The Witcher: Blood Origin comes from creator Declan De Barra (Iron Fist) and explores the elusive Elven world where seven outcasts reluctantly unite against an unjust and power-hungry empire. Starring Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All At Once), Lenny Henry (The Rings of Power), and Nathaniel Curtis (It’s A Sin), The Witcher: Blood Origin reveals the creation of the very first Witcher, leading to unprecedented events that altered their universe forever, intertwining the worlds of monsters, humans, and elves. – Yael Tygiel

Created by: Geoff Blackwell, Ruth Hobday

Harry & Meghan is a six-episode documentary series that allows Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (Suits) to reveal details about their lives. Exploring their story from the beginning, Harry & Meghan allows the high-profile couple to share intimate moments branching from the intricacies of their initial courtship. Featuring exclusive commentary from their famous friends like Tyler Perry, Serena Williams, and Abigail Spencer (Timeless), Harry & Meghan also allows historians, journalists, and royal experts to weigh in on the controversies they’ve endured throughout their relationship. A deeply personal window into the lives of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry & Meghan is an honest glimpse at their lives. – Yael Tygiel

Creator: Alexi Hawley

Cast: Noah Centineo, Katharine King So, Alexandra Petrachuk, Vondie Curtis-Hall

Noah Centineo (Black Adam) stars in The Recruit, an explosive and stunt-filled new series from Alexi Hawley (The Rookie: Feds). Centineo plays a newly hired CIA lawyer who finds himself stumbling headfirst through a dangerous web of international espionage. Hawley’s signature humor reverberates through the thrilling series, allowing Centineo to brush off his teen heartthrob status and emerge as a skilled action star. The Recruit features an experienced supporting cast, including Angel Parker (The Rookie), Vondie Curtis-Hall, Kristian Bruun (Orphan Black), and the hilarious Colton Dunn (Superstore). With all the building blocks of an exciting spy-adventure series plus a stellar cast, The Recruit is sure to become a favorite. – Yael Tygiel

Created by: Alfred Gough, Miles Millar

Cast: Jenna Ortega, Gwendoline Christie, Riki Lindhome, Jamie McShane

If you’re craving something creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky, look no further than Wednesday. Focusing on a teenage Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega), the show follows her as she attends Nevermore Academy, a school for supernatural creatures – something she’s not too thrilled about. However, her role quickly turns from mere student to detective, as there is a string of mysterious murders only she can help solve. The Addams Family has endured for generations for a reason, and Wednesday puts a refreshing spin on our familiar characters. Ortega’s performance is particularly impressive, and it’s fun to see Christina Ricci back in a different role, too. – Taylor Gates

Created by: Simon Barry

Cast: Alba Baptista, Toya Turner, Thekla Reuten

Based on the comic book character by Ben Dunn, Warrior Nun follows a young woman named Ava (Alba Baptista) who wakes up one day with a halo in her back. Even stranger, the halo gives her special skills and the ability to walk for the first time since being paralyzed 10 years ago. With these new powers, Ava gets pulled into a group of badass nuns who fight off evil. Combining mythology and theology with some truly impressive action, Warrior Nun is sure to delight fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the like. – Taylor Gates

Created by: Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan

Cast: Naomi Watts, Bobby Cannavale, Isabel Gravitt, Luke David Blumm, Jennifer Coolidge

Another mystery thriller show from Ryan Murphy and frequent collaborator Ian Brennan, The Watcher is based on a true story of a family who starts receiving threatening letters after moving into their new home. The series stars an A-list cast, including Naomi Watts and Bobby Cannavale as the parents who move in, Margo Martindale and Richard Kind as their less-than-welcoming neighbors, and Jennifer Coolidge as a real estate agent Watts’ characters knows from her past. The show can be as comedic as it is creepy, making for a fun watch. – Taylor Gates

Created by: Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan

Cast: Evan Peters, Niecy Nash, Molly Ringwald, Michael Learned, Richard Jenkins

Society has a fascination with true crime and serial killers, and Jeffrey Dahmer is one of the most obvious examples of this. From countless documentaries to the 2017 film My Friend Dahmer, there’s been a lot of media out there depicting the infamous murderer. This series, however, attempts something of a twist by retelling the tragedies from the victims’ points of view. Chilling and well-made, Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story focuses more on systemic failures than sensationalizing the crimes, which is a refreshing – and important – change. – Taylor Gates

Created by: Brian Young

Cast: Abigail Cowen, Hannah van der Westhuysen, Precious Mustapha, Eliot Salt

Based on the beloved Winx Club animated series, Fate: the Winx Saga takes a darker, more mature approach to the franchise. The story focuses on Bloom (Abigail Cowen), a fire fairy who enrolls at a magical boarding school. There, she makes friends with other magical beings and learns more about her past – and must work with them to defeat an ancient enemy that threatens Otherworld. Offering a compelling escape into a magical world, Fate: the Winx Saga makes for a solid addition to the teen fantasy genre. – Taylor Gates

Created by: Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg

Cast: Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Courtney Henggeler, Xolo Maridueña, Tanner Buchanan

A sequel to the original Karate Kid movies, Cobra Kai is a martial arts dramedy that the whole family can enjoy. The series takes place 34 years after Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) was defeated by Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) in the All-Valley Karate Tournament. Now in his 50s and working as a handyman, Johnny has been suffering from alcoholism and depression; however, after defending a local neighborhood kid (Xolo Maridueña) from a bully using his old moves, Johnny decides to reopen the Cobra Kai karate dojo to help him and other local children learn to protect themselves. Through this, Johnny rediscovers his purpose – and reignites his rivalry with Daniel. – Taylor Gates