In the past few years, Netflix has been pumping out more and more of its own original television series. Although these shows are only available to people who own a Netflix account, their popularity and creativity need to be acknowledged. Therefore, I have chosen five Netflix original series which I think live up to being quality television at its finest.

#5 – “One Day at a Time”

One Day at a Time is a Netflix original series about a newly single Hispanic mother who, alongside her own mother, is trying to raise her teen daughter and tween son. This is a brand new show as of 2017 and currently, has only one season on Netflix as of January 2017. One Day at a Time is full of hilarious moments while also dealing with serious issues that most teens face such as bullying, relationships, and interpersonal conflicts. I have high praises for the writers of this show for their cunning jokes and great character development. I definitely recommend this show to anyone who is looking for a new, upbeat show to binge watch on Netflix.

#4 – “A Series of Unfortunate Events”

A Series of Unfortunate Events is a Netflix original series based off of the book series of the same name by Lemony Snicket. The show plays by as one book per two episodes. It follows the story of the Baudelaire children who were recently orphaned after the mysterious death of their parents. The executor of the Baudelaire estate, Arthur Poe, arrives to take the children to their closest living relative. This, of course, brings them to the home of Count Olaf (Neil Patrick Harris), a cruel and greedy man who desperately seeks the Baudelaires’ fortune. As the season continues, the Baudelaire children face series after series of unfortunate events. I really love this show for its mysterious storyline as well as its complex and occasionally confusing characters. Surprisingly, A Series of Unfortunate Events increased my vocabulary and now I know many new words such as “phantasmagorical.” Neil Patrick Harris brings Count Olaf to life with devious schemes and the occasional music number. I also love this show for its dark comedic moments. A Series of Unfortunate Events is rumored to be continued for two more seasons on Netflix. All I have to say is, “There’s nothing but horror and inconvenience on the way. Ask any stable person ‘should I watch?’ and they will say look away, look away, look away!”

#3 – “Between”

Between is a Netflix original series about the town of Pretty Lake which became quarantined after everyone in the town above the age of 22 starts to die from a mysterious virus. It follows the different lives of the young townsfolk while they try to maintain society after so much death and anarchy. Children lose their parents, siblings lose siblings, and the very foundations of society start to crumble. The actors, both kids, and adults, impressively brought their characters into reality. This show is full of numerous cliffhangers as well as shocking and suspenseful moments. And with the disease spreading, and government agents patrolling the outskirts of town no one is safe. After the disease spreads and all of the people over the age of 22 die, the fall of civilized society is realistically presented throughout the entire show. I really love the characters and concepts behind this show. It has a very alluring story that makes you want to keep watching. I would recommend this show to anyone who loves post-apocalyptic themes, science fiction, and suspense.

#2 – “Orange is the New Black”

No doubt, Orange is New Black is one of Netflix’s most well-known original series. It follows the stories of multiple female convicts, especially one by the name of Piper Chapman, while they are living in the Litchfield Penitentiary. This show is full of lovable characters; some you can’t help but hate, others you want to stick around for a long time. There are plenty of hilarious moments between the inmates that will leave you crying. Hysterical and clever one-liners lighten the mood of the dark prison setting. Orange is the New Black has a wide variety of characters each with their different background which I believe allows for more people to relate to them. Not to mention the season finales that will leave you with so many aggravating and skeptical questions. Originally, I was not interested in watching Orange is the New Black, but I eventually decided to give it a chance. I’m really glad I started watching because it is a very good show which I would recommend to any person looking for a new show to watch on Netflix. Although I have to add that I did binge watch this in about two weeks, so fair warning, you may do the same.

#1 – “Stranger Things”

Enough said? To conclude my list, Stranger Things takes the cake at number one. This show follows the story of Will Buyers after he mysteriously disappears after a late night game of Dungeons and Dragons with his friends Dustin, Mike, and Lucas. Strangers Things is the epitome of what a science fiction television should be: secretive government agents and experiments, a creature from another dimension, and an extraordinary little girl who shows up shortly after the disappearance of Will. This show is centered around young best friends which make it very interesting, realistic, and relatable to watch. Anyone can get attached to the characters, no matter how minor they are to the story. From Winona Ryder to David Harbour, everyone in the show – both the kids and the adults – were amazing actors and did their characters justice. One can get easily attached to the protagonists you grow to love and the antagonists you love to hate. Above all other shows I have ever watched on Netflix, Stranger Things is full of numerous suspenseful cliffhangers that force you to keep watching non-stop. I recommend this show to anyone who has Netflix and the free time to watch it. It is such a great, original show, and it is amazing to think we have only seen one season of it so far. The second season was announced to be released on the Halloween of 2017. It’s a long time to wait for those who are die-hard fans of this hit sci-fi series.

That concludes the list of my top five picks for the best Netflix original TV series you can watch right now. I would definitely recommend these shows to all those who have Netflix. So, please, go now and give these great TV shows a chance!

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