The 13 Best Netflix Original Series of 2022 (So Far)
After you watch The Watcher, we have a few recommendations for you.
In 2012, Netflix changed Hollywood when it pivoted from buying television shows from other networks to producing its own. Once the streamer really got started? It never looked back. It’s been nearly 10 years since Netflix's big move, and now we have a surplus of original shows and movies to choose from. We may not have recognized it back in the day, but Netflix Originals are the gift that keeps on giving.
This year brought a mix of exciting releases, from the nail-biting Stranger Things to the heartfelt and funny Sex Education. Regency lovers enjoyed Season Two of Bridgerton, while those of us who love a thrill were welcomed into the creepy world of The Watcher. If you’re on the hunt for your next watch, or simply need a refresher on what’s out there, check out our list of the best Netflix original series of 2022. (So far, of course.)
The Watcher
The Watcher is based on real events, following a family that moves into a seemingly perfect suburban home. But when the family receive threatening letters in the mail from someone named “The Watcher,” they quickly realize they're in for some Netflix-prescribed trouble.
The Woman in The House Across The Street from the Girl in the Window
If you have a thing for shows about women who witness an unspeakable event, then lose their minds while trying to convince people of what they saw, this show is for you. This comedy-thriller, which stars Kristen Bell, pokes fun at this trope while unraveling its own wild mystery.
The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On
What would you do if your partner asked you to marry them on the spot or break up? That question is the basis of this reality series, and trust me, it makes for fabulous television. The Ultimatum features six couples who put their relationships to the test by trading partners in a social experiment that’s meant to test if they’re really ready for marriage.
Archive 81
If you count yourself as one of the many disturbing podcast junkies, or cult narrative super fans, then Archive 81 is the perfect watch for you. When an archivist is assigned to recover a series of damaged tapes, he soon learns that the recordings document a satanic cult. As he works to uncover the truth, he’ll also need to fight from being pulled in himself.
After Life
For a show oriented around grieving, fans might have a tough time parting from this dark comedy whose final season released this January. Ricky Gervais, who also writes and directs the episodes, stars as Tony, a widower who must navigate life after losing his wife. In the most recent batch of episodes, Tony faces a new journey of grieving as he processes the loss of his father.
Ozark
Years ago, most of us wouldn't have imagined that the next nail-biting thriller on television would star Jason Bateman. (That's not all predictions got wrong.) But this spring, America’s favorite criminal couple faced the end of their scheming in the fourth and final season of Ozark. Well, at least on Netflix. TBD what exactly happened in the finale.
Inventing Anna
As the Internet constantly reminds us, “They hate to see a girlboss winning.” That's especially true when that girlboss is guilty of fraud. No, we’re not talking about Elizabeth Holmes; we’re talking about New York’s favorite fake heiress Anna Delvey–whose life of glamour and grand larceny took a steep turn when she was arrested in 2017. Based on Jessica Pressler’s viral exposé for The Cut, Julia Garner, Anna Chlumsky, and Laverne Cox star in the scandalous Shondaland adaptation.
Love Is Blind
A reality dating show that seemed to be tailor-made for love in the time of Covid-19 when it debuted in 2020, Love Is Blind returned for another season of pod romances. The new season followed its previous format–in which contestants got to know one another without being able to see each another but don't worry: this season sees plenty of new twists.
Vikings: Valhalla
Whether you’re a history buff or only know the name Leif Erickson from that Spongebob episode, the History Channel spinoff Vikings: Valhalla is a surefire thriller. Following the vikings as they raid across Europe, the series depicts some of the most famous Norsemen, tracking their legacies along with new developments in civilization, like the origins of Norse Paganism.
Bridgerton
Yes, Bridgerton is back with Season Two. And luckily, we don’t need to rely on any gossip from Lady Whistledown to get a run-down on what the episodes entail. This season focuses on Anthony Bridgerton, the eldest son who’s become more focused on duty than love.
Stranger Things 4
After three long years, Stranger Things is finally back with its fourth season. The new episodes see Eleven adjusting to a new home in California–wistfully writing to Mike about their reunion over spring break. Guess what? Things go to shit. Explosions, creepy dolls, and a horrifying new villain, the sabbatical wasn't too leisurely.
The Umbrella Academy
The hit time travel superhero series The Umbrella Academy, based on the comic strips of Gerard Way, returned in 2022 with its third season. As teased at the end of the second batch of episodes, the new season focuses heavily on the Sparrow Academy–a new collective accidentally formed due to an error made by the Umbrella Academy while time traveling.
Russian Doll
First premiering in 2019, the second season of Russian Doll was been long-awaited by fans. The supernatural dramedy follows Nadia, played by Natasha Lyonne, whose death at her 36th birthday party leads her into a never-ending Groundhog Day of reliving her final day. The second season didn't quite live up to the massive expectations placed on it, but we'll take a hang with Lyonne any day of the week.
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