1. The Haunting of Hill House

The Haunting of Hill House changed the way horror was perceived for good. The show takes a different route from the traditional biblical horror of The Conjuring series and focusses on psychology and trauma, often blurring the lines between the real ghosts and the ones within. 

2. Sacred Games

As India’s first Netflix original series, Sacred Games did not disappoint. Actually, that’s an understatement. Sacred Games was one of the best shows on Netflix this year. 

The gangster crime drama gets you hooked from the very first minute and keeps you on the edge of your seat till the last. 

3. Bodyguard

Sergeant David Budd is a war veteran who now serves as the bodyguard to a politician he vehemently disagrees with on ideals and politics. Her life is in danger and a conspiracy is afoot that could lead to a series of suicide bombings across England.

The mini-series gives you some of the most nerve-wracking scenes on television and Richard Madden pulls off the best performance of his career as the titular character. 

4. Altered Carbon

The sci-fi cyberpunk series is set more than 300 years in the future where the society has been transformed by technology. Death is no longer permanent as the consciousness of a body can be transferred to another like it’s a vessel. 

Takeshi Kovacs, the only living soldier from the resistance against the new world order. He has been woken up by Bancroft to solve his own murder. He must do so or be damned to an eternity of unconsciousness. 

5. Narcos: Mexico

Mind you, this is not a different season of the original Narcos series. Narcos: Mexico follows the life of DEA agent Kiki Camarena, who despite very little help from the government, takes on the drug empire of Felix Gallardo. 

Narcos: Mexico serves as a prequel to the beginning of the drug war in Mexico. 

6. Nanette

Nanette is a stand-up special by Australian comedian Hannah Gatsby. But it does more than just make you laugh.

It is also a social commentary, especially focussing on the issues faced by the LGBTQ community and the problems Gatsby has faced herself because of her gender and her sexual orientation throughout her life. 

7. Vir Das: Losing It

Losing It is Vir Das’ journey in Africa, India and America. The stand-up special takes on governments, policies, and religions with satire among other things. 

8. Wild Wild Country

The docudrama is based on the life of controversial guru Osho and his ashram in the United States. 

The series focusses on the conflict between the local ranchers in the Oregon desert and the utopian city built by Osho, which eventually leads to the first bio-terror attack on US soil.  

9. Collateral

When a pizza delivery guy is shot down in South London, Detective Inspector Kip Glaspie takes on the case and refuses to go with the presumption that it was a random act of violence. 

Further investigation leads her into the deep dark world of underworld London. The two worlds collide and shit hits the fan real quick. 

10. Safe

Widowed surgeon Tom, played by Dexter’s Michael C. Hall struggles to raise two daughters after the death of his wife. While things seem to be on the right track for the family after a year of his wife’s death, tragedy strikes again. 

Jenny, Tom’s oldest daughter goes missing with her boyfriend in the gated community they live in. As the investigation goes deeper, Tom discovers some of the harrowing secrets about those he thought were closest to him. 

11. Mowgli

Andy Serkis’ Mowgli diverts from the ‘sunshine and rainbows’ world of Disney and takes on the dark reality of The Jungle Book, the story about a boy raised by wolves. 

The motion capture in the film is the best we’ve ever seen. Even smaller characters like Bhoot manage to touch you deeply. 

12. Roma

Roma is the story about a year in the life of a middle-class family’s maid in Mexico City in the early 1970s.

Oscar winner Alfonso Cuaron brings you an immersive slice of life story amidst the political turmoil in South America during the time. 

13. The Innocent Man

In December 1982, a waitress in the small town of Ada, Oklahoma was brutally raped and murdered in her home with the perpetrator leaving a grisly crime scene and confusing messages. 

5 years later, two known troublemakers were arrested and charged for the said crime. But did they commit the crime? 

14. Disenchantment

Disenchantment is an adult animated sitcom set in the kingdom of Dreamland. It follows the story of Bean, an alcoholic princess, her companion Elfo and her personal demon, Luci. 

It’s unique, funny and makes for a few good hours of binge-watching. 

15. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

The film is an anthology of six short stories set in the wild west. It often goes from humour to pure horror in a matter of seconds, keeping you on the edge of your seats. 

BTW, James Franco is bloody brilliant in the film. 

16. To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before

High school junior, Lara Jean Cover writes love letters to boys she likes and then locks them away in her closet without sending them. 

Shit gets serious when she wakes up one morning to realise that all her letters have been mailed to the people she had written them for.  

Boy, this has been a good year for Netflix, hasn’t it? Anyhow, if there’s anything more you would like to include here, let us know and we might oblige. 

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