The best hidden gems on Netflix right now

Blue Eye Samurai is an unusual anime that appears to be picking up traction with fans who aren’t typically into animation. That’s because this is a series that fully embraces drama, as Mizu (Maya Erskine), a young woman passing herself off as a man, cuts a bloody path of vengeance in 17th century Japan when half-Caucasian and half-Japanese people like Mizu were considered abominations.

Mizu is accompanied on her quest by Ringo (Masi Oka), a handless man who proves to be a loyal friend. Mizu also finds an unexpected ally in Taigen (Darren Barnet), a swordsman who comes to respect her despite wanting to duel her to the death to restore his honor for a defeat at Mizu’s hands. This is an intricately plotted and executed series, which is just as compelling and interesting as any live-action series.

Reviews have been mixed for The Watcher, but it’s worth a watch if you’re into creepy, mystery thrillers, and/or you’re a fan of Ryan Murphy and his work. It’s based on a true story, although many liberties are taken with the depiction of actual events. Nora and Dean Brannock (Naomi Watts and Bobby Cannavale) put everything on the line to afford their dream home in Westfield, New Jersey. But the gorgeous, sprawling mansion might not be all it’s cracked up to be.

The couple and their kids notice strange behavior from the intrusive neighbors and begin receiving ominous letters from someone who calls themselves The Watcher. Should the Brannocks sell, lose money, and move back to the city or stand their ground and stay, despite the cost of their sanity and safety? With lots of twists and turns, The Watcher will keep you guessing right through to the end.

Unsolved Mysteries will satisfy your desire for both true crime and docuseries about the unknown and paranormal activity. Each episode is a compartmentalized story, which means you can scan the summary and pick and choose what you’re in the mood to watch. Whether it’s the story of a successful businessman who mysteriously vanishes, UFO sightings, or a cold case murder rife with theories, rest assured every episode will leave you with tons of questions, opinions, and a desire to get to the bottom of what truly happened.

Netflix’s version is a revival of the original series that first aired in the late 1980s, and it has been resurrected multiple times through the decades. Now in its third season, the new Unsolved Mysteries presents an eclectic mix of captivating stories to keep you wanting more.

Sofie lives a seemingly ordinary life as a wife, mother, and business consultant. But when she gets a new job helping an old publishing house restructure and meets young IT expert Max, they begin a dangerous game. It starts with nothing more than innocent flirtations but quickly becomes a situation where they feed off one another, going against established norms, taking risks, and trying to outdo one another in how much trouble they can create. The plot builds as Sofie and Max’s games start to become an obsession. The Swedish series is dubbed a romantic comedy, so expect plenty of laughs along the way.

A reimagining of the classic ‘70s and ‘80s sitcom, One Day at a Time centers around a young Cuban mother and nurse and her two children who live together in a small apartment with her elderly mother while interacting frequently with their goofy, young landlord. While the basics stay true to the original, the underrated sitcom delves into serious topics like PTSD, alcohol abuse, gender identity, mental illness, and racism. There was fan outcry when Netflix canceled the series after three seasons, but it was eventually revived by Pop for a fourth and final one. The first three seasons are still available to watch on Netflix. With a talented and likable cast that includes the incomparable Rita Moreno, it’s a show that deserved to run for far longer than it did.

Harriett Dunkley (Anna Torv) uncovers various conspiracies involving tensions between China and the U.S. while working at Canberra press gallery. As she gets closer and closer to the truth, Dunkley’s job, and the freedoms of Australian residents, are at risk. Dubbed a political thriller, the show is based on Chris Uhlmann and Steve Lewis’ series of novels, including The Marmalade Files, The Mandarin Code, and The Shadow Game. There are two seasons, the second dubbed Secret City: Under the Eagle, which diverts from the stories in the novels, though both Uhlmann and Lewis signed on to consult. The Guardian calls the show “gripping,” noting that the political world setting feels “all too real and believable.” Each season is just six episodes, making a dozen in total to watch.

This British teen sitcom quietly launched on Channel 4 in 2018 and exploded to become the network’s most successful comedy since Father Ted. Set in the ‘90s, it follows a group of teenage girls dealing with typical coming-of-age struggles in Ireland while also navigating the end of the period known as The Troubles, a 30-year power struggle relating to political and nationalistic interests. Based on creator Lisa McGee’s own high school experiences, it’s raw and honest, featuring actual events that took place during that time, like the 1994 IRA ceasefire and Bill Clinton’s visit to Northern Ireland in 1995. Aside from the engaging storylines, dark humor, and charm, the show features a solid musical track that’s indicative of the period, with everyone from Ace of Bass to Cypress Hill, Salt-N-Pepa, and The Cranberries. There are 19 episodes and three seasons.

There are just two seasons of this hidden gem British dark comedy-drama that takes a unique look at the concept of a serial killer. Seventeen-year-old James believes that he is a psychopath and he’s bored of targeting animals, desiring to move on to humans. He decides he is going to murder his mouthy classmate Alyssa, but when they embark on a runaway trip together to abandon their troubled lives, James finds himself growing closer to the young woman and having second thoughts. Based on the Charles Forsman mini-comics of the same name, which were turned into a book in 2013, the show was well-received by critics and audiences alike, lauded for its perfect blend of “misanthropy and humor.”

You might have heard about Murderville or seen it pop up in the queue but were reluctant to check it out. It’s actually the perfect interlude show between starting up a new thrilling drama or waiting for your favorite show to return with a new season. Will Arnett is joined by a different celebrity guest in each episode as they play detective and rookie detective heading out to solve a murder. The best part about the show, however, is that all the dialogue is improvised, so you’re watching the actors and personalities in all their improvisational and comedic glory. Guest stars include Conan O’Brien, Marshawn Lynch, Kumail Nanjiani, Annie Murphy, Sharon Stone, and Ken Jeong, with every episode delivering its own unique brand of humor. With just six short episodes, it’s the perfect show to put you in a good mood.

Tackling the difficult topic of domestic abuse, Alex is a young mother who works up the courage to take her daughter and leave her abusive boyfriend. She moves into a shelter and snags a job cleaning houses in order to earn an income for her and her child. Margaret Qualley (The Leftovers, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) shines in the lead role as a character based on Stephanie Land, who wrote the memoir Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive that inspired the series. While critics say the show isn’t always the easiest to watch due to the sensitive subject matter, it’s powerful and meaningful amidst a sea of shows designed solely for entertainment value. Review aggregator website Metacritic labels Maid a “must-watch” show.

With two seasons under its belt, each episode looks at topics like corporate corruption, securities fraud, and creative accounting within companies that had questionable rises to the top or dealt with controversy. Season 1 covers stories like the Volkswagen emissions scandal and HSBC money laundering for the Sinaloa Cartel, while season 2 delves into everything from the Wells Fargo account fraud scandal to Jared Kushner. It’s the type of show you can watch an episode or two of here and there when you’re not in the right mindset to get invested in a multi-episode new show just yet.

If you love Narcos, this crime drama will be right up your alley. An adaptation of the Telemundo telenovela La Reina del Sur, which itself was adapted from the Arturo Perez-Reverte novel of the same name, the series is about Teresa Mendoza (Alice Braga), a poor woman from Sinaloa who gets caught up in the drug trade. In the most unwholesome rags-to-riches story you can imagine, she becomes the kingpin, er, queen. Every episode will have you at the edge of your seat as you watch her rise to power and Walter White-like evolution to someone more ruthless than her enemies. All five seasons are available to stream, so you can watch the story from beginning to bitter end.

Inbar Lavi (Prison Break, Lucifer) captivates as Maddie, a con woman whose M.O. is to get wealthy and powerful men to fall in love with her, propose, and get married. She then cleans their bank accounts dry, leaving a video goodbye message before she disappears into the sunset. It usually works flawlessly to play, except her latest victim, a shy and sweet man named Ezra, feels so slighted and hurt by her betrayal (more so than the money she took) that he decides to track her down and confront her. In the process, however, he runs into more jilted exes, and they team up for a cat-and-mouse game that’s equal parts drama and comedy as they cluelessly try to beat Maddie at her own game. Despite decent reviews, the series concluded after two seasons. But it’s still a fun and entertaining watch that gets you invested in each of the characters.

This science fiction series stars Will & Grace‘s Eric McCormack as Grant MacLaren, the leader of the travelers, operatives of the past who have had their consciousnesses transferred to “host” bodies of people in the current day. Their mission? To try and save people who are about to die. The post-apocalyptic series was a co-production between Netflix and Canadian specialty channel Showcase for seasons 1 and 2, but Netflix took over for season 3. It’s now canceled despite viewers seeming to love it, but you can still immerse yourself in all three season if you’re looking for a dose of sci-fi.