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10 of the best and 10 of the worst Netflix shows that came out this year, so far
“Our Living World” earned a perfect score from critics.
Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%
Summary: The Netflix nature series, narrated by Cate Blanchett, dives into the interconnectedness of wildlife and nature around the globe.
Critics gave the docuseries rave reviews, specifically praising the deft way it approached the climate crisis.
“The enormity of the climate emergency and the scale of the crime we’ve committed is left for other programmes to measure: here instead is a dappled ray of hope, and a reminder that we’re all in this together,” Jack Seale wrote for the Guardian.
Critics said “Baby Reindeer” stuck with them long past its finale.
Ed Miller/Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score: 99%
Summary: On the controversial semi-autobiographical drama, struggling comedian Donny (Richard Gadd) tries to break off an awkward friendship with a woman (Jessica Gunning), only for her interest to plunge headlong into obsession.
“Baby Reindeer,” which won six Emmy awards, was lauded for its harrowing plot and mesmerizing performances.
“On the surface, this Netflix series seems like a crazy and wild stalker story,” Hayley Croke wrote for Loud and Clear Reviews. “But in it, you will find a level of honesty, empathy, and heart that will stay with you long beyond its finale.
The stars of “Nobody Wants This” charmed critics from the start.
Adam Rose/Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%
Summary: Joanne (Kristen Bell) hosts a sex-advice podcast with her sister, and Noah (Adam Brody) leads sermons at the synagogue. After a chance encounter, the two can’t help but fall for each other.
Critics couldn’t help being charmed by the romantic comedy.
“This is a winning rom-com, with witty dialogue and crackling chemistry between Brody and Bell,” Geordie Gray wrote for The Australian.
Surreal and innovative, “The Vince Staples Show” earned rave reviews.
Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%
Summary: As a self-professed “sort of famous” rapper, Vincent Staples (Vince Staples) finds himself in increasingly odd situations. His fame turns out to be a blessing and a curse.
In the surrealistic style of “Barry” and “Atlanta,” Staples’ dark and deadpan show electrified critics.
“Unpredictable, funny, and often weirdly surreal, ‘The Vince Staples Show’ is replete with personal touches and a sense of place all its own,” Johnny Loftus wrote for Decider.
Critics said “Dead Boy Detectives” put a fresh spin on a familiar genre.
Ed Araquel/Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%
Summary: After their souls escape the underworld, “dead boys” Edwin (George Rexstrew) and Charles (Jayden Revri) pursue unsolved mysteries to help other ghosts resolve their unfinished business.
The reviews for “Dead Boy Detectives,” which is based on DC Comics characters, were positive overall. The show’s charismatic cast and lively story stood out, in particular.
“‘Dead Boy Detectives’ stands out as a beacon of inclusivity and imagination,” Alex Valencia wrote for Q+ Magazine. “Its seamless blend of supernatural intrigue, heartfelt friendships, and LGBTQ+ representation make it a must-watch for audiences craving a fresh take on the detective genre.”
“One Day” was praised as delightful and deeply emotional.
Teddy Cavendish/Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%
Summary: Based on the book by David Nicholls, “One Day” is a dramatic, decade-spanning look at the lives of friends Dexter (Leo Woodall) and Emma (Ambika Mod).
A tearjerker at its core, the limited series tugged on critics’ heartstrings and left them fawning over Mod and Woodall’s irresistible chemistry.
“Rare is the television show — or any filmed entertainment, really — that can capture the euphoria of young love and the heartache of grief with equal grace,” Rohan Naahar wrote for The Indian Express.
Critics found “The Signal” engaging from start to finish.
Anika Molnar / Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%
Summary: Astronaut Paula (Peri Baumeister) is returning home from the International Space Station when she vanishes without a trace. Her husband (Florian David Fitz) takes it upon himself to find her.
Reviewers said “The Signal” took a grounded approach to an ambitious story.
“The show doesn’t overstay its welcome, and it’s human-sized in the scale of its final message,” Steve Murray wrote for Arts ATL.
Sofía Vergara wowed critics in “Griselda.”
Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%
Summary: Based on a true story, “Griselda” follows the rise of Griselda Blanco (Vergara), a Colombian crime boss who rules Miami’s drug scene in the 1980s.
Hailing the show as propulsive, violent, and riveting, critics couldn’t get enough of Vergara’s central performance.
“Griselda sometimes feels like a triumph of style over moral substance,” Carol Midgley wrote for The Times. “But Vergara commands the screen — and this drama — beautifully.”
The latest “Ripley” adaptation received high praise.
Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%
Summary: In the latest adaptation of “The Talented Mr. Ripley” by Patricia Highsmith, grifter Tom Ripley (Andrew Scott) manipulates his way into the lives of wealthy couple Dickie Greenleaf (Johnny Flynn) and Marge Sherwood (Dakota Fanning).
Thanks to its opulent black-and-white cinematography, “Ripley” proved that there was still material to yield from Highsmith’s classic novel.
“This story has been brought to the screen before, but this iteration feels fresh and alluring, just charming and unnerving enough to demand attention and leave a lasting impression,” Abe Friedtanzer wrote for Awards Buzz.
Critics said “The Brothers Sun” was a full-throttle thrill ride.
Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score: 84%
Summary: After his father is killed by an assassin, the eldest son of a Taiwanese triad (Justin Chien) returns home to his mother (Michelle Yeoh) and younger brother (Sam Song Li).
“The Brothers Sun” was well-loved by critics. Many lamented the fact that Netflix didn’t pick it up for a second season.
Pallavi Keswani wrote for The Hindu, “Michelle Yeoh leads an action-filled crime-family drama with hilarious performances.”
On the other hand, reviews of “Breathless” were more split.
CARLA OSET/NETFLIX
Rotten Tomatoes score: 67%
Summary: On the Spanish medical drama, romance swirls and tensions rise at Joaquín Sorolla Public Hospital in Valencia, Spain.
Critics were somewhat split on “Breathless.” Although it had a few noteworthy highlights, several reviewers wrote it off as a predictable hospital drama.
“It’s entertaining enough to watch while doing other things, especially if you turn on the English dub,” Joel Keller wrote for Decider. “But it’s nothing we haven’t seen dozens of times before.”
“The Perfect Couple” was written off as little more than a guilty pleasure.
Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score: 65%
Summary: As Greer Garrison Winbury (Nicole Kidman) orchestrates a lavish wedding for her son in Nantucket, a ghastly murder causes the weekend to take a turn.
Due to its quirky opening dance montage and over-the-top dialogue, critics largely fell into two camps on “The Perfect Couple:” annoyed and shamelessly obsessed.
“You’d have to be a bigger snob than me to resist the brain-emptying pleasures of ‘The Perfect Couple,'” Judy Berman wrote for Time Magazine. “Not every show has to be a masterpiece to be a good time, nor does being a great actor require career-long genuflection at the altar of cinema.”
Some said “Avatar: The Last Airbender” lacked the heart of the original series.
Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score: 60%
Summary: On “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” 12-year-old Aang (Gordon Cormier) resurfaces after a hundred years encased in ice — awakening to a world in disarray.
Although Netflix’s adaptation fared better with critics than M. Night Shyamalan’s 2010 cinematic misfire, some reviewers still felt like it fell short of the original animated series.
“They got so busy tracing every aspect of the original that they forgot to put a soul into this one,” Victor Pineyro wrote for Seventh Art Studio. “This is not how you do adaptations, you need to actually develop the characters and build a universe so we can at least care.”
Reviewers were largely left unimpressed by “The Trust: A Game of Greed.”
Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score: 57%
Summary: On the strategic reality show, 11 strangers receive a quarter of a million dollars. They can either take their fair share of the pot or vote each other out.
Critics were divided on “The Trust,” however, the consensus was that it was serviceable but didn’t break any new ground.
“The lead-up to the season’s biggest moments make this feel like TV designed to be consumed and never really questioned,” Steve Greene wrote for IGN Movies. “Various contestants may be more than meets the eye, but that’s rarely true for ‘The Trust’ itself.”
Critics said “A Man in Full” lacked the heft of the original novel.
MARK HILL/NETFLIX
Rotten Tomatoes score: 50%
Summary: Charlie Croker (Jeff Daniels) has led a successful career as a real-estate mogul, but when he faces bankruptcy, those closest to him try to profit from his fall from grace.
Based on the novel by Tom Wolfe, “A Man in Full” left many critics wanting more.
“‘A Man in Full’ comes off as smaller and shallower and more obvious than the novel, and on its own feels like not the best episode of one of Kelley’s old soap-operatic lawyer shows,” Robert Lloyd wrote for the Los Angeles Times.
South Korean drama “The Frog” was called derivative and messy.
limhyoseon/Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score: 43%
Summary: Set in South Korea, the timeline-jumping thriller follows a suspicious visitor who upends the lives of ordinary people.
Chills and thrills awaited viewers on Netflix’s gory drama, but “The Frog” missed the mark with most reviewers.
“It has enough twists in its mixed timeline narrative to keep idle viewers engaged,” Nick Hilton wrote for The Independent. “But fans of both ‘Squid Game’ and ‘Mindhunter’ will be disappointed by a show that lacks either the clear vision of the former or the sophistication of the latter.”
“Tires” fell flat for a majority of reviewers.
Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score: 40%
Summary: After Will (Steve Gerben) takes over his family’s auto shop, he consistently butts heads with his cousin/coworker Shane (Shane Gillis).
Most critics agreed that “Tires” toed the line of offensive comedy, but its biggest detractors simply found it underwritten.
“At six sitcom-length episodes (the shortest runs 18 minutes), ‘Tires’ has a small-boned feel even before getting to how flat the jokes are,” Brian Lowry wrote for CNN.
“Testament: The Story of Moses” came across as relatively bland.
Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score: 38%
Summary: Borrowing inspiration from Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, the Netflix miniseries follows Moses (Avi Azulay) on his journey from outcast to prophet.
By deriving its story from three religious sources, critics felt it failed to inspire anything new or exciting about the age-old story.
“As has become the norm for shows like this, the production is noticeably spartan — the sets look plastic, there’s a limit to the scope, and despite the inherent ambition of adapting such an expansive text, the constraints can always be seen and felt,” Naahar wrote for the Indian Express.
“The Accident” was panned for its ridiculous premise.
Carla Danieli / Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score: 29%
Summary: The lives of a group of parents are changed forever when a tragic accident involving a bouncy castle rips their children from them.
The Spanish drama had a phenomenal cast, but critics said they had trouble taking the premise seriously.
“It’s very serious,” Jonathon Wilson wrote for Ready Steady Cut. “The actors do a good job of communicating that seriousness in very intense performances. But I can’t imagine a world where an inflatable floating off into the sky will not be hysterical to me.”
The animated “Good Times” series wasn’t well received.
Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score: 10%
Summary: Beverly (Yvette Nicole Brown) and her family navigate the ups and downs of living in Chicago housing projects.
Some critics found the animated show offensive and outdated and shamed its producers for tying it by name to a beloved sitcom from the 1970s.
“The biggest problem with this show is that it is called ‘Good Times,'” Korey Coleman said in a YouTube video for Double Toasted. “It has nothing to do with that original show other than the fact that the characters live in the projects and are black.”
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