Netflix Series to Binge-Watch During Lockdown

Grab some snacks and get comfortable, because there’s nothing like relaxing on the couch after an entire day of… being on the couch.

By Pasavat Tanskul

As we plod through another lockdown-induced slumber, it feels like it’s always time for more Netflix and chill. But when you stare at the streaming platform’s content offerings, it can be a daunting task to identify “the one good show” to invest your time in. You search for what feels like an eternity through every digital nook and cranny.

To help you shortcut this process, we’ve compiled a list of 10 must-watch series streaming now on Netflix. So grab some snacks and get comfortable, because there’s nothing like relaxing on the couch after an entire day of… being on the couch.

Girl From Nowhere

Currently the must-watch Thai TV series, Girl From Nowhere is back with a sinister second season, which premiered on Netflix worldwide last weekend. Thai actress Kitty Chicha Amatayakul stars in the titular role of Nanno, the mysterious transfer student who may seem ordinary at first glance.

Each episode sees Nanno, with her menacing death glares and unpleasant laughs, moving to a new school and dealing brutal justice to fellow students and faculty who have committed injustices and atrocities. Her twisted punishments are often disturbing and unsettling, but the show also has its cheesy moments.

The show is an anthology series, meaning that each episode features a standalone story, making it easier to jump right in.

Vincenzo

Having aired its series finale last week, Vincenzo is Korean drama at its finest. Featuring Song Joong-ki (from Descendants of the Sun, also on Netflix) in the lead role, the series is part mafia thriller, part comedy, with plenty of action, drama and suspense sprinkled throughout.

After an attempt on his life, Italian mafia lawyer Vincenzo Cassano flees to Seoul to recover a stash of gold hidden beneath Geumga Plaza. However, things aren’t that simple as he must reclaim the building by using his skills against the Babel Group real estate conglomerate.

The show features a well-written story with twists and turns, as well as superb character development, and fans of K-drama should not miss this one.

Jupiter’s Legacy

Based on Mark Millar’s comic book series, Jupiter’s Legacy is the latest superhero show to land on our screens, offering a more realistic and mature take on the genre for those looking for something other than what Marvel has to offer.

Following the footsteps set out by The Boys (an amazing show worth binging on for its dark and subversive take on superheroes), Jupiter’s Legacy features two generations of super-powered humans, in which the younger generation struggles to live up to the moral standards set by the older generation.

Featuring family drama and epic fight scenes, comic book fans should give this unique spin on caped crusaders a chance.

Behind Her Eyes

Behind Blue Eyes follows divorcee Louise (Simona Brown) as she starts an affair with her boss David (Tom Bateman) and strikes up a friendship with his wife Adele.

Suspenseful and entertaining, this psychological drama is filled with unexpected twists and turns that keep you guessing. It’s only six episodes long, so it can be finished in one sitting.

Shadow and Bone

Fantasy author Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse novels have received a faithful adaptation that is well-crafted and with a talented cast to boot.

Set in the Russian-inspired kingdom of Ravka, mapmaker Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) discovers she’s a Grisha, a person who can manipulate matter. As the Sun Summoner, she holds the power to blast light from her hands, and uses it to combat the Shadow Fold.

Fans and newcomers alike will dig the excellent writing and acting, and top-notch special effects.

Lupin

Gentleman thief Assane Diop (Mamadou Haidara), inspired by the stories of the legendary French thief Arsene Lupin, sets out for revenge on the Pellegrini family after his father was framed for a crime he didn’t commit, A highly engrossing and imaginative French crime caper, Lupin currently consists of five episodes that can be watched within a day, with part two arriving this June.

The Serpent

Based on the real-life events of the notorious serial killer Charles Sobhraj and shot on location in Thailand, The Serpent follows the infamous murderer as he preys on unsuspecting victims throughout Asia. With an impressive and chilling performance by Tahar Rahim, this gripping drama is sure to make your skin crawl, holding your attention with all the thrills and chills.

Love, Death + Robots

Netflix’s anthology series of animated sci-fi/fantasy/horror shorts is back May 14 with Volume 2, so expect all the NSFW elements of hyper-violence, gratuitous nudity and, of course, robots to come back in full force.

While the first season contained a whopping 18 shorts, season two will feature only eight episodes (which is “best micro-dosed,” as the trailer suggests). A third season featuring eight more episodes will be making its way next year.

Castlevania

Castlevania is wrapping up with its fourth and final season. The anime adaptation of the renowned video game series, which sees three adventurers on a quest to stop Dracula, features visually stunning animation, tense and bloody action, and great fan service that helps expand the lore.

Pretend It’s A City

Film director Martin Scorsese takes viewers on a seven-part documentary series featuring interviews and conversations with humorist Fran Lebowitz, who holds no punches about her thoughts and opinions on the Big Apple. It is interesting to see first-hand the way the author thinks, and whether you agree with Lebowitz’s opinions, you will be entertained nonetheless by her quick wit and astute observations on the city she calls home.