Netflix started with streaming movies and TV shows online and on DVD. Netflix then began streaming original content. There are two types of Netflix originals- shows created and produced by Netflix, and shows from cable TV that Netflix picked up and made additional seasons of. In 2013, Netflix launched their first original series, House of Cards and has released 125 originals since. If you are in need of something new to binge watch, here are the top five Netflix Originals:

Stranger Things
Stranger Things was released July 15, 2016 and the media has been raving about it ever since. The show is science fiction/ horror thriller that follows the search for a missing boy named Will Byers. Will’s friends, along with his mom Joyce, encounter terrifying twists and turns during their journey. “I love the concepts of this show and every episode had twists that blew my mind,” sophomore Zane Cohen said.

The Crown
The Crown is a TV drama that debuted in November of 2016. The story chronicles the life of Queen Elizabeth beginning with her early reign as queen and leads viewers through her personal interests, romances, and political rivalries that play a big role in shaping the 20th Century. The Crown won the Golden Globe Award for best television series in 2016.

Black Mirror
Black Mirror came out in 2011 and was picked up by Netflix in 2015. Black Mirror highlights controversial topics such as society’s dependence on technology. Each episode explores a twisted world where humanity’s inventions and dark instincts collide. “This show emphasizes the negative effects technology has on people’s actions and is really entertaining to watch,” sophomore Jonathan Lee said.

Orange is the New Black
In 2013, Orange is the New Black debuted. The series is based on a book with the same title. The story follows Piper Chapman, a successful business women, whose past catches up with her and causes her to end up in prison. The audience watches as she adjusts to her new life behind bars, as she makes friends with unusual people.

13 Reasons Why
The book 13 Reasons Why was released in 2007 and the show premiered in 2017. 13 Reasons Why is filmed from two perspectives- Hannah’s and Clay’s. Hannah is a high school girl who takes her own life, and two weeks later Clay, Hannah’s classmate who had a crush on her, receives a mysterious box filled with cassette tapes explaining the 13 reasons, or people, that led to Hannah’s suicide. Clay is tempted to listen to the tapes as he needed to know why he made her list.

Although people praised this show for bringing the controversial topics of bullying, rape, and suicide to light, there were also debates about whether or not the content was too mature for the target audience. 13 Reasons Why includes graphic depictions of rape and suicide, which professionals and parents do not think are appropriate for the audience. Also, the idea of one blatantly blaming others for their suicide was not well received by many viewers.

The show did get amazing reviews. Ending in a cliffhanger, viewers were left wanting to know what happens next.

Demi Ellenbogen