One of the most exciting additions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in recent memory for me is Teyonah Parris, whom I have been a fan of since her breakthrough performance in Dear White People almost a decade ago. Thus, I was delighted to find that she was later cast as Monica Rambeau — otherwise known as Spectrum — whom she is reprising in the upcoming Marvel movie, The Marvels. 

However, since we still have a good deal of time before that sequel to Captain Marvel hits theaters in November, let’s take a look what other great Teyonah Parris movies and TV shows we have already had the pleasure of seeing — starting with her most recent hit.

They Cloned Tyrone (2023)

In the 1970s, a hustler (John Boyega), a pimp (Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx), and a sex worker (Parris) team-up to investigate a strange conspiracy involving the discovery that one of them is not exactly who he thinks he is.

Why it is one of Teyonah Parris’ best: Parris does what she does best (stealing the show) in the role of Yo-Yo in the They Cloned Tyrone cast, for co-writer and director Juel Taylor’s feature debut, which is one of the most inventive, bizarre, and fun, Netflix original movies from 2023.

Stream They Cloned Tyrone on Netflix.

Dear White People (2014) 

Racial tension at a prestigious, predominantly white Ivy League college has a life-changing effect on the live of four Black students of diverse backgrounds.

Why it is one of Teyonah Parris’ best: Parris first demonstrated her scene-stealing talent in Justin Simien’s stunning satire, Dear White People, as the original actor to play boisterous blogger “Coco,” who was later played by Antoinette Robertson in the underrated Netflix TV series adaptation. 

Stream Dear White People on Amazon Prime.

They Came Together (2014)

A small candy shop owner (Amy Poehler) and a corporate candy company employee (Paul Rudd) recall the story of how they initially hated each other, fell in love, broke up, and all the other cliches from some of the best romantic-comedies.

Why it is one of Teyonah Parris’ best: Parris let her funny bone run a bit wilder in They Came Together — co-writer and director David Wain’s savage send-up of the romantic-comedy genre — as Wanda, who is best friend’s with Poehler’s character.

Stream They Came Together on Peacock.
Stream They Came Together on Freevee through Amazon.

Mad Men (2007-2015) 

A turbulent inside look at the advertising industry in the 1960s.

Why it is one of Teyonah Parris’ best: One of Parris’ first big TV gigs was alongside the Mad Men cast in the recurring role of Dawn Chambers, who becomes one of the few Black employees at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce when she is hired as Don Draper’s (Jon Hamm) secretary in Season 5.

Stream Mad Men on AMC+.
Buy Mad Men on Amazon.

Survivor's Remorse (2014-2017)

A young man from Boston (The Boys’ Jessie T. Usher) and his cousin (RonReaco Lee) end up exceeding their infamous neighborhood’s expectations and achieving unimaginable levels of fame and fortune

Why it is one of Teyonah Parris’ best: Parris’ first regular role on a TV show was on creator Mike O’Malley and executive producer LeBron James’ Starz original series, Survivor’s Remorse, as Missy Vaughn, the wife of Lee’s character, Reggie.

Stream Survivor's Remorse on Starz.
Buy Survivor's Remorse on Amazon.

Chi-Raq (2015)

A moment of tragedy leads a woman (Parris) and her fellow female peers in a revolt against gang violence in inner-city Chicago by depriving the men in their lives of sexual gratification.

Why it is one of Teyonah Parris’ best: Parris had the honor of landing her first lead role in a Spike Lee joint — namely the satirical Chi-Raq, which is one of the influential filmmaker’s most socially relevant movies, despite borrowing much of its themes and plot from Aristophanes’ Ancient Greek play, Lysistrata.

Stream Chi-Raq on Amazon Prime.

If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)

A young pregnant woman (Kiki Layne) bonds with her family and that of her boyfriend (Stephan James) while struggling to prove that he is not guilty of a devastating crime in 1970 New York City.

Why it is one of Teyonah Parris’ best: Yet another great movie that explores race and social justice and features Parris in a touching and passionate performance (as Ernestine Rivers, the sister of Layne’s character, Tish) is If Beale Street Could Talk — writer and director Barry Jenkins’ moving, Oscar-winning adaptation of James Baldwin’s acclaimed romantic novel.

Stream If Beale Street Could Talk on Netflix.
Buy/rent If Beale Street Could Talk on Amazon.

The Photograph (2020)

Sparks fly when a woman (Issa Rae) meets a journalist (LaKeith Stanfield) who is researching the life of her late, famous photographer mother. 

Why it is one of Teyonah Parris’ best: Another recent, great Black-led romance movie that features Parris in a supporting role is The Photograph — a winning, feel good movie from writer and director Stella Meghie.

Stream The Photograph on Peacock.
Buy/rent The Photograph on Amazon.

Charm City Kings (2020)

A teenager (Jahi Di'Allo Winston) tries to earn a spot among his Baltimore neighborhood’s legendary gang of dirt bike riders.

Why it is one of Teyonah Parris’ best: Parris also has a memorable supporting role in future Blue Beetle director, Angel Manuel Soto’s breakout feature, Charm City Kings — a dramatized depiction of the events captured in the 2013 documentary, 12 O’Clock Boys — which is has, unfortunately, been removed from Max, but is available for digital rental or purchase.

Buy/rent Charm City Kings on Amazon.

WandaVision (2021) 

A mutant with magic powers (Elizabeth Olsen) and her android lover (Paul Bettany) mysteriously find themselves living in a reality that resembles a classic sitcom setting.

Why it is one of Teyonah Parris’ best: Parris would make her debut in the role of S.W.O.R.D. agent Monica Rambeau as part of the WandaVision cast for one of Disney+’s most inventive Marvel TV shows yet.

Stream WandaVision on Disney+.

Candyman (2021)

A successful artist (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) becomes inspired and, eventually, strangely obsessed with the gentrified neighborhood he and his girlfriend (Parris) moved into and the urban legend that haunts its tenants.

Why it is one of Teyonah Parris’ best: Parris’ first collaboration with The Marvels director Nia DaCosta was this creepy, refreshingly poignant “requel” to Candyman — Bernard Rose’s acclaimed adaptation of Clive Barker’s short story — which was also produced by Jordan Peele.

Stream Candyman on Amazon Prime. 

As you can see, even before Teyonah Parris became the MCU’s Monica Rambeau, she was already leading a pretty epic career and continues to do so now. Relive all her best moments with this binge.

Tessa Thompson has built an impressive resume that shows her talents and her ability to fit into pretty much any project you can throw at her. Pretty soon audiences will get to see that put into practice yet again, thanks to the 2023 new movie release Creed III. Unfortunately, Thompson herself hasn’t always seen the path that clearly when it came to her career as a Black actress. That thankfully changed after she landed one important role, proving that there was indeed a place in Hollywood for Tessa Thompson. 

Revealing that project during a BuzzFeed interview, Thompson admitted that writer/director Justin Simien’s Dear White People was the movie that clicked on the lightbulb. Here’s how she began to describe that pivotal experience: 

A satire that highlighted the subject of race relations on a college campus, Dear White People saw Tessa Thompson play the protagonist Samantha. Hosting the campus radio show that gives the film its name, the role was a breakthrough for the actor on a personal and professional level. Though admittedly, it’s one of Thompson’s roles people may have forgotten about once the blockbuster offers came rolling in.  

It’s a shame to even think of Dear White People that way, as the movie did eventually spawn a successful Netflix series, which Tessa Thompson also found herself playing a part of. More importantly, audience members could see Thompson coming into her own through the sharp and clear voice Samantha had to offer in this movie’s ecosystem. You can even feel that taking shape by watching the trailer to Dear White People, which is provided below for context: 

While it wasn’t her first gig, as she’d acted in films and television shows for years beforehand, Tessa Thompson credits Dear White People for keeping her in the game. Continuing her story, the Thor: Love and Thunder star fleshed out the moment that really dug into those questions of whether Hollywood was right for her. Thompson reexamined those questions, and shared what exactly changed her mind, as follows: 

Without her role in Dear White People, we may have never seen the fantastic work that Tessa Thompson has done through the roles that came after. That includes her work helping diversify the stories in the MCU through Valkyrie, as well as work in socially relevant movies like the Academy Award nominee Selma; a film that also had its place in Hollywood questioned by some. 

Thankfully, history shook out the way it was supposed to, and Thompson’s blockbuster work with indie directors has prepared her for Creed III’s upcoming March 3rd release, and beyond. Fans can look forward to the return of Bianca and Adonis in the weeks to come, further proving how much of a dynamite talent Tessa Thompson truly is, and why Hollywood should be grateful to have her.

At this point, it’s almost funny how many shows Netflix releases each year, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t tons of awesome picks out there to watch. There are super popular series on the streaming site, like Stranger Things breaking records or the massive hit, Bridgerton, continuing to be just as popular in 2022 as it was in 2020, however, we’re here to talk about the underrated shows.

I’m talking about great series like Living With Yourself, or I Am Not Okay With This, that flew under the radar and deserve so much more praise than they get. Today, we’ll talk about the underrated Netflix original shows, and how you can watch them right now.

The Get-Down (2016-2017)

The cancellation of this show is a crime to me. The Get-Down is set in the Bronx in the 1970s, and tells of the rise of hip-hop and disco through the eyes of a group of talented teenagers, all trying to chase their own dreams.

One of the key factors of this show is the music. It’s so incredibly catchy. I remember when it first came out, I was listening to the soundtrack constantly. The performances themselves are great, with the talented Justice Smith performing some awesome raps and bringing great personality to his role as Zeke. It’s so much fun. The first season was split into two parts and canceled afterward, but honestly, it deserved much more time.

Stream The Get-Down on Netflix.

Dear White People (2017-2021)

The dramedy  series Dear White People, based on the film of the same name, follows several black college students who attend a (fictional) Ivy League university, and deal with issues of the modern-day experiences of African Americans, as well as the constant issue of race relations.

I know, for something that dives into such heavy topics, you wouldn’t expect it to be such a great combination of drama and comedy. Granted, it leans a little more towards drama, but it’s still great, combining a mixture of dark comedy with serious messages that everyone should learn about. Each episode focuses on a particular character, showing the different aspects of life for them compared to everyone else. The show concluded with four seasons, so now's the time to binge it all. 

Stream Dear White People on Netflix.

A Series Of Unfortunate Events (2017-2019)

If you want a fun black comedy/drama, you have to check out A Series of Unfortunate Events. Starring Neil Patrick Harris, this series is an adaptation of the famous Lemony Snicket books, telling the story of three siblings who lose their parents in a supposed fire and are shuffled from guardian to guardian all to evade the malicious Count Olaf, who is after them for their fortune. 

I can’t recommend A Series of Unfortunate Events enough. It has something for everyone, family values, funny comedy, and what’s even better – Neil Patrick Harris character-acting. I mean, he really knows how to pull an accent and wow, is he outstanding as Count Olaf in this show. I genuinely love him more than Jim Carrey’s version and that’s saying something. I wish this show could have gone on for just a little longer. 

Stream A Series of Unfortunate Events on Netflix. 

One Day At A Time (2017-2020)

One Day At a Time is a remake of a series from 1975, only this time following the lives of a Cuban-American family. The main character is Penelope Alvarez, an. Army Nurse Corps veteran, who is facing her return to civilian life and living with her children and mother after being in the army.

One Day at a Time is the perfect comedy-drama series for today. Not only is it super funny, but it deals with serious topics that you wouldn’t normally expect in a sitcom, such as immigration, sexism, homophobia, racial identity and so many more. It’s a great way to re-imagine the original series, and offers new stories for people of this generation to enjoy. With three seasons on Netflix (and one other through Pop), the show has plenty of awesome moments and deserves so much more love.

Stream One Day At A Time on Netflix.

The End Of The F*ing World (2017-2019)

This is one of my favorite underrated series. In The End of the F*ing World, we follow James, a 17-year-old who believes that he is a psychopath, and Alyssa, an angry classmate who meets James and sees him as a way out of her home life.

This show is so ridiculous, and that’s what makes it so much fun. Whatever you’re expecting to happen, it doesn’t. There are so many twists and turns, and the acting from both Alex Lawther and Jessica Barden is great, along with their amazing chemistry.

Stream The End of the F*ing World on Netflix.

Anne With An E (2017-2019)

With three seasons to watch, Anne with an E was a fan favorite – and something many people were upset about when the show was originally cancelled. This series follows the titular character, Anne, in the 1800s, an orphan who has a bright mind and will do anything in her power in order to feel accepted after losing her family. 

Anne with an E went under the radar for some time, but over the last couple of years, I have seen more and more people request that Netflix undo their cancellation of this show and bring it back because it was loved so much. Anne is a great character and one that every girl should look up to, and truly will make you smile with her creative thinking. 

Stream Anne with an E on Netflix. 

Living With Yourself (2019)

If you love Paul Rudd, then you’ll be seeing double in this Netflix series and loving it. Living With Yourself follows the story of Miles Elliot, a man who, after undergoing a strange treatment that promises a better life for him, discovers that he’s actually been replaced by a clone.

Let’s just start this off by saying that Paul Rudd has so much chemistry even with himself, it’s impossible not to like this series. The jokes land well, the story is great, and Paul Rudd does exceptionally well literally playing two versions of himself. When this show first came out, I wished it got more hype than it did. Paul Rudd really does shine.

Stream Living With Yourself on Netflix.

Everything Sucks! (2018)

Have you ever wondered what living in a town called Boring is like? That’s what Everything Sucks! answers, because in this show, we are taken to the real-life city, Boring, Oregon in the 1990s. We follow a group of high schoolers that attend Boring High, who are trying to change their quote unquote, “boring lives” by making a movie, and along the way, discover more about themselves. 

This is such a great series on Netflix that was canceled after only one season, and I hate that it was. It’s such a great coming of age that mixes with drama and comedy so well, and features a very talented cast. It even has Sydney Sweeney before she blew up from her roles in shows like Euphoria and The White Lotus. Such a great series. 

Stream Everything Sucks! on Netflix.

Julie And The Phantoms (2020)

If you want a musical show, then look no further than Julie and the Phantoms. In this dramedy, we follow the story of Julie, a teenager who is struggling to make music following her mother’s death. Then, out of nowhere, Julie accidentally summons a ghost band from the past and eventually starts her own band with them.

I know, the premise sounds absolutely ridiculous, but Julie and the Phantoms has so much going for it. The story is a lot of fun, the music catchy, and the jokes land each time. I mean, what else can you expect with High School Musical's creator Kenny Ortega being one of those behind the series? The man knows his musicals well. It was such a shame when the show was canceled after one season. 

Stream Julie and the Phantoms on Netflix.

First Kill (2022)

A supernatural show is something I can always get behind. First Kill tells the story of two girls, one a vampire and one a possible monster hunter, who both have to make first kills in order to be accepted by their family. But as their relationship develops over time, their lives become more intertwined and messier than ever despite the fact that they’re supposed to hate each other. 

First Kill was a great show that was, again, cancelled after only one season, and fans were so upset. Even the boss of First Kill blasted Netflix for the sudden drop on the series back in August 2022. However, at least we can still admire the First Kill cast as we re-watch the show – and maybe one day see the continuation of an awesome LGBTQ storyline, but I don’t have my fingers crossed. 

Stream First Kill on Netflix.

I Am Not Okay With This (2020)

In I Am Not Okay With This, we get to follow the story of Sydney, a seemingly normal 17-year-old girl, who over time ends up developing special powers that change her life forever.

Let me start off by saying that the acting talents of Sophia Lillis were outstanding in this show, and really allowed her the platform to shine and show off that she is a leading lady. Not only that, but the jokes in this dark comedy paired so well with the superhero aspects. The story was intriguing and interesting to follow, too. Everything hit so well for this Netflix show. Apparently, the show was canceled due to COVID-19 related reasons, but we can at least give it the love it deserves now on Netflix.

Stream I Am Not Okay With This on Netflix.

Santa Clarita Diet (2017 - 2019)

There are zombie shows like All Of Us Are Dead or The Walking Dead, and then there are zombie shows like Santa Clarita Diet. This comedy starring Drew Barrymore follows a real estate agent who ends up swallowing an ancient item that ends up literally killing her – and then she comes back to life as a zombie. And now, she needs to learn to adapt to her new undead life for not only her family, but the future. 

If anyone knows me, they know I’m a fan of zombies, and while I wouldn’t normally be drawn towards something like this, I have to say that Santa Clarita Diet is just such a good time and I can’t recommend it enough. It’s carried by Drew Barrymore’s charming performance and she is always a joy to watch, especially in undead form. 

Stream Santa Clarita Diet on Netflix.

Love (2016-2018)

Judd Apatow strikes again in the romantic comedy department with this underrated Netflix show. In Love, we get a look at the real world of dating by exploring the different perspectives of females and males in relationships, through the main characters, Mickey and Gus.

Community’s Gillian Jacobs and Paul Rust (Super Fun Night) really carry this series, showing off the different ways they view love, date, and look at the world. This Judd Apatow project has hysterical comedy, with great romance. I’m genuinely surprised that this show only ran for three seasons and not several more, with how funny some of the jokes are. You’ll find yourself laughing a lot with this series.

Stream Love on Netflix.

To me, these are some of the best shows to binge on Netflix and should be talked about way more. While there are plenty of 2022 Netflix TV shows coming out soon,  maybe give one of these underrated shows a chance. I promise you, you won’t regret it.

Netflix definitely has some amazing series for people to watch, from serious dramas to hilarious comedies - but what if you’re craving something that’s in-between? Something that is both a comedy and a drama? Good for you, because there is a word for that: dramedy.

There are plenty of awesome choices for series like that, including Orange is the New Black, Atypical, and many more. These are just some of the awesome choices that you can pick from, both Netflix originals and shows from current TV networks. If you’re looking for your next TV show to binge, check out some of these TV dramedies on Netflix.

Sex Education

The teen comedy, Sex Education, follows the lives of students, staff, and parents at a fictitious secondary school, telling the tales of personal dramas, issues, and stories usually related to sexual intimacy.

Sex Education is one of those Netflix originals that stand out amongst the rest. The Sex Education cast is full of talent, with stars that have really broken out into the acting world from their brilliant roles on the dramedy. Not only that, but the stories are full of heart, and a lot of teachable moments that will not only make you laugh, but also make you smile. It’s accepting and wholesome in all the right ways. And with Season 4 on the way, now is the time to check out the first three seasons. Genuinely one of the best shows on Netflix to binge.

Stream Sex Education on Netflix.

Derry Girls

Derry Girls may be set across the ocean, but it’s just as amazing to watch in the United States. This hilarious dramedy follows a group of girls who live in Derry, Ireland during a time called the Troubles in the 1990s, who all attend Our Lady Immaculate College, a secondary school (high school) where they are learning to grow up in a politically divided time. 

While Derry Girls is obviously a fictionalized show, it often references real-life events that did take place in Ireland and uses them skillfully to create a masterpiece of a television show, blending comedy and drama all in one. It’s such a great series and one that is totally underrated and everyone should check out if they’ve never seen it before. 

Stream Derry Girls on Netflix. 

Orange Is The New Black

Do you got time? Cause they do.

Orange is the New Black is based on Piper Kerman’s novel of the same name, telling the story of Piper Chapman, a young woman whose life is changed drastically when she is sent to a minimum security prison for carrying a bag of drug money for her former girlfriend. While there, she meets interesting characters, both nice and not so nice.

Let me say, for a long time, this was my favorite Netflix original series. The Orange is the New Black cast is so freaking talented it hurts – my personal favorites out of all of them was either Samira Wiley or Kate Mulgrew. The story has freaking hilarious moments – like that whole prison chicken bit -- but there are some dark tales that are told, speaking bold political and personal messages that will get to anyone. It’s the perfect combination of drama and comedy.

Stream Orange is the New Black on Netflix.

On My Block

Next up on the list, we have On My Block, a teenage dramedy that follows a group of four friends that have known each other for years while growing up in South Central LA. But as they start their journey into high school and the world begins to open up a little more to them than their home street, friendships are tested and new relationships are formed. 

Something about On My Block that I need to say is that it’s seriously one of the best dramedy’s that Netflix has offered. Not only is there some fun, edgy comedy that will make anyone chuckle but it’s not afraid to tackle darker themes such as inequalities or racism, which is something I can always respect the heck out of a show for doing since those are hard topics to handle. It’s so good, and Season 4 wrapped everything up well. Be sure to check it out. 

Stream On My Block on Netflix.

Shameless

Shameless tells the story of the Gallagher family, a poor, ridiculous crew who live on the South Side of Chicago, showing their constant tribulations while trying to get by, and also attempting to deal with their alcoholic father, Frank.

After eleven seasons on Showtime, Shameless proved to be a big hit for the network, and for good reason. The entire Shameless cast is hysterical, especially William H. Macy as Frank - because he’s so unhinged, he’s certainly the funniest. Dramatic moments of the show will tug at your heartstrings, however, and probably make you cry. God knows I did several times.

Stream Shameless on Netflix.

Russian Doll

Think Groundhog Day but a heck of a lot messier. In Russian Doll, starring Natasha Lyonne plays a young woman who is stuck in a time loop that always ends in her death. With the help of some surprising allies, she must figure out what is causing her to die over and over and come to terms with her life before it’s too late. 

Russian Doll is a wacky series but in the best way, and features some hilarious acting from Natasha Lyonne. It’ll make you grin, cry, laugh and more as you watch her character, Nadia, try to get herself out of the craziest situations. With two seasons to watch, this is a show that will make your weekend that much better. 

Stream Russian Doll on Netflix. 

Good Girls

Good Girls tells the story of three Michigan moms who are struggling in life, having a hard time making ends meet. So, they decide to pull off a heist in a supermarket, but it turns out they are way over their heads and get in more trouble than they wanted.

Good Girls sounds like it would be a big drama, especially from the premise, but it’s honestly so funny. The three main stars have great chemistry, and the hijinks they get up to make you snicker often. Even if they’re committing crimes, you root for them, because at the end of the day, they’re just regular women who were down on their luck. With only four seasons, it’s certainly a good, quick binge compared to many other shows.

Stream Good Girls on Netflix.

Dead To Me

Have you ever wondered how sometimes, friendships can bloom in the darkest of places? That’s the story between Jen and Judy, two women who are currently mourning losses in their lives that meet at a support group. But as these two begin to grow closer dark secrets about their past are exposed – and how one of them might be connected to someone’s death. 

Dead to Me is one of those shows that I feel you need to go into blind because there are so many twists and turns your neck is going to end up hurting by the end of it – but in the best way. Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini are literally amazing in their roles and truly are a power pair that have some of the best chemistry I’ve seen in a dramedy. You don’t want to miss out on this one. 

Stream Dead to Me on Netflix. 

The Kominsky Method

Starring Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method tells the story of an actor who made it big a long time ago, and is now an acting coach who named his technique after himself: The Kominsky Method.

Michael Douglas is amazing in this show. I feel that he really deserves all the awards. He portrays Kominsky with such grace and a certain charm that only he could bring, and really draws you in to watch. There are plenty of laughs, plenty of moments to reflect, and a lot in-between, so it’s the perfect dramedy.

Stream The Kominsky Method on Netflix.

GLOW

In this Netflix original, GLOW follows a fictionalized version of the characters and gimmicks of the 1980s syndicated women’s professional wrestling circuit, called Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, and the struggles they faced to be taken seriously.

GLOW is one of those shows on Netflix that is so underrated and I think was cancelled too soon. The cast is full of brilliant, talented stars, led by Alison Brie, and creates a story that’s not only funny, colorful, and entertaining, but heartfelt and heavy at times as well. While we won’t get another season of GLOW, we can at least enjoy the dramedy now.

Stream GLOW on Netflix.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

In this dramedy, we follow Rebecca Bunch, a normal woman who seems to have it all, but is doing something that most of us would probably find a little crazy – traveling literally across the country from New York City to California in order to pursue her ex-boyfriend from high school. And not even just from her classes – no, he’s from summer camp. 

The show received widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for several Primetime Emmy Awards during its run, as well as many other awards, including a Critics Choice Award for Rachel Bloom in her starring role. It’s certainly worth a shot if you haven’t seen it. 

Stream Crazy Ex-Girlfriend on Netflix. 

Master Of None

Master of None, during the first two seasons, tells the story of Dev, an actor living in New York, and his evolution of becoming a more engaged person with his parents, relationships, friends, and others. Season 3 stars Lena Waithe and Naomi Ackie, following their relationship through a series of five episodes.

While I’m not the hugest fan of the change for the show in Season 3, I can still appreciate Master of None for taking a risk and telling a new story that fans weren’t used to. I feel like Master of None is more of a slice of life dramedy, focusing on real-life issues that regular people can face every day, rather than the craziness some of these other dramedies go through. It’s definitely a gem, especially the first two seasons.

Stream Master of None on Netflix.

Dear White People

In this TV series based on the movie of the same name, Dear White People follows several Black college students at a fictitious Ivy League university, touching on issues surrounding modern American race relations.

While shows like Sex Education and some of the others on this list lean a little heavier towards comedy, I feel like Dear White People leans a bit more towards drama, but it still has its light moments that will make you laugh, as well. I think what I love about Dear White People the most is that it’s not afraid to talk about serious situations that will make you think and reflect, and then make you laugh in the next scene.

Stream Dear White People on Netflix.

Atypical

Last, but not least, Atypical follows the story of 18-year-old Sam Gardner, who is on the autism spectrum, and what happens in his daily life, from his time at school, to his family, and the relationships he builds.

I think what I love about Atypical is that it really listens to its fans about stories they want to hear. I personally think that each season just gets better. There are plenty of moments that will make you smile and laugh, and other moments that will make your lip tremble, and everything is done through the wonderful Atypical cast. With four seasons, it’s a great show to binge. 

Stream Atypical on Netflix.

With all these awesome Netflix TV shows, it might be hard to pick just one. But, I can assure you that whatever you go with, you’ll have a great time watching, whether you’re laughing or crying. Now, if you don’t mind me, I’m going to watch Russian Doll again. 

The 2010s and 2020s birthed a Black sitcom renaissance after experiencing a drought in the late 2000s. The aughts gave audiences classic shows like My Wife and Kids, The Bernie Mac Show, Girlfriends, and Everybody Hates Chris. In recent years, Black-led comedies have not only replenished the genre but subverted and evolved it. Since then, Black sitcoms have provided laughs, WTF moments, and commentary on the Black experience.

Now, here are some of the most influential Black comedies to hit the airwaves over the last decade.

black-ish

Billed as a successor to the classic sitcom, The Cosby Show, black-ish focused on an upper-middle-class Black family living in the Los Angeles suburbs (not a brownstone in New York). The sitcom centered on the daily lives of married couple Andre and Rainbow Johnson (played masterfully by Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross) and their family.

While family served as the show’s core, most episodes dealt with the Johnsons’ interactions in a predominantly white society. Dre, Bow, and their children dealt with daily culture clashes – either at work or school. The outside world was nothing compared to having multiple generations living under one roof with different ideologies and views.

grown-ish

As a spinoff of black-ish, grown-ish centered on one of the Johnson kids going off to college (a la Denise Huxtable and A Different World except at a PWI). The coming-of-age comedy centered on eldest daughter Zoey’s exploits into young adulthood.

Being at university served as the perfect backdrop to watch the eldest Johnson child grow into her womanhood, including multiple relationships and floating in and out of academia. But the show’s true focus was showcasing personal, professional, societal, and academic issues through a Gen Z lens. With Zoey having graduated, the black-ish connection lives on withJohnson eldest son, Junior, taking over for Season 5.

Atlanta

Being the brainchild of Donald Glover, Atlanta explored the dark (sometimes, outlandish) nature of the Southern city and its music scene. The surrealist comedy highlighted Earn’s quest to make his cousin, Paper Boi, a success in the fickle music industry.

With the Southern metropolis as the backdrop, the show has evolved since premiering in 2016. The comedy shone best when providing a Black perspective on mainstream culture and thought-provoking takes on African American topics. The core four – Earn, Paper Boi, Van, and Darius – served as the show’s emotional center through their varying dynamics.

Insecure

After years of making premium content on YouTube, Insecure allowed Issa Rae to jump from the web to cable television. The hit web series-turned-HBO comedy examined the exploits of Issa Dee as she navigated life in her thirties.

The flawed Issa Dee character put the spotlight on awkward Black women. Viewers got to see her everyday interactions across different life avenues. Issa’s evolution from unfocused to stable was remarkable, but the comedy’s true core was its relationships. While significant others and families fleshed out the characters, it was the female friendships, especially Issa and Molly Carter’s, that made the series beloved. All this culminated in the series becoming weekly water cooler talk.

The Carmichael Show

Jerrod Carmichael’s family life made for great fodder on his NBC sitcom, The Carmichael Show. The family sitcom followed a fictionalized version of the stand-up comedian’s everyday life.

Viewers got to observe Carmichael, his fiancée, and his family deal with numerous issues. The series saw the young couple’s progressive lens and his parents’ conservative views clash constantly over issues within Black American culture. It did so with humor and finesse. Unfortunately, the comedy ended after three seasons.

The Last O.G.

More than any show on this list, The Last O.G. was built on culture shock from a distinct perspective. Tracy Morgan’s television comeback saw him become former convict Tray Baker, as he tried to reconnect with his family and society after an extended prison bid.

Tray fought to regain his past glory as he struggled to reacclimate to society. The comedy allowed Morgan to go all in, giving an unhinged and silly performance. Viewers got to see Tray's progress throughout the series as he grew closer to his children.

South Side

Before Abbott Elementary took television by storm, South Side put a unique spin on workplace comedies. The buddy comedy follows two BFF furniture delivery men, Simon and Kareme, striving for success through unsuccessful get-quick-rich schemes.

In highlighting Southside Chicago, the show provides off-beat and silly humor while offering a different take on the area’s Black citizens. The series offers subtle social and workplace commentary through outrageous scenarios and employee dynamics. It also has an ensemble filled with rising and well-known talent letting the laughs and cultural nods fly (like The Office and Superstore).

Chewing Gum

What happens when you have a play centered on a sexually repressed Black woman leaving the nest for the first time? You get Channel 4’s Chewing Gum. As Michaela Coel’s breakthrough project, the British slice-of-life comedy explored the hilarious exploits of 20-something shop assistant Tracey Gordon.

Viewers got to see Tracey Gordon’s daily life - work, friends, and family. Much like Insecure, Gordon’s evolution saw her learn more about the world and herself. All while tackling young adulthood and delving into topics like religion and sexuality with humor. Unfortunately, viewers didn’t get to witness Gordon’s story for long, as the comedy ended after two seasons.

Dear White People

Turning a hit indie film into a TV series could be a hard transition, but Dear White People managed to do so without compromising the premise. The Netflix comedy followed the 2014 film by exploring the lives of Black students at a predominately white university.

Unlike some series based on movies, the college comedy expanded on the original film’s concept by leaning into more character development and plotlines with character-dedicated episodes. The co-ed comedy highlighted issues like micro aggressions, sexuality, and the transition to full-fledged adulthood. The show never lost its bite despite mixing original film actors with new ones.

Unfortunately, some of these shows closed shop recently, with black-ish and Insecure airing their finales this year and in 2021, respectively. Soon, another will join the list, with Atlanta's fourth and final season airing later this year.

There’s no need to fret, though, as newer sitcoms have arrived to fill the void. There are series like The Wonder Years reboot, Grand Crew, and Abbott Elementary ruling network TV. On the streaming side, there are Netflix’s The Upshaws and BET+’s The First Wives Club reimagining. If you want to see what other Black-led comedies are premiering this year, you can check out our 2022 TV schedule.

You want to know who I think of when someone asks me who the best television villain of all time is? I think of Gus Fring, from Breaking Bad. You want to know who plays that man? Giancarlo Esposito. 

While Giancarlo Esposito has been around for decades with plenty of movies and TV shows, there are certain roles that stand out among the rest, from villains who are off in space to those in a dystopian world. Esposito has done it all. If you’re looking for the best Giancarlo Esposito movies and TV shows, here is where you can find them streaming, or available to rent. 

Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul (2009 - Present)

As mentioned in the intro, I was introduced to Giancarlo Esposito through Breaking Bad. In this famous AMC series, we primarily follow Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher who's diagnosed with cancer, and turns to drug dealing (primarily making meth) in order to provide for his family after his death. 

From Season 2, up until the end of Season 4, Giancarlo Esposito played Gus Fring, and man does he know how to act. Gus Fring was the first TV villain I saw where I was genuinely interested as hell in his character, because he was so terrifyingly normal, but could kill you in seconds. Giancarlo Esposito was killer (pun intended) in his role, and honestly, he made me want to try Los Pollos Hermanos more than once. 

He’s also reprised his character in Better Call Saul, the spinoff of Breaking Bad, which is coming back for its sixth and final season in 2022, so if you want to see the brilliance that is Gus Fring, please, watch these shows. 

Stream Breaking Bad on Netflix.
Stream Better Call Saul on Netflix.

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials/Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2015/2018) 

Next up, we have The Maze Runner: Scorch Trials and The Maze Runner: The Death Cure. These two films in the Maze Runner trilogy follow the same group from the first movie on more dangerous life or death trials, trying to survive while also exposing secrets about why they are in The Maze. 

While there are many reasons to watch The Maze Runner series, from its stunning visuals to the entertaining story, another great reason to watch is because Giancarlo Esposito actually has a role in two of them, playing Jorge, a berg pilot for WICKED in the film. While his part is relatively small, I’ve always loved his character and the twists that follow, but I won’t reveal them here. You’ll just have to watch the trilogy to find out. 

Rent Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials on Amazon.
Rent Maze Runner: The Death Cure on Amazon.

The Mandalorian (2019 - Present)

I’m sure you’ve at least heard of The Mandalorian. This popular Disney+ show follows Din Djarin, a lone Mandalorian who acts as a bounty hunter, until one of his assignments leads him down a very different path. 

Giancarlo Esposito plays Moff Gideon, another villain in his repertoire who was on the hunt for Mando's latest target. I’ve always seen Esposito as a brilliant character actor. He truly becomes the character and portrays them in a way that really makes me believe that they’re real, and that’s the same with Moff Gideon. While he’s only appeared in seven episodes of the two seasons, he’s made a prominent mark and is a worthy adversary for Din Djarin. 

Stream The Mandalorian on Disney+.

Okja (2017)

In this Netflix original film, Okja tells the story about a modified pig of the same name, who's raised by a young girl. But, when this animal is suddenly kidnapped and taken for testing, it’s up to her and some allies to try and get her pig back. 

This movie has a ton of stars in it, and Giancarlo Esposito is one of them. He plays Frank Dawson, one of the executives of the Mirando Corporation - the main corporation that was experimenting on the pig in the first place. Even with so many big stars in this movie, Esposito stood out with his great performance. 

Stream Okja on Netflix.

Once Upon A Time (2011 - 2017)

In this popular fantasy show, Once Upon a Time tells the story of a young woman who ends up moving to a small town, but as she learns very quickly, the fairytales she always thought were fake as a child are very real, and throw her life for a loop.

Giancarlo Esoposito is one of those names from a show like this you wouldn’t expect, just because it feels like such a different role from what he normally does, but in Once Upon a Time, he plays the Magic Mirror - while in the real world, he’s known as Sydney Glass, a journalist. His story is interesting and his acting is great and I really wish we had gotten to see more of him before the show had to come to an end. 

Stream Once Upon A Time on Disney+.

The Jungle Book (2016)

Of all the Disney live-action remakes, this has to be one of my favorites. The Jungle Book is a retelling of the original Disney story of Mowgli, a child who was raised in the jungle by wolves and has to face serious threats as he grows older.  

The Jungle Book voice cast was stacked, with so many talented actors who signed on, and Giancarlo Esposito voiced Akela, the alpha of the pack that Mowgli is in. And, man, his voice gives me chills every time I watch this film. He has such a presence even just through voice-acting and you know instantly who it is. He was the perfect choice to play a leader like this. 

Stream The Jungle Book on Disney+.
Rent The Jungle Book on Amazon.

Godfather Of Harlem (2019 - Present)

In this TV series, Godfather of Harlem captures the story of the real-life Bumpy Johnson, a man who served several years in prison and emerged from his time only to find his home, Harlem, now run by Italian mobsters. And now, he has to try and get control again. 

This show is so good; it's one of the best crime dramas I have seen in years and it's so entertaining from beginning to end. Starring Forest Whitaker, it’s brilliantly acted, wonderfully told, and has some amazing performances - including Giancarlo Esposito as Adam Clayton Powell Jr., a local Baptist pastor who was actually the first African American ever to be elected to Congress from New York. Truly, one of his best acting performances yet that deserves much more credit. 

Stream Godfather of Harlem on Hulu.

School Daze (1988)

You can’t have a Giancarlo Esposito list without mentioning School Daze. This socially relevant Spike Lee movie follows undergraduates in college that are in Greek life, and how one homecoming weekend where the groups clash ends up turning their lives upside down at a historically black college. 

This was hands down one of Esposito’s biggest roles that really boosted him into the spotlight. School Daze was where he really got to shine as Julian Eaves, otherwise known as “Dean Big Brother Almighty,” showing just how amazing of an actor he is. The movie also touches on several serious issues, such as class, racism, and more, and is thought-provoking in the best ways. 

Stream School Daze on Showtime.
Rent School Daze on Amazon.

Dear White People (2017 - 2019)

This popular Netflix series, Dear White People, based on the film of the same name, follows several Black students at a prestigious, fictional Ivy League university, and touches on topics that affect their everyday lives, from typical coursework and personal relationships to racism and discrimination in the classroom. 

Giancarlo Esposito was on the show for the first three seasons, primarily as the narrator - which is perfect because his voice is smooth like butter. But, he also played Dr. Edward Ruskins, a former professor who worked at the university and played an important role in the kids' lives, further showing his skill as an actor. The show ended in 2021 after four seasons, but it’s certainly worth the time to binge if you haven’t seen it yet. 

Stream Dear White People on Netflix.

Stargirl (2020)

You want a fun movie jukebox musical? Check out Stargirl, a Disney+ original movie, which follows a coming of age story about jumping into high school and learning about love, life, and everything in between. 

Stargirl is one of those films where it’s hard to explain exactly what goes on in it except for the fact that it’s a great movie musical, and you have to watch it for yourself. Giancarlo Esposito plays Archie Brubaker, mentor to Leo, one of the main characters of the film, and what I love the most about his performance in this is his charisma, and chemistry with Graham Verchere (who plays Leo). Their moments are truly some of the best in the movie. 

Stream Stargirl on Disney+.

The Boys (2019 - Present)

Last but not least, we have the amazing Amazon original series, The Boys. This superhero series turns quite diabolical as we get an inside look into what life is really like for these supposed morally-good superheroes, and what goes on behind the scenes when saving people is turned into a business by mega-company, Vought International.

Giancarlo Esposito plays Stan Edgar who is - you guessed it - the CEO of Vought International and the big baddie - or one of the many big baddies, in this show. And let me tell you - I love Esposito in regular dramatic roles or playing a good guy, but man does he play a villain so well. His role as Edgar is just so good and has me pumped for summer 2022 and The Boys Season 3, because I can’t wait to see him return as a villain once more. If superheroes - or just pure chaos, as this show tends to be sometimes - are your thing, this is the series for you. 

Stream The Boys on Amazon Prime.

With a career that has spanned decades, it’s not surprising that Giancarlo Esposito has so much wonderful stuff to watch. And, I’m sure that in the next couple of years, we’ll only continue to see what more he has to bring in terms of his amazing acting talent. Now, if The Mandalorian Season 3 could just get here already, that would be great.  

Atlanta is a hilariously funny FX comedy starring Donald Glover that stole the hearts of viewers for it’s punny moments, enjoyable characters, and serious topics explored in a comical way. It’s been a while since Season 2 premiered, and even if Atlanta Season 3 is on the way, fans might be craving a show that’s similar to Atlanta to hold them over. 

While you could spend your time watching some of the best FX dramas, I sometimes just want to laugh. Luckily, there are plenty of other shows out there that will tickle the same funny bone that Atlanta viewers are used to. From shows on Amazon Prime to Netflix originals, here are some of the best shows you can watch right now that might remind you a bit of Atlanta.

You’re The Worst (Hulu)

In this dramedy, You’re the Worst follows Jimmy and Gretchen, two people who have their own destructive tendencies and lives, who are attempting to have a relationship together. 

Since this comedy hails from FX as well just like Atlanta, you know it’s going to be funny, but You’re the Worst is honestly one of the best comedies I’ve seen in a long time. Chris Geere and Aya Cash give stellar performances as Jimmy and Gretchen, and create an amazing love story that’s not only believable but oh so realistic, about the trials and tribulations of learning to love someone. I wished it had gone on forever, but I think five seasons is a good amount, too.

Stream You’re the Worst on Hulu. 

Empire (Hulu)

In this popular TV series, Empire follows the story of Lucious Lyon, a hip hop mogul, former drug dealer, and the CEO of Empire Entertainment. But, when his life changes as his health deteriorates, he must make a decision to pick a successor that will rule his empire long after he passes away. 

For fans of Atlanta, this show reminds me a lot of it. While it's not a comedy, its dramatic moments are super dramatic and will have you on the edge of your seat. Both Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson are fantastic in their starring roles, and the music is killer - even better than Paper Boi, in my opinion. 

Stream Empire on Hulu. 

Ramy (Hulu)

In this Hulu original comedy, Ramy follows an American Muslim, who is on his own personal spiritual journey within his politically divided New Jersey neighborhood, stuck between two worlds that he is trying to learn how to live in. 

When I watch Ramy, I always think of the more serious moments of Atlanta, and that’s why it’s on this list. While it is a funny show with some great delivery from star Ramy Youssef, Ramy is one of those shows that has some brilliant themes and explores serious topics that some viewers may have never known about that have to do with Muslim culture in America. I for one can’t wait until the third season. 

Stream Ramy on Hulu. 

Barry (HBO Max)

Next, we have an HBO original. Barry is about the titular character, a discharged Marine who works as a hitman. When he travels to L.A. to kill a target, he unexpectedly finds a community that he never thought he would in the L.A. theater scene.

Barry is absolutely killer for people who like Atlanta. Bill Hader’s movies are always a gem to watch but there’s just something about him as the main character in Barry that makes me like him more. He’s excellent in his role and delivers that proper amount of comedy that will not only make you laugh, but sometimes cry. Henry Winkler is also awesome in his supporting role, and deserves all the praise. Heck, the whole cast is awesome. Barry Season 3 is right around the corner.

Stream Barry on HBO Max. 

Fleabag (Amazon Prime)

You want some cringe comedy that’s actually good? Check out Fleabag. In this popular series on Amazon Prime, we follow the title character, a young woman who's trying to come to terms with a recent tragedy while living in London, and attempting to navigate her life.

While Fleabag was only a measly twelve episodes, each one was funnier than the last. The titular character, played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, has such great chemistry with everyone, and her facial expressions are everything. Every time she breaks the fourth wall I feel like I’m almost in on a secret and I get to be a part of the show. I wish that Fleabag had gotten more seasons, but I suppose it’s good to end a great thing while we still want more. 

Stream Fleabag on Amazon Prime.

Californication (Hulu)

Moving on, we have Californication. This show follows Hank Moody, a writer from New York who moved to California to try and get out of his writer’s block that is constantly stopping him from working, all while trying to solve his own personal problems at the same time. 

Californication is another great Showtime series that had some awesome storylines, ones that fans of Atlanta can appreciate. Hank, played by David Duchovny, has a way of capturing the audience’s attention from the very beginning, as we watch him change from someone who, honestly, has a lot of problems, to a better version of himself near the end, but I can’t give away too much. The story, acting, and everything else combined will make you love watching this awesome show. 

Stream Californication on Hulu.

Shameless (Netflix)

Next up, we have Shameless. In this popular Showtime series, we follow the Gallagher family, born and raised in the South Side of Chicago, through their troubles, tribulations, and everything else in between. 

Shameless was one of those shows that got me into dramedies like Atlanta, because that’s when I discovered that they can be so good. The Shameless cast is so talented, the stories are incredibly funny to follow, but sometimes heartbreaking too, and the character arcs are some of the best that I have witnessed. I think everyone should watch Shameless at least once.

Stream Shameless on Netflix. 

Weeds (Peacock)

Next, we have Weeds. In this popular comedy, we follow Nancy, a woman whose life turns criminal when she begins to start a front so she can sell - and eventually make - her own line of weed called MILF, before relocating her family to stay out of jail and protect her children. 

For fans of Atlanta, I think that this is one of the best comedies you could watch, because it’s so funny. The whole cast has such great chemistry and work off of each other beautifully, but everything else, from the setting to the story, is awesome to follow as well. I almost think of Weeds as the comedy version of Breaking Bad, except without all the meth lords and cancer - it’s genuinely a lot of fun. 

Stream Weeds on Peacock.

High Maintenance (HBO Max)

In this anthology comedy-drama, High Maintenance follows a man named The Guy. He is a cannabis courier who delivers his products to clients in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, with each episode focusing in on a new character and their lives as they intersect with him. 

High Maintenance has such a cool and interesting concept, about the lives of others and how one person's life can intersect with so many other people. For fans of Atlanta, you’ll love the strange and wacky characters that The Guy comes across in several different episodes, but, even then, no matter who the person is, there is always an awesome story. I wish the series had come back for a fifth season, but it was not meant to be. At least now I can enjoy it through HBO Max. 

Stream High Maintenance on HBO Max. 

Insecure (HBO Max)

Next up, we have Insecure. Starring Issa Rae and Yvonne Orji, Insecure follow Issa and Molly, the two main characters, on all of their strange and uncomfortable adventures, as well as their racy dating tribulations. 

I think out of all of the comedies on this list, Insecure is one of the few that I think is the closest to Atlanta level in terms of it just being about everyday life. There’s no crazy plot in here - it’s just about two best friends living their lives and trying to make the best out of strange or uncomfortable situations. Issa and Molly almost remind me of Alfred and Earn, with how they often get themselves into messy situations but try to work it out together. These characters are just the best.

Stream Insecure on HBO Max.

Dear White People (Netflix)

Lastly, we have Dear White People, based on the film of the same name. In this series, we follow the lives of several black college students who attend a fictional Ivy League school, and touch on issues of modern day America and race relations. 

I think Dear White People is a great show for fans of Atlanta to watch if you’re into the messages of many of the episodes Atlanta has to offer, such as racism, bigotry, class differences, and many others. While Dear White People is a comedy with some hysterical moments, it focuses heavy on looking into the modern day world of race relations through topical issues, and creates moving stories that will intrigue anyone who wishes to watch. 

Stream Dear White People on Netflix. 

I know that Season 3 of Atlanta feels like it's years away but trust me, we won’t have to wait too long. Hopefully, some of these great shows might be able to hold you over until Earl, Alfred, and the whole gang return. 

Major spoilers for Dear White People Season 4 lie ahead.

Dear White People Season 4 marked the end of the road for the hilarious and socially conscious students at Winchester University. While viewers finally got to see many of the students walk across the graduation stage in the present, the show also provided a glimpse into their post-graduate lives. This included a look at what lies ahead for on-and-off couple Samantha White and Gabe Mitchell. The two experienced their fair share of drama during the final season, though their stories concluded on a somewhat positive note. Now, Logan Browning and John Patrick Amedori have shared thoughts on how things might play out between the two following the series finale.

While Sam and Gabe experienced a break up or two during the show’s first three seasons, their flare-up in Season 4 seemed to be the nail in the coffin. The two decided to split after they disagreed on Gabe’s decision to produce a commercial Christian film for his uncle. The season’s intermittent flash-forwards revealed that the two were still estranged years later. In the future, Gabe had become a successful filmmaker, while Sam had only been directing TV ads. However, when reuniting with their friends during the final moments of the finale, the two resolved to go out for a drink, hinting at a potential reconciliation.

I couldn’t help but wonder what might have become of the two lovers following that final episode. So when I spoke with the stars who portrayed them, I asked if they believed their characters would ever walk down the aisle. Logan Browning, for her part, shared some humorously honest sentiments on the idea:

John Patrick Amedori agreed with his co-star’s thoughts on a potential wedding. To him, matrimony doesn’t seem like something Sam and Gabe would be interested in. Nevertheless, he does still think that the two will maintain a special kind of relationship:

Logan Browning also believes that this “love” could indeed lead to another major moment for the couple down the road. And her co-star is in full agreement with her:

The thought of Sam and Gabe remaining close and raising a child following the events of the show is comforting. I sincerely hope they do eventually reach their goals as both artists and life partners. Because after the ups and downs they’ve experienced, it would be well deserved.

Dear White People Season 4 is now streaming on Netflix.

Major spoilers for the Dear White People series finale lie ahead.

The fourth and final season of Dear White People has finally arrived and, as a result, many viewers have now learned the ultimate fates of each of the characters they’ve come to know and love over the past four seasons. One of the most dramatic arcs of the entire series belongs to Reggie Green, played skillfully by Marque Richardson. By the series finale, Winchester University’s resident computer whiz was left in a very interesting situation, and Richardson has some keen thoughts on that massive moment and the aftermath.

Throughout Dear White People Season 4, Reggie sought to design an app that would help Black people find safe spaces. The tech was ultimately put to the test in the series finale, when he discovered that a racist shooter was present on campus. Ultimately, using his newly registered gun, he killed the shooter before harm could be done, though Reggie later disappeared, skipping his graduation in the process.

This entire season featured flash-forwards to the future, in which the characters ominously alluded to Reggie’s fate. But fortunately, it turned out their friend was indeed alive but had been in hiding due to harassment following the incident. But in the show’s closing moments, he finally reunited with his friends and his wife, Joelle. I recently spoke to Marque Richardson, who shared his feelings on the conclusion of his character’s journey:

Anyone who’s followed Dear White People for the past four seasons knows that Reggie’s journey has been an emotional rollercoaster. In the first season, he had a traumatic experience with a cop, and the shock from the incident left him with PTSD that carried through the remainder of the series. And in the third season, he unintentionally became linked to a sexual harassment case involving a professor and a classmate. Needless to say, Reggie earned his peace.

Nevertheless, Marque Richardson is still grateful for all of the character’s experiences. As the actor explained, you can’t have the positive aspects of life without the negative:

When Dear White People (a continuation of the 2014 film) began in 2017, fans probably wouldn’t have imagined what was in store for Reggie, or any of the characters for that matter. But showrunners Justin Simien and Jaclyn Moore handled him with care, allowing him to emerge from his experiences as a stronger person.

Dear White People Season 4 is now streaming on Netflix.

Sam, Lionel, Troy and their friends at Winchester University are preparing to say goodbye, as Netflix’s Dear White People is set to drop its fourth and final season next week. The first three seasons were filled with sharp humor, biting social commentary and genuine heart, and Season 4 (or Vol. 4) appears set to carry on that grand tradition. However, the show will be changing up things by injecting a musical vibe into this last stretch of episodes. Some may be quick to assume music-based shows were the main inspirations for the new episodes but, as it turns out, the creatives actually drew from Star Trek: The Next Generation and another unexpected TV classic.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Dear White People showrunners Justin Simien (who is also the show’s creator) and Jaclyn Moore about the upcoming season. And based on our conversation, it’s apparent that the creative duo put a lot of thought in care into how they wanted to wrap up the show. During our chat, I couldn’t help but ask Simien, major TV fan, about his personal influences for Vol. 4, and I was pleasantly surprised when he mentioned Star Trek: The Next Generation. On the surface, the two shows may not seem to have a lot in common, but there’s certainly a connection:

Star Trek: The Next Generation’s two-part series finale, “All Good Things...”, sees Captain Jean-Luc Picard jumping through different points in time. It serves as a fitting sendoff for the beloved show but, as Justin Simien mentions, it also manages to reframe the series in a fresh way.

Those who have seen the full trailer for Dear White People Vol. 4 likely know that part of the season takes place in the future and sees the characters navigating life post-Winchester. With this, TNG was quite invaluable for Simien and his colleagues and, as he further explained, the approach meshed with their musical ambitions:

As previously mentioned, the folks behind Dear White People are TV watchers, so Star Trek was not their only guiding light. Jaclyn Moore went on to confirm that a fan-favorite HBO series also had an impact on the final season:

Years ago, the critically acclaimed Six Feet Under also used flashforwards during its final season. Writers tend to employ these in order to give viewers a better sense of the present-day narrative’s impact down the line. And if you’ve seen the show, you’ll know they were used to great effect there.

It’s bittersweet knowing that this will be the last time fans will get to check in with the students of Winchester. However, Dear White People’s imminent conclusion is easier to fathom knowing that Justin Simien, Jaclyn Moore and their team have something special planned.

Dear White People Vol. 4 premieres on Netflix on September 15.

Professors, colleges, sorority drama - oh my! These are some of the aspects of one of my favorite genres of TV shows - academic dramas/comedies. While some of us try to watch TV to get away from the stresses of school, I always loved to watch shows that took place in a school or a college, simply for the drama or the comedic hijinks these characters would get up to in their own schools.

That’s why when The Chair released on Netflix, I was eagerly excited to watch it. However, after binging the show so quickly, it left me wanting more and craving another academic drama or comedy to view. If you’re feeling the same way and need a new Netflix TV show or something else, then look no further than these 10 shows that are like The Chair in their own way, with plenty of academic craziness - some of which might even be appearing on the 2021 fall TV schedule.

Grown-ish (Hulu)

In this spin-off of black-ish, grown-ish follows the eldest daughter of the Johnsons’ from the original series, Zoey, when she begins to go to college, starting her journey into adulthood, discovering that the world isn’t exactly as she had imagined it to be once she left home.

As someone who has watched both shows, I’d say that you don’t even need to have watched the original series to like grown-ish, because it does a great enough job establishing itself as a separate series. For fans of The Chair, grown-ish does a good job at portraying what life is currently like in higher education, and how it’s sometimes hard for people to fit in there.

Stream grown-ish on Hulu.

Rent grown-ish on Amazon.

Gossip Girl (HBO Max)

In this classic CW show, Gossip Girl tells the story of Serena Van der Woodsen, a young woman with a group of friends attending the best private school in all of New York with the rest of its elite members, following them as they grow up through their own issues, problems, and into their success in college.

There’s a reason why Gossip Girl has become so popular even now almost a decade after it finished, which is why it’s perfect for fans of The Chair. The Gossip Girl cast is full of stars, such as Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Penn Badgley and so many others. The story is actually full of surprising twists and plots that will have you clicking “next episode” several times. The show was so popular it’s even spawned a spinoff on HBO Max years later - albeit not as good as the original. If you’re looking for an excellent academic drama, this is by far one of the best.

Stream Gossip Girl on HBO Max.

Rent Gossip Girl on Amazon.

Dear White People (Netflix)

Based on the film of the same name, Dear White People follows a group of Black college students at an Ivy League institution, touching on issues that surround modern day race relations, and how that relates to attending college.

I won’t lie when I believe that this is one of the best shows on Netflix, right up there with The Chair. I think not only is it relevant and speaks volumes and lessons about current day college culture, but the story is very compelling and even has a bit of humor to it as well. It’s certainly a very heavy show with plenty of deeper meanings, but I do believe that Dear White People is a dramedy that everyone should watch at least once.

Stream Dear White People on Netflix.

Rent Dear White People on Amazon.

Community (Netflix)

Jeff Winger is an ex-lawyer who must attend a community college after it is discovered that he faked having his Bachelor’s degree. However, in Community, he ends up joining up with a group of misfits for a study group, finding a weird yet surprising community.

Okay, so Community isn’t as serious as The Chair is, but it’s still an amazing show. I binge-watched all of Community within a couple weeks of starting it, and I can say that this is one of the funniest shows ever. From Rick and Morty creator, Dan Harmon, I can assure you there will be moments you’ll end up snorting your drink from laughing so hard. The Community cast has such great chemistry, and the stories are absolutely bonkers but at the same time have so much heart you’ll be rooting for every single character - especially Troy and Abed.

Stream Community on Netflix.

Rent Community on Amazon.

Veronica Mars (Hulu)

In this classic CW show, we follow high schooler (later college student) Veronica Mars as she moonlights as a private investigator under the tutelage of her father, solving mysteries by herself while also working to also solve bigger, more complex cases as the series goes on.

Kristen Bell as Veronica Mars is awesome, and she rocks it in her role, alongside the rest of the great Veronica Mars cast. What really makes Veronica Mars stand out though for fans of The Chair is while it has plenty of focus on the lifestyle of school, it also incorporates mysteries that are genuinely fun to follow and make for a very interesting academic series, one that separates itself from the rest. There’s always something new to discover.

Stream Veronica Mars on Hulu.

Rent Veronica Mars on Amazon.

Coach (Amazon Prime)

In Coach, we follow the story of Hayden Fox, a football coach at a university as he tries to not only bring his team to success, but himself and his family as well.

I feel that for fans of The Chair, this is sort of that similar premise where the show is instead focused on the people who do the teaching at the school rather than the students, except Coach is primarily focused in sports and football. Plus, there are so many amazing guest stars that pop up, such as football legend Troy Aikman. It’s really a great show, even if it is a bit older than the others here. And with nine seasons to binge, I think it’s worth a shot.

Stream Coach on Amazon Prime.

How To Get Away With Murder (Netflix)

In How To Get Away With Murder, Viola Davis stars as Annalise Keating, a professor of law at a Philadelphia university, who ends up getting entwined in a murder plot with five of her students.

First off, Viola Davis was the absolute perfect choice to play Keating. I couldn’t think of a more talented actress to do so, because she is perfect in this role. Secondly, what I really love about How To Get Away With Murder for fans of The Chair is while it does incorporate the lifestyle of living at college, there’s this incredible storyline of murder, betrayal and mystery that’s even more captivating.

Stream How To Get Away With Murder on Netflix.

Rent How To Get Away With Murder on Amazon.

Fresh Meat (Amazon Prime)

In this TV series that hails from the United Kingdom, Fresh Meat follows the story of six students who are living together, about to embark on one of the most exciting times of their lives - university, and the struggles that come from within.

I loved Fresh Meat for many reasons. I feel that it’s one of the best options for fans of The Chair because it’s a bare basics college comedy that really goes in depth into the world of university. I especially love that they focus more on the aspects of living with a complete stranger at first, and the problems that can arise with being in a new environment like college. It’s so funny yet heartwarming - a really good pick.

Stream Fresh Meat on Amazon Prime.

Felicity (Hulu)

In Felicity, we follow Felicity Porter, a young woman who is attending the University of New York (based off of the real-life New York University) for her four years of college, in a completely different environment from her home in Palo Alto, California.

Keri Russell definitely stands out in one of her first big roles in Felicity as the title character, but I think what makes me like this show so much - especially for fans of The Chair - is the simplicity of it. Felicity cuts it after four seasons, only covering Felicity’s time at college. It keeps the story tight and sharp, with no room for plot holes and plenty of adventures to explore in those four seasons.

Stream Felicity on Hulu.

Rent Felicity on Amazon Prime.

Greek (Amazon Prime)

For those who have ever wondered what fraternity or sorority life is like, look no further than Greek. In this show, we follow students at the fictitious university, Cyprus-Rhodes, who all participate in the school’s Greek system, which is filled with plenty of problems, issues, and drama all around.

For fans of The Chair, I believe Greek would be a good series to watch just because it’s different from the normal high school/college dramedy. It doesn’t focus in too much on the schooling aspect, but still somehow keeps your attention with how much drama happens within the four walls of these big Greek houses.

Stream Greek on Amazon Prime.

Rent Greek on Apple TV.

School is coming back in session soon - which means there’s no better time than to binge-watch some awesome academic dramas or comedies now. Which one are you going to embark on next?

After the story went viral on Twitter, Zola has been many years in the making. Now, in 2021, Zola has finally been released in theaters worldwide. Fans of the wild story can see it play out with Taylour Paige and Riley Keough as the leads. Janicza Bravo has now directed one of the highly anticipated summer movies. Zola isn’t Janicza’s first film, as she took the directing chair for many other films and TV shows, such as directing several episodes of In Treatment Season 4. Many Janicza Bravo movies and TV shows are currently available to stream.

If you’re interested in familiarizing yourself with additional Janicza Bravo movies and TV shows after seeing Zola, we have a few suggestions on what to check out.

In Treatment: Season 4 Episode 13 “Week 4-Eladio”

In Treatment is an HBO original series that premiered in 2008 with Gabriel Byrne as the lead. He was the lead of the show for the first three seasons. That run of the series concluded in 2011. In 2021, In Treatment returned with Uzo Aduba as lead. Each episode of In Treatment Season 4 is about 30-minutes, and focuses on Aduba’s character, Dr. Brooke Taylor, and her patients. Each episode deals with Dr. Taylor’s therapy sessions with her clients and her own therapy sessions.

Janicza Bravo directed four episodes of In Treatment Season 4. Those episodes were the Week 4 episodes (13-16). One of the strengths of In Treatment is that it's easy to get sucked up into the world of Brooke’s clients and that’s due to the talented directors and writers. They both become even more impressive this season, because most of the sessions are shot via video calls to bring COVID into the storylines.

Stream In Treatment on HBO Max

Buy In Treatment on Amazon Prime

Mrs. America: Season 1 Episode 8 “Houston”

Mrs. America is an FX miniseries. It tells the story of the movement behind ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which would offer women more rights, and those who opposed it. The series includes many historical and political figures of the '70s, including Gloria Steinem (Rose Byrne), Phyllis Schlafly (Cate Blanchett), and Shirley Chisholm (Uzo Aduba), and women affected by this movement.

The “Houston” episode focuses on Alice (Sarah Paulson) and her journey at an ERA convention. It's an excellent episode, as it marks a major turning point for Alice. She starts to see that those wanting the ERA may not be the radical monsters that she once believed them to be.

Stream Mrs. America on Hulu

Love: Season 3 Episode 5 “Bertie’s Birthday”

Love is a Netflix original series that follows Mickey (Gillian Jacobs) and Gus (Paul Rust), two people who seem like an ill-fated match but somehow also seem like soulmates. Love lasted for three seasons.

Janicza Bravo directed the episode “Bertie’s Birthday.” Bertie (Claudia O’Doherty) is one of Love’s main supporting characters. She’s always been a main part of Mickey’s story as her roommate, but Bertie very rarely has episodes entirely about her, which makes “Bertie’s Birthday” such a nice change. It’s also a key episode for Bertie and Chris (Chris Witaske), who are two characters with the same sweetness that feels slightly out of place in the Love world, but makes them easily lovable in it.

Stream Love on Netflix

Atlanta: Season 1 Episode 9 “Juneteenth”

Donald Glover created, stars, and executive produces Atlanta, a series about an upcoming rapper, “Paper Boi” (Brian Tyree Henry), and his manager cousin Earn (Donald Glover). Lakeith Stanfield and Zazie Beetz also star in Atlanta.

In many episodes, Earn and his friends find themselves in situations that are strange but offer important commentary about society, especially in terms of black America. “Juneteenth” continues that tradition with an episode where Earn and his ex-girlfriend, Vanessa (Beetz), attend a Juneteenth party hosted by a black woman and her white husband--who tries to present himself as “woke.” The irony and the strangeness of the whole situation adds to the comedy and cleverness of the episode.

Stream Atlanta on Hulu

Buy Atlanta on Amazon

Divorce: Season 2 Episode 4 “Ohio”

Divorce was an HBO original series that aired from 2016 to 2019. The series followed Frances (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Robert (Thomas Haden Church) as they embarked on a divorce. It followed their lives as they adjusted to their new normal of being apart. Divorce is mainly a comedy, but definitely had some dramatic moments.

The “Ohio” episode followed Robert as he returned home to check on his hospitalized father. Frances then decides to join him on this journey. The episode shows Robert and Frances in more amicable terms, bonding and united in a way they haven’t been since their divorce.

Stream Divorce on HBO Max

Buy Divorce on Amazon

Forever: Season 1 Episode 3 “The Lake House”

Forever stars Maya Rudolph and Fred Armisen. It follows June (Rudolph), a woman whose husband suddenly dies. She grieves and starts to plan the next chapter of her life without him, only for herself to suddenly die, as well. They’re reunited in the afterlife. Forever is a show about whether the idea of forever is really something that can bring lasting happiness.

Janicza Bravo directed two episodes of Forever, “The Lake House” and “Krase.” “The Lake House” episode happens right after June’s sudden death and her reunion with Oscar (Armisen). We see the couple find themselves plotting a haunting, and June’s sadness about not only dying but not getting to experience a life without Oscar.

Stream Forever on Amazon Prime

Buy Forever on Amazon.

Lemon

Lemon is on of many hilarious dark comedies, and it was directed and co-written by Janicza Bravo. It stars Brett Gelman, Judy Greer, Gillian Jacobs, Michael Cera, Shiri Appleby, and Nia Long. The film follows Isaac, an acting workshop teacher who is still holding on to the dream of an acting career. Instead, the only jobs he seems to book are commercials and ads for diseases and illnesses.

Isaac is a very dysfunctional and destructive character. He has no filter, which often leads to awkward situations. He also seems to be an agent of chaos when it comes to his own life and happiness. Lemon uses a very distinct style that almost makes everything and everyone seem detached from the moment. It also feels like a play more than a movie. Lemon is Bravo’s feature-length film directorial debut.

Stream Lemon on Tubi.

There are other Janicza Bravo movies and TV shows streaming right now, like Them and Dear White People. You can find Them on Amazon Prime and Dear White People on Netflix. Zola is one of the 2021 movies that many will be talking about and that's partly due to Bravo's superb directing. You can catch Zola now playing at a theater near you.

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There is no way to get around it, there are an insane number of great Netflix TV shows, with something for literally everyone (at least everyone who loves critically acclaimed series from a myriad of genres). Keeping track of them all, however, is a task that is easier said than done.

From entertaining and enchanting sci-fi adventure stories like Stranger Things, to hilarious and disturbing dark comedies like Dead to Me, the library of originals keeps growing by the year, so much so that sometimes we find ourselves forgetting about all the awesome movies on Netflix, which, as we should remember, was what brought us all to the streamer way back when. But, before we get too sidetracked, let’s break down the best original Netflix shows. There’s a lot, so buckle up…

Stranger Things (2016 - Present)

Whether you’re obsessed with all things ‘80s (the culture, the style, Dungeons & Dragons), a longtime horror-hound, or simply someone who loves superbly written television, Stranger Things is right for you. As we look toward the show’s highly anticipated return with Stranger Things Season 4, now is the perfect time to go back and see how it all started for Eleven, Hopper (and how he ended up in Russia), and the rest of the residents of Hawkins, Indiana, and all their adventures.

Stream Stranger Things on Netflix.

The Queen’s Gambit (2020)

The 2020 limited series The Queen’s Gambit is hands down one of the best shows, not only on Netflix, but anywhere to come out in the past few years. From Beth Harmon’s (Anya Taylor-Joy) days learning to play chess in the basement of an orphanage to becoming the top player in the world by the show’s fulfilling ending, there isn’t a dull moment. Hell, you don’t even have to love the game of chess (or know anything about it) to get wrapped up in this binge-worthy drama.

Stream The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix.

The Crown (2016 - Present)

There is a reason (multiple reasons, actually) why The Crown is one of the best shows on television right now, but for the sake of brevity we’ll only dive into a couple of them here. First, the cast (which has taken home acting awards in each of its four seasons), no matter who’s playing whom, has been amazing from the beginning and only continues to get better with each iteration of the royal family. Then you have Peter Morgan’s attention to detail and dedication to treating his subjects with respect but also not holding back his portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II and the world around her. Add those together with the music and the show’s ability to make the audience care about every single character and you have a recipe for greatness.

Stream The Crown on Netflix.

Bridgerton (2020 - Present)

There are still plenty of questions after the whirlwind that was the first season of Bridgerton, but the scandalous Netflix period drama, with its fair share of sex, drama, and sexy drama did breathe new life into the genre upon its release in late 2020. With its outstanding ensemble cast that is as talented as it is diverse, the incorporation of modern songs into England’s Regency era, and all those fanciful costumes, there are plenty of reasons why Bridgerton grabbed a hold of its audience and never let go.

Stream Bridgerton on Netflix.

Mindhunter (2017 - 2019?)

Who knows if we’ll ever get to see Mindhunter Season 3, but let’s not dwell on things like that right now. Instead, let’s look back on the two amazing seasons David Fincher gave us in his drama about the formation of the FBI’s criminal psychology department led by Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff), Bill Tench (Holt McCallany), and Wendy Carr (Anna Torv). From engaging personal dramas involving the central cast to all those great interviews with the likes of Ed Kemper (Cameron Britton) to the dramatization of the Atlanta Child Murders, this show has (had?) it all.

Stream Mindhunter on Netflix.

Ozark (2017 - Present)

The Netflix family crime drama Ozark is one of the TV shows ending in 2021, with its fourth and final season being split up into two parts. This just means you have a little more time to rewatch the Primetime Emmy Award-winning series or start it for the first time before the final chapter. Anchored by a cast that includes Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, and Julia Garner as people embroiled in criminal enterprises, Ozark is dark, twisted, and no surprise here, a rather enjoyable experience.

Stream Ozark on Netflix.

Dear White People (2017 - Present)

Anytime an Ivy League university claims to be “post-racial,” you know it is going to be anything but, and the characters in Dear White People, the long-running Netflix dramedy know that all too well. Based on the 2014 film of the same name, the show doesn’t hold back in its handling of issues such as race, class, and social justice in this gripping and biting critique of the modern educational system. With enough humor to balance out some of the more dramatic elements, Dear White People will have you on an emotional roller coaster throughout.

Stream Dear White People on Netflix.

Russian Doll (2019 - Present)

We’re currently living in the golden age of time loop stories, and the Netflix series Russian Doll is proof of that. The show follows Nadia (Natasha Lyonne, who also co-created the show with Leslye Headland and Amy Poehler), a woman who keeps dying and reliving her 36th birthday party as she attempts to make sense of the madness around her. With clever writing, direction, and performances from its central cast, Russian Doll sinks its teeth into its premise from the first scene and doesn’t let go until the season finale. Don’t worry, there’s more on the way.

Stream Russian Doll on Netflix.

The Umbrella Academy (2019 - Present)

Fans of quirky superhero adventure stories will surely love The Umbrella Academy, the Netflix original series about a group of estranged siblings with some truly amazing powers who are brought together by their father’s death and end up banding together to save the world. There is already a great deal of speculation surrounding Season 3, so why not go back and start it again so you’re more than ready when The Umbrella Academy makes its eventual return.

Stream The Umbrella Academy on Netflix.

GLOW (2017 - 2019)

One of the Netflix cancellations fans were most upset to see go, GLOW was truly something special. One part history lesson about one of the most notorious promotions in the ‘80s and one part drama about a struggling actress finding a place for herself in the world, the wrestling-based Netflix comedy was a slobberknocker of a good time. The wrestling, writing, acting, and general feel of the show were all top notch, and it’s a bummer that we’ll never get a proper conclusion for the glorious ladies of wrestling.

Stream GLOW on Netflix.

Dead To Me (2019 - Present)

Dead to Me Season 3 will the end of the road for this dark comedy about two California women with one hell of a way of bonding, but at least Liz Feldman’s series starring Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini will be going out on its own terms. Over the course of the show’s first two seasons, we watched as Jen Harding (Applegate) and Judy Hale (Cardellini) met in a grief support group and form a rather unique bond, considering their situations. Cleverly written and brilliantly acted, this refreshing take on the grieving process is shockingly fun to watch.

Stream Dead To Me on Netflix.

Daredevil (2015 - 2018)

Long before Disney+ came around and starting launching a slew of Marvel TV shows, Netflix produced several series centering on some of the comic book publisher’s more grounded characters. The first of the bunch, Daredevil, landed in 2015 and brought a level of grit and believability to the genre and introduced its fair share of memorable characters (and spinoffs) along the way. Even though the show was cancelled after only three seasons, it’s still one of the best superhero options on Netflix.

Stream Daredevil on Netflix.

Santa Clarita Diet (2017 - 2019)

Zombie shows typically focus more on the horror elements than any humor, but Santa Clarita Diet isn’t your traditional show about the undead; hell, it’s not even a traditional comedy. Despite that, the horror-comedy starring Drew Barrymore as a suburban real estate agent with an appetite for human flesh and Timothy Olyphant as her husband stuck in the middle of the whole mess, was one of the most clever spins on the genre during it’s three-season run on Netflix.

Stream Santa Clarita Diet on Netflix.

Lupin (2021 - Present)

There have been countless adaptations of the classic French thief Arsène Lupin over the years, but the most recent take, Lupin, is honestly one of the best and most inventive of the bunch. Set in modern-day France, the Netflix crime thriller follows Assane Diop (Omar Sy), a man on a mission to get back at a wealthy and well-established family for an injustice they inflicted against his father. With more adventures on the way, now’s the perfect time to check out the first five chapters of the remarkable title.

Stream Lupin on Netflix.

Unbelievable (2019)

Based on the real-life story of a sexual assault victim and the local authorities who didn’t buy her story, 2019’s Unbelievable is a riveting, if not maddening, drama following a young woman in her darkest moments. One of the best true crime series streaming on Netflix, Unbelievable is a truly remarkable piece of television and should be revisited for its lessons just as much, if not more than the drama that unfolds over the course of its narrative.

Stream Unbelievable on Netflix.

Master Of None (2015 - Present)

One of the best shows you can binge over a single weekend, Master of None is honestly one of the best titles on Netflix. Created by star Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang, the show’s two seasons (with more on the way) make for some of the best television in recent memory, including the iconic episode “Thanksgiving” which earned Ansari and co-writer/co-star Lena Waithe a Primetime Emmy in 2017. Seriously, go back and watch that Season 2 barn burner of an episode.

Stream Master Of None on Netflix.

Black Mirror (2011 - 2019)

Being one of the few shows to be praised by Stephen King should be enough to sell anyone on Black Mirror, but some could use more convincing. The long-running anthology horror/sci-fi series literally has something for everyone. From episodes that play out like unused Twilight Zone episodes to those that seem like twisted versions of Star Trek, each installment is amazing in its own, unique way. The show also served as a launching pad for some of today’s biggest stars.

Stream Black Mirror on Netflix.

The Narcos Franchise (2015 - Present)

The gritty crime dramas Narcos and Narcos: Mexico are sprawling shows set in Colombia and Mexico, respectively, and follow some of television and history’s most notorious drug-lords. Fans of series like Breaking Bad and movies like Sicario will feel right at home with the franchise’s unapologetic approach to the subject matter.

Stream Narcos on Netflix.

Stream Narcos: Mexico on Netflix.

The Haunting Franchise (2018 - 2020)

Mike Flanagan has been making a strong case for being one of the greatest horror minds of all time with Doctor Sleep and his two Netflix supernatural stories The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor. Both of these two horror shows gave fans of the genre some of the best scares and family drama in recent memory, making everyone more than excited to see where Flanagan’s career goes from here.

Stream The Haunting Of Hill House on Netflix.

Stream The Haunting Of Bly Manor on Netflix

BoJack Horseman (2014 - 2020)

Netflix has had its fair share of hits in the world of adult animation, but few compare to the Raphael Bob-Waksberg’s BoJack Horseman and its story about a humanoid horse (Will Arnett) who, despite being one of the biggest sitcom stars of all time, struggles to find a steady gig and his way in life all these years later. Who would have ever thought a cartoon about a self-loathing horse would be this much fun (or so heavy)?

Stream BoJack Horseman on Netflix.

Easy (2016 - 2020)

Created by writer/director Joe Swanberg, Easy was an anthology series focusing on a diverse cast of characters in and around the greater Chicago area. Over the course of three seasons, the oftentimes hilarious, but always real, show touched on some of life’s most delicate topics and situations, as told by an all-star cast that included everyone from Dave Franco to Aubrey Plaza. Anyone familiar with Swanberg’s previous work (Drinking Buddies, Happy Christmas) knows what to expect here.

Stream Easy on Netflix.

Orange Is The New Black (2013 - 2019)

One of the first big Netflix originals, Orange is the New Black broke a lot of ground for the streaming service and its push for original content upon its release in 2013. Over the years, the dramedy about life in a women’s prison introduced the world to some of TV’s most iconic characters and voices, including Laverne Cox, who stole every scene with her portrayal of Sophia Burset.

Stream Orange Is The New Black on Netflix.

This was just around 20 of the best Netflix original shows you can stream right now and there are plenty more where that came from. With countless other series premiering in 2021, it is only a matter of time before we have make even more additions to this list.

As recent years have passed, TV viewers have witnessed a staggering growth in the number of original series released on a yearly basis, thanks to new networks and new streaming services eager to deliver unending content in the hopes of drawing new customers. Of course, every series that debuts has to end at some point, and the number of show cancellations and pre-planned endings only seems to grow yearly. Understandably, 2021 is no different, with the pandemic weighing heavily into many TV decisions, with shows such as GLOW and Stumptown learning in 2020 that their previous renewals would go unfulfilled.

Below, we've rounded up all the big shows that learned of their cancellations in 2021, and shows that are ending this year. (There's some overlap in that respect, for shows such as NCIS: New Orleans.) Check out the full list, and fingers cross none of your favorite shows make it on there.

Animal Kingdom (TNT)

In mid-January 2021, a month after its fifth season had finally finished production following COVID-related delays, TNT’s Animal Kingdom was granted a renewal for a sixth and final season to wrap up the Cody family’s crime-filled storylines. As of now, though, the Ellen Barkin-free fifth season has yet to premiere on TNT.

Atypical (Netflix)

Back in February 2020, Netflix granted a fourth and final season renewal to its dramedy Atypical, which focuses on the life of Keir Gilchrist’s on-the-autism-spectrum Sam Gardner. No dates have been announced for Season 4’s premiere, but it's expected to debut in 2021.

Baroness Von Sketch Show (IFC / CBC)

In 2020, it was announced that the award-winning sketch comedy series Baroness Von Sketch Show would be ending with its fifth season, which will kick off once more when the midseason premiere hits IFC on February 25, 2021.

Better Call Saul (AMC)

AMC drama worlds will collide when Better Call Saul airs its sixth and final season at some point in 2021. The final batch of episodes will presumably bookend the events of Breaking Bad both with Saul’s prequelized events and its flash-forward sequences, and will hopefully contain tons of cameos.

Big Hero 6: The Series (Disney XD)

The Marvel and Disney TV spinoff of Big Hero 6 was in the midst of its third season when it was announced the animated action-adventure wouldn’t be continuing beyond Season 3, which ended on February 15, 2021. The news wasn’t entirely surprising, considering Disney+ previously ordered up a Betamax-centric spinoff.

Black Lightning (The CW)

With Cress Williams’ Jefferson Pierce having crossed over into The CW’s main Arrowverse with the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” event, Black Lightning will be saying goodbye to all universes with the conclusion of its currently-airing fourth season.

The Bold Type (Freeform)

Having already lost two Season 4 episodes due to COVID-related shutdowns, Freeform’s female-fronted dramedy The Bold Type was renewed for its fifth and final season on January 21, 2021, with the final six episodes set to air at some point later in the year.

Bosch (Amazon Prime)

Titus Welliver’s crime drama Bosch, based on the character created by Michael Connelly, is Amazon Prime’s longest-running original series, with the renewal for the seventh and final season being ordered in February 2020. It’s currently unknown when Season 7 will air in 2021.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (NBC)

In the months since Season 7 ended, Brooklyn Nine-Nine faced not only COVID delays, but also a push to refresh its approach to policing on television with its eighth season. On February 11, 2021, it was announced that B99 will end with Season 8, which will only deliver ten episodes as opposed to the 13 and 18 episodes from previous years on NBC.

Carmen Sandiego (Netflix)

With Gina Rodriguez voicing the classic video game character, Netflix’s Carmen Sandiego dropped its third season in October 2020 and the day after that release, Netflix announced that its fourth season of high-stakes thievery would be the final one. It was released on January 15, 2021.

Claws (TNT)

Fans have been waiting to see Niecy Nash & Co. returning for the fourth season of Claws ever since August 2019, and knew it would be the final season since October of that year. With the delayed production having been completed in November 2020, Season 4 is set to hit TNT at some point in 2021.

Conan (TBS)

After more than a decade of celebrity interviews, globe-trotting, and silly, experimental comedy on TBS, Conan O’Brien revealed his Conan talk show would be ending with the conclusion of Season 10 in June 2021. Not that his fans should worry about him leaving TV altogether, as the comedian and host signed an overall deal with WarnerMedia for a new show on HBO Max.

Dead To Me (Netflix)

After two seasons of drama-heightening thrills, Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini’s Dead to Me is bringing its grieving to a close with Season 3, as announced by Netflix in July 2020. It’s presumably going to air in 2021, though likely not in the same May release window shared by the first two seasons.

Dear White People (Netflix)

Like a variety of shows listed here, Netflix’s Dear White People was renewed for its final season months before all the production shutdowns throughout 2020 – in October 2019 to be more exact – and fans are waiting to see how Logan Browning’s Samantha White will fare in the final ten episodes when they debut at some point in 2021 (though without former co-star Jeremy Tardy).

DuckTales (Disney XD)

One of the more critically acclaimed TV reboots to come about in recent years, Disney’s DuckTales was in the midst of its third world-building season when the big bosses announced (in December 2020) that the show would be ending with Season 3’s finale, which is set to air on March 15, 2021.

F Is For Family (Netflix)

Rare as it can be for Netflix to go five full seasons with one of its original series, Bill Burr and Michael Price’s raunchy animated series nailed that hallmark when the streaming service announced in October 2020 that the fifth season would be the ‘70s-set family comedy’s last run with the Murphy family. Frank probably had some choice words to say when he heard.

Feel Good (Netflix / Channel 4)

The UK dramedy Feel Good, which co-stars Lisa Kudrow, debuted on Netflix in March 2020, and the streaming service announced in December of the same year that the addiction-based series was renewed for a second season to air in 2021, though it would already be the final one.

Goliath (Amazon Prime)

Just over a month after Billy Bob Thornton’s popular legal drama Goliath premiered its third season, Amazon made the announcement in November 2019 that the show would be ending with its fourth season, which is presumably going to make its all-at-once debut in 2021.

Grace And Frankie (Netflix)

Back in September 2019, a few months before Season 6 debuted, Grace and Frankie was revealed to be coming to an end with a super-sized Season 7, which will see Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin’s titular characters getting feisty for 16 more episodes, rather than the usual 13.

The Haves And Have Nots (OWN)

As OWN’s first scripted series, The Haves and Have Nots debuted back in 2013, and the soapy crime drama is currently set to wrap things up for the Cryer, Harrington, and Young families when the back eight episodes of Season 8 start the fireworks back up again on May 25, 2021.

Insecure (HBO)

Issa Rae’s talent-oozing comedy Insecure was renewed for Season 5 back in May 2020 in the midst of Season 4’s run, but HBO announced on January 13, 2021 that the fifth season will serve as the fictional Issa’s final run of socially poignant episodes, as the real-life Issa continues to build up her cinematic career.

Judge Judy (Syndicated)

Having spent over two decades heading up the syndicated courtroom series Judge Judy, its namesake Judy Sheindlin revealed she was hanging up her gavel after Season 25 ends in 2021, but she’ll be back on TV soon for Amazon’s Judy Justice.

Keeping Up With The Kardashians (E!)

2021 marks the end of a reality TV era, with Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ titular family members (and the Jenners) announcing in September 2020 that the long-running series would be coming to an end with Season 20, set to debut on March 18, 2021. The family is now locked into a deal with Disney and Hulu, so don’t expect them to be gone from your TVs for very long.

The Kominsky Method (Netflix)

The Big Bang Theory co-creator Chuck Lorre made a successful jump to streaming with the Golden Globe-winning The Kominsky Method, which was revealed in July 2020 to be renewed for its third and final season, which will be without star Alan Arkin.

Last Man Standing (Fox)

Tim Allen’s sitcom Last Man Standing made it three seasons on Fox after its prior cancellation at ABC, and it was revealed in October 2020 that the previously ordered Season 9 would be the show’s last run. The 21-episode season debuted on January 3, 2021, and thankfully gave fans a big Home Improvement crossover before bowing out completely.

Lost In Space (Netflix)

Netflix’s big-budget Lost in Space made its share of fans during the first two seasons, but the lack of major buzz likely influenced the streaming service’s decision in March 2020 to renew the sci-fi series for a third and final season. It’s not yet clear when Lost in Space Season 3 will debut in 2021.

Lou Dobbs Tonight (Fox Business)

The political and financial chat show Lou Dobbs Tonight was on the verge of making it a full ten years on Fox Business Network, but after Dobbs was named as part of a defamation lawsuit against Fox News by the voting machine vendor Smartmatic, Fox Business cancelled the show on February 5, 2021.

Lucifer (Netflix)

Having already come to an “end” on Fox in 2018, Lucifer lived on at Netflix, where it was initially cancelled after Season 5, but Netflix not only added episodes to the fifth season order, but the streaming service later reneged on its decision and ordered up a sixth and final season of episodes in June 2020. While the second half of Season 5 has yet to air, it’s possible the final ten episodes will debut on Netflix in late 2021.

Mom (CBS)

Not very long before Mom's production was scheduled to begin after prior delays, star Anna Faris suddenly announced in September that she was leaving the show, and even though Season 8 has been doing fine in the ratings, CBS announced prior to the eighth episode that the show was cancelled and would be ending with the current batch of episodes.

Money Heist (Netflix)

Also known as La casa de papel, Netflix’s intense Spanish crime drama Money Heist has been one of the most successful non-English series in the streaming service’s library, so you can bet a ton of viewers will be tuning in for the fifth and final batch of episodes, which Netflix ordered in July 2020. No premiere date for 2021 has been set yet.

NCIS: New Orleans (CBS)

With its latest season taking a dip in the ratings compared to previous years, NCIS: New Orleans will be coming to an end with its shortened seventh season, shocking many fans who have come to expect the NCIS franchise to continue sticking around. Interestingly enough, it was revealed the day before the cancellation news broke that CBS is looking to develop the new spinoff NCIS: Hawaii.

On My Block (Netflix)

Netflix’s teen dramedy On My Block earned much critical and fan acclaim over the course of its first three seasons, so it was something of a blessing and a crime when Netflix finally announced on January 29, 2021 that the series was renewed for its fourth and final season. It’s not clear when it’ll air, but at least Netflix gave On My Block ten episodes to bow out on instead of the eight that made up Season 3.

Ozark (Netflix)

Jason Bateman’s work in front of and behind the camera have played a big role in Ozark’s success on Netflix, and while some might have expected it to go on for many more years, the streaming service announced in June 2020 that the money-laundering crime drama will close out with its fourth season, which will be divided into two seven-episode halves. At least the first half is expected to air in 2021.

Peaky Blinders (Netflix / BBC)

Another high-profile series whose final season was impacted by COVID-related delays, Peaky Blinders last delivered new episodes in August 2019, and it was revealed on January 18 that the in-production Season 6 will give viewers the star-studded gangster drama’s final six installments. Creator Steven Knight is already teasing a follow-up project, also.

Shameless (Showtime)

The longest-running scripted series in Showtime’s history, Shameless made it through a full season without exiting star Emmy Rossum before the channel announced in January 2020 that the offbeat family drama was renewed for its eleventh and final season. After going through production delays that altered the final season, Shameless debuted Season 11 in December 2020, and it will wrap at some point in early 2021.

Shrill (Hulu)

Fans of SNL’s Aidy Bryant and her Hulu series Shrill were pumped when the streaming service announced in March 2020 that the comedy would be returning for an eight-episode third season, but things took a more disappointing turn on January 27, 2021, when it was announced that the upcoming Season 3 will be Shrill’s last. It’s set to debut on May 7, 2021.

Supergirl (The CW)

The CW renewed Supergirl for a sixth season back in January 2020, but nine months later, made the call that the 20-episode Season 6 would be the Arrowverse drama’s final one. It’s still unclear when Supergirl will return for those episodes, but there’s the additional hope that Melissa Benoist’s superhero will appear in the new spinoff Superman & Lois.

Superstore (NBC)

One of the relatively rare network sitcoms to survive without a focus on traditional family life, Superstore delighted audiences for years with its big-box family, but NBC announced over the loudspeakers in December 2020 that Superstore would be ending with its currently airing sixth season, which is set to air its finale on March 25, 2021.

Truth Seekers (Amazon Prime)

Co-created by the comedy duo of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (among others), Truth Seekers was a fright-filled comedy about paranormal investigators and spooky conspiracies that apparently didn’t quite win over enough living and breathing viewers to convince Amazon to order up a second season. Frost announced on February 11, 2021 that the show was cancelled.

Van Helsing (Syfy)

From the wacky-concept mind of creator Neil LaBute, Van Helsing and its titular heroine played by Kelly Overton have been hunting down vampires and other monstrous being for four seasons, but Syfy revealed in December 2019 that the fantasy horror would be returning for a fifth and final season, though it has yet to debut.

Wynonna Earp (Syfy)

Much like Van Helsing, Syfy’s Wynonna Earp’s survival is largely due to a relatively small but extremely passionate group of fans who have been patiently waiting through financial and then COVID-related delays to see the entirety of Season 4, which was ordered back in July 2018. The first six episodes finally aired in Summer 2020, and Syfy announced on February 5, 2021 that the show was cancelled, with the final six episodes debuting on March 5, 2021.

Year Of The Rabbit (IFC / Channel 4)

Perhaps the most visually and narratively distinct entry on this list, the UK’s Year of the Rabbit was a Victorian-era detective comedy headed up by the hilarious Matt Berry, and though Channel 4 renewed the show for a second season in February 2020, the network announced a reversal of that decision on January 21, 2021, citing COVID-related budget issues. It’s possible another network or streaming service will step up to help with production costs.

Younger (TV Land)

Back in July 2019, TV Land renewed Younger for its seventh season, making it the longest-running original program in the network’s history. Filming only finished on those episodes in early 2021, due to COVID-related delays, and while it hasn’t been made 100% official by TV Land, star Debi Mazar reveled in February 2021 that she’d filmed her final scenes on the show, sparking beliefs that Season 7 is indeed the end.

Since we're still in the early days of 2021, audiences should have few doubts that this already sizable list of shows will grow even longer, so remember to keep checking back for updates as more big shows fall onto, and off of, the chopping block.

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Tessa Thompson has appeared in some of your favorite movies, TV shows, and even music videos. Her diverse body of work has made her one to watch. Whether appearing in the Marvel Universe in the Thor movies or being a piece of the heart in Creed, or even playing in a world with robots in Westworld, Thompson commands the screen and makes you want to watch more.

There may be about a thousand streaming services out there, which can be overwhelming, but the beauty of all of them is that you have access to so much content, which is handy when you want to do a marathon of a favorite show, movie franchise, or actor or actress. If you’re in the mood for some Tessa Thompson content, here’s some streaming options.

Thor: Ragnarok (Disney+)

Thor: Ragnarok is the third film in the Thor universe. It’s the film that finds Thor (Chris Hemsworth) on a new planet as he must face a few obstacles, including The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) to get back to Asgard and face-off against Hela (Cate Blanchett ).

Why It’s A Good Option For Tessa Thompson Fans: Thor: Ragnarok is the film that introduces Tessa Thompson to the Marvel Universe as Valkyrie. Valkyrie is a fun character, smart, resourceful, strong, and a warrior and hero in her own right. In Thor: Love and Thunder, we’ll see Valkyrie step into more power, and we’ll get to see more of her new role as the king of new Asgard. Thor: Ragnarok is the best film to watch to re-familiarize yourself with that character before the next film comes out.

Stream it on Disney+ here.

Creed II (Amazon Prime)

Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, and Tessa Thompson return for this Creed sequel. Creed II deals with Donnie (Jordan) embarking on another life-changing fight with an opponent that has ties to his father’s past.

Why It’s A Good Option For Tessa Thompson Fans: Like with the Rocky movies, a big part of the Creed movies is the heart that comes from the love story. Donnie and Bianca's (Thompson) love story grows much deeper in this film, and it shows a bit more of Bianca’s life and her own struggles. It also expands the Creed family and establishes Bianca as an even more important part of Donnie’s life and future.

Stream it on Amazon Prime here.

Sorry To Bother You (Hulu)

Sorry to Bother You is is a unique satirical movie that explores corporate greed, racism, slave wages, and various other relevant topics. Lakeith Stanfield stars as Cassius ‘Cash’ Green. Cash gets seduced by the money, and viewers watch how that has disastrous and monstrous results.

Why It’s A Good Option For Tessa Thompson Fans: Thompson plays Cash’s girlfriend, Detroit. She has a bit of a whimsical quality to her because she’s very certain of her beliefs and morals. She stands out because she’s not just Cash’s loving girlfriend, instead, she very much has her own identity with and apart from him.

Stream it on Hulu here.

Westworld (HBO Max)

Westworld is an HBO series about an amusement park that allows rich occupants to live out their fantasies without consequences or punishments, that is until the artificial conscious hosts start to understand what’s happening.

Why It’s A Good Option For Tessa Thompson Fans: Tessa Thompson appears in Westworld at the start as Charlotte Hale. Thompson gets to show off her badassery in various ways throughout Westworld. Partly by showing off her stellar acting skills, through action scenes, compelling story-arcs, and by playing a multifaceted character.

Stream it on HBO Max here.

For Colored Girls (Netflix)

For Colored Girls is Tyler Perry’s adaptation of Ntozake Shange’s choreopoem For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf. It contains a series of interlocking stories that mainly focus on the struggles that black women face. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Tessa Thompson, Whoopi Goldberg, Phylicia Rashad, Kerry Washington, and Thandie Newton.

Why It’s A Good Option For Tessa Thompson Fans: Thompson plays Nyla aka Lady in Purple. Her vignette explores an unwanted and unplanned pregnancy. Her story also ties with her familial issues and dysfunctional relationship with her mother and sister, played by Newton and Goldberg. For Colored Girls is a very dark drama that explores topics of sexual abuse, child endangerment, STDs, murder, domestic violence, and more, so it’s not a fun, lighthearted film. However, it’s an interesting movie because of the performances by the all-star cast and the poetic style.

Stream it on Netflix here.

Veronica Mars (Hulu)

Veronica Mars is a series that refuses to die. The fans first resurrected the show about a teen detective in the form of a movie. Then Hulu brought it back to life with a Season 4. It may be another ten years until we see Veronica and the gang again, but she’ll likely find new life in some form at some point in the future.

Why It’s A Good Option For Tessa Thompson Fans: Veronica Mars was Thompson’s first major TV role. She played Jackie Cook, Wallace (Percy Daggs III)’s love interest throughout the second season. She only appeared in one season, but she was a vital part of Wallace’s growth that season. Veronica Mars also offers a good introduction into Thompson’s eventual star power and leading lady potential. She added another dynamic character to the Veronica Mars list.

Stream it on Hulu here.

Men In Black International (Starz)

Men in Black International expands the Men in Black universe. It follows American Molly/Agent M (Thompson) as she uncovers the Men in Black organization, and gets assigned to work in London. She joins Agent H (Chris Hemsworth) as they work to uncover a mole in MIB.

Why It’s A Good Option For Tessa Thompson Fans: This film once again pairs Hemsworth and Thompson, who have great on-screen chemistry. Men in Black International didn’t fare well with critics, but if you are a huge fan of Thompson or Hemsworth, and/or enjoy funny (semi-silly) action adventures, then this film should suit your needs.

Stream it on Starz here.

Dear White People (Tubi)

Dear White People is a 2014 satirical film about racial tensions that especially exist within the collegiate system. Justin Simien directed and wrote the film that eventually became a Netflix series.

Why It’s A Good Option For Tessa Thompson Fans: Thompson plays one of the main characters, Sam. She hosts the radio show Dear White People, where she questions the administration and the white students at Winchester University. Dear White People is a thought-provoking movie that brings some of the issues facing black students at prestigious universities to the surface. It’s a film that blends comedy and drama while also trying to start conversations about race, identity, education, and culture.

Stream it on Tubi here.

Little Woods (Hulu)

Little Woods is Nia DaCosta’s feature film directorial debut. It follows Ollie (Thompson) as she’s a few days away from being off probation. Ollie tries to live a normal, law-abiding life in North Dakota, but when her sister Deb (Lily James) needs some money for her unexpected pregnancy, Ollie rejoins the world of drug dealing.

Why It’s A Good Option For Tessa Thompson Fans: Little Woods is a slow-burning drama that deals with these two sisters who both aren’t really living happy, successful or exciting lives, but they’re put into dangerous--potentially life-ruining-situations to survive. Little Woods draws you in because of Thompson’s performance and the relationship between Deb and Olie. They may not be close, but they’re there for each other when needed.

Stream it on Hulu here.

Lady And The Tramp (Disney+)

Disney’s beloved animated film Lady and the Tramp got a live-action update, just for Disney+. Lady (voiced by Thompson) enjoys her in-door home life with owners Jim (Thomas Mann) and Darling (Kiersey Clemons), but when Darling becomes pregnant, everything changes for Lady. One day, when left with Aunt Sarah (Yvette Nicole Brown), Lady ends up on the street. She reunites with the street dog she met before, Tramp (Justin Theroux), and the two have a wonderful day together.

Why It’s A Good Option For Tessa Thompson Fans: Thompson has a great voice for voice-over work, especially those involving house dog characters. Hopefully, she'll lend her voice to more animated or live-action animated characters in the future. Lady and the Tramp is a great Disney remake that is enjoyable to watch from start to finish.

Stream it on Disney+ here.

Furlough (Hulu)

Furlough follows Nicole (Thompson), a part-time corrections officer who wants a full-time job. She’s assigned to transport a criminal, Joan (Melissa Leo) to see her mother one final time. In exchange for a successful run, she’l be promoted to a full-time position. Whoopi Goldberg has a small role as Nicole’s mother, making this the second time Thompson and Golberg played mother and daughter.

Why It’s A Good Option For Tessa Thompson Fans: Furlough is a very funny film. Joan takes Nicole on one misadventure after another as she tries to get the most out of her brief time away from prison. Towards the end of the movie, Furlough takes a more serious tone. The film works so well because Leo and Thompson are both frustrating and charming at different points in Furlough.

Stream it on Hulu here.

If you want more Tessa Thompson content, she has a fictional podcast called The Left Right Game. Amazon bought the rights to it, so it’ll be a future series that she stars and produces. The 10-episode audio-series is currently available to stream. You can also stream Thompson’s new movie Sylvie’s Love on Amazon Prime. on December 23.

If one thing can be said about the entertainment world in 2020, it is that it was the year of streaming. Despite some strong competition from the likes of Disney+, Amazon, Hulu, and new additions including Peacock and HBO Max, Netflix proved that it is still at the top of the pecking order. With returning Netflix original TV shows like The Crown and Ozark and record-breaking newcomers like The Queen’s Gambit, Tiger King, and many others becoming pop culture phenomenons more than made up for the absence of Stranger Things, The Witcher, and Mindhunter. But as we look at the start of the 2021 Netflix premiere line-up, a lot of us are wondering what all will be new on Netflix in the coming weeks and months.

Well, just like in years past, 2021 (the early part at least) will be another great year for Netflix with the long-awaited debut of new episodes of Cobra Kai in January and so much more beyond that. Below is a monthly rundown of all the Netflix series (both new and returning) you can expect to catch on the popular streaming service over the course of the next year. Please note that all release times are at 3:01 a.m. ET (12:01 a.m. PT), and all new series are listed in ALL CAPS.

January 2021 Netflix Premieres

Netflix is kicking off (pun intended) 2021 in a spectacular way with the arrival of Cobra Kai Season 3 at some point during the first month of the new year. The third season of the former YouTube original series was originally slated to premiere on January 8, 2021, but Netflix shifted to a New Year's Day launch after temporarily announcing the next chapter in the never-ending saga of Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) as “Coming In January 2021.”

Friday, January 1

Cobra Kai Season 3 - Netflix - 3:01 a.m. (Martial Arts Comedy)

Dream House Makeover Season 2

HEADSPACE GUIDE TO MEDITATION

Monarca Season 2

The Netflix Afterparty

Tuesday, January 5

GABBY’S DOLLHOUSE

HISTORY OF SWEAR WORDS

Nailed It! Mexico Season 3

Wednesday, January 6

SURVIVING DEATH

Friday, January 8

The Idhun Chronicles Part 2

Inside The World’s Toughest Prisons Season 5

LUPIN Part 1

PRETEND IT’S A CITY

Wednesday, January 13

NIGHT STALKER: THE HUNT FOR A SERIAL KILLER

Friday, January 15

THE BLING EMPIRE

Carmen Sandiego Season 4

Disenchantment Part 3

Tuesday, January 19

Hello Ninja Season 4

Wednesday, January 20

DAUGHTER FROM ANOTHER MOTHER

SPYCRAFT

Thursday, January 21

Call My Agent! Season 4

Friday, January 23

LOVE

Friday, January 22

Blown Away Season 2

Busted! Season 3

FATE: THE WINX SAGA

Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous Season 2

Tuesday, January 26

GO DOG GO

Wednesday, January 27

50M2

Bonding Season 2

February 2021 Netflix Premieres

There are currently only two series confirmed to premiere on Netflix in February 2021, but more is on the way. The first of the announced shows is Firefly Lane, a new drama series starring Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke as two friends who strike up a friendship that becomes unbreakable over the course of several decades. There is also the German sci-fi series Tribes of Europa, which follows three siblings who set out to change the fate of near-future Europe after a global catastrophe.

Tuesday, February 2

KID COSMIC

Mighty Express Season 2

Tiffany Haddish Presents: They Ready: Season 2

Wednesday, February 3

FIREFLY LANE

Friday, February 5

Hache: Season 2

INVISIBLE CITY

Wednesday, February 10

CRIME SCENE: THE VANISHING AT THE CECIL HOTEL

Thursday, February 11

CAPITANI

Friday, February 12

BURIED BY THE BERNARDS

NADIYA BAKES

Hate by Dani Rovira

XICO'S JOURNEY

Sunday, February 14

THE BIG DAY

Monday, February 15

THE CREW

Wednesday, February 17

BEHIND HER EYES

HELLO, ME!

MeatEater: Season 9 Part 2

Thursday, February 18

THUS SPOKE KISHIBE ROHAN

Friday, February 19

TRIBES OF EUROPA

Sunday, February 24

CANINE INTERVENTION

GINNY & GEORGIA

Monday, February 25

HIGH-RISE INVASION

Tuesday, February 26

BIGFOOT FAMILY

Netflix Series To Be Announced:

SISYPHUS

VINCENZO

March 2021 Netflix Premieres

Not much has been announced for Netflix originals in March 2021 but you can expect to see the Spanish crime drama Sky Rojo from the creators of Money Heist.

Tuesday, March 2

Word Party Season 5

Wednesday, March 3

FARMHOUSE FIXER

MURDER AMONG THE MORMONS

Thursday, March 4

PACIFIC RIM: THE BLACK

Pokémon Journeys: The Series Season 23

Friday, March 5

CITY OF GHOSTS

NEVENKA: BREAKING THE SILENCE

Monday, March 8

BOMBAY BEGUMS

Tuesday, March 9

THE HOUSEBOAT

Starbeam Season 3

Wednesday, March 10

DEALER

LAST CHANCE U: BASKETBALL

MARRIAGE OR MORTGAGE

Friday, March 12

Love Alarm Season 2

THE ONE

Paradise PD Season 3

Monday, March 15

THE LOST PIRATE KINGDOM

ZERO CHILL

Tuesday, March 16

WAFFLES + MOCHI

Wednesday, March 17

UNDER SUSPICION: UNCOVERING THE WESPHAEL CASE

Friday, March 19

SKY ROJO

Alien TV Season 2

COUNTRY COMFORT

Formula 1: Drive To Survive Season 3

Thursday, March 25

DOTA: DRAGON'S BLOOD

Friday, March 26

THE IRREGULARS

April 2021 Netflix Premieres

With a new three-part David Attenborough docuseries, the arrival of Shadow and Bone, plus a ton of family-friendly content, there's plenty to choose from throughout the month of April.

Thursday, April 1

Magical Andes: Season 2

Prank Encounters: Season 2

WORN STORIES

Friday, April 2

THE SERPENT

Monday, April 5

Family Reunion: Part 3

Wednesday, April 7

The Big Day: Collection 2

SNABBA CASH

THE WEDDING COACH

Thursday, April 8

THE WAY OF THE HOUSEBAND

Tuesday, April 13

Mighty Express: Season 3

Wednesday, April 14

The Circle: Season 2

DAD! STOP EMBARRASSING ME

LAW SCHOOL

Friday, April 16

Fast & Furious Spy Racers: Season 4: Mexico

WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS?

Sunday, April 18

Luis Miguel - The Series: Season 2

Tuesday, April 20

Izzy's Koala World: Season 2

Wednesday, April 21

ZERO

Thursday, April 22

LIFE IN COLOR WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH

Friday, April 23

SHADOW AND BONE

Tuesday, April 27

FATMA

Go! Go! Cory Carson: Season 4

Wednesday, April 28

SEXIFY

Friday, April 29

YASUKE

Saturday, April 30

THE INNOCENT

PET STARS

The Unremarkable Juanquini: Season 2

May 2021 Netflix Premieres

The month of May will see the return of a few of Netflix's biggest shows, including the second part of Lucifer Season 5, Selena: The Series Part 2, and Who Killed Sara? Season 2, which is returning less than two months after the first season became an instant hit with the streaming service's subscribers

Tuesday, May 4

Selena: The Series Part 2

Trash Truck Season 2

Wednesday, May 5

THE SONS OF SAM

Friday, May 7

JUPITER'S LEGACY

Girl from Nowhere Season 2

Saturday, May 8

MINE

Tuesday, May 11

Money Explained

Wednesday, May 12

THE UPSHAWS

Thursday, May 13

Castlevania Season 4

Friday, May 14

Haunted Season 3

Love, Death And Robots Season 2

MOVE TO HEAVEN

Wednesday, May 19

Who Killed Sara? Season 2

Thursday, May 20

Special Season 2

Friday, May 21

Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous Season 3

The Neighbor Season 2

Thursday, May 27

BLACK SPACE

EDEN

Friday, May 28

Lucifer Season 5B

The Kominsky Method Season 3

Monday, May 31

THE PARISIAN AGENCY: EXCLUSIVE PROPERTIES

June 2021 Netflix Premieres

The month of June will see the return of a few of Netflix's biggest shows, including Lupin: Part 2, Workin' Moms Season 5, and more.

Tuesday, June 1

SUPER MONSTERS: ONCE UPON A RHYME

Thursday, June 3

CREATOR'S FILES: GOLD

Summertime Season 2

Friday, June 4

Feel Good Season 2

SWEET TOOTH

Wednesday, June 9

FRESH, FRIED & CRISPY

Thursday, June 10

LOCOBIANOS

Friday, June 11

Love (Ft. Love and Marriage) Season 2

Lupin: Part 2

TRESE

WITH DRAGON

Monday, June 14

ELITE SHORT STORIES

Tuesday, June 15

Rhyme Time Town Season 2

UNWIND YOUR MIND

Workin' Moms Season 5

Thursday, June 17

Black Summer Season 2

The Gift Season 3

Hospital Playlist Season 2

KATLA

Friday, June 18

Elite Season 4

THE RATIONAL LIFE

THE WORLD'S MOST AMAZING VACATION RENTALS

Saturday, June 19

NEVERTHELESS

Wednesday, June 23

Too Hot to Handle Season 2

Thursday, June 24

The Naked Director Season 2

Friday, June 25

The A List Season 2

SEX/LIFE

Tuesday, June 29

StarBeam Season 4

July 2021 Netflix Premieres

The month of July will see the debut of several long awaited Netflix animated series including Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness, Masters of the Universe: Revelation, and Transformers: War for Cybertron: Kingdom.

Thursday, July 1

GENERATION 56K

YOUNG ROYALS

Friday, July 2

BIG TIMBER

Mortel Season 2

Sunday, July 4

WE THE PEOPLE

Monday, July 5

YOU ARE MY SPRING

Tuesday, July 6

I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson Season 2

Wednesday, July 7

THE MIRE: '97

THE WAR NEXT DOOR

Thursday, July 8

RESIDENT EVIL: INFINITE DARKNESS

Friday, July 9

Atypical Season 4

Biohackers Season 2

THE COOK OF CASTAMAR

Virgin River Season 3

Tuesday, July 13

RIDLEY JONES

Wednesday, July 14

MY UNORTHODOX LIFE

Thursday, July 15

BEASTARS Season 2

Never Have I Ever Season 2

Friday, July 16

Explained Season 3

Wednesday, July 21

SEXY BEASTS

The Movies That Made Us Season 2

TOO HOT TO HANDLE: BRAZIL

Thursday, July 22

WORDS BUBBLE UP LIKE SODA POP

Friday, July 23

A SECOND CHANCE: RIVALS!

MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE: REVELATION

Sky Rojo Season 2

Tuesday, July 27

Mighty Express Season 4

Wednesday, July 28

THE SNITCH CARTEL: ORIGINS

TATTOO REDO

Thursday, July 29

TRANSFORMERS: WAR FOR CYBERTRON: KINGDOM

Friday, July 30

CENTAURLAND

Glow Up Season 3

Outer Banks Season 2

August 2021 Netflix Premieres

The month of August will see the debut of the long awaited Netflix animated series The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, which will surely toss viewers a coin while they wait for The Witcher live-action series to return later in the year.

Tuesday, August 3

TOP SECRET UFO PROJECTS: DECLASSIFIED

Wednesday, August 4

Control Z Season 2

Car Masters: Rust To Riches Season 3

COOKING WITH PARIS

Friday, August 6

HIT AND RUN

Monday, August 9

SHAMAN KING

Gabby's Dollhouse Season 2

Tuesday, August 10

UNTOLD

Wednesday, August 11

BAKE SQUAD

Thursday, August 12

ALRAWABI SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

MONSTER HUNTER: LEGENDS OF THE GUILD

Friday, August 13

BRAND NEW CHERRY FLAVOR

Fast And Furious Spy Races Season 5

GONE FOR GOOD

THE KINGDOM

Valeria Season 2

SCHMIGADOON!

GONE FOR GOOD

Tuesday, August 17

Go! Go! Cory Carson Season 5

Wednesday, August 18

THE DEFEATED

Friday, August 20

THE CHAIR

EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE 

Monday, August 23

THE WITCHER: NIGHTMARE OF THE WOLF

Wednesday, August 25

CLICKBAIT

MOTEL MAKEOVER

OPEN YOUR EYES

POST MORTEM: NO ONE DIES IN SKARNES

Thursday, August 26

EDENS ZERO

Family Reunion Part 4

Friday, August 27

TITLETOWN HIGH

I HEART ARLO

Saturday, August 28

HOMETOWN CHA-CHA-CHA

Tuesday, August 31

SPARKING JOY

September 2021 Netflix Premieres

The month of September will see the return of Lucifer for one one more season before the fan-favorite series is put on a shelf. The month will also see the arrival of several highly anticipated shows including Squid Games and Midnight Mass.

Wednesday, September 1

HOW TO BE A COWBOY

Thursday, September 2

Q-FORCE

Friday, September 3

DIVE CLUB
Money Heist Part 5: Volume 1
SHARKDOG

Monday, September 6

COUNTDOWN: INSPIRATION4 MISSION TO SPACE

Tuesday, September 7

Kid Cosmic Season 2
OCTONAUTS: ABOVE AND BEYOND
ON THE VERGE

Wednesday, September 8

The Circle Season 3
Into The Night Season 2

Friday, September 10

FIREDRAKE THE SILVER DRAGON
Lucifer: The Final Season
METAL SHOP WORKERS
POKÉMON MASTER JOURNEYS: THE SERIES

Tuesday, September 14

Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Family Season 5
The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals Season 2

Wednesday, September 15

Nailed It Season 6
TOO HOT TO HANDLE LATINO

Thursday, September 16

HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE

Friday, September 17

CHICAGO PARTY AUNT
Sex Education Season 3
SQUID GAME

Tuesday, September 21

Love on the Spectrum Season 2

Wednesday, September 22

Dear White People Volume 4
JAGUAR

Friday, September 24

Blood and Water Season 2
GANGLANDS
JAILBIRDS NEW ORLEANS
MIDNIGHT MASS
MY LITTLE PONY: A NEW GENERATION

Tuesday, September 28

ADA TWIST, SCIENTIST

Wednesday, September 29

THE CHESTNUT MAN
ManEater Season 10

Thursday, September 30

Love 101 Season 2
Luna Park

October 2021 Netflix Premieres

October 2021 will see plenty of creepy and spooky arrivals for the month of Halloween, but one of the most anticipated shows coming out is the long-awaited return of the hit series You.

Friday, October 1

MAID
PAIK'S SPIRIT
SCAREDY CATS
THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS: CURSED BY LIGHT

Sunday, October 3

Scissor Seven Season 3

Monday, October 4

On My Block Season 4

Wednesday, October 6

BAKING IMPOSSIBLE
THE FIVE JUANAS
LOVE IS BLIND: BRAZIL

Thursday, October 7

THE BILLION DOLLAR CODE
Sexy Beasts Season 2
The Way of The Househusband Part 2

Friday, October 8

A TALE OF DARK AND GRIMM
Family Business Season 3
PRETTY SMART

Saturday, October 9

BLUE PERIOD

Monday, October 11

The Baby-Sitters Club Season 2
THE KING'S AFFECTION

Tuesday, October 12

Mighty Express Season 5
The Movies That Made Us Season 3

Wednesday, October 13

REFLECTION OF YOU

Thursday, October 14

Another Life Season 2

Friday, October 15

Little Things Season 4
MY NAME
You Season 3

Saturday, October 16

MISFIT: THE SERIES

Wednesday, October 20

Gabby's Dollhouse Season 3

Thursday, October 21

Go! Go! Cory Carson Season 6
INSIDERS
LIFE'S A GLITCH WITH JULIEN BAM
SEX, LOVE AND GOOP

Friday, October 22

ADVENTURE BEAST
INSIDE JOB
Locke and Key Season 2
MORE THAN BLUE: THE SERIES

Tuesday, October 26

SEX: UNZIPPED

Wednesday, October 27

Sintonia Season 2

Thursday, October 28

Luis Miguel: The Series Season 3

Friday, October 29

COLIN IN BLACK AND WHITE
THE TIME IT TAKES

November 2021 Netflix Premieres

November 2021 will see plenty of great arrivals in the penultimate month of the year, including the debut of the live-action Cowboy Bebop as well as the long-awaited return of Narcos: Mexico and Big Mouth with plenty of other surprises along the way.

Monday, November 1

Ridley Jones Season 2

Friday, November 5

Big Mouth Season 5
THE CLUB
GLÓRIA
Narcos: Mexico Season 3
THE UNLIKELY MURDERER

Saturday, November 6

ARCANE (New Episodes Weekly)

Tuesday, November 9

SWAP SHOP

Wednesday, November 10

Gentefied: Season 2

Thursday, November 11

LOVE NEVER LIES

Monday, November 15

LIES AND DECEIT 

Tuesday, November 16

JOHNNY TEST’S ULTIMATE MEATLOAF CHALLENGE
STORYBOTS; LAUGH, LEARN, SING

Wednesday, November 17

CHRISTMAS FLOW
The Queen Of Flow Season 2
TEAR ALONG THE DOTTED LINES
TIGER KING 2

Thursday, November 18

DOGS IN SPACE

Friday, November 19

BLOWN AWAY: CHRISTMAS
COWBOY BEBOP
HELLBOUND

Saturday, November 20

NEW WORLD

Tuesday, November 23

Masters Of The Universe: Revelation Part 2

Wednesday, November 24

Selling Sunset Season 4
TRUE STORY

Thursday, November 25

F Is For Family Season 5
SUPER CROOKS

Friday, November 26

LIGHT THE NIGHT
SCHOOL OF CHOCOLATE

Sunday, November 28

ELVES

Tuesday, November 30

CHARLIE’S COLORFORMS CITY: CLASSIC TALES WITH A TWIST
CHARLIE’S COLORFORMS CITY: SNOWY STORIES
CHARLIE’S COLORFORMS CITY: THE LOST VALENTINES MUSICAL

December 2021 Netflix Premieres

December 2021 will see plenty of great arrivals in the final month of the year, including the return of fan-favorite series like The Witcher Season 2, Emily in Paris Season 2, and Cobra Kai Season 4.

Wednesday, December 1

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: STONE OCEAN
KAYKO AND KOKOSH
Kayko and Kokosh Season 2
Lost In Space Season 3

Thursday, December 2

COYOTES

Friday, December 3

COMING OUT COLTON
Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous Season 4
Money Heist Season 5 (Part 2)
The Great British Baking Show: Holidays Season 4
Money Heist: From Tokyo to Berlin Volume 2

Monday, December 6

VOIR

Tuesday, December 7

Centaurworld Season 2
Go Dog Go Season 2 

Thursday, December 9

Bonus Family Season 4

Friday, December 10

ARANYAK
How To Ruin Christmas: THE FUNERAL
TWENTYSOMETHINGS: AUSTIN
SATURDAY MORNING ALL STAR HITS!

Saturday, December 11

THE HUNGRY AND THE HAIRY

Tuesday, December 14

THE FUTURE DIARY

Wednesday, December 15

ELITE SHORT STORIES: PHILIPPE CAYE FELIPE
SELLING TAMPA

Thursday, December 16

Aggretsuko Season 4

Friday, December 17

Fast and Furious Spy Races Season 6
The Witcher Season 2

Saturday, December 18

BULGASAL: IMMORTAL SOULS

Sunday, December 19

WHAT HAPPENED IN OSLO

Monday, December 20

ELITE SHORT STORIES: SAMUEL OMAR

Wednesday, December 22

Emily In Paris Season 2

Thursday, December 23

ELITE STORIES: PATRICK

Friday, December 24

THE SILENT SEA

Saturday, December 25

SINGLES INFERNO

Wednesday, December 29

ANXIOUS PEOPLE
Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer

Thursday, December 30

KITZ

Friday, December 31

Cobra Kai Season 4
Queer Eye Season 6
STAY CLOSE

Returning Netflix Show Premiere Dates TBD

There are still plenty of returning Netflix series that have yet to receive a release date for 2021. More information on all these shows and many others will be released in the weeks and months ahead, so make sure to check back for updates on your favorite shows like Stranger Things, Dead To Me, and The Circle.

blackAF Season 2

Dead to Me Season 3

Grace and Frankie

Green Eggs and Ham Season 2

Ozark Season 4

Perfume Season 2

Raising Dion Season 2

Rhythm + Flow Season 2

Stranger Things Season 4

The Goop Lab with Gwyneth Paltrow Season 2

This is currently everything that has been announced to premiere on Netflix in 2021, but make sure to check back for updates throughout the year so you don’t miss out on your favorite returning shows. If you want to know what else is coming out in the first few months of the year, check out our Winter and Spring 2021 premiere schedule.

October is always a good month for horror. And while some projects got delayed until next year, there's still a ton of exciting new content to catch for those spooky feels. Hulu recently released Justin Simien's period piece Bad Hair, which had a new type of horror danger. The movie focuses on a woman in 1989 whose sew-in weave becomes violent. And while the comedy/horror has a ton of laughs in its runtime, the cast believes its themes shows the truth of what it's like as a Black woman working in Hollywood.

Bad Hair comes from acclaimed filmmaker Justin Simien. The new Hulu horror flick reunites Simien with actress Ashley Blaine Featherson who is a series regular on his Netflix show Dear White People. And while in some ways the sew-in weave is the villain of Bad Hair, Featherson explained why working as a Black actress in Hollywood, she actually depends on them. As she put it,

Throughout the runtime of Bad Hair, various characters share their relationship with their own hair. But the conversation around this personal journey is also one that continues offscreen, especially regarding how Black actors and actresses are treated on set. And for Ashley Blaine Featherson, wearing a sew-in unit helps to protect her hair when so often stylists on set are not familiar with how to treat Black hair.

Ashley Blaine Featherson's comments to Variety show what it's really like to work on TV and film sets, particularly for Black people. Because while hair stylists are hired to help actors on set, they're not always screened to ensure they know how to properly treat Black hair. And as such, some professionals like Featherson have taken matters into their own hands. Justice League star Ray Fisher has been open about needing to bring his own barber to the DC movie's set as well.

In that same conversation, another Bad Hair star shared her own experience with difficulties related to hair stylists. Actress Yaani King plays Sister Soul in the Hulu's horror movie, and also spoke her own truth to power. As King put it,

Talk about an unhealthy work environment. Because on top of not having a hair stylist who was prepared to work with her, Yaani King was nearly fired merely for having dreadlocks. This is part of why a project like Bad Hair is so groundbreaking. Because while there are plenty of campy comedic beats and scares, Justin Simien's latest release is sure to start plenty of important conversations on the subject.

Bad Hair clearly has something to say, and Justin Simien brings a lot to the table with the new Hulu movie. The 1989 setting helps to fully immerse the audience, while the filming and editing gave the overall movie a delightfully grainy texture. And as the cast alluded to, the subject matter is something that the cast and crew felt passionately about. And that no doubt aided their performances.

Justin Simien assembled an all-star cast to bring Bad Hair to life. The movie stars Elle Lorraine as its protagonist, and the cast is rounded out by names like Vanessa Williams, Jay Pharoah, Lena Waithe, Laverne Cox, Kelly Rowland, Usher, and Nicole Byer. It arrived on streaming just in time for Halloween, which should help bump the viewership.

Bad Hair is currently available to stream on Hulu. Be sure to check out our 2020 release list to plan your next movie experience.

Netflix’s Dear White People is one of the many shows that has been put on the back burner in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Series creator Justin Simien has since confirmed that the upcoming fourth and final season has been written. However, it looks like the show will be without one of its stars when it returns for its final run, as Jeremy Tardy has reportedly exited the show following a pay dispute. And the actor has since accused Lionsgate Television of racial discrimination.

Jeremy Tardy, who had played African student Rashid Mburu since the show’s first season, discussed the situation in a lengthy message posted to Facebook. The actor initially stated that he would not be returning due to his “experience with Lionsgate and their practices of racial discrimination.” He then went on to explain that his management team tried to propose a counteroffer to the deal Tardy was initially offered for his return. While Lionsgate would not accept the offer, Tardy later found out that one of his white co-stars was able to re-negotiate their deal:

Tardy went on to say that he and his team brought up the matter before Lionsgate and the producers, who maintained that his deal could not be renegotiated:

Following this, Jeremy Tardy says that he, along with six other recurring cast members, opted to pass on the initial deals they were all offered. However, Tardy says their efforts were “undermined” due to “side deal offers and a lack of transparency.” The actor also took Lionsgate and Netflix to task for their alleged practices after the companies recently voiced support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

Lionsgate has since responded to the matter in a statement (via Variety), saying that the decision was "a purely financial negotiation regarding deal terms" and that the monetary decisions were not race-related:

Representation in Hollywood has been a serious topic over the past several years, but it’s truly picked up momentum in the wake of George Floyd’s death and nationwide protests. With this, many companies have been making commitments to cast more people of color in prominent (and authentic) roles.

As of right now, Netflix has not announced a production start date for Dear White People Season 4. Details on the season’s story are also being kept under wraps, though Justin Simien has teased that, in light of recent events, the season has now become “more relevant” than he and the writing staff could have ever imagined.

Keep it here at CinemaBlend for more news from the world of TV and movies.

Over the last several years, Netflix’s library of original TV shows has grown to include an array of popular offerings. The Witcher, GLOW, and Dead to Me are just a few of the series that have been lauded by critics and viewers alike. The streaming service started on a smaller scale back in 2013, with original series Orange is the New Black and House of Cards making up the majority of its repertoire.

Suffice it to say that the number of Netflix originals has grown exponentially since then, almost to the point where it’s hard to keep up with the amount of streaming shows premiering every month. What that basically means is there are plenty of great TV shows that premiere and go overlooked and underappreciated. And so, here are six excellent Netflix original streaming shows that not enough people talk about.

Lovesick

The series follows Dylan who, after contracting chlamydia, has to call each of his previous sex partners to let them know. However, the main story is about Dylan's quest for love -- and all the embarrassing and defining moments from past relationships -- that make up that journey toward falling in love with best friend Evie (played by The Good Doctor's Antonia Thomas).

Originally called Scrotal Recall (a name I think would’ve been fun to keep), the charming British sitcom initially aired on the UK’s Channel 4 before being picked up by Netflix for its final two seasons. Lovesick is sweet, filled with plenty of quippy humor and moments of genuine friendship. It's also full of unrequited love that's bound to make you smile (and also stress you out).

Sense8

Sense8 was one of the first sci-fi originals to air on Netflix and has amassed a bit of a cult following online. However, most Netflix subscribers never seemed to have caught on to this uniquely told, diverse, and progressive show that covered topics like politics, gender, and religion that other sci-fi series rarely delve into.

Created by J. Michael Straczynski, and Lilly and Lana Wachowski (who are best known for directing The Matrix and its sequel movies), Sense8 is about a group of eight individuals who suddenly find themselves psychically linked to each other. If you’re down for high-concept sci-fi, then Sense8 is definitely the right fit for you. The series was cancelled after just two seasons, though it did get a two-hour conclusion to wrap up its storylines.

Gentefied

This gem of a series premiered in February, but it flew under the radar for the most part. Gentefied tells the story of three Mexican-American cousins living in Los Angeles. While they’re all dealing with a myriad of changes in their own lives and relationships, they’re working to save their grandfather’s taco shop from going under in an increasingly gentrified neighborhood.

The family comes up with every plan imaginable to save the shop and learn a lot of lessons on the way. Executive produced by Superstore’s America Ferrera, Gentefied explores bicultural identity, class, stereotypes, and familial dynamics with a lot of heart and awareness. At its core, it’s a family sitcom that is incredibly poignant, thoughtful, and funny.

I Am Not Okay With This

I Am Not Okay With This is an immensely overlooked series. Released in February, the series is stuck in limbo and has yet to be renewed or cancelled by Netflix. While it's set in the present day, the show has a very distinct 1980s vibe that can be easily compared with Stranger Things. However, that's where the similarities pretty much end.

Based on the comic book by Charles Forsman, I Am Not Okay With This is a coming of age story about Sophia Lillis’ Sydney Novak, an awkward teenager who's grappling with her sexuality, family life, and high school. On top of all that, Sydney must contend with the development of her mysterious and uncontrollable telekinetic powers. I Am Not Okay With This masters the element of surprise, balancing heartfelt character beats with sci-fi twists. Season 1 ends with a horror-esque cliffhanger that will definitely leave you wanting more.

Dating Around

While everyone was busy watching Too Hot to Handle and Love is Blind, Dating Around has gone overlooked, quietly releasing two seasons on Netflix without much fanfare. It’s a shame considering that it’s the best reality dating show that the streaming service has to offer. That’s just my opinion, so feel free to debate.

That said, Dating Around has quite a lot to offer. Each episode centers on an individual who goes on six different dates and can pick only one of the six to go on a second date with. It hits the nail on the head regarding how awkward first dates can be, while also conveying all the endless possibilities of connecting with someone on a deeper level in hopes to build a future relationship. Dating Around also boasts a racially diverse cast of people and spotlights the LGBTQ+ dating scene as well.

Dear White People

The Justin Simien-created series is probably one of most underappreciated shows on Netflix. The series, which is based on Simien's indie film, follows a group of Black students and their experiences attending a predominantly white Ivy League school. That description doesn't begin to scratch the surface of what this show is all about or how good it is.

Dear White People tackles the use of blackface and other topics ranging from sexual assault to racial bias and gaslighting. What's more, it handles all of these issues with a good amount of depth. Starring a great ensemble cast, including Logan Browning and American Horror Story alum DeRon Horton, Dear White People balances social justice with beautifully developed characters and friendships. The series has been renewed for a fourth and final season, though it hasn’t begun filming just yet.

Of course, you can head on over to Netflix to binge watch all of these great shows. There are plenty more options coming to the streaming service, so be sure to check out our complete list of every TV show premiering on Netflix in 2020. Hopefully, there will be time to watch them all!

The acclaimed Netflix series Dear White People was renewed for a fourth and final season last October, and it was initially supposed to premiere at some point this year. However, the Hollywood-wide shutdowns in place since March likely prevented any forward movement. So will Dear White People be delayed for a while? Series creator Justin Simien recently weighed in, giving fans an update on the status of Season 4.

Justin Simien confirmed to Deadline that the series will tackle virtue signaling and the “myth of meritocracy,” among other things in Season 4. The creator also revealed that, had studios not shut everything down, Dear White People would have started filming Season 4 already. With most productions at a standstill, Simien revealed the current status of the show’s final season, saying:

Dear White People Season 3 ended on a sobering note, though a hopeful one, with the students of Winchester University feeling reinvigorated to continue tackling pertinent social justice issues. Fans of Dear White People should expect the show to carry on with its focus on important topics whenever it returns to Netflix.

Still, Justin Simien asks a big question there. While several film and TV productions have either resumed or will resume filming soon, studio execs and creatives are still figuring out how best to go about working while keeping people safe at the same time. Productions employ hundreds of people, so figuring out how to get back to filming without causing any harm has been an uphill battle. I’m hoping that Dear White People’s cast and crew will have an incredibly safe set whenever they do go back to work, and that new protocols don't negatively impact the show's narratives.

That said, Dear White People stands as a testament that a show tackling race, gaslighting, and general social justice topics is still incredibly relevant in 2020. The series was also added to the Black Lives Matter collection on Netflix, and it has reportedly seen an increase in viewership. For three seasons, Samantha and her friends have been at the forefront of conversations that have taken a national stage of late. But, is Justin Simien altering any of the original Season 4 plans in light of recent events? Here’s what Simien had to say:

A big part of what makes Dear White People work is its unflinching discussions on race, social justice, abuse and more. It’s handled each of these with honesty that you likely won’t find in most other shows, and the cast and crew have already been doing it for three seasons. I look forward to the important conversations and storylines that Season 4 will surely cover.

The first three seasons of Dear White People are currently available to stream on Netflix. Season 4 does not yet have a premiere date, but stay tuned to CinemaBlend for updates. For more on what to watch in the meantime, be sure to check out our complete list of Netflix premiere dates, as well as our summer TV premiere guide.

The term “woke” may be seen as a dirty word nowadays in certain corners of the country, but initially, the term meant that you were socially aware of injustice. In fact, if you want to continue believing that to be the meaning of the word, then so be it. In other words, just because somebody else doesn’t agree with your point of view, that doesn’t mean that you’re wrong. It just means that you see things differently. And that’s what each one of these movies does. By exploring race and injustice, they show things differently than what you might be accustomed to. Because, as far as we’ve come as a country, race is still, unfortunately, a sticky subject.

That’s why movies are often so important, especially ones that tackle race and social justice. They create a window into lives that you might not completely understand, but want to. And, if you do want to understand another race, then you’re probably “woke,” whether you like to believe it or not. But, honestly, is that such a bad thing? To be socially aware of others? We don’t think so, and neither do these movies.

Just Mercy (2019)

In this powerful legal drama (and true story), Michael B. Jordan plays Bryan Stevenson, a real lawyer who worked tirelessly to get death row inmate Walter McMillian (played by Jamie Foxx, who Jordan always wanted for the role) released for a murder he didn’t commit. Just Mercy’s story may take place in 1989, but its events still ring true today. At times frustrating to watch, given everything McMillian had to go through, the film is a textbook study on how the criminal justice system is flawed, and how we still have a ways to go before we can have true equality for everyone.

Rent or buy Just Mercy on Amazon Prime

The Hate U Give (2018)

Based on the novel of the same name by Angie Thomas and directed by George Tillman Jr., The Hate U Give is about a girl named Starr Carter (played by Amandla Stenberg) who witnesses the death of her friend at the hands of a cop. Her journey is a mostly internal one, with this question hanging at the center of it—Should she remain silent about what she saw, or should she testify and potentially get slandered herself? The answer isn’t completely clear-cut.

Rent or buy The Hate U Give on Amazon Prime

Selma (2014)

In this unique approach to a biopic from director Ava DuVernay, Selma chronicles a groundswell effort by Dr. King (played by David Oyelowo) and many others as they fight to make it easier for Black people to vote in Selma, Alabama. Many sacrifice their safety as they walk together, arm-in-arm, from Selma to Montgomery, and the film makes a point to show how politics played a large role in shaping the Civil Rights Movement in this country. Though it’s a great movie to watch on Martin Luther King Jr., it's honestly a great movie to watch any day of the year because its message remains the same – never give up fighting for what’s right.

Stream Selma on Netflix
Stream Selma on Paramount+

Loving (2016)

Directed by Jeff Nichols, and starring Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga, this true story centers around Richard Loving (Edgerton) and Mildred Loving (Negga), an interracial couple who got national attention for fighting to stay married. The state of Virginia didn’t allow interracial marriage back in the late ‘50s, and police even threw them both in jail due to them having children together. As somebody who is actually in an interracial marriage, this movie resonates on so many different levels for me. In the end, true love lives on, but at what cost?

Rent or buy Loving on Amazon Prime

If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)

Based on the James Baldwin novel of the same name and directed by Barry Jenkins, If Beale Street Could Talk (which we gave a stellar review upon release) is the story of two lovers named Clementine “Tish” Rivers (played by Kiki Layne) and Alonzo “Fonny” Hunt (played by Stephan James). Alonzo is in jail for a crime he didn’t commit, and Tish is pregnant with his child. Tish wants to have Alonzo freed so he can see the birth of their child, but she faces hurdles along the way. This movie is relevant today, even though it takes place in the ‘70s, because Fonny is wrongly convicted, and racism definitely plays a part in that conviction.

Stream If Beale Street Could Talk on Hulu

Fruitvale Station (2013)

Another film starring Michael B. Jordan, this one by Ryan Coogler, director of the Black Panther films, Fruitvale Station is a tough film to watch, especially if you’re already aware of the events in question. This film, based on a true story, chronicles the short life of Oscar Grant, a young man killed by a police officer at Fruitvale Station in San Francisco. The movie is hard to stomach, especially because it gives us a glimpse at Oscar's life, only to show him having that life snuffed out unjustly.

Stream Fruitvale Station on MAX

BlacKkKlansman (2018)

Directed by Spike Lee, and starring John David Washington and Adam Driver, this story based on the memoir by Ron Stallworth is about a Black detective (Washington) who works with a white detective (Driver) to infiltrate the local chapter of the KKK, and take it down from the inside. At times, the film makes the KKK look both comical in their idiocy, but also frightening in their power, especially when it comes to locals hiding behind a hood. It’s one of Spike Lee’s most relevant movies in a whole career’s worth of relevant movies, so you know it’s definitely worth a watch.

Rent or buy BlacKkKlansman on Amazon Prime

Do The Right Thing (1989)

Another Spike Lee Joint, Do the Right Thing wasn’t even nominated for Best Picture (but should have been) back when it came out in 1989. Today, it would probably win the top prize. It takes place in a single, simmering day in a Brooklyn neighborhood and showcases the racial tension that exists within it. The story also deals with gentrification, making it almost like a time capsule for the Brooklyn we have today. The film is relevant for many reasons, but mostly because of its brutal ending, which also concerns a police officer using excessive violence against a person of color.

Stream Do the Right Thing on Amazon Prime

12 Years A Slave (2013)

This 2013 film (which we gave a 5 star review) won the Academy Award for Best Picture and a Best Supporting Actress Award for Lupita Nyong’o. 12 Years a Slave, directed by Steve McQueen, tells the true story of Solomon Northup (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free man who was captured and sold into captivity for 12 years, as the title suggests. It’s a gruesome film to watch, as it fully details the harsh realities of slavery, and by the end of it, you don’t feel any sort of catharsis or happiness. Just depression. The movie is still relevant, because many will tell you that the events of slavery still impact African Americans today. Watch it for historical purposes, not for enjoyment.

Rent or buy 12 Years a Slave on Amazon Prime

I Am Not Your Negro (2016)

Another film based off of James Baldwin’s writings (this one on his unfinished memoir, Remember This House), I Am Not Your Negro is a documentary directed by Haitian filmmaker Raoul Peck, which attempts to finish the memoir and connect it to today’s events, such as the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, it goes over Baldwin’s personal thoughts on his contemporaries, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Medgar Evers, all of whom were assassinated. The documentary is relevant today, as it’s important to often look to the past in order to possibly understand the future.

Rent or buy I Am Not Your Negro on Amazon Prime

Detroit (2017)

In this harrowing film directed by Kathryn Bigelow, and starring the likes of John Boyega, Will Poulter, and Anthony Mackie, this story centers around the 12th Street Riot that actually occurred in Detroit back in 1967. Amidst the rioting, a Black R&B group headed into a motel, and after one of them fired a starting pistol as a prank, the police swarmed the building, and started firing at the people inside. The rest that follows features police corruption, racism, and all manner of other subjects that are difficult to sit through if you’ve ever felt intimidated by the police. An important watch that still feels relevant today.

Stream Detroit on Amazon Prime with a free trial of Movie Sphere+

The Learning Tree (1969)

In this period piece (which takes place in the 1920s) directed by Gordon Parks, The Learning Tree follows a black teenager named Newt Winger (played by Kyle Johnson) who has to grow up quickly following a series of events involving murder and race-blaming. This film bears the distinction of being the first film directed by an African American for a major studio, and it deals with issues that many young, African American males still have to confront today, such as whether or not we can trust that the legal system will do the right thing if we come forward to report a crime.

Rent or buy The Learning Tree on Amazon Prime

Killer Of Sheep (1978)

Directed by Charles Burnett, Killer of Sheep is a film about African American culture in Los Angeles. The story—what story exists, since a lot of it is disjointed—is about a man named Stan (played by Henry G. Sanders) who works in an abattoir. But, because of the repetition of senseless killing he performs at his job, he’s become disconnected with the family that he’s working so hard to support. I take it that there's a deeper message to Killer of Sheep about the brevity of life, but there's also the message about the stark realities of what it means to be African American, and how life is different in many ways from other Americans, and yet, somewhat similar.

Buy Killer of Sheep on Amazon

Dear White People (2014)

Satire can be a powerful tool if used correctly, and Dear White People is a great example of that. The story concerns a predominantly white Ivy League school and some of its Black students. Tessa Thompson (swoon) and many other Black stars show that even in the elite schools, there are still going to be racial issues.

Stream Dear White People on MAX

Ken Burns: The Central Park Five (2012)

This is the true story of five Black and Latino teenagers who were wrongly accused of raping a jogger in Central Park. At the time of this film’s release, it was the first time the teenagers’ side of the story was shown. There is also a highly watched series on Netflix called When They See Us centered around the events that is very difficult to watch for the first time. Both are worthy watches and make for good companion pieces.

Buy The Central Park Five on Amazon
Stream When They See Us on Netflix

Queen & Slim (2019)

Directed by Melina Matsoukas, and starring Jodie Turner-Smith and Daniel Kaluuya, this Black Bonnie and Clyde story is about two people who fall in love while on the lam. It all starts after “Slim” kills a police officer (in self-defense) after the officer shoots “Queen” in the leg, which ignites a multi-state manhunt for the two. Queen & Slim is like what The Hate U Give would be like if it was a revenge thriller. That said, it still has a great deal to say about how some cops don’t exactly follow the rules when it comes to law enforcement.

Rent or buy Queen & Slim on Amazon Prime

13th (2016)

This depressing documentary by Ava DuVernay that gets its title from the 13th Amendment, which ended slavery, goes into how Black people in this country are overwhelmingly pushed into the prison system. It posits that slavery is actually still ongoing, but it's just been given a different name—incarceration.

Stream 13th on Netflix

Moonlight (2016)

Another Barry Jenkins movie, Moonlight won the Academy Award for Best Picture (and deserved to win), and also netted Mahershala Ali an Academy Award, making him the first Muslim to win an acting Oscar. Moonlight is a very special movie since it tackles homosexuality, which is unfortunately still somewhat taboo in the African American community. The film took a brave approach, and was thankfully rewarded for it.

Rent or buy Moonlight on Amazon Prime

Rustin (2023)

Directed by George C. Wolfe, produced by Barack and Michelle Obama, and starring Chris Rock, Aml Ameen, Audra McDonald, Jeffrey Wright, and an exceptional Colman Domingo in the titular role, the movie tells the story of how Bayard Rustin helped organize the famous March on Washington with Dr. King. That said, it also gets into how Rustin was not only looked down upon as a Black man, but also as a gay man, sometimes within his own race. All the same, Rustin still believed in the cause (and himself), which makes this an inspirational film that also doubles as a great movie about the Civil Rights Movement.

Stream Rustin on Netflix

Get Out (2017)

And finally, one of the biggest movies about race to ever go mainstream, the Academy Award-nominated Get Out from Jordan Peele (who has never made a bad movie) has probably said more about the hypocrisy of white Liberalism and its intersection with black culture than any other film in American history. The movie is about 50% humorous, 50% terrifying, and 100% insightful. You’ve probably already seen it, but see it again. It has layers and there’s probably still a lot for you to uncover.

Rent or buy Get Out on Amazon Prime

There are plenty of other movies that explore race and social justice (and feature other races besides Black people), but we decided to spotlight these 20. Remember, stay woke.

For a few years after its initial jump into producing TV series, Netflix convinced many subscribers that its original content might live on forever. The fact that both House of Cards and Orange is the New Black only ended in the past 9 months speaks to the company's initial approach to creating signature marquee originals. In 2019, though, all votes are off.

Netflix is now cancelling its original TV shows at a regular clip, with well over a dozen shows' endings getting confirmed in 2019, for better or worse. (Usually for worse.) Not everything is actually ending in 2019, with some series receiving a final season order to go along with the bad news.

Here, we've rounded up all of the shows that Netflix has cancelled in 2019, starting off with one of the streaming service's most recognizable TV families.

Fuller House - Cancelled After 5 Seasons

A continuation of the classic TGIF sitcom Full House, Fuller House centered on the families and relationships of Candace Cameron's D.J. Tanner-Fuller, Jodie Sweetin's Stephanie Tanner, and Andrea Barber's Kimmy Gibbler. Netflix announced in January that the show would be ending after Season 5, which is set to debut in late 2019.

Why Was Fuller House Cancelled Before Season 6? Though Fuller House has been recognized as a series that a lot of people watched and enjoyed from season to season, the show was hit with a troublesome behind-the-scenes controversy that may have possibly played a part. Creator Jeff Franklin was removed from the series over workplace harassment allegations, which led to a lawsuit that led to some disturbing details getting reported. (And Franklin's exit happened before Lori Loughlin's college bribery scandal troubles.)

Could Fuller House Return Somehow? It's doubtful that Fuller House in its current form will return, but there actually is a more-than-possible chance that the franchise could expand with another spinoff, at least according to John Stamos' optimism.

Travelers - Cancelled After 3 Seasons

Initially a Canadian co-production with Netflix, Travelers was a sci-fi drama that featured Will & Grace's Eric McCormack (who also executive-produced) and others aiming to prevent a post-apocalyptic future. In February of 2019, McCormack revealed on social media that Travelers had been cancelled.

Why Was Travelers Cancelled Before Season 4? Netflix was the sole producer of Travelers for its third season, which garnered just as much acclaim, if not more, than those before it when it was released in December. Considering Eric McCormack was everyone's window into the cancellation news, however, it's quite unclear why Travelers ceased production.

Could Travelers Return Somehow? Eric McCormack's message at the time stated "Who knows what the future holds?" and also referred to the three Netflix seasons as "Program one, as well call it." So it's not out of the realm of possibilities that another two companies may decide to pair up on it in the future. (Tell others about it, too.)

Jessica Jones - Cancelled After 3 Seasons

Krysten Ritter's super-powered private detective likes pounding whiskey as much as she likes pounding villains, serving as 1/4 of Netflix's Defenders. But even before Season 3 came out to mostly okay reviews, Jessica Jones got cancelled, deflating some of the enthusiasm going into the third batch of episodes.

Why Was Jessica Jones Cancelled Before Season 4? Jessica Jones' fate was mostly sealed whenever Netflix pulled the plug on Luke Cage and Iron Fist in late 2018, since it wasn't likely that the company would cancel some of the MCU TV shows and not the rest.

Could Jessica Jones Return Somehow? Considering the character is a favorite among Marvel fans, I think it's safe to expect Jessica Jones herself to return in some form in the future. (Don't expect Marvel's Kevin Feige to be too open about it, though he sounds interested.) It just might not be Krysten Ritter in the leather and denim whenever the P.I. is on the case again.

The Punisher - Cancelled After 2 Seasons

Marvel was big business on Netflix for a time, but that all came crashing down when The Punisher and Jessica Jones got the boot on the same day back in February. The Punisher followed vigilante Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) as he brought his deadly brand of justice down on gangsters, drug dealers, terrorists and a wide range of baddies, as he held on to a few allies who supported his mission and methods. Sure, the show was bloody-minded, but you couldn't argue with Frank's results.

Why Was The Punisher Cancelled Before Season 3? I suppose we can chalk this up to The Marvel Curse, as all of their Netflix shows were cancelled when it became clear that Disney (which owns all these characters via Marvel) was getting into the streaming business with its own service (Disney+) by the end of 2019.

Could The Punisher Return Somehow? Maybe? Here's the complication, there was a clause in all of the contracts for the Marvel shows that stated the characters couldn't be seen in live action for at least two years if their shows were cancelled. So, it's possible that The Punisher could come back, but the question would be when, where and whether or not it would be in the same from that we saw him on Netflix. I bet Eminem can't wait!

Friends From College - Cancelled After 2 Seasons

Friends From College was a show about just that: seven friends (played by Cobie Smulders, Keegan-Michael Key, Annie Parisse, Nat Faxon, Fred Savage, Jae Suh Park and Billy Eichner) who met in college and are trying to navigate their complicated lives and relationships as they enter their forties. Season 2 hit Netflix on January 11, and a little over a month later word came down about the cancellation.

Why Was Friends From College Cancelled Before Season 3? It's hard to say, but the show was never any kind of breakout hit, and critics were generally pretty harsh when it came to reviews of Friends From College. The show has been called "underwhelming," the characters "unpleasant" individually and the group as a whole was said to have "sheer charmlessness." Ouch.

Could Friends From College Return Somehow? It's probably best to file this one under "will never see new episodes."

One Day at a Time - Cancelled After 3 Seasons

Netflix paired up with TV legend Norman Lear to bring the classic '70s sitcom One Day at a Time into the streaming age, with a Cuban-American family at the center, led by Justina Machado, Isabella Gomez and Rita Moreno. In March of 2019, Netflix cancelled One Day at a Time amidst much hubbub.

Why Was One Day at a Time Cancelled Before Season 4? Due to the fan uproar surrounding One Day at a Time's cancellation, Netflix ended up speaking to the reasoning behind that choice on a few occasions, which boiled down to "financial input > viewership and subscription upticks." While the core fandom was as adoring as could be, it possibly wasn't big on drawing new members in, which Netflix keeps a close eye on.

Could One Day at a Time Return Somehow? One Day at a Time is the rare entry on this list that has already locked down a life beyond its cancellation. Though initial attempts to get the show onto CBS All Access were thwarted by a streaming-specific clause in Netflix's contracts, agreements were made for the CBS-owned cable network Pop to be the exclusive home for One Day at a Time's fourth season, which will likely make its way to CBS All Access at a later date.

Santa Clarita Diet - Cancelled After 3 Seasons

I think it's safe to say that the history of television has never had a zombie show quite like Santa Clarita Diet. The series, which quickly became known as a zom-com, starred Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as a married couple who have to deal with her being turned into the prettiest flesh eater y'all ever did see. Season 3 went live on March 29, and less than a month later, Netflix revealed that there would be no Season 4, meaning that there were cliffhangers aplenty which would never be answered.

Why Was Santa Clarita Diet Cancelled Before Season 4? Netflix hasn't confirmed this, but many of the shows they cancel tend to get the axe after Season 3. Deadline has reported that the company's series deals (mainly for shows that the streamer owns) often include bonuses after each season, and while the bonuses are usually pretty reasonable, they can escalate from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars after Season 3. So, it would seem that Santa Clarita Diet was about to be too expensive.

Could Santa Clarita Diet Return Somehow? Not likely, but maybe we'll get a spinoff called Mr. Ball Legs and Friends!

The Ranch - Cancelled After 4 Seasons (8 Parts)

The Ranch has never been one of Netflix's biggest hits, but the fact that it starred two actors from the beloved That '70s Show (Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson) helped it stick around since its beginning in 2016. But, Season 4 will be its last, with it airing in two parts across 2019 and 2020.

Why Was The Ranch Cancelled Before Season 5? The Ranch started making the wrong kind of news in 2017 when Masterson was accused of sexual assault. He was eventually fired, and replaced by Dax Shepard, but it's possible that the damage was done.

Could The Ranch Return Somehow? Right now, that doesn't seem to be an option. But! The Ranch is one of the few Netflix shows to get episode orders that rival network series, so we can expect another 20 episode season, with 10 currently available and another 10 rounding it out in 2020. This means that there's still plenty of The Ranch to be seen before fans have to start relying on a binge re-watch to get their fix.

Lucifer - Cancelled After 5 Seasons

The Devil has been good business for Netflix! After Lucifer got cancelled by Fox to great fan uproar, the streamer came in to save the supernatural procedural which sees Lucifer himself (Tom Ellis) retire to Los Angeles and team up with police detective Chloe Decker (Lauren German) to solve crimes. Season 4 did very well when it debuted in May, and just a few week later it was renewed for a fifth and final season.

Why Was Lucifer Cancelled Before Season 6? It's possible that five seasons was the original plan for Lucifer when the series was developed and the creative team wanted to stick to that. If so, Netflix wisely kept that to itself while waiting to see how Season 4 would fare, and since the show has done so well in its new home, it makes sense that Lucifer would get that final season to wrap it all up.

Could Lucifer Return Somehow? Look, we all know you love Lucifer. And, yes, star Ellis is a devilishly hot dude. But, even the show's executive producer has requested that fans not push for more, noting that they were all grateful to get to continue the story at all and give it a fair ending. So, there's probably no luck on this front. You can likely count on Lucifer being on Netflix for years to come, though, so reliving all its former glory will as easy as stepping down as ruler of hell to run a nightclub.

Chambers - Cancelled After 1 Season

Horror has been having a big renaissance on TV the past several years, and Chambers was an intriguing entry in the field. The series focused on a teenager who survived a heart transplant only to become plagued by visions and "sinister impulses" and a desire to find out everything about the girl she got her new heart from. Chambers had some big names on screen, including Uma Thurman and Tony Goldwyn, but that did not help critical reception.

Why Was Chambers Cancelled Before Season 2? As I mentioned above, critics were, overall, not kind to Chambers and the series is listed as 42% rotten on Rotten Tomatoes. Viewers who checked out the show like it a lot more, but I'm guessing that the number of people who decided to watch wasn't that high.

Could Chambers Return Somehow? There don't appear to be any plans to try and shop the show around right now, so save your heart some stress and be content with Season 1 until further notice.

The Rain - Cancelled After 3 Seasons

This Danish post-apocalyptic drama focuses on two teens who leave their bunker six years after a rain-carried virus has wiped out most of humanity in Scandinavia. The siblings join another group of survivors, and while they originally think that being released from the rules of society is freeing, they come to find out how difficult life will still be. The Rain got picked up for a third and final season in mid-June.

Why Was The Rain Cancelled Before Season 4? No clue on that front right now, but at least fans can look forward to Season 3 sometime next year.

Could The Rain Return Somehow? Netflix does not make it easy for their originals to show up elsewhere (especially on competing streaming services), so it's not looking too good for The Rain. But, if One Day at a Time can find a new home, anything is possible.

Tuca And Bertie - Cancelled After 1 Season

BoJack Horseman is a major hit for Netflix, so giving the creator another anthropomorphic animal comedy probably seemed like a sure thing. Tiffany Haddish (Tuca) and Ali Wong (Bertie) respectively voiced the carefree toucan and anxious songbird besties who navigate life and friendships in their thirties, but it looks like the show did not do well enough for the streamer to re-up its commitment.

Why Was Tuca And Bertie Cancelled Before Season 2? Your guess is as good as ours, especially since Tuca and Bertie had great reviews and a dedicated fanbase which was prepared to riot when the show got the boot. It's probably safe to assume that the numbers just weren't up to what Netflix was expecting.

Could Tuca And Bertie Return Somehow? Funny you should ask. Tiffany Haddish appeared at TCA in early August, just a few days after Tuca and Bertie was cancelled, and said she and creator Lisa Hanawalt had been talking about finding a new home for the animated wonder. So, we'll see what happens!

Designated Survivor - Cancelled After 3 Seasons

Well, here's a show that has survived quite a lot over the past couple of years. Designated Survivor had a breakout Season 1 on ABC, faltered in Season 2 and was then released from that network. But, Netflix swooped in to save the thriller (which starred Kiefer Sutherland as a low-level politician who becomes president when everyone else in the line of succession above him is killed in a terrorist attack) not long after its cancellation.

Why Was Designated Survivor Cancelled Before Season 4? Remember that the drama faltered in the ratings in Season 2? Well, Netflix canned Designated Survivor less than two months after Season 3 debuted in full, so it's possible those numbers hadn't rebounded enough to merit more time in Washington.

Could Designated Survivor Return Somehow? Seems incredibly unlikely. Most shows still don't get a reprieve after being cancelled once, so the chances of a savior coming along after Designated Survivor's second go-round? Well, feel free to keep hope alive!

Trinkets - Cancelled After 2 Seasons

Teen drama Trinkets, which is based on Kirsten “Kiwi” Smith‘s young adult novel of the same name, has built a following, but not enough for Netflix to keep it around. The series, which focuses on three young women from different high school social strata who bond in Shoplifters Anonymous, was renewed for Season 2, which was announced to be its last.

Why Was Trinkets Cancelled Before Season 3? No specifics for the cancellation have been given (no shock there), but it's possible that it might just boil down to Trinkets not getting enough viewers, and / or Netflix wanting to spend their Trinkets cash on something else that might capture public attention better.

Could Trinkets Return Somehow? The 10 episode Season 2 will hit the streamer sometime in 2020, and, currently, it looks like that will be all she wrote for Trinkets. But, at least the writers have time to craft an actual finale for the series.

13 Reasons Why - Cancelled After 4 Seasons

While many critics and audiences praised the way 13 Reasons Why dealt with difficult subject matter like suicide, rape and school shootings, the show, which began as a study of why student Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford) killed herself, has also brought ire from many for examining those very same topics. When it was renewed for Season 4 in August 2019, it was also announced that it would be its last.

Why Was 13 Reasons Why Cancelled Before Season 5? Netflix hasn't cited a reason, but there are three possibilities. The controversy surrounding the series may have helped the decision along, as the show was cancelled less than a month after Netflix edited out the very controversial scene from Season 1 where Hannah actually commits suicide. Meanwhile, Season 3 was released to surprisingly negative reviews, which probably didn't help matters. But, Season 4 is said to deal with the main characters graduating from high school, so it's also possible that it just seemed like the best time to wrap up the story.

Could 13 Reasons Why Return Somehow? This is unlikely. As of right now, there's been no word on the show being shopped elsewhere, plus, as mentioned earlier, the main characters will be graduating from high school this season, so it would seem that the storylines will be wrapped up at the end of Season 4.

She's Gotta Have It - Cancelled After 2 Seasons

Spike Lee's re-visioning of the story he told in his very first film, She's Gotta Have It followed free-spirited artist Nola Darling (DeWanda Wise) as she struggled to stay true to her dreams while splitting her time between friends, family and three lovers. Positive reception from critics and audiences alike didn't stop the show from being cancelled a couple of months after the second season hit Netflix.

Why Was She's Gotta Have It Cancelled Before Season 3? There's no word on that right now, but Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos did say that they were "thrilled" Spike Lee brought the show to them and "very proud" that it will be available there "for years to come."

Could She's Gotta Have It Return Somehow? Possibly? Word from Deadline when the show was cancelled in mid-July 2019 said that it was expected that Spike Lee would shop it elsewhere, but we don't currently know if that's being done or if any other networks or streamers are interested.

Grace And Frankie - Cancelled After 7 Seasons

While a 9 to 5 sequel / reboot has not been forthcoming, Grace and Frankie managed to bring back 2/3 of the dynamic on screen team featured in that classic comedy for another go-round. Grace (Jane Fonda) and Frankie (Lily Tomlin) are long time rivals whose husbands are business partners. But, when their husbands break the news to the ladies that they are actually in love with each other, well, most bickering comes to a halt as Grace and Frankie figure out how to move on with their lives.

Why Was Grace And Frankie Cancelled Before Season 8? When Grace and Frankie was renewed for Season 7 just a few days ago, meaning that it will become the longest-running Netflix original, it was also announced that this record-breaking season would be its last. Netflix hasn't revealed why the series has gotten the axe, but Grace and Frankie has legions of fans and has been nominated for 11 Emmys and six Screen Actors Guild awards, so it's good that the writers will get a chance to give viewers a satisfying ending.

Could Grace And Frankie Return Somehow? Right now, the chances are slim. Stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin put out a statement about the cancellation, along with co-creators Marta Kauffman and Howard J. Harris putting out one of their own, which made the ending seem pretty definitive.

The OA - Cancelled After 2 Seasons

The OA was definitely an under the radar series, but it absolutely had its dedicated fans. The genre-bending show featured Brit Marling (who also co-created and executive produced) as a blind woman who went missing seven years previously showing up alive, but now able to see and with a wild story to tell about her time away. Instead of talking to police or her parents, though, she recruits locals and asks for their help in locating other missing people. Season 2 debuted on March 22, and the cancellation came in early August.

Why Was The OA Cancelled Before Season 3? Well, it sounds like a case of the show getting to the point where it was going to be too expensive considering the number of viewers it had, but that, obviously, hasn't been confirmed by Netflix. But, it should also be noted that fans were beyond super pissed that The OA got cancelled, and mobilized a #CancelNetflix movement to protest not just this cancellation but the cancellation of basically every other show that has ever been cancelled by Netflix. Oh, well.

Could The OA Return Somehow? Doubtful, at least anytime soon. Like many of the shows on this list, The OA was exclusive to Netflix and the idea of the company selling its rights are quite slim. But, again, One Day at a Time was released, so it's not impossible.

No Good Nick - Cancelled After 1 Season

Sean Astin made quite an impact when he showed up on Season 2 of Stranger Things, and he was able to turn that into a starring role on No Good Nick alongside Melissa Joan Hart. They played parents Liz and Ed Thompson, who welcome 13-year-old Nicole (a.k.a. Nick) into their home thinking she's a long lost family member in need. But, it turns out that Nick has really been sent there by her imprisoned dad to get revenge on the Thompson's for a supposed wrong they did to him. The 20 episode first season aired in two parts and the series was cancelled in mid-September.

Why Was No Good Nick Cancelled Before Season 2? Because so many Netflix cancellations come after Season 2 or 3, it's probably pretty safe to assume that No Good Nick just didn't resonate with audiences enough to merit another round of episodes.

Could No Good Nick Return Somehow? Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any plan to find a new home for No Good Nick, so it looks like Season 1 will have to suffice.

GLOW - Cancelled After Season 4

Fans of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling are saddened after the show about female wrestlers, Hollywood misfits and everything that grinds and glitters in the 1980s was cancelled in late September. GLOW focused on struggling actress Ruth Wilder (Alison Brie), who finds another shot at stardom by becoming a women's professional wrestler. The series has mostly been a critical hit, with 15 Emmy nominations and three wins across the first three seasons.

Why Was Glow Cancelled Before Season 5? You know Netflix isn't going to give that info up easily, but this is in line with what we've been seeing from the streamer with many of its cancellations. It's possible GLOW was about to become too expensive for them to continue standing behind it.

Could Glow Return Somehow? This doesn't feel likely right now, but the good news is that Season 3 just hit Netflix in August and Season 4 is due in 2020, so fans have a while before they have to live without any hope of new GLOW.

BoJack Horseman - Cancelled After Season 6

Well, folks, this is it. The animated show about an anthropomorphic, has-been, Hollywood actor horse who's drowning in booze and self-loathing has come to the end of its road. The highly acclaimed series, which stars the voices of Will Arnett, Alison Brie, Aaron Paul, Amy Sedaris and others, has often been hailed as a funny and subversive look at some pretty emotional topics, but Season 6 of BoJack Horseman, which begins later in 2019, will be the end.

Why Was BoJack Horseman Cancelled Before Season 7? Alright, here's where things get a bit tricky. When news of the cancellation came down in late September 2019, it was originally reported that series creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg had created Season 6 as the conclusion to the long-running story, making the end seem like the show's decision. But, a few days later, BoJack star Aaron Paul took to social media and said, in part, "sadly Netflix thought it was time to close the curtains and so here we are...Nothing we could do about it." Well, that doesn't sound so simple, does it?

Could BoJack Horseman Return Somehow? As with most of the shows on this list, Season 7 of BoJack Horseman is unlikely to happen anywhere. But, Season 6 will air in two parts, beginning October 25 for Part 1 and wrapping up with Part 2 on January 31, 2020, so there's a lot of BoJack left to be had for disappointed fans.

Dear White People - Cancelled After Season 4

The critically acclaimed show, based on the 2014 indie film of the same name, follows a group of black students at a mostly white Ivy League university where racial tensions are always brewing just under the surface. Dear White People, which stars Logan Browning, Marque Richardson, DeRon Horton and Brandon P. Bell (among many others), was praised for using humor, honesty, irony and self-deprecation to put a spotlight on racial issues, and will get one more season to give fans a well-deserved conclusion.

Why Was Dear White People Cancelled Before Season 5? You probably know what I'm going to say by now, right? We're not sure and Netflix isn't talking. But, creator Justin Simien doesn't seem miffed by the cancellation at all, and thanked the streamer for giving him a chance to continue the story he began in his film and noted that he was planning "a celebratory final volume befitting such a transformative experience," to wrap up the series.

Could Dear White People Return Somehow? It's not likely at this point, especially considering the fact that Simien seems more than ready to finish off his story. Luckily, though, there will be 10 episodes for fans to feast their eyes on when Season 4 finally debuts. Try not to binge them all in one day!

That, for now, is the list of current cancellations by Netflix. But, if the bloodbath continues you can be sure that we'll update this guide so that you can keep up to date on whether or not your favorite shows will be returning.

August is a month that for some signals the end of summer, while for others is just that eighth month in a series of 12 that brings its fair share of surprises and triumphs. No matter which bucket you fall into, if you're a Netflix subscriber, it all leads to excitement! Another slate of new and original programming that samples from legacy titles, popular series, and homegrown content is about to dawn, and the promise it brings with it is undeniably entertaining to lay ones eyes on.

If you're curious what came to the party during this past month, feel free to read July's rundown to your heart's content. As for the rest of us, it's onwards and upwards into the lineup of what August 2019 has in store for Netflix subscribers!

Week of August 1

Are We Done Yet? - 08/01/19

Boyka: Undisputed - 08/01/19

Four Weddings and a Funeral - 08/01/19

Groundhog Day - 08/01/19

Horns - 08/01/19

Jackie Brown - 08/01/19

Jupiter Ascending - 08/01/19

Now and Then - 08/01/19

Panic Room - 08/01/19

Rocky - 08/01/19

Rocky II - 08/01/19

Rocky III - 08/01/19

Rocky IV - 08/01/19

Rocky V - 08/01/19

Sex and the City: The Movie - 08/01/19

Something's Gotta Give - 08/01/19

The Bank Job - 08/01/19

The House Bunny - 08/01/19

The Sinner: Julian - 08/01/19

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar - 08/01/19

Why Do Fools Fall in Love - 08/01/19

Ask the StoryBots: Season 3 - NETFLIX FAMILY - 08/02/19

Basketball or Nothing - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/02/19

Dear White People: Volume 3 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/02/19

Derry Girls: Season 2 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/02/19

Otherhood - NETFLIX FILM - 08/02/19

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: Season 3 - NETFLIX FAMILY - 08/02/19

Week of August 4

Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj: Volume 4 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/04/19

Enter the Anime - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/05/19

No Good Nick: Part 2 - NETFLIX FAMILY - 08/05/19

Screwball - 08/06/19

Sebastian Maniscalco: Why Would You Do That - 08/06/19

Dollar -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/08/19

Jane The Virgin: Season 5 - 08/08/19

Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer - 08/08/19

The Naked Director - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/08/19

Wu Assassins - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/08/19

Cable Girls: Season 4 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/09/19

The Family - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/09/19

GLOW: Season 3 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/09/19

The InBESTigators - NETFLIX FAMILY - 08/09/19

iZombie: Season 5 - 08/09/19

Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling - NETFLIX FAMILY - 08/09/19

Sintonia - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/09/19

Spirit Riding Free: Pony Tales - NETFLIX FAMILY- 08/09/19

Tiny House Nation: Volume 1 - 08/09/19

Week of August 11

Knightfall: Season 2 - 08/13/19

Tiffany Haddish Presents: They Ready - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/13/19

The 100: Season 6 - 08/14/19

Cannon Busters - NETFLIX ANIME - 08/15/19

45 rpm - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/16/19

Apache: La vida de Carlos Tevez - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/16/19

Better Than Us - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/16/19

Diagnosis - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/16/19

Frontera verde - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/16/19

Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus - NETFLIX FAMILY - 08/16/19

The Little Switzerland - NETFLIX FILM - 08/16/19

MINDHUNTER: Season 2 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/16/19

QB1: Beyond the Lights: Season 3 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/16/19

Selfless - 08/16/19

Sextuplets - NETFLIX FILM - 08/16/19

Super Monsters Back to School - NETFLIX FAMILY - 08/16/19

Victim Number 8 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/16/19

The Punisher (2004) - 08/17/19

Week of August 18

Gangs of New York - 08/20/19

Simon Amstell: Set Free - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/20/19

American Factory - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/21/19

Hyperdrive - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/21/19

Love Alarm - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/22/19

El Pepe: Una vida suprema - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/23/19

HERO MASK: Part II - NETFLIX ANIME - 08/23/19

Rust Valley Restorers - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/23/19

Week of August 25

Million Pound Menu: Season 2 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/27/19

Trolls: The Beat Goes On!: Season 7 - NETFLIX FAMILY- 08/27/19

Falling Inn Love - NETFLIX FILM - 08/29/19

Kardec - NETFLIX FILM - 08/29/19

Workin' Moms: Season 3 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/29/19

The A List - NETFLIX ORIGINAL- 08/30/19

CAROLE & TUESDAY - NETFLIX ANIME - 08/30/19

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/30/19

Droppin' Cash: Season 2 - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/30/19

La Grande Classe - NETFLIX FILM - 08/30/19

Locked Up: Season 3 - 08/30/19

Mighty Little Bheem: Season 2 - NETFLIX FAMILY - 08/30/19

Styling Hollywood - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/30/19

True and the Rainbow Kingdom: Wild Wild Yetis - NETFLIX FAMILY - 08/30/19

Un bandido honrado - NETFLIX ORIGINAL - 08/30/19

Luo Bao Bei: Season 1 - 08/31/19

There are quite a few exciting film projects being released to Netflix in August, which should please cinephiles who are more inclined to full movies than TV projects. The streaming service will continue to release more new movie content, including projects like Felicity Huffman's Otherhood, Sextuplets, Falling In Love, and The Little Switzerland. But Netflix also has plenty of movie favorites coming to its subscribers, including the complete original Rocky franchise, To Wong Foo, Something's Gotta Give, and The House Bunny.

Of course, Netflix as an application is fairly synonymous with its myriad original TV programming, and August will be no exception to this rule. Dear White People returns for its third season on the streaming service, and award favorite GLOW will bring the cast of female wrestlers to Las Vegas. Quirky Irish comedy Derry Girls will also return for its sophomore season, in addition to plenty of anime and family series. The latter even includes the return of the iconic Invader Zim series.

As usual, the lineup you see above is subject to availability and changes. Please check your regional Netflix lineup, so as to be absolutely sure the titles above are going to be available in your area of operation. Other than that, we hope you enjoy this month's Netflix offerings, and we'll see you back here once September's content has been revealed to our eager eyes!

In just a few years time, Netflix has become a hub for fantastic content. The streaming service has a myriad small screen projects in the works, allowing Netflix to get a bit more business minded. While less popular Netflix originals have been cancelled, those lucky enough to score a renewal have the opportunity to produce more exciting and challenging TV. This is certainly the case with Justin Simien's Dear White People, based off his film of the same name. The new satire dramedy ultimately made the cut for a Season 2, which just arrived on Netflix. While Dear White People was already met with critical praise, its second season improves upon the already impressive original run.

Season 2 of Dear White People takes place only a short time after the explosive events of its season finale. The protest and Troy's vandalism have changed the environment at Winchester University, and a fire in another dorm has caused the AP House to become integrated with emergency placement students. The stakes are high for the large ensemble cast of characters, and they're each given proper chance to shine, and respond to how the campus (and world) are being affected by race tensions.

While Dear White People's first season had a bit more comedy than drama, Season 2 hits the audience with an emotional gut punch in its very first episode. Sam's radio show has inspired an alt right group to rise on campus, and she begins suffering from online harassment. Seeing each of the leads deal with such a personal issue puts Dear White People's second season in a more emotionally devastating place, which will also feel like a payoff after getting to know the characters in Season 1.

The cast of characters is really what makes Dear White People such a great show. They're each written with specificity and care, and the show's format of highlighting one character per episode provides a more intimate look into their psyche. Season 2 has improved upon this by extending the olive branch to the show's more tertiary characters. For instance, seemingly Shallow and spoiled girl Kelsey ends up being a support system for Coco, while also coming out as a lesbian woman. The expansion of the show's supporting cast had been teased ahead of Dear White People's return, and Season 2 certainly delivered on that front.

But perhaps Dear White People's biggest draw it its self-awareness, and its ability to verbalize modern issues of race in the country. While the show's themes and cast no doubt take positive steps toward visibility in the industry, the complex themes conquered in the show's first two seasons have the ability to both educate and entertain, without feeling overly preachy.

Dear White People's first two seasons are currently streaming in their entirety on Netflix. In the meantime, check out our midseason premiere list to plan your next binge watch. Plus our superhero premiere list and Amazon premiere list to ensure you don't miss a single episode.

It's no secret that Netflix has changed the game in TV production. The streaming service is producing a ton of challenging content, both scripted and unscripted. But Netflix has also begun giving some of its less successful shows the chop, leaving the fate of new shows in jeopardy. One show that managed to survive the first official Netflix purge was Justin Simien's Dear White People, based off the film of the same name. The series will return for a second season on the streaming service, and there's more good news for fans of the students at Winchester University. Season 1 will soon be released for home purchase, and we've got a peak into some of the bonus content. Check out the video below, revolving around how Dear White People focuses on the theme of identity throughout the course of it original season.

In the above clip, you can see how methodically the folks at Dear White People worked out the show's fantastic ensemble cast. While the series may be primarily focused on people of color, the idea of finding one's self is so something that fans of all backgrounds can relate to.

The issue of labels, self-defined or otherwise, is a major theme of Dear White People. After a black face party is thrown on campus, protagonist Sam (Logan Browning) takes to the microphone to speak about the black experience at the fictional ivy league school. She and the other members of Winchester University use their common bond and experience to make their voices known- and gain power by embracing their label as black student leaders.

Sam's boyfriend Gabe is the token white guy of the group, and Dear White People explores the role reversal of Gabe being the minority among Sam and her friends. While trying to be the best ally he can, Gabe endures plenty of jokes at his expense. This is another way that the show explores the identity of race: by portraying a variety of different perspectives.

Identity in Dear White People isn't exclusively related to the characters' race. Lionel goes through the struggles of coming out of the closet throughout the course of the first season, as well as his unrequited feelings toward Troy. In the above clip from the home release, we see as Silvio urges Milo to find his tribe, and his voice. While he's respected by his fellow AP House dorm mates, it's not until he eventually comes to term with his own identity that he becomes a more confident and bold character.

In the past few years, Netflix has proven itself as a home for stories revolving around people of color. Orange is the New Black features an extremely diverse cast, which may have made way for more black-centric series on the streaming service. Since then we've seen shows like Luke Cage, Spike Lee's You've Gotta Have It, _The Get Dow_n, and most recently Seven Seconds largely focus on stories revolving around black and latin characters. Most of them have also been renewed for more seasons, so Netflix isn't going to stop telling inclusive stories anytime soon.

Dear White People Season One arrives on DVD and Digital May 8, and you can also stream the season on Netflix. In the meantime, check out our midseason premiere list to plan your next binge watch. Additionally, check out our superhero premiere list and Amazon premiere list to make sure you don't miss a single episode.

Even the most casual TV viewer will know we're in the midst of a TV renaissance. Major film stars and director have recentlyhopped over to the small screen, with streaming services and premium networks creating a home for intriguing and original stories. And Netflix has once again hit it big when the prolific Spike Lee began developing his new series She's Gotta Have It. Adapted from his breakthrough film of the same name, Lee has brought his cast of colorful characters back with a modern feel, and the result is a sensory and emotional feast.

She's Gotta Have it was created by Spike Lee, who also directed all ten episodes of the season. Based off of Spike's Lee's 1986 film, Lee is once again playing with the interpersonal dynamics of the same characters. Both the film and new series follows artist Nola Darling (DeWanda Wise). Darling is a self described "sex-positive, polyamorous pansexual" who lives in Green Point, Brooklyn. Nola unapologetically and thoroughly enjoys her sex life, which is largely comprised of three competing male suitors. Each of these men give Nola something the others do not, and she feels no shame in openly seeing the trio-- while also being honest with them about her issues with monogamy. If these men can have multiple partners, why can't she?

While Nola's story is the main crux of the series, She's Gotta Have It also includes a strong supporting cast. Each of Nola's partners gets a fair amount of screen time, mostly because their dynamic with the protagonist is so different. Undoubtedly the most charming is Mars Blackmon, played by Hamilton alum Anthony Ramos (who plays a recurring character on Will and Grace's new season). Mars was played by Spike Lee himself in the original film, he represents the original history of Fort Green. Nola's other partners are the self-absorbed Greer (Cleo Anthony) and married businessman Jamie (Lyriq Bent). Nola's girl friends also get some screen time, in particular her friend Shemekka (Chyna Layne).

Nola is a complicated and layered character that is slowly peeled back throughout the season, and Spike Lee's use of narration is a plot device that helps flesh out she and the other characters. We're also shown her sessions with her therapist, allowing the audience to be privy to the character's history and thought process without using narration ad naseam. And while the audience is very much in Nola's POV for the majority of the episodes, she continues to surprise as the series continues on. For instance, her pansexuality isn't addressed for the first few episodes, up until she reconnects with a former female lover.

Like a typical Spike Lee joint, She's Gotta Have It is full of his signature style, politically charged plot, and use of creative devices to keep the audience on its toes. But it's all done through a far more millennial and modern scope than Lee's many significant film contributions. As important characters are introduced for the first time they're given a title card, complete with their own hashtag. And Nola's moments of narration are more like poems or spoken word than traditional monologues. She delivers these speeches about issues that women of color so often face. Topics of sexuality, assault, gender inequality, gentrification, and the black experience in America are all fleshed out through Nola's speeches, which often punctuate episodes.

The music of She's Gotta Have It is also a character of its own. In addition to lyrics often echoing the message of a scene, Spike Lee makes sure to give credit where credit is due. A song's conclusion during a scene will often prompt a title card, showing the album cover of the song. This is yet another example of Spike Lee's unique sensibility, and what makes the new series such a refreshing and fascinating show.

She's Gotta Have It is being produced by Spike Lee and his wife Tonya Lewis Lee. It's perhaps the most feminist piece he's ever worked on, including the original film. The story is firmly planted in what it means to be a woman of color, specifically on the streets of New York. Nola is able to explain her thoughts on inequality and sex to both the men in her life and the audience, and does so in a way that just makes us fall more in love with the character.

She's Gotta Have It is just the latest in a line of fantastic Netflix original shows that revolve around people of color. The streaming service has already be applauded for shows like Dear White People (which has been renewed for a second season), Baz Luhrmann's The Get Down (which has not), and Aziz Ansari's Master of None (which seems to be on hiatus for the time being).

Overall, She's Gotta Have It has the performances, captivating story, and Spike Lee style that results in an utterly fascinating glimpse into its characters' minds. It's unclear if Lee is interesting in staying in the TV world, but if the season is well received enough, perhaps he'll be convinced to stick it out and produce another season.

She's Gotta Have It will release its ten episode season in its entirety on November 23, 2017. In the meantime, check out our cancellation list to see if your favorite show go the chop this year.

Netflix is the home of a seemingly endless variety of original series, but some major cancellations in recent weeks have many concerned about the fates of favorite shows. Luckily, fans of the freshman dramedy Dear White People no longer have to worry about the show getting the axe. It has officially been renewed by Netflix and will return for Season 2.

Production of the second season will begin later this year. No official dates have yet been released, but we do know that Season 2 will run for ten episodes, which will bring the total episode count up to 20. The renewal comes shortly after creator Justin Simin revealed what a hypothetical second season would be about. He stated that Season 2 would tackle the issue of mass misinformation in modern media and the differences between individual understandings of American history. All things considered, misinformation as it relates to race and status is a pretty timely topic to be covered by the next season.

As each episode of the first season focused on one character of the ensemble cast, everybody got a fair amount of attention throughout the season, although not entirely consistently from episode to episode. Justin Simien has also revealed three supporting characters who would be expanded upon in a Season 2. Fans can expect to see more out of Sam's best friend Joelle, Kenyan exchange student Rashid, and Ikumi. The fact that Season 2 will run for only ten episodes may mean that a few of the main characters from Season 1 won't get episodes of their own in the next batch of episodes, but we'll have to wait and see.

Dear White People is set on the campus of an Ivy League university with a student body that is predominantly white. Racial tensions build, and the stories follow students of color enrolled in Winchester University as they find themselves immersed in a world affected by social injustice, political correctness (or incorrectness), activism, and cultural bias. The first season used irony, humor, and often unflinching honesty to portray real-life issues, and it was clearly enough of a hit to motivate Netflix to renew the series for a second season.

I'm just glad Dear White People hasn't gone the way of The Get Down, Sense8, and Girlboss, all of which were surprisingly cancelled by Netflix. It seems that Dear White People has found a home on Netflix for the foreseeable future. We can only hope that we don't have to wait too long for Season 2 to debut.

Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for the latest in TV news. If you're in the mood for streaming and don't feel like watching (or re-watching) Dear White People, take a gander at our 2017 Netflix premiere guide to find all your other options. There's plenty of good stuff on broadcast as well, and you can find all you can watch now and in the coming weeks in our summer TV premiere schedule.

Now that 2017 is half-over, it's a good time to look back at the last six months to shine a spotlight on the best freshman series that TV has going for it. With each year that passes, the pool of new TV shows grows, and this year has already provided a stunning array of comedies and dramas that feel destined to stand the test of time. Because time is precious, let's just dive right in, since anyone who hasn't yet checked these nine shows out will have some binge-watching to get busy with.

The Mick - Fox

Boasting one star and two writers from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Fox's freshman comedy The Mick somehow manages to port the former series' dark and degradation-filled tone and subject matter to the broadcast network spectrum. And all without watering down the cringe-worthy behavior, while also adding children to the booze-equation. With Kaitlin Olson's prowess for despicableness guiding the unpredictable madness, The Mick is as Fox as Fox gets, and as a midseason entry that served as 2017's very first new series, its 13-episode run felt far too short. Just like Jimmy's attention span.

What's Next: Fox ordered up Season 2, which is set to debut in early 2018.

Big Little Lies - HBO

If only all shows had the recipe for success that Big Little Lies boasts: an HBO drama based on an acclaimed novel (by Liane Moriarty) from TV mastermind David E. Kelley (Ally McBeal, Boston Legal), with a main cast that consists of Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, Alexander Skarsgård, Adam Scott and plenty of other talented thesps. Tie in the fact that every episode was directed by Dallas Buyers Club helmer Jean-Marc Vallée, and Big Little Lies almost wouldn't have needed a story as good as its darkly satirical tale centering on murder, privilege, family and secrets. To be expected, it's much smarter than its "rich people problems" aesthetic might have one believe.

What's Next: A second season isn't likely, but still technically possible.

Brockmire - IFC

Simpsons veteran Hank Azaria is criminally underused as a live-action TV lead, but Brockmire was worth any and all waiting. Based on a character Azaria crafted and occasionally brought out for performances, Brockmire tells the sordid and alcohol-soaked story of a baseball announcer whose televised fall from grace fuels his eventual return to the limelight, via a small-town team run by Amanda Peet. With a winning grown-up transition from Lab Rats vet Tyrel Jackson Williams, Brockmire instantly became one of the most quotable shows in recent TV history, and one can only hope there's enough booze in the world to keep his verbal antics going for years to come.

What's Next: IFC ordered Season 2, which is set to air in 2018.

The Handmaid's Tale - Hulu

With The Path and Chance, Hulu proved itself capable of producing top-tier original programming, and the streaming service burst through the glass ceiling with The Handmaid's Tale, a depressingly faithful and expertly crafted adaptation of Margaret Atwood's beloved novel. With gravitas to spare from stars like Elizabeth Moss, Samira Wiley and Anne Dowd, The Handmaid's Tale places audiences in a post-moral society where sterilization has made conception more important than "not subjecting women to indoctrinated rape." The Hulu drama may lack glee and hilarity, but it makes up for it with its unflinching horrors and unsettling potential for prescience.

What's Next: Hulu has ordered Season 2, which will air in 2018.

American Gods - Starz

To try to sum up what makes American Gods an incredible TV show is to seemingly try to come up with the sprawling narrative in the first place. (Surely something that only the impeccable Neil Gaiman can do.) Somehow, Bryan Fuller and Michael Green birthed an adaptation that hit upon everything that made the novel good, while also adding well-meaning and firmly conceived changes. And it somehow remained as followable as it was powerful and easy to look at. From the lush production design to the endlessly imaginative sound design to the genius casting -- from Ian McShane to Emily Browning to Pablo Schreiber, they're all amazing -- American Gods is incomparable television that breaks the rules in all the best ways.

What's Next: Starz ordered Season 2, which will air in 2018.

Taboo - FX

Filmmaker Stephen Knight and actor Tom Hardy had previously teamed up for the stellar bottle-movie Locke and the period TV crime drama Peaky Blinders, and their latest venture together is the ever-brooding FX drama Taboo. Telling a story set over two centuries ago, Taboo follows Hardy's James Delaney, a potentially mystical man returning home to a war-minded England, after over a decade in Africa, to settle things after his father's death. Beyond American Gods, this is perhaps the toughest show on the list to just breezily pick up and run with, given its thick accents and lack of hand-holding exposition, but it's easy to get ravaged once the plunge is made.

What's Next: Taboo was renewed for Season 2. Creatively, there's a three-season plan in place.

Dear White People - Netflix

Netflix has made itself known for saving cancelled series and finding new ways to expand previously created universes, and one creatively surprising avenue was an episodic expansion of Justin Simien's acclaimed 2014 feature Dear White People, a comedic drama focusing on a group of black students enrolled in a predominantly white college. With a format that sets a different character at the forefront of each episode, Dear White People is both an interesting and insightful take on the racial tensions and idiosyncrasies of modern America, and its ensemble cast (almost entirely comprising returning actors from the film) keeps the tone approachable for audiences of all kinds. Not that it needs to be approachable to be good.

What's Next: No second season has been ordered yet.

Legion - FX

While the anthological Fargo could have made this list with its captivating-as-ever Season 3, creator Noah Hawley will likely homestead inside our minds for a more extended span thanks to his other 2017 TV entry: Legion. Playing fast and loose with its Marvel Comics source material, Legion is a feast for the eyes and the mind, with quite a bit of the telepathy-centered story actually taking place inside the head of Dan Stevens' David Haller and his all-star team of evil-stoppers, including Rachel Keller, Bill Irwin and Jean Smart. Legion would make this list based on style and aesthetic alone, but it thankfully has myriad other elements needed stand out from almost everything else on television, including its trippy and unreliable narrative approach.

What's Next: FX renewed Legion for Season 2.

GLOW - Netflix

The newest entry on this list, Netflix's new comedy GLOW has quite a bit of pedigree going for it. Its creator is Orange is the New Black mastermind Jenji Kohan, its stars are TV vets Alison Brie, Betty Gilpin, and Marc Maron (among others in the super-talented extended ensemble), and its subject matter is one of live-action entertainment's most eccentric tales: the 80's origin story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. The cast and writing are GLOW's biggest plusses, for sure, but they're not the only laudable elements of the show, which also boasts some truly excellent fight choreography and stuntwork, capturing all the colorful glitz and glory of professional wrestling in its more formative years. If TV had a championship belt, GLOW would be holding it high.

What's Next: Having just been released on June 23, GLOW hasn't yet gotten any follow-up news from Netflix.

Honorable Mention: Twin Peaks: The Return - Showtime

Considering Twin Peaks first confounded audiences back in the early 1990s, its even more confounding revival season on Showtime technically keeps it from properly making this list, but David Lynch and Mark Frost's return to small-town storytelling manages to feel different from both its initial incarnation and everything else on the small screen right now. With Lynch behind the camera for every episode, the secrecy-cloaked Twin Peaks: The Return is telling its hard-to-grasp story through predictably oddball performances (from a massive cast or new and familiar faces), shocking twists, incomprehensible dialogue, supernatural mysteries, and some of the most interesting visual creations of Lynch's long and colorful career. It. Is. Glorious. At least, I'm pretty sure it is.

There are, of course, plenty of other great first-season series that are out there, and plenty more yet to premiere. You can find some of them on our summer TV premiere schedule, and you can hit up our network rundown and our cable/streaming rundown for what shows have been renewed and cancelled.

Although it was released just a week ago, Netflix's new dramedy Dear White People has already made tons of headlines. While some take umbrage on the controversial title, the series has already reached a massive audience, and will likely be renewed for a second season on the streaming service. And since the series focuses each episode on one character from the ensemble cast, fans of Dear White People have already begun speculating as to which characters may get their own episode if and when Season 2 is produced. Luckily for us, the show's creator has already shared a few characters who he wants to flesh out in the future.

Filmmaker Justin Simien garnered a ton of attention for the Dear White People movie, which was recently expanded into a TV series. And in a recent interview with THR, Simien revealed three supporting characters that he wants to see more of in Season 2. And on the top of the list is Sam's best friend and Reggie's admirer Joelle. He said,

Not gonna lie, this makes me want a second season ASAP. These three characters, especially Joelle, were a bit underused in Season 1. But it looks like Justin Simien is ready to amend that with future episodes.

While Joelle was a series regular and starring member of the ensemble, her relevance to the story depended on the episode. She was a trusted confidant and best friend to Sam, often helping her out in the studio while she hosted her "Dear White People" show. Additionally, we saw what a warm and supporting woman she was, accepting Gabe into their group, and attempting to stop the confrontation at the party in episode 5. And while her unrequited feelings for Reggie was compelling, we don't know much about her background.

Justin Simien also listed two tertiary characters in his quote: Rashid the exchange student and Asian student Ikumi. Rashid is a Kenyan exchange student who is another socially conscious member of Winchester. He mostly served as comic relief, adding humorous observations about American culture. Exploring his upbringing in Kenya would definitely be interesting to watch, and provide more context for his contributions with the group.

Ikumi is even more of a side character. She joins the group in expressing outrage over Pastiche's Blackface party, and is usually present during the large ensemble scenes. It would be great to know her better in Season 2, and see how her perspective as an Asian-American relates to the issues of race at the college.

Dear White People is currently streaming in its entirety on Netflix. Be sure to check out our summer premiere list to plan your next binge watch.

While April showers are supposed to bring May flowers, this year they'll bring a little something extra to you folks with a Netflix subscription. In particular, the titles we're about to list below will be on their way to your instant streaming queues, should you choose to partake in them. And with a good mix of the new with the old, there's certainly a lot of options to choose from.

Here's what's heading to Netflix Instant in April. However, please keep in mind, titles and dates are, as always, subject to change. In addition, if you are looking for the list of March 2017 releases, we have you covered.

Week of April 1st

A Weekend with the Family (2016) -- April 1

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) -- April 1

Across the Universe (2007) -- April 1

An American Tail (1986) -- April 1

An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991) -- April 1

An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster (1999) -- April 1

Boy Bye (2016) -- April 1

Born To Be Free (2016) -- April 1

Cool Runnings (1993) -- April 1

Good Witch: Season 2 (2016) -- April 1

Gremlins (1984) -- April 1

Only for One Night (2016) -- April 1

Richard Pryor: Live & Smokin' (1971) -- April 1

Scooby-Doo (2002) -- April 1

Schindler's List (1993) -- April 1

Something's Gotta Give (2003) -- April 1

Thunderstruck (2012) -- April 1

Wynonna Earp: Season 1 (2016)-- April 1

Trouble with the Curve (2012) -- April 1

Tropic Thunder (2008) -- April 1

The Tenth Man (2016) -- April 1

The D Train (2015) -- April 2

Chewing Gum: Season 2 --- NETFLIX ORIGINAL -- April 4

Louis C.K. 2017 --- NETFLIX ORIGINAL -- April 4

Disney's The BFG (2016) -- April 6

El Faro De Las Orcas --- NETFLIX ORIGINAL FILM -- April 7

Dawn of the Croods: Season 3 --- NETFLIX ORIGINAL -- April 7

The Get Down: Part 2 --- NETFLIX ORIGINAL -- April 7

Win It All --- NETFLIX ORIGINAL FILM -- April 7

Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) -- April 8

Week of April 9th

Documentary Now!: Season 2 (2016) -- April 10

Kevin Hart: What Now (2016) -- April 11

DC's Legends of Tomorrow: Season 2 (2016) -- April 12

Chelsea: Season 2 ---NETFLIX ORIGINAL -- April 14

El Elegido (2017) -- April 14

Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return --- NETFLIX ORIGINAL -- April 14

Sandy Wexler --- NETFLIX ORIGINAL FILM -- April 14

Disney's Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993) -- April 15

Slam --- NETFLIX ORIGINAL FILM -- April 15

Week of April 16th

Lucas Brothers: On Drugs --- NETFLIX ORIGINAL -- April 18

A Plastic Ocean -- April 19

Bill Nye Saves the World: Season 1 --- NETFLIX ORIGINAL -- April 21

Girlboss: Season 1 --- NETFLIX ORIGINAL -- April 21

Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On: Season 1 --- NETFLIX ORIGINAL -- April 21

Sand Castle --- NETFLIX ORIGINAL FILM -- April 21

Tales by Light: Season 2 --- NETFLIX ORIGINAL -- April 21

The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show: Season 4 --- NETFLIX ORIGINAL -- April 21

The Prestige (2006) -- April 21

Tramps --- NETFLIX ORIGINAL FILM -- April 21

The Great British Baking Show: Masterclass: Season 1-3 (2016) -- April 22

The Secret Life of Pets (2016) -- April 22

Week of April 23rd

Liv and Maddie: Season 4 (2016) -- April 23

Phantom (2013) -- April 23

Long Nights Short Mornings (2016) -- April 24

Disney's Queen of Katwe (2016) -- April 25

The 101-Year-Old Man Who Skipped Out on the Bill and Disappeared --- NETFLIX ORIGINAL FILM -- April 25

Vir Das: Abroad Understanding --- NETFLIX ORIGINAL -- April 25

Real Rescues: Season 6-7 (2012) -- April 26

Trust (2010) -- April 26

Las Chicas del Cable: Season 1 --- NETFLIX ORIGINAL -- April 27

A Murder in the Park (2014) -- April 28

Casting JonBenet --- NETFLIX ORIGINAL -- April 28

Dear White People: Season 1 ---NETFLIX ORIGINAL -- April 28

Rodney King --- NETFLIX ORIGINAL FILM -- April 28

Small Crimes --- NETFLIX ORIGINAL FILM -- April 28

Week of April 30th

Sofia the First: Season 3 (2015) -- April 30

Movie fans are getting a lot of new content from both the past and present eras of film-making, with a lot of recent releases hitting the streaming service. If you happened to miss Kubo and The Two Strings or Disney's The BFG, both films will be streaming towards the beginning of the month. Meanwhile, further family friendly options will be dropping towards the end of the month, when The Secret Life of Pets and Disney's Queen of Katwe make their way on to Netflix's digital library.

Adults in the family make out better with the more classic films launching on Netflix Instant, as A Nightmare on Elm Street, Gremlins, and Schindler's List all hit at the top of the month. Though kids will still get something out of the deal, as all three films of An American Tail's run will be added at the same time. If your tastes run more to the modern, you'll be able to watch Tropic Thunder or The Prestige, among all of the other listed options, throughout the month.

TV-wise, things are a little light, as season 2 of DC's Legends of Tomorrow is the only non-original option that seems to be of note. That said, Netflix's original material seems to be in full form in April, as Louis C.K. has a new comedy special premiering, and the widely anticipated revamp of Mystery Science Theater 3000 is finally going to be unveiled for all to see! Also, if you're a fan of The Get Down, you should probably start re-watching part 1 now, as part 2 is coming on April 7th, completing the show's first season.

Can't find a Netflix original on the list you could have sworn was dropping in April? Or are you just curious about what the streaming network has released, and is looking to produce in the coming months of 2017? Check out our Netflix premiere schedule, which can be found here.

Now a handful of years into putting out top quality original series, Netflix has become an industry of expectations unto itself, and audiences know that the majority of the company's new TV shows will generally stand tall against those on broadcast networks and much of cable. And not only can we skip the waits for fall and mid-year premieres to get all binge-heavy on things, but Netflix is at the point where it's pumping out new media on a weekly basis. It can be hard to keep up, so we've rounded up the 13 upcoming Netflix Originals that we cannot wait to start streaming in 2017. (Note that only Netflix-confirmed 2017 releases are noted, so while Marvel has reported The Punisher will be out this year, Netflix hasn't, so it's not here.)

Iron Fist

The Cast: Finn Jones, Jessica Henwick, David Wenham, Jessica Stroup, Tom Pelphrey, Rosario Dawson, Carrie-Anne Moss, Lewis Tan, Wai Ching Ho

Why We're Pumped: Iron Fist is the fourth of Marvel's standalone shows premiering before the street-tough vigilantes combines forces for what may or may not be another entry on this list. Adding Buddhism to the NYC's gritty streets, Iron Fist follows Finn Jones' Danny Rand making his long-awaited return to New York and facing a villain that threatens his family's tragic legacy and draws out his titular super-powered persona. If Iron Fist's fantastical comic narrative and rich characters aren't enough for your attention, just imagine: Daredevil's fight scenes, but with kung-fu.

When Does It Premiere: March 17, 2017

Mystery Science Theater 3000

The Cast: Jonah Ray, Felicia Day, Hampton Yount, Baron Vaughn, Patton Oswalt, Kevin Murphy, Bill Corbett, Mary Jo Pehl

Why We're Pumped: It's new Mystery Science Theater 3000!!! A cult TV series like no other, the joke-a-second classic MST3K had been off the air since 1999, and though fans clamored for more ever since, it wasn't very likely. Until creator Joel Hodgson had the brilliant idea to take his reboot idea to Kickstarter, where far more episodes were funded than the campaign originally called for. And with brilliant writers like Justin Rolland, Ernest Cline, Dana Gould and many more penning the jokes for the new line of commentaries, this could be the greatest reboot the universe has ever known. At least of those with pun-loving robots.

When Does It Premiere: Unknown

Girlboss

The Cast: Britt Robertson, Johnny Simmons, Ellie Reed, Alphonso McAuley, Dean Norris

Why We're Pumped: With Girlboss, Netflix is offering another scripted take on a true story, and this one is based on the fairly shocking and best-selling autobiography from young entrepreneur Sophia Amoruso. When Amoruso was 22, she founded the eBay store Nasty Gal Vintage, which became a highly popular standalone fashion retailer. That success story has been riddled with controversies and troubles, though, as partly exampled by the company filing for bankruptcy in 2016, the same year its founder landed on the Forbes list. Created by Pitch Perfect and 30 Rock writer Kay Cannon, Girlboss should be the American Dream story that best reflects the self-consuming last decade.

When Does It Premiere: Spring 2017

Bill Nye Saves The World

The Cast: Bill Nye, Karlie Kloss, Derek Muller, Nazeem Hussain, Joanna Hausmann, Emily Calandrelli

Why We're Pumped: A one-time staple of Saturday Morning TV, Bill Nye has remained a pop culture fixture, in part thanks to his heavy promotion of science-based thinking in the face of naysayers. With the help of five correspondents, he will host Netflix's Bill Nye Saves the World, a talk show that tackles science subject matter, as well as how it relates to the other big issues of the world in politics, society, entertainment and more. Netflix has proven itself with both edu-tainment programming and talk show programming, so Bill Nye Saves the World can only be excellent.

When Does It Premiere: Early 2017

Dear White People

The Cast: Brandon P. Bell, Logan Browning, Antoinette Robertson, DeRon Horton, John Patrick Amedori, Ashley Blaine Featherson, Nia Long, Wyatt Nash

Why We're Pumped: If you've seen the critically acclaimed 2014 film Dear White People, then you know how stellar it will be to get a bunch of half-hour episodes set in this satirical world of non-white students in a mostly-white university. (The film's Tessa Thompson, now in Westworld, isn't back to portray Sam White, who is now being played by Logan Browning. With writer/director Justin Simien back as creator, among other duties, Dear White People will be another diversity-embracing Netflix series that provides a mostly uncensored look at atypical TV fare.

When Does It Premiere: Unknown

Santa Clarita Diet

The Cast: Drew Barrymore, Timothy Olyphant, Liv Hewson, Ricardo Chavira, Skyler Gisondo, Richard T. Jones, Mary Elizabeth Ellis

Why We're Pumped: Santa Clarita Diet is Drew Barrymore's first major TV gig, and Justified vet Timothy Olyphant is a perfect co-star; also, Nathan Fillion appears. That's enough for at least a one-episode watch, but what really snared us was the big secret behind the intentionally light early synopsis of a realtor couple facing an identity crisis: Barrymore's character gets turned into a zombie in the first episode. So the Santa Clarita Diet is not your typical SoCal fare, and Better Off Ted's Victor Fresco as creator should soothe your zombie overkill worries.

When Does It Premiere: February 3, 2017

Anne

The Cast: Amybeth McNulty, Geraldine James, R.H. Thomson, Lucas Jade Zumann, Delila Bela

Why We're Pumped: An Anne of Green Gables adaptation admittedly isn't immediate must-see material for everyone, but Netflix's Anne has all the right pieces to potentially serve as the quintessential take on L.M. Montgomery's iconic characters. Why? The co-production between Netflix and Canada's CBC was adapted by Flesh and Bone creator Moira Walley-Beckett, a Breaking Bad writer/producer responsible for penning some of the series' best episodes. She has claimed Anne will be grittier and more realistic to the time period, in which the titular orphan brightens a small town with her unique imagination. We. Are. In.

When Does It Premiere: Unknown

The Defenders

The Cast: Charlie Cox, Krysten Ritter, Mike Colter, Finn Jones, Sigourney Weaver, Rosita Dawson, Elodie Yung, Carrie-Anne Moss, Simone Missick, Rachael Taylor, Scott Glenn

Why We're Pumped: The small screen Marvel universe first introduced with Daredevil will finally culminate in the four-hero crossover miniseries The Defenders. Even though we haven't seen Iron Fist just yet, the three vigilantes that preceded him have inspired more than enough faith that The Defenders could be the most epic superhero project in TV history. And with Sigourney Weaver making her big TV debut as the mysterious antagonist, our excitement couldn't be taken down by any number of New York City's toughest crimefighters. With characters from all of Marvel's streaming series coming together for this epic adventure, The Defenders could easily rival everything the studio has done on the big screen in the last decade.

When Does It Premiere: Unknown

Watership Down

The Cast: James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult, John Boyega, Ben Kingsley, Gemma Arterton, Olivia Colman, Anne-Marie Duff, Miles Jupp, Freddie Fox

Why We're Pumped: In the way that many of us lost our childhood innocence to the 1970s animated version of Richard Adams' modern classic Watership Down, it's time for later generations to have their own malleable minds blown by a newer take on this group of rabbits attempting to evade the destruction of their home. Netflix teamed up with the BBC for this four-part animated adventure, and the four-hour runtime will presumably offer up a more comprehensive take on the novel's story, which presumably means it will be all the more devastating and horrifying. And director Noam Murro knows a bit about violent visual effects, having directed 300: Rise of an Empire.

When Does It Premiere: Unknown

G.L.O.W.

The Cast: Alison Brie, Mar Maron, Betty Gilpin, Jackie Tohn, Britney Young, Sydelle Noel, Britt Baron

Why We're Pumped: First, G.L.O.W. is a dramedy set within the world of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, the female-led professional wrestling offshoot whose surprisingly massive heyday came in the 1980s, so that's a unique draw right there. Second, it's the latest series created by Jenji Kohan, the mind behind Weeds and Netflix's extremely popular Orange is the New Black, so there's no one better adapted for handling a show about an ensemble of women with big personalities and no shame. G.L.O.W. was conceived as Netflix acquired the acclaimed 2011 documentary about the eponymous Gorgeous Ladies, and should the new scripted series become popular, we could see a proper G.L.O.W. return in the future.

When Does It Premiere: Unknown

Godless

The Cast: Jeff Daniels, Jack O'Connell, Michelle Dockery, Merritt Wever, Sam Waterston, Kim Coates, Scoot McNairy, Donald Cerrone, Thomas Brodie-Sangster

Why We're Pumped: The cast for Godless is massive, extending beyond what's noted above, and Netflix pumping money into this Western miniseries could extend the current mini-renaissance for Old West storytelling. Godless' plot sees Jeff Daniels' dangerous outlaw Frank Griffin on the run from his partner-turned-enemy Roy Goode (Jack O'Connell), and the chase leads them to the small town of La Belle, which is made up entirely of women for some mysterious reason. Scott Frank, writer of Logan and Out of Sight (among many others), created the series, and he's re-teaming with Out of Sight director Steven Soderbergh, who is executive producing. There are no bad elements here.

When Does It Premiere: Unknown

Friends From College

The Cast: Cobie Smulders, Keegan-Michael Key, Annie Parisse, Nat Faxon, Fred Savage, Jae Suh Park, Billy Eichner

Why We're Pumped: Netflix does "traditional" comedies as well as it does the higher-concept fare, which is one reason why we're stoked about the studio's upcoming Friends from College, which has the plot of a forgettable late-winter Hollywood release; the other reason, obviously, is that cast. The group of (mostly) TV vets like Cobie Smulders and Fred Savage makes up a group of fortysomething friends who went to Harvard together, and the series explores the complex webs of relationships between each of the characters in their various stations in life. Another plus: it was created by Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Neighbors writer/director Nicholas Stoller and his wife Francesca DelBlanco.

When Does It Premiere: Unknown

Disjointed

The Cast: Kathy Bates, Tone Bell, Elizabeth Ho, Elizabeth Alderfer, Dougie Baldwin, Aaron Moten

Why We're Pumped: Honestly, it doesn't take much more than "Kathy Bates in a Netflix pot comedy," as it shouldn't. But Disjointed is also the first streaming creation from sitcom maestro Chuck Lorre, of Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men fame, so it'll be interesting to see if his hit-making sensibilities can transition to the mostly uncensored waters of Netflix. The show centers on Bates' pro-weed activist realizing her dream of opening a pot dispensary in L.A., with her son and his buddies helping out. If the phrase "Wake and Bake and Netflix" doesn't come out of Disjointed's release, they're doing something wrong.

When Does It Premiere: Unknown

It’s becoming a trend for film companies to repurpose movie ideas for new TV shows. Some of these have been excellent, as when CBS reworked Limitless for TV. Others have been duds, including the highly touted Minority Report, which fell flat after just a few episodes. Sometimes these movies-turned-TV projects are also unexpected, as happened today when Netflix announced it was ordering a Dear White People TV series.

Dear White People actually sounds markedly similar to the original movie, which was about a group of diverse students navigating life at a prestigious university on a campus that was predominantly white. The notice from Netflix this morning says TV’s Dear White People will be about… “a diverse group of students of color as they navigate a predominantly white Ivy League college where racial tensions are often swept under the rug.” Yup, sounds pretty much like the same project, just in serialized form. In fact, Dear White People director and producer Justin Simien will be back for the Netflix series, and will lend both his directing and writing expertise to the project.

Ten episodes will be produced for Season 1, and then we’ll see how long the series is perpetually renewed after that. (Get it, because Netflix renews almost everything?) Each episode will be 30 minutes. Dear White People made a pretty decent splash when it hit the indie circuit, but we'll have to wait and see how it translates to TV. The production as a whole won’t hit the schedule until 2017, but at that point, Dear White People will be released worldwide.

Netflix is spending a whopping $6 billion on new originals this year. Moreover, the subscription streaming service is able to put together a slew of projects that may not work on regular TV because they wouldn’t yield a high enough audience to cover the budget costs. Regular TV needs advertisers. Netflix just needs subscribers, and while it does need a few recognizable shows to keep the brand in the limelight, it can play around a lot more with its content.

This means we are getting revived shows like Gilmore Girls and Season 2 of Fuller House. We are getting more international shows like Marseille and the German production Dark. And, yes, we are getting movies that are being made into TV shows like Wet Hot American Summer--which also just got renewed—and now Dear White People. It would take me too long to list all of the other projects that Netflix is getting together, but you get the gist.

While we wait for Dear White People and other projects to hit the schedule, you can see what Netflix has coming up with the subscription streaming service’s premiere schedule. Interestingly, if you want to catch the movie before the TV series, you can do so on Hulu.