Netflix has released several major franchise projects in 2025, including thefinal season ofSquid Gameand the upcomingthree-partStranger Thingsfinale. Even though Netflix’s biggest TV franchises reign supreme, the streaming platform still offers a wide variety of original dramas, comedies, thrillers, horrors, and more.
Netflix’s most-viewed new original series of the summer,Untamed, has become the platform’s biggest surprise hit in recent months, raking in more than 50 million views in its first two weeks alone. After finishing that series, make sure to check out thesethree fantastic Netflix originals, including a sleek spy thriller, a hilarious Emmy-winning comedy, and the highly anticipated second season of Netflix’s most popular English-language show of all time.
3Black Doves
Black Doveswas one of the best Netflix original series to be released last year in early December 2024. Starring the incomparable Keira Knightley,Black Dovesoffers a contemporary take on the classic spy thriller genre, all while making sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats with pulse-pounding action and suspense.
Black Dovesfollows Knightley’s Helen Webb, a member of the secret spy agency known as the Black Doves. Unlike the CIA and MI6, the Black Doves do not operate for any one flag but instead work for the highest bidder, regardless of its geopolitical implications.
The series, developed by Joe Barton (The Lazarus Project,The Union), is set in London around Christmas, perfect for at-home viewers who can’t wait for the summer to end.Black Dovesalso features an ensemble cast that includes Sarah Lancashire, Andrew Buchan, andBen Whishaw, who notably played Q in several Daniel CraigJames Bondfilms.
Black Dovesreceived stellar reviews onRotten Tomatoes, resulting in a Certified Fresh critic score of 93%. InScreen Rant’sreview ofBlack Doves, I noted, “Keira Knightley is perfectly cast in Netflix’s ambitious and engaging spy thriller that packs uniquely strong punches.”
WhileBlack Dovesis undoubtedly a spy thriller at its core, it impressively takes on a variety of subgenres as well, particularly comedy and action. There are even some unexpected emotional punches interwoven within the sophisticated plot, setting up a genuine emotional journey of a viewing experience from start to finish.
Harry Potterfans eagerly awaiting the upcoming HBO series may also be curious to see Paapa Essiedu in action inBlack Doves. He plays an elite assassin named Elmore Fitch who goes head-to-head with Knightley’s ass-kicking Helen Webb.
With only six episodes, all between 52 and 56 minutes each,Black Dovesis a highly bingeable option for the weekend Netflix fix.Fans of Knightley will adore her in her Netflix TV debut. A second season ofBlack Dovesis already in development at Netflix as well, another promising sign of its entertainment value.
2Beef
Released back in April 2023,Beefremains one of the greatest original dramedy series Netflix has ever made. The show made such a killing at the 2023 Emmys, winning Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series and seven other awards, that Netflix virtually had no choice but to renew it for a second season.
Created by Lee Sung Jin,Beefcenters on two frustrated characters who begin the series as strangersand end up influencing each other’s lives in strange and unpredictable ways. The series poses the question: What if two people drive each other to the brink of self-destruction but are cosmically intertwined, and perhaps even unlikely soulmates?
There is certainly a meta element toBeef, somewhat reminiscent of Mike White’s celebrated HBO seriesThe White Lotus. Its comedy is intentional, fierce, and always leads viewers to a bigger picture somewhere between the lines of existential and spiritual crisis.
Beef, led by the Emmy-winning lead performances of Steven Yeun and Ali Wong, received a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score of 98%. Even if you’ve already seen the series, it’s honestly one of those shows that isnot only worth a rewatch but may actually be better upon a second viewing.
Beefseason 1 consists of ten episodes, all between 30 and 39 minutes total. Watching the first couple of episodes of Friday night can make it possible to finish by Saturday or Sunday on the same weekend. While Beef’s episodes are relatively short, they can be a lot to take in, particularly its final two “far out” episodes.
The success ofBeefseason 1 has already cemented the series as an anthology staple on Netflix, in the same vein asTrue Detectiveon HBO andFargoon FX/Hulu.Beefseason 2, which is slated to be released in 2025, will star Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, and more, making now the perfect time to finally watch or catch up on one of Netflix’s most acclaimed series of all time.
1Wednesday
If somehow you are not one of the 252.1 million people who watchedWednesdayseason 1 back in November 2022, this weekend is the absolute best time to finally see what all the buzz is about. You’ll also have the added benefit of not having to wait nearly three years for season 2, which just dropped on Netflix on June 02, 2025, and naturally fell on a Wednesday.
Partially directed by gothic auteur Tim Burton,Wednesdayis an incredibly entertaining blend of genres with a background soaked in an oddly charming sense of the macabre. Based on characters created by Charles Addams ofThe Addams Familyacclaim,Wednesdayfollows the dark titular protagonist, played by Jenna Ortega in her breakout role, as she tries to solve a murder case at a high school for outcasts, Nevermore Academy.
The first season ofWednesdayis eight episodes long, each typically ranging from 45 to 50 minutes after the hour-long series premiere. The best course of action for getting to all ofWednesday’savailable episodes this weekend would be to watch four on Friday, four on Saturday, and the four-part season 2, part 1 on Sunday.
The second four-part half ofWednesdayseason 2 will be released on July 09, 2025, so you won’t have to wait too long to round out the second season. It’s no surprise that Netflix’s most-watched English-language series of all time already has a third season in development, makingWednesdaya series worth investing in, especially from a cultural and internet standpoint.
It should be noted, however, thatWednesdayseason 1, which won 4 Emmys in 2023, has a higherRotten Tomatoesscore of 83% than season 2 does (73%). While both scores are technically “fresh,” it’s evident that critics were not as favorable towards the first half of the second season.
What’s more, Wednesday season 2 also has some exciting new cast members, such as Steve Buscemi, Christopher Lloyd, and Lady Gaga, truly making it one of the biggest event releases of the year. Even if you might have missed out on the season 1 phenomenon, now is the perfect time to dive into the world ofWednesdayonNetflix.
