Netflix has been ambitiously pumping out their own original content since 2013, with no signs of slowing down. They have also had both their own successes and missteps. 

With this plethora of content, how is anyone supposed to know what is actually worth watching? We’ve all perused Netflix, looking for a series to dive into, but there is such a vast amount of shows that it’s hard to really differentiate between what is good and what, quite frankly, sucks. 

Surely not every Netflix original series can live up to giants such as Stranger Things and Orange is the New Black.

We’re here to provide you with a brief top five list of Netflix original series to help guide you in the right direction.

5. The End of the F***ing World

This series is a dark comedy following a teen who is a self-diagnosed psychopath, James, and a rebellious teenage girl, Alyssa, whom he plans to kill. The two embark on a turbulent journey across England together. The series was released to a great deal of hype among teens and young adults. 

4. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Kimmy Schmidt (Ellie Kemper) was kidnapped by a pastor in eighth grade and held captive for fifteen years. She and three other women were led to believe that the apocalypse had come and gone and that they were the only survivors. Co-created by Tina Fey, the comedy follows Kimmy as she begins a new life in New York City. Kimmy Schmidt is a fun, lighthearted comedy that is worth binge-watching. 

3. The Haunting of Hill House

This series follows the Crain siblings who reunite with their father after a family tragedy. Nearly thirty years before, the Crain family lived in Hill House and experienced intense paranormal phenomena which they must confront and come to terms with. This is absolutely a must-watch for anyone who enjoys spooky, paranormal thrillers. 

2. The Umbrella Academy

The Umbrella Academy is based on a series of comics created by My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way. It follows seven adults who were all born on the same day to mothers who were unknowingly pregnant. Six of the seven possess supernatural powers, and as children, were made to fight crime by their eccentric adoptive father. The series can be enjoyed by people both young and old and has the potential to be a huge hit. 

1. Stranger Things

I had to include this one. A series that I will never stop loving nor recommending to lovers of the 80s, comedies and thrillers is Stranger Things—arguably everyone’s favorite Netflix original series. It’s got wit, humor and sci-fi qualities that make it both entertaining and nostalgic. It begins with the disappearance of a young boy, Will Byers, and follows his mother (Winona Ryder), brother and goofy friends’ efforts to find him. If you have not experienced Stranger Things, it is a must.

We can only hope that the upcoming Netflix originals can hold a candle to these. Netflix has the means to create amazing content, but will this constant stream of new content produce subpar, low-effort series? 

Hopefully, this list can serve as a guide when browsing Netflix; it is very easy to get lost and overwhelmed by the sheer amount of content on the site—original or not.