Updated: Best Netflix TV shows: 25 great Netflix television series in Australia

Best Netflix TV shows: 25 great Netflix TV series

It's been a long time coming (like, a seriously long time) but Netflix has finally arrived on Australian shores, giving Australians unfettered access to all of the critically-lauded Netflix Originals shows. Not only that, users also have access to a wealth of other licensed material.

Sure, Netflix also streams movies, but its television output is perhaps the reason most people have signed up for an account. There's nothing quite like firing up Netflix and binge-watching a series at your own pace. Getting instant access to entire seasons of House of Cards from day one is half the appeal.

This is why we've created the TechRadar guide to the greatest TV shows on the Australian version of Netflix right now (in no particular order). We'll keep this best TV show list constantly updated with the latest television shows that you should be watching and also tell you why.

• Check out our in-depth Netflix review

1. American Horror Story

The idea that Ryan Murphy, creator of saccharine sing-a-thon Glee, had turned his hand to horror was enough to have most people running scared, but American Horror Story is simply brilliant television. Changing the characters and plot focus each season, but retaining most of the cast, is an ingenious idea that makes this horror anthology tick. It has also meant we have so far seen the wondrous Jessica Lange as a housewife, witch, nun and freakshow owner. And the fact that Murphy has revealed that each season is actually related in some way adds to the mystique of a show that finally manages to do horror on TV well.

Seasons on Netflix: 3

2. Marvel's Daredevil

When Marvel revealed that it would be creating several Netflix shows tied directly into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, fanboys (like me) were over the moon. The fact that it would start by bringing Daredevil back to life (Evanescence pun completely intentional) after the much-maligned Ben Affleck film was more than we could have ever hoped for. This isn't some low-level player – Daredevil is a genuine fan favourite. And if you ask us, 'The Man Without Fear' is probably better suited to being the star of a series rather than another movie – especially as he'll eventually team up with Netflix's other Marvel heroes Jessica Jones, Iron Fist and Luke Cage in the Netflix miniseries, The Defenders.

Seasons on Netflix: 1

3. Arrested Development

If it wasn't for Netflix, Arrested Development would have stayed as a three-season wonder. The streaming giant decided to take a gamble and fund a fourth season of Mitchell Hurwitz's brilliant family comedy and we are glad it did. While splitting the family up for most of the season meant some of the spark had disappeared - this was done to fit in with the actors' busy schedules - the fourth season proved that there was still a lot to like about the dysfunctional Bluth family. Filled with season-long in-jokes, perfect site gags and spot-on wordplay, Arrested Development is a comedy that needs to be watched on repeat - and even then you will find something new to laugh at.

Seasons on Netflix: 4

4. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Netflix continues to expand its repertoire with Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, a heartwarming comedy series with a somewhat dramatic streak. Ellie Kemper (21 Jump Street) plays the titular character – a woman who is rescued from a bunker where she'd been held captive for 15 years and who then decides to relocate to New York. She'll have to face all sorts of challenges, but she'll face them all head-on with a big smile on her face. It's Kimmy's endearing spirit and 'never give up' attitude that makes the show so ridiculously charming.

Seasons on Netflix: 1

5. Mad Men

Arguably the finest show on television, Mad Men is a brilliant time capsule that takes us on a journey through the ever-changing landscape that was 1960s America. Over the years, we get to see the country evolve through the eyes of the people who work at a swanky New York advertising agency – most notably our lead character Don Draper (John Hamm), a damaged individual with a hidden past and a drinking problem who is constantly engaging in infidelity. Through the show, we get some insight into the slow rise of power for women in the workplace while facing overt sexism, race relations and the evolution of the American family during the most tumultuous period in American history. Truly an outstanding, must-watch show.

Seasons on Netflix: 6

6. Marco Polo

Netflix's answer to Game of Thrones, Marco Polo is the most epic and expensive Netflix original series to date. With a budget of $US90 million, the show is packed with big scale battles, thousands of extras, incredible locations and lavish sets. Set during Marco Polo's time in Mongolia under Kublai Khan, the series follows the famed Venetian's adventures as he navigates through Khan's Imperial City. You can guarantee that there will be blood, betrayal, intrigue and heaping helpings of sex and nudity. Hey, we told you it was like Game of Thrones!

Seasons on Netflix: 1

7. Brooklyn Nine-Nine

One of the funniest shows to hit TV in years, Brooklyn Nine-Nine stars Andy Samberg as an immature goofball who also happens to also be a brilliant NYPD detective. The show revolves around the many cases (and shenanigans) that Samberg and his equally hilarious co-stars get wrapped up in under the watchful eye of their stern Captain. Quick-witted and full of heart, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a new comedy classic.

Seasons on Netflix: 1

8. Arrow

If you can't get enough of your superheroes, then you need to make it your mission to watch Arrow. Based on DC's Green Arrow comic book, the show follows Oliver Queen, a rich pretty boy who is marooned on an island for several years and then returns to his home in Starling City with a new agenda – to shoot arrows into every scumbag that failed his city. Arrow might veer into soap opera territory from time to time, but you have to admire the show's commitment to reaching as high as it can. It also exists in its own DC TV universe, so expect to see some guest appearances from The Flash and other DC heroes (and villains) of note.

Series on Netflix: 2

9. BoJack Horseman

The best way to approach BoJack Horseman, is to let it slowly grow on you. Chances are you won't be blown away by it from the first episode, but once you get hip to its rhythm, you'll likely find it to be one of the best animated comedy shows since Bob's Burgers. Will Arnett voices BoJack, a washed-up '90s sitcom star who spends his days being bitter about his failures alongside perpetual houseguest, Todd (Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul). Things get complicated when his cat girlfriend and agent Princess Carolyn (Amy Sedaris) hires ghost writer Diane (Alison Brie) to pen BoJack's memoir. Filled with hilarious characters that could only exist in drawing-form, BoJack Horseman is a real winner.

Series on Netflix: 1

10. Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Sure, It's easy to disregard Star Wars: The Clone Wars. It's a Star Wars kids show set during the prequel trilogy (you know, the trilogy that everyone hates), so obviously it doesn't seem like something any self-respecting adult would want to watch. How wrong you would be to assume that, as Star Wars: The Clone Wars is the best the series has been since the original trilogy. Each episode is like an epic mini-movie, with immense scope, fantastic production values, brilliant art design and tight direction. The entire series is available in HD on the service, including a Netflix-exclusive 13 episode season entitled 'The Lost Missions'.

Seasons on Netflix: 6

11. Suits

You've never seen a lawyer show like this before. Suits mostly avoids the 'courtroom drama' angle that law shows usually take, and instead focuses on the dealings behind the scenes. Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) is a brilliant man with a photographic memory who is wasting his life away as a petty drug dealer, until lawyer-extraordinaire Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht) hires him to work at the most prestigious law firm in New York. Let's hope no one finds out about his lack of a law degree. Absolutely addictive.

Seasons on Netflix: 3

12. House of Cards

If there ever was a poster boy for Netflix, House of Cards would be it. Funded completely by the streaming service, Cards' first season boasted direction by David Fincher and acting by Kevin Spacey and was addictive television. The reason: Netflix positively wanted you to binge watch, putting all episodes up at once. Now in its third season, Netflix's Card trick is still impressive and shows just how far Netflix has come, given it's shot in both 4K and HDR.

Seasons on Netflix: 3

13. Bloodline

One of Netflix's newest original dramas, Bloodline is from the makers of acclaimed dramas Damages and The Sopranos. It tells the story of a large group of siblings whose lives are thrown into chaos when the black sheep of the family Danny (Ben Mendelsohn) returns home to reveal some terrible secrets from the past. This is hard-hitting drama at its finest.

Seasons available on Netflix: 1

14. Firefly

After he had produced the perfect female lead in Buffy and before he was Hulk smashing with The Avengers, Joss Whedon created a short-run sci-fi series that has spawned not only a massive cult following but, quite astonishingly, a movie. The reason it was such an underground success was because Firefly takes the Star Wars framework of making space messy, where everything is a little rough around the edges - including the crew. It even has its own Han Solo in the form of Nathan Fillion's Malcolm Reynolds. Whedon's witty words permeate the whole of Firefly, which is not so much a space opera but a space rock opera.

Seasons on Netflix: 1

15. The Killing

The US version of The Killing is a strange beast. It starts out to be an inferior version of the Nordic original but thanks to some interesting plotting and a longer series run it ends up being better. The cast is great, too. Donning the infamous jumper is Mireille Enos and her partner is rebooted RoboCop himself Joel Kinnaman. Netflix has also been the show's saviour, picking up the fourth season when it looked unlikely to be renewed. And the Seattle backdrop is even more menacing than the bleak outskirts of Copenhagen.

Seasons on Netflix: 4

16. Homeland

Homeland is as nail-bitingly intense as shows come. Marine Nicolas Brody (Damian Lewis) returns home after being held captive in Iraq for several years, much to the joy of his wife (Morena Baccarin), his two kids, and a nation that calls him a hero. Homeland security officer Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) isn't entirely convinced of his heroism. Could Brody actually have turned into a terrorist? Or is her bipolar disorder getting the better of her? This award-winning show is truly riveting.

Seasons on Netflix: 3

17. Orange is the New Black

It may have never reached the heady heights of House Of Cards, but Orange Is The New Black is another show that proves Netflix is now up there with HBO when it comes to offering decent programming. Set in a woman's prison, Orange doesn't shirk the big issues of violence and rape but manages to mix these with a heady dose of black humour. Oh, and its first series was actually more popular than Cards which is a surprise as Netflix's advertising has always been very Spacey heavy.

Seasons on Netflix: 2

18. Danger 5

This South Australian-made comedy series is an absolute gem that lovingly spoofs WWII spy movies with a '60s twist in its first series, then picks up again in the neon-soaked, synth-scored '80s for its second series. Danger 5 is an elite team with one mission in mind: kill Hitler. Everything else is just a retro-tastic bonus. I mean really, how can you not love a show that features Nazi dinosaurs, miniature sets, a lion-headed ninja, and Adolf Hitler as a Ferris Bueller-esque new kid at a John Hughes-style high school?

Seasons on Netflix: 9

19. The Fall

Serial killer shows are all the rage these days, and The Fall is one of the best around. Superintendent Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson) is on the hunt for a vicious serial killer in Belfast. Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan of Fifty Shades of Grey-fame) seems like a loving family man on the outside, but he also happens to the killer that that Stella is tracking. How many women will Paul kill before Stella can catch him? Seriously intense viewing.

Seasons on Netflix: 2

20. Misfits

Think of it as Skins with superpowers. A group of sexed-up, troubled British youths are all doing community service together when a crazy storm rolls in and gives each of them powers they can barely comprehend. Will they use those powers for good, or will they use them to get into more mischief? Great writing and a great cast (some of which go on to appear in Game of Thrones) make this show highly recommended.

Seasons on Netflix: 5

21. Top Gear

Okay, so the show may be in limbo at the moment due to Jeremy Clarkson's offscreen bad behaviour, but there's no denying that Top Gear is a remarkably entertaining programme. It's easy to get swept up in the show's various car challenges, test drives, stunts and celebrity appearances, even if you aren't a car enthusiast. This is all due to the infectious camaraderie between the show's three hosts – Richard Hammond, James May and the aforementioned Clarkson are a cheeky trio and are completely responsible for making a show about cars absolutely addicting.

Seasons on Netflix: 7

22. The Blacklist

Along with his upcoming titular role in Avengers: Age of Ultron, James Spader is having a hell of a comeback as of late, thanks in large part to his leading role in the hit series The Blacklist. Spader plays 'Red' Reddington, a brilliant and enigmatic wanted criminal mastermind who surrenders himself to the FBI. He'll give up information on other wanted criminals in exchange for immunity under one condition: he'll only deal with Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone), a rookie profiler. A seriously intriguing crime show.

Seasons on Netflix: 1

23. Orphan Black

Orphan Black's premise is truly mind-bending – a streetwise girl named Sarah (Tatiana Maslany) witnesses a girl's suicide. After realising she looks exactly like her, and being somewhat of a chameleon herself, Sarah assumes the dead girl's identity. What she couldn't have expected however, is to be plunged head-first into a mystery in which she discovers that she and her dead doppelgänger are in fact clones, and there are many more of them out there. Now she must discover who is behind all of this. A great new sci-fi series with loads of potential.

Seasons on Netflix: 2

24. Vikings

Praise Odin! We finally have a brutal and (mostly) historically-accurate show about Norse culture that would make Thor proud. Vikings takes us on a journey through Scandinavian/European history as Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel), a man who may or may not be a direct descendent of Odin himself, rises up the viking ranks and searches for new civilisations alongside his band of viking brothers. Best watched with a pint of mead in your hand.

Seasons on Netflix: 2

25. Freaks and Geeks

On the list of shows that were tragically cut down before their prime, Number 1 is Firefly. Number 2, however, is Freaks and Geeks, the show that served as a launching pad for some of our favorite stars in comedy today. Brash, mischievous and hysterical, James Franco, Jason Segel and Seth Rogen provide a perfect counter-balance for the tepid (and completely loveable) Linda Cardellini. The show scores the last spot on our list and in our hearts because at the end of the day we've all been Cardellini's character, Lindsay. We've all been picked on, called a nerd and genuinely loved something - whether that's cellphones, computers, televisions, whatever. And just when you think you'll never fit in, the right group of people somehow find their way into your life.

Seasons on Netflix: 1

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