It’s wild to think that Stranger Things (yes, the little Netflix show that snuck onto our screens in July 2016 and hasn’t left our minds since) has been around for nearly a decade. It started as a nostalgic love letter to ’80s sci-fi and horror and quickly became a global hit with its mix of supernatural thrills, small-town charm, and a cast of breakout young stars. Season 1 was lightning in a bottle. It captured the imagination of viewers across generations, and suddenly, everyone was talking about Demogorgons, Eggo waffles, and the Upside Down.
As new seasons rolled in, Stranger Things expanded its scope, deepened the lore, and fans absolutely loved the evolution. Some missed the simplicity of the early days, but the show never stopped being a cultural event. Now, as we inch closer to its final chapter, it feels surreal to think how much TV has changed under its shadow. While Hawkins is still fighting monsters, dozens of brilliant TV shows have come and gone.
From prestige dramas to genre-defying comedies, streaming platforms like HBO, Prime Video, FX, and Apple TV+ have delivered some of the most ambitious and stylish TV shows. And while Stranger Things continues to hold court, here’s a look at 10 unforgettable TV shows that began and ended during the Stranger Things era.
‘Cobra Kai’ (2018 – 2024)
Set decades after the events of The Karate Kid, Cobra Kai reintroduces Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) as a down-and-out handyman haunted by his 1984 All Valley defeat. When he impulsively reopens the Cobra Kai dojo to mentor a bullied teen named Miguel, he reignites an old rivalry with Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), who is now a successful car dealer with a picture-perfect life.
Builds Something New and Addictive
A multi-generational martial arts saga with new students, old grudges, and a surprising amount of depth, Cobra Kai spans six seasons and features a lot of high school drama and dojo politics. It balances reverence for its source material with a fresh, self-aware energy. The absurdity of grown men bringing back a teenage feud is downplayed by the slick fight choreography and impressive character arcs.
‘This Is Us’ (2016 – 2022)
At first glance, This Is Us may seem like just another simple family drama, but it actually unfolds like a beautifully constructed puzzle. It follows the Pearson family across multiple timelines, centering mainly on siblings Kevin, Kate, and Randall (known as “The Big Three”) and their parents, Jack and Rebecca. Through flashbacks, flash-forwards, and present-day, we witness the family’s triumphs, traumas, and everything in between.
Sweeps You Up In An Emotional Current
From Jack’s tragic death to Randall’s search for identity, Kate’s struggle with self-worth, and Kevin’s battle with addiction, the show explores all the messy, complicated parts of life, and it’s this authenticity and the ability to find grace in the ordinary that moves people. Dan Fogelman’s direction kept the timelines coherent, and the cast, especially Sterling K. Brown, Mandy Moore, and Milo Ventimiglia, delivered outstanding performances.
‘What We Do in the Shadows’ (2019 – 2024)
Based on the cult-favorite mockumentary film by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, What We Do in the Shadows takes you to Staten Island, where four undead misfits try (and mostly fail) to ease into modern society. There’s Nandor the Relentless, a once-feared warlord now scared by email; Laszlo and Nadja, a debauched couple with centuries of baggage; and Colin Robinson, an energy vampire who drains people by boring them.
Absurd and Endlessly Quotable
There’s something weirdly comforting about watching What We Do in the Shadows. It is the kind of show you throw on for a laugh but end up staying for the surprisingly rich character arcs. The writing is clever, the improv energy is infectious, and the cast (Matt Berry and Harvey Guillén) is brilliant. It’s a rare roommate comedy that’s both ridiculous and tender, and it’s carved out a cult following that will keep saying “BAT!” for years to come.
‘The Good Place’ (2016 – 2020)
In The Good Place, Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell) wakes up in the afterlife, and she is told that she has made it to the “Good Place,” which is an utopia designed by architect Michael (Ted Danson). But the only problem is that she’s not supposed to be here. The mistaken identity mixup evolved into a philosophical rollercoaster, as Eleanor teams up with fellow misfits Chidi, Tahani, and Jason to become better people and earn their spot.
Perfect for Binge-Watching
The Good Place is a rare show that feels smarter than it has any right to be, while still being breezy and hilarious. Michael Schur’s direction keeps the tone light even as the stakes get metaphysical, while Danson and Bell are a duo that nails the balance between humor and heart. Each season reinvents the rules and steers the narrative towards a satisfying finale.
‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ (2017 – 2023)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is set in late 1950s New York, and it tells the story of Miriam “Midge” Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan), a young and affluent housewife whose life takes a dramatic turn when her husband leaves her, and she discovers a knack for stand-up comedy. With the help of her manager Susie, Midge dives headfirst into the male-dominated world of comedy.
Wit, Wonder, and Vintage Vibes
The Prime Video hit created by Amy Sherman-Palladino spans multiple years and cities, tracking Midge’s rise from amateur open-mics to near-stardom, all while capturing the cultural shifts of the era with dazzling precision. The costumes and sets are a visual feast, but it’s Brosnahan’s performance that anchors the show. Over five seasons, it builds a world of memorable characters and offers a love letter to the messy path of finding your voice.
‘Ozark’ (2017 – 2022)
Ozark begins with financial advisor Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman) being forced to launder money for a Mexican drug cartel. He relocates his family from Chicago to the Lake of the Ozarks and finds himself embroiled in a dangerous web of criminal activity. As Marty and his wife Wendy (Laura Linney) dig deeper into the local underworld, they clash with rival criminals, law enforcement, and each other.
Makes You Question Everything
One of the crime dramas that consistently gets better with every season, Ozark thrives in its grim tone, moody cinematography, tight pacing, and top-tier performances. Bateman’s understated intensity and Linney’s chilling transformation make for one of TV’s most compelling power couples. Across four seasons, Ozark delivers cliffhangers, moral quandaries, and character deaths that feel shocking but earned. It’s not light viewing, but it’s absolutely gripping.
‘Atlanta’ (2016 – 2022)
Donald Glover’s Atlanta is a surreal, genre-defying experience. It follows Earn Marks, a Princeton dropout trying to manage his cousin Paper Boi’s rap career in the Atlanta music scene. But the show rarely plays by conventional rules. One episode tackles the absurdity of fame and another dives into racial microaggressions through a horror lens, while another might not feature the main cast at all.
Challenges You and Surprises You
Using the city as a backdrop for stories about identity, ambition, and the strange realities of being Black in America, Atlanta is unpredictable in a way that each episode feels like its own short film. Glover’s direction is fearless and experimental. And the cast (Brian Tyree Henry, Lakeith Stanfield, Zazie Beetz) brings so much to the table. Critics loved it, fans obsessed over it, and it left behind a legacy of storytelling that’s personally resonant and culturally sharp.
‘Barry’ (2018 – 2023)
Barry kicks off with a simple premise – a hitman wants to become an actor. But then it descends into themes of identity, morality, and the cost of reinvention. Bill Hader stars as Barry Berkman, a former Marine turned assassin who stumbles into a Los Angeles acting class and decides he wants a new life. The problem is that his past just won’t let go, and he’s forced to juggle his double life and his budding romance with aspiring actress Sally.
Starts Quirky and Ends Devastating
Featuring brutal action and deadpan humor, often in the same breath, Barry is simply unforgettable. The direction (especially in later seasons) gets increasingly bold, with long takes, surreal sequences, and a tone that shifts from absurd to terrifying in seconds. Hader is magnetic, but even Henry Winkler’s Gene Cousineau is a standout, and Anthony Carrigan’s NoHo Hank became an instant fan favorite.
‘The Crown’ (2016 – 2023)
Spanning decades of British history, The Crown chronicles the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, beginning with her unexpected ascension in the 1950s and ending in the early 2000s. Each season captured a different era, with the cast rotating every two seasons to reflect the aging monarchy. From political crises and royal scandals to personal heartbreaks and shifting public perception, it dives deep into the institution and the individuals behind it.
A Royal Binge Worth Every Hour
If the walls of Buckingham Palace could talk, they would surely share the extraordinary saga of the British royal family. But they can’t, so we have Netflix’s The Crown instead. Helmed by the incomparable Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, and Imelda Staunton, this is prestige TV at its finest because it portrays the royals with nuance and complexity. Whether it’s Margaret’s rebellion or Charles and Diana’s unraveling, there’s always something compelling at the center.
‘Succession’ (2018 – 2023)
When the aging patriarch of the Roy family, media mogul Logan Roy, suffers a health scare, a fierce power struggle filled with manipulation and backstabbing erupts among his four children as they vie to secure their claim to his vast media and entertainment empire. Kendall, Roman, Shiv, and Connor each bring their own brand of dysfunction, and Logan’s looming presence keeps everyone on edge.
A Modern Classic
A Shakespearean tragedy for the modern age. A scathing satire of the ultra-wealthy. Call it what you want, but Succession is easily one of the best shows of the 21st century. The cast (Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin) delivers performances that are chaotic, heartbreaking, and often hilarious. And while that’s enough to keep you invested, the show’s also endlessly quotable, deeply addictive, and surprisingly moving.
- Release Date
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2016 – 2025
- Network
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Netflix
- Writers
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Kate Trefry, Jessie Nickson-Lopez, Jessica Mecklenburg, Alison Tatlock
