Five perfect series to binge on Netflix this weekend
Scrolling through Netflix can feel like swiping left or right on Tinder.
You get one decent match after spending hours, and then you chat with them only to find out you missed some better ones before. And don’t forget the same 15 faces popping up repeatedly every time you restart the app.
The Netflix algorithm screams at you in a similar way when it asks you to watch the same big titles again and again, as if you are missing out if you don’t press play. But the truth is that half those shows feel like chores. A weekend binge should be fun; you don’t want an assignment.
That’s why here are five series we pulled together that take your time and make you feel the watch was worth it. While some of these are sharp, some are oddly strange, and some will sneak up on you with their emotions, we guarantee all of them are worth interacting.
So if you want something bingeable that doesn’t feel like homework, check out these five shows for the weekend.
Five perfect weekend binge series on Netflix
The Irregulars (2021)
If you are given an opportunity to watch content related to Sherlock Holmes, there is no way you’d skip it. But this time, it’s not your regular Holmes solving a case story. Forget the polished Sherlock reboots; it’s time to watch The Irregulars. This show throws the detective into the background, and the story is led by a bunch of scrappy teenagers in Victorian London.
Reminiscent of Sherlock’s circuit of homeless and street kids who relayed him vital information, this rag-tag bunch are doing more than just passing the news. Their job is to tackle supernatural crimes that get darker and weirder with every episode. You have got ghosts, monsters and things you would rather not meet in a dark alley. Sounds interesting, right? This bunch of detectives solving supernatural crimes will not let you off the hook until you’ve binged it all.
Breeders (2020–2023)
Speaking of Sherlock, how can we forget one of the most famous roles of Dr John Watson, played by Martin Freeman? If you’ve watched him a zillion times, it’s time to change the show. In Breeders, Freeman plays a dad permanently on the edge, and it all feels almost too real, and please don’t confuse it with your “cute chaotic” sitcom families. Imagine being in situations where you are so furious you’re swearing under your breath, and throw in some bedtime meltdowns for an extra kick, and this show has got it all wrapped in a bow.
What will keep you hooked is how honest it is without losing humour. Freeman has a way of ranting that makes you laugh while also reminding you of times you were in his place, and rather he’d go through it than you. It’s the kind of comedy that makes you feel lighter because someone finally admits family life is impossible to get right, and therein lies your comfort show.
The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020)
If you are neither convinced by the ghostbusting mystery genre nor a frustrating comedy, we have got you a horror story. The Haunting of Bly Manor is a part of one of Netflix’s most liked anthology series, AKA The Haunting of Hill House. You have flickering lights, creepy children, and that house you would never want to be left alone in. But beneath flooboards, there is a sweet and tender love story; however, be prepared, as it’s a bit devastating, too.
Even after being a horror show, the story handles grief and love in such a raw manner that you almost forget you signed up for a bone-chiller. So if you want horror with actual heart, this is it.
Mo (2022–2025)
Mo is a show about Mo Amer, and for those not in the know, he is a Palestinian-American stand-up comedian and actor. In Mo, he offers a brilliant performance playing himself. It’s his story as a Palestinian refugee who lives in Houston and is always juggling a million things to make ends meet. He needs to look after his family while he keeps on picking odd jobs, all while trying to find his place in terms of documentation and spiritually. Half the time, Mo is hustling, and the other half, he is quietly carrying this huge weight of not fully belonging anywhere.
You’ll experience something weird here. One minute, you are laughing out loud because he has landed in some absurd situation, and the next, you are blindsided by how heavy it gets. This show shows you life in its most unpredictable and raw format; think Shawshank Redemption, but colourful with comedy.
The Lincoln Lawyer (2022–Present)
The last pick is about a guy named Mickey Haller, who is not your typical courtroom genius. He literally runs his law practice out of the back of his Lincoln. Picture him driving around LA, taking calls and scrambling between cases that look like they’re about to eat him alive. He’s smart, yeah, but he’s also reckless in a way that makes you lean in closer.
The show moves fast, which is a major selling point. There’s no dragging your feet through endless speeches; the cases come at you quickly, and Mickey keeps pulling wins out of places you don’t see coming. You tell yourself you’ll watch one episode before bed, and suddenly it’s three in the morning. It’s messy, addictive, and somehow more fun than most legal dramas have a right to be.