(Credit: Netflix)

Weekends are made for stories that let you get lost in their world and spare you only when it ends. Sometimes you want something to laugh at, and the rest of the time, you want a show that makes you sit forward and bite your nails. Netflix has plenty of options, but scrolling endlessly to find the right one is half the battle. That’s where this list comes in.

The trick is to find the balance. A good weekend binge list needs a mix of shows and not just one genre. Hence, we have got you a supernatural mystery to give you chills, a gritty thriller to keep you hooked, a bit of fantasy mayhem, and, of course, something funny enough to break the tension. The five shows we have picked below cover all those moods, so no matter what headspace you are in, you’ll have the perfect watch lined up.

What makes these shows different from your regular recommendations is that these are not obvious choices. You won’t find the overhyped, endlessly discussed titles here. Instead, these are shows that either flew under the radar or deserve a second spotlight because they are just that good.

So if you are looking for one solid list that will take you from Friday night all the way to Sunday, here it is.

The five best series to watch on Netflix

Lockwood & Co. (2023)

When it comes to supernatural stories, they become more fun if you know kids are involved. Lockwood & Co. is a show where you see that London is crawling with ghosts, but only kids can see them. A group of teenagers set up their own agency to hunt down spirits that adults are powerless against. Lockwood, Lucy, and George make a slightly unlikely but determined team. They take on terrifying cases with fewer resources and more guts. And come on, who doesn’t like watching a bunch of kids on a haunted adventure and in suspense?

You should watch Lockwood & Co. if you want the chills of a ghost story mixed with the energy of a teen adventure. This show is fast-paced, and there is only one season, so your entire weekend won’t be consumed. Plus, it’s quite charming with just enough humour to cut through the scares, and the characters are instantly likeable. So if you are bored of watching Stranger Things for the 100th time, this show will scratch the same itch while giving you something new.

Black Doves (2024-)

If you are a thriller lover, then we have got not one but two Netflix recommendations for you. The first of which is Black Doves. This 2024 British spy thriller is made for you if you like your watch full of secrets, lies, and political betrayals. It is the story of a woman named Helen Webb, who secretly works as an informant for London’s intelligence services. When her lover is murdered, she is pulled into a deadly conspiracy that connects her past to high-level secrets. Luckily, she has her handler and a former assassin at her side who help her through this.

If you’re a fan of tension that builds scene by scene, Black Doves is worth your weekend. And with stars like Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw, the series becomes a spectacle. With the perfect amount and timing of twists in the show, this becomes a non-flashy or action-packed drama.

The Spy (2019)

The second recommendation in the spy thriller series is a show based on a true story. We have seen Sacha Baron Cohen making us laugh till we roll on the floor in The Dictator and Borat, but you will be shocked to see him as a real-life spy named Eli Cohen in The Spy. He plays an Israeli intelligence officer in the show who successfully infiltrated Syria in the 1960s. The series traces his double life, showing both the danger of living undercover and the emotional cost of deception. It’s a taut historical thriller that doesn’t just show espionage as action but as an act of patience and nerve.

What makes The Spy worth watching is Cohen’s unexpected performance. Known for comedy, he disappears into the role of Eli Cohen with such intensity that he successfully proves his dramatic range. The series is gripping because it’s real, and knowing these events actually happened makes every scene more tense.

The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself (2022)

This show will take you into the world of fantasy. Nathan is the teenage son of the world’s most feared witch, and that legacy makes him a target. He is pulled between two rival factions of magical clans and has to decide who he is and where his loyalties lie. The show, basically, is a dark fantasy, but it’s also a coming-of-age drama that offers a world full of blood and magic and the messiness of growing up under impossible expectations.

Watch this if you want something light and messy. The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself is violent and emotional, but in all the right ways. It’s about identity as much as it’s about magic. Moreover, it gives you characters to root for even when the world around them feels unforgiving. Think of it as a darker alternative of Netflix to Harry Potter.

Murderville (2022)

The last Netflix recommendation is a murder mystery show. Detective Terry Seattle, played by Will Arnett, in this show he has a new partner for every murder case. But there is a twist: his celebrity guest stars don’t have a script. From Conan O’Brien to Kumail Nanjiani, the guests have to improvise their way through each investigation while reacting in real time to clues. It’s equal parts crime parody and equal parts improv comedy experiment.

You should watch Murderville if you want something light and ridiculous to balance heavier dramas. Since there is no script, the fun is doubled because everything is improvised. It is exactly the kind of show you’ll want to watch with friends just to laugh together at how absurd it gets.