Netflix’s popularity has skyrocketed in recent years. Although the streaming service is best known for its popular television series and movies, Netflix has begun to release content of its own. Some of these Netflix originals are well worth the watch. For instance, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Stranger Things, and 13 Reasons Why are all Netflix originals and are some of the most popular series on Netflix today.

The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is a hilarious comedy series about a country girl who was kidnapped and lived in an underground bunker for 15 years.  As soon as she gets out, she moves to New York City, where she finds herself thrown into a drastically different life.  Seasons 1-3 of The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt  are available on Netflix, and the show has been renewed for a fourth season.

“I love The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, mainly because the main actress in the show, Ellie Kemper, is hilarious.  She also plays Erin in The Office, who’s another great character,” said senior Saige Gitlin.

Arguably the most popular Netflix Original is Stranger Things. Set in 1983, the show follows a group of friends in the small town of Hawkins, IN as they are launched into a terrifying supernatural investigation when they start searching for their missing friend, Will Byers.  On top of their investigation to find their best friend, Joyce Byers, Will’s mother, is working with the police chief of Hawkins, Hopper, to find Will, and Jonathan Byers is working with his friend Nancy to find out what happened to Will and Nancy’s friend Barb, who also mysteriously disappeared.  With the show’s complex story lines (all of which connect to Will’s mysterious disappearance), the show is extremely well written and executed.  The main actors and actresses in the show, who are barely teenagers, have now become internet and television sensations, including Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, and Noah Schnapp. 

“ I love how Stranger Things is a great family show but can also be very scary at times,” said senior Kathryn Pizzuti.

13 Reasons Why is another popular Netflix original which gained so much traction that there were over 3 million tweets about the show during its first full week on Netflix alone.  The show, directed by Selena Gomez, follows Clay Jensen as he inherits a box of 13 tapes which explain why his old friend, Hannah Baker, committed suicide.  To Clay’s horror, Hannah tells him her story by leading him to all 13 people that had wronged her, and Clay is one of them.  13 Reasons Why is highly controversial in its way of displaying the message to readers, but many viewers enjoyed the chilling series. 

The Babysitter is an unusual combination of comedy and horror which Netflix released in October. Cole, stays up late and witnesses his babysitter (accompanied by a satanic cult) murder a man, and then try to take blood from him.  He tries to escape, but ends up getting caught and the members will do anything to keep him quiet.  This movie was certainly creepy but contained layers of comedy that made it entertaining to watch.

Netflix originals are dominating the streaming site. Many of the series are great shows which are definitely worth a watch.