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It can feel like there's nothing good to watch on Netflix, but it's not true. Quality entertainment awaits you, provided you get your recommendations from the right place. Luckily for you, that place is here.
These three shows are well-suited for a weekend binge because they're brilliant and not too long. Treat yourself and watch all of them -- you deserve it.
3 Hostage
Hostage is a political thriller from Matt Charman, an Oscar-nominated writer who worked on Spielberg's great 2015 film Bridge of Spies (not currently streaming on Netflix in the US). The show stars Suranne Jones as Abigail Dalton, the newly-elected British prime minister, and Julie Delpy as Vivienne Toussaint, the French president who is running for re-election.
The two meet to negotiate an important deal, but the situation unexpectedly escalates. Dalton's husband is kidnapped, with those responsible demanding that she resign, and Toussaint is blackmailed with some compromising footage. It's an enticing opening and it only gets better from there.
The five episodes are fast-paced and gripping, with decent performances from the central pair and some good action sequences. There are plenty of twists to keep you guessing too, though you will have to suspend your disbelief for certain aspects of the story. Since the show is a limited series, you don't need to worry about it running endlessly or being unceremoniously canceled -- it's ready for you to binge in its entirety.
Hostage Drama Crime Release Date August 21, 2025 Network Netflix Cast Suranne Jones, Julie Delpy, Corey Mylchreest, Lucian Msamati, Ashley Thomas, James Cosmo, Jehnny Beth Main Genre Drama Creator(s) Matt Charman Seasons 1 Powered by Expand Collapse 2 Squid Game
Squid Game became a cultural phenomenon when it debuted in 2021 and is a Netflix drama that changed TV forever. It's inventive, engrossing, and shocking. The show, set in South Korea, is about a shady organization that offers those struggling financially the chance to win a sum beyond their dreams. All someone has to do is compete in a series of children's games against hundreds of competitors. The catch? It's a doozy: the games are deadly and the losers are killed.
The simplicity of the games and the striking, colorful visuals make the violence and bleakness even more impactful. But the real draw here is the incredible characters and how they respond to the situation. You're bound to grow fond of many, which makes it even tougher when they are in peril. At the center of it all is Lee Jung-jae, who gives a great and layered performance. The first season is the best, mainly because it has the element of surprise, but the entire show is special.
If you're one of the few people who have never watched Squid Game, now is your time to catch up; the third and final season came out recently, meaning it's a finished show you can binge. If you can, grab a friend to watch it with so that you can swap theories and analyze the dystopian themes.
Squid Game TV-MA Action & Adventure Mystery Drama Thriller Release Date 2021 - 2025 Network Netflix Showrunner Hwang Dong-hyuk Cast Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-jun, Jeon Young-soo, Lee Byung-hun, Yim Si-wan, Jo Yu-ri, Park Gyu-young, Kang Ae-sim, Park Hae-soo, Park Hye-jin, Kang Ha-neul, Hoyeon, Oh Young-soo, Yang Dong-geun, Heo Sung-tae, Kim Joo-ryoung, Lee Jin-wook, Park Sung-hoon, Anupam Tripathi, Lee You-mi, Choi Gwi-hwa, Lee Da-wit, Jun Suk-ho, Ha Soo-ho, You Seong-joo Directors Hwang Dong-hyuk Writers Hwang Dong-hyuk Main Genre Mystery Creator(s) Hwang Dong-hyuk Producers Han Heung-seok Seasons 3 Streaming Service(s) Netflix Executive Producer(s) Hwang Dong-hyuk Powered by Expand Collapse 1 Long Story Short
BoJack Horseman is one of the best shows on Netflix. The adult animated show is deeply human, which might seem like an odd thing to say about a series where the lead character is an anthropomorphic horse. When I heard that BoJack's creator, Raphael Bob-Waksberg, had another show in the works for the streamer, I was immediately intrigued and couldn't wait to see it.
That turned out to be Long Story Short, which debuted this month, and it was worth the wait. It follows the Jewish Schwooper family through different times in their lives, with a focus on the three siblings Avi (Ben Feldman), Shira (Abbi Jacobson), and Yoshi (Max Greenfield). It's a heartfelt reflection on growing up and all the happiness and sadness that entails. While poignant and melancholy, the show is also hilarious and chaotic. The animation is outstanding too, with great use of color and loosely drawn backgrounds.
I devoured the ten episodes over the course of a few days and I'm sure you'll do the same. In a time when Netflix is canceling everyone's favorite show, it's refreshing that Long Story Short was renewed for a second season before the first had even dropped. Now that I've seen how good it is, that's no surprise. BoJack only got better with time, so I'm excited to see the further adventures of the Schwoopers.
Long Story Short Comedy Animation Release Date August 22, 2025 Network Netflix Cast Lisa Edelstein, Paul Reiser, Ben Feldman, Abbi Jacobson, Max Greenfield, Angelique Cabral, Nicole Byer Main Genre Animation Seasons 1 Executive Producer(s) Noel Bright, Steven A. Cohen, Raphael Bob-Waksberg Powered by Expand Collapse
If you speed through these and want more, know that there are plenty of movies and shows arriving on Netflix in September. They won't all be golden, though, so come back next week for more of my recommendations.
Netflix Subscription with ads Yes, $8/month Simultaneous streams Two or four
Stream all of these brilliant shows, along with plenty more licensed and original programming, with a monthly Netflix subscription.
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