Netflix is well-known for releasing dozens upon dozens of shows on a near-weekly basis. In 2023, the streaming service released everything from an experimental heist thriller in Kaleidoscope to the return of Black Mirror to a David Beckham documentary that lit the globe on fire.
These all had legitimate claims to be among the top Netflix shows, but what do they all have in common? Yes, they are all available on Netflix; beautifully done. Furthermore, none of them received a flawless 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite this, Netflix has released a half-dozen new shows in the last year that have received the renowned rating.
There are plenty of superb Netflix shows that have been total critical successes, ranging from a best-selling novel adaptation about a missing person’s case being reopened more than a decade later, to a Samurai adult animation from the writer behind Logan, as well as an underdog wrestling documentary about the sport’s up-and-comers. However, these may have slipped under your radar, so we wanted to spotlight them so you may add them to your watchlist and end the year on a good note.
Blue Eye Samurai
Sure, there’s an alarmingly big list of new adult animations vying for your attention, but Blue Eye Samurai is written by Michael Green, who also wrote Logan and Blade Runner 2049. In the 17th century Edo period of Japan, a biracial samurai named Mizu seeks vengeance against four white men, one of whom may be her father. We imagine Quentin Tarantino’s Mulan might look somewhat like this. The bloody action moments make it worthwhile a must-see – and the first episode is available on YouTube.
Cunk on Earth
Meet Philomena Cunk, a hard-hitting and horrifyingly informed investigative reporter aiming to bring people closer to the truth by interviewing specialists on human history. This five-part spoof documentary from comedian Diane Morgan and Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker is delightfully witty and authentically British. Its clever script is so superb that you frequently forget this is a fictitious character.
▶️ Watch Cunk on Earth on Netflix
The Snow Girl
Aside from a few pacing flaws, The Snow Girl is packed with suspense, compelling performances, and every parent’s worst nightmare. The Spanish mystery drama, adapted from Spanish writer Javier Castillo, is divided into three timeframes when a five-year-old daughter goes missing during a parade in Málaga, Spain. It is then that a young newspaper writer (Milena Smit), who has experienced her own heartbreak, becomes involved to assist the parents and police in locating the child before it is too late.
▶️ Watch The Snow Girl on Netflix
Wrestlers
The highest praise you can pay Wrestlers is that you don’t have to be a wrestling fan to enjoy it. Ohio Valley Wrestling has seen Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Dave Bautista build their names before moving on to the big leagues. We get a behind-the-scenes look at OVW’s various highs and lows, its owner – former big-time wrestler Al Snow – and his financial woes, as well as the possible next great stars in the making, during the course of this seven-part series.
Castlevania: Nocturne
Following the four-season success of the 2017 Castlevania animated series, a sequel focusing on Richter Belmont, a descendant of Trevor and Sypha, was commissioned. The plot of Castlevania: Nocturne, which takes place during the French Revolution in 1792, bites off more than it can chew, but the animation and character design remain magnificent, with top-class voice acting from Killing Eve star Edward Bluemel.
▶️ Castlevania: Nocturne is available on Netflix.
Dear Child
Dear Child is a psychological thriller mini-series based on Romy Hausmann’s best-selling novel of the same name. It has received positive reviews. It begins when an unknown woman is hit by a car in Stuttgart, Germany, bringing to light a 13-year-old missing persons investigation. Except for loads of twists and turns that will trap you in from episode one, with music from The Last of Us composer Gustavo Santaolalla.
