There are many great shows on Netflix, to the point where it seems like there’s one for every occasion. Whether you’re looking for a hilarious comedy, an intense drama, a shocking thriller, or even mind-bending sci-fi, Netflix has you covered with an ample library of both original and acquired content.
We’re one month away from the beginning of summer, meaning we should enjoy the last days of spring while we can. Luckily, Netflix has more than enough great shows to enjoy the last stretch of the season. Steamy period dramas, animated epic adventures, and romantic yet heartbreaking romances are just a few of the best shows on Netflix this spring, and you’re really missing out by not watching them.
Bridgerton (2020-present)
Based on the bestselling novels by Julia Quinn, Bridgerton is a romantic period drama that follows the wealthy Bridgerton family living in Regency-era London. Each season focuses on one of the siblings, with the current season 3 revolving around the third brother, Colin Bridgerton, and his blossoming romance with childhood friend Penelope Featherington.
Bridgerton made the period drama sexier and more entertaining, becoming one of Netflix’s flagship series and attracting both critical and fan acclaim. Everything about this show screams spring, from the pastel color palette to the lush gardens where countless lavish parties happen seemingly every episode. Bridgerton is bright, lively, and hot, to the point where it seems like fall and winter don’t have a place in this romantic and luxurious world.
Bridgerton is available to stream on Netflix.
One Day (2024)
Romance is one of the strongest genres on Netflix, and shows like One Day prove it. The 2024 limited series stars Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall in a retelling of the beloved 2009 David Nicholls novel. It chronicles the 20-year relationship of Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew, who meet on their graduation day from the University of Edinburgh and develop a strong connection throughout the years.
The second adaptation of Nicholls’ novel following the Anne Hathaway movie from 2011, Netflix’s One Day is superior in pretty much every single way. The show is swooping and addictive, benefitting greatly from the chemistry between Mod and Woodall. Equal parts sweet and electrifying, the two craft a modern romance that is charming, occasionally harrowing, and always rewarding. One Day is the perfect choice to watch this spring season, especially for all those hopeless romantics who aren’t afraid of a good cry.
One Day is available to stream on Netflix.
Emily in Paris (2020-present)
Lily Collins stars in the Darren Star-created comedy Emily in Paris. As the title implies, the show follows Emily Cooper, a 29-year-old marketing expert who travels to Paris to bring an “American perspective” to a French marketing agency. There, she meets new friends and romantic interests, with her effervescent personality making the best out of every situation.
Fans of Sex and the City will surely like Emily in Paris; just as that show presented a romanticized version of New York City, Emily in Paris does the same for the City of Lights. Most episodes are bubbly and more than a bit exaggerated, largely thanks to Emily’s over-the-top ensembles, which would make Carrie Bradshaw quiver. In fact, the show is so bright that it somehow combats the famously rainy Parisian days, replacing them with vivid colors and flashy, larger-than-life personalities.
Emily in Paris is available to stream on Netflix.
Heartstopper (2022-present)
No show on Netflix is as hopeful or unabashedly sweet as Heartstopper. Based on Alice Oseman’s eponymous graphic novels, the coming-of-age series centers on the blossoming romance between Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson, two young English boys discovering their sexualities and what it means to be in love. The show also follows the lives of their friends, who are also on journeys of self-discovery.
Heartstopper is among the most popular shows on Netflix, not to mention among its most heartwarming. Presenting an idealized version of young love, the show emphasizes feelings while still delivering a cohesive narrative that is both engaging and satisfying. Heartstopper rises on the strength and refreshing innocence of Kit Connor and Joe Locke, who deliver star-making performances in the leading roles. It’s arguably too syrupy for its own good, but Heartstopper is a sunny and endlessly hopeful alternative for the many other intense and bleak shows on streaming.
Heartstopper is available to stream on Netflix.
Blood of Zeus (2020-present)
Nowadays, it’s not weird for a show to take years between seasons. However, Blood of Zeus took things to the other level, with a gap of nearly four years between seasons 1 and 2. Still, the wait was worth it, as the show’s sophomore effort is a brilliant showcase of narrative and animation prowess that stands among the best and most complex animated efforts on modern television.
Following the story of young Greek hero Heron, the son of Zeus, Blood of Zeus is ambitious, exhilarating, and rich, proving that television animation is truly undergoing a golden age. Season 2 places a high emphasis on flowers, using them as a strong leitmotif and even a narrative device, largely thanks to the expanded role of Demeter, the Greek goddess of agriculture. Action-packed but fascinatingly crafted, Blood of Zeus is among Netflix’s best and most cohesive series, an underappreciated gem that you simply cannot miss this spring.
Blood of Zeus is available to stream on Netflix.
