Derry Girls season 3
It may be a little over a year since Derry Girls left our screens for good, but that doesn't mean that the iconic comedy series doesn't deserve a re-watch (or several).
If you're missing the Lisa McGee series, have no fear as Netflix UK has just acquired the third and final season of the show. The third outing is just as hilarious and chaotic as the previous two, with the gang tackling GCSE results day, the school talent show, Erin and Orla's 18th and the Good Friday Agreement referendum. - Morgan Cormack
Starstruck
While we bide our time and wait for the anticipated third season to come out on BBC Three and iPlayer, Netflix have aptly acquired the first two seasons for fans to either re-watch or new viewers to discover. In the hilarious and often relatable series, we follow Jessie (Rose Matafeo) who has a one-night-stand with a film star. relationship. - Morgan Cormack
Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop
To mark the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop, this timely documentary examines the women who were and continue to be at the centre of the genre. While men at the centre of the genre have long gotten their dues, this series aims to reinsert these women into the Hip-Hop canon.
The four-part series features iconic stars such as Queen Latifah and MC Lyte, as well as newer chart-topping artists like Tierra Whack and Saweetie. As well as thought-provoking interviews aplenty, the series also features some important wider contextualisation of the genre and looks at Hip-Hop through the lens of the political, social and racial landscape of the times. - Morgan Cormack
Painkiller
This brand-new drama is a fictionalised retelling of the origins and aftermath of the opioid crisis in America, telling the story from a number of different lenses, with focuses on multiple characters' stories. If that sounds familiar, then that's because it is - this series is incredibly reminiscent of the 2021 series Dopesick, which starred Michael Keaton.
However, that doesn't mean this isn't still an effective drama in its own right, and for those who missed Dopesick or don't have access to Disney Plus, it works as a chilling reminder of the real-world tragedy being dramatised. Meanwhile, it is led by strong lead performances from the likes of Matthew Broderick and Uzo Aduba. - James Hibbs
Heartstopper
This LGBTQ+ romance has captured the hearts of viewers across the globe, telling the story of how schoolboys Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) and Nick Nelson (Kit Connor) go from being friends to boyfriends over the course of a fateful school year. The show dispenses with the drugs, sex and misery of edgier high school fare like Euphoria, in favour of an all-ages approach that makes up for in cuteness what it lacks in dramatic stakes.
That being said, the second season – which has now arrived on Netflix – does delve into some darker material, as our characters face troubled home lives and mental health concerns among other obstacles. As detailed in our Heartstopper season 2 review, a more confident and complex show emerges in the latest episodes which could well convert any sceptics of the first.
With brisk 25-minute runtime, this is a series you can easily binge-watch – and if you're a hopeless romantic, then you most likely will. Heartstopper boasts a cast comprised largely of newcomers (along with one A-list cameo), but expect to see plenty more from them in the years to come. In fact, trans actress Yasmin Finney – who plays arty schoolgirl Elle – has been cast in Doctor Who's 60th anniversary special, while co-lead Joe Locke will appear in Marvel's Agatha: Coven of Chaos. – David Craig
The Lincoln Lawyer
If you enjoyed Bosch, then Netflix has the series for you to next dive into. Adding to the world first fleshed out in Michael Connelly's books, The Lincoln Lawyer stars Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Mickey Haller, a criminal defence lawyer and recovering addict who works in the back of his Lincoln Navigator and takes on cases across Los Angeles.
If you're a fan of the books, or just of the legal drama genre, then this is for you - it may not be revolutionary, shocking or hugely inventive, but it services fans of the material well and acts as perfect easy watching, with a group of likeable characters you'll be happy to return to, expertly brought to life by the likes of Neve Campbell and Becki Newton. - James Hibbs
