Skip to main content

5 great Netflix shows you should watch on Memorial Day weekend

A man and a woman look at each other in Baby Reindeer.
Netflix

Netflix seems to release one new show worth watching almost every week, but very few people have the time to keep up with all of that content. Thankfully, the federal government throws us the occasional long weekend that also serves as the perfect excuse to catch up on whatever shows on Netflix you may have missed when they first debuted.

If you’re struggling to remember which shows are worth watching, though, we’ve got you covered. We’ve selected five great shows worth checking out on the streamer that range from lighthearted to darker and more cynical. No matter what you’re into, you’ll hopefully find something worth exploring on this list.

Recommended Videos

Heartstopper (2022)

Heartstopper | Official Trailer | Netflix

One of the sweetest shows Netflix has ever produced, Heartstopper tells the story of two teenage boys who discover that their friendship may actually be something more. The series is whimsical and wonderful, and just the kind of romantic dramedy we don’t get enough of anymore.

For all of its lighthearted moments, though, this is also a show that takes the emotional journeys of its two central characters very seriously. Heartstopper is a hard show not to love no matter who you are, and it’s a great way to spend a few hours during the long, lazy weekend.

Baby Reindeer (2024)

Baby Reindeer | Official Trailer | Netflix

One of the more disturbing shows to ever come to Netflix, Baby Reindeer is loosely based on a true story from its star and creator, Richard Gadd, and follows a stand-up comedian who finds himself dealing with a stalker.

The show’s brilliance, though, is in the ways in which he encourages his stalker, and then finds himself overwhelmed by his own traumas as she ingratiates herself deeper and deeper into his life. Baby Reindeer is often a pretty unsettling watch, but it’s deeply rewarding if you’re looking for something both tense and thought-provoking to get you through the weekend.

Russian Doll (2019)

Russian Doll: Season 1 | Official Trailer | Netflix

Even in a highly crowded TV landscape, there’s no show quite like Russian Doll. Telling the story of a New York programmer who finds herself trapped in the day she dies over and over again, the series is bolstered by Fantastic Four star Natasha Lyonne’s dynamic, incredible central performance.

The show’s twists and turns, as well as its more uneven second season, are best left unspoiled. If you’re looking for something offbeat, funny, and gripping, though, Russian Doll may be the best place to start.

Blue Eye Samurai (2023)

Blue Eye Samurai | Official Trailer #2 | Netflix

Feudal Japan is having something of a pop culture moment, and Blue Eye Samurai is one of the best examples. The show tells the story of a female samurai living in that era who is on a quest for revenge against the white men who could be her father and are living in Japan in secret.

Featuring stunning animation, a brilliant voice cast, and riveting storytelling, Blue Eye Samurai is all the proof you need that, in spite of the stereotypes around the format, animation can very much be for adults, and in this case, really for adults only.

You (2018)

YOU Trailer (2018) Netflix

A brilliant, twisted show about the way in which misogyny is able to constantly change and evolve, You tells the story of Joe Goldberg, a man with psychopathic, murderous tendencies who tells himself that his actions protect the women around him.

The first season of You was so popular after it hit Netflix that the show was purchased by the streaming service and has now gone through four seasons. The events of each season are batty in the best possible way, and the rotating cast of co-stars is just as good as Penn Badgley in the lead role. Wherever Joe finds himself, he’s likely to encounter someone he believes to be worth murdering.

Joe Allen
Joe Allen is a freelance writer at Digital Trends, where he covers Movies and TV. He frequently writes streaming…
The 50 best shows on Netflix in November 2024
A woman sits in the middle of another woman and man.

The beginning of the month isn't often Netflix's strong suit for original shows, but the end of the month is another matter. The Diplomat season 2 and Territory debuted at the end of October and have raced to the top of the list of the most popular shows on Netflix to kick off November. Both shows may have the momentum to carry Netflix through the early part of November.

Recent arrivals Escape at Dannemora and Outer Banks season 4 have also done well, while Netflix has already renewed the animated series Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft for a second season. That's a strong start for the penultimate month of the year. But if you want more fresh options, check out our full list of the best shows on Netflix right now. We update this list on Friday mornings with the newest shows, so you'll always have something fresh to watch on the weekend.

Read more
The 50 best movies on Netflix right now (November 2024)
A woman puts her head up against a window.

Netflix has a pair of original films in the top two slots of the list of the most popular movies on the streamer: Don't Move and Time Cut. The former is better than the latter, but you won't hear Netflix complaining about having two homegrown hits to kick off the month of November. They both qualify as horror films too, although they take very different approaches to the genre.

Thankfully, there are still a lot of other options, including the family-friendly animated flick, Kung Fu Panda 4, as well as Woman of the Hour, Bad Boys: Ride or Die, and A Quiet Place Part II. Netflix has a particularly strong lineup of movies on loan from other studios at the moment, so enjoy it while it lasts. But if you need more options, check out our list of the best movies on Netflix right now. There's something here for everyone, and we update this list every Friday.

Read more
5 great TV shows to watch after Halloween
Mark walking down the bright white hallway at work looking angry, carrying a bunch of bright blue balloons in Severance.

You’re probably all Halloween-ed out by now, bellies filled with mini chocolate bars and candy corn and exhaustion setting in after dealing with dozens of trick-or-treaters. Thankfully, you can get back to your regularly scheduled programming. You might be looking for something less intense to help you unwind. But maybe you want to keep the thrilling momentum going and still have an inkling for something a bit darker than usual.

We have you covered with five great TV shows to watch after Halloween that are a nice blend of both. These are lighter than the horror movies or shows you probably watched over the last month but still have some thrills to keep you sufficiently entertained.

Read more