I’m no fortune-teller, but I do own hoop earrings and a lot of scarves and I've known all year what we'd be watching on Netflix in 2022. You went pitter-patter over Heartstopper and got angsty over Heartbreak High. You met a tall dark stranger and binged The Crown this year. You begged everyone you met to catch up on Mike Flanagan’s latest spooky series to talk about that ending. You weren't ashamed of how much you liked Too Hot to Handle or how invested you got in Love Is Blind, it’s fine!
There are some glitzy and star-studded new shows on Netflix in 2022, taking on famous book adaptations and IRL scandals alike, but the returning shows were equal heavy-hitters. It felt like I got to see my besties again. A couple of Netflix faves that didn’t drop a new season in 2021 because ~the debacle that was 2020~ put them on pause were finally ready after what feels like forever. It also meant barely a week went by in 2022 without something new to watch.
These are the 39 best Netflix original series of 2022, for your viewing pleasure.
Too Hot to Handle Season 3
Release date: January 19, 2022
Just when you thought you were out, the sexy reality series draws you back in.
Ozark Season 4, Part 1
Release date: January 21, 2022
The crime series’ final season kicked off this year.
The Woman in the House Across the Street From the Girl in the Window
Release date: January 28, 2022
It’s a parody of those books/movies we all get really into and ultimately disappointed by…you know the ones.
Sweet Magnolias Season 2
Release date: February 4, 2022
The gals are back, y’all. If Firefly Lane is more your adult female friendship drama jam, that show returned in 2022 as well.
Inventing Anna
Release date: February 11, 2022
Shonda Rhimes’s Galentine’s Day gift to us was this Anna Delvey bio series starring Julia Garner as the party girl/fraudster. Everyone say thank you, Shonda!
Bridgerton Season 2
Release date: March 25, 2022
Shonda Rhimes’s belated Valentine’s Day gift to us was the second season of this steamy period romance. If you’re not counting the days until Kate Sharma arrives, what are you even doing?
The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On
Release date: April 6, 2022
Couples enter into an experiment to figure out whether they should get married to each other or someone else within the group of couples. The couples who end up together at the end (and don't) will genuinely shock you. This is, of course, not to be confused with the two seasons of Love is Blind that aired in 2022.
Heartstopper
Release date: April 13, 2022
The surprise hit of spring/summer 2022 was this adoooooorable YA series based on a graphic novel about a nerdy boy whose unexpected friendship with an older jock in homeroom turns into something more.
Anatomy of a Scandal
Release date: April 15, 2022
David E. Kelley, who has recently been at work on Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers, had a new show come to Netflix starring Sienna Miller, Michelle Dockery, and Naomi Scott. It’s based on a book whose “trailer” you see above.
Russian Doll Season 2
Release date: April 16, 2022
Natasha Lyonne returned to Netflix with a second season that explores generational trauma in such an intense and thought-provoking way. It might make you book a therapy session, in a good way.
Selling Sunset Season 5
Release date: April 22, 2022
There was literally so much drama in this season of SS, and after you binge-watch it, please dive directly into the reunion.
The Circle Season 4
Release date: May 4, 2022
The show that actually predates the pandemic but feels like a quarantine fever dream returned for season 4, starring *checks notes* two Spice Girls?
Stranger Things Season 4
Release dates: May 27, 2022 and July 1, 2022
Let’s GOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! It’s been so long... and so are these episodes, amirite??
The Umbrella Academy Season 3
Release date: June 22, 2022
The family is back…kind of? Season 2 ended on a cliff-hanger-y reveal of an Alternate Universe where Reginald Hargreeves raised the Sparrow Academy instead of the Umbrella Academy, so be prepared for new angsty heroes if you haven't watched season 3 yet.
How to Build a Sex Room
Release date: July 8, 2022
Interior designer Melanie Rose isn't just here to give you the room of your dreams, she's here to make all your sex fantasies come true. Follow the iconic designer as she takes random rooms and turns them into the ultimate sex rooms for various couples, groups, and anyone else who is looking to spice up their homes.
The Most Hated Man on the Internet
Release date: July 27, 2022
Back in 2010, Hunter Moor created the website IsAnyoneUp.com and it quickly became one of the biggest sites on the internet for revenge porn. Now the people who were affected tell all in this eye-opening three-part docuseries.
Uncoupled
Release date: July 29, 2022
After his boyfriend of 17 years breaks up with him, Michael Lawson jumps back into the NYC dating scene and realizes that a lot has changed since he last went on dates.
The Sandman
Release date: August 5, 2022
Neil Gaiman’s book finally got the adaptation it deserves, and even if you don’t know anything about it, you should be pumped for this cast. Tom Sturridge? Gwendoline Christie? Kirby Howell-Baptiste? Yes, please.
Never Have I Ever Season 3
Release date: August 12, 2022
Devi!!!!!!!! Missed this girlie so much.
High Heat
Release date: August 17, 2022
A stripper goes undercover and signs up to be a firefighter in order to help uncover the person behind his brother's murder. (Yes, you read that correctly.)
Mo
Release date: August 24, 2022
A Palestinian refugee in Houston, Texas tries to figure out where he fits in while also trying to navigate a system that seems against him at every turn.
Partner Track
Release date: August 26, 2022
Arden Cho stars as a lawyer trying to make partner at an elite firm in New York City and, you know, live her life with friendships and romantic drama and rivalries galore. It's like Grey's Anatomy if it was about lawyers instead of doctors... and set on the East Coast.
Cobra Kai Season 5
Release date: September 9, 2022
The Karate Kid spin-off came back for another round with new characters—including a female sensei—and loads of nostalgic drama.
Heartbreak High
Release date: September 14, 2022
This Australian comedy series is a must-see, whether you yourself live Down Under or whether you're the type of person who goes around saying "naur" and "saur" as a bit.
Fate the Winx Saga Season 2
Release date: September 16, 2022
The live-action adaptation of the cartoon returned with new characters fans of the OG Winx Club may recognize—like Terra's cousin Flora! If you love the aesthetic of fantasy but don't have the bandwidth to deal with The Witcher or even Shadow and Bone, catch up on Fate of the Winx Saga ASAP. This lore is way more conducive to a vibes-only approach.
The Midnight Club
Release date: October 7, 2022
Mike Flanagan has been hitting home runs with The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, and Midnight Mass. This is his latest spooky series based on a YA novel.
Derry Girls Season 3
Release date: October 7, 2022
Feckin' finally, the newest and last season of Derry Girls crossed the pond. Get the tissues ready, lassies. This is an emotional goodbye.
Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities
Release date: October 25, 2022
This was such a Halloween treat! Gothic vignettes presented by one of the spookiest directors? Sign me up.
Blockbuster
Release date: November 3, 2022
Don't think too hard about the irony that is Netflix making a comedy about the "last Blockbuster" when the DVD rental service-turned-streaming network known as Netflix is famously a big reason Blockbuster went out of business. It's a fun workplace sitcom!
Manifest Season 4 (Part 1)
Release date: November 4, 2022
Okay so it's not an ORIGINAL original, but the NBC series about the passengers of a plane that disappears for five and a half years moved to Netflix for a fourth season split into two parts. Thank goodness it wasn't canceled too soon, because we wouldn't want another series about a plane to annoy fans because of alleged "unanswered questions." (They explained the polar bears on Lost.... stop saying they didn't!!!!!)
The Crown Season 5
Release date: November 9, 2022
We just can’t get enough Princess Diana content, can we?
Warrior Nun Season 2
Release date: November 10, 2022
The Spanish series starring Alba Baptista returned for season 2 this year, and people seem to be really invested, into it, and rooting for a season 3. Why, did something happen?
Dead to Me Season 3
Release date: November 17, 2022
If Disenchanted has you on a James Marsden kick (and I don't blame you), check out the final season of this very dark and twisted comedy.
1899
Release date: November 17, 2022
I love when a Netflix show is an unexpected phenomenon. That definitely happened with 1899. All of a sudden, everyone was talking about a science fiction adventure series I had never heard of!
Wednesday
Release date: November 23 2022
Jenna Ortega, who is in the 2022 Scream movie, also turned up the scares and the laughs in this new series about Wednesday Addams.
Firefly Lane Season 2
Release date: December 2, 2022
Kate and Tully were back with more secrets and an enduring friendship.
The Recruit
Release date: December 16, 2022
Noah Centineo stars as a CIA agent in a cat-and-mouse game of blackmail and spy work opposite a rogue agent and would-be whistleblower played by Laura Haddock. The vibe kind of reminds me of The Bodyguard, and I *loved* The Bodyguard.
Emily In Paris Season 3
Release date: December 21, 2022
Elle est de retour!
The Witcher: Blood Origin
Release date: December 25, 2022
It’s a big year for fantasy prequels, y’all. A Lord of the Rings series is on Amazon Prime, a Game of Thrones prequel is on HBO, and a Witcher prequel is rounding out 2022 on Netflix.
