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The 3 shows in Netflix’s top 10 actually worth watching this week
Netflix‘s top 10 lists are a good way to see what’s popular with other viewers, though they aren’t necessarily an indicator of quality. You might want to watch everything on the list so that you’re not left out of any watercooler discussions, but that’s going to be time-consuming.
So, I’ve rounded up three shows from the Netflix top 10 that you should definitely watch this week. This doesn’t mean the other shows are bad, just that these picks are excellent and relevant.
3
A Man on the Inside
If you’re fond of sitcoms like Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and The Good Place, you’re bound to love creator Michael Schur’s A Man on the Inside. It stars Ted Danson as Charles, a retired engineering professor who is stuck in a rut following his wife’s death. Pushed by his daughter Emily (Mary Elizabeth Ellis) to get back out into the world, Charles takes a job to go undercover in a retirement home to investigate a missing ruby necklace. It’s a splendid premise, and Danson sells Charles’ enthusiasm for being a private eye with charm.
It’s a delight seeing Charles take his new role seriously while also becoming friends with the other residents and staff. The central mystery is intriguing and never forgotten, but really it’s the character dynamics that are the most interesting. The assured writing means that the senior citizens feel like real people, not clichés, and it deftly balances tones, being both funny and heartwarming without ever being twee.
A Man on the Inside‘s second season recently landed on Netflix, with all episodes available now. It sees Charles take on a new case. So, whether you’re coming to the show for the first time or are returning for more, this week is the perfect time to tune in.
2
Stranger Things
If you’ve opened Netflix in the last few weeks, you likely know that the first batch of the final season of Stranger Things is out this week. The show debuted in 2016 and quickly became a cultural phenomenon and a massive success for Netflix. If you’ve somehow avoided the hype and never seen the supernatural adventures of the young gang in Indiana, or you want to do a full rewatch in preparation for the upcoming last hurrah, now is your chance.
For those out of the loop, Stranger Things is set in the 1980s and begins with a boy named Will Byers going missing and ending up in the Upside Down, a deadly dimension accidentally opened by a government experiment. His mother, local police chief, friends, and a mysterious psychokinetic girl team up to rescue him. It’s scary and thrilling, and each season gets bigger and better as the threat becomes more intense.
There is lots to love about the show. The acting is phenomenal (from both the child and adult cast), it blends genres like horror and sci-fi to great effect, and the visual style and effects are wonderful. It also plays perfectly into 1980s nostalgia, with clear influences from the likes of Steven Spielberg and John Carpenter, complete with the wacky haircuts, outfits, and technology that made the era what it is.
1
The Beast in Me
New to Netflix this month is The Beast in Me. This currently sits in the number one spot of Netflix’s top 10 and it deserves that crown. The show is about an author named Aggie Wiggs (Claire Danes), who is now a recluse following the death of her young son. Struggling to write, she becomes oddly fascinated by a man who moves in next door: Nile Jarvis (Matthew Rhys), a real estate mogul who was the prime suspect in his wife’s suspected murder.
Both Danes and Rhys are fantastic in this dark and gripping thriller from creator Gabe Rotter (who formerly worked on the revived X-Files). The pair have an unusual dynamic, and it’s fascinating watching them go back and forth—Aggie thinks that Nile would make a great subject for her next book. The supporting cast, including Brittany Snow and Natalie Morales, is great too. The show will hook you from the beginning, and you’ll probably speed through the eight episodes in a matter of days, keen to unravel the mystery.
The Beast in Me is billed as a limited series, meaning this is a one-and-done show that doesn’t drag itself out through endless seasons. Considering Netflix has a tendency to cancel shows, often unfairly, it means you can enjoy this as a complete experience. I’m looking forward to seeing what Rotter does next.
The top 10 shows on Netflix this week
These are the top 10 shows on Netflix in the US on November 24, 2025:
- The Beast in Me
- A Man on the Inside
- Absentia
- Stranger Things
- Mark Rober’s CrunchLabs
- The Great British Baking Show: Holidays
- One Shot With Ed Sheeran
- Homeland
- Last Samurai Standing
- Jurassic World: Chaos Theory
Once you’ve watched the three shows I’ve highlighted, you could check out the rest of the top 10. However, I suggest turning your attention to the genuinely good Netflix movies streaming this week, like Whiplash, Wonka, and films beginning with other letters.
- Subscription with ads
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Yes, $8/month
- Simultaneous streams
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Two or four
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