Top 10 Worst Netflix Shows
For this list, we'll be looking at the most disappointing, hated or critically-panned original series made by Netflix.
#10: "Iron Fist" (2017-)
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For a while there, it seemed like Marvel and Netflix, together, could do no wrong. This partnership delivered three excellent and distinct series in a row in the form of "Daredevil", "Jessica Jones" and "Luke Cage". With Iron Fist, undeniably the biggest outlier in the gritty and grounded world they’d created, Netflix had their work cut out for them. And sadly… unlike with the last three series, they didn’t deliver. The character of Danny Rand failed to connect with audiences, the pacing was rather uneven, but most damningly, the story was just kind of boring. As a result, Iron Fist became the butt of more than a few jokes in "The Defenders".
#9: “Chasing Cameron” (2016)
Cameron Dallas deserves props for not only having launched a career on Vine, but adapting and branching out to keep himself relevant in the ever-shifting landscape of social media stardom. Unfortunately… a reality show wasn’t exactly the best fit. We’re hesitant to lay too much blame at the feet of the young star however, because Netflix got exactly what they signed up for - we just don’t understand who thought it was a good idea. Cameron is a social media influencer, but that still translates to limited appeal on the streaming service. Making matters worse was the fact that the series tried to bring gravitas to his life and journey, to cringe-worthy results.
#8: “Gypsy” (2017)
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On paper, it seemed like a perfect fit for Netflix. Naomi Watts starred alongside Billy Crudup in this psychological thriller about a psychologist who inappropriately inserts herself into the lives of her patients, undermining the typical limits of the patient-doctor relationship. Provocative, tense and sexy, the trailer promised a captivating series. Unfortunately, when episodes were allowed to play out in full, what we actually got was better described as slow-paced, boring and unrealistic, featuring thoroughly unlikable, often disinteresting characters. It’s really a shame, because the cast was worthy of a far better series.
#7: “Between” (2015-16)
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It came, it went, and very few people noticed. If this were a family drama or comedy, we might understand, but considering the fact this series was a sci-fi drama about a quarantined town where everyone over the age of 21 has mysteriously died, it’s shocking that there wasn’t more buzz. Our guess is that the few people who did check it out quickly forgot about “Between” or cautioned others to stay away. The drama veered far too deep into soap opera territory, the narrative lacked clear direction and the characters failed to make you care. For a series about end of the world… you shouldn’t be able to say any of that.
#6: “Girlboss” (2017)
So much potential, such poor execution. Based on the autobiography of self-made fashion businesswoman Sophia Amoruso, “Girlboss” tells the story of her rise from university student to the founder of an up-and-coming fashion company. The lead character is supposed to be a challenging one, but she is written in such an unlikeable and uninteresting way that the potentially powerful feminist narrative is completely robbed of its potency by virtue of the hate it invites against its protagonist. What could have been a ground-breaking series for Netflix (and career defining role for actor Britt Robertson) ultimately pushed away its many potential viewers with poor writing.
#5: “Haters Back Off!” (2016-17)
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Like “Chasing Cameron”, “Haters Back Off!” feels like it was doomed from the start. Miranda Sings is the online alter ego of comedic actor Colleen Ballinger, and though this bit was pure YouTube gold, her comedic style was admittedly rather niche - and very much tailored to the YouTube generation and sensibilities. Absurd, grating and often quite cringy, Miranda Sings is the sort of character that you need to be introduced to in the right context, and Netflix was not that. The running time of 30-35 minutes per episode meant that the doses of Miranda we received were far too heavy for anyone but diehard fans with the highest of tolerance.
#4: "Friends from College" (2017)
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Honestly… this one came as a bit of a shock. Co-created by Nicholas Stoller, the director of such films as “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”, “Get Him to the Greek”, “Neighbors” and its sequel, this felt like it was coming from a solid place. Then there was the cast, which included the always hilarious Keegan-Michael Key and "How I Met Your Mother"’s Cobie Smulders, among other familiar faces. So… how was this not Netflix’s next big thing? The writing. This show was like an exercise in how to craft an ensemble cast people will hate. Forget binge-watching; Ethan, Lisa and company made it hard to get through a single episode. It should’ve been called “Angry, Jaded 40-Year-Olds Who Hate Life”.
#3: “Disjointed” (2017-18)
Chuck Lorre’s television offerings, which include the likes of “Two and a Half Men” and “The Big Bang Theory”, tend to elicit one of two reactions - utter devotion or deep loathing. The camp that you fall into will likely decide whether you were surprised by the failure of “Disjointed”, his Netflix stoner comedy. We’ll tell you why its failure surprised us… the fact that it starred the incomparable Kathy Bates. Unfortunately, this groan-inducing comedy simply didn’t give Bates any decent material to work with, reaching for only the lowest hanging comedic fruit. It was cancelled after just one season.
#2: “Insatiable” (2018-)
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Way to misread the room that is 2018, Netflix. The premise of this show seems so painfully out-dated, it’s astounding that it made it past whatever brainstorming session gave birth to it, let alone all the way to production. Patty is an overweight teen who is bullied. After an encounter with a homeless man leaves her with a broken jaw, she loses a bunch of weight and returns to school “hot” and ready to take revenge on those who once shunned her. From the start, the premise offends, but trust us: it only gets worse as the series progresses. We think the goal was social commentary, but it doesn’t show. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few dishonorable mentions “Flaked” (2016-17) "Hemlock Grove" (2013-15) “Chelsea” (2016-17)
#1: “Real Rob” (2015-)
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Really? Who greenlit this? Had they been trapped in a bunker for a decade and were thus oblivious to the trajectory of Rob Schneider’s career? Or did they mistakenly think that Rob Schneider could somehow reinvent himself? Written by Rob Schneider, directed by Rob Schneider and starring Rob Schneider and his real family, “Real Rob” is a fictionalized, scripted version of their lives and it is every bit as disastrous as it sounds. “Curb Your Enthusiasm” this most certainly is not, but the obvious similarities to that work of comedic genius does help to make “Real Rob” feel even worse.
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