There is so much great TV available at the moment that it can be hard to decide what to watch. When you finally do make a choice and settle in with it, there is nothing worse than spending a day or two on a series only to realize it only has three seasons. Luckily, there are plenty of long series on Netflix that go for the long haul to fill your days and nights with.
From comedies to dramas, easy watches to award-winning epics, there’s no shortage of must-see series that can keep viewers occupied for weeks. There really is something for everyone among the best long shows on Netflix, which give audiences time to root for their favorite characters, see complex storylines develop, and binge-watch for weeks on end.
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‘Nurse Jackie’ (2009–2015)
No. of Seasons: 7
In Nurse Jackie, Edie Falco stars as Jackie Peyton, a busy emergency room nurse balancing the demands of her career and raising a family. Through the eyes of her co-workers, Jackie is the level-headed person everyone can rely on, but in reality, she is frequently battling inner demons, struggling to stay in control. Despite her skill at healing patients, Jackie walks a self-destruction line, hiding an affair at work and a drug addiction that could make her a liability when she’s needed.
Falco deservedly is remembered for her work on The Sopranos, but her performance throughout the seven seasons of Nurse Jackie demonstrated the versatility of her talent. Part drama and part dark comedy, Nurse Jackie will go down as one of the best series that was produced for Showtime. Nurse Jackie was nominated for 24 Primetime Emmys, winning five, including one for Falco as Lead Actress in 2010. —Brad LaCour
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‘Home Improvement’ (1991–1999)
No. of Seasons: 8
Home Improvement was one of the most popular sitcoms in the ’90s, and now it can be watched in its entirety on Netflix. The family sitcom followed Tim Taylor (Tim Allen), the host of a home improvement show whose enthusiasm for power tools was greater than his safety precautions around him. When the cameras stop rolling on his show, Tim would go home to spend time with his wife, Jill (Patricia Richardson), and their three sons.
Loosely based on Allen’s stand-up comedy, Home Improvement was an immediate hit for ABC, running for the rest of the 90s after its premiere. Allen’s charisma and natural chemistry he shared with Richardson, gave audiences a likable comedy that paired broad humor with natural wit. The sitcom made Allen a star, leading to a film career that included the holiday hit The Santa Clause and Toy Story. —Brad LaCour
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‘Big Mouth’ (2017–2025)
No. of Seasons: 8
Puberty in all of its terrifying, life-changing glory is explored in the Netflix animated comedy Big Mouth. The series follows a group of middle school-aged teens as their bodies go through changes and a wave of hormones changes their perspective on their friends and peers. As best friends Nick (Nick Kroll) and Andrew (John Mulaney) do their best to understand the next phase of growing up, hormone monsters act as guides to urges they have no control over.
Not many Netflix originals receive the honor of long runs, but Big Mouth is one of the exceptions, coming in at eight seasons. Despite the show’s tendency to delve into raunchy humor (somewhat unavoidable considering the subject matter), Big Mouth stood out from a slew of other animated series by showcasing a continued development for the characters. Although they were visited by hormone monsters and other creatures, the experiences the characters experienced were immensely relatable and normalized the awkwardness of their age. —Brad LaCour
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‘Younger’ (2015–2021)
No. of Seasons: 7
Entering the workforce at an older age requires a few major lies in the dramedy Younger. Liza Miller (Sutton Foster) has difficulty finding a post-divorce job at 40, so she lies about her age to appear younger and more appealing to hiring companies. When Liza lands a job by saying she’s 26, the effort to keep her work life and personal life separate will be a full-time job of its own.
Younger resonated with audiences of all ages due to the underdog nature of the interesting premise and Foster’s charming performance. There aren’t that many stories on television that optimistically portray the process of taking on new challenges at a later age, allowing Younger the opportunity to offer a unique take that people were interested in watching. Although the majority of the series aired on TV Land, the seventh and final season of Younger ran on Paramount+. —Brad LaCour
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‘Portlandia’ (2011–2018)
No. of Seasons: 8
The city of Portland is explored through the adventures of colorful and eccentric characters in the sketch comedy series Portlandia. Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein co-star as the many residents of Portland, portraying everything from long-married couples to disapproving bookstore owners in hilarious vignettes. Known for its quirky humor and overlapping narratives, Portlandia developed a strong following of comedy fans.
Portlandia doesn’t follow any of the unspoken rules about sketch comedy. Instead of a large cast, Armisen and Brownstein do the majority of the heavy lifting with assistance from guest stars, and the sketches slowly bleed into one another over the years, until we’re watching a large ensemble piece performed by two people. People who have never been to Portland and possibly don’t understand the references were still able to laugh along, and they did so for eight impressive seasons. —Brad LaCour
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‘Cobra Kai’ (2018–2025)
No. of Seasons: 6
Acting as a sequel series to the widely beloved 80s Kung Fu films, Cobra Kai expands upon the universe and scope of Karate Kid through its reexamination of the villain from the first film, Johnny Lawrence. In the decades since being defeated by Daniel at the end of the first film, Johnny now suffers from alcoholism and depression as he wallows in the shadows of defeat. However, after defending his teenage neighbor from bullies, Johnny decides to re-open the Cobra Kai dojo to teach him and other bullied social outcasts to defend themselves.
Cobra Kai transforms what was largely considered to be a relatively one-note villain into a deeply complex and highly rootable protagonist, further amplified by a great performance by William Zabka. The series pays great tribute to the classic films of old while also evolving their themes and messaging to a modern era, feeling like an exhilarating blast from the past that speaks volumes for the future.
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‘Lost’ (2004–2010)
No. of Seasons: 6
One of the most iconic and prolific TV dramas of the 2000s, Lost captivated audiences with its simple premise yet limitless possibilities for mystery and brilliant character moments. The series follows a group of survivors who are attempting to survive and fight against the elements on a mysterious island after a commercial flight crashed and left them stranded there. As they journey and attempt to find ways off the island, they go face-to-face with numerous dangerous predicaments that give insight into the truth about the island and themselves.
Over a decade after the infamous ending to the series, audiences still consider Lost to be one of the most prolific and genre-defining television series of the era, with its distinct style and approach still influencing the television of today. The show has seen a major resurgence of popularity and rediscovery following its inclusion on Netflix in recent months, with more and more people falling in love with the mystery and beauty of the island.
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‘Virgin River’ (2019–)
No. of Seasons: 6
Based on Robyn Carr’s eponymous novel, Virgin River tells the story of a nurse and midwife, Melinda “Mel” Monroe, played by Alexandra Breckenridge, who leaves her painful past life behind in Los Angeles and moves to the titular town. Starting a whole new life in the quaint riverside community of Northern California, Mel finds the town and its people different from what she expected. Soon, she finds herself embedded in their lives and the place, rediscovering love, friendship, and herself.
Adapted by Sue Tenney of Good Witch fame, Virgin River is a sweet, heartfelt, and cozy Netflix show that feels like a warm hug with every watch. Though emotional, the aspirational story of self-discovery and the romanticism of life make it instantly uplifting. A soap-drama done right, the series thrives on its endearing characters, charming setting of the titular town, and visually and emotionally satisfying storytelling. —Maddie P
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‘The Crown’ (2016–2023)
No. of Seasons: 6
The Crown is one of Netflix’s most defining and iconic historical dramas they’ve ever released. The six-season show spans six decades as it tells the long and varied life of Queen Elizabeth II, starting from her wedding to Prince Phillip in 1947 and ending in the early 21st century. Each season covers a distinct and impactful era in her life, with the seasons often changing casting to account for the larger jumps in time periods. The series goes beyond simply being a portrait of Elizabeth’s character over the years, but is a look into the evolution of British culture in the 20th century and beyond.
What has helped give The Crown staying power among many other Netflix original series is its ability to constantly reinvent itself and evolve with each season, making it a perfect show to rewatch and experience over and over again. While it works tremendously as an ever-changing singular story, the show also makes wonders of having each of its seasons feel standalone in scope and scale, making it so even new viewers can hop into the latest season without worrying about what came before.
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‘Sex and the City’ (1998–2004)
No. of Seasons: 6
An iconic cornerstone of HBO’s original programming during the late 90s and early 2000s, Sex and the City was a widespread cultural phenomenon that still holds strength and merit to modern audiences. The series follows the lives of four female best friends as they attempt to live their best lives possible in New York City, with each of the women having their own stories and ventures dealing with sex, relationships, friendship, and femininity.
It’s difficult to imagine what the modern television space would be without Sex and the City, as it pioneered and revolutionized the types of risk-taking and vivacious storytelling that could be told in an episode-by-episode scope. The series portrays the glamor and chaos of city life in a way never truly seen before on television, being able to delve into comedy, drama, or any other tone that fits the mood or serves the characters. Even 20 years after the series finale, Sex and the City holds strong as one of the best television series out there.
