The best of NETFLIX

YOU CHILLING THRILLER

This serial killer drama strains credulity to breaking point – and maybe beyond – but is undeniably entertaining. Bookshop manager Joe

Goldberg (Penn Badgley, above with Victoria Pedretti as Love Quinn) develops an obsession with aspiring writer Guinevere Beck and, we quickly learn, will stop at nothing to have her. Despite the dark subject matter it’s truly addictive – veering from unbearably tense to gasp-out-loud audacious, with flashes of humour to lighten the mood. In the second and third seasons Joe’s obsessions – and the body count – hit new heights, and a fourth instalment is on the way, possibly set in Paris, which is where our murderous antihero ends up at the close of series three.

BLACK MIRROR DYSTOPIAN WORLDS

We’ve been living in a kind of dystopian world for the last couple of years, which is why Charlie Brooker, the creator of this brilliant anthology collection of near-future stories, has held off on a sixth series. But don’t let that put you off, as these satirical and sometimes terrifying tales, set in worlds that are like ours but with just a bit more technology, are not only entertaining but also have much to say about the trajectory of society. The intelligence of the stories is one reason why they manage to attract starry casts, who are often thrown into deeply uncomfortable but sometimes beautiful universes. One good example is the opening tale of season three – the first to move from Ch4 to Netflix, with a big rise in budget – in which Bryce Dallas Howard (above) plays a woman obsessed with her social media score. The cost of a low rating turns out to be horrifying…

SWEET MAGNOLIAS FEMALE FRIENDSHIPS

This shouldn’t be as watchable as it is. There are no big bangs or twisty turns, but it’s perhaps the homespun soapy normality that makes Sweet Magnolias so absorbing. It starts with the humiliation of Maddie Townsend when her doctor husband falls for his rather dim but young nurse. She’s comforted by friends Helen, a career girl who wants kids, and chef Dana Sue, who struggles with being a boss and a mum. The strength of the two-series show (a third is on its way) is the magical warmth of their friendship as they support each other through thick and thin.

SHADOW AND BONE EPIC FANTASY SERIES

One of the best sword and sandal epics, this fantasy series is based on the books by Leigh Bardugo. It looks incredible – a lot of money has been thrown at creating the dark world in which Alina (Jessie Mei Li, left) discovers she is a Grisha, a being with special powers. What also marks this show out is the nicely drawn relationship between Alina and her childhood friend Mal, as Alina becomes a target.