26. Tim Robinson and “I Think You Should Leave” (2019-present)
It’s hard to imagine this surreal sketch series ever existing before the advent of streaming, or that it would ever reach the wide audience it has on Netflix, but we’re all blessed it existed in our lives. Robinson, who co-created (with Zach Kanin) and stars in the show, is an absurdist genius who pushes awkward comedy to its limits. His obsessive characters never back down, whether it’s the cranky guy in the focus group or the guy dressed as a hot dog, and in the process, all social decorum and structure falls apart. It’s surprisingly funny, and the end of each sketch goes in a different direction.
27. Top Boy (2011-2023)
The first two seasons of Ronan Bennett’s award-winning drama aired on Channel 4, with seasons three to five produced by Netflix after a campaign led by Canadian rapper Drake. Set in a Hackney housing estate, it’s a harrowing portrayal of gang violence, drug dealing and despair. Nobody in Top Boy could have made a better choice. In that sense, it’s reminiscent of David Simon’s The Wire, and Bennett similarly builds a world with fully formed, all-too-true characters. Ashley Walters is particularly strong as Dashane, but Kane Robinson, Alaroyin Osunremi, Jasmine Jobson, Saffron Hocking and Michael Ward are also excellent.
