Streaming
25 Shows On Netflix Perfect For Couples Who Can’t Agree On What To Watch
Stuck aimlessly scrolling? Try pressing play on one of these gems.
Being coupled up is great. You love the same pizza toppings, punk bands, and probably each other. But somehow, when it comes to television, you just can’t see eye to eye. The cure for TV-based conflict? This list of the 25 best Netflix shows for couples who can’t agree on what to watch.
Read more: Shows & Movies Like 'Bridgerton' To Watch After The Netflix Series
Netflix o’clock should never be a time for arguments, and there are plenty of shows that cross genres and will have you lovesick dummies spooning and watching for 12 hours straight on a rainy Sunday. From intense thrillers to lighthearted comedies to shows based on true stories, Netflix’s best ensures you’ll never run out of optimal cuddle material — that both of you can enjoy.
Just make sure you make the necessary preparations for your marathon session: Once you get started on any of the following series, it's going to be a chore to tear yourself away from the screen to stock up on chips and ice cream. The same goes for any pressing tasks that you need to get done — calling your mom, taking the garbage out, or any other activity that might require getting off the couch. So put your phone on silent, get your pillow fort built, consider calling in sick for the next day or seven, and let the harmonious TV watching-slash-cuddling time with your sweetheart commence. Indeed, even though there’s plenty to do outside, it may be hard to leave your home after starting one of the best shows on Netflix for couples.
1Squid Game
South Korean dystopian series Squid Game is officially Netflix's most popular series in history, at a reported 111 million watches in the first month of its debut. If that’s not reason enough to give the drama thriller a shot, maybe the enticing plot will do the trick. The gist is this: 456 poverty-stricken people get a chance to compete in a series of Hunger Games-esque trials for the chance to win the U.S. equivalent of about $38 million. But they will not all make it out alive. Squid Game is without a doubt one of the top must-see Netflix shows for couples.
2YOU
A perfect show for couples, YOU is about love and romance...sort of. OK, it’s more so on the obsessive-stalker-murder side, but that’s neither here nor there. With the show’s third season dropping on Netflix in October 2021, there are plenty of hours to be spent on Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) and his latest fixation. Joe sees himself as a good person, but he’s obviously gone through quite the ordeal in terms of childhood trauma. As a result, he becomes something of a serial-stalker.
3Lupin
Arsène Lupin is a beloved French character created by Maurice Leblanc in 1905. The “gentleman thief” detective is commonly thought of as the slick anti-Sherlock Holmes. Netflix’s reimagined installment stars Omar Sy as Assane Diop, a larcenist determined to avenge his father who lost his life after a framed criminal charge. Diop takes on the role of Lupin as he sets out on his mission, using Leblanc’s writing to inspire his sly tactics.
4Shameless
You may need to cancel all other obligations if you press play on the Gallagher family. For a whopping 11 seasons, Shameless follows a dysfunctional household of Chicago’s crude but determined South Siders. With an alcoholic father and runaway mother, it’s up to the eldest daughter, Fiona (Emmy Rossum), to raise her five younger siblings. Throughout the series, the show explores a multitude of issues like gentrification, poverty, racism, homophobia, and addiction.
5Black Mirror
For some disturbingly realistic dystopian takes on humanity, Black Mirror is an anthology series known for dark storylines that don’t feel entirely out of reach. Since each episode is its own standalone tale, you and your boo can watch how futuristic technology uproots humankind in whatever order you please. From homicidal robot dogs to cloning departed loved ones, the show will have you drawing spooky parallels to the trajectory of society and tech advancements in the real world.
There are five seasons for couples to watch on Netflix, but given the series’ eerie nature, you might need a break it up with some lighthearted shows between episodes.
6Grace and Frankie
The show may be based on two geriatric women, but it’s a well-loved series by viewers of all ages. Because their husbands, Robert and Sol, practice law together, Grace (Jane Fonda) and Frankie (Lily Tomlin) have known each other for decades — and they’re not keen on each other. Being a polished business woman, Grace only tolerates people like Frankie, an eccentric hippie, when absolutely necessary.
But when Robert and Sol reveal that they have been having a secret affair with each other for the past 20 years, their wives move into a shared family beach house together. Watching the two completely opposite women attempt to live together and navigate the dating scene in their 70s, not to mention the endless antics of their respective adult children, is hilariously entertaining.
7Maid
If you’ve finished Shameless and are hoping for similar-feeling shows to watch with your partner, you’re in luck. Two Shameless alums, producer John Wells and writer Molly Smith Metzler, teamed up again for Netflix’s Maid, a limited series based on the best-selling memoir by Stephanie Land. The story outlines the struggles of being a single mother in poverty in almost painful detail. But the series is ultimately a testament to a mother’s will to survive and provide for her child.
8Clickbait
Couples who like Black Mirror might also be intrigued by Netflix’s miniseries Clickbait. Nick Brewer’s disappearance becomes a viral sensation that’s exacerbated when a sequence of sinister videos of him in captivity emerge online. One video reveals that he will lose his life if it reaches five million views, but in another, Nick admits to abusing women. It’s a race to the truth as his wife and sister have to come to terms with an array of wildly out-of-character accusations. The thriller throws you plot twist after plot twist, so you’ll definitely need to be paying attention.
9BoJack Horseman
BoJack Horseman remains one of the best-ever original Netflix series, period. It might look like a kids’ show, but this animated cult classic touches on very adult themes: addiction, fame, family, and mental health. Cartoon horse BoJack Horseman (voiced by Will Arnett) once had a hit show in the ’90s called Horsin' Around, but now struggles to make a comeback in Hollywood in the modern era. The results are both hilarious and thought-provoking.
BoJack Horseman manages to be funny and sad all at once, with recurring inside jokes that weave throughout seasons (like that infamous photo of BoJack sneezing on Marisa Tomei). So if you're into dramas, you're all set — and if your partner prefers comedy, they'll love it, too.
10Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls is like chicken broth for the soul. Both razor sharp and incredibly charming, this mother-daughter BFF duo makes for the ultimate feel-good series. Made back when cable TV ordered over 20 episodes per season — seven times over — Gilmore Girls will take a while to watch in its entirety, so get comfortable with your partner. Oh, and once you’re done with the original series, you can start the four-part revival, also on Netflix.
11Pose
Pose is one of those shows that is both educational and fiercely entertaining. Set within the New York ballroom scene in the ’80s and ’90s, Pose sheds light on the lives of queer and trans people during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis. The subject matter is serious overall and shouldn’t be taken lightly, but that’s not to say there aren’t some iconic lines sprinkled in.
Pose’s third and final season recently aired on FX, so it may a while before it’s on Netflix. But you can enjoy the first two seasons on loop with your boo, and catch up with new episodes when they hit the platform.
12Master Of None
Dev (Aziz Ansari) is an actor who loves pasta and isn't quite sure about the direction of his life or relationships. Viewers follow him along his many misadventures of being single and in a relationship — while also acting, auditioning, and just asking the questions most Millennials have asked themselves about life. The humor is witty and the drama is poignant, so this series is a good fit for both drama and comedy fans.
After a four-year hiatus, Master of None returned in May 2021. Season three focused more closely on Denise (Lena Waithe) and her partner, offering viewers a closer look at a character who was previously relegated to B-plots.
13Making A Murderer
The Guardian called this show "frighteningly addictive," and that's an understatement. Made over the course of 10 years, this epic documentary series focuses on Steven Avery's enthralling story of exoneration and incarceration. It is ideal for fans of True Detective or the podcast Serial, and has become a must-see true crime show — and one that even critics of the genre can get into.
14Narcos
Narcos focused on the life of Pablo Escobar for its first three seasons, then spawned the companion series Narcos: Mexico. This show is so compelling that you might need to skip a few nights of sleep to get through it as quickly as possible. It's a perfect fit for a couple who spend their time fighting over whether to watch true crime or Keeping Up With The Kardashians.
15Stranger Things
Could any person on this planet not enjoy the Duffer Brothers’ love letter to ’80s pop culture? Seems unlikely, because whether you're into the supernatural or just nostalgic old Spielberg movies, Stranger Things ticks the box. The series follows the citizens of Hawkins, Indiana, which has had several face-offs with the spooky creatures from the mysterious Upside Down. But don't worry, the kids of Hawkins (and some of their parents) always seem to be able to save the day in time. The show has a mixture of pre-teen and teen hijinks and science fiction elements that should appeal to everyone.
16The Great British Baking Show
The Great British Baking Show is so irresistible, you don’t need to be a baker to enjoy it — just bring a healthy appetite. You’ll definitely want to stock up on your sweet treats before pressing play.
This isn’t your typical reality competition series with all the bells and whistles. Complete with farm animals and (mostly) polite judging, GBBO is more soothing than anything. No soggy bottoms here!
17The Crown
Unlike fellow British import GBBO, The Crown is intense. Whether or not you like the British royal family, you will definitely want to marathon this series after just one episode. The Crown follows Queen Elizabeth (played by Claire Foy and later Olivia Colman) and her clan through the years. Written by Peter Morgan (the man behind 2006’s Oscar-winning The Queen) and rumored to have cost 100 million pounds to make, this series is always making headlines.
18Arrested Development
Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Portia de Rossi, and Michael Cera all featured in one of TV's smartest comedies in the early ‘00s — a series so beloved that it was later revived on Netflix. The show follows the wealthy Bluth family after their patriarch is arrested and their assets are frozen.
We dare you to try and not laugh at this show's humor. Go ahead, try. You'll definitely recognize several of the show's iconic lines, as they've become mainstays in pop culture. Truly, there's always money in the banana stand.
19I Am Not Okay With This
This series is a bit like if Sixteen Candles collided with Carrie — two very different stories that actually go great together. It's a truly wild coming-of-age story that manages to subvert and play with some classic tropes. Not only does I Am Not Okay with This feature queer romance, but it also has some freaky sci-fi twists. At times, it can feel a little Stephen King (partially thanks to It stars Sophia Lillis and Wyatt Oleff reuniting as series leads), and that's certainly a good thing. Be warned: It's not the longest entry in our list of best Netflix shows for couples, but it is a quality one.
20The Good Place
The final season of The Good Place has come and gone, but that doesn't mean you can’t revisit the series on Netflix. The NBC sitcom follows Eleanor, Chidi, Tahani, and Jason as they find their posthumous homes in the universe. You and your love can ponder the meaning of life, the end of life, the Good Place, the Bad Place, the Medium Place, and the mysteries of Janet as you watch together.
21Schitt's Creek
In addition to its wonderfully punny name, Schitt's Creek is a winner of a show in many senses of the term. It's got incredible writing, some truly iconic characters (played by comedic heavy hitters like Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara), and a madcap story that should satisfy anybody who's even remotely into comedy. The series finale aired in 2020, and its sixth season went on to sweep this year’s Emmy Awards and Golden Globes.
22Community
Community was slow to pick up steam, but it became somewhat of a cult classic during its six seasons on the air — so much so that when NBC cancelled the show after its fifth season, the internet rallied together to push the network to reverse its decision. It worked, and Yahoo! Screen took over the show, though it ultimately ended after Season 6.
23Happy Endings
Happy Endings is what Friends would be if those friends were actually good to each other. It’s heartwarming and will make you laugh (Casey Wilson’s character is “ah-mah-zing”), but it also tackles subjects like queer inclusion and interracial dating. It’ll make you grateful for the relationships you have, romantic or otherwise.
24American Horror Story
If you and your boo are into all things spooky, but not necessarily horror fans, then American Horror Story is just what you’ve been looking for. One of the best things about the show is that it’s another anthology series — so if you hate one season, chances are you’ll like the next. With subjects ranging from covens to asylums to the apocalypse, there is something one of you will enjoy.
25The End of the F***ing World
English humor can be particularly dark, and The End of the F***ing World exemplifies this perfectly. The show’s anti-heros, James (Alex Lawther) and Alyssa (Jessica Barden), are in the throes of those angsty high school days where everything just sucks. As viewers follow the duo’s journey, they’re offered profoundly astute observations on the world and culture around us.
This article was originally published on
