Even thoughNetflixis having a massive year with several of its biggest franchises expanding and coming to an end, there are still several recent and ongoing shows that are seriously flying under the radar.
While new titles likeAdolescenceandUntamedhave dominated Netflix’s streaming charts this year, their success has overshadowed plenty of shows and limited series that have received critical acclaim but have failed to generate much buzz online.
7Under A Dark Sun
Under a Dark Sunis one of Netflix’s latest masterpiecesthat nobody seems to be talking about. The story follows a woman named Alba, played by Ava Baya, who finds herself at the center of a murder investigation after one of her employees is found dead on a flower farm in France.
Alba faces more heat from homicide detectives whenthe man who was found dead on the flower farm turns out to be her father. The six-part miniseries, originally titledQui sème le vent, is highly bingeable and easy to get engrossed in thanks to its strong plot, good acting, and scenic landscape.
Under a Dark Sunreceived some brief attention when it landed the #5 spot on the U.S. streaming chart and hit #2 on Netflix’s global chart following its release in early July 2025. Despite its strong quality and other compelling elements,Under a Dark Sunhas been celebrated as a quiet success seemingly under the cover of darkness.
Under a Dark Sunis available to stream now exclusively on Netflix. It alsostars 2-time Best Actress Oscar nominee Isabelle Adjani(Camille Claudel,The Story of Adele H), and notable French actors Guillaume Gouix, Amina Ben Ismail, and Nicola Vaude.
6Toxic Town
Toxic Townis a British drama limited series created by Jack Thorne, the Emmy-nominated writer of Netflix’s hit seriesAdolescence. It was released on Netflix back in late February 2025 and receiveda perfect 100% Certified Fresh critic scoreonRotten Tomatoes.
AlthoughToxic Towndid not receive the same level of Emmy buzz asAdolescence, earning zero nominations, the series was celebrated for similar reasons. LikeAdolescence,Toxic Towntakes a deep dive into a mysterious real-world dilemma and focuses on a select few characters who are passionate about finding answers.
Toxic Townis a 4-part legal drama series that chronicles the true storyof a handful of mothers from Corby, England, whose children are born with disabilities. They stop at nothing to find out who is responsible with the aim of holding them accountable, targeting the recent industrial project that likely released toxins into the town.
Toxic Townreceived modest viewership during the first half of 2025 (15.3 million), but nowhere nearAdolescence’s141 million. The series has an outstanding cast featuring Jodie Whittaker (Broadchurch), Aimee Lou Wood (The White Lotus), and Rory Kinnear (The Diplomat).
5The Vince Staples Show
The Vince Staples Showisone of the most underrated comedy series on Netflix. It has been called anAtlantareplacement because of its similar comedic tone and hip-hop culture focus. It stars one of the best rappers alive, Vince Staples, in a fictional and exaggerated portrayal of his daily life in his hometown of Long Beach, California.
Vince Staples plays himself in the 5-part first season, which was released back in February 2024. A second season is already on the way and is expected to be released on Netflix sometime this year, making now the perfect time for viewers looking for a good comedy show to see what they’ve been missing.
The Vince Staples Showreceived a 94%Rotten Tomatoesscore, making itone of the most critically acclaimed new comedy series of last year. The fact that Netflix picked it up for a second season is also a promising sign of the show’s quality.
Other than Staples himself, the dark comedy series stars rapper Rick Ross, Myles Bullock (White Men Can’t Jump), Scott MacArthur (The Righteous Gemstones), Arturo Castro (Broad City), Vanessa Bell Calloway (One of Them Days), and Andrea Ellsworth (Shameless).
4Trigger
Triggeris one of the best new Netflix action thriller series of summer 2025. All 10 episodes were just released on July 14, 2025. Critics have raved overTrigger, which has earned a perfect 100%Rotten Tomatoesscore.
Triggeris centered around an abrupt influx of weapons into gun-free South Korea and the two men who are at the frontlines of the battle. One man, a police officer, and another man, an arms broker, find themselves at violent odds as they fight for the soul of the city.
As part of Netflix’s K-Content slate,Triggermay not be available to stream in all global regions. However,the limited series is available to stream in the United States.
Triggeris not for the faint of heart and contains severe depictions of violence. It’s meant to be a cautionary tale about the destructive potential of unregulated gun use, but it remains both highly entertaining and thought-provoking throughout.Fans ofJohn Wickand Netflix’s Tom Hardy movieHavocwill surely enjoyTrigger.
3Mercy for None
Mercy For Noneis another fantastic yet dark K-drama miniseries on Netflix that was released at the start of June 2025. The limited series consists of just seven episodes, all ranging from 37 to 49 minutes each. The storytelling is sharp and enhanced by the gritty tone and film noir atmosphere.
The series follows a former gangster, Nam Gi-joon, who severs ties with his old gang to uncover the truth about his brother’s death. Also in a similar vein toJohn Wick,Mercy for None’sprotagonist ends up going on a vengeful path towards justice.
Those still looking for aTokyo Vicereplacement may have finally found it inMercy for Nonedue to its gangster themes, despite the geographical and cultural differences.Mercy for Noneis yet another Netflix series that has earned a perfectRotten Tomatoesscore of 100% but has not garnered much global viewership.
2Forever
Foreverachieved a modest viewership on Netflix following its July 24, 2025, release, but only amassed a total of 19.1 million views. Its 97% Certified FreshRotten Tomatoesscore suggests that it should have been a much bigger streaming hit for Netflix.
Foreveris a romantic drama series that follows two high schoolers in Los Angeles, Justin (Michael Cooper Jr.) and Keisha (Lovie Simone). Together, they navigate first love problems while also facing external pressures from society and, of course, their parents.
At eight episodes, all ranging from 43 to 52 minutes,Foreveris a very easy and lighthearted show to get lost in. Despite its relatively poor viewership, Netflix has renewed the series for a second season, which is certainly a testament to the quality of the series developed by Mara Brock Akil (inspired by the Judy Blume book).
1Copycat Killer
Copycat Killeris one of thebest Netflix shows to watch for fans ofMindhunter. The story follows a cunning serial killer who creates an intriguing spectacle that puzzles prosecutors and uses media attention to their advantage.
There are also certain elements ofCopycat Killer, particularly inthe methodology of the serial killer, that would interestDexterfans. Although the series was released back in 2023, it has remained one of the most overlooked critically acclaimed serial killer shows on Netflix.
Copycat Killerseason 1 consists of ten episodes and still has the potential to spark a second season, asNetflixhas not confirmed or denied a series expansion. The series is set in Taipei and is based on the Japanese novelThe Copycatwritten by Miyuki Miyabe.
