2020 is the year of Netflix. Throughout the beginnings of the pandemic and early lockdown, throughout long summer days and the reemergence of fall, throughout the coldest winter evenings bringing us closer and closer to the holidays, Netflix has been the infallible companion providing solace, a loyal companion making us laugh and cry and binge-watch new shows throughout everything this year through at us.

The streaming platform certainly had a lot to offer this year, with a plethora of new original TV series and movies to choose from. Whether you were an avid Tiger King watcher back in March or you live and die by Emily in Paris, we’re certain you had your favorite Netflix picks this year. Below, we’re sharing 10 of our favorite Netflix original series to come out of the hellshow we call 2020.

1. The Queen’s Gambit

2020 was worth it, if only because it produced The Queen’s Gambit. Fast-paced, energetic, engaging and entertaining, the Netflix mini-series follows Beth Harmon (played by Anya Taylor-Joy) throughout her orphaned childhood and adolescence as she rises through the ranks of chess prodigy to unbeatable genius in the 1960s, struggling with addiction and loss along the way. At 7 episodes, the series makes for the perfect binge-watch length—and trust us, once you get a glimpse of the Cold War era costumes, the finely construed plotline and the high stakes vibe of the show, you’ll find it hard to pull yourself away.

2. Hollywood

Hollywood after World War II: a place where dreams come true, where aspiring stars go to flourish—and don’t let anything stand in the way of their showbiz dreams. From the mind of Ryan Murphy (Glee, American Horror Story, Scream Queens), this 7-episode drama series is enticing, raw and captivating. With a seasoned cast (including Darren Criss, Laura Harrier, Jim Parsons and Samara Weaving) playing up-and-comers in the Golden Age of Hollywood, it’s no wonder the series received 12 nominations at this year’s Emmy Awards.

3. Never Have I Ever

Never Have I Ever is the quintessential high school rom-com. Created by Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher, the series follows the complicated, twisted (albeit hilarious) life of first-generation Indian-American teenager Devi, who is coming to terms with the loss of her father and trying to grow up too quickly in the tumultuous, lawless land of high school. With three female leads of color, Kaling’s hilarious-as-ever writing and the perfect love triangle with just the right amount of family drama, Never Have I Ever made waves this year, and with good reason.

4. The Haunting of Bly Manor

A sister series to Netflix’s acclaimed Haunting of Hill House, this spooky, eerie 9-episode series follows Dani (Victoria Pedretti), a young governess who arrives at Bly Manor to find strange apparitions and creepy ghosts haunting the estate. Bly Manor is a ghost story, certainly, but one done with Netflix’s power of raw emotions—it is simultaneously a story about love and family, about trauma and devotion. The Haunting of Bly Manor might keep you up at night, but it’s the raw human tales the story tells that will stay with you for a long time to come.

5. Cheer

Blood, sweat and cheer are showcased in this 6-episode Netflix documentary. Circling the competitive, determined cheerleading squad in the small town of Corsicana, Texas, cheer coach Monica Aldama will do whatever it takes to bring her athletes to victory, demanding rigorous work and dedication from the collegiate team. The episodes focus on individual members of the cheerleading team, as well as the history of cheerleading and formation of the squad—trust us, with stakes this high and competition this painstaking, this isn’t Netflix’s Dance Moms.

6. Love Is Blind

Think The Voice meets The Bachelor, and you get something akin to Love is Blind. Netflix’s reality show follows the premise that you can fall in love based solely on emotion, not appearance—that’s why, in this show, contestants find a match without ever seeing each other face-to-face. Unique? Sure. Entertaining? Most definitely. Be sure to pop a bag of popcorn before you sit down to watch this because before you know it, you’ll find yourself invested in this romantic social experiment.

7. Ratched

With Ratched, Ryan Murphy proves yet again that he is the content creator that just keeps on giving. Starring Murphy-favorites Sarah Paulson and Finn Wittrock (also seen in American Horror Story), the creepy drama follows a young nurse in 1947 who turns from bitter to a full-fledged monster toward her patients in the mental hospital. It gives just the right amount of Murphy-esque creepiness with Murphy-esque humanity—plus, the costumes are to die for.

8. Outer Banks

This teen mystery drama follows John B (Chase Stokes), a teen who enlists his three best friends (Madison Bailey, Rudy Pankow and Jonathan Daviss) to follow a treasure hunt linked to the disappearance of his father—all in the scenic, idyllic Outer Banks of North Carolina. The group, known as the “Pogues,” deals with love, friendship, drugs and the hurdles of being a teen along the way, a perfect combination of engaging, fast-paced fiction and real, raw adolescence.

9. Selena

Selena: The Series is the star of Netflix this December. Based on the tragic real-life story of Mexican-American pop icon Selena Quintanilla, the series stars Selena (played by Christian Serratos) as she rises to fame and her title of the Queen of Tejano music, cataloguing the many sacrifices and familial struggles made along the way to her triumphs. The series is bold yet heartwarming, a vivid autobiographical portrait cataloguing the trajectory of one of the most beloved performers of all time.

10. The Circle

The Circle is emblematic of the chaos and confusion of 2020, a show which truly would have only worked this year. The reality-competition follows a simple (yet hilarious) premise: contestants all move into the same apartment building, where they are confined to their own apartments and never see each other in-person throughout the show. Instead, they communicate solely on a social media platform called—you guessed it—The Circle, where they have free reign to catfish each other and present themselves as however they please. The goal? Rank high enough to stay on, as the lowest-ranked person is kicked off, and the winner collects $100,000.