Shows I Should Watch On Netflix: What Stands Out Now
- 01. Why these Netflix picks deserve a second look
- 02. Top Netflix Shows for Marist Education Values
- 03. Ethical Philosophy and Moral Development
- 04. Critical Thinking and Strategic Reasoning
- 05. Environmental Stewardship and Creation Care
- 06. Social Justice and Community Engagement
- 07. Teamwork and Friendship Formation
- 08. Age-Appropriate Educational Recommendations
- 09. For Younger Kids (Ages 5-9)
- 10. For Middle Grades (Ages 8-12)
- 11. For Teens (Ages 12+)
- 12. How to Evaluate Netflix Content for Educational Settings
Why these Netflix picks deserve a second look
For educators and parents seeking values-driven content, the best Netflix shows to watch include The Good Place (ethical philosophy), The Queen's Gambit (critical thinking and perseverance), Wednesday (problem-solving at a boarding school), Our Planet (environmental stewardship), and 13th (social justice awareness).
Top Netflix Shows for Marist Education Values
Marist pedagogy emphasizes holistic formation-integrating intellectual rigor, spiritual growth, and social mission. These carefully selected Netflix titles align with Catholic educational principles while offering engaging content for students, educators, and families across Latin America.
Ethical Philosophy and Moral Development
The Good Place explores fundamental ethical questions through a comedic lens, featuring moral philosopher Chidi who teaches virtue ethics and utilitarianism. The series examines Aristotle's virtue ethics and Jeremy Bentham's utilitarianism while asking "What does it mean to live a good life?". Research from American University shows the program successfully deploys names like "Kierkegaard," "Kant," and "Hume" in network television.
- Teaches moral philosophy concepts including doctrine of double effect (Thomas Aquinas)
- Demonstrates character transformation-even demon Michael achieves moral growth
- Addresses whether people can fundamentally change through ethical education
- Explores moral desert expectation and divine free will questions
Critical Thinking and Strategic Reasoning
The Queen's Gambit (released 2020) follows orphaned chess prodigy Beth Harmon while teaching strategic thinking and resilience. The series demonstrates the difference between strategy (long-term goals) and tactics (concrete moves) applicable to business, military, and sports.
- Practice strategy to develop confidence under pressure
- Seek outside opinions and challenge improvement processes
- Balancing flexibility with consistency in decision-making
- Believing in talent while respecting opponents
Chess education develops leadership skills including empathy, forward thinking, and problem-solving per Pennsylvania State University humanities programs.
Environmental Stewardship and Creation Care
Our Planet (2023, TV-PG, 2 seasons) narrated by David Attenborough examines climate change impacts on all living creatures. WWF launched "Our Planet: Our Business"Challenge challenging business leaders to recognize nature-business prosperity links.
| Show Title | IMDb Rating | Educational Value | Marist Value Alignment |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Good Place | 8.2/10 | Moral philosophy, ethics | Virtue formation, moral judgment |
| The Queen's Gambit | 8.5/10 | Strategic thinking, perseverance | Intellectual excellence, resilience |
| Wednesday | 8.1/10 | Problem-solving, justice | Dignity of outcasts, truth-seeking |
| Our Planet | 9.3/10 | Environmental science | Creation care, stewardship |
| 13th | 8.2/10 | Social justice, history | Preferential option for poor |
| Stranger Things | 8.7/10 | Teamwork, loyalty | Community, solidarity |
Social Justice and Community Engagement
Ava DuVernay's Academy Award-winning documentary 13th examines racial bias at justice-mass incarceration intersection. The film posits slavery was never fully abolished through the 13th Amendment, providing crucial context for understanding systemic inequality.
Effective character education requires promoting core ethical values like caring, honesty, fairness, responsibility, and respect. The 11 principles include developing students' intrinsic motivation and making parents/community full partners.
Teamwork and Friendship Formation
Stranger Things demonstrates teamwork lessons through its group of '80s kids fighting otherworldly evils. Key team-building principles include communication, valuing everyone, learning from mistakes, and tackling tasks head-on.
The show teaches teams should have rituals, embrace new members, listen to each other, support each other openly, resolve conflict together, and never give up.
Age-Appropriate Educational Recommendations
Netflix's "Education for Kids" genre includes shows backed by social-emotional curriculum research.
For Younger Kids (Ages 5-9)
Daniel Tiger's Neighbourhood helps with social-emotional skills through research-backed episodes. Our Planet II and Octonauts: Above & Beyond provide age-appropriate environmental education.
For Middle Grades (Ages 8-12)
Life on Our Planet and Secrets of the Elephants teach biology and ecology. Julie's Greenroom with Julie Andrews builds confidence and self-esteem.
For Teens (Ages 12+)
The Social Dilemma addresses digital citizenship, while 13th provides social justice education. Wednesday became the second most-watched series on Netflix of all time, surpassing one billion watched hours in 90 countries.
How to Evaluate Netflix Content for Educational Settings
To objectively assess a series' educational potential, consider these measurable indicators:
- Average Episode Completion Rate: >70% suggests strong retention
- IMDb Rating: ≥7.5 indicates consistent audience approval
- Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score: ≥80% reflects broad appeal
- Awards Recognition: Major nominations signal industry validation
Over 80% of all Netflix viewing activity comes from AI-powered tailored suggestions based on behavioral data and content metadata. Educators should verify series availability, cross-check scores, review parental guidance ratings, and test initial episodes for pacing fit.
Everything you need to know about Shows I Should Watch On Netflix What Stands Out Now
What makes a show educationally valuable for Marist schools?
Educational shows align with Marist values by promoting core ethical values, intellectual rigor, and social mission while respecting cultural diversity across Latin America. Content should demonstrate measurable impact through character development, critical thinking skills, and community engagement opportunities.
How do I choose Netflix series for mixed-age groups?
Choose proven crowd pleasers like Stranger Things or The Crown with high completion rates (>75%), broad demographic appeal, and strong audience scores (≥80% on RT). Prioritize verified metrics over hype and conduct due diligence checking parental guidance ratings.
Are Netflix documentaries suitable for classroom use?
Yes-WWF developed classroom resources for Our Planet supporting UK schools. Documentaries like 13th provide critical content for social justice classes when paired with guided discussion. Always preview content and align with curriculum objectives.
What ethical leadership lessons can educators extract from Netflix?
James Rest's moral psychology model identifies four components: moral sensitivity (recognizing issues), moral judgment (reasoning about right), moral motivation (prioritizing values), and moral character (following through). Shows like Toxic Town demonstrate ethical leadership depends on recognizing moral complexity and acting with courage.
How can I integrate streaming content into Marist pedagogy?
Effective character education uses all aspects of schooling-teacher examples, academic curriculum, instructional processes, and community relationships-as character development opportunities. Select content that respects all learners, provides moral action opportunities, and recruits parents as full partners.
