Weekend Binge Alert: 3 Exciting New Netflix Series to Stream (September 18-20)
Even though we’re just in mid-September, Netflix is heating up as summer winds down. I’m eager for the debut of Party Down on September 22—it’s the outstanding comedy series you may have missed, featuring the talented Ken Marino and the pre-Severance Adam Scott, among several familiar faces.
In the interim, I’m looking forward to three recent additions that have become available on the platform for U.S. viewers over the past weeks. While they may not be brand new, they’re fresh enough to be worth your time. The first features the second episode of a sizzling series inspired by a well-known YouTube program; the second is a new season of an animated spin-off from one of Netflix’s blockbuster franchises, and my top suggestion is another adult animated series that has been receiving stellar reviews.
The WWE’s CM Punk Takes on the Wings of Death
I’ve been a fan of Sean Evans and his famous hot wings challenge on the YouTube sensation Hot Ones since it started in 2015. When you receive two spoofs from SNL, earn nominations for a couple of Daytime Emmys, and now get a Netflix spin-off, you know you’ve made it.
Hot Ones: Extra Heat is the exciting new series featuring 30-minute specials focused on major live events from Netflix. While it has its promotional slant, guests still must tackle the infamous Wings of Death—ten progressively spicier wings, including the notorious Da Bomb Beyond Insanity—while responding to Evans’ famously detailed inquiries.
Launching in July, Extra Heat kicked off with a post-MLB Home Run Derby episode featuring Will Ferrell and other cast members from The Hawk, including Fortune Feimster and Jimmy Tatro. The second episode, released shortly after September 14th’s WWE Raw, showcases wrestler CM Punk as he dives into the spicy wings while sharing insights about his controversial career and personal challenges in a refreshingly candid interview. Evans even steps into the ring with Charlotte Flair for a wrestling promo lesson—don’t miss the finale, it’s fantastic.
Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 (Season 2)
Hawkins Gets Haunted Just in Time for Valentine’s Day
It’s hard to believe that Stranger Things, Netflix’s sci-fi hit, just celebrated its tenth anniversary. It feels like only yesterday the group defeated Vecna last December. Even before we could fully process the end of our beloved series, Netflix satisfied fans with an animated spin-off, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, which premiered its first season in April.
Now, less than five months later, season two has introduced more escapades from the Hawkins Investigators Club. Set in the winter of 1985, this season picks up right after the gang prevents the Horde Queen from opening a new gate to the Upside Down.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, the town is besieged by dark ghostly apparitions, and mysterious glowing flowers began sprouting up. Max (voiced by Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) and her new friend Nikki Baxter (Odessa A’zion) find themselves selling these flowers, which leads to complications. Eleven (Brooklyn Davey Norstedt) and her friends delve into an unexplored mine for clues while Steve Harrington (Jeremy Jordan) makes a return. With eight half-hour episodes, it’s an easy watch for families.
Dang!
Millennial vs. Gen Z in This Hilarious Adult Animated Comedy
I’m just a few episodes into this edgy new animated comedy from Netflix that boasts serious credentials—it’s created by the team behind Big Mouth and animated by Titmouse, the well-known studio responsible for hits like Prime Video’s The Legend of Vox Machina and Paramount+’s Star Trek: Lower Decks.
With sharp dialogue (possibly a bit too rapid for my tastes), Dang! chronicles the lives of three siblings in New York City. The overachieving golden child Ruthie (voiced by Stephanie Hsu from Everything Everywhere All at Once) unexpectedly complicates the lives of her codependent younger siblings, Andrew (creator Andrew Law, who previously wrote for The Good Place) and Eunice (Poppy Liu from Hacks), who aren’t fond of Ruthie’s judgmental nature.
However, Ruthie is dealing with her issues too—she’s cheated on her husband and is now pregnant—while Andrew and Eunice are there to support and challenge her. The series humorously navigates the generational divide between millennials and Gen Z, packing plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. With eight half-hour episodes, it’s perfect for an adults-only binge session.
A Great Range of Shows for Your Weekend
Several eagerly awaited seasons of your favorite series will be arriving in the coming months, so if you’re like me and enjoy living weekend-to-weekend, these three selections—as well as our extensive array of recommendations—should give you some excellent viewing options while you await your favorite shows.
