15 Netflix shows that have made the biggest impact

House of Cards

After Lilyhammer, House of Cards is the actual first entirely original series produced specifically for Netflix. Premiering in 2013, House of Cards kickstarted a new era of content for the streaming service. Based on the novel by Michael Dobbs, the political thriller followed the duplicitous politician Frank Underwood and his equally amoral wife Claire through their attempts to gain power in Washington D.C.

Throughout its six-season run, House of Cards gained tons of critical acclaim and countless accolades. Unfortunately, the show’s legacy has been forever tarnished by the allegations of sexual misconduct against star Kevin Spacey. He was ultimately let go, with his co-star Robin Wright taking over as the sole lead of the series.

Orange is the New Black

While not the first Netflix Original, Orange is the New Black was one of the earliest Netflix Original series, one of the longest-running and one of the most acclaimed. Based on Piper Kerman’s memoir, Orange is the New Black premiered way back in 2013 and wrapped its seven-season run in 2019.

The series is also the first to ever score Emmy nominations in the comedy and drama categories. It earned Netflix many of its first awards with 12 Primetime Emmy Award nominations in its first season alone. But it wasn’t just the acclaim that made this series stand out, but the fact it starred so many women and really emphasized diverse storytelling with many queer, nonwhite characters. The show didn’t always hit the mark, but no one can deny its legacy.