4 Netflix shows that aren't worth catching up on before the ball drops

Whenever we get to the end of another year, which seems to happen faster and faster these days, we always find ourselves inundated with "best of" lists and collections of shows we should have watched this year. Well, who's going to be real with us and let us know which Netflix shows we shouldn't rush to catch up on? That ones we can cross off our watch list? Well, you've come to the right place.

Before the ball drops and 2025 turns into 2026, you might have been spending your winter break racing through your watch list. It's always nice to start a new year having completely caught up on the shows you wanted to watch (or thought you should watch) before the new year hits us with even more new seasons and new shows.

Wondering which Netflix shows you can consider dropping from your watch list if it's still way too long going into 2026? Allow us to de-influence you from panic binge-watching the following shows for various reasons. Whether they were already canceled, unfortunately disappointing, or just not worth the watch, these are the four Netflix shows you can leave in 2025.

The Abandons

When Netflix announced Western drama series The Abandons, everyone was unbelievably excited about the prospect of a show starring Gillian Anderson and Lena Headey as dueling matriarchs. Not to mention, the Western comes from Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter. For many, that's enough to put the show directly on you must-watch list without even knowing what it's about.

But the behind-the-scenes chaos was very apparent on-screen. The Abandons felt simultaneously rushed and unfinished. Considering the series lost its creator and was supposed to have a longer season, it's no surprise that Netflix opted to drop the doomed series in between Stranger Things volumes. Maybe season 2 could happen and fix its issues, but right now, it's not worth the risk.

Boots

This fall, Boots seemed to be the little show that could. Debuting under the radar in October, the queer military drama inspired by a true story drew ire from the American government and in return received positive word of mouth. The show attracted viral conversation on social media and earned a boost in viewership, but it still wasn't enough a secure another season.

Boots was officially canceled after one season in December, and it's an unfortunate ending for a promising show that could have continued to explore these fun and vibrant characters. Honestly, it's still worth watching because it's a great show and mostly wraps up by the end of its eight episodes. But if you're someone who doesn't like watching canceled shows, this is an easy pass.

A Man on the Inside season 2

It's painful to admit, but A Man on the Inside season 2 just wasn't as good as season 1. Last year's breakout Netflix original comedy series from Mike Schur and starring Ted Danson felt like lightning in a bottle. An exciting little show with humor, mystery, and heart. Everything we loved about their previous team-up The Good Place without the (welcome) weekly philosophy and ethics lessons.

But A Man on the Inside season 2 went bigger, expanded its world, and bit off a little more than it could chew. The mystery wasn't as intriguing or personal to Danson's character, and the inclusion of characters and situations outside of the mystery felt forced. Overall, it was still a charming season of television, but if you missed its release in November, you really didn't miss much.

Black Rabbit

Netflix really went limited series crazy in 2025, but few were able to match or even attain the heights of the ratings smash, Emmy-winning hit Adolescence. This fall, Netflix dropped Black Rabbit, a crime miniseries starring Jude Law and Jason Bateman that looked like another slam dunk for the streamer when it comes to ratings, awards, and critical acclaim. Well, it missed the net.

Black Rabbit had an intriguing enough story, but the series was aggressively dark, both when it comes to the show's tone and its lighting. (Seriously, sometimes you couldn't see a thing.) By the end of the series, the mediocre payoff leaves you wondering what the point was and why the story had to be so bleak. If Black Rabbit comes across your recommendations, hop right on past it.