All 5 Shonda Rhimes shows on Netflix ranked from worst to best

When it comes to prolific creators, few have managed to make an impact quite as large as Shonda Rhimes. Through her Shondaland production company, Rhimes has been responsible for helping to create some of the most iconic and beloved original series to ever grace the small screen.

From sweeping romantic period pieces and gripping legal dramas to shows celebrating first responders who give their all to save lives, Shonda Rhimes and the Shondaland team have been keeping fans entertained for years with incredible series that always stand out in the crowd. While each show is so unique in nature, the constant in all Shondaland shows is their celebration of diverse storytelling which is one of the many reasons fans love the shows. Unlike on other shows, in Shondaland shows every viewer is able to see themselves represented through rich, complicated, layered, and incredible characters.

Rhimes has released countless shows over the years via her Shondaland production company and many have become favorites among Netflix subscribers. At the moment, there are five Shondaland series available on Netflix including three Netflix originals, but which is the best of the best?

In the slides ahead, we ranked all five Shondaland shows currently on Netflix and will continue to add to our ranking as additional shows make their way to Netflix!

5. Inventing Anna

• Release Date: Feb 11, 2022
• Number of Seasons: 1
• Cast: Julia Garner, Anna Chlumsky, Arian Moayed, Katie Lowes, Alexis Floyd, Anders Holm, Anna Deavere Smith, Jeff Perry, Terry Kinney, and Laverne Cox. 

Shondaland doesn't often swing and miss, but Inventing Anna was one of those few rare exceptions for the Rhimes and Netflix.

The series follows a determined journalist investigating the case of Anna Delvey, the Instagram-legendary heiress who stole more than just the hearts of those on the New York social scene. Between the events that inspired the series and the casting of Julia Garner in the lead role, Inventing Anna had the making to be one of Shondaland's splashiest shows.

Instead, the show left us wanting more and failed to deliver a show worth our time. The show weaves quite a tangled web as it tries to tell the story of Anna, but instead of the end product being an intricate piece of storytelling we're left with a bit of a tangled mess.

While the show managed to land a few Emmy nominations, there is no denying that when compared to the other Shondaland shows streaming on Netflix, Inventing Anna is by far the weakest offering streaming. This show would have worked far better as a movie rather than a limited series with bloated episodes, as Shondaland could have told a tighter story which is what this show seriously needed.

4. Queen Charlotte 

• Release Date: May 4, 2023
• Number of Seasons: 1
• Cast: India Amarteifio, Corey Mylchreest, Adjoa Andoh, Michelle Fairley, Ruth Gemmell, Golda Rosheuvel, Arsema Thomas, Sam Clemmett, and Julie Andrews.

Following the success of Bridgerton, it was only a matter of time before Netflix expanded the franchise, and that first expansion came in the form of a prequel series telling the story of our favorite member of the royal family: Queen Charlotte.

In Queen Charlotte, we rewind the clock to the moment young Charlotte arrived in London to be wed to King George. Needless to say, it wasn't exactly love at first sight but that was the brilliance of the show as it gave audiences the chance to witness a truly magical love story that defied the odds.

Queen Charlotte was a truly incredible spinoff that more than lived up to the original series and has left audiences wanting more. India Amarteifio and Corey Mylchreest were absolutely spectacular in the roles of young Charlotte and George, pulling audiences in and captivating viewers with their performances and helping Netflix deliver a love story for the ages.

Prequels are hard to pull off, yet Queen Charlotte proved that with the right story and the creative genius of Shonda Rhimes, a prequel series can be just as successful as its predecessors. It remains unknown whether we might see a second season of the show, but if Queen Charlotte does end up being a one-off limited series it was lightning in a bottle.

3. How to Get Away With Murder

• Release Date: Sept. 25, 2014
• Number of Seasons: 6
• Cast: Viola Davis, Billy Brown, Jack Falahee, Aja Naomi King, Matt McGorry, Charlie Weber, Liza Weil, Conrad Ricamora, Karla Sourza, Alfred Enoch, Amirah Vann, Rome Flynn, and Tom Verica. 

Look, I'll confess that How to Get Away With Murder lost its way in its later seasons and probably shouldn't have run as long as it did, but at its peak How to Get Away With Murder was truly one of the most compelling and captivating shows on the air.

How to Get Away With Murder achieved greatness primarily due to Viola Davis's remarkable portrayal of Annalise Keating. Davis's powerful and emotionally charged performance brought depth and authenticity to the character, earning her historic acclaim as the first Black woman to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series and the win could not have been more deserving. As Annalise Keating, Davis was flawless and commanded attention giving a masterful performance that remains one of the greatest characters to ever grace the screen in a Shondaland drama.

The show's brilliance also stemmed from its intricate plot, featuring jaw-dropping twists and turns that kept viewers on the edge of their seats. You never knew what How to Get Away With Murder was going to throw your way, which made it so fun as a viewer as the show was full of surprises that kept you coming back week after week.

2. Bridgerton 

• Release Date: Dec. 25, 2020
• Number of Seasons: 2 seasons and counting 
• Cast: Nicola Coughlan, Luke Newton, Jonathan Bailey, Claudia Jessie, Luke Thompson, Ruth Gemmell, Adjoa Andoh, Golda Rosheuvel, Phoebe Dynevor, Regé-Jean Page, Simone Ashley and Julie Andrews.

For decades, the romance genre has been overlooked by the masses and doesn't often receive the same level of critical acclaim or recognition as other genres. Enter Bridgerton.

Shonda Rhimes took a gamble adapting Julia Quinn's bestselling Bridgerton novels and it paid off in spades with the show becoming one of the most-watched Netflix originals. The Regency era drama offers up a modern twist on historical dramas bringing Shondaland's signature style to the forefront with a diverse cast, complex and layered characters, masterful storytelling, and brilliant love stories that have captivated fans from the start.

The first two seasons of the show were so unique in their storytelling, crafting two incredible love stories that had fans swooning and made household names of its stars.

With additional seasons on the way, Netflix has ambitious plans to continue to adapt the books in the series in order to keep audiences coming back for more romance as we watch the Bridgertons find their happy endings. We have no doubt the show will continue to captivate audiences for seasons to come and have faith that the Shondaland team will continue to masterfully adapt the beloved books in Quinn's series.

1. Grey’s Anatomy 

• Release Date: March 27, 2005
• Number of Seasons: 19 seasons and counting 
• Cast: Chandra Wilson, James Pickens Jr., Ellen Pompeo, Justin Chambers, Kevin McKidd, Jesse Williams, Patrick Dempsey, Camila Luddington, Sara Ramirez, Jessica Capshaw, Sandra Oh, Caterina Scorsone, Sarah Drew, Kelly McCreary, Kim Raver, Jason George, and Eric Dane. 

While Shonda Rhimes has created many shows over the years, there is no denying that Grey's Anatomy remains her crowning achievement.

Since 2005, Grey's Anatomy has been entertaining generations of fans many of whom first fell in love with the show via Netflix. In fact, there is no denying that Grey's popularity on Netflix is what has helped the show remain a success all these years after when it first began and led the show to become the longest-running medical drama of all-time.

What has always set Grey's apart from the crowd is how it has been able to perfectly weave together the personal and professional lives of the doctors at the heart of the show. We not only get to see these doctors tackle truly unbelievable medical feats, but the show brilliantly dives into the personal lives and relationships of the cast forging deep emotional connections between the characters and the audience.

These aren't just characters, they're family. These characters reflect the world and our own personal hardships. We can all see ourselves in these extraordinary, complicated, and amazing characters and the creative genius of the writers and cast helps audiences to easily fall in love with the characters.

The show's ability to make you laugh, cry, and feel deeply connected to every character is pure magic. It's not just a series; it's a journey that leaves you hooked, making Grey's Anatomy not only the best Shonda Rhimes show on Netflix but truly one of the best shows ever!