Seasons: 3 seasons, 33 episodes. Starring: Bill Skarsgård, Famke Janssen, Landon Liboiron, Penelope Mitchell, and Freya Tingley. Description: Hemlock Grove is a fictional town in Pennsylvania where strange things seem to happen. Peter Rumancek arrives in the town and befriends Roman Godfrey, heir to the town’s wealthiest family. Together they set about trying to solve some brutal murders that have recently taken place. The two must work together and shed light on these cases while keeping their own secrets in the dark. The show was produced by horror master, Eli Roth.
Why it’s a stinker: The premise for Hemlock Grove may not be original, but it had enough intrigue to ensure the first season was a hit. Later seasons suffered from a disjointed storyline and lack of consistent pace. The cast was a pleasant mix of familiar and new faces, and there was plenty of horror and gore to keep the viewer on edge. However, seasons 2 and 3 felt very stop-start and as a result, received some poor reviews. The show was not renewed after its third season.
'Gypsy' (WORST)
Seasons: 1 season, 10 episodes. Starring: Naomi Watts, Billy Crudup, Sophie Cookson, Lucy Boynton, Melanie Liburd, and Karl Glusman. Description: This is a psychological thriller in which Jean Holloway, played by Naomi Watts, is a psychologist who develops dangerous relationships by secretly infiltrating the lives of her patients. Finding herself completely entangled, Jean starts to behave more erratically as she tries to separate herself from this web of deception, struggling to differentiate between fantasy and reality.
Why it’s a stinker: The show was not renewed after its first season and received weak reviews overall. This was partly due to the fact that its title, Gypsy, can be used as a derogatory term for many Romani people. The cast was strong, but they seem to be dragged through this somewhat clunky storyline which never really takes flight.
She's Gotta Have It (WORST)
Seasons: 2 seasons, 19 episodes. Starring: DeWanda Wise, Anthony Ramos, Lyriq Bent, Celo Anthony, and Chyna Layne Description: The series is based on Spike Lee’s iconic book of the same name, which follows the story of a young woman in Brooklyn trying to juggle family, career, life, and love. Love itself seems enough to handle, as she tries to navigate three open relationships with Jamie, Mars, and Greer. Each has his own traits and characteristics, and despite her wanting to embrace this level of sexual freedom, it’s the men who struggle to accept her independence.
Why it’s a stinker: Anything written and directed by Spike Lee has the potential for greatness, but this new version doesn’t deliver on the original. However, it does a good job in capturing Brooklyn’s unique character. Bringing this story up-to-date is a tricky task, and despite not fulfilling its promise, the show was renewed for a second season. Let’s see if that one is any better than the first.
Girlboss (WORST)
Seasons: 1 season, 13 episodes. Starring: Britt Robertson, Ellie Reed, Johnny Simmons, Alphonso McAuley, and Dean Norris. Description: Girlboss is based on Sophia Amoruso’s autobiography, which tells the story of how she launched her own fashion business while working at the San Francisco Academy of Art University as a campus safety host. Sophia, who has plenty of personal issues, learns how to run her own fashion business as she goes along, with all the challenges you might expect along the way.
Why it’s a stinker: The show feels like it’s trying too hard. Sophia may come across like she doesn’t care what people think of her, but in reality, she cares a great deal. She is right to care, as she is representing her brand and its identity, which are not well portrayed in this series. There is an abundance of sex and profanity, so it’s not something you may want to show a young girl as a model of inspiration for women in business. Something just doesn’t add up, and for that reason, it was canceled after its first season. A rare misfire for Netflix.
Fuller House (WORST)
Seasons: 5 seasons, 67 episodes. Starring: Candace Cameron-Bure, Jodie Sweetin, Andrea Barber, Soni Nicole Bringas, Elias Harger, and Michael Campion. Description: The original version of Full House aired between 1987 and 1995, and was based on the story of a young widow who raises his three young daughters with the help of his brother-in-law, Jesse and his best friend, Joey. Set in the same house, the new series is a continuation of the same story. It will all feel very familiar, using the same kind of humor and storylines that leave you feeling nostalgic for the original. The Tanner family’s adventures aren’t over just yet. Now, DJ, one of the young daughters, is fully grown and running the Tanner-Fuller household, along with sisters Stephanie and Kimmy at her side. Mom jokes, corny learning lessons, and a whole lot of group hugs are a staple on Fuller House.
Why it’s lukewarm: It is precisely this sense of nostalgia that pulls it through, as opposed to any original plot lines or incredibly witty dialogue. It has that same old sense of feel-good fun, but we don’t expect it to be winning awards anytime soon. We also think it’s a shame that Mary-Kate and Ashley didn’t return to reprise the role of Michelle, which they shared as children.