Here Are the Best TV Shows to Stream this Weekend on Netflix, Including ‘Last Samurai Standing’

If your queue needs fresh picks, this week on Netflix brings a mix of brand-new thrillers, international dramas, returning reality favorites, and a few evergreen classics—plenty to fill a full weekend of binging without scrolling forever. Below, you’ll find quick-hit details on what each series is about, who’s involved, and when it arrived this week so you can jump straight to play.

‘The Beast in Me’ (2025)

Created by Gabe Rotter, this psychological thriller follows a grieving author who becomes entangled with a wealthy neighbor whose motives grow more troubling with each encounter. Claire Danes leads alongside Matthew Rhys, with Brittany Snow in a supporting role. The story focuses on grief, obsession, manipulation, and how a seemingly benign friendship turns into a dangerous game. It landed on Thursday with a tightly wound season arc that builds tension episode by episode.

‘Last Samurai Standing’ (2025)

Set in the Meiji era, this Japanese survival drama centers on Shujiro Saga, an undefeated swordsman who joins a brutal contest among 292 samurai for a 100-billion-yen prize. Directed in part by Michihito Fujii, it adapts Shogo Imamura’s novel ‘Ikusagami.’ Cast highlights include Junichi Okada, Kaya Kiyohara, and Yumia Fujisaki. It arrived Thursday and pairs large-scale action with period intrigue.

‘The Crystal Cuckoo’ (2025)

Adapted from Javier Castillo’s bestseller, this Spanish mystery-thriller follows a young doctor who visits her heart donor’s mountain hometown and uncovers decades of disappearances and buried secrets. Catalina Sopelana, Álex García, and Itziar Ituño headline the six-episode miniseries from Atípica Producciones. Teasers emphasize a small-town puzzle with interwoven timelines and revelations. It dropped Friday, making it an easy weekend start-to-finish watch.

‘Mrs Playmen’ (2025)

Inspired by true events and set in 1970s Rome, this Italian limited series tracks a woman who takes over an erotic magazine after her husband’s betrayal and reshapes it into a bold statement of autonomy. Carolina Crescentini stars, with Filippo Nigro and Giuseppe Maggio supporting. The production leans on period detail from Italy’s publishing scene and cultural shifts of the era. It arrived Wednesday with a concise, self-contained story.

‘Dynamite Kiss’ (2025–2025)

This South Korean rom-com follows a woman who pretends to be a married mom to land a job, only to spark a complicated romance with her team leader. Jang Ki-yong and Ahn Eun-jin lead the cast, with creators Kim Jae-hyun, Kim Hyun-woo, and Ha Yoon-a blending workplace hijinks with mistaken identity. Episodes are feature-length and trace a Jeju Island meet-cute back to corporate life. It landed Wednesday and plays like a breezy, high-concept comedy.

‘Marines’ (2025– )

A military docuseries that embeds with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, this show documents high-stakes exercises across the Pacific. Season 1 spans four episodes focused on readiness, teamwork, and the logistics of modern deployments aboard amphibious vessels and remote terrain. It emphasizes real-world drills, mission planning, and cinematic field coverage. It arrived Monday and offers an inside look at training from the ground up.

‘Had I Not Seen the Sun’ (2025– )

This Taiwanese psychological drama centers on a documentarian whose prison interview with a notorious serial killer triggers visions connected to an old campus tragedy. Cast members include Tseng Jing-hua and Moon Lee, and plans indicate a follow-up installment after the initial season. The story blends investigative threads with hauntings of memory and guilt. It debuted Thursday with a slow-burn mystery structure.

‘Unicorn Academy’ (2023– )

Based on Julie Sykes’ books, this animated adventure follows students who bond with unicorns to protect Unicorn Island. Produced by Spin Master and Mainframe Studios, the series features voice work from Sara Garcia and Sadie Laflamme-Snow. Later seasons expand the island’s lore with new threats, guardians, and quests. New episodes arrived Thursday, offering family-friendly fantasy across bite-size installments.

‘Selling the OC’ (2022– )

From creator Adam DiVello, this ‘Selling Sunset’ spin-off trails agents at the Oppenheim Group’s Newport Beach office. Expect luxe listings, coastal architecture tours, and the franchise’s signature rivalries, with appearances from Alex Hall, Gio Helou, Brandi Marshall, and Alexandra Jarvis alongside broker Jason Oppenheim. The latest drop continues multi-episode deal arcs and shifting alliances. It arrived Wednesday, perfect for a reality-TV binge.

‘Sesame Street’ (1969– )

The long-running educational staple blends live action, animation, and Muppetry from Sesame Workshop to teach early literacy, numeracy, and social skills. Signature characters include Big Bird, Elmo, and Cookie Monster, with short-form segments that mix songs, sketches, and real-kid interviews. Recent coverage notes a refreshed format with an 11-minute narrative plus returning favorites like ‘Elmo’s World.’ It arrived Monday, offering new episodes of the classic series.

Tell us which pick you’re pressing play on first—and what we should add to next weekend’s list—in the comments!