In the search for a new television show to binge-watch? Find yourself browsing through different streaming services such as Netflix to find what best fits your needs. While some may be attracted to the categories of romance, horror, or even true crime, others find joy in the international section.
With the boom of original content arriving on Netflix, it is not uncommon to find great shows and movies hailing from other parts of the world. And when it comes to Netflix USA, the opportunity to do so is even more likely.
In this article, we will take a look at the 10 best Canadian television series available on Netflix USA, ranked in order of awesomeness. That is because, for great content, one often does not have to go very far, but instead cross the border over to our Canadian neighbors.
Updated November 25th, 2020 by Hayley Mullen: There’s no better time to enjoy all the greatness that Canadian television has to offer. As we head into the colder months of the year, it never hurts to be reminded of the great selections that US Netflix provides from its northern neighbors. It’s undeniable: Canadians know how to handle their snow and their entertainment.
15 Sensitive Skin
The urge to drop everything that ties you down and change your entire life is one that many people find themselves feeling, especially as they get older and find themselves doing the same routine. Sensitive Skin takes that idea and roles with it, focusing on married couple Davina and Al (both in their 50s) who move from the suburbs to downtown Toronto in an attempt to shake up their lives.
Made as the Canadian adaptation of a British show of the same name, the main characters are painfully realistic in their awkwardness or worries that their life has gone by without them.
14 Can You Hear Me?
There’s a lot of gems to be found for those that embrace subtitles and enjoy non-English shows. Can You Hear Me? is a great example of Francophone television out of Canada that has a third season set to air in the spring of 2021.
The show follows three best friends, Ada, Carolanne, and Fabiola, and their day-to-day lives, all taking place in a low-income Montreal neighborhood. There’s a lot for viewers to relate to: going through therapy, navigating housing, familial struggles, and the comfort and strength that comes from friendship.
13 The Tudors
If you haven’t had your fill of drama and royal politics, The Tudors may be for you. This Canadian co-production is a dramatic retelling of the Tudor dynasty, specifically the infamous King Henry VIII and his six wives. The show has considerable star power such as Henry Cavill and Natalie Dormer.
It’s great for those who love scandal and betrayal, or for those who felt unsatisfied by the ending to Game of Thrones. It even has racy scenes that fans could expect from the HBO show, and though it does take liberties with historical accuracy, it is entertaining enough to let such liberties slide.
12 Travelers
Don’t ever let it be said that good science fiction doesn’t come from Canada. Debuting in 2016, Travelers is a future dystopian story with a sliver of hope, a more optimistic take on the ever-popular dystopian story in current pop culture. A ragtag group of individuals from centuries in the future come together in order to prevent earth’s disastrous fate by sending their consciousnesses back in time and into 21st-century people, similar to Quantum Leap.
It’s their only chance at saving the world, and not only do they have to keep it secret, but they find themselves entangled in the lives of the people they meet in the 21st century as well.
11 Total Drama
Total Drama is considered by many to be the very best of original Canadian animated television, and for good reason. With memorable characters and memorable comedic writing, this show parodies the popular survival show format made famous by Survivor, Naked and Afraid, and many others.
The premise involves 22 teenagers competing for a $100,000 grand prize on the island retreat of Camp Wawanakwa, with each challenge more intense than the last. Those who don’t receive a marshmallow at the campfire ceremony (once every three days) are eliminated from the island. The great potential of the survival format is only heightened by being an animated show, where intricate plots are planned in advance and anything can be drawn into reality.
10 Trailer Park Boys
Trailer Park Boys is a comedy-filled television series delivered in a mockumentary-style. It follows the lives of trailer park residents Bubbles, Ricky, and Julian as they undertake a series of petty crimes in hopes to make more money. Things eventually take a sharp turn when the Sunnyvale Trailer Park novice criminals get into some sticky situations, typically thanks to their vindictive park supervisor Jim Lahey.
This causes the trailer park boys to spend their time in and out of jail after getting caught for failing to pull off their numerous cons. The show is an absolute laugh-fest and its titular characters are endlessly entertaining. In the end, it becomes difficult to not root for them as they try to successfully carry through their ploys. To date, all 12 seasons are available on Netflix, which is ideal for a few binge-watching sessions.
9 Schitt’s Creek
This captivating television series follows the story of a video-store magnate by the name of Johnny Rose and his quirky family. The gang suddenly find themselves broke due to an unforeseen financial inconvenience that forces the family to unwillingly ditch their pampered lives to make the motel-town of Schitt’s Creek their new home.
Evidently, it is never easy to go from rags to riches and then back to rags. This comical series shows the realities of financial fall down and the importance of remaining humble because someone never knows when they might find ourselves in a similar situation. The series is very popular and won a slew of awards, including 18 Canadian Screen Awards. Schitt’s Creek is a must-watch.
8 Between
This Canadian science-fiction drama kickstarted in May of 2015 and has held onto the hearts of viewers ever since. Between follows the life of a pregnant teenage daughter of a minister and her life in the shabby small town of Pretty Lake.
The plot thickens and things go awry as a mysterious disease begins to kill off anyone under the age of 22 years old. This series is full of mystery, intrigue, and cliffhangers. Furthermore, it feels slightly timely in the current coronavirus pandemic age. It is important to note that despite never being officially canceled, there have not been any updates on a new season since 2016. Nevertheless, Between is a good show to start and get hooked on as the currently available content is entertaining as is.
7 Anne With An E
Calling all fans of Anne of Green Gables. Some readers may recall the childhood story about the 11-year-old orphan girl with the red hair and her varied adventures. Well, this is a very close storyline as the Canadian television series retains major elements of the original idea.
The drama television series speaks on the adventures of a 13-year-old orphaned girl and her life in the 19th century. Anne with an E follows the young girl as she learns to navigate the daily mishaps of her life on Prince Edward Island. It is a coming-of-age type of story that will pique the interest of those interested in teen dramas and stories of growth.
6 Heartland
This family drama will surely get viewers hooked from the very first episode. Heartland follows the numerous happenings of a family living in a ranch located in the fictional town of Hudson, Alberta. The Fleming-Bartlett family undergoes several challenges enmeshing topics of love, friendship, betrayal, marriage, and children.
Heartland also explores other themes dealing with supernatural abilities as one of the main characters, Amy, inherits her mother’s gift to heal abused and damaged horses. This show very much pulls at the heartstrings.
5 Alias Grace
Alias Grace will keep viewers on the edge of their seats the entire time as it is filled with drama and suspense. The show follows the story of a woman who is accused of murder. A psychiatrist is then given the task of evaluating if she is mentally able to be pardoned due to insanity. It is a six-part Netflix original drama series based on a true story that occurred in rural Ontario centuries ago.
Based on Margaret Atwood’s dazzling novel, Alias Grace weighs in on topics of justice, feminism, law, love, relationships, and more complex issues. It is surely not for the faint of heart, but definitely those looking to get into something raw and real.
4 Workin’ Moms
This Canadian sitcom made its debut on CBC television in January of 2017. It features a star-studded cast including Catherine Reitman, Jessalyn Wanlim, Juno Rinaldi, and Dani Kind. The plot follows a group of friends undergoing the daily challenges of being working mothers.
The thirty-something working mothers all attempt to balance love, life, family, and work while keeping their heads above water. It is a funny series based in modern-day Toronto, Canada. While there are some similarities with the hit-show Desperate Housewives, Workin’ Moms takes a different spin as each mother is unique in their ways of dealing with the intricacies of motherhood.
3 Frontier
This Canadian historical-drama is a go-to for Canadian television shows on Netflix US. The storyline chronicles the North American fur trade which occurred in Canada during the late 1700s. The several historical facts noted throughout the show are well-backed as the show is co-produced by Discovery Canada.
Moreover, it features Jason Momoa in the titular role of Declan Harp, an Irish-Cree outlaw who attempts to take over the monopoly over the fur trade in Canada. With the trade currently handled with the aim of illegal activities, Momoa’s character must attempt to step in and change the game. Frontier is a series with a lot of action and mystery, along with some intriguing twists and turns. It also offers an interesting insight into a usually undiscussed part of Canadian history.
2 Wynonna Earp
Many will say that this successful Canadian series deserves all the praise and accolades it gets. This Western television series was actually based on a comic book penned by American writer Beau Smith. Wynonna Earp brings an interesting twist to the usual zombie story by incorporating a fierce female warrior. Precisely, we follow the journey of Wynonna Earp, the great-granddaughter of a ruthless lawman, and her quest to defeat hungry revenants.
The show includes a lot of supernatural elements and a plot that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Topics tackled also include family, relationships, and the importance of upkeeping one’s familial legacy. It is a binge-worthy show, indeed.
1 Kim’s Convenience
Lastly, we have the critically acclaimed Canadian series, Kim’s Convenience. The sitcom which first aired in October of 2016 follows the lives of a Korean Canadian family who run a convenience store in Toronto.
The show includes numerous distinct characters, each with their own interesting background stories, along with a comical plot and dialogue. It tackles topics of family and its complexity (or dysfunctions), love, relationships, friendships, and more.