What to Watch on Netflix This Week – Maniac, The Good Cop and More

Looking for something to watch on Netflix this week? We’ve got all your recommendations of the best new Netflix shows right here.

After last week’s utter carpet bombing of content from Netflix in an attempt to hijack your eyeballs before the fall TV season begins in earnest, the streaming service held back a bit. There’s only eight things being put out this week! You can watch all that in an afternoon!

This week the offerings are really spread out, with a casual cop show, a mind-bending psychoactive adventure, an adorable-looking children’s cartoon, and of course, some anime.

Let’s go through all the Netflix releases this week, shall we? And if you’re looking for even more hand-picked recommendations, click over to our Watch This Now! page.

(All titles are out Friday, Sept. 21 unless specified otherwise.)

The Big Releases

Maniac, Season 1
Perhaps you’ve never done drugs. Perhaps you’re on drugs now. Whatever the case, now’s your chance to pretend you’ve done a whole medicine cabinet’s worth with Maniac, a trippy drama from True Detective visionary Cary Fukunaga about a drug trial that sends its subjects into wild hallucinations (or something else?). Jonah Hill, Emma Stone and Justin Theroux star in this series that seems to either be loved or hated by critics. My guess? You’ll love it! If not, just take more drugs until it’s the best thing you’ve seen!

The Good Cop, Season 1
It happened! We all hoped and prayed for a police procedural starring Josh Groban and Tony Danza and here it is! The Good Cop! JoGrob plays a stickler NYPD cop who solves crimes in the latest from Monk creator Andy Breckman, and you’ll never guess who his new partner is: his dad (Danza)! Who also happens to be a disgraced cop with a thick-as-Bucatini Italian accent looking to fix his reputation. The light-hearted series goes back to the basics: good guys catch bad guys and no one has too many problems. This is comfort food for those tired of overwrought cop dramas. (Trailer)

For All You Parents Out There

Hilda
As the father of a 4-year old, I know that most kids’ shows these days are just sensory assaults covering up brightly covered commercials to brainwash your children into mushy brained zombies. But Hilda, a wildly imaginative series based on the critically acclaimed comic books, is a breath of fresh air that will teach your kids acceptance, exploration and kindness. Those are good things. Think Miyazaki via Scandinavia by way of the UK. None of that My Little Pony crap about shooting rainbows out of your butt. Plus, it’s Netflix, so there are no ads that leave your kid begging for that gross Barbie toy that’s a dog that poops out puppies.

Everything Else, and It’s a Lot This Week

Quincy
You know the name Quincy Jones, but do you fully understand just how important to music and pop culture Q actually is? The living legend gets his own documentary, courtesy of his daughter Rashida Jones, to reveal Jones’ true impact in the world today.

Nappily Ever After
Sometimes chopping off your hair is a sign of hitting rock bottom (right, Britney?). But sometimes it’s the start of a rebirth! This rom-com film is more of the latter with a hint of the former, but it’s a lesson to everyone: BE YO SELF. (Trailer)

Battlefish
There are tons of shows out there about men battling the dangers of commercial fishing, but this one is… also about catching fish. Watch as some dudes curse while hooking albacore in the waters of the Pacific Northwest. (Trailer)

Dragon Pilot, Season 1
This anime couldn’t decide if it wanted to be about pilots who fly jets or dragons, so it went with both! They are dragons who are disguised as jets! I have no idea how that works. Unlike other animes that drown themselves in being serious, this one has a ton of humor. Maybe this will be the series that finally gets me into manga! (No.) (Trailer)

D.L. Hughley: Contrarian
The comedian is back on stage talking about race relations and whatever else is on his mind. He’s also wearing an outrageously large hat! Ha, good one, D.L.! (Tuesday, Sept. 18 / Trailer)

Stop searching, start watching! TV Guide’s Watch This Now! page has even more TV recommendations.