Netflix makes itself harder to love amidst rising subscription costs, multiple tiers, second-season cancellations, and account-sharing crackdowns. The problems seem to be getting worse each day. But even so, I’m not ready to cancel my subscription, and won’t be for some time.
5The Exclusive Content Is Hard to Beat
Netflix started streaming in 2007, and heavily relied on licensing content from existing networks and studios like Disney, Warner Bros., and Sony to fill its library. After it racked up the subscriptions, it transitioned into producing its own content, with the first one beingHouse of Cards,released in 2013. This was seen as risky and overambitious by many in the industry, but it paid off, and now the same networks and studios that used to license their content to Netflix are playing catch-up.
Netflix has a vast library of original content for all audiences that you can’t find elsewhere. There are shows likeStranger Things,Bridgerton,Squid Game,The Crown,Money Heist, andThe Queen’s Gambit. And movies likeRed Notice,The Old Guard,Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, andKPop Demon Hunters.
I am not saying Netflix doesn’t make duds—its output has been quantity over quality lately. But in that sea of slop, the quality that is there is worth keeping the subscription.
4A Great Selection of Global Content
I have been exposed to a lot of American entertainment all my life and never really had an option to expand my viewing preferences. Netflix managed to do this for me, with Korean dramas likeSquid GameandExtraordinary Attorney Woo,to Spanish hits likeMoney HeistandElite. It’s not just entertainment, but exposure to different cultures and perspectives that broadens my horizons, giving me a break from the typical Hollywood formula.
What impresses me the most is that Netflix is not simply licensing content from around the world by dubbing and subtitling it in multiple languages. It’s investing heavily in producing original international content, making its diverse offerings even more authentic. Not many platforms do this, making it easier to overlook Netflix’s faults.
3I Can Watch Content on All My Devices
From my TV, phone, and computer to my PlayStation and Xbox, there is no shortage of devices to enjoy Netflix on. The ability to start watching a show on my TV and continue exactly where I left off on my phone during a commute makes Netflix extremely convenient. More than that, it has become essential to my viewing habits, especially when traveling or switching between rooms in my home.
2Netflix Rekindled My Love For Anime
I started getting into anime in the early 2010s. But somewhere between watching filler episodes ofOne Piece,Bleach, andNaruto: Shippuden, that momentum stopped. Over the years, I completely abandoned anime and only watched a movie here and there if it was an absolute classic likeAkira,Princess Mononoke, andSpirited Away.
But while browsing through Netflix’s catalogue of anime, I tried watchingDemon Slayer, and I was hooked. Before I knew it, I had watched titles likeMonster,Death Note,Vinland Saga, andRise of the Shield Hero. I have even watched dramas likeMy Happy MarriageandKuroko’s Basketball.
The bottom line is that while Netflix is not really an anime platform, its curated list managed to cure my aversion to it. And Netflix hasmassively increased its anime coverage in recent years. It produces original anime likeCastlevania,Devil May Cry, andCyberpunk: Edgerunners. It also has current popular anime likeDandadanandSakamoto Days, both of which I am enjoying immensely.
Now, if it could only addSolo LevelingandAttack on Titan, that would be great. I am even thinking of jumping back intoNaruto(I will use an online guide to skip the filler).
1There’s a Decent Library of Mobile Games
I do most of my gaming on mobiledue to the platform being convenient and having a lot of great free-to-play titles. I have even gotten into some gacha video games that people describe as “fair,” such asZenless Zone ZeroandGoddess of Victory: Nikke. But one of the biggest reasons for mobile gaming for me is actually Netflix.
Althoughsome people would prefer Apple Arcade, I find, again, that Netflix has a curated list of high-quality titles. It offers PC-quality indie games such asDead Cells: Netflix Edition,Into the Breach,TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, andSonic Mania Plus. As with anime, it also has original games based on its popular franchises, includingSquid Game: Unleashed,Bloodline: A Rebel Moon Game, andStrange Things 3: The Game.
With its game lineup, even if I have nothing to watch on Netflix, I always have something to play. And the list of games it provides is always expanding. Furthermore, Netflix promises to invest more in gaming, making the subscription worth keeping just to see what else it adds.
Despite its many flaws, Netflix remains a valuable investment for my entertainment needs. I particularly hate the rate at which they cancel shows, and I really hope the costs don’t go up again anytime soon. For now, at least, it has features that make it uncancellable.
