10 Best Netflix Originals From 2021

Based on real-life events, The Serpent is a story about a blood-thirsty murderer who preyed on unsuspecting travellers along the so-called hippie trail in Southern Asia.

Including it in this list might be considered a bit of a cheat, since it's technically a co-production between BBC One and Netflix -- and not a Netflix original in the strictest of definitions -- but the series is so good that we just had to put it in.

French actor Tahar Rahim excels as Charles Sobhraj, a notorious serial killer who targeted young backpackers and stole their passports after mercilessly killing them. It is, in fact, Rahim's performance that allows the show to shine despite some of its structural flaws. He portrays Sobhraj as a mysterious and distant man, but with a sense of self that is often lacking in characters like this. Even when it seems like the show is starting to lose momentum, his presence helps it tick and keep your attention.