Netflix is the most successful streaming service in the business for a reason. A pioneer of original content in the streaming space, Netflix has been producing in-house movies and shows for over a decade now, cementing itself as the king of the streamers and a true force to be reckoned with in the entertainment business.
With so much content available on the streamer, it’s logical that many of these shows will slip through the cracks. In such a competitive market, Spanish-language shows have a particularly hard time breaking through internationally, and the aversion many have to subtitles doesn’t help. And yet, many of these shows are quite excellent and deserving of everyone’s time. After all, many might know about Money Heist, but there are many more worthwhile series. These are the most underrated Spanish-language original Netflix shows, which deserve far more attention and acclaim from audiences always looking for the next big thing.
8
‘Olympo’ (2025)
Created by Jan Matheu, Laia Fogue, and Ibai Abad
Starting this list with a show that has actually been a decent hit for Netflix seems absurd. And yet, it’s undeniable that Olympo hasn’t really enjoyed the same level of success as the show it very clearly tries to emulate, Élite. Set in a specialized center for sports training, Olympo follows several young athletes competing for a prestigious sponsorship.
Olympo has everything one would expect from a spiritual successor of Élite: drama, above-average performances in service of a below-average story, and a few gratuitous sex scenes. Yet, like Élite, this drama is actually compelling, largely because of its talented young cast. The standouts are very clearly Clara Galle and Agustín Della Corte, but everyone here is giving it their best to elevate run-of-the-mill writing; they usually succeed. Olympo might not break new ground, but it does provide more than enough material to be a worthwhile watch for anyone looking to spend a weekend watching some good, old-fashioned drama.
7
‘The Lady’s Companion’ (2025)
Created by Gema R. Neira and María José Rustarazo
This Spanish gem just came out this year, but it will surely please any fan of Jane Austen, Bridgerton, and period romance in general. The Lady’s Companion follows Elena Bianda (Nadia de Santiago), the most sought-after lady-in-waiting and matchmaker in a pastel-colored Spain. Soon, she enters the service of the three young and beautiful Mencía sisters and develops a complicated attraction with the family’s godson, Santiago (Álvaro Mel).
The Lady’s Companion is fun, funny, whimsical, charming, and just irresistible. A large reason behind its success is de Santagio’s buoyant performance and her chemistry with Mel, but the show overall is delightful, an eight-episode binge that flies by. Sadly, like My Lady Jane, another recent colorful, sweeping, and endlessly romantic original show, The Lady’s Companion was just cancelled by Netflix, leaving this worthwhile show on a cliffhanger. It’s such a shame because the show was simply addictive and showed great promise to warrant a second season, at the very least.
6
‘Bandidos’ (2024-2025)
Directed by Adrian Grünberg and Javier Ruiz Caldera
The adventure genre has produced many timeless stories, but most come from Hollywood. Thus, whenever one comes from the international space, it’s always worthy of praise. Mexico’s adventure series Bandidos puts a spin on the adventure genre with a story that follows the classic beats of the genre with a distinct and welcome dose of humor. The plot follows a group of thieves coming together to recover a sunken Mayan treasure.
Bandidos does everything it has to and more. It’s a story full of adventure, comedy, and romance, greatly enhanced by a wonderful ensemble cast led by Alfonso Dosal and Élite breakout Ester Expósito. The scenery is gorgeous, showcasing the beautiful landscapes of Mexico, and the writing is well above average. Bandidos ended after two seasons, but the story is fully contained, leading to a satisfying ending that will make for a wonderful stop in any fan’s adventure journey.
5
‘Green Frontier’ (2019)
Created by Diego Ramírez Schrempp, Mauricio Leiva-Cock, and Jenny Ceballos
Similarly to adventure, the crime genre is among the most popular, especially today. Unlike most other genres, it’s much easier to translate to international markets; indeed, there’s no shortage of great crime dramas from around the world. Colombia, for example, produced Green Frontier for Netflix, about a detective who ventures deep into the Amazon jungle to investigate four crimes. There, she meets a tribe that will put everything she thinks she knows into a new perspective.
Green Frontier blends mystery with a good dose of fantasy, resulting in a one-of-a-kind crime drama that’s as exhilarating as it is original. In a sea of more conventional crime dramas, Green Frontier is an outlier, taking an unconventional but much-appreciated approach to a well-known formula. It’s far from perfect, but it’s engaging, twisty, and powerfully atmospheric.
4
‘Puerta 7’ (2020)
Created by Martin Zimmerman
Argentina has quite a booming entertainment industry, producing movies and shows alike, many of which reach international prominence. The country is also famous for its passion for soccer, and the Netflix show Puerta 7 combines both. It centers on a determined woman working hard to rid an Argentine soccer team of the violent crime and corruption surrounding it.
This unflinching crime drama miniseries is an intense depiction of the controversies and violence that plague the world of soccer. It takes an uncompromising look at many real-life issues surrounding this absurdly popular but quite flawed and corrupt sport, thanks to a committed cast and solid writing. More nuance would’ve been much appreciated (and arguably necessary), but Puerta 7 remains a fascinating crime drama that deserves far more attention from audiences.
3
‘The House of Flowers’ (2018-2020)
Created by Manolo Caro
Manolo Caro is one of Mexico’s most recognized creative minds. His style is very distinct, which also means it can be quite hit-or-miss. Yet, when he’s firing on all cylinders, he usually delivers sardonic, clever, and hilarious satires about Mexican culture. The best of his Netflix efforts is undoubtedly The House of Flowers, about a wealthy family whose lives are upended after the father’s mistress dies by suicide in their home.
The House of Flowers is the epitome of Caro’s unique voice. It’s not perfect, but any shortcomings it might have are more than made up thanks to the absurdist writing and a tour de force, scene-stealing, and instantly iconic performance from Caro’s longtime muse, Cecilia Suárez. Seasons 2 and 3 and the subsequent movie aren’t as great, but Season 1 is a true work of comedic exuberance that most fans will appreciate. Suárez’s Paulina de la Mora is also one of the all-time great Netflix characters, which further raises the show’s standing.
2
‘Smiley’ (2022)
Directed by David Martín Porras and Marta Pahissa
Based on the eponymous play, Smiley follows the unexpected romance between two opposites. Bruno (Miki Esparbé) is an insecure architect who randomly gets a mistaken call from Álex (Carlos Cuevas), a hunky bartender without many prospects. After a one-night stand, the two go their separate ways, but their brief time together leaves a feeling they can’t seem to shake off.
Smiley lives and dies with Esparbé and Cuevas. They spend more than half the show apart, yet their chemistry is so strong and enduring that it looms over the entire thing; you can’t help but root for them to end together, despite the very worthy partners that enter the scene once they’ve separated. A perfect Christmas treat, Smiley is the best kind of binge: sweet, well-meaning, and ultimately satisfying.
1
‘The Secret of the River’ (2024)
Created by Alberto Barrera Tyszka
Diego Calva rose to prominence as the star of Damien Chazelle‘s larger-than-life 2022 epic Babylon. One of his subsequent projects is Netflix’s The Secret of the River, one of the best dramas on streaming that you haven’t heard of. The plot concerns two young boys in an Oaxaca village who witness a secret death, leading to an unbreakable bond over the years.
Don’t let the uninspired title fool you: The Secret of the River is riveting dramatic storytelling at its finest. Calva and the rest of the cast do outstanding work, and the production values are deceptively great, but the show’s true strength lies in its writing. Seamlessly blending elements of the crime, mystery, coming-of-age, and drama genres, The Secret of the River is among Netflix’s best original Spanish-language shows, and it’s a shame not many people paid attention when it debuted in late 2024.