The 17 absolute worst TV shows on Netflix

The INSIDER Summary: 

• Netflix has a vast library of shows available — and some of them aren't so great.
• Some of the worst include "The Cleveland Show" and "Ringer." 
• The list doesn't include any of Netflix's original programming.

Netflix might be pivoting more and more into original programming. (In fact, while you were reading that sentence, the streaming platform probably just dropped some big new series that will be the talk of the internet for the next two to three weeks.) It’s home to a vast array of TV shows from other networks as well, both of the great and not-so-great variety.

Netflix isn’t just a place to watch the new season of "Orange is the New Black" or "Stranger Things." It’s also a method to watch old shows that you might have missed or catch up on some current series ahead of a new season. Like anything with a deep library, however, there are more than a few stinkers in Netflix’s digital troves. The service has shows that you can binge in their entirety, but that doesn’t mean you should.

These are the worst of the worst on Netflix. They may not be original programming from the streaming service itself, but they can be watched there. (In other words, "Fuller House," while absolutely wretched, won’t be on this list.) If you’re looking for a new show to binge, these are some of the worst choices you could make.

Here are the 17 Absolute Worst Shows On Netflix.

17. "Dexter"

If "Dexter" had ended around its third or fourth season, it would undoubtedly be one of the best shows on Netflix, and maybe one of the best series ever. But Showtime didn’t know when to quit with their favorite serial killer, so the interesting tale of this anti-hero went on way too long and became a parody of itself.

The later seasons of "Dexter" are so ridiculous that they completely undermine the greatness that are the first few years. In some ways, the terrible later efforts even take away the show’s strengths. Debra doesn’t put up with Dexter’s anti-social behavior because of their sibling bond. According to the later seasons, she is romantically in love with him. Incest is never the answer, no matter how ideas have been explored.

To watch the first four seasons of "Dexter" is a recommended endeavor. Going anywhere behind the season 4 finale, as tragic as that episode may be, is an exercise in torture.

16. "90210"

The original "90120" is perfect example of ’90s camp and nostalgia. It’s an unapologetic soap opera, but it’s also self-aware, fun, and it was certainly a risky show for its era. The remake/sequel which ran from 2008 to 2013 was exactly none of those things.

There are startlingly few original characters in the new "90120." Mostly, the series opted to simply recreate the old characters with slightly different names and backgrounds. The result is an uninspired mismatch of new and old. "90120" became a cultural touchstone of the ’90s because of the archetypes that were on display and how fresh everything felt. The second "90120" is just a pale imitation.

That said, the remake of "90120" isn’t an outright dumpster fire. It was successful enough to even spawn a remake of "Melrose Place." The remake is just merely passable. With hundreds of shows to watch on Netflix, a passable second attempt of a much more influential show simply isn’t worth it.

15. "Glee"

"Glee" is an easy punching bag to take aim at, with countless jokes having been made at its expense. There is a reason for the mocking. Outside of a fun but uneven first season, Ryan Murphy’s high school musical series is a mess. From season 2 onward, "Glee" wanted to be a live-action cartoon and a show that tackled incredibly hot-button issues like transgender rights, homosexuality, and domestic abuse.

This would’ve been fine, if "Glee" had approached any of these topics with a sense of tact. Unfortunately, this series doesn’t know the meaning of the word “tact.” Glee is an indulgence of showrunner Ryan Murphy’s most garish instincts. The show frequently switches directly from long abusive tirades courtesy of Jane Lynch’s character to lectures about the dangers of bullying.

The worst thing about "Glee" is what supposedly made it unique. While there are some genuinely great singers on the show’s cast, every performance is heavily altered in post-production, having been autotuned beyond recognition. Every song from "Glee" sounds like a Kidz Bop album from the ninth circle of Hell.