The 16 best Netflix original shows of 2016, according to critics

Netflix is pumping out so many shows these days, it's hard to keep track of which ones are worth your time.

To help out, we put together a list of the best Netflix series that released new episodes in 2016. This list included old favorites that had new seasons this year, like "Orange Is the New Black," or blockbuster newcomers like "The Crown."

It left off some popular Netflix shows that are still going but didn't get any updates in 2016 - "Marvel's Jessica Jones" for instance.

How did we construct the ranking?

To get a sense of how Netflix's 2016 shows stacked up against one another, we turned to the reviews aggregator Metacritic, which pulls in critic (and audience) reviews from all over the world. We looked only at dramas and comedies Netflix had originated (not co-produced or taken over). Then we picked 16 ones that got the best combined critics ratings.

There were a few surprises in the data. Cult mega-hit "Stranger Things" was only in the middle of the pack, while "Lady Dynamite," which has relatively little buzz, was a critical darling.

Here are the shows that made the cut, along with their rating, and a description: