'Raw and devastating' Netflix mini-series binged for 19 million hours as it dominates most-watched charts
Content warning: This story discusses domestic violence.
You know those nights where you hit play just to "sample" a new show, and suddenly it's 2 a.m.? That's what's happening with Netflix's As You Stood By - an eight-part drama people say they're finishing in a single day.
Since its November 7 release, the series has shot to the top of Netflix's global TV charts and racked up more than 19 million hours viewed, according to FlixPatrol. And right behind it on the leaderboard: The Witcher season 5 and Squid Game: The Challenge.
What the show's about
As You Stood By follows Jo Hui-su, a former children's author stuck in an abusive marriage, and her childhood friend Jo Eun (movies and tv series)-su, who's still carrying trauma from a violent upbringing. The two make a desperate plan to kill Hui-su's husband, Noh Jin-pyo - and then someone from their past shows up and everything starts to wobble.
Lee You-mi (movies and tv series) leads the cast as Hui-su. You probably know her from Squid Game; she became the first Korean actress to win an Emmy for her turn as Ji-yeong (Player 240). That connection's pulling in viewers, sure, but the show's holding them for tougher reasons.
Why it's connecting
Fans aren't calling this an easy watch. One viewer on IMDb went straight to "10/10" and "masterpiece." Another called it "raw and devastating," the kind of series that's dark not just visually but "psychologically and emotionally."
And the hook is fast. Multiple people said they were "instantly yanked in," with one admitting they "binged the whole thing in one day." That usually says more than a star rating ever could.
The context that matters
As You Stood By is based on Naomi & Kanako by Japanese author Hideo Okuda, which was also adapted for Japanese TV back in 2016. So the bones of this story are proven: two women pushed to the brink, a plan that looks clean on paper, and the messy, human fallout when it isn't.
For anyone tracking performance, the early momentum is real - international IP, a recognizable lead fresh off an Emmy, and a thriller premise with stakes you feel. Just a quick note on metrics: FlixPatrol compiles data from multiple sources, while Netflix's own rankings live at Top 10: Netflix, which updates weekly.
Fair warning, though. The domestic violence storyline isn't glossed over. If that's hard for you - totally understandable - maybe save it for when you've got the headspace.
As You Stood By is streaming now on Netflix.
Quick facts
- Title: As You Stood By
- Format: Eight-episode mini-series
- Lead: Lee You-mi (Squid Game's Player 240)
- Based on: Naomi & Kanako by Hideo Okuda
- Launched: November 7, 2025
- Chart note: 19M+ hours viewed since release, per FlixPatrol
