Table of Contents
Altered Carbon
How difficult it is for science fiction series when they do not reach a degree of phenomenon sufficient to shoot the budget. The starting point is a dystopian future in which humans have given death the slip for the possibility of passing consciousness from one body to another, a good idea that gives one to delve, not too much, into exciting philosophical issues. Visually it works (especially when Joel Kinnaman is on screen, although on an acting level it’s pretty flat) and fans of the genre who aren’t too picky about the quality of dialogue and acting will really enjoy it. The second season, with a change of protagonist, has gone quite unnoticed but, although it is a little ‘cheaper’, it is more solid.
The time It Takes
The title of the series by Nadia de Santiago –we are amazed at the creator who was hiding behind the actress– can be read almost like a micropoem from which an idea that is as precise as it is emotionally overflowing springs up. And with an audiovisual translation that at first seems like a nice trick (each chapter, very short, is divided into a few minutes of present time and a few minutes of memory), but in reality the form and the substance merge with full meaning. It’s fascinating to discover the subtle layers of meaning in that sort of plucking the daisy in reverse to tell both a love story and a story of mourning. It is true that the first can be corny because it is based on some clichés of romantic comedy, and that the dialogues sometimes become predictable
Arcane
Huge surprise that of this animated vision of the League of Legends universe. A prequel with a dramatic content so well structured and developed that it welcomes both the staunch fans of the video game on which it is based, there are millions of them, and the viewers who had no idea what all this is about. In addition to the fact that the story is very well planned, the series stands out for its amazing visual display, with amazing levels of creativity, aggressiveness and emotionality. If you have prejudices because anime is not your thing, we recommend that you ignore them and give it a try.
Midnight Mass
It is true that The Haunting of Hill House and the sequel at Bly Manor were two quite stimulating psychological horror series, with an above-average quality for this genre. But the step that creator Mike Flanagan has taken in Midnight Mass is more than considerable. In this 7-episode miniseries, it obviates all the easy springs of scary productions and focuses on the creation of memorable characters in a very charged atmosphere, with some very long dialogue scenes that will bore those who are looking for scares from a manual but who have the ability to penetrate the psyche of the most daring viewers.
Crazy ex girlfriend
The talented Rachel Bloom is stunning in every aspect of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend , which she co-created and stars in. Bloom also co-wrote most of the songs for this musical drama, which features several original musical numbers in each episode.
Dear white people
ustin Simien adapts his 2014 film Dear White People into this series set on an elite college campus, where students of color struggle to find a place within the white-dominated institution. Simien tackles serious issues of race and class, but also includes a lot of humor, taking a satirical approach to the systemic racism his characters face.
Expanding from a feature film to a series also allows Simien to focus more on character development and broaden the range of perspectives, representing more nuance within the campus communities of color.
RADIANCE
A tribute to the 1980s professional wrestling league known as the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, GLOW takes a fictionalized approach to the real-life personalities involved. These women find empowerment and artistic satisfaction in creating over-the-top characters for wrestling matches while still confronting the sexism of their day. The creators lovingly reproduce the glorious cheese of ’80s pro wrestling while always treating their characters with respect and good humor.
New Amsterdam
Classic case of a series that goes unnoticed at its premiere (did you remember that Antena 3 broadcast it in Spain?) and suddenly hits it on Netflix. It is a classic medical drama, in the vein of Grey’s Anatomy but less romantic and with very topical cases. So much so that one was not broadcast in its day because it was about a pandemic and coincided with the explosion of the coronavirus. In case you need a final hook: it is set in the oldest hospital in New York and the protagonist, in addition to being a crack doctor, is secretly carrying a serious illness.
The good place
What begins as a sitcom about a misfit accidentally admitted to heaven turns into a hilarious and profound meditation on existence. In The Good Place , Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell) discovers that she might be in the wrong afterlife before discovering much more about the arbitrary nature of the universe.
Joined by Michael (Ted Danson), a supernatural being who is fascinated with humans, Eleanor and her friends alternately ask profound and silly questions about morality and mortality and receive equally ridiculous and profound answers.
Jane the virgin
Based on a Venezuelan telenovela, Jane the Virgin features all the wacky twists and turns of that genre along with a more sensitive and grounded approach to its characters. Gina Rodríguez stars as the main character, who becomes pregnant thanks to a doctor’s mistake with an insemination procedure.
But the show is much more than that initial, implausible setup, with its focus on Jane’s working-class family and her romances with hotel magnate Rafael (Justin Baldoni) and down-to-earth cop Michael (Brett Dier). Creator Jennie Snyder Urman brings humor and heart to what could have been a cartoony soap opera.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
From creators Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, the comedy Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt stars Ellie Kemper as the title character, who emerges from being held captive by a doomsday cult for 15 years. Naïve Kimmy must readjust to life in the real world, or at least, in the fun version of New York City that the show creates. Fey and Carlock effectively deal with Kimmy’s trauma while keeping the show goofy and fun, filled with supporting characters with as much weird emotional baggage as Kimmy herself.
Shadow and bone
Queen’s gambit
Absolute fall phenomenon, ‘Lady’s Gambit’ broke records on Netflix and became one of its most awarded series . The series created by Scott Frank and Allan Scott picked up the award for Best Miniseries at the Emmys, and its protagonist, Anya Taylor-Joy, was showered with recognition, from the Golden Globe to the Screen Actors Guild Award (SAG). And it is that this is not only one of the best miniseries of recent years, but also one of the best series in the history of Netflix.
Based on the novel by Walter Tevis ‘Queen’s Gambit’ follows an exceptional chess player from her childhood in an orphanage (where she learned to checkmate with the janitor) to her adult life , where she will have to deal with her addictions and traumas. Without a doubt, one of the best series of 2020 .
Seven Seconds
It would have been impossible to ignore Regina King’s powerful performance in this Netflix mystery series . And that she is not the protagonist! The actress won the Emmy for her role in this series, where she shared a cast with Clare-Hope Ashitey, Nadia Alexander and Raúl Castillo, among others. Although King was the only winner in the production created by Veena Sud, we cannot pass up the opportunity to recommend one of the best suspense series .
‘Seven Seconds’ begins as a result of the death of an African-American teenager in Jersey City, a crime that sets in motion a judicial process that will expose the errors of the system and the abuses of the American police . Along with its share of mystery and crime drama, the series offers a critique of the country’s racism.
Wild Wild Country
Netflix knows how much we love to meet the best true crime on television , and with ‘Wild Wild Country’ they hit the target. The series, directed by Chapman Way and Maclain Way, brought back an absolutely insane true story, and did so well as to win the Emmy for Outstanding Nonfiction or Documentary Series . This recognition, together with the unanimous support of critics, makes it an essential documentary on the platform.
‘Wild Wild Country’ takes us back to 1981, when the revered Hindu guru Bhagwan, leader of the Rajneesh sect , and many of his fanatical followers set out to build a utopian city next to the small town of Antilope, in Oregon (United States) . Of course, your company does not go unnoticed by the inhabitants of the place, and soon they will begin to uncover an incredible story.
Godless
that must be seen yes or yes on Netflix, and not only because it is one of its most awarded productions: the series created by Scott Frank is an intense look at the Wild West dominated by women (usually absent in the genre) and with a fantastic cast (Jack O’Connell, Michelle Dockery, Jeff Daniels, Sam Waterston, Scoot McNairy, Luke Robertson, Merritt Wever…). In fact, it was two of his actors, Daniels and Wever, who took home the acting Emmy.
Bridgerton
From the creators of How to Get Away with Murder, Grey’s Anatomy , and Scandal, Bridgerton is a period drama set in Regency-era England, following the wealthy Bridgerton family. Lots of lust, betrayal and money to get you seriously hooked. Season 2 arrived on March 25, 2022, while seasons 3 and 4 are confirmed.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
The original Star Trek was canceled after just three seasons, but its growing and dedicated fan base allowed creator Gene Roddenberry to return to Starfleet with Star Trek: The Next Generation . Even more than the original series, The Next Generation cemented Star Trek as an enduring franchise, with seven seasons of adventures for the new crew of the starship Enterprise, led by Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart).
Lucifer
The creators of Californication are behind this series that takes a character from a Neil Gaiman comic, The Sandman, a sexy and irresistible devil who runs a club in Los Angeles. He starts off a bit hesitant, in fact bordering on cancellation on several occasions, but in recent seasons he has found a brash and very daring tone that has earned him a glorious second life on Netflix. And the truth is that Tom Ellis gives everything so that the protagonist continues to engage.
