Celebrating what Netflix does best: making great shows and then stopping them just to annoy you
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(Image credit: Netflix)
(Image credit: Netflix)
Putting a more positive gloss on it, I have to give some credit toNetflixfor historically taking risks on new shows that might well not be green-lit anywhere else. It’s just a shame that they have then so consistently ‘red-lit’ them as well but you know what they say: always quit while you’re ahead and leave them wanting more.
I am certainly not someone who cancels an original series of middlingly-successful stories about Netflix while the fans are still demanding more, so check out thebest films to watch on Netflixin January and thebest comedies on Netflixto beat the January blues – and, indeed, the February ones. You may also enjoy thebest R-rated movies on Disney+, featuring cannibalism, extreme violence, gore and SATAN himself.
Mindhunter
What is it with Netflix and terrible titles? Despite sounding like a comedy quiz show, Mindhunter is – or ratherwas– a thoughtful show about the FBI’s first ever unit dedicated to trying to understand, and hence track down, serial killers. Starring the all-time great odd couple of Jonathan Groff – awkward young nerd cop with a fascination for murderers – and Holt McCallany – gruff dad cop with no interest whatsoever – the series ran for two series, kind of petered out, and ended with absolutely nothing resolved whatsoever.
The Punisher
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Season 2 seemed to be picking up the pace a bit, while retaining the violent pleasures of the first season, so needless to say, Netflix pulled the plug, although in this case the choice may have been out of their hands.
The arrival ofDisney+ has seen most Marvel properties vanish from broadcasters other than Disney+ – see also Daredevil and Jessica Jones. There have been rumours of a third runout for The Punisher and his impressive arsenal of weapons, but I’ll believe it when I see it, and it probably won’t be on Netflix.
The OA
It’s hardly surprising. The OA could be likened to Stranger Things' grown-up sibling who is having a difficult time in their life, and experimenting with psychedelics. It is a lot darker and more confusing, with older teen/early 20s lead characters, some of whom who are considerably less sympathetic. The pacing is very odd, with quite lengthy sections where next to nothing appears to be happening, and some of the plot twists are real head scratchers. There is also more nudity and sex in The OA and – more troubling still for most viewers – alotmore interpretive dance.
As you can tell, this is a very hard show to describe beyond that facile comparison to Stranger Things. But if you can get into The OA, you’ll never forget it, that’s for sure.
Warrior Nun
Sometimes, you have to hand it to Netflix. When they cancelled Warrior Nun, the reaction of most people in the world – me included – was, “Wait, there’s a show called Warrior Nun? Why did nobody inform me of this?” The result was greatly increased viewing figures for the show, which is about some nuns, who are also warriors.
The show’s furious fanbase, meanwhile, was not about to take this shit lying down. Just last week, they purchased a billboard demanding the return of the show. A cute gesture but no big deal, you might think, until you factor in that they placed itright outside the Netflix HQ. The fans' ire is understandable – after a baffled response to season one, the critics gave the second series of Warrior Nun a rare 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Admittedly only 11 of ’the critics’ bothered to review it, so the statistics are not built on the most solid of ground, but you can’t really do better than 100%, can you?
Incidentally, it’s been suggested that the Lesbian overtones of Warrior Nun may have contributed to its demise but come on, that never stopped Xena the Warrior Princess, did it? Netflix’s show is a lot more adult and upfront than Xena ever was, admittedly.
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