Alright, my dears, here’s the lowdown on my top five viewing experiences for February (and, yes, all of them are from the narrative goodie jar that is Netflix):
5. The Witcher
Based off of a video game (which was based off of a series of short stories by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski) Netflix takes a gamble with The Witcher, as fantasy is notoriously difficult to pull off, especially with an already ardent following and a broader global audience used to the high drama and production value of vehicles like Game of Thrones. The Witcher delivers.
With a very strong cast, helmed by Henry Cavill as lead Witcher Geralt of Rivia, we are given a rather gorgeously structured multi-time line narrative that slowly reveals itself. There are a few things that may be of the less desirable variety regarding some of the choices made (with regards to certain moments of female nudity, for example) but other than that The Witcher is a great romp and a truly entertaining watch.
4. Cheer
Following a group of teenagers in a small, barely-on-the-map (I exaggerate) town in Texas, USA, this reality series about an elite team of cheerleaders hooks you from the onset. You get to follow a handful of chosen “main” teens and their travails as they work tirelessly together with their squad toward nailing their barely three minute long routine at the National Cheerleading Competition in Daytona, Florida.
You quickly begin to care about these driven and extremely talented kids, and watching humans getting tossed in the air and caught by their peers has never been quite as addictive. (if you ever watched and liked Bring It On, this show was made for you) The stand out character is coach and cheer-mom Monica Aldama. Watch it and try to avoid jumping up and down for this team by the end of it. I dare you!
3. BoJack Horseman
An animated series that had its final episodes posted in late January, BoJack deserves a post all its own, but I also want to put it on this list because it’s one of the best watches you can engage with on Netflix. Ever. Following the washed-up-and-refusing-to-acknowledge-it former television star BoJack Horseman we get to watch him battle with his very real, internalised demons.
It doesn’t sound like a fun watch, but the absolutely stellar use of humour acts as a counterweight to the heavier topics of alcoholism and depression. It’s a healing exercise through and through, and though half the cast is drawn as animals (BoJack, of course, is a horse, hence the Horseman) the show is so very, very human.
2. I Am Not Okay With This
This is a gem. Based on a graphic novel by Charles Forsman, this is funny, irreverent, in-your-face teenage angst at its very finest. A great exploration of outsiderdome and feeling as though you simply don’t fit. And the tidal wave of emotions that can come with that insecurity. As well as the anger many of us (definitively not just teenagers) carry around without knowing how to find an outlet.
On top of this subject matter, you get an absolutely stunning choice of setting, as its modern day America, but looks like a mix between the seventies and eighties (with a heavy leaning towards the eighties). It’s worth watching just for the wardrobe of Stan. Swear to God. And Sophia Lillis as protagonist Syd is a star in her own right. Simply stunning first season all around.
1. Messiah
I wasn’t sure what to expect from a series with a premise that sounded like a cross between Homeland and the apocalypse. After binging the first season in barely a day, I can now say that I shouldn’t have even paused to second guess it, because not only does the premise work, the show then leaves you hungry for more. It’s much thanks to the extremely restrained, and beautifully balanced, writing by the writers room, as incited by series creator Michael Petroni, but a huge accolade goes to the performances of the brilliant cast.
You’ll follow the rise of al-Masih in Damascus and begin to understand why people would be taken in by this extremely charismatic leader. Michelle Monaghan gives an intense portrayal of a closed off and guarded CIA agent, Tomer Sisley is her fantastic Israeli counterpart, and Mehdi Dehbi sizzles in the titular role of the Messiah. Walking a tight rope that always leaves you wondering, the series draws you in and makes you want for there to be salvation, whether you’re a believer or not. (I’m technically not, and still!) But is it all a hoax?
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