By Andrés Muñoz
Netflix has recently made headlines thanks to its much-lauded original film productions, with some even earning Academy Awards. Its movies may be gaining plaudits these days but the streaming giant’s presence in entertainment began with amazing serialised shows like House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black.
Its original programmes have set a standard to this day and ushered in a new age of at-home content consumption. Netflix has obtained over 600 Primetime Emmy nominations and won more than 100 as of May, 2021. It is also known for extending or rebooting series that started out in traditional television but have found a new home online. Each month brings premieres of new, exciting shows and the latest series releases of others.
Here’s a look at five of the best and most captivating offerings from this month, but be advised, these dates might vary depending on your location, so make sure to check your local service for release details.
Luis Miguel – The Series (Season 2)
It was only a matter of time before a series would be launched covering the life of Luis Miguel, one of the most famous Mexican and Spanish-speaking singers in the world. A massive hit in Latin America, the biographic show stars Diego Boneta in the title role and tells how young “Micky” rose to fame. It follows his intriguing story and the machinations his father employed to turn him into a star. The show focuses on fame and how it can create rifts and fractures amongst families.
It has been met with critical acclaim for showing an aesthetically pleasing narrative that doesn’t boil down into the usual trivialities of soap operas, gaining an audience score of 90% on RottenTomatoes. Season 2 begins with Micky in his 20s, exploring the intricacies of growing up as an artist and a father. New episodes drop every Sunday.
Halston – (Limited Series)
A limited series differs from a normal one in the sense that the story is entirely told in its initial run. Halston premieres on May 14th and covers the life of American fashion designer Roy Halston Frowick. It also explores the life of 1970s high fashion in New York City, and the AIDS crisis in the 1980s.
The series, directed by “Glee/American Horror Story” showrunner Ryan Murphy, and starring Ewan McGregor, has already sparked controversy even before its release date. Given Murphy’s flair for the dramatic and the allegations of “inaccuracy” coming from the Frowick estate, the show is bound to shock in more ways than one!
Money, Explained (Season 1)
Launched in 2018, Explained is a short format, documentary series covering a vast range of topics that spark human interest. From astrology and the wage gap, to an eerily accurate 2019 episode on pandemics (!), New York Times journalist and executive producer Ezra Klein branches off with additional seasons of Explained. He covers specific topics like the US Election, the mind, and of course, COVID-19.
This new series is the latest batch from Klein and covers many aspects of money, like get-rich-quick scams, student loans, gambling, retirement and more. The special was launched on May 11th, and this series looks set to be as intriguing as his other work.
Love, Death, and Robots – Volume 2
Following the success of its first season, the adult animated series Love, Death, and Robots returns. This anthology of short stories covers several different genres with interesting, humorous, and sometimes terrifying episodes. Season 1 showed us fantastic tales set in Afghanistan, outer space, and even other dimensions.
Created by Deadpool director Tim Miller and House of Cards/Mindhunter producer David Fincher, it is sure to be an epic watch. While another Netflix sci-fi hit series, Black Mirror, is based on The Twilight Zone, Love Death and Robots has a different influence. It sets the unnerving and ominous social commentary aside and focuses on the aesthetics and visual elements above all. Since it involved multiple animation studios worldwide in its production, it provides an enjoyable and vast range of animated styles. Volume 2 will be launched on May 14th.
Lucifer – (Season 5B)
Like some other shows such as Game of Thrones or Mad Men, producers extend the run by splitting its seasons. The Devil-turned-detective hits Netflix with the second half of the fifth season on May 28th. This series has received acclaim thanks to the powerful premise of how the Devil seeks redemption in the world of humans and the interactions with the heavenly (and earthly) characters that cross his path. A sixth and final season has been confirmed by Netflix, so expect an intense cliffhanger this season.
As you can see, there is a little bit of everything coming up this month. From visually stunning short films to dramatic biographical series, Netflix is sure to catch your eye with one of their original shows. Do you think we should include others in the list? Let us know in the comments section below!
THE LIFESTYLE COLLECTIVE 