The Crown Jewels of Netflix Originals
By Jack Knowles | Sep 20 2018
With Netflix dominating our screens, Jack Knowles takes a look at the best of their original productions. Netflix’s original content in recent years has infiltrated the public mainstream and it has become a dominant content-producer for television, film and comedy specials. Netflix content is hugely popular, with series after series highly praised by critics, a large number of which going on to win Emmys, Golden Globes and earning cult followings.“Netflix content is hugely popular, with series after series highly praised by critics, a large number of which going on to win Emmys, Golden Globes and earning cult followings.”
Just recently Netflix shows such as Glow, The Crown, Black Mirror and Stranger Things all won at the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards. Receiving a large amount of nominations were shows including Orange is the New Black, House of Cards, Black Mirror, Kimmy Schmidt, and Narcos. Netflix’s original show Glow recently made history at the Emmys with their stunt coordinator, Shauna Duggins becoming the first female to receive the award. Glow is a charming show that revolves around a wrestling group formed for television. Alison Brie stars as wannabe actor Ruth who somehow ends up a part of ‘The Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling’, or GLOW. A show, that on appearance, might seem odd, strange and with a bit of a ridiculous premise all come together magically to explore friendship, female empowerment, and the 1980’s aesthetic. It does this all while making you laugh out loud. “The documentary follows the sons from each household, who form a friendship as they return from serving in the war. Mudbound received four Oscar nominations from Cinematography to the best-adapted screenplay.”
Netflix original show Master of None has won best writing in a comedy or musical series at the Emmys for the last two years. The show offers keen, realistic depictions of stories that aren’t so openly spoken of with a large dash of witty comedy. The show mainly focuses on Dev (Aziz Ansari) and his romantic relationships. It is filled with comedy throughout and insights into racism, ethnic experience in American, religion, modern dating and a love of food. Lots of food!With multiple Oscar nominations to its name, Netflix is taking not only television seriously, but also films and documentaries; Mudbound being one of them. Mudbound is a period film that is set in Mississippi during World War II. The film focuses on two families, one white, and one black as they struggle during the hardship. The documentary follows the sons from each household, who form a friendship as they return from serving in the war. Mudbound received four Oscar nominations from Cinematography to the best-adapted screenplay. Although it did not win anything, it shows that Netflix original content is of a high standard and something to check out.Icarus is a Netflix documentary in which Bryan Fogel investigates the possibility of doping during an amateur cycling race. This documentary won the Oscars ‘Best Documentary Film’ at the Academy awards this year. This film is a shocking, eye-opening journey into the world of doping and the corruption in the sports world.The New York Times recently insinuated that Netflix is the new home of comedy. Netflix has brought in huge comedians such as Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock and Russell Howard. They have made the likes of Hannah Gadsby huge stars. Some comedy specials to be excited for include Ellen DeGeneres, Relatable on December 18 and upcoming specials from Russell Brand, Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld and Ray Romano.Netflix has a lot of original content to be looking forward to. Emma Stone and Jonah Hill’s new sci-fi show Maniac is based on the Norwegian television series of the same name and is premiering on 21st September. The Shape of Water director Guillermo del Toro will have a horror anthology series on Netflix called Guillermo del Toro Presents 10 After Midnight and will be personally created stories by Guillermo himself. He will direct and write a select few and he will personally select writers and directors for the series. Two highly anticipated films that are also coming from Netflix recently premiered at the Venice film festival. Roma, directed by Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity, and Children of Men) follows a year in the life of Mexican family living in the 1970s. It won the highest award at the festival—‘The Golden Lion’. Another film to watch out for, having also premiered at Venice, is Joel and Ethan Coen's new picture: The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. It is a western Anthology consisting of six chapters and will star James Franco, Liam Neeson, and Brendan Gleeson.The list of upcoming Netflix originals is endless; there are some to be excited about, and some already amazing content out there. It’s hard to know where to start. So, just go ahead and discover Netflix's large, accumulating, library of content - from comedy to horror, there is something to match everyone’s tastes.