Adapting reality for the screen can be a tricky task. How much of a person’s life do you decide to show? Can you really show it all — the good, the bad, the ugly — and still get your main message across? How do you dive into the heart of the story without getting too saccharine?
This week’s batch of Netflix releases explore the challenges of bringing IRL stories to the screen. There’s Colin in Black & White, a miniseries that tells the story of former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s adolescence, and features narration and on-screen clips of the activist (who co-created the drama alongside Ava DuVernay). There’s also the final season of Spanish-language drama Luis Miguel: The Series, about the life of the famed Mexican singer. Meanwhile, Call My Agent: Bollywood takes a completely different approach, following (fictional) high-profile talent agents in Mumbai as they work with some of India’s biggest stars, featuring real celebs making cameos as exaggerated versions of themselves.
Whose story will you be stepping into this week? Read on for more of Netflix’s latest titles to find out.
Sex: Unzipped
Saweetie is so charismatic, it’s worth watching pretty much anything she’s in. Sex: Unzipped is putting that theory to test, sitting the rapper down with a group of puppets to discuss sex positivity. Part comedy special, it also features sexperts and stars like Joel Kim Booster, Michelle Buteau, Mae Martin and Trixie Mattel. You’ll probably learn more than you did in your high school sex ed class, but that’s not saying much, is it? Now streaming.
Hypnotic
Still in search of some pre-Halloween frights? Look no further than Hypnotic, which is the perfect watch for while you prep your costume. The thriller follows Jenn, a young woman (Kate Siegel) who feels stuck in both her professional and personal life, and enlists the help of a hypnotist (Jason O’Mara) as part of her efforts to better herself. But their sessions quickly turn into trippy mind games, leading to deadly consequences. Now streaming.
An Astrological Guide for Broken Hearts
My astrology knowledge is limited to the memes that occasionally make their way to my IG feed. In the Italian rom-com series An Astrological Guide for Broken Hearts, perpetually single Alice (Claudia Gusmano) is the same. But when she befriends an astrology guru who swears by reading the stars (not your online horoscope the horoscope) to guide him through the ups and downs of life, she figures: Why not give it a shot? Will the stars save Alice from future dating mishaps? Probably not, but I look forward to watching her try. Now streaming
This Is Us (Season 5)
You can always count on This Is Usfor a good cry, so stock up on Kleenex, because the family drama’s fifth season is officially available to stream. Set during the pandemic, the latest batch of episodes finds the Pearsons divided — both geographically and emotionally, thanks to the aftermath of a big fight between Kevin (Justin Hartley) and Randall (Sterling K. Brown). Enjoy your time with the family while you can: The show’s upcoming sixth season is also set to be its very last. October 27.
Luis Miguel: The Series (Season 3)
If you haven’t already caught up on Luis Miguel: The Series, the IRL tale of the famed (and troubled) Mexican singer (portrayed on screen by Diego Boneta), I have two words that may pique your interest: Mariah Carey. That’s right, the third and final season of the Spanish-language biographical drama depicts the star’s romantic relationship with Carey (played here by Jade Ewen) circa the late ‘90s. But, rest assured, there’s a lot more going on that will keep your eyes glued to the screen. October 29.
Army of Thieves
Zack Snyder’s zombie thriller Army of the Dead only started streaming a few months ago, but it’s already getting the prequel treatment. Army of Thieves follows Ludwig Dieter, who fans of the original flick know as an affable safecracker. Set six years before Army of the Dead, Ludwig has no zombies to worry about here. Instead, the movie follows him early on in his safe-cracking career, when he’s recruited by the mysterious Gwendoline (Nathalie Emmanuel) into a group of misfit thieves. October 29.
Colin in Black & White
Most of us are familiar with the name Colin Kaepernick — the former U.S. NFL quarterback who was ostracised from the league for kneeling during the national anthem — but how many of us actually know anything about who he is? That’s about to change thanks to Colin in Black & White, a six-episode miniseries the athlete and activist co-created with Ava DuVernay (who also directs part of it) that tells the story of his teen years. Kaepernick also appears on screen as a narrator for the series, adding even more depth to his story. October 29.
The Time It Takes
The Time It Takes starts with a break-up. After dating for many years, Lina (Nadia de Santiago) and Nico (Álvaro Cervantes) call it quits after a tense argument. From there, the Spanish series focuses on Lina, struggling in the aftermath of her heartbreak, who vows to think about Nico one minute less every day so she can move on from her sadness and live in the present. Does this method actually work? I’d love to find out. October 29.
Call My Agent: Bollywood
French drama Call My Agent was an immersive, lavish peek into France’s show business industry, following high-profile agents (and cameos from IRL celebs) as they went above and beyond for their clients. Transporting the premise to Mumbai for Call My Agent: Bollywood is incredibly intriguing, and I’m sure it will be just as entertaining and eyebrow-raising as the original. Ahead of pressing play, I’ll be preemptively opening up tabs to read up on the Bollywood cameos that await. October 29.
Inspector Koo
Inspector Koo was described on Wikipedia as a Korean Killing Eve. And, look, I know Wikipedia cannot be trusted as a primary source of information — especially when it comes to translating other languages to English — and, based on the show’s trailer, I remain sceptical about the comparison. But I am fascinated by the mere idea. The comedic thriller follows an ex-cop-turned-insurance-investigator who comes across a serial murder case she becomes determined to solve. October 30.
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