Are you looking for recommendations for Netflix series that you can watch over the holidays? MeinMMO editor-in-chief Leya Jankowski has compiled a list of 8 new Netflix series that debuted in 2021 and kept her glued to the couch.
Here you will find a list of very personal Netflix series recommendations. The 8 series are (almost) all new in 2021 and have captivated me.
The recommendations are of course free of spoilers.
Sweet Tooth
Trailer:
Civilization, as we know it, has collapsed. An unmanageable disease is to blame. At the same time the disease arrived, mysterious hybrids were born: a mix of animal and human.
But as humanity tends to do, it reacts with hatred and fear towards these new beings and hunts them down. We follow the kind-hearted deer boy Gus, who sets out on a dangerous journey.
That a disease drives humanity to the brink of extinction is not a new scenario. What captivates me is the mystery surrounding the hybrid children in Sweet Tooth.
Especially the uncovering of the backgrounds creates a huge tension arc. Where do the hybrid children come from? Why are they so hated? What ultimately led to the collapse of humanity? Where does the deer boy Gus really come from?
As can be gleaned from the trailer, the series is anything but as dark as the scenario sounds.
Despite the dark themes, there are many heartwarming moments accompanied by cheerful indie guitar music – which might be related to the fact that Sweet Tooth was produced by Susan Downey and Robert Downey Jr. They are behind the children’s adventure film “The Amazing Voyage of Dr. Dolittle”.
- For fans of: The Rain, Carnival Row, His Dark Materials
- Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Adventure
- Rating from Sweet Tooth on IMDb: 7.8
- Length: 8 episodes, each approximately 40 to 60 minutes. A second season has been officially confirmed.
An additional tip for Sweet Tooth: Since I liked the world of Sweet Tooth so much, I immediately researched its origins. The series is based on the comic series of the same name by Jeff Lemire. After I finished the series, I got the comics and couldn’t put them down.
However, I must say that they are really dark and show the worst of humanity. One needs strong nerves to read them. The series has made a significant departure from this.
Midnight Mass
Trailer:
The small and impoverished Crockett Island is so secluded that hardly any soul wanders there. Time seems to flow slower here, and the residents are trapped in their daily routines. Until a young, dynamic priest arrives on Crockett Island.
The arrival of the priest is accompanied by miracles. The residents fall into a religious frenzy – unaware of what they have gotten themselves into.
Midnight Mass is the only series on this list that I couldn’t binge-watch in one go. Director and writer Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House) gives his characters so many profound monologues that they almost lose their significance. However, it is worth sticking to the characters’ words and listening closely.
Each monologue contains a philosophical story about life, death, guilt, sin, forgiveness, religion, and the meaning of God in this world. Midnight Mass is designed more like a theatrical play. One must really like this and it requires concentration.
The series is extremely critical of the church and fanaticism. This is repeatedly underscored when dramatic sequences are accompanied by church music. The criticism particularly stands out during dialogues between the pastor and one of the main characters, who has lost her faith in God.
Although I found it somewhat exhausting to watch Midnight Mass at times, the series rewarded me multiple times. There are twists that I recognize as surprising and especially bold. There are images that have burned themselves into my mind.
Although Midnight Mass is far from perfect, the series has left a lasting impression on me.
- For fans of: The Haunting of Hill House, Constantine, Penny Dreadful
- Genre: Horror, Drama, Fantasy
- Rating from Midnight Mass on IMDb: 7.7
- Length: 7 episodes, each approximately 60 to 70 minutes. The mini-series is self-contained.
Arcane
Trailer:
In a two-class society, a war between two cities is slowly brewing.
In Piltover, the economy is thriving – due to progress and a newly discovered magical technology. In the undercity district of Zaun, the black market is flourishing. Here, criminal gangs are rampant.
The two cities are dependent on each other. However, they are in conflict due to the uneven distribution of wealth. In the midst of the conflict stand two opposing sisters who must make hard decisions.
Arcane is to me the best video game adaptation of all time. This is mainly because the series is so much more than just an adaptation of League of Legends.
Arcane shows the emergence of a war in all its complex facets. The characters and their stories go far beyond simple black-and-white thinking. Arcane manages to question one’s own morality. It utilizes a setting that is still very unexplored: Steampunk.
The seemingly evil have motives for their actions that are understandable on a human level. The seemingly good sometimes act in inhumane ways – in their unwavering belief that they are always doing what’s right. It reaches the level of Game of Thrones at its best.
Arcane also shows the bitter consequences of one’s actions in a war. The series does not shy away from depicting a dying child. However, this does not occur for voyeuristic reasons, but because it is crucial to the gravity of the story. Arcane breaks taboos.
Additionally, there is an incredibly high production value. Each episode of Arcane takes about 40 minutes, which is unusually long for an animated series. The unique look mixes 2D and 3D animations.
- For fans of: Love, Death & Robots, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Castlevania
- Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Science-Fiction, Steampunk
- Rating from Arcane on IMDb: 9.2
- Length: 9 episodes, each approximately 40 minutes. A second season has been officially confirmed and is in production.
Maid
Trailer:
A young mother escapes with her little daughter from an abusive relationship. To support herself and her daughter, she takes a job as a maid. On her journey towards independence and freedom, many obstacles are thrown in her path.
Maid is hard to digest, which is what makes the series so important. It shows how difficult it is for victims to escape their dire situations.
Be it through authorities that set up nearly insurmountable hurdles before victims can receive help. Be it the downplaying of violence, as long as it is not physical – not yet. Or be it through “friends” who take the side of the perpetrators.
A major theme here is financial independence, which is the only way out for the young mother from her misery. Maid is based on an autobiography titled “Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive.” The author Stephanie Land describes her struggle against poverty.
A particularly strong stylistic element in the series is a counter that is repeatedly displayed whenever the protagonist earns or spends money. The counter symbolizes the calculations that constantly run through one’s mind when one is truly dependent on every last cent.
I wouldn’t say that it brings much joy to watch Maid. However, the series opens the eyes to why many victims of domestic violence find it so hard to escape.
- For fans of: Gilmore Girls, Changeling, Dead to Me
- Genre: Drama
- Rating from Maid on IMDb: 8.4
- Length: 10 episodes, each approximately 40 – 60 minutes. The mini-series is self-contained.
Centaurworld
Trailer:
On YouTube, there is only the English trailer. However, on the Netflix page of Centaurworld, you will find the German one.
A war horse named Horse is separated from her rider by a magical artifact and pulled into a bizarre world – everything here is different than in her war-torn world.
Is Centaurworld at times super silly and over-the-top? Absolutely! At the same time, the series offers a strong contrast with the war horse Horse. She is actually bitterly serious, seeking danger and adventure.
The crazy humor made me laugh out loud at times. It reminds me of Adventure Time, one of my favorite series of all time. Amid all the silliness, there are indeed adult and serious themes that ground Centaurworld.
You can also look forward to a musical here. In each episode, songs are sung. The songs are as high quality as Disney ballads.
The trailer gives you a good impression of Centaurworld. If it appeals to you, just take a look. If it doesn’t, better stay away.
- For fans of: Disney and Pixar animations, Adventure Time, Steven Universe
- Genre: Musical, Comedy
- Rating from Centaurworld on IMDb: 7.6
- Length: Season 1 has 10 episodes, Season 2 has 8 episodes. An episode lasts just under 30 minutes. Whether there will be a third season is still uncertain. However, the second season has a cohesive ending.
Squid Game
Trailer:
Gi-Hun is heavily in debt and addicted to gambling. One day he is offered a one-time chance to escape his debt trap. He can compete against 455 other debtors for a cash prize of several million.
The competition consists of seemingly harmless childhood games. Only later do the candidates realize how high their stakes are.
Anyone who doesn’t live under a rock should have heard of Squid Game. The South Korean drama was the viral series hit of 2021. Squid Game was reenacted on playgrounds, even though people die in the series in the most brutal ways. Big YouTubers jumped on the trend and hosted their own Squid Game.
In total, 111 million people watched Squid Game within just 27 days. I was among them and had to watch one episode after another. Even though the principle of “Battle Royale” or “Hunger Games” is well-known, Squid Game stands out among them.
Thanks to a special twist at the start of the series, it becomes clear how bad the characters really are off. For them, the hell of the game is still the better option than to exist with nothing in their normal lives.
Squid Game has some moments that cut deep and clearly demonstrate that there is no real equality of opportunity for the characters. Be it because they couldn’t afford an education or because they are disadvantaged as immigrants.
P.S.: The episode with the marbles wrecked me. If you watch the series, you will know what I mean.
- For fans of: Alice in Borderland, Battle Royale, Cube
- Genre: Drama, Thriller, Mystery
- Rating from Squid Game on IMDb: 8.0
- Length: 9 episodes, each approximately 50 – 60 minutes. A second season has been officially confirmed.
Alice in Borderland
Trailer:
A young and aimless gamer suddenly lands in a parallel world of Tokyo. The city seems deserted. Soon he must fight against others in a deadly game for survival.
The series premiered in December 2020, which is why it just made it into the new releases for 2021.
Alice in Borderland is based on a manga of the same name by Haro Aso. The name is a nod to Alice in Wonderland – a story I have loved since childhood.
Therefore, I particularly enjoy the numerous parallels between the two stories! In the brutal retelling, you encounter the Mad Hatter, the rabbit that guides the protagonist, or the queen’s playing cards.
However, I can particularly sympathize with the protagonist Arisu. He has no job, is a loser in the shadow of his brother. However, he is an outstanding gamer.
This ultimately helps him in the games that he must win in order to survive. Through his gaming skills, he often has a completely different tactic than his rivals and opponents.
Alice in Borderland is quick-paced action, with exaggerated choreographies typical of Japan, which are produced with high quality at every point. If you do not enjoy the completely exaggerated Japan-specific aspects, then this series is not for you.
- For fans of: Alice in Wonderland, Squid Game, Sweet Home
- Genre: Drama, Science-Fiction, Mystery, Thriller
- Rating from Alice in Borderland on IMDb: 7.6
- Length: 8 episodes, each approximately 40 – 50 minutes. A second season has already been officially confirmed.
Inside Job
Trailer:
What if all famous conspiracy theories are true? Reptilians? They exist. Just like Chemtrails. The moon landing was just a fake.
The organization “Cognito Inc.” is responsible for keeping these conspiracies secret.
In times like these, I was really unsure whether I wanted to watch a series about conspiracy theories.
Afterwards, I was glad that I did! Inside Job parodies the entire world of conspiracy theories so cynically that I just had to laugh. The series actually helped me to see everything with a bit more humor.
Inside Job comes from the pen of Shion Takeuchi, who is responsible for the top series Gravity Falls, Disenchantment, and Regular Show.
- For fans of: Men in Black, Rick and Morty, Futurama
- Genre: Comedy, Satire
- Rating from Inside Job on IMDb: 7.7
- Length: 10 episodes, each approximately 30 minutes. A second season has not yet been officially confirmed. However, we can assume that one will come. Netflix has ordered a total of 20 episodes, of which 10 were released in the first season.
Bonus: Cowboy Bebop – But the Anime!
Trailer:
The anime Cowboy Bebop premiered this year as a live-action adaptation – and unfortunately it was pretty bad. So bad that Netflix canceled the new series just 3 weeks after its release. I couldn’t stand watching the live-action adaptation until the end.
The good news is that Netflix also brought the anime to its platform (for promotional purposes)! Since the live-action adaptation was so quickly history, it is questionable how long the anime will still be on Netflix.
Therefore, I highly recommend watching the original Cowboy Bebop over the holidays – no matter if you can relate to anime or not. Cowboy Bebop is one of the best series I have ever seen, regardless of genre.
Since Cowboy Bebop premiered in 1998, we are dealing with a square format. The series uses this for its visual language, resulting in many strong, centric shots. Cowboy Bebop takes its time for atmosphere and does not rush its story. The jazz music that underscores the plot is particularly noteworthy and is not just there for the sake of it.
The anime has a lot of depth and is more progressive than many series claim to be today.
You follow a bounty hunter through space, whose crew slowly expands. They all escape from their reality.
- For fans of: Firefly, The Fifth Element, Final Space
- Genre: Science-Fiction, Western, Neo-Noir, Space Opera
- Rating from Cowboy Bebop on IMDb: 8.9
- Length: 26 episodes, each approximately 25 minutes. The series is self-contained.
Do you have any recommendations?
These were my Netflix series from 2021 that I would like to recommend to you. Therefore, of course, they are colored by my personal taste.
Do you have any other series or movies that you can recommend? Feel free to write them to us in the comments!
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