Are you looking for a series to watch over Christmas and the holidays? Our Leya has compiled a list of 8 Netflix series from 2018 that she binge-watched over individual weekends.
Actually, we at MeinMMO are a gaming site and don’t report on series. However, a few new releases on Netflix in 2018 captivated me deeply, and I absolutely want to tell you about them.
These series triggered my binge-watch syndrome, which is notoriously hard to stop. Almost like an MMO grind!
What series are these? The series I warmly recommend to you all share something in common: They are melancholic, dark, and dreamlike – just like winter itself. Therefore, they are perfect for watching while cozy on the couch during the holidays.
Altered Carbon – The Immortality Program
What’s it about? In 2384, humans have the ability to store their consciousness and memories in a “cortical stack.” These stacks can be implanted into the body of another human, making people immortal.
However, in this dystopia, it’s a matter of money which body one inhabits. The especially beautiful and healthy bodies are reserved for the powerful, while a poor little girl can end up in the body of a sick old woman.
The special thing: Altered Carbon is the most expensive series that Netflix has ever produced. It is estimated to have consumed a budget of 7 million dollars per episode. You can definitely see that in the high-quality production. For comparison: An episode of Game of Thrones cost about 5 million dollars in the first season.
Altered Carbon is also based on the cult novels of the same name by Richard Morgan.
Content-wise, Altered Carbon deals with the problems of a two-class society and human mortality. It is precisely these complex and deeply philosophical conflicts that form the actual plot of the series.
Dealing with one’s past in another body and life. The question of eternal life and the resulting eternal boredom. The value of a life in a society determined by material possessions. These themes are presented in Altered Carbon in an intriguing way and stimulate reflection.
- For fans of: Blade Runner, Dollhouse, Dark Matter
- Rating of Altered Carbon on IMDb: 8.2/10
- Length: 10 episodes, each approximately 40 – 60 minutes, no further season officially confirmed yet.
HAPPY!
What’s it about? The cynical ex-cop Nick Saxman is now living as a hitman. Now he has to search for a little girl who has been kidnapped by a derelict Santa Claus.
By his side, Nick has a new partner: a flying, adorable, blue unicorn named Happy – the girl’s imaginary friend.
The special thing: Happy! is an extremely brutal and absurd Christmas story wrapped in a noir crime thriller. The creators of Happy! are also the minds behind the comic adaptation of Crank. They have transported the same dark humor and brutality to Happy! as well.
The depiction of violence in Happy! has a sort of artistic flair, as Nick Saxman dreams of blowing his brains out with two guns, with bright red blood spraying meters high against the ceiling and walls, the camera frantically spinning around him and a cheerful Christmas song playing in the background.
In Happy!, it also deals with the depiction of a completely broken mind, which is graphically highlighted repeatedly. At the same time, Happy! also offers an absolutely thrilling crime story, where each individual puzzle piece keeps you on the edge of your seat regarding the solution to the case.
- For fans of: Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Sin City, Crank
- Rating of Happy! on IMDb: 8.3/10
- Length: 8 episodes, each about 60 minutes, a second season is planned.
Disenchantment
What’s it about? Princess Bean loves to hang out in the pub, is constantly drunk, and often gets into fights. Simply marrying a rich prince and fulfilling her obligations as the princess of Dreamland is out of the question for the teenager.
The special thing: The animated series Disenchantment comes from Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons and Futurama. The typical humor found here is also present in Disenchantment: dark, socially critical and flat out. The series is set in a medieval setting, which is why this era is often mocked in Disenchantment.
Since Disenchantment was not produced for American television but for Netflix, sex and violence are depicted more directly than in Groening’s other creations. Netflix has so much confidence in the series that planning for at least three more seasons has already taken place.
Disenchantment loves to refer to other medieval series like Game of Thrones and parody them. However, the series is not a mere sequence of slapstick comedy. The episodes follow a coherent story that allows the characters to develop.
- For fans of: Futurama, Game of Thrones, Monty Python and the Holy Grail
- Rating of Disenchantment on IMDb: 7.3/10
- Length: 10 episodes, each about 30 minutes, already planned up to season 4
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
What’s it about? Sabrina Spellman is a half-witch torn between the worlds of mortals and magical witches. On her 16th birthday, Sabrina must finally choose one of the two sides.
Will she write her name in the Book of the Devil and fully surrender her soul to the world of witches? Or will she follow the path of mortals and therefore deny herself the full potential of her witch powers?
The special thing: Many assume that Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is an adaptation of the 90s sitcom “Sabrina – Totally Bewitched!” However, this is not true. The fantasy-mystery-horror series is based on the comic book series of the same name by Archie Horror. This creepy and adult tone of the comics is transported into the series.
The storyline is sometimes predictable and yes, at times somewhat cheesy. Even though Sabrina is a half-witch, she struggles with the normal problems of a teenager: finding herself, first love, and the issues of school and friends. The same high school vibe that Harry Potter has can also be found in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is that one series that you don’t quickly admit to having binge-watched over a weekend, now discussing who should have a romance with whom. However, the mystical atmosphere and the uncertain motivations of the characters provide enough exciting material to keep you engaged.
- For fans of: Harry Potter, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, American Horror Story
- Rating of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on IMDb: 7.8/10
- Length: 11 episodes, each about 60 minutes, a second season has been officially confirmed.
Hilda
What’s it about? Hilda is a small blue-haired girl who lives in the wilderness with her mother. Here, various mythical beings reside, like bureaucratic elves, lonely giants, or the sarcastic wooden man. However, Hilda must unexpectedly move to the city of Trollberg and leave her beloved and lonely wilderness behind. New challenges await the adventurous girl, which are even more mystical than she could ever have dreamed.
The special thing: The universe of Hilda leans on an old Scandinavia and its myths but follows its own logic. Hilda must overcome her prejudices against the city of Trollberg, while its inhabitants often harbor distrust towards the mythical beings. They help each other develop tolerance and mutual understanding for what is different.
These messages step into the background and are organically woven into Hilda’s adventures. There is never the impression of a raised moral finger. That’s what makes Hilda unbelievably heartwarming in a charming way, similar to what you might expect from a Studio Ghibli film. The unusual pastel colors are also impressive, underscoring the dreamlike quality of the series.
- For fans of: My Neighbor Totoro, Bridge to Terabithia, Welcome to Gravity Falls
- Rating of Hilda on IMDb: 8.8/10
- Length: 13 episodes, each about 25 minutes, another season is planned.
Bodyguard
What’s it about? David Budd is a police officer and war veteran who served in Afghanistan. After David prevents a terrorist suicide bombing on a London train, he is assigned as a personal bodyguard to Home Secretary Julia Montague.
However, David despises the political stance of the Home Secretary and constantly stands on the brink of betrayal against Julia.
The special thing: Bodyguard premiered on BBC One and achieved extremely high viewership ratings. The series finale was watched by more than 10 million viewers, while peak numbers reached up to 17 million viewers. According to Netflix, Bodyguard is one of the top binge-watch series worldwide.
It’s no wonder, as Bodyguard is a gripping thriller with strong characters. The tension here is psychological in nature. Bodyguard is told in a calm manner and features little ostentatious action.
Especially the constant power shifts between the two protagonists create suspense. It is never clear how they truly feel about each other deep down. Their relationship has a significant influence on the political events of the series, lending exciting depth to the drama.
- For fans of: House of Cards, Undercover, Marcella
- Rating of Bodyguard on IMDb: 8.2/10
- Length: 6 episodes, each around 60 minutes, a second season is in the talks.
Maniac
What’s it about? Annie Landsberg and Owen Milgrim both see themselves as broken people. The two strangers share a commonality: inner pain. Therefore, Annie and Owen participate in a radical pharmaceutical treatment that supposedly repairs the human psyche.
The special thing: Maniac is a strange journey into the psyche of the two protagonists, portrayed through a fictional reality. The series comes from Cary Joji Fukunaga, who was also involved in the production of True Detective.
Notably, the miniseries has no agenda. It is not about politics, not about society, not about moral value communication. The central focus is simply the complexity of humans and their emotions.
The miniseries can make you laugh, cry, and feel empathy, while also prompting deep reflection about your inner world.
- For fans of: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Her, Inception
- Rating of Maniac on IMDb: 8.0/10
- Length: 10 episodes, each about 40 minutes, a second season is not officially confirmed. However, the series is self-contained.
The Haunting of Hill House
What’s it about? Hugh and Olivia Crane move into Hill House in the summer of 1992, along with their three children. Unexpectedly, the family has to stay at Hill House longer than they originally planned. However, the villa seems cursed, as each individual suddenly has paranormal experiences and visions.
Due to a tragic and unexpected death in the family, the rest flee from Hill House. Years later, the surviving members of the family return to confront the house and the experiences they had there.
The special thing: The Haunting of Hill House is a reinterpretation of the novella of the same name from 1959 by Shirley Jackson. The series does not reinvent horror but plays with typical human fears. Sudden coldness, ghosts, creatures, an old house, mysterious deaths.
However, the horror is intelligently crafted and can resonate even with viewers who usually have little interest in horror. Here, the focus is on what the paranormal triggered within the family, and how the individual characters handle their own psyche after dark experiences.
The Haunting of Hill House also features a special Easter egg that has delighted the internet. In many scenes, ghosts hide in the background, and viewers search for them and post about them in fan forums.
- For fans of: Black Mirror, The Shining, The Conjuring
- Rating of The Haunting of Hill House on IMDb: 8.8/10
- Length: 10 episodes, each about 40 minutes. A second season has not been officially confirmed but is conceivable.
Have you found what you were looking for? Then grab something to snack on, something to drink, go to the bathroom one more time, and make yourself comfortable. These series have at least made me realize that I didn’t move my butt off the couch anytime soon. A good preparation is everything!
If you have any recommendations for a binge-watch series, please write them to us in the comments.
