10 Netflix Shows to Watch in a Day
As many people around the world are still confined to their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, Netflix binge-a-thons are becoming the standard weekend activity. However, with so many viewing options, choosing what to watch can be a daunting task. The abundance of choices means that there's no reason to settle for anything less than the perfect show, so to help you narrow it down L'OFFICIEL suggests 10 Netflix mini-series that you can finish in a single day.
Bodyguard
First broadcast in August 2018 on BBC One, Bodyguard recounts the story of the brilliant bodyguard of the British Home Secretary. A few months later, the six episode-mini-series found global praise after joining the Netflix catalog. In the program, terrorist attacks and high-voltage threats cover up a larger truth. Richard Madden can add Bodyguard to his list of stellar performances, along with his credits in Rocketman, Cinderella, and Game of Thrones.
Duration: Six episodes, 58 minutes each
When They See Us
Written by Ava DuVernay, When They See Us looks back at the heartbreaking true story of five Black teenagers wrongly accused of raping a white jogger in Central Park in 1989. Highlighting the systemic racial discrimination in the United States, the mini-series is at the top of the must-watch list. Actor Jharrel Jerome, who plays the teenager who received the heaviest sentence, notably won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his role.
Duration: Four episodes, approximately an hour each
Into the Night
Into the Night is Netflix's very first Belgian series and has already been praised abroad. The show is by duo Inti Calfat and Dirk Verheye (Over Water), written and created by showrunner and executive producer Jason George (The Protector, Narcos), and produced by Tomek Bagiński (The Witcher, The Cathedral) and Jacek Dukaj, the author of the The Old Axolotl which inspired the series. After the sun begins killing everyone in its path, passengers of an overnight flight formunlate a plan to survive in a race against time.
Duration: Six episodes, ranging 35 to 50 minutes
Hollywood
After American Horror Story, Glee, Pose and more recently The Politician, director and producer Ryan Murphy wanted to rewrite the beginnings of Hollywood legends in the aftermath of World War II, imagining that racism, sexism, and homophobia had no place there. Provocative and incisive, Hollywood exposes and analyzes a power dynamic that has remained intact for decades, showing what the entertainment landscape might look like if it had been shattered. The cast features newcomer Laura Harrier (BlacKkKlansman), as well as Murphy's past collaborators Darren Criss (The Assassination of Gianni Versace), David Corenswet (The Politician), Holland Taylor (Mon Oncle Charlie) and Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory).
Duration: Seven episodes, approximately 45 minutes each
Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker
In Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker, Octavia Spencer plays Mrs. C.J. Walker, the first African-American to become a millionaire on her own by launching a brand of hair products in the late 1800s. In just four episodes, director Nicole Asher highlights the various obstacles that the tenacious woman had to overcome, including sexism, prejudice, and racism. In addition to playing the title role, Spencer is also a producer of the series, as is NBA star LeBron James.
Duration: Four episodes, approximately 50 minutes each
Our Planet
In this eight part docu-series produced in collaboration with WWF and narrated by David Attenborough, Salma Hayek, and Penélope Cruz, viewers get to see the planet's most precious species and fragile habitats. The audience discovers the unsuspected wonders of the Earth, highlighted through exceptional cinematography and colors, as well as how to embark on an unforgettable journey in the heart of the most spectacular landscapes in the world.
Duration: Eight episodes, 50 minutes each
The Haunting of Hill House
Composed of 10 episodes, The Haunting of Hill House reinvents the sometimes old-fashioned stories of haunted houses by giving back all their meaning and strength. The plot? The brothers and sisters who grew up in America's most famous haunted mansion are forced to return to face tragedy together. The family must face the ghosts of their past, including some only in their heads. The series debuts Victoria Pedretti, now known for playing Love in Season 2 of the hit showYou.
Duration: 10 episodes, approximately an hour each
The Eddy
After La La Land's premiere in 2016, Oscar-winning director Damien Chazelle conquered the small screen with the miniseries The Eddy. Deployed over eight episodes, the show takes place in the lively neighborhoods of present-day Paris and follows famous New York jazz pianist, Elliot Udo (André Holland), now boss of The Eddy, a club that has known better days. Punctuated by catchy and joyful sequences, the show proves that music has the power to heal, bring people together, and highlight the beauty of chaos. Not to mention, the series features a stellar cast including Tahar Rahim, Leïla Bekhti, Benjamin Biolay, and Amandla Stenberg, among others.
Duration: Eight episodes, approximately an hour each
Unorthodox
Esty is a 19-year-old ultra-Orthodox Jewish woman who lives in Williamsburg, a popular Jewish neighbor in Brooklyn. Overnight, she leaves New York to escape a marriage arranged by her family and heads to Berlin to live her life as a free woman. Soon, her past catches up with her: after learning of her pregnancy, her husband also decides to leave for Germany with his cousin to search for her. Unorthodox is inspired by the true story that writer Deborah Feldman retraces in her 2012 autobiography of the same name. For her role, L'OFFICIEL star Shira Haas, who plays Esty, learned Yiddish in just a few days before shaving her head on the first day of filming.
Duration: Four episodes, 55 minutes each
The Last Tsars
A fascinating family with a tragic fate, The Last Tsars follows the Romanov family, Russia's last monarchy, through their final years before the February Revolution. This docudrama focuses on the rule of Tsar Nicholas II, the final emperor of the Romanov's 300-year dynastic rule over the country.
Duration : Six episodes, approximately 45 minutes each