What a week it’s been for Netflix. The platform dropped four brand new original series that span everything from true crime to psychological thrillers to historical dramas.
Leading the lineup is Black Rabbit. Jude Law and Jason Bateman star as estranged brothers caught up in a family tension in New York. Next comes Monster: The Ed Gein Story, where Charlie Hunnam’s transformation into the one of America’s most infamous serial killers leaves you with chills. Then comes Wayward, a mystery set in a seemingly quiet Vermont town – buried secrets come to the surface. Lastly, House of Guinness is a period piece chronicling the iconic dynasty behind one of Ireland’s most notable brands. Together, these series highlight’s Netflix’s continued dominance in original storytelling. There’s something for everyone, no matter what mood you’re in. Read down below for summaries of each (no spoilers!).
Black Rabbit (Thriller)
Jake Friedken is a rising restaurateur who aims for success within New York City, but his world is disrupted when his estranged brother Vince returns with much financial chaos in tow. Between loan sharks and dangerous debts, the brothers are forced into a spiral when everything they built is on the line. A gritty underworld mixed with familial drama, you’ll be on the edge of your seat until the end.
Created By: Zach Baylin & Kate Susman / Starring: Jude Law, Jason Bateman
Monster: The Ed Gein Story (True Crime)
Ryan Murphy is back with the third installment in his anthology-series, Monster. The series notably follows the lives of different “monstrous figures”. Each season focusing on a different killer. The first season The Jeffrey Dahmer Story caught the audience by storm, quickly followed by the second season, The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. Now, he dramatizes the life of Ed Gein, the infamous murderer and grave-robber during 1950s rural Wisconsin. Charlie Hunnam’s transformation is unrecognizable (in the best way) as he portrays Gein’s psychological torment, relationship with his mother that shaped his disturbing behavior. The best part of the season is the double feature: not only the life of Gein, but a peek at how Gein’s story inspired numerous horror films, adding a meta layer to the narrative.
Created By: Ryan Murphy / Starring: Charlie Hunnam, Laurie Metcalf, Suzanna Son, Tom Hollander
Wayward (Mystery/Thriller)
In a quiet town of Tall Pines, Vermont, two teens escape from an academy and join forces with Alex, a newly-arrived police officer. Together they peel back layers of dark, but very well-hidden secrets within the town. Along the way they discover that nothing is what it seems. As they dig deeper, each revelation makes the danger more and more personal.
Created By: Mae Martin / Starring: Toni Collette, Mae Martin, Alyvia Alyn Lind, Sarah Gadon
House of Guinness (Drama)
From the creator of Peaky Blinders, House of Guinness landed on Netflix to critical acclaim. Set in 1868 Dublin, the series follows the Guinness family in the aftermath of their patriarch’s death. His will upends the family, as some children are favored, some are left out, and the future of the Guinness brewery is now a source of bitter conflict. Power struggles, familial secrets, and relentless ambition sweep across the streets of Ireland and New York as each sibling fights to claim their place.
Created By: Steven Knight / Starring: Anthony Boyle, Louis Partridge, Emily Fairn, Fionn O’Shea, James Norton
