It’s the most wonderful time of year for binge watching. Where to start?

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! A time where projects are delayed for an unspecified time in the near future (January 3rd, it’s January 3rd), gatherings at home are cool, mulled wine is made and calories don’t matter.

It’s the holiday season and that means staying at home and binge-watching your favourite shows and movies. It’s time for romantic comedies, feel-good films, and an allegory against modern capitalist society and the evils of affluent hedonism and corporate greed.

Well, mostly the first two.

Today we are taking a look at what’s coming on Netflix in December.

Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was…

In April 2023 something happened to actor, singer and stand-up comedian Jamie Foxx and no one is sure exactly what. His family said that they were going through an unspecified medical emergency and that for all intents and purposes looked really serious.

The rumour mill doesn’t stand still and with the lack of information, people stepped in to fill the void. “Jamie Foxx died”, screamed a title, “Jamie Foxx is a clone”, screeched another. At the time we didn’t know what to believe but everyone knew it was something serious as Foxx pulled out of all his projects.

A year later Foxx takes the stage in what was described as a “stand-up comedy event” to discuss his health scare and his path to rehabilitation. The show is a mix of stand-up comedy, music numbers and heartfelt confessions by Foxx, an attempt to properly communicate to the world what happened to him and his plans for the future. (December 10)

Mary

To be perfectly honest, I don’t know how to feel about this one. Sure, it has high production value, sure there’s Anthony Hopkins playing, but still. A biopic of the Virgin Mary? Biopics are usually a bad bet and biopics of religious figures more so. But if you are into watching films of a religious nature that -appear- to be respectful of the subject matter then this film is for you. If you might be offended by the depiction of holy figures, then definitely stay away. If you are a religious film fan there’s always Easter. (December 11)

One Hundred Years of Solitude Part 1

Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s literary masterpiece One Hundred Years of Solitude was among those books that for years were considered to be unfilmable. Marquez’s signature magical realism, the blend of colours and heavy use of metaphors and allegories made it a project nobody wanted to touch. Netflix rose to the challenge and produced a visually stunning series in two parts, tackling the story of the doomed family of Buendia and the fate of the fictional Colombian city Macondo. If you are familiar with the source material or if you are looking for a series that veers way off the beaten path, this is for you. (December 11)

Carry-On

Type-casting is a major problem for actors, as some struggle to tear away from the kind of roles people know them for and that have been burned into casting directors’ minds. Jason Bateman has for years been the go-to option for the straight guy in a comedy. He would be forever stuck in that role if Ozark never graced our screens. The crime thriller that went on for four seasons on Netflix solidified Bateman as a leading man who can take on the responsibility of carrying a crime series and deliver a stunning result.

Carry-On tells the story of a young TSA agent (Taron Egerton) who becomes the target of a mysterious traveller (Jason Bateman), as he is blackmailed to allow a bag to go on board. The agent’s life shortly unravels as the stranger appears to be always one step ahead, always anticipating his next move. (December 13)

Squid Game, Season 2

Here we are, the crown jewel, the drop everyone was clamouring for. The Korean-made Squid Game was the hit no one saw coming in 2021. Actually, to call it a hit is a gross understatement: it was a massive, global phenomenon that changed the streaming landscape and had an enormous cultural impact. This alone generated over a billion in revenue for the streaming behemoth and that’s on a budget of barely 20 million.

With this record-setting success, future projects were more than assured and a second season was a no-brainer.

Squid Game tells the story of a mysterious game where participants compete against one another in a series of challenges to claim a life-changing amount of money. Here’s the catch: the losers don’t just get to leave, they are killed. The game is played for the pleasure of the uber-wealthy, there as spectators.

After winning the prize in season 1, Gi-hun decides to return and dismantle the shadowy organisation from within. New challenges, new players, and a whole different level of plot are expected as series creators promise a much darker tone. (December 26)