BOLD offers a list of some of Netflix’s most memorable shows in English and assesses the root of their popularity

Karachi: In October 2022, Netflix reported that it had gained about 2.41 million subscribers in the final quarter of the year. The increase in subscriptions was billed as an unexpected boon, especially since the streaming service had only anticipated another one million subscribers for the third quarter. These promising figures point towards Netflix’s abiding popularity and can be construed as an indirect indicator that the quality of content on the streaming service has improved considerably. As the year draws to a close, BOLD offers a list of some of Netflix’s most memorable shows in English and assesses the root of their popularity.

1. 1. The Sandman
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Fantasy has become an increasingly popular genre over the decades as it allows viewers to escape the confines of reality and imagine an alternative reality. American fantasy drama The Sandman has its genesis in Neil Gaiman’s eponymous comic book series. Efforts were afoot to adapt the series for the screen for over two decades and were languishing in development purgatory until Netflix stepped in and brought The Sandman to audiences across the world. The premise of the series might not instantly intrigue viewers who are drawn towards realistic storylines. Even so, the plot speaks volumes about the ingenuity of the creators. The Sandman features Morpheus, who is the embodiment of dreams, who finds himself enslaved for over a century through an occult ritual. When he finally escapes, he seeks to restore some semblance of order in his realm.

Over the years, Netflix has produced a glut of action-packed shows that recycle old tropes with an alarming regularity. The Sandman breaks the stereotypical mould and pulls viewers into a narrative that is unique, unusual and entertaining.

2. The Crown
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Queen Elizabeth II’s demise in 2022 was greeted with a bittersweet blend of sadness and apathy. Soon after, Netflix released the fifth season of The Crown. While sceptics believe that the series has lost its lustre over the years, The Crown attracted viewers who were curious about the challenges faced by the deceased monarch and the unintentional atrocities that she inflicted on those she loved by virtue of being the queen of England. Documentaries have often struggled to faithfully depict the personal struggles of notable figures. As a result, drama series such as The Crown have an edge over documentaries as they are mercifully devoid of the cold detachment that has come to be associated with the latter.

3. The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window

This series parodies the new-fangled trend of using the word ‘girl’ in the titles of books and films. Even so, The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window doesn’t take itself too seriously as both a parody or a murder mystery. Instead, Kristen Bell-starrer brings with it a quirkiness that is spellbinding. The first season revolves around Anna Whitaker (Bell), a woman nursing heartbreak along with a cluster of phobias, who purportedly witnesses a murder in her neighbourhood. Owing to this wild and outrageous claim, Anna is subjected to ostracism and viewed with a mix of suspicion and fear. Undeterred by criticism, she is steered by the earnest quest for the truth. The Woman in the House stands out as a potent reminder of how predictable murder mystery series have become and offers a fascinating glimpse of what they could be.

4. Dead to Me

Grief is a bleak yet inescapable facet of our lives. Any attempt to present the grim realities of the grieving process on the screen stand the danger of coming across as tragic and, at times, enervating. When it was released in 2019, Dead to Me stood out for its edgy take on the grieving process. When the third season of the series was released in 2022, viewers took it with great fervour and weren’t disappointed by its denouement. The key elements that made the third season rewarding and, therefore, binge-worthy was its realistic and nuanced portrayal of letting go of the past and embracing novel experiences.

5. The Watcher 

Any listicle on the most memorable shows on Netflix in 2022 would seem incomplete without a glowing tribute to The Watcher. The Bobby Cannavale-starter spins gold from the straws of reality and comes away with a gripping tale about privacy, psychological distress and the perils of home ownership in modern-day America. Since time immemorial, we have heard that the American dream has turned into a gruesome nightmare. The Watcher signifies the sheer extent to which the dream of prosperity has faded into oblivion in fabled land of opportunities.

6. Harry & Meghan

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made headlines when they decided to bow out of their duties as working members of the British royal family. Harry & Meghan is a captivating documentary series that focuses on the highs and lows that the couple has witnessed over time. Interviews of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as well as their friends and family add to the authenticity of the series. Insights from journalists and historians prevent the show from becoming a one-sided assessment of their lives. In the coming decades, copious dramatisation of Harry and Meghan’s relationship will grace the big and small screen. Harry & Meghan ought to be viewed as a useful starting point for these ventures.

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7. Inventing Anna

There is a voracious appetite for stories about people with dubious intentions who hoodwink others to further their own gains. Inventing Anna was one such series on Netflix that, though censured for its execution, presented a moving portrait of a character who would otherwise seem hopelessly unlikeable. The plot focuses on Russian-born Anna Sorokin who masquerades as a German heiress and cons New York’s elite. Her ruse helps her gain access to thousands of dollars that she channels towards opening an art-themed club. Deception is Anna’s weapon of choice and becomes the quality that makes her essentially human.

8. Inside Man
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Can a detective solve a crime from behind the iron bars of a prison cell? This is the question that most viewers were curious about when they began watching Inside Man. The series is about an American prisoner on death row who helps a British journalist understand the truth behind her friend’s disappearance. As a whole, viewers were pleased to see that a concerted effort has been made to widen the parameters of detective stories.

9. Man vs Bee

Rowan Atkinson-starrer Man vs Bee is predicated upon a conflict between a superior being and an insignificant creature that mirrors the antics witnessed on Tom and Jerry. The show presents absurd situations that turn a bee into a man’s greatest adversary. At the same time, the series derives its critical thrust from the now-forgotten spirit of empathy. The popularity of the series can be easily attributed to Atkinson’s stellar performance. Even so, Man vs Bee offers a telling critique on tolerance and our eagerness to defend our turf against those who also have an equal right to it.

10. 1899

With an eerie title like 1899, this eight-part series makes effective use of the key elements of suspense, horror, sci-fi and mystery to produce a story of a voyage that turns sour. A genre-busting series that pulls viewers into a whirlwind of catastrophic adventures, 1899 is a veritable tour de force.