Netflix’s March Must-Watch: White House Whodunit and Korean Thriller

A Shondaland series about a murder investigation at the White House happens to be one of Netflix’s March highlights.  Unfortunately for patriotic viewers and the like, the victim is not a certain narcissistic orange-skinned bully.  

Other highlights this month include a new adaptation of a famous Italian novel about a family of 19th-century nobles dealing with game changing shifts in the political order, a story previously adapted by director Luchino Visconti.  Also, the team behind “Hellbound” presents a new Korean thriller about the clash between revenge and faith.

Viewers interested in trying something off the beaten path can check out such offerings as a Spanish thriller set in the midst of a prison riot, Saoirse Ronan as a recovering alcoholic going to the Orkney Islands to heal, or the story of a high school knife crime and its aftermath from the director and star of the acclaimed British restaurant drama “Boiling Point.”.

Use good streaming films and/or TV series as part of your self-care in these troubled times.  Then go back out to take part in your nearest #TeslaTakedown protest!

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Cell 211–In this acclaimed Spanish thriller, young prison guard Juan Oliver will be working in a noticeably decrepit prison that’s home to some of Spain’s most notorious violent criminals.  A pre-starting day visit by Juan Oliver results in his getting accidentally knocked unconscious and stuck in Cell 211 to recover.  This bit of bad luck turns out to be sort of good after prison kingpin Malamadre launches a full-scale riot at the facility.  Passing himself off as a newly admitted prisoner, Juan Oliver struggles to stay on Malamadre’s good side long enough to get crucial messages to outside authorities.

Cells At Work! Code Black Season 1–This anime adaptation of a spinoff from the “Cells At Work” series follows the efforts of a pair of anthropomorphic blood cells to keep alive a human body.  Rookie Red Blood Cell AA2153’s initial joy at working in the lungs gets dashed when he realizes he’s working in an abusive job environment.  The host body’s unhealthy diet and heavy smoking has left it with an abundance of LDLs, Carbon Monoxide, and Pneumococcus.  Meanwhile, veteran White Blood Cell U-1196 works hard without complaint for the sake of her mission to keep the host body healthy.

Do The Right Thing–Spike Lee’s classic drama about race relations takes place on just one block of a NYC Bed-Stuy neighborhood on the hottest day of the year.  Besides the heat, long-simmering racial tensions among the neighborhood’s residents slowly build to the boil over point.  The film boasts a stacked cast that includes Lee, Danny Aiello, Samuel L. Jackson, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, John Turturro, and Rosie Perez.   The Public Enemy classic “Fight The Power” does film anthem duty very well.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 1–It’s been 50 years since elf mage Frieren along with a party of adventurers defeated the Demon King and restored harmony to the world.  A reunion with her former comrades after traveling the world in search of magical knowledge leaves Frieren shocked.  The human allies she fought with are now either dead or too decrepit to travel, which she didn’t realize as elves have far longer lifespans than humans.  Now the mage begins a new quest: to visit the resting place of souls and hopefully see her former comrade Himmel one more time so she can finally voice her unspoken feelings..  Accompanied by a couple of new companions, Frieren sets out on what may well be a years- if not decades-long journey.  

How To Have Sex–16-year-old best friends Tara, Em, and Skye do a rite-of-passage holiday at Crete’s Malia party resort before Em heads off to college.  But their plans to drink, club, and hook up over the holiday run into problems.  Tara’s very self-conscious about being a virgin, and Skye doesn’t help matters by using that knowledge to humiliate Tara so she can get close to neighboring guest Badger.  But a bigger problem for Tara might be the increasingly unwanted advances of Badger’s roommate Paddy.        

The Potato Lab–Kim Mi-Kyeong has led a simple life doing her research at the Potato Research Institute.  Because Kim’s crazy about potatoes, she has no regrets about spending 12 years at the Institute’s mountain valley lab.  But Kim’s life gets shaken up badly by the arrival of the handsome So Baek-ho at the Institute.  So may have poise, but as Wonhan Retail’s organizational innovation director he’s also a cold-blooded capitalist.  Needless to say, the researcher and the director soon start locking horns.

March 5

The Leopard–In this new adaptation of Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s classic novel, it’s 1860 and the Risorgimento has hit such Italian states as Sicily.  Staying above the fray is Don Fabrizio the Prince of Salina, who’s convinced the current political turmoil will soon pass.  That assumption is challenged by his idealistic young nephew Tancredi joining the rebels and by the vulgar yet ambitious Sedara allying himself with the new mafia criminal organizations.  Daughter Concetta may still stand by the Don’s side, but even she may become a pawn in his effort to preserve both the family power and the lineage.  (For those curious about the great director Luchino Visconti’s treatment of the same material, go here.) 

March 7

Chaos: The Manson Murders–The Tate-LaBianca murders and the other Charles Manson-related homicides that followed have been discussed and dramatized in such works as “Helter Skelter” and “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.”  Now veteran documentarian Errol Morris (“Separated”) questions the details of that notorious crime spree.  Morris’ alternative theories involve the CIA, LSD, Jack Ruby, Vincent Bugliosi, and of course the Manson Family. 

Delicious–Nele Mueller-Stofen’s directorial feature debut centers on a wealthy picture-perfect German family spending their summer vacation at their French villa in Provence.  Those languorous days come to an end thanks to the family’s unfortunate collision with a young woman on a country road.  The injured woman is taken in.  But the family’s supposed altruism conceals the members’ intent to exploit the young woman for various reasons.  Unfortunately for the family, disastrous consequences await them.  

Formula 1: Drive To Survive Season 7–It’s the new season of this documentary series about the year’s big stories in the world of Formula 1 racing.  While no specific details have yet been released, some educated guesses have been made about what 2024 stories might pop up.  The possibilities include: the professional fall of frequent series subject Daniel Ricciardo; Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari; the tensions between McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri; and the Norris vs. Max Verstappen clashes for the Formula 1 racing championship.

Japan’s Number One Jerk Salaryman Season 1–Ex-TV reporter Ippei Ohmori (Shingo Katori) might win the crown for “worst man in Japan.”  He dislikes both his family and his children.  But when he decides to run for City Council, he has to live with his single father brother-in-law and his kids to improve his image.  However, doing so exposes Ohmori to the challenges of Japanese society, which slowly lead him to form real family bonds and campaign in earnest for a better Japan.  

When Life Gives You Tangerines–This Korean drama series recounts the adventurous younger days of Ae-soon and Gwan-sik.  Back then, the bold and spirited Ae-soon was a rebel who dreamed of becoming a poet.  Gwan-sik may appear as silent and unyielding as cast iron yet in matters of the heart, he’s fragile enough to have his heart skip a beat when Ae-soon smiles at him.

March 10

American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden–This new docuseries recounts the 12-year hunt for the world’s most wanted terrorist.  Featuring interviews with some of the American officials who tracked down bin Laden, it’s a tale of near misses, impossible dilemmas, and tough decisions.  Even though bin Laden was finally located in Abbottabad, Pakistan and killed, getting to that point was more difficult than expected.

March 13

Adolescence–Director Philip Barantini reunites with his “Boiling Point” star Stephen Graham to tell this story of a knife crime that ends with a schoolgirl’s death.  The accused is a 13-year-old boy who was the victim’s classmate.  The parents of victim and accused and the police detective investigating the case struggle to understand what happened and why.  Could the answer be found in people’s relationship to rage and the manosphere’s toxic influence on teenagers?  Each episode is shot in literally a single take.

March 14

The Electric State–Anthony and Joe Russo direct this adaptation of Simon Stalenhag’s book.  It’s the aftermath of the robot war, and teenaged orphan Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown) is surprised to find a strange but sweet robot looking for her.  She soon realizes the robot was sent by her long-lost brother, and finding him means heading across an American West populated by humans who’ve found unique ways to interact with robots.  Along the way, Michelle winds up joining forces with a smuggler (Chris Pratt) and his wisecracking sidekick.  

March 18

The Outrun–Rona (Saoirse Ronan) has made it out of alcoholism rehab and has returned home to Scotland’s Orkney Islands to stay with her separated parents.  But trying to build a post-rehab life for herself means remembering her troubled past and fighting the temptation to relapse to drinking.  Can a Royal Society for the Protection of Birds winter job on isolated Papa Westray island help Rona connect to people and even grow healthier? 

March 19

The Twister: Caught In The Storm–On May 22, 2011, a rare EF-5 mile-wide tornado hit the town of Joplin, Missouri.  A group of young people who thought they were just graduating from high school soon found themselves fighting for survival in the midst of 200 mph winds.  This is the story of what happened that day and the attempt to rebuild Joplin afterwards, told with personal recollection and footage shot during the storm by the people of Joplin.

Until You Burn Season 1–Prisoner Vinicio O’Connor gets an early release from prison for the worst possible reason.  His brother Sonny has been found dead shortly after proposing to one of the wealthiest women on Colombia’s Caribbean coast.  Determined to avenge Sonny’s death, Vinicio’s revenge plan involves seducing and manipulating not only Sonny’s former fiancee but all the women possibly connected to the case.  His plan will lead him to the so-called owners of the city, the Obregon family, and their powerful friends.  But when true love finds the ex-convict, will he abandon his desire for vengeance?

Woman Of The Dead Season 2–Small ski resort town undertaker Brunnhilde Blum’s desire to move on with her life after the first season’s events gets badly foiled.  A corpse-filled coffin supplemented inside with pieces of another body makes the undertaker the prime murder suspect.  Adding to Blum’s headaches, Nela (her daughter) gets kidnapped and the price of the girl’s return is a video…which Blum doesn’t even have.  Evading the police and dealing with the shady businessman Sarkissian adds a lot to the undertaker’s plate.  However, where her daughter’s safety is concerned, Blum is willing to go the distance to get her back alive.

March 20

Bet Your Life–In this Turkish drama, former sports betting reporter Isa has fallen on hard times.  The betting talent he’d inherited from his legendary father has faded, and a string of bad predictions has cost him his job and earned him some enemies.  Famous businessman Refik enters Isa’s life, and he might be the answer to Isa’s problems if he weren’t already dead.  Fortunately, Refik’s spirit offers a deal: find out who murdered him and why, and he’ll help Isa out of his current jam. 

The Residence–In this new series executive produced by Shonda Rhimes, a murder has taken place at the White House during a high-stakes State dinner.  Brought in to solve the mystery is eccentric consulting detective and avid birder Cordelia Cupp (Uzo Aduba), partnered with FBI Special Agent Edwin Park (Randall Park, “Fresh Off The Boat”).  Cupp has her work cut out for her as the White House has 132 rooms and 157 suspects to choose from.

March 21

Little Siberia–Netflix’s first original Finnish feature film adapts an acclaimed novel by Antti Tuomainen.  The slowly dying small village of Hurmevaara might have a future thanks to the sudden crashing of a possibly rare meteor through a car roof.  However, until the space rock can be examined in more detail in London, it’ll have to be kept safe.  Village priest Joel takes on the job of protecting the meteorite from criminals both amateur and professional.  But the priest’s vigilance is undermined by the news from his wife that she’s finally pregnant.  Joel knows the kid’s not his because his war injury gelded him.  But Joel’s wife doesn’t know that….    

Revelations–Director Yeon Sang-ho and writer Choi Gyu Seok, the team behind “Hellbound,” return with a new thriller executive produced by Alfonso Cuaron.  Provincial church pastor Min-chan’s world gets rocked when a divine revelation convinces him that the visiting Yang-rae was responsible for kidnapping his son.  The pastor gets caught between his faith and his desire for retribution.  But Detective Yeon-hee’s also interested in Yang-rae as he’s the prime suspect in her missing person case.  How will the memory of her sister’s death in the wake of a heinous crime affect Yeon-hee’s judgment?  

March 26

Million Dollar Secret Season 1–In Netflix’s newest reality game show, twelve strangers have been brought to the same lakeside cabin and are each given their own rooms.  Once they’ve gotten a chance to know who’s who, the contestants are set against each other in games that test their honesty as well as their ability to conceal the fact that for one of them, their life has changed forever.  One of these strangers has been given a million dollars, but keeping this windfall depends on their ability to lie, cheat, or bluff the other players to the end of the season.    

March 27

Gold & Greed: The Hunt For Fenn’s Treasure–This docuseries recounts a mad real-life treasure hunt.  The highlight of Forest Fenn’s memoir The Thrill Of The Chase was a cryptic poem which would supposedly lead the successful solver to a hidden treasure chest containing millions.  Fenn himself claimed he just wanted to encourage people to get out and enjoy the wilderness.  But Fenn’s poem would spark both a decade-long treasure hunt and several lawsuits.

Survival Of The Thickest Season 2–Michelle Buteau co-created and stars in this comedy based on her book of essays of the same name.  Mavis Beaumont (Buteau) is a 40-ish plus-size stylist trying to rebuild her life after finding her significant other cheating on her with another woman.  As the new season opens, Mavis has decided to take a shot at love with Luca.  That means she’s hopping a plane to Italy and taking her glow-up international. 

March 28

The Lady’s Companion Season 1–Netflix’s newest historical romantic comedy is set in late nineteenth century Madrid.  Elena Bianda is the titular character, one of Madrid’s successful female chaperones.  She’s helped many young women from good families meet suitable husbands.  Yet her new job, finding husbands for the rich Mencia sisters, may very well be the job she regrets taking.   

Talk To Me–Teenaged Mia gets much more than she bargained for when she sneaks out to a house party hosted by Hayley and Joss.  The party’s main attraction is an embalmed severed hand which can allow the user to either talk to the dead or even be temporarily possessed by a dead person’s spirit.  The teens initially treat the hand’s power as a game until one day they go too far.

March 31

Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer–For almost two decades, a Long Island beach town was plagued by discoveries of a serial killer’s crimes.  Female human remains were repeatedly found along a particular stretch of Long Island’s Ocean Parkway.  The police got as far as realizing all the victims were New York City residents who worked in the sex industry before the investigation turned into a cold case.  Could the arrest of Nassau architect Rex Andrew Heuermann be a sign that the case is nearing resolution?   

Promised Hearts–Niyala’s dreams of starting her career as a newly minted doctor comes to a screeching halt.  Her father forcibly engages her to marry successful businessman’s son Roger to keep their family from being financially ruined.   But Niyala hasn’t fully submitted to her fate.  And that resolve to do her duty for her family gets further weakened upon her learning that Faiq, the childhood friend she’s loved all her life, is about to get married to someone else.  Can Niyala find the strength to choose her own life path?