Pride Month Snub: Netflix’s Minimal Pride Content This Year
This writer humbly offers a mea culpa for the late arrival of this month’s Netflix preview. An unpleasant personal crisis dominated my attention. Then again, aside from a new season of “The Ultimatum: Queer Love,” Netflix has shamefully chosen to act as if Pride Month doesn’t exist. Even what seems to be the cream of this month’s Netflix offerings generally don’t rise to Must See TV levels.
Your best Netflix bets this month can be counted on one hand without using up all your fingers. Certain documentaries such as Pharrell Williams using Legos to tell the story of his life or a deep dive into the Grenfell Tower fire are worthy of attention. All seasons of a Shonda Rhimes classic starring Kerry Washington are now available again. Finally, make time for a trio of Alfred Hitchcock classics from the 1950s, two of which are Rear Window and Vertigo. Thelma Ritter ruining Jimmy Stewart’s breakfast in Rear Window never grows old.
Now Available
Barracuda Queens Season 2–It’s the return of this Swedish heist drama about five young women whose A-list lifestyle is bankrolled by conducting risky heists. It’s now the year 2000, aka five years after the end of the first season. Lollo and her friends have returned to Stockholm after leaving a life of crime behind them…or have they? They’ve got grand plans for their future, but making them happen requires getting lots of money fast. Maybe a turn to the world of expensive and priceless art will be the answer.
Becoming Led Zeppelin–How did the band Led Zeppelin go from small club gigs to big concert halls in a relatively short amount of time? Bernard MacMahon’s documentary answers that question by tracing the incredible career paths of the band’s members. Viewers will hear about (among other things) Jimmy Page’s plan to make Robert Plant and John Bonham the nucleus of The New Yardbirds or John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page playing together on both Donovan’s “Hurdy-Gurdy Man” and the theme song to the James Bond film “Goldfinger.”
Golden SixTONES–The titular Japanese boy band hosts an entertainment show where they do everything from chatting with their guests to competing with them to see who can make the best bowl of ramen.
K.O.–When aspiring MMA fighter Bastien (Ciryl Gane) accidentally kills his opponent Enzo in the ring, he leaves the sport and goes into exile. A chance for atonement arrives when Enzo’s widow Emma contacts Bastien. Her son Leo has disappeared after getting mixed up with the Marseille drug trade in the worst way, and some nasty gangsters want to permanently take Leo out. Can Bastien and a police detective named Alaoui save the young man’s life before it’s too late?
The Man Who Knew Too Much–Netlix is bringing back a bunch of Alfred Hitchcock films this month, one of which is the director’s remake of an earlier film. Dr. Benjamin McKenna (James Stewart) and ex-singer Jo McKenna (Doris Day) are vacationing in French Morocco with their son Hank. When casual acquaintance Louis Bernard gets fatally stabbed, he manages to tell Dr. McKenna about an assassination plot against a foreign statesman before he dies. Hank gets kidnapped to keep the McKennas’ mouths shut. But if the couple can’t tell the police, they’ll have to find a way to stop the assassination themselves. This decision will eventually lead the couple to a climactic orchestra performance at the Royal Albert Hall. The conductor in this performance is Bernard Herrmann, who scored many Hitchcock films.
Mercy For None–Nam Gi Jun played a critical role in helping the Bongsam Gang become a major underworld player. But when his younger brother Nam Gi Seok joined the rival Joowoon gang, Gi Jun protected his brother by leaving the Bongsam Gang (and showing his seriousness by severing his left Achilles tendon). He then led a quiet life supplying drinks to Bongsam-owned establishments. Gi Seok rose to become the #2 man in the Joowoon hierarchy. But when his younger brother turns up dead under definitely hinky circumstances, Gi Jun must return to the underworld to find answers and even revenge. A lot may have changed in the eleven years Gi Jun was a civilian, but some old grudges never die.
The Night Before–Ethan Miller (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Isaac Greenberg (Seth Rogen), and Chris Roberts (Anthony Mackie) are childhood best friends who’ve maintained a Christmas Eve tradition of spending the night together in the wake of the death of Ethan’s parents. The friends decide to end their tradition by finally attending the Holy Grail of holiday events, the exclusive yet elusive Nutcracker Ball. Isaac is now married and is expecting a child, while Chris has become a famous pro football player. Yet Ethan might not want the tradition to end, given that he’s a struggling musician who works dead end day jobs.
Piece By Piece–This telling of the life story of multi-Grammy-winning musical talent Pharrell Williams follows the musician from his youth to his rise to fame. What makes this biopic different is the generous use of Legos to tell this story. More than a narrative gimmick, this famed children’s toy turns out to be the perfect medium for Williams to express himself.
Power Move With Shaquille O’Neal–When Shaquille O’Neal was just starting out in the NBA, Reebok signed him to promote the brand in what would be a very profitable relationship. The athletic wear company challenged Nike for dominance at one point. But thanks to a bad merger with Adidas and fierce competition, Reebok declined in prominence. After Authentic Brands Group acquires Reebok, O’Neal and fellow NBA legend Allen Iverson become Reebok’s new president and vice president. This docuseries follows these two basketball legends as they pay things forward by helping the tarnished brand make a commercial comeback.
The Survivors–This adaptation of Jane Harper’s novel of the same name begins fifteen years ago, with a fierce storm rocking the small Tasmanian seaside town of Evelyn Bay. Kieran would have died in that storm if not for the efforts of his older brother Finn and his friend Toby. However, Finn and Toby were killed and presumably local teen Gabby Birch died as well. Now the milestone anniversary of the storm is coming and unresolved issues are resurfacing. Despite the passage of time, Gabby’s mother never gave up hope her daughter is somehow still alive. Kieran returns from Sydney with his partner Mia, who was Gabby’s best friend. Blame for Finn’s and Toby’s deaths drove Kieran out of Evelyn Bay years ago, and it’s soon clear the passage of time has done nothing to lessen the residents’ rancor towards him.
Us–Jordan Peele’s follow-up to “Get Out” turns the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk into a venue for terror. When Adelaide Thomas (Lupita Nyong’o) was a child visiting that Boardwalk, she encountered a doppelganger of herself named Red. That encounter, which rendered her mute, makes Adelaide reluctant to accompany her husband Gabe Wilson and her kids Zora and Jason on a return visit to the Boardwalk. She eventually goes with her family, but soon has reason to regret the visit. The family’s home gets invaded by Red and her Wilson family doppelgangers. The duplicates’ souls are Tethered to the Wilsons’, and the doppelgangers are willing to use any means to break that link.
Mashle: Magic & Muscles Season 2—It’s the new season of this hit action comedy series about a non-magic user in a world of magic doing his best “fake it till you make it” act. Non-magic user Mash Burnedead has used his incredible freakish strength to convince his classmates and teachers at Easton Magical Academy that he’s actually a magical prodigy. In the new season, aka “The Divine Visionary Candidate Exam Arc,” Mash’s ingenuity and strength has allowed him to ascend Easton’s ranks. However, when his lack of magical ability gets exposed at the school, the only way he can continue at Easton is to pass the titular candidate exam. Adding to Mash’s headaches, the mysterious Innocent Zero sees Mash as a tool in his plan to gain immortality.
Families Like Ours–The first mini-series from acclaimed director Thomas Vinterberg (“Another Round”) is set in a near-future Denmark where ocean levels have risen high enough to force the country’s entire population to be evacuated. If you’re wealthy enough, you can choose an affluent country for personal relocation. For Denmark’s 99%, they must rely on government relocation to find safety in a “more problematic” country. Laura is a student nearing graduation when the evacuation order comes down. But the important loved ones in her life are traveling to two different countries, and she needs to choose which way she’ll go.
Trainwreck: The Astroworld Tragedy–Netflix’s new documentary series about recent high-profile scandals launches with a recounting of the fatal crowd crush that occurred during Travis Scott’s 2021 Astroworld festival. Thanks to such problems as insufficient staff and the bad decision to continue the concert, ten Astroworld attendees wound up dead while hundreds more were injured.
Aniela Season 1—In this Polish dramedy, Aniela is a high-society snob who lives in a world of glitz and gold credit cards. Thanks to a shocking public incident involving her wealthy husband, she’s left penniless and without custody of her daughter. To rebuild her life, this ex-snob must rely on the only skill she has left: her sharp wit. Will Aniela’s sudden hardship also lead to her developing a sense of justice?
Cocaine Air: Smugglers At 30,000 Feet–A private jet owned by French eyewear businessman Alain Afflelou was about to take off from the Dominican Republic’s Punta Cana airport and head to Saint Tropez. Before the plane could leave, the police boarded and arrested two French ex-air force pilots and a couple of French nationals. None of the arrestees fit the profile of an international drug smuggler. Yet that same plane also carried 26 suitcases containing 700 kg of cocaine. Which of these arrestees owned the contraband-laden luggage? What connection does a former French president have to this case?
Titan: The OceanGate Disaster-–On June 23, 2023, an OceanGate private submarine tour of the wreckage of the Titanic ended in disaster when the Titan submarine the passengers traveled in tragically imploded. Why did this disaster happen? As this damning documentary reveals, OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush’s public image as a so-called visionary explorer and pioneering inventor concealed a man actually motivated by unchecked ambition and dangerous levels of hubris. For some reason, this writer is suddenly reminded of the Musk Rat.
June 12
The Fairly OddParents!: A New Wish Season 2—Truth in advertising demands this writer point out that actually Netflix is streaming the second half of the first season of this reboot of Butch Harman’s animated series. Hazel Wells, the new child being “helped” by Fairies Velma and Cosmo, gets more lessons in wishing wisely. Her misadventures will see her encounter among other things board-game worlds and “puberty-powered pasta rampages.”
FUBAR Season 2—It’s the return of Arnold Schwarzenegger in Action Dad mode. For those tuning in, Schwarzenegger plays CIA agent Luke Brunner, whose retirement plans get canceled thanks to the proverbial one last mission to save another agent in trouble. That agent happens to be his daughter (Monica Barbaro). Now back in the business, Brunner’s ready to face new challenges. This season, an old ex-flame is out to destroy the world, but will she destroy Brunner’s personal life first?
June 13
Kings Of Jo’Burg Season 3—It’s the belated return of this South African series mixing underworld drama and the supernatural. The Masire crime family runs Johannesburg’s underworld. Key to their control are the special supernatural powers given to the head of the Masire family. But those powers come courtesy of a family curse that exacts a very high price in return. In the new season, Mogomotsi “Mo” Masire now reluctantly leads the Masire empire. Being the new kingpin means making deals, dodging bullets, and (particularly in Mo’s case) fighting demons both inner and supernatural. Expect more deep dives into African folklore and mythology.
June 17
Scandal (all seasons)–Never saw one of Shonda Rhimes’ most beloved series? Now’s your chance to play binge watch. Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) used to be the president’s media consultant. Now she runs her own Washington D.C. crisis management firm, where she protects the reputations of the powerful by cleaning up their mistakes. However, this white hat political fixer also has secrets and personal alliances that complicate her work.
Trainwreck: Mayor Of Mayhem–Firebrand Toronto city councilor Rob Ford’s mayoral candidacy was considered a political joke by the powerful…until he won that race. But if the people who voted him in wanted change, they got the worst possible sort thanks to the Ford administration’s unending scandals and the mayor’s own alleged hard drug use.
June 18
America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders Season 2–For professional cheerleaders, getting a spot on the Dallas Cowboys Cheer Team means you’ve reached the pinnacle of the sport. But getting there requires being able to master the jumps and kick splits of the Cheerleaders’ signature “Thunderstruck” routine. This season brings a significant change as less than ⅔ of the veterans from last season’s team are re-auditioning for a spot on the 2024-2025 Cheer Team. For the rookies who make up the majority of the candidate pool, this means at least a lucky baker’s dozen of them will go on to national glory.
Rosario Tijeras Season 4–It’s the return of this Mexican telenovela about a student whose path to revenge as a hitwoman famously sees her stabbing one aggressor in the genitals, earning her the titular nickname. New viewers will find this season a perfect jumping-on point, as its focus shifts to Rosario’s now teenage daughter Ruby. Last season, Rosario paid a huge price to save Ruby from the clutches of El Angel. Now Ruby is slowly going to learn the truth about her mother’s legacy if she doesn’t die first.
Somebody Feed Phil Season 8—It’s the return of Netflix’s longest-running (to date) food and travel docuseries. Follow “Everybody Loves Raymond” creator Phil Rosenthal as he travels to such places as Amsterdam and Tbilisi and tries out the local cuisine while he’s there. This season, he’ll be joined by such guests as Donny Osmond and “Everybody Loves Raymond” star Ray Romano.
June 20
Grenfell: Uncovered–The devastating 2017 fire that claimed many lives at London’s Grenfell Tower was something far worse than an act of God. The disaster could have been prevented. But thanks to a combination of negligence, regulatory failure, and corporate greed, the fire became a literal disaster waiting to happen. This docuseries draws from the public inquiry into the fire, investigative journalism, and interviews from both survivors and the bereaved to depict the timeline of events leading to the fire and identify those who have still escaped accountability for what happened.
Olympo Season 1–It’s a teen sports drama from the creators of “Elite.” The country’s best teen athletes train at the Pirineos High Performance Center. One such athlete is Amaia Olaberria, the hard-driving captain of the national synchronized swimming team. When teammate and best friend Nuria Borges suddenly outstrips Amaia in performance for the first time, the team captain notices that other athletes at the Center are also displaying sudden performance improvements. But are these performance spurts natural improvements or the product of ethical rule-bending?
June 24
Trainwreck: Poop Cruise—In 2013, the Carnival Triumph was ferrying over 4,000 passengers and crew from Galveston, Texas to Cozumel, Mexico on what was supposed to be a four-day voyage. But an engine room fire sparked a massive electrical breakdown that left the ship stranded and powerless in the middle of the Gulf Of Mexico. Worse was to come as food supplies dwindled and both air conditioning and plumbing (i.e. all the ship’s toilets) stopped working. After watching this documentary, you may want to scratch “going on a cruise ship” from your vacation options list.
June 25
The Ultimatum: Queer Love Season 2—Netflix’s main nod to Pride Month is the return of this reality dating series. For those coming in, here’s how it works: take a queer couple where one partner wants marriage and the other is hesitant. Have the couple temporarily split up to date other contestants before picking one for a three-week trial marriage. Then the original couple gets back together for another three-week trial marriage. At the end of the second trial period, the participants are given choices: stay married to their original partner, return to their trial partner, or just walk away solo. Needless to say, get ready for the strong likelihood of seeing a lot of “sapphic musical chairs.”
June 27
Squid Game Season 3—The final season of this Korean thriller about desperate cash-strapped people competing in life-threatening children’s games for a cash prize takes up after the end of Season 2. The rebellion has ended, and the surviving players return to play deadlier games for the amusement of the despicable VIPs. Ex-officer Hwang Jun-ho’s efforts to find the island venue for the games and stop them are being sabotaged. Meanwhile, Gi-hun, who’s survived a previous game, is being kept alive for mysterious reasons. The new games this season include one involving a jump rope and another featuring the robot Cheol-su aka the “boyfriend” of the Young-Hee robot from the “Red Light, Green Light” game.
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