11 Netflix Originals to keep you away from the July heat

Photo: ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK.. Pictured: Nick Dillenburg, Yael Stone, Kate Mulgrew, Natasha Lyonne, Jackie Cruz, Selenis Leyva, Josh Segarra.. Credit: JoJo Whilden/Netflix

Need a break from the July heat? Be sure to check out some of these Netflix originals!

With a couple of big releases and some highly anticipated returns, Netflix balances popular favorites with some new and eclectic acquisitions. As always, the streaming service offers a huge diversity of genres and subjects, everything from food documentaries and science fiction, to teen dramas and international remakes. Here are eleven highlights to keep you busy and out of the summer heat.

The Last Czars (July 1)

This docu-drama is being called Russia’s answer to The Crown. Despite this being an expedient and lazy way of describing the series (and inaccurate, considering its an English language, non-Russian production), the comparison does get right to the heart of the selling point for its target audience. Rather than being a strictly dramatic retelling of the fall of the Romanov Dynasty, the series is actually a mix of drama and talking-head interviews with real historians.

This sounds like the most ideal result for a historical drama, one that doesn’t sacrifice historical accuracy for dramatic effect and actually teaches the viewer something real. Aside from the educational benefits, the dramatic production is lavish and compelling. The series stars Robert Jack as Nicholas, Susanna Herbert as Alexandra, and Ben Cartwright as Rasputin. Its a classic story of arrogance, passion, excess, and the fall of a great power.