12 Netflix originals to ring in the new decade
The Ghost Bride: Season 1 – January 23
The Ghost Bride is an odd Malaysian drama about a woman who receives an offer to marry the recently deceased son of a wealthy family. I should also mention that this is a supernatural drama and not some kind of strange offbeat comedy, in case you were thinking she was supposed to marry an actual corpse. Set in the 1890s, the series is a lavish period drama mixed with whimsical fantasy and gothic horror.
Something about the tone of the trailer also reminded me of those cozy mysteries sometimes produced in Britain where the deadly stakes are downplayed and replaced with frivolity, humor, and musical interludes. I’m not really sure what to make of the tone of the series, except that it seems somehow cohesive, despite its varied elements. It manages to look playfully fantastical, richly romantic, and deliciously creepy in equal measures while giving off the nostalgic feel of some delightful fantasy adventure from the 90s. Honestly, it will have to be watched to be believed.
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October Faction: Season 1 – January 23
With no trailer and very little information available, Netflix seems to be keeping October Faction pretty tightly under wraps leading up to the series premiere. October Faction is the highly anticipated adaptation of the IDW comic book series by Steve Niles and Damien Worm. The story follows monster-hunting husband and wife team Deloris and Fred Allen who return to their hometown following the death of Fred’s father. The couple quickly discovers that there is something foul afoot and that their small town isn’t as idyllic as they first thought.
As they battle dark forces and uncover mysteries, they must also keep their true identities hidden from their teenage children as they adjust to their new lives. Tamara Taylor and J.C. MacKenzie play Deloris and Fred with Damian Kindler serving as creator and showrunner. Kindler previously wrote for Stargate SG-1 and Stargate: Atlantis and served as executive producer on shows like Sleepy Hollow, Krypton, and Sanctuary, so he has a fine science fiction pedigree behind him. I have no idea what this series is going to end up looking like, but all I can think of when I hear monster-fighting families is Supernatural.