Streaming

With most networks taking a break to focus on the Emmys and their upcoming fall slate of shows, July has historically been a dry spell for new creative content. This might be the perfect month to catch up on everything sitting in your Netflix queue. Or you could watch one of the many films added to Netflix in July including two films everyone should check out, The Invitation and the Oscar-nominated Mustang. Along with those films, Netflix has a roster of three shows worth your attention:

Stranger Things, Season One (July 15^th)  

Billed as a love letter to the supernatural classics of the 80s, Stranger Things is the story of three young friends on an adventure when one of them vanishes into thin air. The premise of the show is pretty cryptic. Friends and family search for a missing boy while other mysterious kids pop up out of nowhere. The show is billed as a supernatural horror, but judging from the trailer, the horror is in the same vein of shows like Goosebumps and Are You Afraid of the Dark. Stranger Things also stars Winona Ryder, an actress I always love to see on TV (mostly so I can chant “Free Winona” to anyone who will listen).

Marco Polo, Season Two (July 1^st) 

Marco Polo, Netflix’s epic historical drama produced by the Weinsteins, has returned for a second season a year and a half later. Without big names or critical acclaim, the show struggled to stand out against some of Netflix’s other shows, but Netflix has insisted that the first season was a “massive success” and very popular with audiences. Michelle Yeoh and Gabriel Byrne have joined the cast for the second season. With its luscious scenery and epic battles, Marco Polo may be a good show for anyone looking for something to tide them over until Game of Thrones returns.

BoJack Horseman, Season Three (July 22^nd)

The third season of Netflix’s animated hit returns this month with a trailer hinting at a season long arc focusing on BoJack as he is finally given a role that has the potential of earning him an Oscar. The show will return with a cast of all-star voices including Will Arnett, Amy Sedaris, Aaron Paul, and Alison Brie.

Netflix’s full lineup of new programming:

July 1
Between (Season 2)
Deep (Season 1)
Marcella (Season 1)
Marco Polo (Season 2)
Raiders of the Lost Art (Season 2)
The Shannara Chronicles (Season 1)

July 4
Kuromukuro (Season 1)

July 7
NSU German History X (Season 1)

July 8
Word Party (Season 1)

July 9
Mystery Files (Season 1)

July 10
The Last Kingdom (Season 1)

July 14
Magi: The Adventures of Sinbad (Season 1)
Todd Margaret (Season 3)

July 15
The Adventures of Puss in Boots (Season 3)
Stranger Things (Season 1)

July 19
Liv and Maddie (Season 3)

July 22
BoJack Horseman (Season 3)
Degrassi: Next Class (Season 2)

July 24
Popples (Season 3)

July 29
Home: Adventures With Tip & Oh (Season 1)
LEGO Bionicle: The Journey to One (Season 2)

MOVIES

July 1
41 on 41 (2014)
A Long Way From Home (2013)
Back to the Future (1985)
Back to the Future Part II (1989)
Back to the Future Part III (1990)
Bad Boys II (2003)
Batman: The Movie (1966)
Beavis and Butt-head Do America (1996)
Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
Blade 2 (2002)
By the People: The Election of Barack Obama (2009)
Catwoman (2004)
Cheaper by the Dozen (1950)
Cinderella Man (2005)
Conflict (2015)
Death Race 2 (2010)
Death Race 3: Inferno (2013)
Dreamcatcher (2003)
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2011)
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)
Gladiator (2000)
Hello, Dolly! (1969)
Hey Arnold! The Movie (2002)
Honey (2003)
Insomnia (2002)
The Italian Job (2003)
Jackass: Number Two (2006)
Jim Jefferies: Freedumb (2016)
Lalaloopsy Ponies: The Big Show (2014)
Lethal Weapon (1987)
Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)
Lethal Weapon 3 (1992)
Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)
The Longest Yard (2005)
The Lovely Bones (2009)
Making the American Man (2016)
Mean Girls (2004)
Nevada Smith (1966)
Nick of Time (1995)
The Painted Veil (2006)
Pandemic (2015)
Phenomenon (1996)
Rumor Has It (2005)
Scooby-Doo (2002)
The Sting (1973)
Stomp the Yard: Homecoming (2010)
Talhotblond (2009)
Terminus (2016)
Turner and Hooch (1989)
Twisted (2004)
Watershed: Exploring A New Water Ethic for the New West (2012)
Well Wishes (2015)
Working Girl (1988)
Yours, Mine and Ours (2005)

July 6
The Big Short (2015)

July 7
A War (2015)
The Armor of Light (2015)
Brahman Naman (2016)

July 8
The Invitation (2015)

July 9
Mustang (2015)

July 12
Rolling Papers (2015)

July 14
Gridlocked (2015)

July 15
Ghostheads (2016)
Holidays (2016)
Rebirth (2016)
Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru (2016)

July 16
Fighting (2009)

July 21
Internet Famous (2016)

July 27
The Wave (2015)

July 29
Last Chance U (2016)
Tallulah (2016)

Netflix sure is PACKING!

Emmy season is upon us all, and studios are mailing out their screeners for their shows to be considered for awards. With networks like CBS, ABC, or FX, they usually send out physical screeners to voters so they can have the episodes handy to be considered. These major networks have to keep up with streaming services like Hulu, Amazon, and the godfather, Netflix, but it appears the latter is doing something a bit…odd.

Academy members have been taking to social media to share a special delivery from Netflix. Instead of putting everything online – because, you know, it’s a streaming service – the network sent out four massive boxes containing all of the content to be considered for awards this season. Each box is divided by genre (drama, limited series, etc.), and it includes every episode for every show that Netflix produces. This isn’t just one or two discs. You would get all of the episodes of Orange is the New Black and House of Cards and BoJack Horseman. This is the Oprah Winfrey giveaway of screeners, people!

According to Variety, the network spent around $1 million dollars to send everything out, and the collection weighs around 20 pounds. Apparently, size does matter. Does this mean that Netflix is going to have an even bigger presence at this year’s Emmy Awards? It’s a huge (not to mention expensive) gamble.

I want to throw it out there that I would be stoked to get this in the mail! If someone over at Netflix wants to toss one my way, I will give you my address. Please don’t literally toss it, because the entire package just might kill me if you hit me directly.

This takes Netflix and Chill to the extreme.

While it’s not quite The Best Month Ever, there are some intriguing Netflix June offerings busting out on the streaming content provider. Here are a few of the higher profile items that struck our fancy.

Bob Ross: Beauty Is Everywhere (June 1)

No matter if you’re a senior citizen who paints as a hobby or a stoned hipster, chances are you’ve seen at least a dozen episodes of painter Bob Ross. Ross passed away back in 1995, but he will be forever known for his “happy little trees” (clip below). This throw-away utterance became viral before we even had an inkling of what being viral really meant.

72 Cutest Animals: Season One / 72 Dangerous Places (June 1)

The number 72 is having the best month ever. Not only do we have season one of 72 Cutest Animals, but we also have 72 Dangerous Places, also season one. Perhaps the two have some secret tie-in? Maybe some sort of Netflix version of the Marvel Cinematic Universe linked by the number 72? Will the 72 cutest animals perhaps fight evil in 72 dangerous places? Am I high? Have I been watching too much Bob Ross. Those are happy little trees… At any rate, I could not find a trailer for the 72 Dangerous Places. Perhaps they were a little too dangerous.

Voltron: Legendary Defender (June 10)

Also appealing to man-children everywhere, Voltron: Legendary Defender is apparently a new take on the mid-80s animated series. For those not in the know, Voltron covers the saga of five astronauts who pilot uniquely hued robotic lions that join to form one giant ass-kicking robot, the titular Voltron. This new series contains 13 episodes. Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead) voices the Red Lion.

Orange is the New Black: Season 4 (June 17)

Honestly, I could really care less about this one. I know. I’m in the minority. Season three just went absolutely nowhere without a central villain or thread to really unite the characters. Coming off of the great second season, season three was a crushing disappointment. Anyway, here’s the trailer. Enjoy.

And the full list of Netflix June offerings (both films and television) is below.

June 1
7 Chinese Brothers
72 Cutest Animals: Season 1
72 Dangerous Places: Season 1
A Walk to Remember
Big Stone Gap
Bob Ross: Beauty is Everywhere
Breaking the Magician’s Code: Magic’s Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed: Seasons 1-2
Cold in July
Conspiracy Theory: Did We Land On The Moon?
Cuba: The Forgotten Revolution
(Dis)Honesty: The Truth About Lies
El Libro de Piedra
Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Extraordinary Tales
The Fear of 13
Gabo: The Creation of Gabriel Garcia Márquez
Gentlemen and Gangsters: Season 1
The Good Witch: Season 1
The Great Alone
Hadwin’s Judgement
J. Edgar
Jaco
Janis: Little Girl Blue
Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park III
Lion Heart
The Lost World: Jurassic Park
Meadowland
The Odd Couple II
Off Camera: Season 1
Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages
Pokémon: XY: Kalos Quest: Season 2
Portrait of a Serial Monogamist
The Resurrection of Jake the Snake
Rock the Kasbah
Sam Klemke’s Time Machine
Second Coming
Tab Hunter Confidential
UFOs: The Best Evidence Ever (Caught on Tape)
Underdogs
What Our Fathers Did: A Nazi Legacy
Wildlike

June 2
Beauty & the Beast: Season 3
Hibana: Spark
Pretty Little Liars: Season 6

June 3
Bo Burnham: Make Happy

June 6
Darkweb

June 7
Every Thing Will Be Fine
Jarhead 3: The Siege

June 10
LEGO Friends: The Power of Friendship: Season 2
Voltron: Legendary Defender: Season 1

June 11
Me Him Her
Scandal: Season 5

June 12
Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong

June 14
The League: Season 7

June 15
After The Spill
Boom Bust Boom
The Giver
In the Shadow of the Moon
Naz & Maalik
Night Owls
Poverty, Inc.
Top Spin
TransFatty Lives

June 16
Being Mary Jane: Season 3
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. : Season 3
The Unborn

June 17
All Hail King Julien: Season 3
Orange is the New Black: Season 4

June 18
Cedar Cove: Season 3
Grey’s Anatomy: Season 12

June 19
Bunk’d: Season 1
I Am Thor

June 20
Life Stories: Season 1
The Making of Life Story

June 21
Best Friends Whenever: Season 1

June 22
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
Spotlight

June 24
Dragons: Race to the Edge: Season 3
The Fundamentals of Caring
Justin Time GO!

June 29
Life

June 30
A Very Secret Service: Season 1
Palio
(T)ERROR

Netflix held its first annual Rebels and Rule Breakers luncheon on Saturday in Beverly Hills. The online streaming giant partnered with Women in Film and SAG-AFTRA on the event, which celebrated the powerful women working in all aspects of Netflix’s current lineup.

Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie) speaking as part of a star-studded panel said, “I didn’t realize what a completely different animal episodic television is. It was really hard for me the first season. I kind of fell apart. So I went back into therapy, and I got an acting coach.”

Also in attendance at the Rebels and Rule Breakers luncheon was Master of None‘s Lena Waithe who said that women were taught to be polite.

“I would rather be a person who stood her ground and demanded respect,” Waithe said. Dominique Crenn from Chef’s Table added, women, in general, are bad ass with, “It’s not about playing the woman or man card, it’s about being who you are.”

Speaking about Grace and Frankie, creator Marta Kauffman said, “I’m proud of so much. Dry vaginas, we can talk about them. We can tackle issues about aging.”

The panel also featured Orange is the New Black creator Jenji Kohan and star Laura Prepon, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt star Carol Kane, Jessica Jones star Krysten Ritter, and Chelsea Handler. Her new show, Chelsea, recently made its debut on Netflix.

Check out the gallery from the luncheon:

Clarence joins an episode of The X-Cast to discuss the great ‘Beyond the Sea’

One of the more pleasant side benefits of writing for AwardsDaily TV are the people you tend to meet along the way. In addition to my co-writers and fellow Water Cooler Podcasters, I’ve interacted with a few kind and thoughtful fans who share common interests. An added bonus? The internet actually contains decent people, not just trolls. Who knew? But anyway, on to “Beyond the Sea.”

Last summer, I entered into an intensive experiment, the “201 Days of The X-Files” marathon. One episode a day for 201 days leading up to the admittedly underwhelming series return last January. It was as close to a marathon of any type that I’ll ever get, but I finished it. The results are here. Please continue to be kind. Bingeing The X-Files one a day didn’t give me the opportunity to be as thoughtful and cautious about my thoughts on each episode. I’m proud of more than a few of them. Others… Well, not every episode warrants deep analysis.

Through it all, I managed to strike up a Twitter friendship with Tony Black, an intelligent chap from the United Kingdom who hosts a weekly podcast called The X-Cast. If you’re an X-Files fan, then you should look into Tony’s work. His podcasts are thoughtful in their deep dives into the episodes. He spends time on each episode’s scene, pulling even the smallest nuance from the material. It’s also a great listen as he tends to torture his guests with quizzes drawn from the episode’s content. Let me tell you, it’s harder than it sounds. I speak from personal experience.

That said, Tony invited me to join him for an analysis of season one’s “Beyond the Sea,” Gillian Anderson’s first great series episode and a fond throwback to the Oscar-winning The Silence of the Lambs. Tony and I had a nice chat about the performances of Anderson and Oscar-nominee Brad Dourif, the evolving relationship between Mulder and Scully, and the impact of Scully’s father’s passing on the episode and the series on the whole. And, yes, I did poorly on the quiz, so you can go ahead and laugh at that.

Thanks to Tony Black for having me on the show. I hope to return very soon.

Check out The X-Cast (iTunes, Streaming) and the episode dedicated to “Beyond the Sea” (iTunes, Streaming).

As we say goodbye to April, this May Netflix has some new TV arrivals for you.

Here are five what you might call stand-outs for May Netflix offerings:

Bloodline, Season Two

After some hefty acclaim across the board, Netflix’s original family drama Bloodline returns for a second season of ten episodes. You will have to wait until May 27th for this, though. Zeroing in on the Rayburn family once more, centrally the brothers standing at opposite sides of the law in the Florida Keys – local detective John (Kyle Chandler) dealing with the fallout from black sheep Danny’s (Ben Mendelsohn) crushing season one betrayals. The full talented cast returns, including the likes of Linda Cardellini, Norbert Leo Butz, and Sissy Spacek.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin’ Down a Dream

Documentary from 2007 focusing on Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (obviously), directed by none other than Peter Bogdanovich. As well as very recent concert footage, the account also features interviews with an array of familiar names including Pearl Jam front man Eddie Vedder, E.L.O. mastermind Jeff Lynne, as well as Stevie Nicks, George Harrison, Dave Grohl, Johnny Depp – to name just a few.

Grace and Frankie, Season Two

When the creators of Friends (Marta Kaufman) and Home Improvement (Howard J. Morris) collided with veteran / legendary actresses Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin there was zero chance of this failing. The second series arrives on Netflix following the brash, haphazard, and often funny, antics of the mature women as they are forced to cope with their husbands (Sam Waterston, Martin Sheen) declaring their love for each-other. Already talked up on a third season, this is worth it alone to just see these performers we have known for decades really go to town on the laughs.

Baby Daddy, Season Five

There are worse sit-coms on American TV than the ludicrous join-the-dots comedy make up of Baby Daddy, yet I still have to be a little bemused this on now on its fifth season. Brothers Ben and Danny, and friend Tucker live in the same apartment where Ben has to come to terms with the lifestyle change the arrival of his baby daughter Emma can afford. The mother Bonnie and “close” female friend Riley provide the feminine touch. This is by no means educational where raising a baby is concerned, but it is easy on the eye, with enough cheap gags to keep you occupied while you have your dinner.

Marseille

French political drama starring Gerard Depardieu (remember him?), who plays Robert Taro, mayor of a French city for 25 years, now embroiled in a story of corruption, greed, revenge, redemption – wow. The 8-episode series is created and written by Dan Franck (screenwriter of Carlos) and also features Benoit Magimel (The Pianist) and Géraldine Pailhas (Young and Beautiful) among its promising cast. This is also Netflix’s first French-language original series.

***

So, what else will May Netflix bring us?

LoliRock, Season One
American Dad!, Season Ten
A Study in Sherlock
Easy Living, Seasons 1-3
Gary Gulman: It’s About Time
Kevin Hart Presents Keith Robinson: Back of The Bus Funny
Kevin Hart Presents Lil Rel: RELevent
Kevin Hart Presents: Plastic Cup Boyz
Off the Map
Young & Hungry, Season Three
Eisenstein in Guanajuato
Goosebumps
Slasher, Season One
Benders, Season One
Lady Dynamite, Season One
Graceland, Season Three
Chef’s Table, Season Two, part 1
Mako Mermaids, Season Four
Hell on Wheels, Season Five

Steven Spielberg’s Emmy-winning children’s show Animaniacs is now streaming on Netflix

When it first aired in 1993, Steven Spielberg’s Animaniacs was nearly as big of a hit with adults as it was with younger audiences. The animated series was effectively an old-fashioned variety show centering around the exploits of the Warner siblings Yakko, Wakko, and Dot. Employing true Warner Bros.-style antics, the zany characters danced and sang their way around some of the most bizarre, and bizarrely hilarious, content ever served up for kids.

Netflix is now streaming all 99 episodes. If you haven’t heard of it, then you’re in for a treat.

Many of the skits featured elaborate musical numbers. It was a defining attribute of the series that really set it apart from most children’s programming of the time. It even tried to (shhhhh) educate in its own way. Both Warner brothers Wakko and Yakko had songs dedicated to geography. I give the edge to Yakko. Needless to say, the series won a few well deserved Emmys for its songs.

What else? There’s the catchphrase “Hello Nurse!” There’s Pinky and the Brain. There’s even a Scorsese parody called “Goodfeathers.”

Like the best animated shows, Animaniacs found a way to entertain across demographics. It burned brightly for much of the 1990s, skewering everything in its path. Here’s hoping you have an opportunity to catch up on this truly great animated series.

Let’s get one thing out of the way – Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt season two comes to Netflix on April 15. Now that we’ve all acknowledged that, let’s see what original April Netflix offerings will tempt your television palate this month.

Lost & Found Music Studios

Available today, this Canadian import is described by Netflix as “teen singers-songwriters in an elite music program form bonds of friendship, creativity and romance while turning their passion into their profession.” Internet buzz has this justly pegged as a Disney Channel wannabe. If you like that kind of thing, then what’s stopping you now? Stream away!

The Ranch

Also debuting today is Ashton Kutcher’s return to sitcom glory in The Ranch. He’s dragging along Debra Winger, Sam Elliott, Elisha Cuthbert, and Danny Masterson along for the ride. This comedy was recorded in front of a live studio audience and has a Roseanne throw-back feeling about it. The story here is Kutcher’s Colt Bennett returns to his hometown after failing to make the cut in semi-pro football. Gotta admit that I’m really curious to see Debra Winger in action again. Ashton Kutcher less so.

Cuckoo

That’s right, April 15 is a huge day in any Netflix-streaming household. Yup it’s the return of Netflix’s Cuckoo, starring Taylor Lautner. Cuckoo is apparently a British sitcom that originally aired on the BBC. It also originally starred Andy Samberg as a hippie American who marries into a “veddy British family.” Lautner returns after debuting in season two as Samberg’s son. It’s supposed to be veddy funny. So here’s a polite golf clap for all involved.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Yup, April 15 brings three things: Cuckoo season three, Tax Day, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Get ready to quote your way through the rest of the month after you binge the entire second season over the weekend. Aww hell, who am I kidding? Most of you will have it downed Friday night. Here’s the trailer.

Patton Oswalt: Talking for Clapping

April 22 gives us Patton Oswalt’s new stand-up hour, Talking for Clapping. I’ll go watch Ratatouille instead.

Danger Mouse

Netflix adds the animated series Danger Mouse on April 29. Danger Mouse is another British import which was rebooted in 2015 from a 1981 series. Danger Mouse is “the world’s greatest secret agent” and solves crimes with his hamster sidekick Penfold. The opening credits (seen below) certainly feels very 80s-authentic. And that’s always a good thing.

Special Correspondents

Ricky Gervais directs and stars in this British-Canadian comedy TV movie. Normally, that wouldn’t quite have me, but the cast for this April 29 debut is fantastic. In addition to Gervais, Correspondents stars Eric Bana, Vera Farmiga, Kelly MacDonald, Benjamin Bratt, Kevin Pollack, America Ferrera, and others. Netflix is marketing this as an “hilarious comedy,” but Gervais previously inferred the picture was more dry/satirical. See what you think.

Team Foxcatcher

Finally, April 29 also brings Team Foxcatcher, a documentary exploring everything you didn’t learn from the 2014 film Foxcatcher. In short, John du Pont was a shady, shady man whose jealousy lead to murder. As great as Steve Carrell was in his Oscar-nominated role as du Pont, there’s no doubt the story is more compelling seen with actual footage of his relationship with Dave Schultz.

March is a huge month for Netflix streaming content

Emmy season is quickly upon us, and Netflix isn’t taking it lying down. The streaming content provider is premiering new seasons of some of its hottest shows as well as new series. Here’s a breakdown of new programming available on Netflix in March and their Emmy prospects.

House of Cards (Season Four)

Frank and Claire Underwood return in the Emmy-winning House of Cards. Season Four’s trailer tantalizes with soapy drama to match even the current political climate. Scream‘s Neve Campbell joins the drama as a political advisor for Claire’s pending congressional campaign. House of Cards premieres March 4. Read AwardsDaily TV’s review here.

Louie (Season Five)

Louie C.K.’s Emmy-winning comedy series Louie drops on Netflix. This allows viewers the opportunity to catch up with the brilliant season featuring Louie tackling gender roles in his own unique way. Even if you’ve never seen an episode, Season Five still works as a major comic masterpiece. Louie drops on March 4. Read AwardsDaily TV’s Emmy plea for this great season here.

Flaked (Season One) / Netflix Presents: The Characters (Season One)

On March 11, Netflix premieres two new comedy series. Flaked stars Will Arnett as what’s been described as his “latest handsome dirtbag.” Early reviews haven’t been promising, but the series comes from Arnett and the co-creator of Arrested Development. That warrants an open mind for sure. With The Characters, Netflix is giving eight promising comics a half-hour each to produce any kind of content they’d like. The promise of unfiltered comedy is indeed alluring if Netflix sticks to its “No rules. No limits.” promise.

Happy Valley (Season Two)

The BBC’s Happy Valley has become something of a minor cult hit here in the US. Season One of the crime series received widespread critical acclaim, including a Best Drama Series win at the BAFTA Television Awards. Season Two appears to have garnered a similar reaction. Now is a great time to catch up on this buzzy series. Because we all know how much you love television superiority over your friends. Don’t even play like you don’t. Check it out on March 16.

Marvel’s Daredevil (Season Two)

Daredevil. Elektra. The Punisher. The Hand.  If those words don’t send you into a tizzy, then this series is not for you. Netflix’s critically acclaimed first stab at the Marvel Universe was a moody, violent, and bloody exploration into vigilante justice and Catholic guilt. Season Two promises to bring the same themes and blow them up exponentially. The only concern is will the series be able to balance such heavy characters. Daredevil Season Two premieres on March 18.

Here comes February (already!?), and with it perhaps something to love for everyone on Netflix.

There are two particular highlights titled Love – one a Judd Apatow TV creation upturning that usual rock of relationship exploration; the other is the super-explicit film by Gaspar Noé. Also from 2015 you might want to check out Dope and The Girl in the Book – the latter might be good news for those missing Emily VanCamp from Revenge. Let’s stick with television then, here are some small screen highlights coming to Netflix in February.

Whether you have yet seen it or not (or too many episodes behind to embarrassingly declare like, er, this friend of mine) the final episodes of the mighty Mad Men arriving to Netflix subscriber’s is a big darn deal. Some of the most well-written characters of the recent TV world are heading towards their narrative closure, but obviously would rather you see it all wrapped up for yourself rather than giving any spoilers. Especially for the benefit of that friend of mine I mentioned.

The Returned, AKA Les Revenants, the acclaimed French zombie / supernatural drama, not to be confused with the American remake (that was cancelled after one season) or the Leonardo DiCaprio Oscar-bait movie The Revenant, has its second season available on Netflix this month. In the UK, Channel 4 began airing the show a couple of years ago, an extremely rare subtitled drama, with great success. Far less flesh-eating and much more the dead simply returning to the land of the living, and somehow having to re-adapt to their surroundings, the strange goings-on here take place in a small-town French community.

For the kids? Masha’s Tales allows children to see stories being told by, well, children, and their view of this big bright world is seldom unappealing. Join Pikachu and friends as they continue to explore amidst various adventures in Pokemon XY, a seemingly endless franchise. Care Bears & Cousins, the kids cartoon, takes me back to my own childhood – not me personally, I knew girls that loved these weird fur-balls okay? – were the cuddly cousin creatures are a whole range of animals. And you might also want to take a spin with Turbo: F.A.S.T., a Netflix / Dreamworks production collaboration about speedy snails based on the movie.

Stand-up Hannibal Buress’ Comedy Camisado peels layers from topics like steroid use, the hip-hop scene, and the whole Bill Cosby affair. Or how about Louisianna-born Theo Von with his New Orleans hosted one-hour comedy special, and potentially ironically titled, No Offense. An American sitcom sequel makes it as a Netflix original series, two decades following the end of Full House comes Fuller House. This time, though, there will be no Mary-Kate and Ashley, though it appears the bulk of the original cast have returned, including John Stamos in a guest appearance.

Looking from afar across the great pond I was a little surprised to see that Vince Gilligan’s Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul is only now arriving to Netflix USA. Here in England I feel rather privileged to have been able to binge this terrific series months ago on this platform. Not to say you Americans haven’t seen it of course. The arrival to Netflix now allows us to blast through the ten episode again before the eagerly awaited second season lands Stateside in just two weeks. You’ve seen it already? No harm in a refresher then. If you are one of the very few and unfortunate to have not seen Better Call Saul yet then you need to amend your schedule over the next fortnight. Centering on the gimmicky, shady lawyer shenanigans of Saul Goodman, the show takes us back well before his Breaking Bad days, as Bob Odenkirk returns as Jimmy McGill, giving us some compelling back-story.

What are you adding to your Netflix watchlist this February? Let us know below.