Month: December 2017

The best of the best

To say that Netflix is a content powerhouse would be an understatement–over 1,000 hours of original programming premiered on the service in 2017. That’s not to say that all of it is perfect, of course, and with such a sheer abundance of content on Netflix, simply finding all the gems among the rough can be a challenge.

Enter this list. From cutting edge movies to small-screen surprises, the streaming giant once again played a pivotal role in the age of “Peak TV.” Here are the 17 best Netflix originals to air in 2017.

17. A Series of Unfortunate Events

13 years after Nickelodeon’s big screen adaptation bombed at the box office, Netflix stepped in to right that unfortunate wrong. Based on the Lemony Snicket (real name: Daniel Handler) book, A Series of Unfortunate Events tells the tale of the Baudelaires–three incredibly unlucky children whose parents mysteriously died in an accident. They’re forced to live with Count Olaf (Neil Patrick Harris), a failed actor pretending to be their uncle to gain access to the family fortune. Tonally reminiscent of the works of Edward Gorey and Tim Burton, each episode follows the kids as they struggle to beat Olaf at his own mischievous game.

16. Orange is the New Black

For five seasons, Orange is the New Black has followed Piper Chapman’s (Taylor Schilling) 15-month prison sentence. And while that formula has led the series into some silly plot points, Season 5 reigned in the show’s focus and, in turn, made things exciting once again. The new episodes took place over a three-day timespan, following a prison riot at Litchfield Penitentiary that flipped the power dynamic between the abusive guards and those behind bars. Personal drama, complex character arcs, and conflicts between rival factions made for a compelling season definitely worth a watch.

15. Ozark

With Ozark, Jason Bateman was finally able to step out of Michael Bluth’s shadow. The series follows money launderer Martin Byrde (Bateman) as he moves his family to the Ozarks. His plan of paying back the Mexican drug cartel that killed his partner hits a few hiccups along the way. Tonally, the show’s been compared to the likes of Breaking Bad, Bloodline, and Justified. And with some heavy hitting performances in the cast–Laura Linney is amazing as always–the brooding story goes straight for the jugular and never lets up.

14. Castlevania

In 2017, gamers received a gift in the form of the delightfully bloody anime, Castlevania. Based on the original 1986 Nintendo game, comic book writer Warren Ellis and executive producer Adi Shankar teamed up to continue the tale of the Belmont clan’s war with the looming vampire threat. Richard Armitage (Hannibal, The Hobbit movies) is perfect as the voice of Trevor Belmont, the story’s reluctant hero. And while the season was short–just four episodes, to be exact–it definitely delivered the goods. Patience, friends–more episodes are set to hit Netflix in 2018.

13. Okja

Okja follows the story of a young South Korean girl who forms an unusual bond with a giant creature known simply as a “super-pig.” When Okja is reclaimed by its parent corporation and sent to the slaughterhouse, chaos ensues. Scenes of animal torture and corporate greed help to deliver an up-close look at the corruption that lies within the American Food Industrial Complex. It’s Bong Joon-ho’s heartfelt, heartbreaking, anti-corporation, pro-vegan message to the masses, and the film is as lovely as it is bizarre. What else would you expect from the dude that brought us Snowpiercer?

12. Dear White People

Much like the Justin Simien film that came before it, Dear White People explores the lives of the various students of color who attend a mostly white college. It’s a mindful satire that takes the subject matter regularly seen on the nightly news and flips it, giving a voice to those who need to be heard. Needless to say, Dear White People was a breath a fresh air when it premiered in April. Activism, racism, and social injustice are just a few hot button issues tackled here, but they’re touched on in such an engaging way, it’s hard not to become fully engaged. More episodes will hit Netflix in 2018. So, you know, stay woke.

11. American Vandal

Netflix pokes fun at the true crime docuseries trend with American Vandal. The first season of the mockumentary series may be only eight episodes, but the simplicity of the satire is stupidly smart. If Making a Murderer, The Jinx, and Serial all went back to high school, this would probably be the show they’d become. Each episode ends up being more engrossing than the last, and that says a lot for an investigation into the mysterious lewd graffiti that appeared on 27 faculty members’ cars. “Who drew the dicks?” It’s the burning question–and we still don’t know the answer.

10. Alias Grace

Alias Grace tells the tale of Grace Marks (Sarah Gadon), a poor servant girl accused of murder in 19th century Canada. This series–which is adapted from Margaret Atwood’s 1996 novel–is an intriguing mix of period drama and true crime tale. Co-starring Anna Paquin, Zachary Levi, and David Cronenberg, the six-episode series explores the cultural dynamic between men of power and the women forced into subservience. Its subject matter is just as timely as The Handmaid’s Tale, which make sense, since Atwood wrote that book, too.

9. Stranger Things 2

In Stranger Things’ second go-round, Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), Hopper (David Harbour), Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Will (Noah Schnapp), and the rest found themselves battling an even bigger supernatural threat. With new characters added into the mix–and plenty of ’80s pop culture references to pick through–the adventure takes them all deeper into the strange world of the Upside Down. In related news, The Duffer Brothers doubled down on a winning formula, prompting Netflix to pull a no-brainer and renew the series for more episodes.

8. Godless

Godless tells a western tale of vengeance and redemption in a town filled with husbandless women. Scott Frank (Out of Sight, Logan) spent well over a decade creating the seven-part series, which balances some classic Sam Peckinpah style with a fair share of edgy modern day sensibilities. And while the writing is on point, the real highlight here is the show’s epic cast: Downton Abbey’s Michelle Dockery, Halt and Catch Fire’s Scoot McNairy, and The Newsroom’s Jeff Daniels are all at the top of their games. But the real standout is The Walking Dead’s Merritt Wever. Her performance alone is worth the price of admission.

7. The Punisher

The arrival of Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle finally brought balance back to Marvel’s gang of street-level heroes. In its first season, The Punisher paid close attention to Castle’s war-riddled back story, delivering a hard-driving human element to the Netflix franchise. In turn, audiences were given a tough-to-swallow PTSD-inspired tale, while Frank’s tortured psyche was laid out for all to see. This may be a story about a hero whose only superpower is shooting guns, but the series doesn’t shy away from the repercussions that come from such violence. In the end, it’s still a comic book series. But be warned, there’s absolutely no escapism here.

6. Big Mouth

Big Mouth is an animated series unlike anything Netflix audiences have seen. Created by longtime friends Nick Kroll and Andrew Goldberg, the raunchy cartoon traverses that awkward time in everyone’s childhood when puberty strikes. The show boasts a talented voice cast–John Mulaney, Jenny Slate, Jason Mantzoukas, Maya Rudolph, Fred Armisen, and Kristen Wiig show up here. Big Mouth excels at exploring some painfully uncomfortable subject matter in a way that is equally gross, heartwarming, relatable, and downright hilarious. Thankfully Netflix renewed the series for another season. We need more Hormone Monsters in our lives.

5. Gerald’s Game

Another day, another Stephen King adaptation. Instead of killer clowns and haunted towns, though, the simplicity of the premise is what makes Mike Flanagan’s film a stirring success. The majority of the movie takes place in a secluded cabin where a married couple–played brilliantly by Bruce Greenwood (Star Trek, Mad Men) and Carla Gugino (Roadies, San Andreas)–attempt to save their relationship with a sexy weekend away. Once Gerald handcuffs Jessie to the bed, what transpires is a visceral tale of survival as she faces down certain death, and some unexpected demons from her past.

4. Master of None

The Aziz Ansari-led comedy came back bigger and better in its second season. The new episodes found the story digging deeper into the dramatic side of Dev’s (Ansari) heartbreak, and the influences from classic Italian cinema lent an unexpected aesthetic to the series that set it apart from nearly everything else on TV. As hilarious as Master of None is, each episode roots itself in a personal truth that elevates the series beyond its comedic roots. The Lena Waithe-written Thanksgiving episode–which she won the Emmy for–is a phenomenal standout.

3. The Crown

The Crown is such a lavish tale, sometimes it’s easy to forget it’s based on real life. Netflix’s period drama explores the early days of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. With a budget weighing in at about $100 million, the ambience and production value is top notch. The series continues the chronological tale of Elizabeth’s rise, but this time around, closely follows her complex marriage with Philip (Matt Smith)–and the rumors of infidelity that followed. Emotional high points and intricate plot points abound in Season 2, making The Crown more riveting than ever.

2. GLOW

GLOW follows Ruth (Alison Brie), a struggling actress looking for work who discovers the role of a lifetime in the most unexpected place: a wrestling ring. The conflicted relationship between old friends Ruth and Debbie (Betty Gilpin) acts as the foundation for the series. And with its quirky ensemble cast and characters, the Jenji Kohan-created series paints a bigger world that’s hard to not fall in love with. GLOW not only celebrates the original 1985 wrestling program it’s inspired by, but also delivers a surprising tale of female empowerment that packs in plenty of fights, laughs, and drama along the way.

1. Mindhunter

David Fincher’s Mindhunter explores the mission of two FBI agents–played by Jonathan Groff (Glee, Frozen) and Holt McCallany (Fight Club, Lights Out)–as they travel the country creating the modern day process for profiling serial killers. It’s a slow burn that encapsulates the current trend of true crime dramas without feeling formulaic. The fact that it takes place in 1977 only heightens the subject matter, turning the riveting tale about America’s most dangerous criminals into an engaging period drama. The show is so well done, in fact, that Netflix renewed Mindhunter for a second season before it even premiered.

The Switch has had a fantastic first year, but one of the big Nintendo franchises the console is still missing is the much-beloved Super Smash Bros.. While rumors are swirling about some sort Super Smash Bros. 4 port to Switch, a few enterprising indie developers are looking to fill the void with Smash-inspired fighters of their own. One such effort is Angry Mob Games’ Brawlout. While it makes a valiant attempt to put its own spin on the Smash style of platform fighting gameplay, Brawlout has some notable issues that aren’t easily overlooked.

It’s worth noting from the outset that the game is designed for competitive Smash fans. If you’re looking for a goofy free-for-all with zany items and copious stage hazards, this isn’t the game you want. What’s here is a very basic selection of fighting arenas with restrained gimmickry, no items, and a handful of game modes that are focused specifically on pure fighting.

If you’re familiar with Smash, the controls in Brawlout will feel like second nature. You have a regular attack button and a special attack button, and pressing these in combination with a directional input will change your attacks. Jumping and running also change your attack properties, and you can charge certain attacks for more power. The goal is to damage your opponent, then hit them hard enough to send them flying off the field. Sounds exactly like Smash so far, right? The big difference is that Brawlout doesn’t offer shielding or grab maneuvers. Instead, the buttons you would normally associate with these moves are re-assigned to a dodge move with an invincibility window that can be executed on the ground or in the air.

While dodging is a mechanic that veteran Smash players will no doubt feel familiar with, the removal of shielding and grabs is quite puzzling. The lack of guard and throw mechanics, which are are nearly universal across all kinds of fighting games, limits your options in frustrating ways. The loss of shielding, for example, makes certain attacks a lot safer than they would be in other games of this sort, and puts a lot of power in the hands of someone going all-in on aggression. It doesn’t necessarily result in a more aggressive game; it just gives someone on the defending side fewer options and leads to more frustration.

Brawlout attempts to cover for the loss of these options with an upgraded Rage mechanic. Rage was something of a hidden mechanic in Smash 4 that would increase a character’s damage output when they had taken a lot of damage. In Brawlout, Rage is very clearly visible through a meter shown underneath a character’s damage readout. As a character takes damage, their meter increases. They can use the meter to power up their special attacks, utilize a combo-escaping burst when the meter’s at least half full, or enter full-on Rage Mode (indicated by a large burning flame graphic on the character’s damage indicator) when it’s at max. Special moves have different properties when used with and without Rage meter to fuel them, so keeping tabs on your meter becomes a big part of the game at higher levels of play.

Brawlout presents its comic combatants and arenas with confidence and style, but even the game’s relatively bland-looking characters prove useful during battle. Joining the cast of original fighters are two guests from other indie games: Juan from Guacamelee and the Drifter from Hyper Light Drifter. They both feel at home in the game, but as of this writing, Drifter is somewhat overpowered compared to the rest of the cast.

However, in order to access the full selection of characters and stages, you have to unlock them. And there is a lot of unlocking to do. Fighting on- and offline, completing the tutorials and arcade modes, leveling up characters, and fulfilling daily objectives will all earn you currency you can spend on “pinatas” (read: loot boxes) to earn characters, skins, and other goodies. To unlock more than three initial stages, you have to level up specific characters across numerous fights. No, you can’t just find one fighter you really click with and play with them; you need to play each character until you reach a specific level for them to unlock one stage apiece. And that’s a separate grind from the two different in-game currencies.

With the game being so slanted towards competitive play, Brawlout does its best to push you towards playing online. The problem is that, in its current state, online play is a mess. I had a handful of good sessions in my attempts to play online. By and large, my online bouts were defined by stuttering, clunky-feeling movement and laggy slideshows–issues echoed online by other players. It’s hard to recommend a competition-focused game like this when part of its foundation is so flawed.

Brawlout is clearly trying its best to create a unique identity from the game that inspired it. However, the ways in which it’s trying to do this–by removing key mechanics and putting an emphasis on grindy unlocks–don’t work in its favor. Combine this with an online mode that just doesn’t seem to function correctly most of the time and you’ve got a game that’s disappointing in its current form. Keep the Wii U or GameCube hooked up to get your Smash fix for now.

Warning: this article contains spoilers for Phoenix Resurrection: The Return of Jean Grey #1!

No major superhero character stays dead forever, but Jean Grey sure knows how to cling to the afterlife longer than most. 14 years after being killed by Fake Magneto (long story) in New X-Men #150, Jean is finally making her return in the miniseries Phoenix Resurrection: The Return of Jean Grey. That book is set to pave the way for a new ongoing series called X-Men Red in February, with Jean leading a brand new team. Clearly, Jean’s return is a big deal for the X-Men franchise, as well it should be. She couldn’t be coming back to life at a better time. After a year where Marvel has tried and failed to reinvigorate the struggling X-Men comics, Jean Grey’s return may be just the thing to finally put the franchise back on track.

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