Umbrella Academy, season 2 released on July 31st, is an intriguing show about a family with superpowers. This show is produced by Steve Blackman and Gerard Way. Recreated from the comic book, The Umbrella Academy, explores a dysfunctional family each with superhuman powers. 43 superpowered infants are born to random women who show no sign of pregnancy. These children are adopted by Mr. Hargreaves who turns them into the “Umbrella Academy.” The job of these children is to save the world. The release of season 1 exhibited positive reviews with 45 million viewers in the first two months of its release in 2019. This show explores how unlikely individuals come together to solve crime highlighting the importance of teamwork. The fictional plot and uniqueness of each character brings a sense of familiarity to the audience. This show is a match for those who crave mystery and fiction.
Dear White People is another new release on Netflix about several students of color at an Ivy League institution discussing issues around social justice. The students bring to light the underlying tensions and issues that surround the predominately white Ivy League school. Each episode of this show focuses on a different character in the 30 minute increments. Each student has their own story and perspective that gets explored in this show. The first season was released in 2017 and is now on its final season. It is based off of the 2014 film called the Same Name. The film’s writer and director, Justin Simien, wrote and directed Dear White People as well. More than ever, this show is extremely important. In our society, we need voices heard in order to fight against the inequalities of our society. These issues should not be ignored and this show brings awareness to these.
Euphoria is an American teen drama television series that is created by Sam Levinson. This show is based around high school students and their experience in highschool regarding their identity and social lives. This series premiered on HBO and originally came out in 2019. Popularity surrounding this show has picked up significantly the past few months. The characters in this show each are fighting their own battle. The beauty of this show is how these battles are portrayed in an authentic light. Zendaya plays the characters Rue in the show with a few other main characters whose lives are explored throughout the show. Euphoria is the first show to tackle many different issues that teenagers struggle with daily. These issues are not necessarily talked about frequently, and this show portrays the struggle that many go through which may not be seen with the bare eye. By bringing awareness to these issues, it takes away the stigma from this.
Outer Banks quickly became a favorite on Netflix. Released on April 15, 2020, and now with the release of season 2, it quickly climbed the charts. This show follows a group of 4 close friends known as the “Pogues” who are on a mission to find treasure that is linked to one of the main character’s, John B’s, father. The Pogues who are chased by the Kooks or “the wealthy” and so called “superior” group overcome many obstacles throughout the show that strengthen their overall bond. Season 2 is confirmed to be released in the next year with some episodes filmed in the Bahamas. Season 1 left off on a cliffhanger leaving the viewers wanting more. Creator of the show, Jonas Pate claimed that he expects the show to run for 4 to 5 seasons. This show tackles the idea of social inequality due to the distinction between the pogues and kooks. In today’s society social inequality is a prominent issue that everyone feels the impact of. Outer Banks puts a spin on this issue, by combining mystery in the mix. The evident loyalty between the pogues is clear and makes the audience feel a sense of animosity for them.
Love is Blind is a new show released in the Spring 2020. This show explores the distinction between emotional and physical attraction. Many people today struggle with finding both emotional and physical connection due to the traditional idea of dating going out of style. Due to this, emotional connection does not come easy to younger individuals. Love is Blind brings together men and women who have never met. These men and women get to know each other by speaking through pods, but the twist is that they are not able to see each other. This is meant to establish an emotional connection before a physical one. This show emphasizes the idea that we typically establish a physical connection before an emotional one. Also, it highlights the idea that both are equally important. As seen with certain characters, one attraction can’t outweigh the other. If this is the case, love is harder to achieve.