October was a time of the year which was packed with excellent shows locally as well as internationally. We saw our own Mehreen Jabbar’s Ek Jhoothi Love Story and while we binge-watched it during the first week of November, we must have skipped on a few other promising shows. So, to make matters easy and keep you apprised, we have listed down all the shows that are trending on the two most popular streaming platforms in Pakistan, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
There are second installments of already-hit franchises as well as new attempts at fun and dramatic story-telling in this list. From thriller, crime, mystery and horror to fashion, glamour, scams, satire and drama, the digital world has something for everyone!
Streaming on Netflix
1. Emily in Paris
Sex and the City creator Darren Star returned with a Parisian adventure which is full of glam as well as fashion faux pas through Emily in Paris. It did get people talking but not for all the right reasons. We loved Lily Collins as Emily but we are not sure if we actually like Emily’s pretentious persona. The TV show follows Emily who gets an opportunity to work in Paris to give an ‘American perspective’ to a marketing firm. Meanwhile, she is dealing with her uptight co-workers and a cultural shock. Despite its many flaws, the show is a feel-good watch!
2. A Suitable Boy
The Mira Nair’s adaptation of Vikram Seth’s novel of the same name finally got a release on Netflix and people rejoiced. The mini-series — A Suitable Boy — is set in 1951 and is a story of a young girl Lata (Tanya Maniktala) whose mother is on a hunt to find a suitable boy for her marriage. She is courted by three promising suitors, amidst political and religious turmoil, family feuds and what not. The series stars Tabu, Ishaan Khatter, Rasika Duggal and many more.
3. Serious Men
Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s Serious Men is also based on a book by Many Joseph. The film is a satirical take on the caste system in India and tells the story of how a man, who is tired of his circumstances, manipulates the system to give his son the best opportunities. While, he might have wronged his son as well in the process, the journey itself is a ride worth taking.
4. The Haunting of Bly Manor
Those who were fans of Netflix’s The Haunting anthology were very happy when its second edition was released. The Haunting of Bly Manor follows the story of a young governess (Dani) who is hired to look after two orphan kids at the Bly Manor. Things get spooky when she starts experiencing paranormal activities at the estate, including apparitions that haunt the house.
5. The Trial of the Chicago 7
Aaron Sorkin’s legal drama follows the trail of the infamous Chicago Seven, a group of anti-Vietnam War protestors who were charged with a conspiracy to incite riots in Chicago after their peaceful protest turned violent because of the police force confronting them with tear gas and rifles. The film stars Sacha Baron Cohen, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Daniel Flaherty, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Keaton, Eddie Redmayne and many more.
6. Rebecca
Just by one look at Rebecca’s trailer, we knew that this film will have so much in store. A new adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s 1938 novel Rebecca stars Lily James and Armie Hammer. The film narrates the story of a naive girl in her 20s who gets involved with a mysterious and wealthy widower Maxim de Winter. The newly-wedded bliss, however, ends shortly after she accompanies her husband back to his estate and encounters Mrs Danvers, the sinister housekeeper who is hell bent on protecting the legacy of the former, Mrs de Winter.
7. The Queen’s Gambit
Totally binge-watch material, The Queen’s Gambit is also based on a novel. The 7-part mini-series explores the life of a fictional chess prodigy Beth Harmon as she grows up to become the greatest chess player in the world. Like in any competitive field, she battles addiction and other trials to reach at the top. Watch it for brilliant performances and dramatic story-telling.
8. Bad Boy Billionaires
Netflix has garnered quite a repute for its documentary series and Bad Boy Billionaires is another good addition. The docuseries follows the lives of India’s most notorious tycoons who have been accused of corruption. It gives a comprehensive look at the scams pulled off by Indian billionaires Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, and Subrata Roy.
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
9. Mirzapur Season 2
Those who have seen season 1 of this phenomenal crime drama are in for another roller-coaster ride. Starring Pankaj Tripathi, Divyendu Sharma, Ali Fazal, Shweta Tripathi and many more, the second season introduces many new characters in the lawless town of Mirzapur. The show is all about power-struggle, business of guns and drugs and the race to get to the throne. We are not sure if the second season has more violence or not but it has definitely become more darker.
10. The Boys Season 2
Talking about gory shows, it is inevitable to miss out on The Boys. All episodes of Season 2 are out now. It is a unique tale of a few anti-hero vigilantes seeking revenge against a group of superheroes who are not at all what they appear to be. The Boys unapologetically explores ‘what if the superheroes we adore turn against the world’, and the result would be a catastrophe. With dark social commentary and black comedy, the show is full of violence and is definitely R-rated.
