If you’ve been wondering why every two weeks, at least one new docuseries shows up on your Netflix preview, you’re not alone. They’ve been in the limelight for a while now, and we can’t say we aren’t intrigued. Besides, we’d be lying if we said that we haven’t given in to the binge-watching culture that makes us line up the next shows to devour, even before we’re done with the current one.
But what exactly is making people hit play repeatedly on these shows? If you ask us, we’d say that it’s because as human beings, even though fiction is an escape from reality, it’s the facts that keep us grounded. We love the art of storytelling. We thrive on information more than anything else – and docuseries deliver. The variety of topics covered under one umbrella category is what sets them apart from 2-3 hour long documentary movies. And since we love watching episode after episode in search of something new, docuseries are the perfect genre to consume content while exercising our minds.
Our docuseries journey started when The Ted Bundy Tapes was doing the rounds on Instagram in the form of memes and reviews. We didn’t want to miss out on the context! So after we were done with the gruelling details of this serial killer’s life, we went on to explore the genre further and came across some gems! Read on to know the ones that we truly loved. If any of these piques your curiosity too, make sure to add it to your watchlist.
Sinatra – All Or Nothing At All
Frank Sinatra lives vicariously through each one of our playlists. With his music filling rooms and bringing them to life even today, it makes us want to know more about the kind of person he was – and not through the words of the critics.
Netflix’s documentary series encapsulates the essence of what it must have been like to be him, described by the legend himself, and his family & closest friends. It includes crucial moments from most of his performances, America during the 20s, and the impact this jazz star created not just on his fans but also on the country. The narrative is poetic and flows so smoothly; you wouldn’t want to miss a beat! Quite like the subject himself; don’t you think?
7 Days Out
“People would do anything to watch these shows!”
As fashion enthusiasts, we stumbled upon this when looking to delve deeper into the high-fashion scene. Even though we came for Chanel, we stayed for the show’s stunning footage of the makings of something larger than life.
7 Days Out traces the drama, excitement, and yes – even sweat beads of the week leading up to some of the world’s biggest & most significant events. Naturally, when the entire globe is watching history being made, the temperatures tend to rise, and so do the stress levels. Let’s not even get to the high expectations that have no choice but to be delivered. From NASA’s Cassini Mission, Kentucky Derby – the most glorious horse race, to Chanel’s Haute Couture Show and beyond, this is undoubtedly for the inquisitive ones! It carefully orchestrates not just a beautiful outcome but also the final levels of the process that isn’t as grand, but much more crucial.
Follow This
We’ve all looked towards Buzzfeed Quizzes to cure our boredom, and sometimes even because of our intrigue. Well, if something as menial as the quizzes kept us hooked, then surely you can trust us when we say that Follow This, a Netflix docuseries by the reporters at Buzzfeed managed to engage us immensely.
Before you hit play though, we’d like to let you in on what we thought. Since the show explores themes and topics with a cross-connect between culture and the internet, the purpose of it is not just to educate, but also to entertain. With 20 episodes spread out over three seasons, Follow This has various reporters assigned to each chapter. Which means, 20 diverse narratives and you get to pick your favourite! Expect an examination of the supremely popular ASMR videos, the rise of Amish romance novels, Bollywood’s perception of beauty, the boom of modest fashion, the significance of sexbots, and much more. Each episode covers something quirkier than the last, and that’s probably why we couldn’t stop binging on this.
Broken
Sure, mindful consumption and conscious shopping is the need of the hour – but why? Why are people so hellbent on redefining norms of ‘shopping’? Welcome to Broken – an investigative docuseries that will pull you in from the first episode itself, and answer the above-stated questions.
Not just fast fashion but fast production in other sectors too is slowly leading the world into a dangerous zone, and it has only gotten started. Don’t be fooled though; it isn’t a lesson on moral code – but far from it. Broken is dark, but it’s for the faint-hearted too. It brings you face-to-face with the ill effects of influencer culture, hazardous ingredients when it comes to makeup knockoffs, how ‘hip’ products are nothing but a sham and a lot more reality checks than you can fathom. One other thing we loved in particular, was the show’s visual storytelling that plays a role long before the narrators do. We assure you, this series is an eye-opener.
Now that you have your next binge-list, just grab a cup of coffee and your favourite blanket to snuggle into. And for the days when you’re feeling extra adventurous – you will always have true crime shows to go back to!
Image Credits: Pinterest