Look, we’re fans of letting people like the things they like but after slogging through the show Manifest, twice, we have to ask – What is it about this show that has South Africa hooked?

As with many shows on Netflix, Manifest didn’t start out on Netflix. The show premiered on NBC in 2018 where it survived for three seasons until it was canceled in June 2021. Then the fans came.

While Manifest wasn’t added to the Netflix roster in South Africa until this month, it arrived on Netflix in the US the month it was cancelled and for some reason it struck a chord with viewers. So much so that #SaveManifest trended on Twitter and watch parties were organised so that Netflix knew fans were interested in the show. As a result, Manifest stayed in Netflix’s Top Ten in the US for weeks and the show was ultimately renewed for one final season.

The premise of the show is simple, a flight from Jamaica to New York disappears for five years only to return with the passengers having felt no time – besides the time of the flight – pass. The show touches on the supernatural, religion, faith and more but it ends up feeling confused and the plot gives rise to more questions than it answers.

It all reminded us of Lost and we were intrigued until we watched all available seasons and realised that there are so many threads to pull it’s no wonder NBC cancelled the show.

Despite this, Manifest has been in South Africa’s Top Ten on Netflix since it became available locally. That’s a big deal and today we want to implore you to watch something else.

Why? Well for one it’s not very good but the most important reason is that Netflix has an affinity for cancelling genuinely good content with little more than an off-hand mention such as Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj and Santa Clarita Diet. Perhaps if we watch the shows we mention, Netflix won’t just cancel them.

With January finally ending tomorrow, Netflix has a new batch of content headed to the platform and we have a few recommendations.

Snowpiercer Season 3 – New episodes every Tuesday

The show based on a movie which is based on a book has entered its third season and Netflix will be premiering a new episode each week throughout February. The first episode, The Tortoise and the Hare, is currently available on Netflix and it really just sets the scene for what is to come.

Snowpiercer tells the tale of a world destroyed by climate change and one rich man’s goal to control the last of humanity. We should mention that Snowpiercer isn’t a wholly Netflix show as it’s produced by and aired on TNT in the US.

https://youtu.be/eBkA4sNY-uI

Ozark – Now available

Toward the end of the month Netflix released the first part of the final season of Ozark. Ozark follows the Byrde family who launder money for drug cartels, mobsters and drug dealers while trying to maintain a normal family life. You’ll come for Jason Bateman in a serious role as Martin Byrde but you’ll stay for Julia Garner’s performance. It is harsh, it is unforgiving and we cannot wait for the conclusion of this complex, expertly written series.

Jeen-Yuhs – Coming 16th February

If you’ve ever wondered what made Kanye West the person he is today then the three part doccie Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy, is worth keeping in mind. The series will hit Netflix on 16th February and new episodes will arrive every week. While he can be controversial, there is no denying there is something special about Kanye West and we’re excited to learn more about what that is this month.

Murderville – Coming 3rd February

Netflix is digging into its Will Arnett shaped box once again for Murderville. We love Arnett so it’s great to see him plying his trade and this show looks like a laugh a minute. Arnett plays Senior Detective Terry Seattle who must solve a new murder case every day. The catch is that he has a celebrity guest who hasn’t been given a script. The show will feature six episodes and the celebrity guest stars are Annie Murphy, Conan O’Brien, Ken Jeong, Kumail Nanjiani, Marshawn Lynch and Sharon Stone.

Inventing Anna – Coming 11th February

Inventing Anna tells the story of Anna Sorokin or Anna Delvey, a conartist who managed to defraud banks, hotels and the wealthy by posing a socialite. The show will seemingly focus on a reporter digging into Sorokin’s story and it looks like it will make for an intriguing watch.

The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window – Now available

The first episode of The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window betrays how good this show is. That’s not to say it’s bad but rather that there is only so much intrigue one can cram into one episode. This show follows Anna who loves wine and people watching. One night, while on a bender in her couch, Anna witnesses a murder, or does she?

The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window is very dark and the humour follows that trend but there is a very intriguing whodunnit here. We highly recommend The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window.

Other titles which caught our eye hitting Netflix in February include:

• The Tinder Swindler – Netflix Documentary – 2nd February
• Space Force Season 2 – Netflix Series – 18th February
• Vikings: Valhalla – Netflix Series – 25th February