Netflix streams some of the best dystopian TV shows. From shows that let you watch people play life-threatening games to shows that tell the stories of survivors after civilization has been destroyed, these shows will make you feel a little better, even if only for a moment.
It's hard to believe that "Black Mirror" is headed for a seventh season. This anthology series shows how technology is changing our world, and from many different angles, and not just for the better. Because each episode stands on its own, it is often compared to "The Twilight Zone," which is considered the greatest science fiction show of all time, and for good reason.
"Black Mirror" has some disturbing elements, but just as you would expect from an anthology, some episodes will be favorites and some will disappoint. The stories weave together romance, horror, and mystery, while some philosophically examine technology run amok.
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This Danish post-apocalyptic thriller series focuses on a group of young survivors after a virus delivered by rain wipes out most of humanity (a great premise for summer viewing, I say). Simone Andersen (Alba August) and Rasmus Andersen (Lucas Lingard Tonnesen) are two siblings who lost their parents and emerged from a bunker their father built. It wasn't long before they were joined by fellow survivors.
At the heart of this series is not only the fight for survival, but also the idea that many of the typical human experiences and emotions we now experience are not changed just because the world is about to end. The characters' questionable choices may be frustrating, but they are interesting nonetheless.
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This Korean drama was a huge hit shortly after it began airing. The first episode begins by focusing on Song Ki-hoon (Lee Jung-jae), a deadbeat dad who enters a tournament inspired by a Korean children's game for a chance to win a big prize. There is, of course, a trap. The games are all violent, and the participants are risking their lives by agreeing to take part. Unfortunately, they realize this too late. But in reality, blood and guts are not the goal. This program is more about showing the struggle between those who barely make ends meet and those at the top who take advantage of them.
The new season will premiere in December 2024, and it is understandable to have high expectations. The first season was nominated for and won numerous awards, including six Primetime Emmy Awards. If you didn't catch the wave of excitement for this series when it first aired, now is not the time to miss out.
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"3%" is a Brazilian dystopian series that has received little of the attention and praise it deserves. Society is divided into haves and have-nots. Inland dwellers suffer poverty and cope with an environmentally destroyed atmosphere. Those who live offshore live in paradise: at the age of 18, everyone gets a chance to move offshore, but only about 3% actually do so.
The whole competition has a "Hunger Games" feel to it, but with a deeper complexity. It shows how much people will go to in order to get a "better" life. There are some brutal scenes, but that's to be expected in a show like this.
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Last but not least is "The 100," a dystopian series inspired by the young adult series by Cass Morgan. After a nuclear war on Earth obliterated nearly everything, the survivors live on a space station called "The Ark." Jump ahead 97 years, and resources are in short supply. One hundred teenagers are chosen to determine if Earth is ultimately habitable. They discover that Earthlings with names like "The Grounders," "The Reapers," and "Mountain Men" have survived.
You may have to stretch your imagination a bit to accept some of the science in this show, but it's entertaining nonetheless, and watching these teenagers battle their way through this uncharted territory makes this series worth watching.
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