The Many Delights of "Okja"

Chris here. Have you caught up to Okja on Netflix yet, readers?

The Cannes competition title arrived on the streaming platform this week (and a tiny sampling of theatres), becoming one of its boldest and best pieces of original programming. Bong Joon-ho's satire of the factory farming industry and consumer culture is a stunning blend of tones and ideas, from absurd comedy to tense thriller to heartwarming fable. At its heart, it is truly about a girl and her pet.

Okja is quite a feast for audiences, bursting with delights both unexpected and well-anticipated. The film has naturally proven somewhat divisive already, as anything so go-for-broke typically can be. But let's grant some hosannas for a film of many high points...

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Netflix to Give "Sense8" One Final Hurrah

Chris here, with news for Sense8 fans. The series was unceremoniously canceled by Netflix shortly after the airing of the kinky sci-fi series's second season, and the outcry online was vocal. But here is another success story where fanbase outrage saves a beloved niche series: Netflix has announced a two-hour special finale to arrive next year. While this may not be another season like fans had hoped, it gives the Wachowski sisters some space to tie up a few loose ends and maybe another showstopping bit of naughtiness.

This makes for an interesting development for Netflix as well as they begin to start giving the axe to their less popular (or expensive, like Sense8 proved to be) programming. The streaming service is moving faster on dumping newbies like Girlboss and The Get Down, but this does show a certain care for their departing shows that have fan support. There are plenty of examples of shows that end strong from a set end date, so Netflix is also providing the Wachowski's an opportunity to end strong rather than fizzle out. Like HBO's Looking this past season, Sense8 is about to become one lean and unique entry for the television history books.

Last Chance, Netflix: Blazing Saddles, Hello Dolly!, An Unmarried Woman

There are quite a few Oscar'ed titles leaving Netflix on July 1st as they continue to thin their streaming catalogue. So you officially have 1 week left to watch them if you're trying to fill in holes in your movie knowledge. After the jump let's play a little screengrab roulette (sharing whatever comes up), shall we?

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Emmy FYC: Master of None, Season Two

By Spencer Coile 

The first season of Master of None was met with universal acclaim from critics and audiences. Telling the quasi-autobiographical story of Dev (Aziz Ansari), the series follows this wannabe actor and his numerous friends as they gallavant through New York City, eating pasta and searching for love. What made the first season of Ansari and Alan Yang's concoction so fascinating was the way in which they infused elements of culture, race, and sexuality into their storylines. The dialogue was unique to many other shows with similar plotlines; there was a level of specificity and a lived in quality that surpassed more traditional sitcoms.

Master of None recently returned to Netflix and met no sophomore slump. The second season has not only matched the quality of the first but surpassed it. How well does this bode for the series' Emmy chances?

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Naomi Watts Gets Randy with "Gypsy"

Chris here. Just because it's Tony's week doesn't mean we've got only one Gypsy on our mind. Have you forgotten about Naomi Watt's upcoming Netflix series so soon? Well, the streaming platform is here to remind you with the first series trailer - and I have to admit that the show looks far more tantalizing than it did on paper.

Gypsy stars Watts as a therapist who begins to get a little too touchy feely with her patients, including indie brood boy Karl Glusman. With a suspecting husband at home (Billy Crudup, *sigh* isn't it wonderful that he seems to be everywhere nowadays?) the trysts spin into a compulsive thrill of a double life. The first two episodes will be directed by Fifty Shades of Grey's Sam Taylor-Johnson, so expect plenty of kinkiness to go with its character pathos.

Of course, hopping over to television has been in fashion for our major talents for some time, but Watts is one star that could benefit from the kind of character depth that long-form storytelling can allow. It's been far too long since she's had a film that knows what she's capable of, and Gypsy could show a side of her we haven't seen in awhile. Could this be the most immersive and surprising she's been since Mulholland Drive? Gypsy comes to Netflix on June 30!