Mahmood Hossain’s picks of the most binge-worthy releases on your favourite streaming platforms.
THAT CHRISTMAS (NETFLIX)
Love Actually (2003) director Richard Curtis presents a slightly different holiday story based on his own trilogy of children’s books. This animated film is about a troubled Christmas, where a group of kids and their parents try to navigate through the chaos of life in the midst of messy relationships and the re- evaluation of traditions. Whether you’re celebrating Christmas this year or not, audiences may find the family dynamics relatable, alongside some universal truths, such as being with your loved ones on special occasions and when they need you most, which is what really matters in life.
Release Date: 4 December
SECRET LEVEL (AMAZON PRIME VIDEO)
One of the most ambitious animated anthology series to come out of Amazon Prime Video, Secret Level is set to mesmerise viewers with iconic video game characters and groundbreaking, bold, unique and emotive stories based on their respective video game worlds. The 15-episode series is an adaptation of household-name games such as Unreal Tournament, Pac-Man,Dungeons & Dragons,Honor of Kings,Mega Man, and more. Secret Level also boasts an impressive cast, starring Keanu Reeves,Ariana Greenblatt, Arnold Schwarzenegger,Kevin Hart,Claudia Doumit, and Ricky Whittle, to name a few.
Release Date: 10 December
BANDISH BANDITS SEASON 2 (AMAZON PRIME VIDEO)
After the initial release of Season 1 in 2020, Radhe (Ritwik Bhowmik), a singing prodigy of classical Indian music, and Tamanna (Shreya Chaudhry), a modern pop sensation, are now pitted against each other in a nationwide band competition with higher stakes. Tensions rise, and ambition gets in the way. Once inseparable, the lovebirds ignite a rivalry through musical fireworks while delving deeper into family legacy, a balance between the old and the new, empowerment and individuality. The series, applauded by critics and fans alike, also stars legendary actor Naseeruddin Shah.
Release Date: 13 December
SQUID GAME SEASON 2 (NETFLIX)
The Netflix phenomenon returns this month just in time for the holidays, captivating the global audience yet again for another anxiety-ridden thrill ride. The word in the industry is that this sophomore season is set to be darker than the first, as the story continues with the lead Gi hun (Lee Jung-jae) three years after playing the infamous game of survival. With plenty of twists and turns in the second season, Lee goes on the hunt for the individuals responsible for creating the game. After winning the USD 45.6 billion prize, one can only imagine how Lee will approach, as Gi-hun says, “the new game within a game.”
Release Date: 26 December
