The five best series to watch on Netflix this weekend
We don’t survive workweeks to settle on a mediocre weekend plan now, do we? So, even when your weekends are all about staying back at home to unwind, do so with a Netflix watchlist that forces you to stay awake every time your eyes feel heavy.
Although comparatively, Netflix has seemingly slowed down with its arrival arc this week, that has absolutely no shortcomings for the weekend watchlist we bring to you weekly. Don’t even sweat about it.
From shows that make you introspect to shows that leave you fascinated, this weekend watchlist has everything and more than you probably asked for.
All that remains now is for you to get comfortable and kick-start the five best series to watch on Netflix this weekend.
The five best series to stream on Netflix this weekend
Inventing Anna (Shonda Rhimes, 2022)
Inspired by Anna Sorokin and the New York Magazine article titled, How Anna Delvey Tricked New York’s Party People, Inventing Anna is a Netflix miniseries that made quite the buzz during its release. Starring Julia Garner in the titular role, the crime drama tells the story of a cunning con artist, Anna Sorokin, who scammed her way into New York’s elite circle, feigning to be Anna Delvey, a wealthy German heiress with a trust fund.
With conviction, Anna racked up massive debts and fraudulent checks, scheming and scamming the high society out of millions. Inventing Anna is framed by a struggling reporter who becomes obsessed with Anna’s story and shenanigans, seeing it as a chance to revive her career in media. The miniseries meticulously explores the moral ambiguity of Anna’s actions, questioning whether she’s just a con artist or a modern-day hustler who made a life out of deceiving others.
When They See Us (Ava DuVernay, 2019)
Based on the events of the 1989 Central Park jogger case, When They See Us is a gripping crime drama on Netflix that opens up about the lives and families of the five Black and Latino male suspects who were wrongly accused and prosecuted on charges related to the sexual assault of a female victim. It chronicles the true story of the “Central Park Five,” which began after a white female jogger was brutally attacked in Central Park.
The authorities rounded up five Black and Latino teens who were in the park, who were subsequently put under pressure, leading to intense, coercive interrogations. Due to a lack of legal support, they succumbed to the pressure, and the coerced confessions ultimately led to their arrests despite no substantial evidence. When They See Us follows the men after their release, capturing the difficulty of rebuilding lives as convicted felons confronting social stigma with every step they take.
Seven Seconds (Veena Sud, 2018)
Seven Seconds serves as the adaptation of the Russian film, The Major, written and directed by Yuri Bykov. Set in Jersey City, New Jersey, the crime drama kicks off when White Jersey City narcotics detective Peter Jablonski, while distracted, hits a Black teenager, Brenton Butler, with his car. Still in shock, Jablonski dials up his unit to arrive at the scene, and his superior, Mike DiAngelo, assuming Brandon is dead, decides to cover it up.
Fearing the fallout of a white cop hitting a Black teen, DiAngelo orders the cover-up. Seven Seconds follows the city-wide reaction as racial tensions erupt in the wake of this hit-and-run case, as the city’s Black community and law enforcement find themselves at odds with Brenton’s family demanding justice. While the series sheds light on Brenton’s grieving family, it also represents the complicated struggles of the officers involved, exploring themes of race, justice, and morality.
The Andy Warhol Diaries (Andrew Rossi, 2022)
Based on Andy Warhol’s 1989 book, The Andy Warhol Diaries is a limited series documentary on Netflix that has the famed artist narrating his own diary entries through the use of AI. The six-episode series was released on Netflix in 2022 to massive acclaim and has since garnered promising reviews. So, if you want a change of air during your weekend marathon, this could be it.
The Andy Warhol Diaries chronicles Warhol’s complex life via his own journals, focusing on his Catholic upbringing, his intense desire for connection, and the relationships that shaped his life. The series captures a contrast between his individual self and his public persona, underscoring his deep-seated anxiety of coming across as a “freak.” The six-episode series follows Warhol’s life from 1976 until his death two decades later, offering an intimate and comprehensive portrait.
Crashing (Phoebe Waller-Bridge, 2016)
Since the weekend watchlist this time around is mostly about crime dramas, the best way to end it is with a sweet tooth, Crashing. The British comedy revolves around six young adults residing in a decadent, derelict hospital as property guardians, exploring complex relationships and eviction threats all the same.
These twenty-something-year-olds live in the abandoned building in exchange for low rent, provided they follow strict rules to keep it safe. Crashing follows their quirky journey, complete with their awkward interpersonal relationships and overwhelming personal emotional baggage, creating a perfect mix of messiness to witness.