There are so many streaming options nowadays that have, in my opinion, completely eclipsed Netflix when it comes to content that justifies ballooning prices. What was once the premium destination for streaming just hasn’t been able to keep up. I actually think there’s an argument to be made that Apple TV+ has become the new home for prestige TV offerings, especially considering how many excellent sci-fi shows it has invested a lot of money in.
But I also wouldn’t count Netflix completely out yet, either. December is poised to be a big month for the company, with a ton of big movies and shows slated to release. I know I’m really looking forward to Wake Up Dead Man, as the resident Rian Johnson obsessive. So, if you’ve let your account lapse over the last year or so, maybe December is the perfect time to renew and do some proper binge-watching.
Stranger Things
The final season concludes
The first part of the final season of Stranger Things drops in November, but the conclusion won’t see the light of day until December. This is a pivotal moment for Netflix, because Stranger Things has easily been one of its most successful shows ever. These episodes will be the culmination of something nearly a decade in the making, and there’s a lot of hype surrounding the series, as usual.
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It remains to be seen if Stranger Things sticks the landing when it comes to wrapping things up, but there’s no doubt that people are going to tune in. When it comes to bringing in new or returning subscribers, it’s hard not to think that Stranger Things will be the biggest reason why. Sure, the years-long gaps between seasons haven’t been ideal and usually spell doom for modern shows, but Stranger Things is likely to be the exception.
Stranger Things
Release Date
2016 – 2025-00-00
Network
Netflix
Showrunner
Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
The Abandons
Finally, a new western
Creator Kurt Sutter, who is best known for the smash hit Sons of Anarchy, is back with a new series that will hopefully take Netflix by storm. While I was never a huge fan of Sons of Anarchy, personally, I definitely understood the appeal. This time around, however, he’s speaking my particular language with a western called The Abandons. As a mega fan of westerns, I’m really hoping this can be the one to finally catapult the genre back into the popularity it once enjoyed.
The Abandons tells the tale of a woman named Fiona (Lena Headey) who adopts four orphans and contends with aristocrats who try to steal her newly bought home from her. From what I understand, Sutter was inspired by the origins of the American Mafia, so I’ll be very curious to see how he ties that into the show. Either way, it’s a big get for Netflix, and hopefully it lives up to the hype.
The Abandons
Release Date
December 4, 2025
Network
Netflix
Directors
Otto Bathurst, Stephen Surjik
Emily in Paris
Bring some light-hearted romance into your life
It’s never been a critical darling, but Emily in Paris has remained a mainstay on Netflix for four seasons thanks to its popularity amongst viewers. I expect that won’t change much when season five drops in December. As a sucker for romance stories, I’ve enjoyed my time with the series. It’s never been a show that lingers in my brain long afterward, but I never regret watching it.
A big reason for that is Lily Collins’ winning performance as the eponymous Emily Cooper and the gorgeous scenery. But then, I’ve always wanted to live in Paris, so maybe that’s why it appeals to me so much. Regardless of whether it sets the world on fire with critics or not, Emily in Paris is yet another December offering that will bring in viewers for Netflix. That’s pretty much all that matters.
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Emily in Paris
Release Date
October 2, 2020
Showrunner
Darren Star
Directors
Andrew Fleming
The Price of Confession
An intriguing Korean murder mystery
I have a feeling that The Price of Confession could be South Korea’s next big hit for Netflix, following in the footsteps of the monumentally popular Squid Game. This series has one of those premises that immediately hooks you in, and I know I couldn’t be more excited. After her husband is murdered, Ahn Yoon-soo (Jeon Do-yeon) is seemingly falsely accused of the murder. Just when it seems like there’s no way out, prisoner Mo-eun (Kim Go-eun) offers her a way out. If she agrees to actually kill someone, that is.
These are the kinds of moral quandaries I love in my mystery thriller shows, and honestly, South Korea has been killing it in this department. Squid Game was at its best when it was forcing its characters into impossible moral situations, and I expect the same will be true of The Price of Confession. Sure, it might not reach the heights of Squid Game, but I still believe it’s going to draw in a particular type of audience.
Netflix’s December line-up is truly stacked
Even putting aside these four intriguing shows, Netflix has a ton of offerings coming in December. The aforementioned Wake Up Dead Man is obviously the most notable, but by no means the only film release. Goodbye June and Jay Kelly are some other big offerings that will hit in December. Basically, it’s a good month to be a Netflix subscriber, which hasn’t always been the case over the last few years.
If you’re looking for some non-Netflix offerings to check out, maybe you’ll enjoy these newer sci-fi standouts on Amazon Prime Video.
