The Gentlemen
After two weeks on top, a stellar performance, The Gentlemen has finally fallen from first place in Netflix’s Top 10 list. It has been replaced by Homicide New York, which as you may guess, is a True Crime documentary, though one interestingly from the creator of Law and Order.
The idea there is that detectives and prosecutors revisit their most challenging homicide cases across the five episode series. It debuted at #1 and it seems like it’s a True Crime series that may have some legs, given who is behind it and that it’s an interesting concept.
The return of Physical 100 debuted at #2, but has dropped to #3 now. For my money, it’s the best reality show on Netflix as super athletes from all over Korea compete in a physical contest to see who’s the best. We’ll see how the show does when two more batches of episodes release over two weeks.
Top 10
But back to The Gentlemen for a minute, the Guy Ritchie crime series has really done incredibly well, far better, I’d argue, than anyone involved was expected. While there were ideas tossed around for a second season, now one almost seems guaranteed thanks to how well this has performed and the relatively low cost to make it.
What does not cost a little is 3 Body Problem, the massive sci-fi series from the Game of Thrones creators which debuted today, so it is not charting on the list. If it doesn’t debut at #1 that would be a little surprising, but Netflix had better hope it performs well, given the investment in the series. It has reviewed pretty well and I’m just starting now. But I like what I see so far.
The rest of the list has old favorites sliding down like The Program, Avatar: The Last Airbender and Love is Blind season 6, which has now ended so we’ll see another one in what, six months? The turnaround on those is lighting fast.
The end of the list is The Resident at #9, a licensed series Netflix has nabbed, and Iron Reign, a Spanish crime drama I can’t say I’ve heard much about.
The question now is how long will Homicide New York stay on top and what’s going to happen with 3 Body Problem. I think it may do well, but I also wouldn’t blame people for thinking it may be a bit too confusing and dense, given the source material. We’ll see.
Update (3/23): We have some updated data on the list and where new entry 3 Body Problem has indeed arrived. And perhaps surprisingly, that is not in the #1 spot. The high profile new sci-fi series from the Game of Thrones creators has debuted at #2 in the US, knocking The Gentlemen down to #3, but Homicide New York remains at #1.
3 Body Problem has a few unique challenges as a hugely expensive, hugely ambitious series, though one starring very, very few recognizable stars, and the concept is so lofty that it may be a turn-off for many. The show has debuted with okay critic scores and less than amazing viewer scores, and it ends demanding the next two books be adapted, which as we know, is always far from a sure thing on Netflix. If 3 Body Problem underperforms, that may put that in question, though Netflix may press ahead regardless to keep its relationship with David Benioff and DB Weiss, the Thrones showrunners, intact.
It’s still early so it’s possible that 3 Body Problem moves up the list, but it’s not going to perform anywhere close to what we’re seeing with The Gentlemen here, which still does not have season 2 confirmation, but I’ve never been more sure about anything, so that will be forthcoming soon.
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Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.
