Last month, I was home for a rare sojourn back to New York City and sat my mother down to tell her some jarring information: She would start seeing a lot about Sexy Beasts on television soon. The trailer for the reality show had just dropped, and in it, a man wearing full realistic beaver makeup famously says, “Ass first, personality second.” It was grim. Netflix’s Sexy Beasts is the kind of content crafted to make headlines — and everyone is warned that they’re about to witness people-transformed-into-animals making out (they are not, however, part of the furry community, which deserves respect).
This is my alarm to you: Sexy Beasts premiered yesterday. You will see it on your timeline.
On the other side of the Netflix aesthetics spectrum is The Last Letter From Your Lover, a painstakingly assembled British romance film premiering Friday, July 23. Shailene Woodley leads the time-jumping swoonfest, along with Felicity Jones, Joe Alwyn, Callum Turner, and Nabhaan Rizwan. Beyond Sex Beasts and Last Letter, Netflix is serving up a multiple intriguing international projects, including the second season of crime thriller Sky Rojo (from the minds behind La Casa de Papel) and a spinoff of Too Hot to Handle.
These are all the new Netflix offerings broken down by plot, genre, and whether you should watch something immediately or skip for now. Keep reading for the lowdown on all of these Netflix treats, including their trailers.
Sexy Beasts (Season 1)
What is it?: Proof that we have stumbled into the Darkest Timeline.
What is it about?: Covering traditionally hot people in fur and scales for schadenfreude-laden viewing enjoyment. Each episode of Sexy Beasts follows an uncoupled person on the hunt for The One. To find them, they agree to be turned into an animal or creature through the magic of prosthetics and special effects makeup. The lead then goes on three separate dates with other singles similarly ensconced in character. Over a few rounds, the single settles on one person to date based on their personality over real-life looks.
See or skip?: Look, you’re going to be curious about this one. Don’t feel guilty if you see Sexy Beasts just to witness the elaborate makeup jobs and then skip to the big reveals that are peppered throughout an episode (pro tip: there’s one in the first 10 minutes and a handful towards the end).
However, if you’re looking for a series that lives up to Sexy Beasts’ alleged values — exploring romance beyond a shallow surface — skip. As many have pointed out, the reality show cast exclusively conventionally attractive and able-bodied people, blunting its message and filling an already flooded reality genre with more of the same. Also, a big part of Sexy Beasts is the reveal of eliminated contestants out of makeup, which is intended to make the lead regret their decision (because the axed person is just that sexy!). Even with the cosmetics and feathers, Sexy Beasts is as obsessed with “perfect” looks as any other dating competition.
The Last Letter From Your Lover
What is it?: A movie with the rare “swoon-worthy” tag on Netflix.
What is it about?: Two time-jumping London romances. In 1965, there’s Jennifer Stirling (Shailene Woodley), the underappreciated wife of a wealthy businessman (Taylor Swift’s current plus-one Joe Alwyn). While on holiday, Jennifer finds the passion she so desires in journalist Anthony O'Hare (Emma. prettyboy Callum Turner), kicking off a turbulent love affair. Jumping to the present, you’ll find Ellie (Felicity Jones) a reporter who happens upon Anthony’s feverish love letters to Jennifer. As Ellie works to piece together the secrets of Anthony and Jennifer, viewers go on the gorgeous and complicated ride with Ellie — and may witness a love story for her too.
See or skip?: The Last Letter From Your Lover is half traditional alluring romance and half modern rom-com. It’s a tone bouncing delight — like having two complimentary flavors of ice cream. See, for a group of tantalizing performances, lots of good kissing, and at least one enviable wardrobe. Also see if you love when Joe Alwyn plays the villain — it’s clearly his favorite.
Too Hot to Handle Brazil, aka Brincando com Fogo (Season 1)
What is it?: Beautiful people losing money… In Brazil.
What is it about?: The fight to win — and keep — 500,000 Brazilian real, which converts to just under $1,000,000 USD. As with the original Too Hot to Handle, its Brazilian counterpart lures a handful of horny and comely singles to a beachside paradise under the guise of a wild reality TV vacation. Then AI host Lana, now with full Brazilian Portuguese fluency, is airdropped in to block any flights of sexual fancy that may be taking off. Too Hot to Handle Brazil’s cast members must try to follow Lana’s rules if they want to take home the big cash prize. If you’ve seen the original Too Hot, you know that goal is nearly impossible to achieve.
See or skip?: See, if you already loved Too Hot to Handle season 2 and are looking for more endearing singles determined to break the celibacy rules.
Sky Rojo (Season 2)
What is it?: Another fast turnaround for an international Netflix series
What is it about?: Revenge. This March, Netflix premiered Sky Rojo, a bloody thriller about three Spanish sex workers. At the end of season 1, protagonist Coral (Verónica Sánchez) is in the literal clutches of her cocaine-fueled and violent boss Romeo (Asier Etxeandia); her friends Gina (Yany Prado) and Wendy (Lali Espósito) are no better off as they face off against Romeo’s trigger-happy henchman. Poor Gina is shot.
Season 2 reveals its heroines somehow survive their latest brushes with death and reunite. Together, they wreak havoc on the men who nearly killed them and fight for freedom. Fast cars, sawed-off guns, and more Looney Tunes-esque trickery await.
See or skip?: Sky Rojo is meant to be a wacky, gleefully savage celebration of women, power, and sex work. It fails to meet that mark often despite all the seriously fun car chases and shootouts.
When Sky Rojo isn’t being a ridiculous thrill ride, it is unnecessarily depicting violence against its main characters. It is unclear if the show uses its most pushing sections for shock value or with the aim of showing the “reality” of what women like Coral, Gina, and Wendy experience. But an endless stream of brutal pop culture stories about sex workers already remind us of that reality so the darkness of Sky Rojo simply feels exploitative and excessive. Skip, to avoid scenes like Wendy’s upsetting anal rape within the first 15 minutes of the Sky Rojo season 2 premiere.
Blood Red Sky (Season 2)
What is it?: Actually very different from Sky Rojo.
What is it about?: A German vampire who simply wants to be a good mom. Nadja’s (Peri Baumeister) plans are ruined when she and her 10-year-old son Elias (Carl Anton Koch) board a nighttime plane to New York to seek “treatment” for her “illness” (read: “terrifying vampirism”). Mid-flight, a pack of terrorists — led by handsome older Outlander gentleman Graham McTavish and Legends of Tomorrow’s Dominic Purcell— overtake the aircraft, putting Elias in direct danger.
Realizing she must save her son and with everyone else on the flight, Nadja reveals her dark secret, setting off a battle between airborne terrorists and one very pissed off vampire.
See or skip?: 40 Days of Night is one of the most underrated horror films of the 21st century. Visually, Blood Red Sky has a lot in common with its vampiric ancestor. See, as a double feature paired with Josh Hartnett’s terrifying throwback film for a spooky summer night in.
Kingdom: Ashin of the North
What is it?: An elaborate way of answering some big Kingdom questions.
What is it about?: Ashin, whom viewers meet as an adult (Jun Ji-hyun) in the final moments of Kingdom season 2. Ashin of the North serves as a prequel, following the young version of Ashin, played by Kim Si-a. This version of Ashin is a girl in Northern Joseon, who comes in contact with the resurrection plant that is central to Kingdom’s undead mystery. Ashin of the North unravels the origin of the resurrection plant and explains the trauma that led Ashin to the vengeance hungry person she is in present-day Kingdom.
See or skip?: Ashin of the North is meant to be supplementary entertainment for Kingdom proper. Skip, until you’ve watched all 12 prior episodes of the expansive and gory Korean epic.
Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop
What is it?: An anime film with a premise that made me exclaim, “That’s cute!”
What is it about?: Young love. Cherry (Somegorô Ichikawa) is a shy boy who expresses himself best by haikus he secrets away for just himself. Smile (Hana Sugisaki) is a cheery girl who lacks self-confidence. One day, Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop’s leads meet on a beautiful summer day and spark a sweet romance — the kind where Smile lovingly reads Cherry’s secret poems and Cherry agonizes over texting his crush. The teens come to understand romance as low-stakes realities seep into their burgeoning relationship.
See or skip?: Netflix has an infamously vast selection of teen love stories, from the sweet to the tormented. But they’re rarely animated — or as pretty as Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop. See on a day when you need to remember how simple summer lovin’ can be.
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