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The Next Three Months of Netflix Shows Are Packed

By on February 10, 2015

So far, Netflix has engaged in a slow burn of self-accreditation, leap-frogging brand new, well-received television shows and a mishmash of movies, comedy specials and returning properties the likes of The Killing and Arrested Development. The strategy isn’t changing, but it is speeding up, signaling a new era of confidence for the streaming behemoth. Over the course of the next three months, a returning critical darling and three completely new shows will debut on the service, each of which to push the boundaries of Netflix’s creative goals into new directions.

House of Cards Season 3 – February 27

If you need an explanation for the what or the why of this show, much less the who, then you’ve already missed the boat. You need to go back, binge watch all the glorious Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright that you can, not before reassessing your priorities, of course, then watch the trailer for season three and experience the swift removal of your pants. So, you know, before this whole process starts, choose to wear your least favorite pants. You’ll never see them, ever again.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – March 6

The creative duo behind 30 Rock, Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, are back at it with a half-hour comedy starring the bubbly Ellie Kemper. The role seems tailored to the red-head: she’s a recently liberated cult wife trying to survive for the first time on her own in the most televised city of them all – New York. Though it looks like Fey is staying behind the camera for this one, Jane Krakowski establishes the on-screen 30 Rock influence for avid viewers of NBC’s old show. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt was originally developed for the NBC network, only to be sold off to Netflix for this year’s run. It’s got a two-season order in the bag, too.

Bloodline – March 20

Netflix borrowed The Fall from BBC, heavily promoting it through its own services and essentially co-opting the prestige that came with that show. This was Netflix’s risk-averse way of delving into the cop drama, and it paid off quite well. Now we have Bloodline, the family drama, though this time it’s a completely new show developed for the streaming service. That comparison might be weak, but getting into an already-established genre is tricky business. That Netflix is diving in utterly and completely in this case is a vote of confidence for the Kyle Chandler-lead show.

Daredevil – April 10

Here’s the show with the absolute largest potential for disruption in both the Netflix and general TV realms. Marvel has already made a big push for televised versions of its comic books, but never with a character as important to the Marvel universe as Daredevil and never exclusively to a streaming service. Both Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the recently debuted Agent Carter, both on ABC, leach off the prestige of larger super hero names without risking the tainting of those heroes’ potential future on both the big and small screens. Daredevil is no such middle ground, and it’s only one of four shows currently planned for Netflix exclusivity, which makes it an all-important lab rat dipped slowly into the fiery cauldrons of super hero TV.

Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos told USA Today that 2015 will bring Netflix about halfway towards its programming goals.

“We can successfully support about 20 original scripted series every year, with a new series or a new season every two to three weeks, and still maintain a level of quality we expect,” he said. Considering the future of Netflix includes some Adam Sandler movies, a sci-fi series from the Wakowski siblings and a sequel to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, there’s very little to suggest the company is slowing down anytime soon.

About Trevor Ruben

Though I contribute to many online publications on a regular basis, including The Checkout, the crux of my writing lies in video games. When not writing, I'm often streaming a variety of games on Twitch.

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