January is the start of a new year, and Netflix is ensuring that 2021 isn't just 2020 all over again. This month really puts its foot on the gas right out the gate with some riveting content and closes out with one of the platform's most buzzed-about shows as of late.
Cobra Kai will premiere a new season on Netflix this January, and subscribers will also get a plethora of thought-provoking content to sink their teeth into while quietly ignoring their fresh New Year's resolutions. Let's dive in, and possibly reach a "zen-like" understanding of 2020 with the help of these Netflix originals.
Headspace Guide To Meditation - 1/1
After 2020, we all may need to work on our zen in 2021, which is where Andy Puddicombe's Headspace Guide To Meditation comes in. This animated series will focus on the keys to mindfulness that helps lead to effective meditation. Each episode focuses on a different tactic and even ends with a guided meditation to really help anyone looking to get into an enlightened state and chill in the mood.
History of Swear Words - 1/5
Nicolas Cage is doing a docu-series for Netflix on swear words, and if you somehow need more to draw you into the series, I'm not sure what to tell you. This series will dive into the history, culture, and evolution of swear words, with each of the six episodes covering on the heavy hitters of vulgarity along the way. Cage will be joined by historians as well as familiar faces like Nick Offerman, Sarah Silverman, and Baron Vaughn just to name a few.
Surviving Death - 1/6
Based on the book by Leslie Kean, Surviving Death talks about the possibility of the afterlife and conversations with the people who have come close or actually experienced death. Whether you're having an existential crisis or thinking it's about high time you had one, this series dives into all the questions humankind has asked for ages, and still can't get a definitive answer on. It probably won't deliver that massive amount of clarity we secretly crave, but it should be interesting to watch all the same.
Disenchantment (Part 3) - 1/13
Matt Groening's serialized fantasy series Disenchantment is back, which means more of that classic Simpsons-esque comedy on Netflix in 2021. Part 2 ended with Dreamland under siege and an ongoing war between Bean's mother Queen Dagmar and King Zog. Part 3 will dive further into the story, but there will be plenty of fun to be had along the way. One great strength this show has had is being able to advance the story while still keeping things fun and not too heavy. Here's hoping it can keep going well past 2021.
Spycraft - 1/20
If you spent most of your life thinking that all the gadgets used in James Bond movies were strictly myth, prepare to have your mind blown. Yes, spy gadgets are real, and yes, they were used by spies in the field. This series chronicles some of the more famous gadgets out there, and more on the people that developed them. It's definitely a series that a spy nerd like me will get into, and probably have me in the market for a Seiko.
Blown Away (Season 2) - 1/22
If you're a bit suspicious about a competition show about blown glass being on a list of "spectacular shows," clearly you've never seen Blown Away. In Season 1 this show quickly became one of my favorite elimination competitions because it's easy to see who did a good job and who didn't. Glass-blown art is a visual medium, while that's only part of what's at play in a cooking show. Take a chance on this one (if you haven't already) and you'll see why this show is such a great time.
Fate: The Winx Saga - 1/22
Yes, this is the same Winx Club cartoon that you may remember from back in the day, but it's also not. This is a reimagined adaptation that hails from The Vampire Diaries creator Brian Young, whose track record of success speaks for itself. This coming-of-age tale will follow fairies attending the magical boarding school Alfea, as they try to juggle the perils of love, friendship, and magic all at once. Oh yeah, and there's monsters, so while this series may not look a lot like the classic cartoon, I definitely see it getting a quick following based on what Brian Young has done in the past.
Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous (Season 2) - 1/22
Jurassic Park's first animated series is back for another season and the teens of Camp Cretaceous are still on the run from dinosaurs. This season they'll come across some "eco-tourists," but apparently not is all as it seems. As a fair warning, the show is a bit extreme, so parents may want to make an informed call on whether or not their kid can watch without nightmares of getting gobbled up by a dinosaur. As someone who learned this lesson the hard way, trust me.
Go Dog Go - 1/26
Netflix is getting another adaptation of a children's classic that comes from the stable of Dr. Seuss classics. Join Handy, Tag, and Scooch on their adventures as they traverse the town of Pawston and look to solve the problems of citizens all about town. For those looking to mix up the dog content after hours of Paw Patrol or Puppy Dog Pals, this may be the next winner for young minds.
Cobra Kai (Season 3) - TBA
If there's a hotter show to kick off Netflix in 2021, I'm not sure I know it. Cobra Kai has been making waves ever since Netflix acquired the first two seasons, so obviously, there are some folks invested in finding out what happened after that explosive Season 2 finale. Will anyone be punished for that massive school brawl, and will Johnny find a way to get Cobra Kai dojo back from Kreese? We'll have to wait and see!
The Netflix Afterparty - TBA
Netflix is trying something a bit different in 2021 and will be airing a weekly comedy panel where David Spade, Fortune Feimster, London Hughes, and a rotating guest comedian will host a panel of creators and cast members of shows to discuss the hottest stuff in television and movies. It certainly sounds like an interesting premise, though Netflix has historically struggled with keeping its shows that update on a weekly basis. We can wait and see if this one is an exception!
Catch all these shows and more on Netflix this January. Continue to stick with CinemaBlend for more updates on each series, and for the latest happening in television and movies news.
