Netflix has a tonne of crime programming, but the upcoming series Kaleidoscope offers something a little different: the freedom to watch the episodes in any sequence. Starring Giancarlo Esposito, Paz Vega, and Tati Gabrielle, the nonlinear series is a heist drama that is partially based on a genuine tale.
The presentation of the episodes, though, is more intriguing than the subject. You can watch them in any order because of the way the show is set up, but doing so will probably provide you with new insights as you try to solve the riddle. (A lovely touch is that each episode is named by a hue, such as “Blue” or “Violet,” with the finale being “White.”)
It’s not the first time Netflix has published a nonlinear series; in 2013, the streaming provider brought back Arrested Development. However, the format makes perfect sense for a genre like crime fiction, where part of the pleasure is in unraveling the mystery. If you had a choice in how you approached that story, the experience might have seemed more like a video game. It reminds me of Sam Barlow’s live-action video games, including Her Story, Telling Lies, and Immortality (available on Netflix).
Additionally, it carries on Netflix’s recent trend of becoming more adventurous. The company has invested in mobile games, experimented with various quiz formats, and is now entering live performances for the first time with a Chris Rock special.
On January 1st, Kaleidoscope will begin streaming.