NETFLIX GOES FULL PSYCHO FOR JANUARY
If you thought Netflix was going to start with feel-good rom-coms and baking shows, you are dead wrong. The streaming giant has officially woken up and chosen violence. In a move that has industry insiders raising their eyebrows and subscribers clutching their pearls, Netflix has dumped a trio of the darkest, grittiest, and most psychologically damaging shows from the last decade onto their platform. We aren’t talking about light entertainment; we are talking about serial killers, cult leaders, and assassination plots.
Whoever is running the acquisitions department at Netflix clearly has a taste for blood. The platform has snatched up rights to shows that originally aired on Fox and Hulu, proving that in the streaming wars, there is no such thing as loyalty. It is a smash-and-grab job of epic proportions. They have taken the “Prodigal Son,” “The Following,” and the James Franco vehicle “..” and slapped a red “N” on them. This is a clear signal that Netflix is banking on our obsession with true crime and depravity to keep the subscriber count up.
Sources tell us that the strategy here is simple: shock value. With original content costing billions to produce, why not just rent the stuff that already traumatized audiences ten years ago? It is a cynical move, but let’s be honest—it is working. The internet is already buzzing about these revivals, and the fanbases that were left heartbroken by cancellations are now flooding the servers, hoping for a miracle resurrection.
“PRODIGAL SON”: THE SERIAL KILLER DADDY ISSUES YOU CRAVE
Let’s start with the one that still has fans screaming for justice. Prodigal Son, which ran from to , is back to mess with your head. If you haven’t seen it, prepare yourself for the most twisted father-son dynamic in TV history. Tom Payne plays Malcolm Bright, a profiler who is barely holding onto his sanity. Why? Because his dad is literally “The Surgeon,” a notorious serial killer played by the legendary Michael Sheen.
This isn’t your standard “catch the bad guy” procedural. This is a show where the bad guy is the fun uncle you are terrified of. Sheen’s character, Martin Whitly, is locked up in an asylum, but he is pulling strings like a puppet master. The chemistry is toxic, dangerous, and addictive. Fans were absolutely gutted when Fox swung the axe on this show after only two seasons, and the cliffhanger ending left everyone furious.
“I will never forgive Fox for cancelling Prodigal Son. Netflix BETTER pick this up for Season or we riot.”
The fact that Netflix picked this up is fueling massive speculation. Is this a test run? Are they checking the viewing numbers to see if it is worth bankroll ing a Season ? We have seen them do it before with Lucifer
“THE FOLLOWING”: KEVIN BACON VS. A DEATH CULT
If Prodigal Son is twisted, The Following is straight-up sadistic. When this show premiered on Fox back in , critics slammed it for being too violent for network television. There were stabbings, immolations, and enough blood to fill a swimming pool. And now? It is right there on your Netflix homepage, ready to traumatize a whole new generation.
Kevin Bacon stars as Ryan Hardy, a burned-out, alcoholic FBI agent who looks like he hasn’t slept since the s. He is hunting Joe Carroll, played by James Purefoy, a charismatic serial killer who uses literature to brainwash people into doing his dirty work. That’s right—a cult of killers based on Edgar Allan Poe. It sounds ridiculous, but the execution is terrifying.
The show plays on the terrifying idea that anyone could be a killer. Your neighbor, the nanny, the cop on the corner—they could all be part of “The Following.” It tapped into a primal paranoia that feels even more relevant in . Watching it now, you realize how much this show pushed the envelope. It paved the way for the gruesome content we see on streaming today.
Insider whispers suggest that the residuals from this streaming deal might be a nice payday for Bacon, who has been pivoting back to horror roots lately. But the real story is how well this show holds up. It is relentless, aggressive, and doesn’t care about your feelings. Just the way Netflix likes it.
JAMES FRANCO’S QUIET RETURN IN “..”
Here is the elephant in the room: James Franco. The actor has been largely persona non grata in Hollywood following a slew of controversies and allegations years ago. Yet, here he is, front and center on the biggest streaming platform in the world. Netflix has acquired .., the Hulu original series based on Stephen King‘s novel, and they are pushing it hard.
This is a fascinating move. Usually, platforms try to bury content starring “cancelled” actors, but Netflix seems to be banking on the quality of the show outweighing the baggage of the star. And to be fair, the show is a banger. Franco plays Jake Epping, a teacher who travels back in time to stop the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
The show was a massive hit for Hulu back in , and poaching it is a direct shot across the bow in the streaming wars. It is rare for a “Hulu Original” to jump ship to Netflix, and it signals that the licensing deals are getting messy behind the scenes. Disney (who owns Hulu) must be desperate for cash if they are leasing out their crown jewels to the enemy.
THE STEPHEN KING OBSESSION
You can’t talk about .. without talking about the King. Stephen King adaptations are basically their own currency in Hollywood, and this one is widely considered one of the best. It is produced by J.J. Abrams, adding another layer of heavyweight Hollywood power to the mix. But the plot isn’t just about saving JFK; it is about time fighting back.
The show is tense, claustrophobic, and filled with the kind of existential dread that keeps you up at night. Franco’s character gets dumped in and has to wait three years to stop Lee Harvey Oswald. Imagine the stress. Imagine the paranoia. It is a pressure cooker. And let’s not forget the romance angle, because obviously, you fall in love when you are trying to rewrite history.
“I forgot how good .. was. Franco is… well, Franco. But the story? incredible. Netflix stole a gem.”
Netflix knows that Stephen King fans are loyal to a fault. By adding this miniseries, they are locking in the horror crowd and the sci-fi geeks in one fell swoop. It is a calculated, algorithmic play to maximize binge-watching hours.
NETFLIX’S CRIME THRILLER ADDICTION
What does this lineup tell us about the state of Netflix in January ? It tells us they are betting big on crime, conspiracy, and chaos. They aren’t trying to make you feel good; they are trying to spike your heart rate. Prodigal Son, The Following, and .. all share a common DNA: they are about obsessive men hunting dangerous monsters while battling their own demons.
It is a dark mood for the new year, but the data doesn’t lie. People love this stuff. We are obsessed with serial killers, we are obsessed with cults, and we are obsessed with conspiracy theories. Netflix is simply feeding the beast. They are acting like the dealer on the corner, and we are the junkies looking for our next fix of adrenaline.
The acquisition of these shows also highlights a sad truth: Network TV used to take risks. The Following and Prodigal Son were network shows! They were on Fox! You don’t see that kind of edgy, violent content on broadcast TV anymore. It has all migrated to streaming, or it has been sanitized for mass appeal. These shows are relics of a time when network execs had the guts to put a cult leader on primetime.
THE CLIFFHANGER: WHO IS NEXT?
So, we have the serial killer son, the FBI cult hunter, and the time traveler. Netflix has assembled a suicide squad of traumatized protagonists. But the big question remains: What is the endgame?
Is Netflix planning to reboot one of these franchises? There are rumors swirling that Prodigal Son stars have been in talks. Tom Payne has been vocal about wanting closure. Michael Sheen is always game for a challenge. If the viewing numbers for January skyrocket, don’t be surprised if Netflix pulls a “Lazarus” and brings one of these dead shows back to life.
For now, enjoy the binge. But keep your eyes open. When Netflix starts digging up the past, it usually means they are planning something big for the future. And with this much blood on the screen, someone is bound to make a killing.
