If you thought that ‘Michael’ offered a somewhat narrow portrait of the artist, this week Netflix has a docuseries that promises to reveal some of the secrets still to be told. This will undoubtedly be a dark week on Netflix, because alongside it there’s an excellent Spanish thriller and a British series that revisits a highly controversial real-life case.
Series
Michael Jackson. The Verdict
The premiere of this three-episode docuseries arrives at the most controversial moment possible: it coincides with renewed interest in the artist following the success of the biopic ‘Michael’, who was accused precisely of whitewashing his image and sidestepping the abuse lawsuits that accompanied the final years of his life. The series reconstructs the 2005 trial from testimonies of jurors, journalists, eyewitnesses and individuals connected to both the prosecution and the defense. There are dimensions of the case the public never saw, and this documentary aims to provide more material so the debate between fans of the artist and those of ‘Leaving Neverland’, whose director, incidentally, does not agree with the conclusions of Netflix’s proposal, can continue.
- Premiere: Wednesday, June 3
The Witness
‘The Witness’ seeks to sustain the success of ‘Adolescence’, and it stays in the same sphere: created by Rob Williams, the series reconstructs the 1992 murder of Rachel Nickell from the perspective of her partner, who becomes a single father and dedicates his life to protecting his two-year-old son, the only witness to the crime. The series focuses on a police investigation rife with errors and decisions that sparked considerable controversy at the time. It stars Jordan Bolger, whom we remember for his excellent performance in ‘Peaky Blinders’. Three episodes for a high-grade true-crime mini-series.
- Premiere: Thursday, June 4
Other Series
- New Amsterdam – June 1
- My Hero Academia (Season 6) – June 1
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit – June 1
- Evergood – June 2
- The King of Queens – June 4
- Full-Time Fans – June 4
- That’s How You’ll Learn – June 5
Films
The Unknown Woman
Adapted from the eponymous novel by Rosa Montero and Olivier Truc, this thriller follows the discovery of a gagged woman in a container at the port of Barcelona who cannot remember her identity. She survives an assassination attempt at the hospital and becomes the focus of a police investigation centered on her amnesia. Gabe Ibáñez (‘Automata’) signs this Netflix-exclusive film, notable for its spectacular cast, which includes Candela Peña, Ana Rujas, Pol López, and Manolo Solo.
- Premiere: Friday, June 5
Other Series
- Milky☆Subway: The Galactic Limited Express – The Movie – June 1
- The Inconvenience – June 1
- The Murder of Rachel Nickell – June 4
- Poldi – June 4
- Oh, Mom! – June 4
- Mexico ’86 – June 5
- Office Turbulence – June 5
- The Nanny – June 5
- The Alto Knights – June 6
On Xataka | Stephen King bluntly recommends Netflix’s new No. 1: it’s “an absolute pleasure”