Black Magick Reigns in Netflix Releases for February 2019

February 2019, better known as Year of Our Bast 1 A.B.P (After Black Panther) The shortest, coldest month of the year arrives with some new offerings from Netflix with plenty of options to hibernate inside until Spring. Along with some spotlight original content in recognition of #BlackHistoryMonth, a potential new HWIC (Head Witch In Charge), and the addition of Dark Horse Comics adaptation The Umbrella Academy.  Something for everyone and more . . .

BLACK HISTORY MONTH NETFLIX – STYLE

In recognition of Black of History Month, Netflix also releases some original and returning content featuring dramatic and documentary content featuring strong melanated leads. The offerings show few signs of enlightening and diverse content, but rather some comedic diversions of Kevin Hart, a film about sports, and a crime series about the unsolved murders of two of Hip-Hop’s god-level MC’s.  A few new offerings, however, show signs of something new…or do they? Free Rein: Valentine’s Day— NETFLIX ORIGINAL (Avail. 2/1/19) High Flying Bird— NETFLIX FILM (Avail. 2/5/19) “Directed by Academy Award winner Steven Soderbergh (Traffic) from a script by Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney (Moonlight), High Flying Bird features an acclaimed ensemble cast that includes Zazie Beetz, Melvin Gregg, Sonja Sohn, Zachary Quinto, Kyle MacLachlan and Bill Duke, plus appearances from NBA athletes Reggie Jackson, Karl-Anthony Towns and Donovan Mitchell.” Kevin Hart’s Guide to Black History— NETFLIX ORIGINAL (Avail. 2/5/19) Unsolved: Tupac & Biggie (Avail. 2/27/19)

MY PICKS

Siempre Bruja (Always a Witch)— NETFLIX ORIGINAL (Avail. 2/1/19) The most interesting release comes in the form of Siempre Bruja (Always a Witch), a series that follows Carmen, an 18-year-old Colombian slave and witch, who travels from the 17th century to the present day to save her lover. The story takes place in present day Cartagena. They lost me at “slave.”  Framing any and all black narratives around the most traumatic 1% of “black history,” known as the Transatlantic Slave Trade is a trite and overused conceit. While I am intrigued about an Afro-Latino narrative with a witch as the character, the “slavery” angle feels cheap and problematic. If the lover she is trying to save in the series happens to be her white slave master or slave master’s son, then 2019 is officially compromised. Not all black narratives are good narratives…I like to think in terms of dividing these films/series into a few categories: Black Art made for and by Black people (New Jack City), Black Art made for white people by Black people (The Hate You Give), Black art made for white people by white people (Detroit), and Black art made by Black people for everybody, but really Black People (arguably, Black Panther). Let’s see where this one falls . . . ReMastered: The Two Killings of Sam Cooke— NETFLIX ORIGINAL (Available 2/5/19) Remastered is a new long form documentary series featuring critically-acclaimed directors helming in depth stories of master musicians and their impact on society. The debut episode revolves around Soul music’s legend Sam Cooke, a figure shrouded in immortality for his advocacy of rights for black musicians and his battles with record executives. As a fan of Sam Cooke and his work on Stax Records, I hope this one is good. The Umbrella Academy— NETFLIX ORIGINAL Based on the Dark Horse comic created by Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance, The Umbrella Academy, the series follows six adopted kids with special powers who reunite when their father dies. Offbeat and stylish, it offers signs of Netflix not suffering for comic book property content after dumping the Marvel properties. Dropping on Netflix February 2019 Avail. 2/1/19 About a Boy American Pie American Pie 2 American Wedding As Good as It Gets Billy Elliot Dear Ex— NETFLIX FILM Final Destination Hairspray Hostel Jaws Jaws 2 Jaws 3 Jaws: The Revenge Personal Shopper Pretty in Pink Russian Doll— NETFLIX ORIGINAL The Edge of Seventeen True: Happy Hearts Day— NETFLIX ORIGINAL Velvet Buzzsaw— NETFLIX FILM Avail. 2/2/19 Bordertown: Season 2— NETFLIX ORIGINAL Romance is a Bonus Book (Streaming Every Saturday)— NETFLIX Avail. 2/3/19 Disney’s Beverly Hills Chihuahua Avail. 2/5/19 Ray Romano: Right Here, Around the Corner— NETFLIX ORIGINAL El árbol de la sangre— NETFLIX FILM High Flying Bird— NETFLIX FILM Kevin Hart’s Guide to Black History— NETFLIX ORIGINAL One Day at a Time: Season 3— NETFLIX ORIGINAL The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants: Season 2— NETFLIX ORIGINAL Unauthorized Living— NETFLIX ORIGINAL Avail. 2/9/19 The Break: Season 2— NETFLIX ORIGINAL Avail. 2/10/19 Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj: Volume 2 (Streaming Every Sunday)— NETFLIX ORIGINAL Avail. 2/11/19 Flavorful Origins: Chaoshan Cuisine— NETFLIX ORIGINAL Little Women Avail. 2/14/19 Dating Around— NETFLIX ORIGINAL Ken Jeong: You Complete Me, Ho— NETFLIX ORIGINAL Avail. 2/15/19 Larry Charles’ Dangerous World of Comedy— NETFLIX ORIGINAL The Breaker Upperers— NETFLIX FILM The Dragon Prince: Season 2— NETFLIX ORIGINAL Yucatan— NETFLIX FILM Avail. 2/16/19 Black Sea Studio 54 The 40-Year-Old Virgin Avail. 2/21/19 The Drug King— NETFLIX FILM Avail. 2/22/19 Chef’s Table: Volume 6— NETFLIX ORIGINAL Firebrand— NETFLIX FILM GO! Vive a tu manera— NETFLIX ORIGINAL Paddleton— NETFLIX FILM Paris Is Us (Paris est à nous)— NETFLIX FILM Rebellion: Season 2— NETFLIX ORIGINAL Suburra: Season 2— NETFLIX ORIGINAL The Big Family Cooking Showdown: Season 2— NETFLIX ORIGINAL The Photographer of Mauthausen— NETFLIX FILM Workin’ Moms— NETFLIX ORIGINAL Avail. 2/25/19 Dolphin Tale 2 Avail. 2/26/19 Our Idiot Brother Avail. 2/27/19 Unsolved: Tupac & Biggie Avail. 2/28/19 Jeopardy!: Collection 2 The Rebound

Gone, Yet Not Forgotten

Some excellent titles will be shuffled away for the winter, so if you have somehow missed out on classics like Black Dynamite, Children of Men, Clerks, The Big Lebowski, you better make quick use of your download access. See the full list below. Leaving 2/1/19 Black Dynamite Bride of Chucky Children of Men Clerks Disney’s The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement Ella Enchanted Lara Croft: Tomb Raider Queer as Folk: Seasons 1-4 Queer as Folk: The Final Season Shaun of the Dead The Big Lebowski The Bourne Ultimatum Woman in Gold Leaving 2/2/19 Cabin Fever Leaving 2/3/19 Sing Leaving 2/19/19 Disney’s Girl Meets World: Seasons 1-3 Leaving 2/20/19 Piranha Cozy up and choose well, but whatever you watch or buy, remember Black is always is in season 🙂 Want to get Black Nerd Problems updates sent directly to you? Sign up here!

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