This Is Why Netflix’s Kaleidoscope Doesn’t Work
You’ve never seen a heist show like this!
Netflix kicked off 2023 with a heist series with a twist — Kaleidoscope can be watched in any order to tell the complete story. Led by Giancarlo Esposito, Tati Gabrielle, Rufus Sewell, Paz Vega, Jai Courtney, Peter Mark Kendall, and Rosaline Elbay, the story follows a career criminal who is ready to lead a $7 billion heist to get revenge on his former partner-in-crime who ruined his life. This isn’t Netflix’s first foray into new and innovative ways to keep viewers watching. Just a few years ago they introduced some interactive choose your own adventure specials with Black Mirror’s Bandersnatch, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’s Kimmy vs the Reverend, and even Captain Underpants: Epic Choice-o-Rama. This new anthology miniseries sets it up so each viewer gets a unique viewing experience. You might start 24 years before the heist, 5 days before the heist, even the day after the heist and it will inform how you view the story and the order you learn backstory in. But does this new viewing process work? Not really, and here’s why…
While the idea of being able to watch the episodes in any order seems innovative, Kaleidoscope doesn’t take full advantage of the opportunity. When any episode could be the premiere or could be the finale, you need to have strong writing and unfortunately this show doesn’t. They don’t give you enough time with the characters or make you love this group of criminals that we’re following. The story doesn’t feel original and there is no need to re-watch over and over again to explore Easter eggs or a deeper mystery. When they flashback to prior years, the de-aging makeup in very weak. On top of all that, Netflix does actually choose an ending for you with the White episode that focuses on the big heist. It takes away that excitement of getting any episode and feels like a cop out that they’ve still chosen the finale for everyone.
All in all, Kaleidoscope wastes its opportunity to innovate and delivers a basic heist story that feels unoriginal and lazy.
Kaleidoscope is streaming on Netflix.
