Weekend binge: 3 elite Netflix series for Nov. 7–8, from Will Trent to classic sleuths
A new procedural arrives
Will Trent, starring Ramón Rodríguez, joined Netflix’s catalog this week. Rodríguez plays a special agent with the GBI who uses his experience in Atlanta’s foster-care system to help prevent others from facing similar trauma.
The series is based on Karin Slaughter’s bestselling books and has earned acclaim as a network procedural over its first three years. Four seasons have been released, and a fifth is scheduled for a January midseason premiere.
Columbo makes the culprit clear
Columbo reveals the culprit early, shifting the focus from identifying the criminal to watching the detective build a case. Peter Falk played the character across five decades and won four Emmys for the role. The series established an inverted detective format for television, centering on how the crime is solved rather than who committed it.
Benoit Blanc plays the outsider
Rian Johnson’s Benoit Blanc is a gentleman detective who often stands apart from those around him. His charm and attention to a room help him draw people into conversation.
Johnson received a Best Original Screenplay Oscar nomination for Knives Out in 2020. Wake Up Dead Man arrived on Netflix in December, bringing the total to three Blanc films in six years.
Key points
- Will Trent arrived on Netflix this week, with four seasons available and a fifth planned for January.
- Columbo reveals the culprit early and centers its stories on solving the case.
- Wake Up Dead Man brought the number of Benoit Blanc films to three in six years.
- Jessica Fletcher’s series ran 12 seasons, and Jamie Lee Curtis is bringing the character back.