This Friday, the first Dutch Netflix series is coming out and you want to see it

Quite strange, the first Dutch Netflix series is finally on its way, but it actually had quite a ‘slow start’. Undercover was announced with quite a lot of fanfare and it did very well, to say the least, in the Netherlands and Belgium. But now that the first full Dutch Netflix series Ares is coming, it remains quite quiet... And while Ares has considerable international ambitions. No expense has been spared and the trailer looks really cool. Didn't catch any of that?

Then I'll first go through the story with you. The main character Rosa (Jade Oliehoek), a student who is scouted for a student association. A student association that is surrounded by mystery and where usually only elite students are approached. But, you probably guessed it, the student association is not a normal one, with a normal initiation. The initiations here are quite... sinister. The plot reminds me a bit of the movie The Skulls (an oldie from 2000 with Joshua Jackson), which I found really scary and very interesting back then. Well, this trailer looks promising as I said.

But it can't be otherwise with filming locations like the Rijksmuseum. I don't know, but wandering around there at night... Nightmare material. Rosa and her fellow students who need to be initiated have to dress differently than the senior members, who walk around in large robes and masks. I think Ares is going to be quite a dark series, which we haven't really had in the Netherlands yet. The writers previously worked on Mocro Maffia and Aanmodderfakker so they are certainly not the least. Oh, I think this is going to be so exciting. And starting Friday, it will already be available. Top top top.

There will be eight episodes of half an hour each. I am curious how they are going to pack so much into half an hour — but I often associate half-hour series more with a sitcom than with a thriller. Hopefully, that second season will be announced soon. To give a bit of the further atmosphere: the writers drew inspiration from Rosemary’s Baby, The Shining (the scariest movie there is), It Follows, and Get Out. So this will not be a slasher horror, but a real thriller with a lot of tension and many edge-of-your-seat moments.

Oh yes, and Sex Education is also coming out this Friday, so just cancel your whole weekend for safety. I certainly won't be getting off the couch.