Black Rabbit: the number 1 Netflix series that you also want to see
Now that it gets dark earlier, all sorts of good series are piling up. If I may give you a tip: go Black Rabbit watch. Delicious New York City vibes where two brothers (Jude Law and Jason Bateman) see each other again after two years. Previously, they were co-owners of Black Rabbit, a restaurant/club in Lower Manhattan (Water Street) where everything revolves around status and stars. Black Rabbit is currently the number 1 series on Netflix and rightly so.
Brothers, business, and problems
Jude Law plays Jake, owner of Black Rabbit, a chic restaurant and VIP lounge in Lower Manhattan. A place that in the series strives for Michelin stars and longs for more. Then Vince (Jason Bateman, you might know him from the brilliant series Ozark) shows up, the brother who suddenly reappears. Charming, unreliable, and followed by a line of creditors who are not satisfied with a cocktail. From that moment on, it’s not a question of whether everything goes wrong, but how hard and fast.
Ozark flashbacks and New York vibes
Jason Bateman directed part of the series, and you can tell. Each episode begins with a graphic teaser that you as a Ozark-fan immediately recognize: subtle drawings in the eyes of a black rabbit, as a little preview of what’s to come. It feels like a well-deserved tribute to Ozark, but Black Rabbit has completely its own tone of voice. Delicious scenes of New York by night, with a great soundtrack that gives you the feeling at home that you are sitting in a Brooklyn bar.
Singer Raye
The chemistry between brothers Jude Law and Jason Bateman is palpable in the series. Law plays the likable brother who runs the Black Rabbit with so much love, but at the same time you see him make many mistakes. Bateman, on the other hand, is the brother with a lot of misery, who is being pulled further down into old addictions.
-podcast Black Rabbit Raye (our favorite Amayzine singer at the moment) performs. Her voice is brilliant, perfect for a club. Raye elevates the series to a higher level. Her voice sounds sultry, perfect for this club that deliciously balances between glamour and downfall. Raye almost functions as a soundtrack in human form: seductive, mysterious, and unforgettable. Her music gives the series an extra layer of NYC atmosphere.
The critiques
Not everyone is equally lyrical: some critics feel that you don’t really empathize enough with the characters.
The international press is also tumbling over each other. CBR called Black Rabbit “one of the best crime thrillers ever on Netflix” and praised the series because “under all those distractions lies something fundamentally human.”
Screen Rant went even further: Bateman’s role was called “the best of his career,” and they even stated: “the replacement for Netflix’s Ozark is better than Ozark.’ I don’t agree with that, by the way. Ozark is not easily surpassed. Not even by Black Rabbit.
Vulture wrote that it is “a gripping and devastating ride,” carried by “the most erratic performances of the year.” But not everyone was convinced: The Hollywood Reporter sneered that Black Rabbit mainly serves “empty calories of star power.”.
But to be honest: I love it! The performances are really strong.
Conclusion
Whether you fall for the brotherly struggle, the noir vibe of New York, or the glam of a club where Raye sings: Black Rabbit is a deliciously immersive series. Through everything in this series, you want to go to New York now, now, now. The performances of the kitchen are at a high level and kept me captivated until the very last minute.
Funny fact: I was once in Moscow with May-Britt. There we ate at the White Rabbit, an uber-cool restaurant that was rated as the 13th best restaurant in the world in 2019.
Source: Netflix Black Rabbit
