The Crown, Season 6, Netflix review - royal epic in a vain search for authenticity

★★★ THE CROWN, SEASON 6, NETFLIX Royal epic in a vain search for authenticity 

It looks like news photos coming to life, but the dialogue and concept still jar

A man is taking his little dog for a late-night walk. This being the opening scene of The Crown’s final season, when the illuminated Eiffel Tower looms up at the end of his street we know exactly where we are, and exactly what the date is. 

Top Boy, Season 5, Netflix review - grime and punishment

★★★★ TOP BOY, SEASON 5, NETFLIX Grime and punishment

Ronan Bennett's Hackney crime epic reaches a fiery conclusion

And so Ronan Bennett’s Hackney gangster odyssey reaches its conclusion, having made the leap from its Channel 4 origins back in 2011 to become, over its last three series, one of Netflix’s top-rating and most acclaimed shows. And it has managed to do it without diluting or compromising its London roots, despite detours to Jamaica, Spain, Morocco and even Ramsgate.

Amy Schumer, Netflix Special review - New York smarts about being a fortysomething

★★★ AMY SCHUMER, NETFLIX New York smarts about being a fortysomething

Pointed observational material

Amy Schumer opens Emergency Contact,  her latest Netflix Special, by asking a young woman in the front row how old she is. When the answer comes back as “27”, the New York comic has found the perfect segue into material about being 42 and feeling her age.

Hannah Gadsby, Netflix special review - shaggy dog story of marital bliss

★★★★ HANNAH GADSBY, NETFLIX SPECIAL A shaggy dog story of marital bliss

Tasmanian talks about marriage, cultural differences and autism

Hannah Gadsby had a memorable lockdown; it was when the Tasmanian comic got together with producer Jenney Shamash. And it's their courtship that forms the basis for Something Special, the wonderful new show by Gadsby which is now a Netflix special, recorded at the Sydney Opera House.

The Diplomat, Netflix review - can London's new American ambassador prevent World War Three?

★★★★ THE DIPLOMAT, NETFLIX Can London's new American ambassador prevent World War Three?

Sorkin-esque drama takes a satirical look at the 'special relationship'

Does the “special relationship” really exist? Judging by Netflix’s sparky new political drama, yes it does, with London-based CIA agent Eidra Graham (Ali Ahn) going out of her way to spell out the unique intelligence-sharing arrangements between the US and the UK. Just as long as everyone remembers that the Americans are well and truly in charge, nothing can possibly go wrong.

Chris Rock, Netflix special review - no holds barred on the Oscars slap

★★★★ CHRIS ROCK, NETFLIX SPECIAL No holds barred on the Oscars slap

It still pains

Chris Rock knows how to tease. It’s a safe bet that many watching this show are here for one thing – to hear his version of events that took place at last year’s Oscars, when actor and erstwhile rapper Will Smith came on stage and slapped the comic

MH370: The Plane That Disappeared, Netflix review - a field day for conspiracy theorists

★★★★ MH370: THE PLANE THAT DISAPPEARED, NETFLIX Field day for conspiracy theorists

Will we ever know what really happened to the vanished Malaysian airliner?

For fans of conspiracy theories, this three-part examination of the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 is irresistible, though the continuing anguish of friends and relatives of the 239 people aboard the flight makes for some painful viewing. 

Drive to Survive, Season 5, Netflix review - fly-on-the wall F1 show may need a reboot

★★★ DRIVE TO SURVIVE, SEASON 5, NETFLIX Fly-on-the wall F1 show may need a reboot

The Mercedes versus Red Bull battle just keeps getting uglier

The backstage revelations about the politics and personalities that fuel Formula One have made Drive to Survive one of Netflix’s most reliable bestsellers, but on this fifth outing there’s a lurking sense that the novelty is wearing off.

Fauda, Season 4, Netflix review - Israeli terrorism thriller gets darker and dirtier

★★★★★ FAUDA, SEASON 4, NETFLIX Israeli terrorism thriller gets darker and dirtier

Fourth time around, the human cost is becoming too much to bear

Bald, barrel-shaped and pugnacious, Doron Kavillio (Lior Raz) could have been conceived as the anti-Bond or the un-Ethan Hunt. But as action heroes go, Doron can mix it with the finest as he tracks down terrorists with his comrades in Israel’s Mista’arvim Special Forces team.

Women at War, Netflix review - contrasting stories entwine during the chaos of World War One

★★★ WOMEN AT WAR, NETFLIX Contrasting stories entwine during the chaos of World War One

Passion, intrigue and heartbreak behind the front lines

A sprawling French-made drama set in the early days of the First World War in 1914, Women at War tells the stories of a quartet of female protagonists as they struggle to make sense of the mayhem which suddenly engulfs them.