5 Netflix Shows To Shake Off Your Pre-Holidays Blues

By Karissa Lund  •  21 Nov 2019 in Features

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Ahh.. and just like that – 2019 is quickly coming to a close. Right now, we’re all stuck in that in-between phase where we’re waiting for holidays that seem so close, yet so far away. If you’re feeling the pre-holiday blues and want to find a way to shake it off, then we’ve got just the thing for you and before you know it – the festive dinners, long vacations, and parties will be there to keep you busy!

From an epic saga of organised crime in post-war America, to an animated holiday comedy filled with unlikely friendships and magical lore, to a tale about an English prince who is forced to embrace the life he had previously tried to escape – scroll down and check out the five Netflix shows for your November nights to distract you as you wait for the holidays to come.

1. The Irishman (streaming on November 27)

You know a movie is going to be epic when you see the names Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci together. Directed by movie legend, Martin Scorsese, The Irishman is an epic saga of organized crime in post-war America told through the eyes of World War II veteran Frank Sheeran, a hustler and hitman who worked alongside some of the most notorious figures of the 20th century.

Spanning decades, the film chronicles one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in American history, the disappearance of legendary union boss Jimmy Hoffa, and offers a monumental journey through the hidden corridors of organized crime – its inner workings, rivalries and connections to mainstream politics.

This might very well be the final opportunity for these icons to work together so it’s a show you definitely shouldn’t miss!

2. Klaus (now streaming)

It is no secret that our friends help shape us into the people we are. Klaus is a magical story of the power of friendships that remind us to be thankful for the people that enrich our lives.

When Jesper (Jason Schwartzman) distinguishes himself as the postal academy’s worst student, he is stationed on a frozen island above the Arctic Circle, where the feuding locals hardly exchange words let alone letters. Jesper is about to give up when he finds an ally in local teacher Alva (Rashida Jones) and discovers Klaus (Oscar winner J.K. Simmons), a mysterious carpenter who lives alone in a cabin full of handmade toys.

These unlikely friendships return laughter to Smeerensburg, forging a new legacy of generous neighbors, magical lore and stockings hung by the chimney with care. An animated holiday comedy directed by Despicable Me co-creator Sergio Pablos, Klaus co-stars Joan Cusack, Will Sasso and Norm Macdonald.

3. American Son (now streaming)

Based on the acclaimed Broadway play, American Son tells the story of Kendra Ellis-Connor (Emmy-nominee Kerry Washington), the mother of a missing teenage boy, as she struggles to put the pieces together in a South Florida police station.

Steven Pasquale, Jeremy Jordan and Eugene Lee also reprise their roles in the adaptation which presents four distinct viewpoints, while also navigating the unique dynamic of an interracial couple trying to raise a mixed-race son.

4. The King (now streaming)

Most of us don’t relate to royalty. They seem to have it all while we sometimes struggle to make ends meet. Which is why, when a show tells the story of a prince who shirks his duties, loves to sleep and makes his dad mad – we totally relate. It also motivates us to watch the film.

Set in 15th century England and based on one of Shakespeare’s historical plays, The King tells the story of Hal (Timothée Chalamet), wayward prince and reluctant heir to the English throne, who has turned his back on royal life and is living among the people. But when his tyrannical father dies, Hal is crowned King Henry V and is forced to embrace the life he had previously tried to escape.

Now the young king must navigate the palace politics, chaos and war his father left behind, and the emotional strings of his past life – including his relationship with his closest friend and mentor, the ageing alcoholic knight, John Falstaff (Joel Edgerton).

5. The Knight Before Christmas (streaming on 21 November)

If you’re missing the Hallmark Christmas movies that were cliche but still gave us all the feels, then we’ve got just the show for you!

Starring Vanessa Hudgens, The Knight Before Christmas is about a sorceress who transports medieval knight Sir Cole (Josh Whitehouse) to present-day Ohio during the holiday season, where he befriends Brooke (Vanessa Hudgens), a clever and kind science teacher who’s been disillusioned by love. Brooke helps Sir Cole navigate the modern world and tries to help him discover how to fulfil his mysterious one true quest — the only act that will return him home. But as he and Brooke grow closer, Sir Cole begins to wonder just how much he wants to return to his old life.

Get ready to be hit by all the feels that true love brings with this one. We’re not crying, you are!

For more shows, visit Netflix by clicking here.