Netflix has become known for its seemingly endless amount of gripping original content, and another exciting new series is just weeks away. But Kaleidoscope – a new crime drama from American author and screenwriter Eric Garcia and executive producer Ridley Scott – is not just another Netflix original series.
This unique limited series takes a compelling approach to storytelling, with viewers each having “a different immersive viewing experience,” as per Netflix’s official synopsis. It is told in such a way that viewers will each follow its story differently by beginning at varying points of the show’s timeline.
Its eight episodes are presented to different viewers in a different order, leaving them to piece together all the information to connect the dots and fully understand the story. If this isn’t enough to intrigue you, then here is everything else you need to know about Kaleidoscope.
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What is it about?
Spanning 25 years, Kaleidoscope follows a crew of masterful thieves who work to unlock a seemingly unbreakable vault for the biggest payday in history. Before they can get their hands on the cash, they must make it through the world’s most powerful corporate security team and the FBI.
It is loosely inspired by the real-life story when $70bn in bonds went missing in downtown Manhattan during floods caused by Hurricane Sandy. “That’s a perfect coverup for a heist,” Garcia told Netflix.
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What makes the series unique is its non-linear storytelling; viewers will have to piece together the story as they watch, as every episode – spanning from 24 years before the heist to six months after – reveals a piece of an elaborate puzzle of corruption, greed, vengeance, and betrayals. Each episode is named after a different color, which means some viewers may start with the episodes Yellow or Green, then move deeper into their own personal viewing order with varying episodes until the epic finale, White: The Heist.
Viewers will eventually see all the episodes, but the order in which they watch them will affect their viewpoint on the story, the characters, and the questions and answers at the heart of the heist. Speaking to Netflix, Garcia said: “Being able to move around and watch different orders gives you a different viewpoint on the characters.
“There are questions that are going to be asked in one episode that are answered in another episode. Similarly, there’ll be answers in an episode you’re watching that you don't even know are answers to something until you see the question when you watch another episode.”
Who are the cast?
Kaleidoscope features an ensemble cast of acting veterans and up-and-coming stars portraying those involved in the heist. Netflix has been coy with character details; other than their character names, most information is being kept tightly under wraps.
Arguably the biggest name attached to Kaleidoscope is Giancarlo Esposito, best known as the drug kingpin and chicken restauranteur Gustavo Fring from Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. The Emmy-nominated actor also stars in Star Wars spin-off The Mandalorian.
Alongside him are Suicide Squad’s Jai Courtney and Egyptian newcomer Rosaline Elbay, who star as Bob and Judy Goodwin respectively. British thespian Rufus Sewell – who most recently starred in M. Night Shyamalan’s Old – is joined by Spanish actress and Netflix’s The OA star Paz Vega.
Also appearing is Peter Mark Kendall and Hemky Madera, whose CV includes supporting roles in Top Gun: Maverick and Spider-Man: Homecoming respectively.
When is Kaleidoscope released?
All eight episodes of Kaleidoscope are available to stream on Netflix from 8am on January 1.
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