By Lydia Yeshitla, Section Editor

As we settle into fall, it is time to say goodbye to some of our favorite Netflix titles. Netflix’s abundance of movies and television series makes it the ideal outlet to relieve stress for us busy Newark Academy students. Not surprisingly, Netflix continues to dominate the market among overworked students. From introducing us to the newest shows to supplying us with timeless movies, Netflix remains the quintessential remedy amongst high schoolers. But will the removal of these classic films bring our binge-watching to an end? Or will the arrival of new shows and movies make up for the departure of others? Let us take a look at the upcoming content entering and exiting the streaming service this November.

Netflix provides viewers with a variety of original films and television series fitting for multiple occasions. Arguably one of the most celebrated films featured on Netflix, Legally Blonde, is unfortunately set to leave the streaming service. Anne Ruble ‘17 reveals her disappointment in its departure, “I am devastated to see Legally Blonde go; it’s the ultimate sleepover movie. Not only does it make me laugh, but it also highlights Elle’s perseverance, which I looked up to, and should equally influence all viewers.” With the departure of Legally Blonde, Netflix users will lose an inspirational classic that demonstrates the benefits that come with overcoming rejection and succeeding against all odds.

One of Netflix’s most popular television series, Psych, will be joining Legally Blonde in the list of fan-favorites that are cycling off from the streaming service this November. The former series had a successful past, running for eight seasons and finishing airing in 2014. There is no definite answer for the platform’s release of Psych and other popular series, but Newark Academy students have made fair predictions. Giulia Socolof ‘19 commented, “I’m convinced Netflix spends the majority of its budget funding its own original series at the expense of classic films and television shows. Psych did not deserve to leave Netflix; clearly, Netflix is too hopeful in the success of its forthcoming original series’.” Netflix recently pledged to include 50% ‘Netflix Originals’ in their selection, ranging from television series and movies to stand-up comedy shows. Therefore, the proposition that the streaming service is directing its spending towards “Netflix Originals” appears to be sensible.

Fortunately enough, Netflix users don’t have to worry about their binge-watching coming to an end. Starting in November, the internet-based streaming platform plans to add highly anticipated films to its collection–ranging from classic movies to new documentaries. Arguably one of the best American films from the 90’s, Titanic, will be arriving on Netflix in the beginning of November. Titanic goes beyond its name; the 1997 film doesn’t only concentrate on the sinking of The Titanic, but also on the romance between Rose (played by Kate Winslet) and Jack (played by Leonardo DiCaprio). Christina Lu ‘17 expresses her excitement for Netflix’s newest addition of Titanic, “One of Netflix’s best decisions will be bringing in Titanic. Even though it’s considered an old movie, it can never become boring. The age of a film has nothing to do with its quality. Titanic beats all the new films on Netflix anyway!” The arrival of older classics brings excitement even within younger generations of high school students. Given Netflix’s massive supply of newer films and television series, it is easy to forget that Netflix also provides its users with a collection of older classics that could never become outdated.

It is worth realizing, however, that not all Newark Academy students are thrilled about the impending arrival of new content on Netflix this month. Some argue that Netflix’s new additions are movies that fail to serve as accurate representations of distinguished books. “I was thrilled to learn that Netflix had brought in The Jungle Book,” says Soyi Sarkar ‘17, “but it was extremely upsetting to find out that the movie omitted details and characters that were so important to me growing up. My fondest childhood memory consists of reading the collection of stories in The Jungle Book, so seeing the novel being incorrectly depicted in the new movie was really upsetting.” A 2016 remake of the 1967 movie, The Jungle Book received backlash for its stark differences between the original. The new movie is frequently criticized for creating new characters that did not appear in the original movie or novel, as well as using extreme special effects, making the new cast nearly unidentifiable when compared to the original characters. Netflix’s decision to add a film that has received so much criticism is a bold one, but hopefully, subscribers will still enjoy the many other films projected to make their way onto the streaming service this month. Boyhood, the grammy-winning documentary, Paranoid, the drama that made its first debut in the UK, and International Assassin, a ‘Netflix Original’ starring Kevin James, will all be available to subscribers in the coming days.

Regardless of whether students are excited about the airing of new television shows and films on Netflix this month, it is no question that it’s impact on the lives of Newark Academy students will be rewarding. As its popularity increases, Netflix continues to add high quality content for its 86 million viewers in the United States alone. In the upcoming months, the streaming site will continue to serve as the primary vent for viewers to relieve stress around the globe. So stay tuned, Newark Academy! The binge-watching prevails (if Netflix is unblocked at school, that is)!