Kaleidoscope: the new Netflix phenomenon series scrutinized

To start the year 2023 off right, Netflix has decided to strike a blow by offering its subscribers a fictional concept with a crazy concept, from January 1. You have probably seen the series appear on the home screen of your account Kaleidoscope and you may have wondered what it was all about. Produced by Ridley Scott, it was imagined by Eric Garcia, four years after writing the screenplay for the thriller Virgin Secrets. Lovers of robbery stories will discover this plot relating a heist over a period of 25 years. And understand how this team of experienced robbers tried to penetrate a vault, protected by a gifted security team, to recover the booty of the century. At first glance, the story seems quite banal. However, the originality of Kaleidoscope lies in its concept: unlike classic series, this one can be watched in any order. The spectators have the choice to order the eight episodes, which each bear the name of a color, as they wish and thus discover the story. With the exception of the last episode, the chapter White, designed to serve as a conclusion to the plot, but which it is still possible not to watch last. An original concept which has therefore attracted many Netflix subscribers, curious to see what it gives.

The opinion of Télé-Loisirs on Kaleidoscope

Thomas Robert, journalist at Télé-Loisirs, saw the series and was disappointed with the overall result: “If, on paper, the idea is brilliant and fun, we are left a little unsatisfied watching the eight episodes of this new fiction. Because for the random experience to work, it forces the writers to reveal nothing and focus on periods before, during and after the heist. Result: this robbery story turns out to be classic and there is little attachment to the characters.”

Kaleidoscope : the opinion of Internet users on the series

The concept, like the story and the cast, of Kaleidoscope obviously wowed Netflix subscribers, judging by their comments on Twitter. “The idea of ​​the kaleidoscope series on Netflix is ​​GENIUS”, enthuses a surfer. “This small team of outstanding burglars already pleases me enormously!”, “A series of well-done robberies”, appreciate others.

Who are the actors Kaleidoscope ?

The fans of breaking Bad will find Giancarlo Esposito in the role of Leo Pap, the leader of this heist of 7 billion dollars. Tati Gabrielle, seen in particular in You and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, plays Hannah Kim, Leo’s daughter who works as a digital security manager at SLS. Rufus Sewell (The Master of the High Castle) plays Roger Salas, a former thief and Leo’s former partner, who now runs the corporate security company in question. Paz Vega, Rosaline Elbay, Jai Courtney and Peter Mark Kendall complete the series cast.

Kaleidoscope : in which order to watch the Netflix series?

In what order should you watch Kaleidoscope ? Several options are available to you. You can opt for the chronological order first, i.e. purple, green, yellow, orange, blue, white, red and lastly pink. If you prefer to follow the investigation, here is the recommended order: orange first, green, purple, red, yellow, blue, white and pink at the end. Netflix also suggested two proposals, the first for fans of Quentin Tarantino (blue, green, yellow, orange, purple, pink, white and finally red), and the other for those who prefer Orange is the New Black (green, purple, red orange, yellow, blue, white and pink). Netflix announced 5040 possibilities of possible combinations. Unless it is rather 40320, as Internet users have reported to the Netflix community manager? Sorry, but at Télé-Loisirs, we are clearly not mathematicians, we let you do the math!

Kaleidoscopea series adapted from a true story

Kaleidoscope is inspired by a true story, the disappearance in the center of Manhattan of a 70 billion dollar bond. An incident that occurred during Hurricane Sandy, which occurred in late 2012 in the United States. Thus, Kaleidoscope “is loosely based on something that could have happened,” showrunner Eric Garcia told Netflix site Tudum. Sandy as an excuse.” When Hurricane Sandy hit New York City in late October 2012, floodwaters forced their way into a large depot below downtown operated by DTCC (Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation). Linked to some of Wall Street’s biggest firms, the vault in question housed more than $1.7 million in bond and stock certificates that were soaked in water. Among its contents were bearer bonds worth $70 billion. Since bearer bonds are not registered in an owner’s name, they are more susceptible to theft. In this case, the titles, soggy, were mostly damaged or washed away by Hurricane Sandy.

In the end, 99.9% of the certificates were recovered. Crews descended into the vault, 60 feet below street level, to retrieve certificates threatened by floodwaters. These were packed in boxes, placed in freezer trucks, and then transported to Texas to be freeze-dried to prevent the paper from spoiling. Once dried and sterilized, the boxes were sent to DTCC in Jersey City where each certificate and piece of paper was individually cleaned and vacuumed. The process then continued with DTCC staff comparing, sorting, and classifying each certificate against the entire vault inventory.

To what audience the series Kaleidoscope is she addressing?

Lovers of robbery stories, like Ocean’s Eleven and its sequels or the Spanish phenomenon series Money Heist should clearly enjoy the plot of Kaleidoscope. The same goes for those who like puzzle-based stories and innovative concepts, like the interactive episode of black-mirror that Netflix had offered a few years ago, Bandersnatch.