o, which series are you watching these days?”

Netflix has become a household name; a conversation starter. The streaming giant is estimated to have over 300,000 subscribers in 2022 but with over one-third of Pakistan submerged in water, it is hard to tell if the number of subscribers in the country went up or down during the second half of the year.

It can be established, without doubt, that Generation Z and Generation Alpha make up the customer base of the platform. When the beginning of the year saw a dramatic decline in Netflix subscribers hailing from war struck areas, Netflix was quick to adopt an excellent marketing strategy with the lowest subscription rates for its Pakistani viewers. From the 250 rupee mobile plan to 1100 rupee premium package, Netflix is drawing in a large target audience with its economical rates.

Time crunches and stressful schedules add on to make Netflix an ideal choice, as well as no ads being the missing cherry on the top for youngsters balancing hours between study and short breaks.

This is one of the reasons Netflix seems like a viable option for teenagers rather than traditional television as a source of entertainment. From South Korean ‘Business Proposal and Extraordinary Attorney Woo’, Spanish seasons ‘La Casa De Papel and Elite’, Indian dramas and movies ‘Darlings and Doctor G’, Norwegian monster film ‘Troll’, and German show ‘1899’, there was an endless medley of content that topped the charts this year. This content was neither American nor British.

It is not hard to understand why a country such as Pakistan, with a long history censorship and content bans, is not streamed on Netflix with the same breadth as other countries. So far, there is not any Netflix Original produced Pakistani movie or series which means that Pakistani media industry has limited water to navigate in. This does not mean that there is not any Pakistani movie on Netflix; there are but barely visible.

2022 was no doubt one of the best year in terms of movies and series, surprisingly for all age groups. From much awaited sequels such as Stranger Things - Season 4 to The Crown ­- Season 5 following the death of both Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and Queen Elizabeth II since the last season was aired, from Peaky Blinders – Season 6 to Purple Hearts, Do Revenge and Spider-Man: No Way Home, everyone remained glued to the screens throughout the year. From horror to sci-fi and crime, comedy to romance, history, documentaries, and biographical dramas, there were some exceptional shows to binge on.

Palestinian voices have always been suppressed, the cameras shying away from their narratives but the release of Farha, a story of the Nakba, on Netflix, was unprecedented and presented a sliver of hope for the Pakistanis advocating for Kashmiri, Palestinian and basic human rights of Muslims around the world. Considering the brainwashing western track record, it was surprising to see this spellbinding, phenomenal and powerful creation make it to the open. It did not make it to the top ten but was an avidly discussed masterpiece.

Netflix also saw Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffery Dahmer Story in the top ten in Pakistan for a while this year which may come across as disturbing to some; an obscene and deadly killer. This is where Netflix’s parental controls should come into action.

The year is ending with hit, coming-of-age, Addams Family spinoff Wednesday which has left the spectators gripping the edge of their seats. The series blew the charts by remaining #1 in Pakistan for almost 4 weeks not only in Pakistan but globally. Old fans raced to watch the show as trending social media hashtags brought in new fans. The twisted actions of the Addams family, the composed character of Wednesday and the teeming emotions of teenagers in a cauldron together, raised feelings of nostalgia for the franchise’s previous work and curiosity to see Wednesday’s character development as a teen.

Despite the wide array of movie, dramas, and series available on Netflix Pakistanis felt that the absence of several major productions such as Marvel Cinematic Universe movies and series which included Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever which paid tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman leave a void. Similarly, Avatar: The Way of Water hitting the screens 13 years after the original, is also predicted to be unavailable on Netflix, all of these present on Disney + however, which means that the teenagers may shift from their current favorite.

While there were Goodbye and Farha on one end of the spectrum, tackling history, traditions, and misconceptions head on, others like Enola Holmes 2 and The School for Good and Evil presented highly predictable plots, a tad bit disappointing but perfect for a lazy popcorn-munching day. Throughout the year, rewatching old seasons before the release of new ones or just in general was a common sight reflective in the top ten, Manifest, Stranger Things and Money Heist included. This should be a red light to Netflix to pause and analyze if its audience is receiving required content or there is room for improvements.

In 2022 Netflix was going quids, considering its subscriber numbers, quality content that wasn’t heavy on the pocket and tour de force series. It may be the right time for the Pakistani entertainment industry to join hands with Netflix and showcase their talent for a global audience; a chance that may turn into a missed opportunity if action isn’t taken in 2023. With less than a fortnight left, subscribers are anxious to see what’s in store for the next year.

The writer is an  undergraduate student of psychology at FC College