What To Stream Next: The Twelve (and/or De Twaalf)
I recently discovered that The Twelve — an enthralling Australian show about a jury — was recreated from a Belgian show of the same name (De Twaalf). The two shows are similar, but the decisions taken by the artists behind each are varied enough that watching both back-to-back is a pleasurably disparate experience.
✨ UPDATE: If you liked this, you might like the 36 other TV shows and movies I’ve loved over the last three-four years. Check out ‘What to stream next: 37 binge-worthy, rewatchable movies and TV shows’ for the full list.
I’ve recently taken a personal vow of celibacy prohibiting the consumption of content created in, around, or about the United States of America.
Which, long story (at first made my life impossible) short (led me to discover some great, non-American stuff), has inspired a twenty-hour binge session encompassing the Aussie version of an initially Belgian series about twelve “ordinary” jury members asked to judge an extraordinary case.
I’m only on episode one of the Belgian version, but I think it’s safe to say what I loved most about the Australian version wasn’t the somewhat anti-climatic ending.
I did, however, find the characters wildly original and convincing throughout.
Catherine Van-Davies’ portrayal of a person with a hyperbolic temperament uncovering the possibility of a serious mental health diagnosis was exceptional, and I haven’t seen such an on-point portrayal of the power dynamics in abusive relationships on-screen since Big Little Lies.
If you, like me, are tired of giving the majority of your mental real estate to the US — and have twenty hours to spare indulging in some seriously strong storytelling — I highly recommend The Twelve and/or De Twaalf for your next binge session.
