A Netflix conundrum.

I've only seen 'original' be applied when Netflix have put some money into it rather than just bought it as a finished programme. I don't understand why that's an issue? It makes it easy to see as a subscriber that you're getting content that otherwise wouldn't exist. And it makes sense for them as a company to flaunt the shows that they are funding. Bodyguard isn't listed as a Netflix original (at least not in the UK) and is preceded by a BBC ident on Netflix.


Netflix are more than qualified to call Black Mirror an original. They plough millions into it and it's the only place you can watch new episodes so it's entirely justified.

In fact taking a closer look, where are they even using the term 'original'? All I can see are shows with an icon saying 'N Series' and the shows are preceded by the Netflix ident, nothing else.

Never disputed them only using it for shows they'd part or fully funded. The claim these shows wouldn't otherwise be made isn't really correct in most cases is it? Certainly not with Bodyguard, where they came into the game when it had been commissioned by the BBC and almost fully scripted I believe. I'm not sure Netflix money even will have added much to the production values - Line of Duty is fully BBC funded and not exactly low quality.

Pretty sure they even put Netflix original on Black Mirror episodes that were originally on Channel 4. It's not the end of the world, but it just feels like they're shouting "This show was conceived by Netflix and without us it'd never have happened". Even with the majority of shows on there they're not flagging up as originals, the best content is so often from traditional broadcasters such as the BBC at a time when we are apparently in the Netflix generation and the likes of the Beeb are looked down on as old hat, which I find amusing. Netflix for me, on the whole, is simply a convenience tool - like an Uber for TV. I don't really like the stuff they really do make themselves, I use them for easy access to shows they've bought that were either shown in full on other broadcasters originally or Netflix may have thrown some money at late in the game.

They use the term original in corporate releases and I'm pretty sure you know that an ident with Netflix or N series on it is implying heavily that it's a Netflix original. To be honest I don't blame Netflix themselves, they're a business as you say they're going to make the most of funding something in any shape, but the hype around Netflix like it's the saviour of television is rather bemusing.

There's an article on it here, so it's not just me: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/sep/20/bbc-bodyguard-netflix-original-streaming

And it was ITV Studios that sold The Bodyguard to Netflix internationally. As explained by this article

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-45579665

Presumably Netflix did a separate deal with the BBC for The Bodyguard to appear on UK Netflix. But shouldn't it be heading for Britbox?