Netflix's thought-provoking sci-fi series Black Mirror will finally be returning with new episodes at some point later this year—including a follow-up to a popular season 4 episode, "U.S.S. Callister—but until then, we're missing out on new disturbing science fiction thrillers. Luckily, that changed this weekend as the streaming service just released a compelling German series perfect for Black Mirror lovers.
The new show, Cassandra, is a psychological thriller series about a family who moves into a high-tech smart home run by an AI named Cassandra. Initially, the family is overjoyed by their beautiful 1970s-style house and the electronic feature meant to make their lives easier. But that changes as Cassandra starts showing signs of wanting to remove Samira from the house so she can take her place as a mother to her two kids and a wife to her husband, David.
I know that the plot sounds similar to the many AI-centered movies and shows that have come before, such as recent hits like M3GAN, but Cassandra takes a more sinister and grounded approach to these tropes we've seen executed so many times before.
One of the biggest draws to this show is the exploration of its character Cassandra. She's more than just the next in a long line of evil robots. The show actually features dual timelines, one that introduces us to the real, human Cassandra that she once was. Most stories don't take a human approach to their technological nightmares.
In Cassandra, we go back to the 1970s and meet Cassandra when she was a happy homemaker living with her husband, Horst, and son, Peter. There's a central mystery at the center of the series about how that Cassandra became the one we meet in the present. It makes for a unique and intriguing spin on the typical AI-gone-rogue storyline, deepening the plot and providing us with far more compelling characters.
As far as thriller series go, Cassandra also gets pretty dark. This is a show that isn't afraid to show you just how terrifying it can be to live in a house completely under the power of a machine. After watching, you might think twice before investing in any tech upgrades.
It also helps that Cassandra is a short limited series, consisting of just six episodes in which it tells a complete story, so it's an easy binge watch.
Cassandra is now streaming on Netflix. Add it to your watchlist here.