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Netflix is home to some of the most ambitious science fiction and horror series of the modern era. Still, few shows combine unsettling mysteries and supernatural stories quite like this seven-part anthology show. Often described as a blend of Black Mirror and Stranger Things, this near-perfect anthology series carefully explores humanity’s deepest fears and unanswered questions in a thought-provoking manner.
Created by acclaimed filmmaker Joko Anwar, Joko Anwar’s Nightmares and Daydreams presents a collection of interconnected stories that follow ordinary people experiencing extraordinary situations. Similar to Black Mirror, the series uses speculative storytelling to examine normal human problems that plague society.
While Black Mirror is primarily focused on technology and its impact on society, Nightmares and Daydreams expands that approach by combining science fiction, supernatural elements, and philosophical mysteries to explore similar questions about humanity. Nightmares and Daydreams is also structured as an anthology, with each episode presenting a different story, set of characters, and central mystery.
Although Stranger Things isn’t an anthology TV show, it is still incredibly similar to Nightmares and Daydreams. Both series have a fascination with unexplained phenomena and can also be scary. Stranger Things built its story around mysterious disappearances and the existence of the Upside Down, while Nightmares and Daydreams introduces characters who encounter bizarre and unsettling events that appear impossible to explain, just like the Netflix sci-fi show.
Joko Anwar's Nightmares And Daydreams Is One Of Netflix's Best Anthology Shows
Netflix is currently the reigning platform when it comes to anthology TV shows. The streaming giant is home to excellent anthology sci-fi series like Black Mirror and Love, Death + Robots, as well as the crime drama The Sinner. While the aforementioned shows rightfully get the praise they deserve, Joko Anwar’s Nightmare and Daydreams isn't nearly as well-known, despite sharing the others' storytelling structure and themes.
Each episode of Nightmares and Daydreams features different unsettling scenarios, ranging from mysterious phenomena and encounters with the unknown to psychological and existential conflicts. Anwar expertly included gripping ideas in his series and grounded them in everyday human experiences. Episodes like "P. O Box" and "Poems and Pain" are as surprising as they are insightful.
The anthology series also demonstrates the director’s ability to blend international genre influences with uniquely Indonesian perspectives. While viewers may recognize elements reminiscent of classic science fiction and horror stories, the show’s cultural identity gives it a fresh and original voice. Its episodes incorporate local myths and social issues, which in turn create a viewing experience that feels both familiar and completely different from typical Western anthology shows.
With every entry in Nightmares and Daydreams playing out like a short film, Nightmares and Daydreams has a unique identity that earned it a place as one of the best anthology series on Netflix. The sci-fi-horror show also has subtle connections between its stories, thus encouraging its audience to be aware of the larger universe and appreciate how everything ties together in the end.
Joko Anwar's Nightmares And Daydreams Is Surprisingly Underrated
Despite receiving attention from genre fans, Joko Anwar's Nightmares and Daydreams has not achieved the same level of global recognition as many of Netflix’s other major releases. Even with its respectable Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score of 88%, the series wasn’t a hit when it premiered and is fading into the background as more years go by.
Nightmares and Daydreams remains overlooked because it exists outside the traditional Hollywood television landscape. While K-dramas and European crime dramas have managed to become hits on Netflix, other international productions often face the challenge of being discovered by wider audiences, especially when they do not receive the same marketing push as major English-language releases.
The series deserves recognition for its visual style and engrossing creativity, with its thought-provoking themes of identity and socioeconomic themes being catnip to modern viewers. As Netflix continues to push for more non-English TV shows, hopefully, audiences will be fortunate enough to discover the hidden gem that is Joko Anwar's Nightmares and Daydreams.
