These two drops on Netflix are as different as night and day. Chestnut Man is a dark, brooding Danish thriller, while the light-headed comedy special of Hollywood Clichés is as bright as a block of wood.

The Chestnut Man (Netflix Denmark) - Scandinavian noir has become its own pedigree, a branding that promises well-plotted thrillers and Crime Fiction stories, while straying on the unsafe side of being grisly and visceral. Its demi-god remains to be Steig Larsson and his Dragon Tattoo novels. Unfortunately, he passed away before his novels ‘broke’, and helped put Scandi noir on the map. Some say it has to do with the weather and temperament of the people from Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Denmark; but whatever it is, it’s a style and genre that’s been emulated and copied. So that’s the basic provenance of this six-episode Limited series, and it’s got all the right ‘genetic material’; Danish author and bestseller, creepy human figurines made from chestnuts, and a prologue that’s set in 1987, before the segue to today.

The six episodes mean that, unlike other series that often make a bad habit of stretching and going over things we’ve already explored, this one is relatively tightly plotted. There’s the duo of detectives who fight like cats and dogs, a narrative strand that has to do with a Minister and her missing daughter, and of course, the connection between the 1987 crime, and what we’re investigating decades later. The Danish cast are relative unknowns and that actually helps us get into the story more than the characters. It’s directed at a pace that’s very European and deliberate, so do be prepared for that. This isn’t a film with car chases, action scenes, and other Crime film tropes. But it does reward the patience of the viewer with an unraveling of the mystery and helps us understand why Scandi noir enjoys such popularity.

Attack of the Hollywood Cliches! (Netflix USA) - This should have been the perfect special for those who love movies and cinema, but don’t want to take the subject too seriously. For those who don’t need to elevate their love of cinema to something snobbish or esoteric, here’s a special that tries to keep a balance between staying mainstream, while being snarky and cool enough - but ultimately, failing to do either. Hosted by Rob Lowe, with appearances from the likes of Florence Pugh, Andrew Garfield, and Richard E. Grant, it’s billed as a comedy special, but in the end, it’s neither funny nor special. They list the different clichés of Hollywood and think that just by listing them and offering film clips to prove their case, they’ve already entertained us.

This special was created by Charlie Brooker of Dark Mirror fame, and it’s a shame that he doesn’t put any depth in the analysis or social commentary of these film tropes. A few attempts are made here and there, but they’re far too few to change my feelings for this unguided, clueless attempt to talk about Film and be enjoyed on a mainstream streaming platform. Makes you wonder how Netflix saw the finished product, and actually said, “ok, let’s air this”. Without fail, the cliches, tropes, and comments contained on this special have been made by any high school student of film or one who has more than a mild passing interest in Hollywood history or lore. You’ll be hoping for something smarter, something less obvious, would be gained from watching this special - and just be frustrated.