Black Rabbit is a new limited series releasing on Netflix with all 8 episodes on September 18th. Created by Zach Baylin & Kate Susman, the show stars Jude Law, Jason Bateman, Cleopatra Coleman, Amaka Okafor, Sope Dirisu, Dagmara Domińczyk, Chris Coy, Troy Kotsur, and Odessa Young. When the owner of the hottest restaurant in New York allows his troubled brother to return to the family business, he opens the door to old traumas and new dangers that threaten to bring down everything they’ve built.

Jude Law is one of my all-time favorite actors. Jason Bateman continues to be a powerhouse in the thriller genre. Bring these two actors together, and I’m there. There’s also the fact that this came from the writer of 2024’s The Order – one of the most underrated movies of that year. But I didn’t know that going in. Based on the look & tone, I could have sworn it came from the creator of Ozark. That show may be the inspiration for this new show, but Black Rabbit still leaves behind an impression that helps it stand out more.

The show still doesn’t come out for another week, so this may be the earliest I’ve ever gotten to review a show before its actual release, especially for Netflix. What’s remarkable about that is that I’m not sure which way this is going to go for viewers. It’s violent, has a lot of cursing, and there’s a lot of little details to pay attention to. I got 5 episodes into the series before I decided to rewatch it, and I’m glad I did, because there was so much more that I caught this time around. While the first few episodes don’t feel all that significant or impactful, I promise you that if you’re patient enough, it’s incredibly rewarding in the end.

Right from the start, the show has the visual style of Ozark, which makes sense since Jason Bateman directed the first two episodes. I actually think Bateman is a talented director. Before I knew he directed the first two episodes, I actually thought the direction was a bit messy and rushed. The groundwork is all there, but something felt like it was missing. The cinematography is also way too dark to the point where I even had to squint my eyes. If you stay along with the story though, you’ll come to realize that the cinematography gets brighter as the show progresses, signifying development and an overall arc.

Jude Law gives an incredible performance throughout as always. His dedication to the role doesn’t go unnoticed; however, his accent does slip up here and there, but I’ll let that slide as he puts in the work over 8 episodes. Jason Bateman is believable, proving once again that his transition from comedy into dark thrillers has worked. As much as I bought into this brotherly relationship, I still struggled believing they were related. As much as I like Bateman in the role, I kept envisioning Ewan McGregor in the role instead. There’s something between him & Law that looks & feels more believable. While all the performances are great, I hope whoever decides to cast Troy Kotsur is enjoying life right now.

At the show’s core, there is a rich theme about family throughout that keeps the show compelling and engaging. There are a lot of little details that you have to pay attention to otherwise you won’t catch the importance later on. As much as I enjoyed that aspect of that show, the show still feels a little under baked. There are a lot of characters to follow and there isn’t nearly enough development there for everyone to have their existence feel justified.

There’s also the matter of this taking place in New York City. The show does a great job at capturing the essence the city has to offer; however it didn’t quite lean into its thematic purpose as much as I would have liked. Stories taking place in New York City have been done so often. Like Ozark, the show could have been more effective in a different city that captured what the criminal underworld is like in America from a different perspective.

There is also a great score throughout the show that not only makes it identifiable, but keeps the show going. As the show gets towards its climax, it subverts expectations, delivering something in television I’ve never seen before. I couldn’t believe how much it threw me off, and it made me appreciate it even more. There are, of course, some convenient plot choices that help the show maintain its pacing. Based on where this ends, I can’t help but feel like the things I didn’t like in the beginning turned out to work in the show’s favor by giving us something new & original, and hopefully, something that will get a lot of people talking when the show releases on Netflix.

Overall, Black Rabbit subverts expectations like never before, which may go against what viewers expect, but it also creates something new & exciting, giving something viewers are seeking. With powerhouse performances, detailed, writing, and poignant themes, this is a show you’re not going to want to miss.

VERDICT: 4/5 (Great)