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| Tine Harden / Netflix |
There are a lot of paranormal thrillers on Netflix, probably more than you know. So, is “Equinox” among those binge-worthy enough to deserve a deep dive? You probably want to know what it is about before you decide. The Danish series follows Astrid (Danica Curcic), a radio host whose life has gotten mired by a vast and seemingly unsolvable mystery.
When Astrid was 9-years-old in 1999, her older sister – Ida (Karoline Hamm) – went missing. Ida had briefly returned home, celebrating alongside her graduating class, before leaving again with her classmates. Well, neither Astrid nor anyone else ever saw Ida or anyone else from her class ever again. That is when “Equinox” throws Netflix viewers a curveball.
In 2020, a man calls into a now-grown Astrid’s radio show. He claims to have known Ida and been there when she and the others disappeared. Making things even eerier, they say the same thing is going to happen again. He hints at superstitions being real and a mystical book holding all of the answers. In real life, Astrid might have moved on.
This is a TV show, though, so “Equinox” has Astrid stay put. What follows is “Ragnarok” meets “Dark” with a strong twist of “Signs.” All of these shows are on Netflix. One of them had a bumpy second season -- one of them did not. Unlike those series, the first episode of “Equinox” made me feel like it was going somewhere but not necessarily within the next six episodes.
The answer at the heart of what Astrid is searching for in the first episode seems destined to lead to her destruction. It just does not feel like it is going to end well. Add to that feeling the overall foreboding and Astrid not making for the most likable character, and you have a problem.
“Equinox” arrived on Netflix back in December 2020, and I have yet to finish it, concerned that viewers would get left in the lurch. However, the hint of alternate dimensions and Celtic lore getting dug into certainly offers an impetus to continue. “Black Spot” delves into similar terrain, and yours truly has watched both of its two existing seasons while hoping for a third.
Perhaps, with more time, I will get back to it. Six episodes are not the most extensive commitment. The key is if it is enough to provide all of the answers that “Equinox” viewers will need at that point. It is tough to imagine Netflix backing a series that does not have a proper ending. However, the high-concept Netflix original “The OA” has not gotten one.
A property lacking a conclusion is not all that appealing if a second season is not going to happen. So, if I end up watching the next five episodes, it will be with the hope that “Equinox” has provided enough closure to have warranted the journey. There is too much to stream otherwise.
That said, writing about the show has made me more eager to return. The first season of “Equinox” is currently streaming on Netflix alongside a lot of other mystical series. If you want a twisty Spanish-language thriller with an airtight conclusion, you can check out “You Cannot Hide.”
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