Photo of Staff Bona

For the thinkers: The best series to challenge your mind

If you’re drawn to stories where words are weapons, trust is a trapdoor, and nothing is as it seems, we’ve got a lineup designed for mind-bending binge-watching.

Here are 5 series streaming on Netflix, AppleTV+ and Showmax that you need to watch if you love mind games:

1. Severance (Apple TV+)

Step into a corporate dystopia where employees undergo a surgical ‘severance’ procedure to separate their work memories from their personal lives. As protagonist Mark navigates a maze of corporate control and eerie office rituals, the line between identity and manipulation blurs. With its liminal atmosphere and labyrinthine plot, severance is a total must-watch.

Where to watch: Apple TV+ in South Africa.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Apple TV (@appletv)

2. The White Lotus (Showmax)

This razor-sharp satirical thriller drops wealthy guests into a luxury resort, where simmering resentments and hidden agendas unravel into chaos. Each character plays a high-stakes game of deception, privilege, and survival, with darkly comedic twists that expose the rot beneath paradise. A biting commentary on power and human nature.

Where to watch: Showmax in South Africa.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The White Lotus (@thewhitelotus)

3. Surface (Showmax)

After a suicide attempt leaves a San Francisco woman with total amnesia, she rebuilds her seemingly perfect life—only to uncover unsettling secrets about her marriage, identity, and the truth behind her accident. Released in 2022, Surface is a sleek psychological thriller that blurs the lines between memory and manipulation.

Where to watch: AppleTV+ in South Africa.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Apple TV (@appletv)

4. Sugar (Apple TV+)

Colin Farrell stars as a private investigator navigating Hollywood’s seedy underbelly in this noir-inspired thriller. As Sugar digs into a starlet’s disappearance, he confronts moral ambiguity, shifting alliances, and a labyrinth of secrets. Stylish and cerebral, this series questions how far we’ll go to bury the truth. You’ll never expect the plot twist.

Where to watch: Apple TV+ in South Africa.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Apple TV (@appletv)

5. Black Mirror (Netflix)

The ultimate anthology of tech-driven paranoia, Black Mirror explores dystopian futures where humanity’s obsession with innovation backfires spectacularly. Each standalone episode—like the haunting ‘San Junipero’ (which was coincidentally filmed in Cape Town) or nerve-shredding ‘Shut Up and Dance‘ delivers mind-bending twists that challenge ethics, reality, and the human psyche.

Where to watch: Netflix in South Africa.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by BLACK MIRROR (@blackmirror.netflix)

Compiled by: Woman and Home Team

First published by Woman and Home

Also see: 5 classic 90s movies to watch

Qhawe Mazaleni takes on new UNICEF role advocating for children’s rights

Qhawekazi ‘Qhawe’ Mazaleni has embarked on a new chapter in her journey of advocating for children, announcing that she has officially joined UNICEF South Africa as a Champion for Children. Also see: Miss SA Qhawe Mazaleni gets drenched on Spring Day: ‘I had to surrender’ The Miss South Africa 2025 titleholder shared the news on […]

Read more...

Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s alleged remarks on musician charges spark questions after audio leak

A leaked audio recording allegedly involving KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has raised questions about police conduct and the handling of a criminal investigation involving musician Paul ‘Tsaka’ Madubanya. Also see: Max Makhanya granted bail in case linked to alleged Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi remarks The recording, obtained by Sunday World, captures Mkhwanazi allegedly speaking to […]

Read more...

‘Amatshitshi Esimanje’ set to premiere on Mzansi Magic this November

Six young Zulu women are set to take centre stage in Amatshitshi Esimanje, a new reality series exploring the balance between cultural traditions, modern relationships and the expectations placed on young women. Also see: L’Vovo Derrango lands new reality show ‘Life with L’Vovo’ The 13-episode series, produced by Letjatji Group, premieres on Wednesday, 25 November […]

Read more...