Netflix's intense action-thriller series is back — and now is the perfect time to binge-watch
If you're on the hunt for something new to binge-watch, you're in luck as Netflix has the perfect option.
The high-octane series 'Criminal Code' just returned for another season of meticulously planned heists, frenetic shoot-outs and high-stakes police investigations.
The Brazilian show debuted in 2023, and while it perhaps wasn't a juggernaut series that dominated the social media space, it did manage to stake a claim in the streaming service's top 10 and was met with enthusiasm by viewers.
This week (June 4), it's back for season 2, making now the perfect time to dive into 'Criminal Code' for new and returning viewers.
Newcomers have got 16 episodes to binge, which should keep you busy through the rest of the week, but if you missed the action-thriller series the first time, I'm here to give you the full lowdown. Plus, for those already familiar with 'Criminal Code', I've also got all the details on season 2.
Here's why 'Criminal Code' is a great choice if you're looking for your next Netflix action fix right now.
'Criminal Code' opens with a shoot-out between cops and a group of criminals, and the stakes are immediately raised as we're introduced to Benício (Rômulo Braga), a federal officer in the Brazilian police force with a personal drive to capture these thieves as one of them killed his partner.
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Benício believes he works better alone and has a habit of going rogue in pursuit of justice, but the no-nonsense cop is forced to team up with a new partner, Suellen (Maseve Jinkings), and must learn to play well with others.
Following an armed robbery in Paraguay, Benício is convinced the man he's obsessed with finding is involved. Working the case with help from Suellen, the lawman is willing to resort to off-the-book methods if necessary to track down the criminal conspirators and ensure they are put behind bars.
Adding extra drama, 'Criminal Code' is inspired by real crimes, which gives the show an element of realism, even if it takes dramatic liberties with the truth.
'Criminal Code' certainly isn't looking to reinvent the police drama formula. It follows a predictable structure of a police partnership working a case, sometimes crossing over moral lines in the process. It's certainly not a unique series breaking the mold.
However, what 'Criminal Codes' does best is keep you engaged as you're always just a few scenes away from a new clue, or a fast-paced firefight, or a high-speed car chase. There's never a lull or time to get bored of its generic genre tropes — a thrilling action sequence is always just around the next corner.
This makes it an ideal binge-watch; you don't need to sit with the series after each episode, you can instead rapidly tear through its chapters, getting swept up in the investigation, and slowly finding yourself starting to care about its cast of characters. So, while there's undoubtedly a feeling that you've seen all this before, it does enough to keep you watching.
So long as you approach the series with the right expectations, it's likely that you'll find yourself hooked relatively quickly. Especially as Benício's quest to avenge the death of his partner is a strong driving force, and his interplay with Suellen leads to strong character moments. The latter is a new mother, which adds just the right splash of family drama.
As noted, the series is loosely inspired by a real-life heist and the ensuing investigation, which saw criminals rob the headquarters of a private security force and escape with millions of dollars in cash. This crime took place in 2017 in Paraguay and marked the first time Brazilian forces used primarily DNA evidence to assist in capturing the parties involved.
As noted, "Criminal Code" managed to secure a top 10 spot in more than 70 countries (including the U.S.), and over on Rotten Tomatoes, the show has a strong 95% score from viewers. On IMDb, the final two episodes of season 1 are the highest rated, which suggests the show's pay-off is worth the build-up.
Of course, if you binged 'Criminal Code' when it first dropped in 2023, or over the two years since then, then you'll already have known all of the above, so let's talk season 2, which just dropped on Netflix today (June 4). Naturally, you'll find 'Criminal Code' season 1 spoilers below…
The show's season 2 is once again comprised of eight hour-long episodes and sees the return of Sullen and Benício, but this time they're in very different places. And their previous partnership appears to be dissolved as both face new challenges and personal struggles.
The show's official longline reads: 'After helping the Ambassador (Nico García Hume) escape from prison, Isaac (Alex Nader) and his Phantom Gang become the Federal Police's main targets. Increasingly sophisticated robberies turn them into crime legends — and going after them will demand everything from the agents.
'During the challenging investigation, Suellen (Maeve Jinkings) will have to prove herself as a leader. Meanwhile, Benício (Rômulo Braga) experiences a crisis after losing yet another friend, and discovering that Sem Alma (Thomás Aquino) escaped from prison.'
I'm perhaps a little disappointed that Benício's character arc seems to be repeating from season 1, with his obsessive hunt for Sem Alma being his main motivation, but I'm intrigued to see how Suellen fairs as she steps into a leadership role. That's enough of a draw for me to stream it this week.
'Criminal Code' looks on pace to once again enter the Netflix conversation, and I'm sure pre-existing fans of the show don't need my encouragement to start streaming these new episodes. The show, while relatively formulaic, is compelling and, best of all, very bingeable. So now is the time to dive in.
For more viewing options, be sure to check out our roundup of everything new on Netflix in June 2025, which includes plenty of alternative action-thriller picks, as well as the grand finale of 'Squid Game,' which is sure to be the biggest draw for Netflix subscribers this month.
Stream 'Criminal Code' seasons 1-2 on Netflix now
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Creating Costumes For Teen True Love In Netflix's 'Forever'
Justin Edwards (Michael Cooper Jr.) and Keisha Clark (Lovie Simone) star in "Forever" on Netflix. Credit: Elizabeth Morris/Netflix © 2024 Elizabeth Morris/Netflix Tanja Caldwell designed the wonderful costumes for Mara Block Ali's Netflix series, Forever. But before that, it feels important to mention the source material on which the series is based. The novel, which has almost the same name, was first published in 1975, by beloved American author Judy Bloom. (Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret was also by Blume.) Forever-the-book won the Margaret A. Edwards Award in 1996, for its 'significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature,' and in 2019 was included in the BBC's list of the 100 Most Inspiring Novels. But regardless of its many commendations, the novel, intended for older teenagers, remains one of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books according to the American Library Association, 50 years after its original date of publication. Why? Because the book discusses sex and acknowledges that teenagers might be competent to both engage in the act and be able to deal with whatever consequences might arise afterwards. The reason the book resonated with teens in the 1970s and the 1990s is the same reason that the series resonates with viewers right now; it is a story that respects the voices of its young characters. In her adaptation, Ali made a point of conveying that respect, and of never looking down on her characters simply because they are young. Tiffany (Paigion Walker), Christian (Xavier Mills), Brittany (Adriyan Rae), and Shelly Clark (Xosha Roquemore) . Cr. Elizabeth Morris/Netflix © 2024. Elizabeth Morris/Netflix 'That was very important to Mara,' Caldwell told me, 'it was very important to Regina, who directed the first episode and was one of the executive producers, and all the directors that came on. Everyone, with Mara's lead, was about making it real and genuine to the time and to the people, the adults and especially the young people who are our main characters in this series. It was important to show that growth throughout. I think it's important to show young people in the diversity that they have, even at a young age. I think that gets them interested in their own storytelling, when we tell them in a way that's real and genuine to them.' [Caldwell, I need to tell you, was an assistant costume designer on Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, working under the incomparable Ruth Carter. It is so cool, I had to make sure you knew this.] Forever takes place in 2018 and 2019, a time which, post-Covid, feels almost technicolor in its innocence. These are also years that many members of Gen Z, the generation immediately following us millennials, spent in high school. Seven or eight years later those kids are all adults. Caldwell understood this, and she worked very hard to make her costumes Los Angeles in exactly those two years. Her research was incredibly extensive and the costumes reflect this fact, they are better for her diligent attentions but they never pull from the action occurring in a scene. Justin Edwards (Michael Cooper Jr.), Keisha Clark (Lovie Simone), Chloe (Ali Gallo), Aunt Katherine (Polly Draper) , Uncle Michael (Tim Bohn), and Jeanine (Sherri Saum) at the beach in episode five. Credit: Elizabeth Morris/Netflix © 2024 Elizabeth Morris/Netflix 'There are significant fashion differences between 2018-2019 and today,' Caldwell said, 'but there are also a lot of similarities. It was really important to make some distinguishing wardrobe options and choices, but we also were able to still play with more modern fashion, which helped us out a lot. The process for me really is discovery and research, about these different characters from the script, but also what young culture was in LA at that time.' Wardrobe on any production is a blend of apparel purchased, rented, tailored, remade, made from scratch. This show was no different, but needing clothing that was from a specific window of time, less than a decade old, meant the costume designer spent a lot of time in Los Angeles vintage stores. 'It was fun to dabble in vintage things, archive things, rare sneakers, rare t-shirts, things of that nature,' she told me when I asked about this. 'It was really fun to dig. When I was a teenager, I really loved vintage, I loved shopping for vintage. I think what I loved more than anything was the hunt, when you were able to find something really beautiful, really amazing, or more than one piece, and it was in great condition, or if it was a designer piece and in your size, so you just so happen to be able to fit it in.' Justin Edwards (Michael Cooper Jr.) and Keisha Clark (Lovie Simone) begin to bond in "Forever." Credit: Elizabeth Morris/Netflix © 2024 Elizabeth Morris/Netflix Figuring out who each character is, what they would wear and why, is something worked out between more than one person. The script might be specific about clothing, the showrunner and/or director will have thoughts, the production designer and the scenes they stage will impact how costumes read. Actor spend a lot of time figuring out who they are portraying, and for some performers that involves collaborating with the costume designer. It's a lot to think about and remember. 'Part of what I love about costume design is the research,' Caldwell said to me with a smile, deflecting my praise with precision. 'The discovery, who these characters are and how we see them through a lens of fashion, what will be distinguishing about their characters. One thing I talked about with Mara was creating somewhat of a uniform for Justin. Not that he was wearing the exact same thing, but if you look, you'll see most of the time he has a certain uniformity to what he's wearing.' 'He's always in Dickies,' the designer continued, 'different colors, some may be shorter or longer or more narrow or a little more aged. But he's always in Dickies, some form of a t-shirt, whether it's a plain shirt or it's a band shirt or something with a subliminal message on it. Then he's got a flannel shirt or some type of second layer, which I think is really indicative of Los Angeles culture. Layering is a big thing out here, just with the change of the weather.' Justin Edwards (Michael Cooper Jr.) in an awesome Dr. Dre tee from Episode 1 of "Forever." Credit: Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/Netflix © 2024 Hilary Bronwyn Gayle, SMPSP/Netflix When she was reading the script, the costume designer told me, she could feel the influence on Justin's character from his parents. She thought this might be something that would peek into his wardrobe, a tiny bit. 'His mother, especially,' Caldwell said. 'Whether he wants it or not, her influence, her hand on him is extremely close and heavy. I thought, if she's buying his clothes and she's watching him that closely, she's make sure he does his homework, she's got a tutor for him. She stays in touch with everything that he has going on. She's going to have some hands on his clothes. He's not going to have ripped distressed jeans with a lot of holes, w he's always going to look clean and put together, but still having his thumbprint on it some way, somehow.' 'With Karen Pittman's character, Justin's mother, having to be so strict because she loves him so much, maybe even a little bit to her fault, maybe a little bit overbearing. I think she still wants her son to show up in the world a certain way, that's how my parents were. You have some freedom to express yourself. But there are certain things in fashion, certain trends that you're allowed to do at this age and others you're not allowed to do, that's not the type of image you want to present yourself at this age or under my roof. These are the standards. I feel like that was more or less the way Justin's mother influences his style. His dad, I think he's the good cop. He doesn't say a lot, but when he speaks to his son, he always says something really profound and you just get it and there are some similarities in even the way that they dress. Even in the sweatshirts and hoodies, dad usually is very well put together, but he has this laid back feel. He's never super buttoned up or stuffy, but he doesn't look drabby or disheveled either. I think that's part of him being a chef and also an artist. I think that's why he may understand his son a little bit better.' Justin Edwards (Michael Cooper Jr.) and Darius (Niles Fitch) in personalized variation of their school uniforms. Credit: Elizabeth Morris/Netflix © 2024 Elizabeth Morris/Netflix As my regular readers will know, I am fascinated by uniforms, by the many, many ways there are to make or source garments en masse. I do love the challenge of military uniforms, but the sort worn to private schools offer similar challenges. 'We bought a ton of uniforms in the beginning,' Caldwell told me, 'because we knew we were going to need a multitude of them for background. We got a multitude of sizes. But before we even did that, we locked down with production, Mara especially, what the colors of the school are. Because there's a whole lot of work that goes into just clearing the name of a school and the colors that you use.' This is what I mentioned a little earlier, how no decision can be made independently of others. Telling stories on film is, by the nature of the medium, a collaborative art form. 'Once we decide what the colors are and what the name of the school is,' Caldwell told me, 'then we go out and we purchase from a uniform store. Then we go out and buy things for the main characters, just to add a little zhuzh to their particular uniform. But in this case, we tried to keep it really true to what it really is in LA. And a lot of private schools give you certain guidelines, on certain days you can wear this, and on certain days you can't. We were modeling their school off of a school that Mara and her nieces or nephews had actually gone to in Los Angeles. We tried to keep to what those standards and rules were. They all had their own little something because I think that's important.' Keisha Clark (Lovie Simone) in her school's uniform. Courtesy of Netflix Our main characters, Justin Edwards and Keisha Clark, don't attend the same high school, though they both do go to schools in LA. 'So, different colors and also two different standards of what the procedures are for those uniforms,' Caldwell reminded me. 'We did that research, and then we came about it organically. We tried on a bunch of different versions, the vest with the skirt, the vest with the plain skirt versus the plaid skirt. Her school didn't have a blazer. His school did, but didn't feel right for him but it felt great for Darius.' I asked the designer what she was concerned about most for Forever, what part of her job seemed to be most vitally attached to the arc the characters follow. 'For me, it was about trying not to draw so far outside the lines. I wanted to still be real and honest. And I love that the kids can wear their own sneakers, we definitely played that up with both of them. We definitely went in on the shoes. I think that was important, I think It's important to see representations of ourselves at every stage of life. If art is to imitate life, and vice versa, we have to show all those different stages, and we need to show it in the rawest, realest way. I think that sometimes we can be persuaded or influenced to show things in a way that we think we know it to be, not what it really is. So it is all about discovery and asking questions and observing people.' While I watched the series I kept noticing small things, like the way that the sportswear the teens wear after school at practice is carefully curated to the character who wears it. 'That's the thing about costume design,' Caldwell told me when I asked her about this,'just about everything is intentional, whether the viewer is aware of it or not.' How did this work practically? I was very curious, because things never happen on screen by accident, and when I see consistency across time, like I saw over and over in this series, I know it is because a person made certain that it did. The designer told me how she used color to subtly nod to the character wearing each costume. Tammy (Emyri Crutchfield) and Keisha Clark (Lovie Simone) in Episode 1 of "Forever." Credit: Elizabeth Morris/Netflix © 2024 Elizabeth Morris/Netflix 'For Tammy,' Caldwell explained, 'we put more in these darker muted colors, but they were still rich. We kept Keisha in the bright fluorescents, just because she's the star not only of the show, but she's also the star of the team. She's really pushing herself to get on a university track team and get that scholarship so she can attend. So I wanted her to stand out, even amongst her peers, when she was running. Even when she was with Christian at the Nike camp, I wanted her to seem bright. When she's at the Canyon, which worked really well because it was dawn, she's in a fluorescent orange, two-piece sports bra and matching shorts. When she's first running against Tammy and wins, she's in a fluorescent yellow Nike bra top and Nike shorts.' I asked Caldwell if she would tell me about something she was really proud of, something she figured out or made happen for Forever. There are so many more solutions than we are conditioned to see, and costume design is excellent proof that I am correct. A dozen costume designers presented with the same challenge would come back with a dozen different ways of making it happen. So, while working on this Netflix series, Caldwell generously told me this story, 'This was a really crazy story and something you don't see as much. We were doing interstitials, towards episode eight, Instagram shots that you see really quick that helps us pass time. There is a shirt that we actually made, one that we found, that was vintage,' the designer told me. 'We had to get it made because we needed multiples of it. And later we ended up revisiting it in a scene with Keisha and with Justin. ' 'In those shots,' Caldwell explained, 'Mara was putting them at a Little Uzi Vert concert. We went and found the Little Uzi Vert tour t-shirts from 2018, 2019, saw what those shirts looked like, and we really tried to get them. We only found one or maybe two. Scouring the world, you know, Etsy and vintage shops online and here in LA. The one thing about vintage is that when you're not looking for it, that's when you find it. If you look for something, you never find it. A few of them we had to recreate because we didn't have enough to place on all four actors. Costume designer Tanja Caldwell. Courtesy of Tanja Caldwell 'What's great about our process is in the beginning of prep, we were able to just start collecting a lot of beautiful vintage things. LA still has quite a few really great vintage stores that still collect, an assortment of really great tees in great condition. That was something from the research, in 2018, 2019, what did band tees look like? What concerts were going on? What artists were big then that teenagers were listening to?' Would she be willing to share any names of the places she likes to shop for vintage. 'I'm not a gatekeeper,' the designer said to me with a laugh. 'I like to share information because I like to get their information back. 'We found some really good t-shirts at American Rag on Melrose,' she continued. 'They're always really helpful and were really great, especially with Justin's band tees. They have a great assortment of vintage; skater, hip hop, old vintage Ralph Lauren… It was a really one-stop shop that we could go to. There's a really great shop, Virgo, that I love personally. It's in downtown LA and the owner is this really special young woman who started it. I go there to shop and I love their stuff.' When the last episode of Forever came to a close, I desperately wanted to warn the characters that Covid-19 was coming. That is how real these characters and story feel; the suspension of disbelief is as seamless as the costumes Tanja Caldwell designed for the series. 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Why young men seek community in the ‘manosphere'
'Adolescence,' Netflix's hit mini-series about a young man who commits a horrific act of violence after engaging with incel ideology online, brightened the media spotlight on the 'manosphere.' The manosphere — a web of online communities, podcasts and influencers that promote conversations about modern masculinity but often misogyny, as well — was already on the minds of many parents and researchers, but the show put the debate around it into hyperdrive. Some, including the prime minister of the United Kingdom, praised the show for making it clear that the manosphere is leading boys and young men to dangerous places. But others felt the show overplayed the potential for violence and overlooked how many people engage with manosphere content just for fun. Researchers that spoke with the Deseret News about the state of the manosphere agreed that the situation is more nuanced than is often discussed. For one thing, it should be acknowledged that boys and young men who are engaging with this content are often trying to solve a very real problem: the lack of spaces where they are free to discuss their fears, said Daniel Cox, director of the Survey Center on American Life. 'You have podcasters and influencers who are talking to young men and talking about the problems that they have, the experiences that they can relate to,' Cox explained. 'And there's just so few other places they can have this kind of freewheeling, engaged conversations and feel like they're part of something.' That's one reason why Cox and other experts recommend entering into conversations with young people about the manosphere without judgment. Your goal should not be demonizing this online space, but instead seeking understanding. 'The first thing I often say to parents is listen to your young people, be prepared to listen,' said Craig Haslop, a senior lecturer at University of Liverpool who has done research on the manosphere. Research shows that young boys and men are struggling now more than ever before. According to The New York Times, girls now outperform boys in reading tests and achieve higher GPAs at school, while boys are 'more likely to be suspended.' Girls are also more likely to graduate from high school than boys and 'outnumber men in college enrollment.' As boys transition into adulthood, they're delaying important and traditional milestones. This trend is present among young women, too, but young men typically feel it more acutely. According to The New York Times, 19% of men between 25 and 34 live with their parents, in comparison to 13% of women. Men are also slightly more likely to be single — 39% of men are single compared to 36% of women, Pew Research Center found in 2021. Men are also facing new challenges in the workforce. As The New York Times pointed out, 'many of the jobs that mostly men did, like manual labor, have disappeared in the United States.' 'Of men ages 25 to 54, 89% are in the labor force, down from 94% in 1975. Of women that age, 78% are in the labor force, up from 55% in 1975,' the article noted. To put it simply, young boys and men are falling behind and unsure of how to catch up. According to Cox, many manosphere influencers have zeroed in on these issues and provided one of the few spaces where boys can commiserate about their problems. 'I think, to be fair, a lot of these podcasters are probably accurate in identifying some of the challenges that young men are facing,' he said. 'Whether it's economic challenges of the system (and) the fact that, in politics, the system is not responsive to the concerns that many young men have.' Most boys and young men likely aren't initially interested in the misogynistic ideas that circulate in the manosphere, Cox added. They're just looking for examples of how to be men in modern society and for solutions to their struggles. 'I think, something that those folks tend to do is speak very clearly about gender roles and articulate a clear vision of masculinity,' Cox said. 'And even if much of what they're articulating is not achievable or problematic, it is a clear roadmap.' Manosphere influencers, like Andrew Tate, offer advice about the very real concerns on young men's minds, including how to do better at school, how to get dates and how to make more money. But according to Haslop, this advice can drive a wedge between young men and young women. Manosphere influencers 'will reiterate what might seem like innocuous stereotypes, but (that) actually do undermine women,' he said. Listeners or readers may not realize they're becoming more hostile toward women because the content they're consuming seems to fit their experiences, Cox said. They often observe their female counterparts, especially in school, 'getting better grades, getting into better schools, getting awards, getting all the attention. And they're like, wait a second, the story that I'm being told about gender inequality and gender disparity, that's not what I'm seeing in my own life experience,' he said. But this discussion of these trends becomes problematic when it pushes young men into a victim mindset instead of encouraging them to form meaningful connections and try new things. 'It's about you getting what you deserve. It's not about service or not about sacrifice. It's only about how you're feeling and validating your feelings and emotions,' Cox said. Users may end up angry and withdrawn from the world, a trend that stands to deepen the male loneliness epidemic. 'These guys who fall down the manosphere rabbit hole ... are unable to forge and develop the kind of relationships that could help them avoid some of the more toxic lessons that the manosphere is teaching,' Cox said. Harriet Over, a professor at University of York and co-author of 'What do we need to know about the manosphere and young people's mental health?,' also worries about the manosphere's potential influence on mental health. 'Some influencers claim that 'depression isn't real' and that successful men can't get depressed,' she wrote in an email. 'The risk is that engaging with this type of content will discourage young men from seeking out valuable sources of support.' According to Over, there are a few warning signs that parents can look out for if they're worried about their child's relationship with manosphere content. 'One possibility is that children may start to express views they haven't spoken about before,' she said. 'For example ... some influencers are advocating for women to lose the vote.' Over also recommends keeping an ear out for any incel terminology, like 'black pill' or 'red pill.' But both Over and Haslop recommend listening without judgment. 'From our research, one of these we really recommended is to avoid demonizing those influences like Tate,' Haslop said, since criticism can reinforce the narrative that these creators are being targeted for unfair attacks. Instead, Haslop recommends that parents teach their children 'good, critical digital literacy' and encourage them to fact-check and assess information they come across in the manosphere — especially misogynistic or racist content. Over recommends a similar approach. 'Encourage them to think critically about what they view,' she said. Over suggested asking your children these questions: Can you think of counter examples to what the influencers are saying? What do you think the influencers' motivations are in saying things like that? How do you think hearing disrespectful or unkind content makes other people feel? Both Cox and Haslop said young boys and men need spaces to express their feelings and talk about their issues without judgement. 'I think it's definitely one of the issues we've got in society is men not being able to feel they can talk about stuff, being open, being vulnerable,' Haslop said. As Cox pointed out, there's plenty of 'upside(s) for female-only places,' while similar male spaces have 'come under critique.' 'The locker room can ... be a place where young men are kind of feeling out the ways for them to engage with each other,' Cox said. What we need, Haslop said, is for any environment where young men gather — school, sports, etc. — to encourage boys to be vulnerable with each other, talk about their issues and dismantle negative gender stereotypes. Families should have these discussions, too. While we should be worried about boys and young men who feel lost today, this is hardly the first time that experts are wringing their hands over a masculinity crisis, Haslop said. What's new is that digital spaces, including social media sites and podcast feeds, make it possible for problematic responses to today's crisis to spread like wildfire. Moving forward, Cox said he'll be watching for what the rise of the manosphere means for young men's relationships, particularly with young women. As more young boys and men are being drawn into the manosphere, more young women are expressing their aversion for manosphere ideology and the men who promote it. 'I am interested in where this is going,' Cox said. 'Where does it all end, societally? ... Where do we go from here?'
