During what is probably the most contemplative period of the calendar year, a time dedicated to seeking new direction in one’s life and soon-to-be-abandoned attempts at regaining some personal control, Netflix has seen fit to throw an existential monkey wrench into our collective works by releasing Surviving Death – a documentary series set to explore the age-old question of what actually happens after we die.
Based on the book by best-selling author/journalist Leslie Kean and directed by Ricki Stern (Reversing Roe, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work), the upcoming docuseries will be a broad six-episode investigation on the “possibility of an afterlife”; as well as how civilisation has approached the concept of death in general:
What does it mean to die and is death the end of our existence? Weaving together innovative new research with firsthand accounts from those who’ve been close to — and even experienced — death, the series takes viewers on an extraordinary journey into a world beyond human existence as we know it.
RELATED: HBO’s ‘The Mystery Of DB Cooper’ Will Investigate The Perfect Crime
According to Collider, the first episode will centre around the basic idea of whether it’s possible to “survive” death after our physical bodies have called it a day. Subsequent episodes will take a look at mediums – eyerolls are more than welcome – claims of the dead manifesting, the science behind communicating with the so-called afterlife, and even real-life claims of reincarnation.
Of course, given the nature of a “broad investigation”, you shouldn’t expect to have every one of your questions answered. At best, we can hope for a fresh perspective on life, perhaps even some human comfort to kick of 2021.
Surviving Death will be available to stream on Netflix starting from January 6th.
