Netflix quietly adds 21-episode psychological coming-of-age series
Netflix has quietly added Samuel, a French micro-series created, written and directed by Émilie Tronche. The show leans into a minimalist black-and-white 2D look and tells its story in diary-like bursts. Samuel follows a 10-year-old boy navigating early-2000s middle school—friendships, awkward crushes and that particular childhood anxiety that makes small things feel enormous.
The series is made up of 21 short episodes, most only a few minutes long, which makes it easy to start and finish in one sitting. The show gained momentum on TikTok and Instagram after an initial run with Arte, which led to Netflix picking it up and rolling it out in the U.S.
and select regions. Its tone is sweet, funny and disarmingly sharp in the way it captures overlooked feelings. Netflix has a history of adding titles that carried social-media momentum—examples include Suits, Old Enough!
France, U.S.