iWorld
Santa’s picks: Seven shows to make your holidays merry & bright!
Mumbai: As the winter chill embraces our homes and the scent of joy fills the air, it’s time to cozy up with a cup of hot chocolate and dive right into the festive season. What better way to celebrate than embarking on a marathon of festive shows that promise laughter, love, and a sprinkle of the holiday cheer? From thrillers to amusing comedies, we have curated a list that will capture the essence of Christmas for you. May your days be merry, your binge sessions be jolly, and your heart be light with the magic of the season!
Platform: Audible
Excited to experience a Christmas that isn’t just about jingle bells and mistletoe but a thrilling escapade filled with mystery, romance, and laughter? This audiobook is the right pick for you. Join Emily Lane, the owner of ‘Under the Mistletoe,’ in a quaint town where her Christmas-themed store becomes the backdrop for not-so-quaint local murders. Tune into this Audible mystery where Emily’s charming exterior conceals a secret past, and Detective-Constable Sam Wilner wonders if there’s more to her than meets the eye. This audiobook promises a holiday-themed thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Platform: Audible
Experience the enchanting Cotswolds manor house through the eyes of Ashley Smith, a lonely American studying in London, invited to spend Christmas at the manor. Documented in her diary, Ashley’s idyllic holiday takes a mysterious turn with the Chapman family and the secrets that lurk within the old manor. Is there something strange about the old house? What could the motives of the mysterious Chapman family be? And what holiday horrors might be lying in wait? This audiobook promises a perfect blend of romance, suspense, and holiday magic that will keep you hooked from the first chapter to the last.
Platform: Audible
For those yearning to hear a feel-good Christmas story, ‘Bright Lights, Big Christmas’ on Audible offers a delightful mix of country charm and city magic. Follow Kerry Tolliver as she trades the mountains of North Carolina for the bustling streets of New York City during the Christmas season, ready to try to carve out a new corner for herself. With family ties, quirky neighbours, and unexpected romance, Kerry’s adventure is a delightful mix of country charm and urban romance. This audiobook is a perfect choice for those seeking a Christmas story with a touch of humour and romance!
Platform: Amazon Prime
There is no stop to browsing what you can watch this Christmas. Get ready for a laugh-out-loud comedy with ’Elf Me’! In this film, you will meet Trip, an unconventional elf, on a hilarious journey as Santa Claus’ not-so-traditional helper. Teaming up with Elia, a shy and unconventional boy, Trip discovers the true meaning of friendship. It is a heartwarming tale filled with humour, magic, and the spirit of Christmas, which makes for a must-watch this holiday season.
Platform: Amazon Prime
The holiday hurley-burly continues with Hayley Taylor and Hubert James Hughes in this uproarious Amazon Prime sequel. Join them for another uproarious family Christmas filled with laughter and chaos. This much-anticipated sequel promises to deliver the perfect blend of comedy and heartwarming moments, making it a perfect watch for those looking to continue the festive fun.
Platform: Netflix
In time for the holiday season—a cultural clash wrapped in festive cheer, ‘Christmas as Usual’ on Netflix unfolds the chaos when Indian roots meet Norwegian traditions. In this film, you can join Thea, portrayed by Ida Ursin-Holm, and Jashan, played by stand-up comic Kanan Gill, as they navigate the mayhem that ensues when Indian roots meet Norwegian traditions during Christmas. This romantic comedy, straight from the Nordic region, promises laughs, love, and a celebration of diverse holiday customs.
Platform: Netflix
In this chaotic Christmas comedy, the Walker family experiences a pre-holiday upheaval when a cosmic event swaps parents with their teenage kids. The film is a comedic rollercoaster headlined by Jennifer Garner and Brady Noon, adding a festive twist to the body-swap genre. Jennifer portrays Jess Walker, the meticulous and organized mother who discovers that her way isn’t always the best for everyone. Get ready for laughs and moments of plunging into pandemonium in this Netflix holiday special.
iWorld
Why Peaky Blinders is one of television’s biggest hits that still deserves more attention
Six seasons, multiple awards and the release of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man bring the Shelby saga back into the spotlight
In the crowded universe of streaming content, only a handful of shows manage to leave a lasting cultural footprint. Peaky Blinders is overwhelmingly considered one of the biggest global hits of the past decade. Yet many viewers still haven’t fully explored the dark, gripping world of the Shelby family.
Originally produced for the UK’s BBC and later finding a massive global audience through Netflix, the series quietly grew from a British period drama into a worldwide streaming phenomenon.
Created by Steven Knight, the show follows the rise of the Shelby crime family in post-First World War Birmingham. What begins as a gritty street-gang story gradually expands into a sweeping narrative about ambition, politics, power and survival.
At the centre of the saga is Thomas Shelby, portrayed with extraordinary depth by Cillian Murphy. The casting of Murphy is widely regarded as perfect for the role. With piercing eyes, restrained dialogue and an almost hypnotic screen presence, he transforms Shelby into one of the most unforgettable characters in modern screen storytelling.
Murphy’s brilliance lies in his restraint. He rarely shouts or performs theatrically. Instead, a quiet stare, a calculated pause or a subtle shift in expression conveys the emotional storms within the character. Beneath the ruthless gang leader is a war veteran carrying trauma, guilt and loneliness. Murphy captures this complexity with remarkable precision, making Thomas Shelby both terrifying and deeply human.
Beyond its central performance, Peaky Blinders stands out for its unfiltered portrayal of reality. The show does not romanticise crime. Instead, it exposes the harsh social conditions of early 20th-century Britain, from poverty and class struggle to political extremism and the psychological scars left by war.
The series also presents powerful female characters who hold their own within the Shelby empire. Polly Gray, played by Helen McCrory, is the strategic backbone of the family and one of the most formidable figures in the story. Women in the series shape decisions, influence power structures and challenge the rigid social norms of the time.
Across six seasons, the narrative grows dramatically in scale. What begins in the smoky streets of Birmingham evolves into a story involving political conspiracies, fascism and international criminal networks.
The series has also earned significant critical acclaim. It won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Drama Series in 2018 and multiple National Television Awards for Best Drama, cementing its reputation as one of Britain’s most celebrated modern shows.
Another defining feature of the series is its iconic music. The show’s opening theme, Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, became instantly recognisable and widely associated with the Shelby universe. Combined with a powerful soundtrack featuring artists such as Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead, the music helped shape the show’s dark, stylish identity and became hugely popular among fans.
And the Shelby story is not over yet.
In fact, its legacy is unfolding right now. The long-awaited feature-length continuation, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, was released on March 6, 2026, bringing the Shelby universe from streaming screens to cinemas and giving fans a new chapter in the saga.
For viewers who have not yet stepped into this world, the timing could not be better.
Six gripping seasons are ready to binge on Netflix. A new film has just arrived in theatres. And at the heart of it all stands one of the most magnetic performances in modern drama by Cillian Murphy.
So if Peaky Blinders has been sitting on your watchlist for years, this weekend is your moment.
So, by order of the Peaky fookin’ Blinders, consider this your cue to finally step into the ruthless world of Thomas Shelby. Pour yourself a drink, clear your schedule and press the play button. Because when the Peaky Blinders give an order, you listen.
