Social Distance: Netflix series captures human stories from ‘this crazy period of time’ – think Covid-19 lockdowns to Black Lives Matter protests

A barber adjusts to online Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, a man and his boss argue over how to fight systematic racism, and a retired nurse heads back into work

‘It’s a time capsule for when this crazy period of time is someday over,’ creator says of series that is more an anthology than a cohesive tale

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Oscar Nunez in a still from an episode of Social Distance, a would-be time capsule for the roller coaster reality of quarantine. Photo: DPA

Published: 5:20am, 21 Oct 2020Updated: 5:56am, 21 Oct 2020

Netflix’s new anthology series, Social Distance, unfolds chronologically, but aims to be a “time capsule” for the roller coaster reality of quarantine and political unrest, its creator says.

“It’s not about the pandemic per se,” Hilary Weisman Graham said of the show, which is now streaming. “It’s about people experiencing life during social distancing … just capturing human stories.

“It’s a time capsule for when this crazy period of time is someday over, something right now [in which] people could see a piece of themselves,” adds the Orange is the New Black writer and producer. “We all are experiencing so many emotions and so much intensity, the roller coaster that’s happening on a daily basis.”

Social Distance begins as the coronavirus shutdowns take effect, with a barber (Mike Colter) attending virtual Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. It progresses as the calendar flips: to a Zoom funeral; a home nurse (Danielle Brooks) who keeps an eye on her six-year-old daughter through a video security system; to a group of teens live-streaming and FaceTiming, their lives barely upended by being stuck at home.

Olli Haaskivi in a still from Social Distance. The series begins as the coronavirus shutdowns take effect. Photo: Netflix

Each episode is supposed to represent a different stage of quarantine. The last show ends with Asante Blackk, 18, last seen on Netflix in 2019 crime-drama miniseries When They See Us alum, and his real-life dad fighting about how to protest.