Netflix’s April lineup has been robust, featuring an array of captivating movies and TV shows, including a particularly dark and intricate thriller that’s been garnering attention.
Among the series captivating viewers and ranking second on the UK’s most-watched list is “Cleaning Up.”
Starring Sheridan Smith as Sam, a struggling single mother grappling with debt and addiction, the thriller delves into her descent into the world of insider trading after uncovering financial secrets while working as an office cleaner.
As Sam delves deeper into the realm of high finance, her desperate attempts to alleviate her financial woes drive her to extreme measures, escalating tension throughout the season.
The intensity of the series has left some viewers on edge, with one expressing, “Watched Cleaning Up on Netflix and I’ve never been so stressed for a fictional person in all my life,” while another remarked, “Watching Cleaning Up on Netflix, I’m so stressed it’s making me sick.”
Originally airing on ITV in 2019, “Cleaning Up” boasts an impressive 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have lauded Smith’s performance in the lead role, though some note a shift towards silliness in the plot’s progression.
Reviews highlight Smith’s immersive portrayal, with The Guardian noting, “Indispensable to it are the actors, who throw themselves uncynically into it with their whole hearts. This is always Smith’s greatest gift, and here she is surrounded by a supporting cast doing likewise.”
The Daily Telegraph suggests, “After this first episode, the temptation for another flutter may be hard to resist,” while the Sunday Times praises Smith’s portrayal, stating, “Smith is such a seamless, subtle actor, she absorbed the balder moments of Robin Hood rhetoric: you could see the rebellious schoolgirl still lurking inside her, suspicious of authority, toughened up by disappointment.”
Despite critiques of the plot’s absurdity, “Cleaning Up” is finding renewed success on Netflix, adding to the streaming platform’s reputation for revitalising series.
