By James Hibbs

Published: Tuesday, 10 January 2023 at 12:00 am


The start of 2023 saw Netflix trialling one of its biggest experiments ever with new heist series Kaleidoscope, a show where the episodes aren’t numbered and can be watched in any order.

The set-up for the series is simple, with a gang of thieves attempting to crack a seemingly unbreakable vault. However, Netflix users are each assigned a different order to watch the episodes in, with new pieces of the puzzle being unveiled with each instalment before the only fixed episode, the final heist, reveals all.

The show stars Giancarlo Esposito, Paz Vega, Rufus Sewell and Jai Courtney amongst others, and has proved popular with users for its twists, turns and unexpected reveals.

But if you don’t want to leave the order up to Netflix’s algorithm, or if you’re planning a rewatch in a different order, then there are a number of different ways to watch Kaleidoscope. Read on for everything you need to know.

Is there a best order to watch Kaleidoscope?

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Rufus Sewell as Roger Salas in Kaleidoscope
Courtesy of Netflix

A different order of the episodes will be lined up for each viewer by Netflix, but everyone will have the same first and last episodes – Black, which is a short explainer of the concept, will be first, while White, the season finale, will come last.

Beyond these, the middle episodes of Yellow, Green, Blue, Orange, Violet, Red and Pink can be watched in any order, with each adding a piece to the puzzle before the final explainer of just what happened in White.

Praising the show’s non-linear format, lead cast member Esposito previously told TVLine: “I think it allows [viewers] not to be in their comfort zone.

“When we watch things, we kind of have an idea of how it’ll turn out, how it’ll end, what’s going to happen, so I like the idea of being taken out of your comfort zone, because I think that allows you to be more attentive.

“You’ve got to watch this thing closely, and I imagine you will, because little things happen which you don’t think might be clues, but are.”

What is the chronological order of Kaleidoscope?

The chronological order of Kaleidoscope is as follows:

  • Violet – 24 years before the heist
  • Green – 7 years before the heist
  • Yellow – 6 weeks before the heist
  • Orange – 3 weeks before the heist
  • Blue – 5 days before the heist
  • White – The heist
  • Red – The morning after the heist
  • Pink – 6 months after the heist

However, that does not mean that is the order the episodes should be watched in – in fact, they shouldn’t, as White, the heist episode, is intended to be watched last.

What is Kaleidoscope?

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Paz Vega as Ava Mercer and Giancarlo Esposito as Leo Pap in Kaleidoscope
David Scott Holloway/Netflix

Kaleidoscope is a new crime/heist drama which is told in an innovative fashion, and is available on Netflix now.

What makes it unique to most series is its structure – each of the episodes can be watched in any order, but do add up to tell one story, making it part anthology, part continuing drama.

The episodes aren’t numbered – instead, they are each named after a different colour, and will appear in a different order on each individual’s Netflix, giving them a different route through the story.

The story takes place over 25 years, with each episode telling a story at a different point in the timeline. They’ve then been jumbled up so it all becomes a mystery of just how the heist took place, a secret which is finally revealed at the end.

What is the story of Kaleidoscope?

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Paz Vega as Ava Mercer, Giancarlo Esposito as Leo Pap, Jai Courtney as Bob Goodwin and Peter Mark Kendall as Stan Loomis in Kaleidoscope.
Courtesy of Netflix

The official synopsis for Kaleidoscope describes the story as follows: “Spanning 25 years, Kaleidoscope is an all-new anthology series following a crew of masterful thieves and their attempt to crack a seemingly unbreakable vault for the biggest payday in history.

“Guarded by the world’s most powerful corporate security team, and with law enforcement on the case, every episode reveals a piece of an elaborate puzzle of corruption, greed, vengeance, scheming, loyalties and betrayals. How did the crew of thieves plan it? Who gets away with it? Who can be trusted?”

Each of the episodes add a piece to the puzzle of just how the heist took place, what led up to it in the first place and what happened after.

Eric Garcia, the show’s creator, explained that while the idea for the show started from the non-linear structure, the concept for the story came from a real-life event.

He said in a featurette for the show: “It’s based on a potentially real story. After Hurricane Sandy, $70 billion in unregistered bearer bonds were flooded and lost.

“My first thought upon reading all these things was, ‘Oh, someone made off with $70 billion and is using Hurricane Sandy as, like, a really good excuse.’”

Kaleidoscope is available to stream on Netflix now. Sign up for Netflix from £6.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. Read our guides to the best series on Netflix and the best movies on Netflix.

Looking for something else to watch? Visit our TV Guide or Streaming Guide.

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