Interactive viewing experiences are relatively rare these days, but that's not to say that they don't still exist. Some of the more prominent examples include 2018's choose your own adventure-style interactive movie Black Mirror: Bandersnatch and the 2023 drama series Kaleidoscope; both of which can be found on Netflix.
The latter is a little different from Bandersnatch in that the events of each episode are set in stone. However, Netflix viewers can choose which order to watch them in, meaning that there are more than 40 thousand possible combinations. With this in mind, it's no wonder that so many people want to know the best order to watch Kaleidoscope before getting started.
Updated January 7, 2023, by Tom Bowen: Kaleidoscope has taken the streaming world by storm, with hundreds of thousands of people all over the world tuning in to watch Netflix's new heist drama. Created by Eric Garcia, the innovative series allows viewers to experience the narrative in any order they like, with more than five thousand ways for subscribers to watch the series' eight episodes. Though, strictly speaking, there is no right or wrong way to watch it, some orders make a lot more sense than others and are a lot more exciting to boot. With this in mind, those looking for the best order to watch Kaleidoscope have a few different options depending on what they look for in a good drama series.
How to Watch Kaleidoscope on Netflix
Each episode of Kaleidoscope is named after a color, with most (including the show's creators) being in agreement that White serves as the best series finale. Depending on the kind of experience that viewers are hoping for though, the best order to watch the other seven episodes is a little less obvious. In fact, those who opt to watch Kaleidoscope in chronological order won't even finish with White, as there are two episodes that take place after it in the timeline.
Worldbuilding Order
- Yellow
- Green
- Violet
- Orange
- Blue
- Red
- Pink
- White
For those who enjoy a more traditional narrative with a strong introduction and a thought-provoking conclusion, the best order to watch Kaleidoscope starts with Yellow and ends with White. The order of episodes two to four isn't quite as important, but watching Red and Pink directly before White is highly advised for those hoping to get the most out of the series' climax. What's more, Green leads perfectly into Violet, so those two should definitely be watched back to back.
Chronological Order
- Violet
- Green
- Yellow
- Orange
- Blue
- White
- Red
- Pink
For whatever reason, some people just like to watch events unfold in the order in which they transpired. If that's the case, then the best order to watch Kaleidoscope is chronological, which means starting with Violet and ending with Pink. Of course, this does go against the recommendations of the show's creators when it comes to finishing with White, so "best" is highly subjective here.
Suspense Order
- Red
- Yellow
- Pink
- Green
- Orange
- Violet
- Blue
- White
Depending on the order in which viewers watch Kaleidoscope, the experience can differ quite a bit. The above order will keep viewers guessing for a lot longer than any other, at least for those who go into the show cold. Obviously, those who have already watched through the series once won't be surprised by any of its big reveals, so this order only really works the first time around.
Rainbow Order
- Red
- Orange
- Yellow
- Green
- Blue
- Pink
- Violet
- White
Observant viewers may have noticed that the colors used for the names of the show's first seven episodes just happen to be very similar to the seven colors of the rainbow. Using Pink in place of Indigo will therefore allow viewers to watch Kaleidoscope in rainbow order, which can yield some pretty interesting results. Truth be told, this can feel a little disjointed at times (particularly in the beginning) but does set up a surprisingly strong finish.
Netflix Order
Aside from finishing up with White, the show's creator's don't offer any suggestions when it comes to viewing order. However, that's not to say that viewers can't still have Netflix decide on an order for them. For each viewer, the first seven episodes will be played out in a completely random order, meaning that there are 5,040 possible combinations. This ensures a more unique experience and makes life much easier for those who just can't decide for themselves.
What's the Best Order to Watch Kaleidoscope on Netflix?
While there may not be a simple one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to the best order to watch Kaleidoscope, most viewers will probably prefer either the Worldbuilding order or the Chronological order as detailed above. Both make sense from a narrative point of view and help to make the series feel a bit more like a conventional television show. Granted, that was pretty much the opposite of what the show's creators were going for, but there's a reason why people don't usually eat dessert before the appetizer; no matter how delicious the former might be.
Kaleidoscope is available on Netflix.