Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Momo and Okarun share a close moment in Dandadan

    Momo And Okarun: The Gold Standard For Shonen Romance

    07/03/2025
    Ironheart Episodes 4 6 But Why Tho 1

    ‘Ironheart’ Explained: Explore MCU’s Bold New Chapter

    07/01/2025
    Buck in 9-1-1

    ‘9-1-1’ Has To Let Buck Say Bisexual

    06/29/2025
    Nintendo Welcome Tour promotional image of the maraca mini-game

    The One “Game” That Justifies The Nintendo Switch 2 Purchase

    06/25/2025
    Destiel Confession in Supernatural - Castiel (Misha Collins) and Dean (Jensen Ackles)

    The Destiel Confession: The Lasting Importance Of Supernatural’s Greatest Ship

    06/22/2025
  • Squid Game
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Switch 2 Games
  • Summer Game Fest
But Why Tho?
Home » TV » REVIEW: ‘The Playlist’ Reinvents The Tech Industry Drama Series

REVIEW: ‘The Playlist’ Reinvents The Tech Industry Drama Series

Kate SánchezBy Kate Sánchez10/16/20224 Mins Read
the playlist But Why Tho
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

the playlist But Why Tho

Making a docuseries on tech companies is the thing to do this year. WeCrashed, The Dropout, and Super Pumped all came out this year chronicling the eccentricities, bad business decisions, or plain-out harmful lies spread by tech company CEOs. But all of these, tell one version of the truth. They’re all straightforward and most of them throw some sort of sympathetic line out to the CEO in question. That said, The Playlist, a Swedish Netflix Original miniseries doesn’t tell one truth, it tells many.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Directed by Per-Olav Sørensen and Hallgrim Haug, the six-episode series excels in unpacking reality as it looks to the different people involved in the success of Spotify. The Playlist centers around the young Swedish tech entrepreneur, Daniel Ek (Edvin Endre), and his key partners who revolutionized the music industry by offering free and legal streamed music around the world. It is a story about how hard convictions, unrelenting will, access, and big dreams can help small players challenge the status quo by evolving the way we can all listen to music.

But what separates this drama series from others like it, is that we see success unfold from many perspectives. Instead of just focusing on Ek, each episode switches point of view around many of the same situations from the viewpoint of the executives involved in Spotify’s launch and success. What this does, is spread out Spotify’s success from being centered on one person and instead showcases how these companies are made on the backs of many, even if they don’t get the recognition.

Each episode is titled for the perspective it presents, “The Vision” centered on Ek, “The Industry” showcases the perspective of music executive Per Sundin (Ulf Stenberg) and the impact of Pirate Bay, “The Law” highlights the complex legal landscape through the eyes Petra Hansson (Gizem Erdogan), “The Coder” highlights the overlooked technical expertise that went into Spotify from Andreas Ehn (Joel Lützow), “The Partner” highlights the money backing it all from co-founder Martin Lorentzon (Christian Hillborg), and finally, “The Artist” brings Spotify to court from Bobbi T’s (Janice Kavander) point of view and how the streaming service exploits artists. Some of these narratives work together, some undercut others, and in the overlap is where you can find the truth.

This narrative structure allows The Playlist to show each person involved in Spotify in different lights. While Daniel Ek sees himself as a god among coders who wants to honor his employees, Andreas Ehn sees Daniel as an owner who is completely detached from what can actually happen from a coder perspective. And the truth is, the only positive spotlight that Daniel Ek is painted in, comes from himself.  But he isn’t always mean, sometimes he’s ignorant, others he’s a coward, and yet, each perspective still leads everyone to the same party celebrating the launch.

Additionally, while this offers a rich look at the creation of a company that most of us use daily now, the choice to spiral out the story from key events all seen by the same people is superb. Somehow, this series manages to capture all the notes set by previous biographical drama projects set in the tech industry while creating something new and different. It captures how many people go into creating success and how all of them contribute to harm and joy. How each person brings their own wants and expectations to the table, and ultimately what it all means in the grand scheme of things.

The Playlist is near perfect. The mini-series sets the bar high for all biographical dramas to come after it. Particularly because it captures the ills of the tech industry, the joy, the fallout, and the many many people that all go into one success even if CEOs want to take all the glory or media wants to give them all the blame.

The Playlist is streaming now, exclusively on Netflix.

The Playlist
  • 9/10
    Rating - 9/10
9/10

TL;DR

The Playlist is near perfect. The mini-series sets the bar high for all biographical dramas to come after it. Particularly because it captures the ills of the tech industry, the joy, the fallout, and the many many people that all go into one success even if CEOs want to take all the glory or media wants to give them all the blame.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘Spy x Family,’ Episode 15 — “A New Family Member”
Next Article REVIEW: ‘House of the Dragon,’ Episode 9 — “The Green Council”
Kate Sánchez
  • Website
  • X (Twitter)
  • Instagram

Kate Sánchez is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of But Why Tho? A Geek Community. There, she coordinates film, television, anime, and manga coverage. Kate is also a freelance journalist writing features on video games, anime, and film. Her focus as a critic is championing animation and international films and television series for inclusion in awards cycles. Find her on Bluesky @ohmymithrandir.bsky.social

Related Posts

Taecyeon and Seohyun in The First Night With The Duke Episodes 7-8
7.5

REVIEW: ‘The First Night With The Duke’ Episodes 7-8

07/03/2025
Anthony Ramos in Ironheart Episodes 4-6

REVIEW: ‘Ironheart’ Episodes 4-6

07/01/2025
The Bear Season 4 But Why Tho 3
7.0

REVIEW: ‘The Bear’ Season 4 Tries to Bounce Back

06/30/2025
Squid Game Season 3
9.5

REVIEW: ‘Squid Game’ Season 3 Delivers An Emotion-Filled Finale

06/27/2025
Taecyeon in The First Night With The Duke Episodes 5-6
7.5

REVIEW: ‘The First Night With The Duke’ Episodes 5-6

06/26/2025
Cho Yi-hyun in Head Over Heels Episodes 1-2
8.0

REVIEW: ‘Head Over Heels’ Episodes 1-2

06/24/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Taecyeon and Seohyun in The First Night With The Duke Episodes 7-8
7.5
TV

REVIEW: ‘The First Night With The Duke’ Episodes 7-8

By Sarah Musnicky07/03/2025

The First Night With The Duke Episodes 7-8 spends welcome time in pre-domestic bliss before new developments stir up trouble.

Together (2025) still from Sundance
8.0
Film

REVIEW: Have A Grossly Good Time ‘Together’

By Kate Sánchez01/27/2025Updated:07/04/2025

Dave Franco and Alison Brie’s Together (2025) is disgustingly funny, genuinely ugly, and just a good time at the movies.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 and 4 Alcatraz
9.0
PS5

REVIEW: ‘Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 + 4’ Gives Old Games New Life

By Kyle Foley07/07/2025

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and 4 is another example of how to breathe new life into a classic without losing touch of what makes the originals great.

Black Women Anime — But Why Tho (9) BWT Recommends

10 Black Women in Anime That Made Me Feel Seen

By LaNeysha Campbell11/11/2023Updated:12/03/2024

Black women are some of anime’s most iconic characters, and that has a big impact on Black anime fans. Here are some of our favorites.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here