The classic Italian adventure story, Sandokan – originally a series of novels, then a popular 1976 TV show and cartoon – has been reimagined and was released last year. You can now watch it on Netflix.
The show features several well-known actors, including John Hannah from The Mummy. He calls it a heartwarming, classic family drama with a central love story.
The series takes place in Borneo during the mid-1800s and stars Can Yaman as Sandokan, a pirate battling to protect his crew against British colonial powers.
The story follows a romance between the protagonist and Marianna (played by Alanah Bloor, the daughter of the British consul). This relationship creates trouble when they clash with Lord James Brooke (Ed Westwick from Gossip Girl), a determined pirate hunter with his own hidden goals, according to the official description.
With the British increasing their harsh treatment of the Dayak people, Sandokan must step up and become a hero – transforming into the famed Tiger of Malaya.
Growing up in the later part of the 20th century, I really felt like things were getting better. It seemed like society was moving forward, becoming more open-minded and caring. We were learning to understand and feel for other people’s struggles, and it felt like a genuinely positive shift.
Sadly, things have changed for the worse recently, and it’s truly upsetting and painful to see.
Hannah portrays Sergeant Murray, an employee of Lord Guillonk at the British consulate. A lot of his job involves looking after the independent and lively Marianna, though we gradually discover more about his own story as the series progresses.
He’s a reserved person, deeply affected by his past, and as the story unfolds, you begin to understand the reasons behind his concern for Marianna. We also learn about the long-standing connection between him and me. Later, we discover that Murray feels responsible for something and wants to make amends, which he ultimately does by the end of the series.
Playing that role really resonated with me, both personally and as a father. It felt especially meaningful to explore those themes, considering my own life stage and the ages of my children.
The story has a lot of different storylines and characters all connected to each other. It’s not just focused on the main characters – everyone has their own background and plays a part in how the story unfolds.
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Sandokan is streaming now on Netflix now. Season 4 is coming in 2026.
Don’t miss Sandokan! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app now for daily TV recommendations and exclusive content.
Authors
I’ve been following Abby Robinson’s work for a while now – she’s the Drama Editor over at TopMob, and really knows her stuff when it comes to TV dramas and comedies. Before that, she was writing about TV at Digital Spy, and even did some content writing for Mumsnet. She’s clearly got a strong background in writing, with both a degree and a postgraduate diploma in English Studies. I always check out what she’s recommending!
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2026-01-21 11:43