Calls

Calls strings together a web of phone conversations to reveal how ordinary lives begin to unravel as an apocalyptic threat nears. Episodes are short and almost entirely voice-driven, so the plot emerges through overheard talks, missed messages, and emergency broadcasts. You piece together relationships, motives, and small decisions that escalate into wider consequences, with tension created by timing, tone, and what people refuse to say. Visuals are spare and suggestive, often secondary to audio cues, so the series relies on mood and implication rather than showing events outright. It keeps key revelations offscreen, letting the voice performances and soundscape carry most of the narrative weight.

Released in 2021, the series was created by Fede Álvarez and Timothée Hochet. The production adapts a sound-first approach to television, presenting compact, dialogue-heavy episodes that foreground editing and design over traditional visuals.

The show received mixed to positive responses, reflected in a user vote average of 7.013/10 from 186 votes. Reviewers praised its inventive use of sound and tight episodic structure, and many viewers responded to themes about connection, responsibility, and fear of the unknown. Some critics noted the format rewards patience, while others wanted more visual payoff.

Because it upended expectations for how a TV drama can tell a story, Calls sparked conversations about audio storytelling on streaming platforms. It attracted attention from sound designers and genre fans, and it got people talking online about how much narrative can be conveyed through voices alone, influencing discussions about form in contemporary TV.

The series did not become a mainstream awards favorite, but it found a niche audience that appreciated its technical ambition. Its strongest recognition came in commentary and craft-focused conversations, especially around sound mixing, editing, and how those elements shape dramatic tension.