An Anthology Show With Standalone Stories
Unlike a typical TV series with an overarching narrative, Cabinet of Curiosities is an anthology show. This means each episode features a completely self-contained story with different characters, settings and plotlines that are not directly connected.
While del Toro serves as the curator and executive producer overseeing the project, each episode has been written and directed by different filmmakers known for their work in sci-fi and horror. These include the likes of Panos Cosmatos (Mandy), Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight), and Vincenzo Natali (Cube).
With each episode being its own standalone narrative, viewers do not have to watch Cabinet of Curiosities in any particular order. The episodes are not sequentially linked, so the stories can be watched in any sequence without losing impact or meaning.
No Impact On Enjoyment or Coherence
Watching the anthology out of order will not affect your understanding or enjoyment of each self-contained story.
For example, viewing Episode 3 before Episode 2 does not provide any spoilers or confusion since they feature completely different plots, characters and themes. The episodes are meant to give you a sample of the diverse modern horror stories that del Toro wanted to showcase through collaborations with different directors and writers.
You can watch Cabinet of Curiosities by starting with whatever episode premise, director or cast intrigues you the most. The episodes can be viewed in any sequence without losing coherence.
Episodes Vary In Tone and Sub-Genre
While all of the stories fall under the horror anthology umbrella, the episodes experiment with different sub-genres, tones, settings and eras.
For instance, some episodes like Graveyard Rats are gory supernatural thrillers while The Outside is more of a sci-fi tale. Pickman’s Model adapts an H.P. Lovecraft story into a neo-noir crime thriller while The Viewing is a Victorian gothic tale.
Due to the range, watching the episodes randomly means you will get to experience horror stories across the spectrum. You can bounce between eras, tones and formats based on your personal preferences.
Production Order vs. Release Order
Cabinet of Curiosities was shot in production order starting with Graveyard Rats in February 2021 through May 2021 when they wrapped The Viewing.
However, the episodes were completed in post-production and released on Netflix out of production order. So while Graveyard Rats was the first episode shot, it was set as Episode 4 in the show’s release pattern.
This further confirms that Cabinet’s episodes were produced as standalone stories to be aired in any sequence. So don’t worry about production dates or attempting to watch in shooting order.
Release Order If You Prefer Sequence
While each entry can be enjoyed on its own, if you prefer to watch TV shows in release order, that sequence for Cabinet of Curiosities is:
- Lot 36
- Graveyard Rats
- The Autopsy
- Pickman’s Model
- Dreams in the Witch House
- The Viewing
- The Outside
- The Murmuring
This order was likely chosen by Netflix to provide a mix of directors, tones and sub-genres across the 8 episodes.
Key Takeaways
- Cabinet of Curiosities features standalone, unrelated horror stories so episodes can be watched in any order.
- There are no overarching storylines or characters spanning multiple episodes.
- The anthology format and varied directors showcase diverse sub-genres and eras of horror.
- Production order differs from Netflix’s release order but episodes work as standalone stories regardless of sequence.
- If you prefer order, follow the Netflix release order, but random viewing works just as well.
So in summary, while an order exists, viewers are not required to watch Cabinet of Curiosities episodes in any particular sequence. Feel free to handpick episodes based on what intrigues you the most from the anthology’s diverse horror offerings.
Frequently Asked Questions About Watch Order for Cabinet of Curiosities
Do the Cabinet of Curiosities episodes connect to each other?
No, each Cabinet episode features completely different characters, settings and storylines. There are no narrative connections between the episodes.
Should I watch Cabinet of Curiosities in release order or production order?
You can watch the episodes in any order, but release order provides a mix of horror genres and production styles if you prefer sequence.
Does each Cabinet of Curiosities episode have a different director?
Yes, each episode has been directed by a different established horror filmmaker like Jennifer Kent, Panos Cosmatos and Guillermo Navarro.
Can I watch Cabinet out of order or by picking episodes randomly?
Absolutely, the standalone nature of an anthology series means you can view Cabinet of Curiosities in any order of your choosing.
Do the Cabinet episodes tie back to del Toro’s wider film universe?
No, while del Toro curated Cabinet of Curiosities, the episodes are standalone stories unconnected to del Toro’s past films.
What is the best episode of Cabinet of Curiosities to watch first?
Since episodes work on their own, start with whichever entry intrigues you most based on the director, cast, genre or premise that aligns with your tastes.