Netflix has released Catalog (original title: كتالوج), an Egyptian series that explores the intersection of grief, family, and technology. The family dramedy centers on a recently widowed father who must learn to raise his two children by following a series of instructional videos his late wife recorded before her death. The narrative is grounded in the complexities of contemporary Arab family life, presenting a story of loss navigated through a uniquely modern form of posthumous guidance. This central device frames the series not only as a journey through mourning but also as an examination of how a digital legacy can shape the lives of the living, mediating the most intimate of relationships even after a person is gone.
A Father’s Uncharted Territory
The series introduces Youssef, a man defined by his career. Characterized as a workaholic, he was emotionally disconnected from the daily routines of his family life before the sudden loss of his wife, Amina. Thrust into the role of a single parent to his children, Osama and Karima, Youssef is immediately overwhelmed. He is out of sync with their needs and struggles to connect with them, finding that his abstract sense of devotion is insufficient for the practical, moment-to-moment demands of parenthood. The narrative portrays him not as a bad father, but as an ill-equipped one, highlighting the tension between his identity as a devoted family man and the reality of his actions.
His life changes when he discovers the “catalog,” a digital archive of videos Amina created. This collection serves as a comprehensive crash course in parenting, offering practical advice on a wide range of topics, from managing his children’s emotions to performing simple tasks like tying a ponytail. Each video becomes a daily guide, a roadmap that helps him navigate his grief while simultaneously rebuilding a connection with his children. His journey is one of transforming passive intention into active, learned practice, as he clumsily attempts to follow his late wife’s digital instructions to become the father his children need.
The Anatomy of a Modern Family
Catalog blends drama, comedy, and family storytelling to create a narrative that is both emotionally raw and quietly humorous. The series explores how families evolve in the face of profound loss and how individuals, particularly men, are reshaped by the weight of new responsibilities. It also advances the theme that it takes a community, or a “village,” to raise a family, showcasing a network of supporting characters who influence Youssef’s journey.
The character dynamics are central to this exploration. Youssef’s arc is a slow, complex transition from a passive presence in his children’s lives to an active, committed parent, a process marked by guilt, confusion, and gradual growth. Although Amina is deceased, her character is a constant and pivotal force. Through her pre-recorded videos, she functions as a posthumous matriarch, her maternal foresight and enduring love actively shaping her family’s future. Her role is not that of a tragic memory but of a continued presence, whose recorded wisdom represents a transfer of the emotional and domestic labor she once shouldered.
This dynamic is supported by an ensemble of characters who form Youssef’s “village.” This includes the neighbor George (Bayoumi Fouad), whose advice is both unhelpful and essential; Om Hashem (Samah Anwar), the woman who helps maintain the household’s functionality; and Osama (Ahmed Essam al-Sayed), Amina’s brother, who serves as both comic relief and an emotional catalyst. The quiet humor of the series often arises from Youssef’s interactions with this support system and his fumbling attempts to implement Amina’s instructions, underscoring the gap between knowing what to do and having the experience to do it effectively.
The Talent Behind the Camera and On Screen
The series is helmed by a team of established Egyptian talent whose collective experience shapes its distinct tonal balance. The central role of Youssef is played by Mohamed Farrag, a prolific actor known for his dramatic range and emotionally layered performances. The pivotal guest role of the late wife, Amina, is portrayed by Riham Abdel Ghafour. The ensemble cast includes Tara Emad as Howaida, Khaled Kamal as Hanafy, Sedky Sakhr as Tamer, and the renowned comedic actor Bayoumi Fouad as George.
Behind the camera, the series is directed by Waleed El Halfawy, a filmmaker with a significant background in comedy, including films like Wesh X Wesh and series such as Fi Betna Robot. The decision to pair a director experienced in comedy with a dramatic premise about grief is a specific creative choice, designed to ensure the story’s moments of levity are handled with expertise. The screenplay is written by Ayman Wattar, an architect-turned-writer known for his work on the satirical news show The Program and several successful comedies. Ahmed El Ganainy serves as producer. This strategic combination of a dramatic lead, a director and writer skilled in humor, and a talented supporting cast is calculated to deliver the series’ intended blend of heartfelt drama and gentle comedy.
An Egyptian Production for a Global Audience
Catalog is a significant entry in Netflix’s growing library of Arabic-language original content. As an Egyptian production, it follows previous Netflix series from the region, such as Paranormal, Drama Queen, and Jinn. Its creation is indicative of the streaming platform’s larger global strategy, which has increasingly focused on producing localized content that can also appeal to an international viewership. The narrative is deliberately and authentically grounded in the everyday realities of Arab family life, featuring a prominent local cast and crew to ensure cultural resonance.
At the same time, the series is built on universal themes of grief, single parenthood, family responsibility, and the enduring nature of love. This thematic core allows the story to function on two distinct levels: as a piece of resonant local programming for its primary market and as a compelling foreign-language drama for Netflix’s global audience. The series is a clear example of Netflix’s strategic shift toward a catalog dominated by original and exclusive productions, which surpassed 50% of its US library for the first time in 2022.
The series is a family dramedy that explores the challenges of modern fatherhood through its unique narrative structure.
Catalog premiered exclusively on Netflix on July 17, 2025.
