What to watch this weekend.
Credit: Paramount / Sony / Apple TV
Rival organized crime gangs in bloody shootouts on the streets of London. Twisty-turny spy dramas. Nightmarish horror stories based on popular video games. And animated 4th graders who somehow manage to still be the most cutting satire of current affairs even in their 29th season. All these and more can be found below in this weekend’s sprawling friendly neighborhood weekend streaming guide.
There are a few shows that have left the list recently and a few more that are ending soon. Meanwhile, some very exciting new additions have joined the fray.
The fourth season of Reacher wrapped up this past week, going out with a genuinely terrible Season 4 finale that I skewered both here on this blog – where I called it a “profoundly stupid finale” – and on my YouTube channel:
Other shows, like Peacock’s charming Office sequel, The Paper, dropped the entire batch episodes at once and so off the guide they go, even though I’d love to keep telling you to go watch. I’m really enjoying the second season of The Paper, so give it a shot.
The Walking Dead: Dead City also came to an end last Sunday. It’s the first show in the TWD series that I have skipped in a very long time. I just couldn’t bring myself to watch anymore of that ridiculous Negan / Maggie pairing.
Lioness drops its Season 3 finale this weekend as well, so that will soon be leaving this guide after this week’s edition. I’m almost all the way caught up, so look for my Season 3 finale review on Sunday alongside my coverage of Lanterns. I’ve been enjoying Lioness a lot, actually, which is no surprise given I’m a huge sucker for military / spy thrillers and this checks all the right boxes, even if sometimes Sheridan spends a bit too much time up on the soapbox.
Other shows that have recently aired season finales include The Shards, Ghost in the Shell and Conan O’Brien Must Go.
We also got to enjoy some amazing wins at the Emmys this past week, with my favorite show of the year, Widow’s Bay, setting some impressive records, and Matthew Rhys winning two Outstanding Actor awards. You can read all about the winners right here.
Also check out the top Netflix movies of September here.
What To Watch This Weekend
As per usual, I’ve searched the internet high and low for the best TV shows and movies streaming on Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV, Disney+ and beyond for you to watch this weekend.
NOTE: I haven’t watched all of these (some aren’t out by the time this gets posted and others are just not in my review schedule), so some of these are my own personal recommendations while others are just things to keep on your radar.
Naturally, if you have any recommendations, tips or other thoughts feel free to shoot me a note. Let me know what you’re watching these days, or if you’ve enjoyed anything you’ve found thanks to this guide, on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. Be sure to also check out last weekend’s streaming guide below:
And away we go!
New TV Shows To Watch This Weekend
Neagley – Season 1 (Prime Video)
What It’s About: Maria Sten reprises her Reacher role as Frances Neagley, the former Army investigator turned Chicago private eye who sets out to uncover the truth after a close friend dies in what appears to be a suspicious accident. Alan Ritchson guest stars as Jack Reacher, while Greyston Holt, Adeline Rudolph and Damon Herriman round out the cast. Reacher showrunner Nick Santora co-created the spinoff with Nicholas Wootton. The series currently has a strong 92% Rotten Tomatoes score. All eight episodes premiered on Prime Video Wednesday, Sept. 16.
Why You Should Watch: I’m going to watch solely out of curiosity. I was never a big fan of Neagley in Reacher and Reacher has gone so far downhill that my hopes for this show are in the gutter. On the other hand, I figure it has to be better than Reacher Season 4, and so I’m holding out that last small sliver of hope. All eight episodes are out now to binge, so I’m going to dive in after I catch up on Lioness.
Golden Axe (Paramount+)
What It’s About: Sega’s classic 1989 hack-and-slash game becomes an animated fantasy-comedy following Ax Battler, Tyris Flare and Gilius Thunderhead as they once again attempt to stop the seemingly unkillable Death Adder, this time saddled with an enthusiastic but spectacularly unqualified adventurer named Hampton Squib. Star Trek: Lower Decks creator Mike McMahan and Joe Chandler created the series, with Liam McIntyre, Lisa Gilroy, Matthew Rhys and Danny Pudi providing the principal voices. All 10 episodes premiered on Paramount+ Wednesday, Sept. 16.
Why You Should Watch: I loved the Golden Axe arcade game as a kid so much that I’ve already written up a separate piece all about this new animated show, which stars Widow’s Bay lead, Matthew Rhys, now the only actor to ever win Outstanding Actor at the Emmys in Comedy, Drama and Limited Series. I’ll report back soon on whether this lives up to the classic fantasy game.
Slow Horses – Season 6 (Apple TV)
What It’s About: Gary Oldman’s wonderfully disheveled Jackson Lamb and the rest of Slough House return for another season of espionage, betrayal and MI5 dysfunction, with River Cartwright dealing with the aftermath of his grandfather’s death while a string of suspicious killings puts the team in danger. Season 6 draws from Mick Herron’s Joe Country and Slough House and brings back Jack Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas, Hugo Weaving and, notably, Olivia Cooke as Sid Baker. Gaby Chiappe takes over showrunning duties from Will Smith. The new season currently has 100% on Rotten Tomatoes from 21 reviews. Season 6 premiered Sept. 16, with new episodes every Wednesday through the Oct. 21 finale.
Why You Should Watch: Simply put, this is the best spy thriller on TV and one of the best UK dramedies out there. It’s so tightly paced, well-written and intense and manages to always balance its more poignant or action-packed moments against its more humorous tone with such skill, it almost beggars belief. Apple really struck gold with this one. While Season 5 was a little on the goofier side, Season 6 appears to be much darker. I’m excited. You can read my recap/review of the Season 6 premiere here.
MobLand – Season 2 (Paramount+)
What It’s About: Tom Hardy returns as Harrigan fixer Harry Da Souza as the London crime family’s empire begins to fracture under pressure from enemies both inside and outside the organization. Pierce Brosnan, Helen Mirren and Paddy Considine return, with Johnny Flynn and Ophelia Lovibond among this season’s additions. Ronan Bennett created the series, with Hardy among its executive producers. Season 2 currently has 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, though that’s based on just five reviews so far. The 10-episode season premiered Friday, Sept. 18, with new episodes weekly through the Nov. 20 finale.
Why You Should Watch: I think this show should have been called “Harry and the Harrigans” but it’s probably better that they went with MobLand. I actually slept on the first season of this until recently and then binged right through it, start to finish. It’s absolutely riveting stuff. Tom Hardy is fantastic, but Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren really elevate this show to something special. They play the patriarch and matriarch of the Harrigan crime family and they play these outlandish, larger-than-life characters with such gusto. It’s quite something. Season 1 ended on quite a cliffhanger, so I’m very eager to jump into Season 2!
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story (Netflix)
What It’s About: The fourth installment of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s Monster anthology tackles Lizzie Borden, the Massachusetts woman acquitted of murdering her father and stepmother with an axe in 1892. Ella Beatty stars as Lizzie alongside Vicky Krieps, Charlie Hunnam, Rebecca Hall, Billie Lourd and Jessica Barden, with Sarah Paulson appearing as serial killer Aileen Wuornos. It’s worth noting that the series takes major dramatic liberties with the historical record, including relationships, motives and events for which there is little or no evidence; Borden was acquitted and the murders remain officially unsolved. All eight episodes premiered on Netflix Thursday, Sept. 17.
Why You Should Watch: I have yet to watch any of the “Monster” true crime dramas, but they’re very popular and if you enjoy them, here’s another one! I don’t think Lizzie Borden comes anywhere close to as frightening or evil as guys like Dahmer, but the fact that she was a woman in the late 19th century accused of killing her parents makes her quite the rarity.
The Traitors: New Blood (Peacock)
What It’s About: Alan Cumming returns to his Scottish castle for a new spin on Peacock’s Emmy-winning social-deduction hit, but this time the celebrities and veteran reality stars are gone. New Blood features 22 ordinary Americans—from an astrophysicist to a dog groomer—divided between Faithfuls trying to identify the hidden Traitors and Traitors secretly “murdering” their fellow contestants while everyone competes for a prize of up to $250,000. The new iteration also introduces an “accomplice” twist that complicates the usual Faithful-versus-Traitor dynamic. The two-episode premiere aired on NBC Thursday, Sept. 17 and began streaming on Peacock Friday, Sept. 18; new episodes air Thursdays on NBC and stream the following day on Peacock. A finale date has not yet been announced due to the nature of the game.
Why You Should Watch: I watched a bit of this, despite my general moratorium on all things reality TV, and I can see the appeal. The Scottish castle alone is almost worth the price of admission, and Alan Cumming is a terrific host. I think the new accomplice twist is a fun way to keep things fresh. But I should probably go back and watch earlier seasons. If anyone wants to recommend the best starting point, I’m all ears.
City of Blood (Hulu / Disney+)
What It’s About: This German dystopian vampire thriller imagines a future Berlin ravaged by climate change, where the wealthy live safely beneath a climate-controlled dome while everyone else struggles amid crime and corruption. Estranged sisters Bea and Phoebe find themselves reunited just as they discover that vampires aren’t merely lurking in the shadows—they’ve taken over organized crime and are making a play for political power. Lea Drinda and Soma Pysall star, with Philipp Kadelbach and Elena Lyubarskaya creating the series. All eight episodes premiered on Hulu and Disney+ Wednesday, Sept. 16.
Why You Should Watch: I don’t do a ton of foreign language stuff in these guides, but this has such a juicy premise. A post-apocalyptic Germany where people live in climate-domes but also there are vampires. You can take almost any premise and this makes it more exciting. Like, for instance: A family in the great depression is trying to make it on their farm, facing drought and foreclosure and there are vampires. Or: Two brothers return to the south with ill-gotten gains from robbing their boss in the Chicago mob and start a gin joint for Black people. Things seem to be going great until vampires show up. See? Just add vampires to anything and it’s basically like salt.
Route 187 (Paramount)
What It’s About: Set in the fictional city of South Winslow, this gritty ensemble crime drama follows the people who live and work along the notorious No. 87 bus route, nicknamed “Route 187” after the California penal code for homicide. The story branches out from a violent attack aboard the bus into interconnected plots involving gangs, missing women, drug operations, struggling families and a journalist investigating what’s happening in the community. The series is produced by Tyler Perry and written by Perry Studios veteran Mark E. Swinton. All four episodes premiered on Paramount+ Wednesday, Sept. 16.
Why You Should Watch: I’m not sure if Tyler Perry is the Black Taylor Sheridan or if Taylor Sheridan is the white Tyler Perry. Whatever the case, the same general rules apply. Tyler Perry makes a ton of TV shows and if you enjoy them, you should probably check this one out. It’s kind of nice that it’s just four episodes, just a little mini-series with a pretty compelling murder mystery at its heart.
South Park – aka South America (Paramount+)
What It’s About: Trey Parker and Matt Stone return with the 29th season of their long-running animated satire, temporarily rechristened South America as part of the show’s latest running joke. The premiere, “South American Biker Gangs,” revolves around an e-bike craze overtaking the town and escalating into the sort of increasingly deranged civic conflict the show specializes in. The abbreviated season runs just six episodes and follows an unusual biweekly schedule. Episodes air every other Wednesday on Comedy Central—Sept. 16 and 30, Oct. 14 and 28, and Nov. 11 and 25—and stream the following day on Paramount+, putting the streaming finale on Nov. 26.
Why You Should Watch: I love South Park, though I guess it’s South America now that it’s been renamed, just like Lake Ontar–sorry, Lake America. And the America Mountains. Why do states even have names anymore? Hawaii should just be America Island. California can be West America. Texas can be Panhandle America. But I digress. South Park is back for its 29th season, which makes me feel old since I’ve been watching this entire time. Nobody does political satire quite like South Park, er, South America.
Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85 – Season 2 (Netflix)
What It’s About: Netflix’s animated Stranger Things spinoff returns to Hawkins in the winter of 1985, picking up directly after the first season as Eleven, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Will, Max and Nikki investigate another paranormal threat—this time involving an apparent haunting. The original characters are voiced by a new cast, while Matt and Ross Duffer and Shawn Levy return as executive producers. Early reviews are decidedly mixed, with Season 2 currently sitting at 50% on Rotten Tomatoes from six reviews. All eight Season 2 episodes premiered on Netflix Thursday, Sept. 17.
Why You Should Watch: You probably shouldn’t. After the disaster that was Stranger Things 5, I gave up Stranger Things entirely and skipped the first season of this animated show. I didn’t even realize a second season was coming out. They missed such an obvious opportunity here to make this show look like a 1980s Saturday morning cartoon. It was such an obvious choice and they blew it. What a mess this once-great IP has become.
Pokémon Horizons: Season 3: Rising Hope – Part 4 (Netflix)
What It’s About: The final batch of Rising Hope episodes finds Liko, Roy, Dot, Ult and the re-formed Rising Volt Tacklers racing to stop the Explorers’ latest scheme, which could fundamentally alter the relationship between Pokémon and their Trainers. The storyline continues the larger Laquium mystery while bringing Season 3 to its conclusion. All 13 episodes of Part 4 arrived on Netflix Friday, Sept. 18, completing Season 3.
Why You Should Watch: I’m not really a Pokemon guy, but a lot of kids (and plenty of adults) love this stuff. Well, now there’s more adorable Pokemon to catch on Netflix.
New Movies To Watch This Weekend
The End Of Oak Street (VOD)
What It’s About: It Follows director David Robert Mitchell returns with an original sci-fi creature feature starring Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor as parents whose suburban neighborhood is ripped from the modern world by a mysterious cosmic event and dropped into a hostile, seemingly prehistoric environment. Christian Convery and Maisy Stella play their children, while J.J. Abrams is among the producers and Michael Giacchino composed the score. The film currently has an impressive 86% on Rotten Tomatoes from more than 300 reviews. Available to rent or buy digitally beginning Sept. 15.
Why You Should Watch: I meant to write a review about this movie but didn’t get around to it. I actually thought it was a blast. Finally somebody tried something new with dinosaurs after several decades of Jurassic [fill in the blank] dominance. Only Jurassic Park has been a genuinely great movie, and The End Of Oak Street doesn’t come close, but it’s still funny and a little outrageous and there are some great tense moments and laughs. I enjoyed it more than all the cash grab Jurassic Park sequels. At least it’s an original idea! Give it a watch (though maybe wait for it to go to streaming).
Stop! That! Train! (Netflix)
What It’s About: This deliberately ridiculous disaster-movie spoof stars Ginger Minj and Jujubee as best friends and train attendants who land jobs aboard the glamorous Glamazonian Express—only to find themselves trying to save the train when a massive storm threatens to send it crashing into Los Angeles. RuPaul plays President Gagwell, with Symone, Brooke Lynn Hytes and Marcia Marcia Marcia among the ensemble. Adam Shankman directs the Airplane!-style comedy, which has a surprisingly strong 85% Rotten Tomatoes score from 81 reviews. Streams on Netflix beginning Sunday, Sept. 20.
Why You Should Watch: This looks hilarious. Basically 2026’s Airplane but way, way, way more gay. If that doesn’t sound fabulous enough for you, I don’t know what to say. RuPaul as the president is actually a much more likely future than the US getting that fancy high-speed rail that this movie centers on. That’s about as likely as free universal healthcare!
The AI Doc: Or How I Became An Apocaloptimist (Netflix)
What It’s About: Oscar-winning Navalny director Daniel Roher and Charlie Tyrell examine the promise and potential dangers of artificial intelligence through the eyes of Roher, an expectant father trying to understand what the technology could mean for his child’s future. The documentary features interviews with researchers, executives and AI critics and counts Everything Everywhere All At Once producer Jonathan Wang and director Daniel Kwan among its producers. It currently has 88% on Rotten Tomatoes from 56 reviews. The film arrived on Netflix Sept. 15.
Why You Should Watch: I don’t know if I can do it, ladies and gentlemen. The trailer for this documentary is excellent and terrifying and I’ve already been hit so hard by AI in my profession that I don’t know if I can stomach a documentary where experts are talking about how they don’t even want to have kids because of what AI is going to do to the world. I’m trying not to be a crazy doom and gloomer, of course, because AI will also do some really crazy cool stuff. But doom and gloom surround us . . . . it’s hard not to worry.
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (Hulu)
Hobbes and Shaw
Credit: Universal Pictures
What It’s About: Dwayne Johnson’s Luke Hobbs and Jason Statham’s Deckard Shaw are forced to stop trying to kill each other long enough to take on Idris Elba’s cybernetically enhanced supervillain Brixton, who has obtained a potentially world-ending biological weapon. David Leitch (John Wick, Atomic Blonde) directs the completely preposterous 2019 Fast & Furious spinoff, with Vanessa Kirby and Helen Mirren also starring. It holds 67% on Rotten Tomatoes and a considerably stronger 88% audience score. Added to Hulu Monday, Sept. 14.
Why You Should Watch: I keep meaning to watch this one simply because there’s no way I’m ever going to watch all the Fast and the Furious movies, but I like Jason Statham and seeing these two bald action stars in a buddy cop style spin on the franchise sounds fun.
New Movies In Theaters This Weekend
Resident Evil
What It’s About: Barbarian and Weapons filmmaker Zach Cregger takes a crack at Capcom’s survival-horror franchise with a complete cinematic reboot rather than a continuation of the previous films. Austin Abrams stars as Bryan, a medical courier who finds himself trapped in an increasingly nightmarish fight for survival as one catastrophic night descends into zombie-infested chaos; Paul Walter Hauser, Kali Reis and Zach Cherry also star. Early reviews are exceptional for the franchise: 96% on Rotten Tomatoes from more than 100 critics. In theaters Friday, Sept. 18.
Why You Should Watch: Look for my review here on this blog and on my YouTube channel. I saw this Thursday and I have so much to say about it but I don’t want to say it here. I’ll update this post when my review goes live. TL;DR – it’s really excellent!
The Weight
What It’s About: Set in Oregon during the Great Depression, The Weight stars Ethan Hawke as Samuel Murphy, a widowed prisoner offered early release if he agrees to transport a shipment of gold through dangerous wilderness—an arrangement that quickly begins to fall apart as greed, betrayal and desperation take over. Russell Crowe plays the brutal prison-camp warden behind the deal, with Julia Jones, Austin Amelio and Avi Nash also starring. Padraic McKinley directs, and the film currently boasts 92% on Rotten Tomatoes from 77 reviews. In theaters Friday, Sept. 18.
Why You Should Watch: The stellar review scores are encouraging. I really like Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe and putting them in the same movie finally just makes sense. I love a good period drama, also, and the heist elements and ticking clock of Samuel trying to get back to his daughter make this sound tense and exciting.
Shaun the Sheep: The Beast Of Mossy Bottom
What It’s About: Aardman’s third Shaun the Sheep feature puts a Halloween spin on the mostly dialogue-free stop-motion franchise. After the Farmer ruins the flock’s pumpkin patch, Shaun’s attempt to fix the problem with a little mad science leads to enormous pumpkins, a missing Farmer and rumors of a strange hairy monster roaming the countryside. Steve Cox and Matthew Walker make their feature-directing debuts, working from a screenplay by Mark Burton and Giles Pilbrow. Reviews are essentially spotless so far, with 98% on Rotten Tomatoes from 43 critics. In theaters Friday, Sept. 18.
Why You Should Watch: If you’re a sane and well-adjusted person, you’re probably already a fan of Wallace & Gromit and the Shaun the Sheep claymation movies from Aardman. These films are always good, always well-reviewed by critics and fans, and this one is Halloween-themed so . . . basically a no-brainer.
TV Shows Currently Streaming Weekly
Lanterns – Season 1 (HBO Max)
What It’s About: DC’s True Detective-style take on Green Lantern: rookie John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) and veteran Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) investigate a Nebraska murder that opens onto something much larger, told across two timelines. Kelly Macdonald is Sheriff Kerry, Ulrich Thomsen plays Sinestro, Laura Linney a Guardian of the Universe, and Nathan Fillion reprises Guy Gardner from Superman. Co-created by Chris Mundy (Ozark), Damon Lindelof, and Tom King. New episodes land on Sunday evenings with the finale dropping on October 4. See the full release schedule and time zones right here.
Why You Should Watch: Week after week, I keep hoping that Lanterns will “click” for me and week after week I’m disappointed all over again (and then fans yell at me for not liking it, but such is life). The cast is certainly fantastic. Kyle Chandler is wonderful and really could carry an actually good Green Lantern show with his crackling charm. I enjoy Aaron Pierre, Kelly Macdonald and Garret Dillahunt as well. But the writing and pacing are all over the place. You can read my review of Episode 5 here. Watch my video discussion here.
Dark Matter – Season 2 (Apple TV)
Dark Matter
Credit: Apple TV
What It’s About: Joel Edgerton returns as physicist Jason Dessen alongside Jennifer Connelly as Daniela and Oakes Fegley as their son Charlie, with Alice Braga, Jimmi Simpson, Dayo Okeniyi and Amanda Brugel also returning. After the first season’s multiverse chaos, the Dessens attempt to settle in a seemingly safe reality while Jason’s obsession with the Box threatens to drag the family straight back into trouble. New episodes drop Fridays, though on Apple TV this actually means Thursday evenings, with the finale October 30 (or 29, as the case may be).
Why You Should Watch: It’s very rare for an author to adapt and show-run their own novel, but such is the case for Blake Crouch’s Dark Matter. Now Crouch moves into uncharted territory, taking his own story further in TV format than in book format, which is kind of cool and unique and hopefully means we’re in for a great second season. The good news? Season 2 has much higher ratings than Season 1 so far.
The Drop: A Snowfall Saga (FX / Hulu)
What It’s About: This Snowfall sequel shifts the story into 1990s Los Angeles, where Wanda Bell (Gail Bean) tries to build a future in the emerging West Coast rap scene while her former partner Leon Simmons (Isaiah John) attempts to leave street life behind. Wanda puts her hopes in her cousin Lamar (Asante Blackk) and an up-and-coming rapper as the music business, gang politics and the lingering fallout from the crack epidemic collide. The series is executive-produced by Snowfall veterans and Malcolm Spellman, who previously served as head writer on Marvel’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Why You Should Watch: I’ve had Snowfall on my list for ages and honestly now that I’ve seen so many others, from Breaking Bad to The Wire to The Shield and countless more, it might be time to put this into the rotation. I obviously have to watch the original series (which began airing in 2017 and ran for 60 episodes) before I can watch the sequel. Speaking of the sequel, The Drop premiered September 8 and currently has a 100% RT score, albeit from only six reviews. New episodes air Tuesdays on FX and stream on Hulu, with the eight-episode season finale landing October 27.
Last Seen (Apple TV)
What It’s About: Patrick Brammall stars as Ian Ridley, a former police detective whose young daughter Maggie disappeared without a trace 11 years earlier. Now working as a police dispatcher, Ian receives an emergency call from a teenage girl whose voice he is convinced belongs to Maggie, sending him on an increasingly desperate search for the daughter he never believed was dead. Maxine Peake and Brendan Cowell co-star. Last Seen premiered September 9 with two episodes, followed by one new episode every Wednesday through the six-episode finale on October 7. Of course, since this is Apple TV that means episodes will actually drop on Tuesday evenings.
Why You Should Watch: Brammall stars in two shows in this weekend’s guide, though they’re about as different from one another as you can get. Last Seen looks like a pretty intense thriller, though anything involving missing daughters is guaranteed to get me almost too stressed out to watch. I’m adding it to the list, of course.
A Killer Story (HBO Max)
What It’s About: This three-part true-crime documentary revisits the 2002 murders of Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness and the controversial prosecution of Sisco’s ex-wife Dana Chandler. Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Joe Sexton is drawn into the case after citizen sleuths Eileen and Keen Umbehr become convinced Chandler was wrongfully convicted, eventually raising questions about prosecutorial misconduct, media influence and confirmation bias. Matthew Galkin directs. The series premiered September 10 and is releasing weekly on Thursdays: Episode 2 arrives September 17 and the finale follows September 24.
Why You Should Watch: If you’re a true crime nut, I have heard from people that this is quite a compelling true crime docuseries. I’m not a huge fan of the genre or, rather, I don’t seek it out. I do listen to True Crime podcasts when I’m on road trips, however.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – Season 18 (FX / Hulu)
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia
Credit: Hulu
What It’s About: The Gang — Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Rob Mac, Kaitlin Olson and Danny DeVito — return to Paddy’s Pub for a 10-episode run that includes inheritance scams, tent encampments, workplace automation, neurodivergence, conspiracy theories, a Renaissance Faire, and a Little League sponsorship. What could go wrong? The season premiered this past Monday, August 17 with a two-episode drop. Weekly episodes land on Mondays with the finale airing on October 12. Season 18 is currently sitting at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Why You Should Watch: To be fair, I’m late to the game on Always Sunny, so I’m way way behind on this show and just put on episodes whenever I need a dose of hilarity in my life. Sometimes I end up binging three or four or five because life is filled with tragedy and the Gang always lifts my spirits. So why should you watch? First, because it will bring you joy. Second, because you’ll be like “there but for the grace of God go I.”
A Tale Of Two Cities (MGM+)
What It’s About: Charles Dickens’ classic gets a new four-part adaptation starring Kit Harington as brilliant but self-destructive lawyer Sydney Carton, Mirren Mack as Lucie Manette and François Civil as French émigré Charles Darnay. The story begins in 1782 London, where Lucie learns that the father she believed dead for nearly two decades may actually be alive in Paris. When Darnay is arrested for treason, she turns to Carton for help, setting in motion the famous love triangle against the growing turmoil between Britain and France. The miniseries premieres Sunday, Sept. 6 on MGM+, with new episodes each Sunday and the fourth and final installment airing Sept. 27.
Why You Should Watch: I haven’t seen this yet, and there are no reviews out on Rotten Tomatoes yet, either, which isn’t uncommon for more obscure titles on smaller streaming apps like MGM+. If you’re a fan of Kit Harington (Jon Snow in Game of Thrones) this is an obvious must-watch. It’s been years since I read A Tale of Two Cities, and the honest truth is, my memory of the details is rather fuzzy at this point. That might actually work in favor of the mini-series, since I won’t compare every last thing to the book! “It was the best of adaptations, it was the worst of adaptations…”
Fightland (Starz)
What It’s About: On the night Maduka “Duke” Kilroy (Howard Charles) becomes world heavyweight champion, an assault leaves his brother dead and lands him in a U.S. prison for eight years. Out and back in London, he sets out to destroy the empire of criminal kingpin and former promoter Kingsley Marshall (Nicholas Pinnock), the man he blames — complicated by the fact that Kingsley has vanished and his wife Joy (Deborah Ayorinde) is the love of Duke’s life. Charles Babalola and Anita-Joy Uwajeh co-star. New episodes drop Fridays with the season finale landing on September 25.
Why You Should Watch: I’m a few weeks late to this – it premiered on Starz on July 31. In any case, it’s co-produced by rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, marking his first international series. It’s a pretty compelling plot and has a reasonably strong 73% on Rotten Tomatoes. Also, boxing. Boxing is fun especially when the boxer in question is beating up criminals in East London.
Ted Lasso – Season 4 (Apple TV)
Ted Lasso
Credit: Apple TV
What It’s About: Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) returns to Richmond to coach a second-division women’s football team in this reboot of the popular Apple TV sports comedy series. Jack Burditt (30 Rock, Modern Family) takes over as showrunner for this new, more estrogen-charged spin on the fish-out-of-water TV show. New episodes drop on Wednesday (Tuesday evening for Apple TV) with ten episodes running through October 7.
Why You Should Watch: Honestly, the reason that Ted Lasso worked so well in the first season was precisely because it was a fish-out-of-water comedy. But a fish can only stay out of water for so long before, well, RIP fish. Ted was an adorable lead and head coach and despite his lack of experience or knowledge of soccer, his remarkable way with people took everyone off guard, including viewers. That affable, mustachioed man was the epitome of “I am rubber and you are glue” and nothing stuck to him. He made you want to believe (like Fox Mulder did back in the day, only about aliens and whatnot).
That rarest work of optimism and hope in a sea of cynicism was perfect in its first season. But it should have been a one-and-done series because it ran out of steam in Season 2 and I didn’t return for Season 3. Let me know if you think Season 4 is worth it or a misfire. I’ve heard mixed things.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – Season 4 (Paramount+)
Strange New Worlds
Credit: Paramount
What It’s About: The crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise is back for another round of adventures as Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) continues leading his crew across the final frontier. Season 4 picks up after last season’s cliffhanger and sends Pike, Spock, Number One, and the rest of the Enterprise crew on a series of dangerous new missions, from mysterious alien encounters to impossible scientific mysteries, while continuing to build toward the events of Star Trek: The Original Series. The new season is comprised of 10 episodes airing Thursdays through September 24
Why You Should Watch: I actually gave up on New Star Trek some time ago, having doggedly tried my best with the JJ Abrams films, Discovery and Picard. And while I’d heard some very positive things about Strange New Worlds, I just couldn’t find the energy to catch up. Maybe someday. I do really like the casting in this series, and Anson Mount is the perfect Pike (though I thought he looked more handsome in the very first episode before he shaved and cut his hair). However, it should be noted that Season 4 has a stellar 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, higher than any previous season. If there is a show that could lure me back to Star Trek, it’s this one.
Lioness – Season 3 (Paramount+)
What It’s About: Taylor Sheridan’s Lioness returns for a third season with Zoe Saldaña back as CIA operative Joe McNamara, who finds herself caught up in her most dangerous mission yet. As a sprawling conspiracy threatens both national security and the people she cares about most, Joe is forced to balance her loyalty to the mission with her responsibilities at home. Nicole Kidman, Morgan Freeman, Michael Kelly, Laysla De Oliveira, Genesis Rodriguez, and Dave Annable all return for another season of high-stakes espionage and military action.
Why You Should Watch: You know, I thought the first season of Lioness was pretty excellent military spy thriller fare, and I’m a sucker for that kind of stuff. I’m okay with shows that make Islamic radical terrorists and South American cartels the bad guys and I’m okay with shows that point out that often the bad guys can be right here in the West, too. Taylor Sheridan is a bit more “red-blooded” than a lot of contemporary Hollywood and that’s fine, though sometimes I suspect he’s sneaking in “blue” messaging between the red meat. I’ve actually finished Season 2 and I’m just a few episodes behind on Season 3 now. It’s quite a tense third season, which feels more focused than Season 2 which, while enjoyable, sort of lost the plot a few times. I was really looking forward to the cartel infiltration story and they just dropped that so abruptly. New episodes drop Sundays with the finale landing on September 20.
Stuart Fails To Save The Universe (HBO Max)
What It’s About: Stuart Fails to Save the Universe stars Kevin Sussman, reprising his Big Bang Theory role as Stuart. Comic book store owner Stuart Bloom is tasked with restoring reality after he breaks a device built by Sheldon and Leonard, accidentally bringing about a multiverse Armageddon — and as the title implies, things don’t go well. Along the way he meets alternate-universe versions of familiar Big Bang Theory faces.
Why You Should Watch: First, a confession: I have never watched even a single episode of Big Bang Theory. Sure, I’ve seen the odd clip here or there, but I really couldn’t even tell you what it’s about. And yet, this show sounds like a really clever spinoff. It takes the sitcom into an entirely new genre, and even though I’m sick of multiverse stuff, this sounds really fun. It has a 71%/78% critic/audience split on RT. New episodes land Thursdays and the finale drops on September 24.
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