The best TV and film to stream this week – from Unsolved Mysteries to Woman in Blue
WE’VE compiled a list of all the best TV and films coming out next week.
Some of the world’s biggest streaming giants are releasing a whole host of captivating shows.
NETFLIX
Unstable
COMEDY Available from Thursday
Rob Lowe and his son, John Owen Lowe, return for a second season of the enjoyably daft sitcom about an eccentric genius, Ellis Dragon (Rob), who hopes his reluctant son Jackson (John) will follow in his footsteps at his biotech company.
As we rejoin the action, Ellis has successfully seen off those who wanted to depose him during season one, and now sets about trying to determine if Jackson has what it takes to take over one day.
Also starring the devilishly deadpan Sian Clifford as the company’s often-exasperated Chief Finance Officer Anna, and Fred Armisen as Ellis’s therapist, expect more endearing father-son silliness.
Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie
FILM Available from Friday
Hands up who’s in the mood for a colourful, crazy and action-packed SpongeBob SquarePants movie spin off? Everyone, of course!
When the town of Bikini Bottom is scooped up and out of the ocean by a mysterious marine biology lab based in Texas, leaving only brainy squirrel Sandy Cheeks and SpongeBob behind, the pair resolve to rescue their friends and return the town to its rightful place.
They quickly discover, however, that if they’re to succeed, they’re going to need plenty of help.
Mixing live action with typically vibrant animation, Saving Bikini Bottom is drenched with laughs, adventure and the usual SpongeBob silliness.
Rebel Moon – The Director’s Cut
FILM Available from Friday
While the reviews of Zack Snyder’s effects-laden sci-fi epics Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child Of Fire and Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver weren’t entirely positive, (the saga’s similarities to Star Wars were a particular complaint), you can’t fault the ambition and impressive scope of the two movies.
If you’re one of the people who enjoyed the story of rebel soldier Kora (Sofia Boutella) and her attempts to protect a peaceful farming community from the violent attentions of the warlike Imperium, then you’ll be chuffed to hear that Snyder is releasing longer, louder, more extreme versions of both films.
Each new cut is at least an hour longer, and is set to ramp up the violence and adult themes – so don’t go thinking either is a film for kids.
Mountain Queen – The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa
DOCUMENTARY Available from Wednesday
In 2000, Lhakpa Sherpa become the first Nepali woman to summit and survive Mount Everest.
It was a remarkable achievement for this daughter of yak farmers, who’d been denied an education because of her gender.
She would go on to hold the record for the most summits of Everest, having done it a remarkable nine times.
In this breath-taking and awe-inspiring documentary, which begins in 2022, we catch up with Lhakpa, now working long hours in a supermarket in Connecticut, USA, to make ends meet.
Mother to two daughters, she hasn’t climbed a mountain in years, but we get to follow her as the determined Lhakpa returns home to Nepal to take on Everest for a tenth time.
Along the way, we learn about her life and struggles, and hear how climbing is everything to her.
Deeply inspiring – and filled with spectacular footage of her latest climb.
Unsolved Mysteries
DOCU-SERIES Available from Wednesday
Iconic series Unsolved Mysteries is back, so brace yourself for a new batch of gripping, sometimes gory but always head-scratching true life stories that remain unexplained.
And as ever, the five cases covered by the new series will be an intriguing mix of the gruesome and the paranormal. “We have a wide variety of cases in the next batch,” says the show’s co-creator, Terry Dunn Meurer.
“A severed head that has not been identified, a woman who died mysteriously in a basement, a mysterious flying creature that has been spotted around the Chicago area, a young woman who suffered a brutal death and her killer has escaped justice.
And the famous case of Jack the Ripper, which has never been solved. This is our most unique volume yet.”
Mon Laferte, Te Amo
DOCUMENTARY Available from Thursday
She might not be a household name in this part of the world, but Chilean-Mexican singer and artist Mon Laferte is a huge star over in her native South America.
She’s released several hit albums, been a judge on the Chilean version of The X Factor and even had an exhibition of her art work.
Her personal life has been eventful too, having battled a tough childhood and thyroid cancer.
Now, fans and newcomers alike get to find out a whole lot more about Mon, thanks to this intimate and honest documentary film, which takes us behind the scenes during her 2021-2022 tour, in which she performed to huge, sell-out crowds, while pregnant.
Filled with candid interviews with the star herself about her life, plus plenty of spectacular live footage, it’s an entertaining window into the world of a top performer.
DISNEY+
Futurama
COMEDY Available from Monday
When Futurama first blasted onto our screens way, way back in 1999, Matt Groening’s sci-fi comedy was a breath of fresh, animated air.
However, despite critical acclaim, the series always seemed to suffer in comparison to Groening’s other, more famous, creation, The Simpsons, and it was eventually cancelled in 2003.
Over the next few years, the show was revived sporadically but it wasn’t until last year that Futurama really returned, all guns blazing, with a new season.
Now, here comes another fresh run of 10 brand-spanking-new episodes, following the adventures of former pizza delivery boy Fry (Billy West), who was frozen in the year 2000, only to wake 1000 years later.
As ever, he’s joined in his madcap antics by one-eyed Leela, grouchy robot Bender and daft alien Dr Zoidberg.
APPLE TV+
Women In Blue
DRAMA Available from Wednesday
Welcome to Mexico, 1971. When they hear about the formation of the country’s first female police force, four women join up.
However, the new recruits – Maria (Bárbara Mori), Angeles (Ximena Sariñana), Valentina (Natalia Téllez) and Gabina (Amorita Rasgado) – soon discover that this pioneering new squad is little more than a publicity stunt, designed to distract from the horror of a terrifying serial killer.
But with the murders continuing and the police seemingly nowhere near catching the culprit, the talented four women resolve to unite and track down the killer.
Inspired by real events, this compelling and tense new ten-part thriller begins with a double bill, the remaining eight episodes following weekly.
PRIME VIDEO
Batman: Caped Crusader
ANIMATION Available from Thursday
There are so many different adaptations and iterations of the Batman story that it can be difficult to keep up – or to know which movies and TV series are genuinely worth watching.
But anyone who loves the adventures of Bruce Wayne’s caped alter ego should definitely check out this latest animated addition to the collection, produced by Star Wars and Star Trek director JJ. Abrams.
With Gotham City in the grip of the corrupt and evil, a shadowy, misunderstood figure takes on the bad guys.
Featuring an unfussy animated style, a strong voice cast, including Hamish Linklater as the caped crusader himself, Christina Ricci as Catwoman, Jason Watkins as Alfred, and Minnie Driver and Mckenna Grace in other roles, it’s a deliciously dark and dramatic 10-episode reimagining of a familiar story.
Influenced
ENTERTAINMENT Available from Thursday
If the idea of a talk show hosted by a group of social media influencers makes you want to stick your fingers in your ears and run screaming for the hills, you’ll probably want to give Influenced the swerve.
But, that said, if you have a hankering to find out what folk online think about topics including fashion, food, popular culture, mental health, travel, beauty, entertainment and home design, this ten-part series will fill you in.
Hosted by Achieng Agutu, Cyrus Veyssi, Eyal Booker, Tefi Pessoa and Taryn Delanie Smith – all big noises online – each episode will feature guests and discussion and shed light on what’s trending and what’s not.
ACORN TV
Signora Volpe
DRAMA Available from Monday
Just because Sylvia (Emilia Fox) decided to retire from MI6 at the end of the first season of this sun-dappled series, that doesn’t mean the canny crime-solver is set for a quiet life in her new adopted home of Italy in this new run of three episodes.
In fact, if anything she’s busier than ever, investigating the murder of a pillar of the local community, going undercover for her old employers and even trying to save herself from the vengeful attentions of a supposedly dead man.
With its stunning setting, plus spirited supporting performances from the likes of Tara Fitzgerald as Sylvia’s sister Isabel, this is an exciting, escapist murder mystery treat.
Moloch
CRIME Available from Monday
When a series of people suddenly go up in flames in a northern French town, seemingly without explanation, the police are both horrified and baffled.
Another person paying close attention to these strange events is ambitious young journalist Louise (Marine Vacth), who’s determined to discover who, or what, is behind the terrifying deaths.
Before long, Louise joins forces with troubled but brilliant psychiatrist Gabriel (Olivier Gourmet) to uncover the truth.
And when they clock that the word Moloch – the name of the ancient god of sacrifice – was painted on walls near each of the deaths, they have their first clue.
Spooky, strange and gripping, this mystery thriller from France is definitely one to binge.
CHANNEL 4
Lolita Lobosco
CRIME Available from Friday
She’s brilliant at her job, but that doesn’t mean fighting crime in the Italian city of Bari is a walk in the park for Deputy Superintendent Lolita Lobosco (Luisa Ranieri), who’s back for a second series of intriguing mysteries.
“It’s been 50 years since the first woman joined the police force, and it’s still not an easy task,” she points out in the opening credits.
“Especially when you’re 40, wear a 38” bra and are called Lolita.”
Well, quite. This season, the glamorous cop, who’s in charge of a men-only team, takes on another batch of difficult cases, while also hoping she can shed more light on her own father’s murder.
The season kicks off with Lolita putting her holiday in Egypt on hold when a young couple die in a scuba diving excursion.
VIAPLAY
Call Me Dad
Available from Monday
Fans of the show Vikings – and in particular fans of nasty Ivar the Boneless – will want to check out this fun, six-part Danish comedy, created by, and starring, Ivar actor Alex Høgh Andersen.
He plays Emil, a non-confrontational young man who struggles to hold it together when his best friend and business partner Viktor (Magnus Haugaard) starts dating his mum, Helle.
Desperate to avoid conflict, Emil tries to bury his feelings but as the lovebirds’ relationship develops, he finds himself in all manner of awkward – but funny for us – situations.
A heartwarming and hilarious Nordic treat. In Danish, with subtitles.
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