The best TV to stream chosen by our experts – from The Lincoln Lawyer to The Office
AN assortment of new movies and shows are premiering this week as a number of fan-favourite series return to screens.
The Sun’s TV Mag has rounded up the best of the best for the next seven days.
Netflix
The Lincoln Lawyer – Available from Thursday
Cool and charismatic criminal defence lawyer Mickey Haller (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) is definitely the kind of guy you want on your side when life takes a turn for the worse.
In season three of this seriously bingeable legal drama, Mickey becomes intent on finding justice for his murdered friend Gloria (Fiona Rene), a crime that was revealed at the end of season two.
Meanwhile, with first ex-wife Maggie (Neve Campbell) not around as much, having taken a new job, Mickey must learn to stand on his own two feet more.
“This season is very exciting,” says Manuel. “We see Mickey struggling with so many things at the same time — with romance, with the wives, with the cases.
You never expect what’s going to happen, who’s going to be bad and who’s going to be guilty.”
Sounds like we’d better buckle up.
Woman Of The Hour – Available from Friday
She’s an actress and singer, and now Anna Kendrick adds directing to her list of accomplishments with this crime thriller based on a shocking true story.
It’s 1978 and when singleton Cheryl Bradshaw (Anna) is picked to be on a popular American TV game show called The Dating Game – a show similar to our own Blind Date – she ends up choosing a softly-spoken man called Rodney Alcala (Daniel Zovatto).
However, what Cheryl and the show’s producers don’t realise is that Rodney has a secret – he’s actually a serial killer who’s already murdered five women.
An impressive and, at times, nerve-jangling directorial debut.
Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare – Available from Wednesday
When Kirat Assi connected with a doctor called Bobby on Facebook in 2009, it was the start of an online friendship that slowly but surely turned romantic – even though the pair never actually met in real life.
For 10 years the pair, who were linked by London’s Sikh community, grew closer and closer.
However, every time Kirat tried to get Bobby to meet with her in person, there was always an excuse why he couldn’t do it.
Worse still, Bobby’s hold over Kirat had become controlling and abusive, his true intentions hidden by countless lies and complex stories.
Eventually, the truth of his identity was revealed – in a shocking twist – but not before Kirat’s life had been completely taken over by the deception.
The harrowing story of this catfishing is revealed in this docuseries, which features exclusive interviews with Kirat herself. Powerful.
I Am A Killer – Available from Wednesday
A television series centred around interviews with convicted killers isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
But while the subject matter is controversial, I Am A Killer isn’t quite the lurid, exploitative ordeal you might assume.
As the first four seasons proved, the show tries hard to get to the heart of some terrible cases, with the guilty – many of them on Death Row – providing first-hand accounts of what happened and why. We also hear from the victims’ families and those involved in the legal sides of each case.
The result is often an emotional and eye-opening watch, which shines a light on the darker sides of human experience.
In this fifth season, there’s more of the same, including a man who killed his grandmother and an armed robber who claims that he didn’t know his gun was loaded.
Comedy Revenge – Available from Tuesday
You might not be fluent in Korean but fortunately laughter is an international language, so you can expect to have your ribs thoroughly tickled by the 22 South Korean comedians taking part in this enjoyably chaotic reality competition.
A sequel to last year’s Comedy Royale, in which a bunch of comedians competed for the chance to host a Netflix show, Comedy Revenge is the result.
All of which means Comedy Royale’s winner Lee Kyung-kyu is the host, welcoming a new selection of funnymen and women – of all ages and backgrounds – who’ll battle it out to be in charge next time round.
Ancient Apocalypse: The Americas – Available from Wednesday
Graham Hancock is searching for more evidence to support his unconventional theory that an advanced civilisation existed during the Ice Age but was wiped out by apocalyptic events around 12,000 years ago.
This time he’s off to the Americas, which, until recently, has been largely unexplored by archaeologists investigating humanity’s origins.
Along the way he talks to respected archaeologists, historians and indigenous peoples – and even spends time with Keanu Reeves, who discusses how storytelling has long been used by communities to preserve culture.
And while Graham’s theories have been dismissed by many experts, the show certainly makes for intriguing viewing.
“Exploring the mysterious origins of civilization has been my passion for many years,” he says. “My purpose in the series was to examine compelling new evidence that I hope might spark healthy debate in the archaeology community.”
Apple TV+
Shrinking – Available from Wednesday
A comedy-drama starring Jason Segel and Harrison Ford, about a maverick therapist, was always likely to be a hit – and the first season of Shrinking proved to be exactly that.
It returns for a second run this week, with widower Jimmy (Jason) still navigating a way through his grief and taking care of teenage daughter Alice while she in turn takes care of him.
His regular patients are keeping him busy, however, particularly Grace, who’s behind bars after pushing abusive husband Donny off a cliff at the end of the first series.
Meanwhile, Paul (Harrison) is trying to manage his own personal problems, alongside keeping a lid on Jimmy’s.
Oh, and Ted Lasso fans, keep your eyes peeled because Shrinking’s co-creator Brett Goldstein, aka Roy Kent, is set to join the cast in a hush-hush cameo role this time round.
VIAPLAY
Max Verstappen: Off The Beaten Track – Available from Monday
Max Verstappen’s rise to the top of Formula 1 has been meteoric, if not without controversy.
This three-part series tells the remarkable story of the Belgian-Dutch driver, who, in 2016, at the age of 18, became the youngest winner of a Grand Prix.
Since then, he’s gone on to break all manner of records and scoop the Drivers’ Championship three times.
The series also examines what gives Verstappen his drive and lifts the visor on what gets his engine purring when he’s not competing in F1, from his many business ventures to his interest in sim racing.
An intriguing glimpse into the life of a modern motorsport great.
Prime Video
Brothers – Available from Thursday
All reformed criminal Moke (Josh Brolin) wants to do is stay out of trouble and on the straight and narrow.
That becomes a surprisingly tall order when he reunites with his diminutive and infuriating twin brother Jady (Peter Dinklage) for one last job, which sees them setting off on an uproarious road trip that will either be the making or the breaking of them.
With the law, bad guys and their mum (Glenn Close) all providing obstacles to their success, can the brothers find a way to get along before it’s too late?
Sure, it’s as subtle as a brick but this action comedy – which also stars Brendan Fraser and Marisa Tomei – is certain to have you in stitches.
The Office – Available from Friday
More than 23 years and 13 international spin-offs after we first met David Brent, The Office finally has an Australian version.
In a first, this new take on the classic mockumentary is centred round a female boss, Hannah Howard (Felicity Ward), Managing Director of Flinley Craddick, a Sydney-based box manufacturer.
Terrible at her job and clearly the last person on Earth who should be a boss, she’s appalling but – like Brent – you can’t help feel a bit sorry for her.
While the script is peppered with Australian-centric jokes that might fly over the head of Pommy viewers, there’s much to enjoy, including the same incompetence, frustration and humanity that made the original such a joy.
All eight episodes land on Friday, so book yourself a meeting with Hannah.
Are You Smarter Than A Celebrity? – Available from Wednesday
So, <are> you smarter than a celebrity? Well, it depends on the celebrity, doesn’t it?
This fun game show from the US is hosted by American Football star – and boyfriend of Taylor Swift – Travis Kelce and gives members of the public the chance to find out if they’ve got bigger brains than a bunch of famous faces.
But don’t be fooled by the show’s name – the contestants won’t be competing against the celebs, they’ll actually be relying on their help to answer a series of tough general-knowledge questions and, if all goes well, scoop the $100,000 prize.
Among the celebrities taking part are Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star Garcelle Beauvais, Vanderpump Rules’ Lala Kent and Sophia Stallone, daughter of Sly.
Fans of Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel should give it a spin.
Disney+
9-1-1 – Available from Thursday
Explosive professional – and personal – dramas are always the order of the day on this US series, and little has changed as we return to Los Angeles for an eighth season.
There’s a real buzz about the first episode – literally – when a truck carrying 22 million killer bees crashes, causing absolute chaos. Buck (Oliver Stark) attempts to take control of the situation but his actions are soon called into question.
Meanwhile, Athena (Angela Bassett) is accompanying her first fiancé Emmett’s killer, Dennis, to LA aboard a plane when poor visibility caused by the bee swarm results in their aircraft colliding with another plane.
Will Athena make it out alive?
Channel 4
Walter Presents: Nordic Murders – Available from Friday
Anyone who tuned in to the first four seasons of this addictive crime thriller from Germany will know that the seemingly quiet and idyllic island of Usedom is anything but.
In fact, this remote seaside spot is obviously one of the most dangerous places to live in Germany – a bit like Midsomer, people are forever getting bumped off there.
Unlike the somewhat tongue-in-cheek Midsomer Murders, however, the mood in Nordic Murders is bleak and jet black – and all the better for it.
The fifth season boasts three feature-length episodes and kicks off with the central character, reformed criminal and former District Attorney Karin (Katrin Sass), disturbed by the discovery of a litter of half-decomposed puppies buried in the forest.
Does it have links to some other violent crimes in the area?
Netflix arrivals this October
Here are some of the other films and shows to look out for this month on Netflix
- Bridesmaids
- Couples Retreat
- Get Him to the Greek
- Point Break
- The Karate Kid Collection
- Till Death
- Unfriended
U
The Bill
Would you Adam and Eve it. This month marks the 40th anniversary of when The Bill first arrived on our screens, sirens blaring and tyres-screeching.
The much-missed police procedural ran for over 25 years, following the gritty goings-on at Sun Hill police station in London’s East End and featuring iconic characters such as Frank Burnside (Christopher Ellison), Jim Carver (Mark Wingett), June Ackland (Trudie Goodwin), Tosh Lines (Kevin Lloyd), Reg Hollis (Jeff Stewart) and Bob Cryer (Eric Richard).
To celebrate the show’s birthday, U is showing every single episode, giving old fans the chance to take a trip down memory lane, and new viewers the opportunity to find out what the fuss was all about.