What to watch this weekend.
Every week, I scour the internet and the many streaming services I subscribe to in order to find the best new TV shows, movies, documentaries, comedy specials and more to help you find the best content to watch each weekend.
I do this for myself also. It’s hard to keep track of everything, and this keeps me a little bit more organized, though I know I still miss stuff (especially alternative content like TikTok and YouTube videos—I’m always looking for recommendations on Twitter and Facebook if you have any!)
Check out last week’s streaming guide right here.
I also tend to include at least one theatrical release, because I do love going to the movies and I want to share that love with all of you. It would be (will be?) a sad day when movie theaters go the way of the video game arcade.
Alright, let’s kick this guide off with the show I’m most excited about this weekend . . . .
House Of The Dragon Season 2 (June 16th on HBO / Max)
That’s an amazing trailer, for a second season that I hope lives up and exceeds the first. House Of The Dragon is excellent, and I was blown away by the quality of acting, writing and direction in Season 1. I haven’t watched any of Season 2 yet, but I’m excited to watch and review this Sunday—Father’s Day! The Game Of Thrones prequel is very different from its predecessor, but has some of the best performances in the entire series. I didn’t get screeners for this, alas, but I’ll still be reviewing each week here on this blog so be sure to follow me here for updates.
The Boys Season 4 (Prime Video)
I’m a big fan of the often-ridiculous, almost always over-the-top and wildly crass The Boys but I’m a little nervous about Season 4. I enjoyed Gen V, a spinoff that takes place between the main show’s previous and current seasons, but I’ve heard worrisome things about this season. Namely, the politics are too on-the-nose and heavy-handed. Hopefully it’s still good, raunchy fun. Think I’ll start this tonight, though I’m almost done with Outer Range so we shall see . . . .
Presumed Innocent (Apple TV)
Talk about great casting. Jake Gyllenhaal is perfect as prosecuting attorney Rusty Sabich who (SPOILERS) is accused of killing his colleague and lover, Carolyn Polhemus (Renate Reinsve). Based on the 1990 Harrison Ford mystery-thriller, the new Apple TV+ drama is great so far, though I’ve only watched two episodes. Gyllenhaal is perfect in the role because he’s just the kind of actor who can pull off this “did he or didn’t he?” role. I have no idea! I’ll have a separate review for this up and will be recapping weekly going forward. I really need to watch the original movie, but I think I’ll save it until after the show is over. I honestly can’t remember much about it. (The rest of the cast, from Peter Sarsgaard to Ruth Negga to Bill Camp and O-T Fagbenle are all terrific as well).
Blue Lights Season 2 (BritBox)
I absolutely love Blue Lights, the Irish police procedural that just finally landed on BritBox for its second season. Season 1 was wonderful, with really terrific characters and this very immediate sense of what it’s like to be a cop in East Belfast, where anti-police, pro-Catholic and anti-English sentiment runs high. Season 2 takes us into Loyalist territory and while I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as the first season (mainly because some of the plot seems to leap forward in odd ways at times) I still think it’s great. Not as great as Happy Valley but scratches the same itch. Two more episodes drop next Thursday and then two more the Thursday after that.
Bridgerton Season 3, Part 2 (Netflix)
I would rather watch ice melt than watch Bridgerton, but I know it’s wildly popular even if it isn’t my cup of tea. Season 3, Part 2 of the London Regency period drama returned this week to its masses of adoring fans. If you happen to be among them, you’re in luck!
Ultraman: Rising (Netflix)
The latest Netflix family movie is getting rave reviews from fans, and it’s not hard to see why. The titular Ultraman is a defender of Tokyo, but the man behind the mask—Ken Sato—finds that defending Tokyo may not be his hardest task. When he discovers a baby kaiju and takes on the role of parent, that’s when the real challenge begins.
The Acolyte (Disney+)
I am having a hard time getting into The Acolyte on Disney+. That may actually be the understatement of the century. The first two episodes were okay. I wasn’t engrossed by any means, but it wasn’t the worst Star Wars show, either. Episode 3 was just atrocious, however, though I’m happy to say that Episode 4 is better. Will the rest of the 8-episode season turn things around? Will the High Republic start to be an interesting time and setting for a Star Wars show? And what will happen to the Jedi Wookie, Kelnacca? New episodes drop Tuesdays.
Dark Matter (Apple TV+)
I am woefully behind on Dark Matter because I started binging Outer Range and then I had The Acolyte, Presumed Innocent and various and sundry other shows pop up (and I’m rewatching Andor and Season 1 of True Detective with family members who haven’t seen them yet). But I’m going to try to binge this, because the first couple episodes were super intriguing and there are two episodes left to go (out over the next two Wednesdays). Apple is really killing it lately, I must say.
Inside Out 2 (In Theaters)
Our theatrical release of the week is Inside Out 2. I really loved the original, which was such a clever idea and one of Pixar’s better films of that era. Well, that era was nine years ago (gulp) and back then my kids were 8 and 5, just about the right age for a movie about a kid and her out-of-control emotions. Now my kids are 17 and 14 and the movie is all about teenage emotions and hormones and all the chaos that entails. It’s like Pixar timed these films just for us!
Other stuff to keep an eye out for this weekend includes the fantastic period drama Elizabeth starring Gwyneth Paltrow about the rise of Queen Elizabeth I (on Starz), the 77th Annual Tony Awards (June 16th on Paramount+) and a new episode of Doctor Who on Disney+.
What are you watching these days? Anything I should know about? Let me know on Twitter and Facebook.
