Screen: February TV Roundup

I haven't had quite as much time to watch television series over the past few months, largely because of all the movies I need to catch up with during awards season. But I've fit quite a few episodes in between films, a wide range of things that have mostly been a lot of fun. I've even been able to attend a few enjoyable TV premiere events (documented on Instagram). But on my flights over the holidays, I stuck to the classics, mainly watching episodes of the classic sitcom Cheers, which never gets old. I'm starting this roundup with new shows...

The Beauty
A bonkers premise makes this an instant guilty pleasure, as creator Ryan Murphy throws us into a grisly mystery in the world of fashion and cosmetics. Evan Peters and Rebecca Hall are terrific as conflicted FBI agents in Europe, trying to get to the bottom of a series of seriously nasty deaths that are linked some sort of miracle anti-ageing substance, while Ashton Kutcher, Anthony Ramos and Jeremy Pope lurk in the shadows. Starry guests gleefully pop up everywhere, most notably the fabulous Isabella Rossellini. And the story evolves to encompass elements of body horror, international intrigue and vampy nuttiness, all with an underlying point about the fear of ageing and the quest for physical perfection. And the cliffhanger ending only reminds us that we're completely hooked. (Disney)

Heated Rivalry
The first episode of this virally popular show leaps through time to trace the romance between two hockey stars, Canadian Shane (Hudson Williams) and Russian Ilya (Connor Storrie), who meet occasionally over several years. Then the plot settles into much more engaging groove. Episode 3 kicks everything up a gear, taking more time to breathe as it traces the complex romance between rival player Scott (Francois Arnaud) and nice guy art student Kip (Robbie GK). Their involving story adds layers to this knowing depiction of the closeted world of professional sportsmen. The point is simple but important. Then as both relationships develop and intersect, the show and the cast become flat-out irresistible. It's a rare thoroughly uplifting show that leaves us wanting more. (Crave)

Wonder Man

Lately, the best Marvel productions have been half-hour TV shows that allow filmmakers much more creativity than the oversized, overcrowded movies do. This one is thoroughly enjoyable, populated with sparky, messy characters who quickly get under the skin. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II brings his charisma to bear on the lead role as Simon, an aspiring actor who may be getting the chance of his life. And Ben Kingsley is having fun getting back into the skin of Trevor, the slippery actor who played the Mandarin in previous Marvel blockbusters. The show is a little gimmicky, over-pleased with its starry cameos and witty sideroads. But because it hones in on complex characters who are desperate to get their lives on track, the mix of comedy and drama is thoroughly involving. (Disney)

Agatha Christie's Seven Dials
Set out as a limited whodunit series with three tightly packed episodes, the key question was how they would adapt Christie's 1929 novel The Seven Dials Mystery into a series that can keep running. And they've done it very cleverly indeed, thanks to the ingenious casting of the wonderfully charismatic Mia McKenna-Bruce as a feisty young aristocrat in 1925 London who can't help but start investigating when her closest friends start dying one by one. Clues lead to a shadowy secret society, alondside complications involving her hermit-like mother (a terrific Helena Bonham Carter) and sparky competition with a police detective (Martin Freeman). The show's pacing is quick and twisty, and also great fun even with the rising body count. And the jolly old setting adds intriguing angles. (Netflix)

The War Between the Land and the Sea
I've never managed to get into Doctor Who, but I enjoyed the more grown-up spinoff Torchwood a decade ago, and this spin-off is also cleverly aimed at a more sophisticated viewership. It's the cautionary tale of the first encounter between humans and an aquatic species that has lived deep in Earth's oceans for millions of years. Advanced and self-sufficient, they have finally become fed up with us dumping so much rubbish into their home. Russell Tovey is terrific as the everyman hero, drafted in as ambassador to negotiate with Gugu Mbatha-Raw's hot water-realm emissary. Their romance is corny but sweet, and the show's slightly cheesy production values, toned-down themes and overly pointed tone are thoroughly watchable. (BBC)

I Love LA
Scrappy and very silly, this comedy features a group of frankly pathetic people who somehow manage to navigate life in Los Angeles, largely due to dumb luck. All of them are rather exasperating, in a cartoonish sort of way, but most also manage to remain somewhat endearing in the way they lean on each other. Toxic connections abound, chiefly between actor-creator Rachel Sennott's insufferable central character Maia and her almost as obnoxious best pal Tallulah (Odessa A'zion). The show's arc centres on how they work together to propel Tallulah's influencer brand. Thankfully, there are also terrific roles for Josh Hutcherson, True Whitaker and scene-stealing charmer Justin Firstman. They provide some badly needed positive energy. (Max)

O N E   L A S T   S H O T

Stranger Things: series 5
Leaning into the increasingly epic sensibility, these final eight episodes feel seriously momentous, and a couple of them have feature-length running times. This isn't the child-based 1970s-style adventure thriller of the early episodes; it's now full-on monster horror that comes complete with the now seemingly requisite blandly digital settings. Thankfully, the characters remain strong, with those kids now grown into plucky young adults determined to end the chaos that has engulfed their town for years. Aside from the monsters, Linda Hamilton is on hand as a vicious military villain. And each regular actor gets a full story arc, although the growing spectacle kind of overwhelms the more involving relationship dramas. Still, it's a must-see for the show's fans. (Netflix)

B A C K   F O R   M O R E

The Night Manager: series 2
A decade after the hit limited series, we catch up with sexy spy Tom Hiddleston for another edgy thriller. Although it's much more work and less play this time. The plot feels both dense and relentless, but that helps make it gripping as it snakes through six propulsive episodes to a cliffhanger ending. Hiddleston's agent Jonathan finds himself in the middle of a complex arms-trade conspiracy with stakes that grow bigger by the minute. Much of the original cast is back, including Olivia Colman, Hugh Laurie, Douglas Hodge and even Noah Jupe, plus excellent newcomers Diego Calva, Hayley Squires and Indira Varma. Annoyingly, the script fumbles several promising subplots, but it's still involving, and the show uses its Colombian settings beautifully. (BBC)

Industry: series 4
Set in London's financial world, this show gets both darker and soapier with each season. Oddly, these eight episodes feel like they are straining to push the boundaries when it comes to sex and drugs while instead timidly cutting away from anything properly provocative. That dense barrage of jingoistic dialog is just as impenetrable, and it doesn't matter at all. But shifting everything into a more American-style grim melodrama makes the characters less likeable then they were before, even with engaging actors like Kit Harington, Marisa Abela, Myha'la and superb new cast members like Max Minghella, Kiernan Shipka, Toheeb Jimoh and Charlie Heaton. That said, it's still compelling to watch, impossible to look away. (BBC)

Shrinking: series 3
This comedy continues to deepen the characters while leaning into the therapists-in-therapy premise. So each of the roles gets better with each season. Even though the show centres around Jason Segel's single dad, Harrison Ford takes centre stage here as Paul grapples with Parkinson's, retirement and his new marriage to Julie (Wendie Malick), with lovely ripples through the large ensemble. There's also more interesting stuff for Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Lukita Maxwell, Christa Miller and Ted McGinley as the writers push everyone forward, whether they want to grow up or not. This is a rare show that features realistic changes in the lives of these people. And the way this season ends makes us wonder where it will go in the already promised fourth series. (Apple)

A Man on the Inside: series 2
While this new scenario isn't quite as resonant as the retirement home from the first season, Ted Danson is still having a lot of fun with this role as a retired professor who this time goes undercover at a university to solve a mystery. It's all very comfortable and homey, but there are sparky elements to each of the characters that keep the actors on their toes. New cast members include Mary Steenburgen and David Strathairn, plus more action for Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Stephanie Beatriz and Stephen McKinley Henderson. The twisty blackmail/conspiracy plot is extremely silly, but the characters (including a more terrific cameos) as so entertaining that it's very easy to binge the whole series in one sitting. And when it ends, we want more. Yes, series 3 is coming. (Netflix)

Loot: series 3
Even funnier than previous seasons, this show is developing in surprising ways that are both entertaining and provocative. Even its goofier excesses have more bite. Maya Rudolph is terrific as the oblivious billionaire Molly, who almost accidentally decides to use her money to make the world a better place. As her work partner, Michaela Jae Rodriguez gets even more complex storylines of her own this time around, as does Joel Kim Booster as her personal assistant. A stint on a not-so-deserted island is absurd but also hilarious. And the way the writers weave meaty themes into corny subplots is a stroke of genius. So as we laugh at the silliness, and especially at the ludicrous luxury of the obscenely wealthy, we barely realise that we're thinking too. (Apple)

Alpha Males:
series 4
This Spanish sitcom seems to get increasingly soapy and slapsticky with each season, poking fun at issues of masculinity as four best pals struggle with their roles as men, husbands and fathers. After being "deconstructed" in the first season, they are floundering. They're also so dopey that it's difficult to feel like there's any genuine insight. And the women are even worse, frankly. These episodes put each relationship under severe strain, with various antics and deception. There's also a nutty trip to a macho military retreat before everyone hits a breaking point on a madcap Caribbean holiday. So there is plenty of opportunity for overacting in both the wacky comedy and big melodrama. Still, it's nice that at least some big issues are being discussed. (Netflix)

GUILTY PLEASURES: The Traitors, Queer Eye 10, Drag Race 18.

NOW WATCHING: Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, Bridgerton 4, Fallout 2.

COMING SOON: The Muppet Show, Paradise 2, Scrubs, Young Sherlock, Vladimir, Jury Duty: Company Retreat, Bait.

Previous roundup: NOVEMBER 2025 > 

Screen: December TV Roundup

This roundup is a few months late, as my autumn was sidetracked in all kinds of directions. I have still managed to watch the odd episode of a series here and there, so I've been slowly getting through things, especially in the run-up to the voting deadline for the Golden Globes TV categories (but it's impossible to see everything). As always, television is my therapy, a chance to relax from the more intense work of watching and reviewing films. Still, it's been great to see cinematic ideas and approaches in series this autumn, most notably in the first one here. Starting with new shows...

Disclaimer
Who would have thought that a pitch-black battle of wits between Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline was what we always wanted on TV? Turns out that was gifted Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron, who put together this ripping dramatic thriller about grappling with past decisions and present-day accusations. Offbeat and unexpected, it continually flips the tables on its characters, with powerhouse performances from Blanchett and Kline, plus Sacha Baron Cohen, Leslie Manville and Kodi Smit-McPhee. With unusual nuance, the actors bring out dark themes in ways that are powerfully provocative. (Apple)

A Man on the Inside
Ted Danson reteams with The Good Place creator Michael Schur for this ingeniously designed comedy mystery based on the terrific 2020 Chilean documentary The Mole Agent. Danson is on top form as a man who goes undercover in a San Francisco retirement home to investigate a robbery. Residents are wonderfully played by veterans like Sally Struthers, Margaret Avery, Veronica Cartwright, Susan Ruttan, Stephen McKinley Henderson and John Getz. Cleverly, the show remains consistently funny and astute, while refusing to shy away from some surprisingly moving moments. (Netflix)

The Perfect Couple
A sudsy mystery set around a fabulously wealthy family in Nantucket, this show delights the audience with a series of snaky relationships between relatives. Essentially White Lotus Lite, the writing is never quite as surprising or tricky as it thinks it is, as everything is fairly obvious from the start. But the jagged editing makes sure that there are some great surprises along the way, and terrific scenes for the ensemble of terrific actors led by Nicole Kidman and Liev Schreiber as parents who aren't as oblivious as they seem to be. And the story's messier edges are rather good fun. (Netflix)

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
In this third season of Ryan Murphy's anthology series, the notorious Menendez case provides plenty of juicy tabloid-style nastiness to hold the attention. And the central performances from Nicholas Alexander Chavez and especially Cooper Koch as the troubled siblings make it riveting. Stir in edgy turns from Javier Bardem and Chloe Sevigny as their (probably) abusive parents, Ari Graynor as their tenacious lawyer and Nathan Lane as too-involved novelist Dominic Dunne. It's a clever look at the questions between the lines, leaving us with a lot to talk about. (Netflix)

Agatha All Along
Kathryn Hahn gets her own Marvel spin-off with this sequel to WandaVision, as the witch Agatha meets a teen (Joe Locke in a nice break from Heartstopper) who holds a very dark secret. As they set off down the Witch's Road with a group of rivals including Aubrey Plaza and Patti LuPone, the plotting becomes a bit knotted and dense, but there's a light sense of humour that keeps the show fizzing along entertainingly. Indeed, the mischievous performances make sure that all of the witchy nonsense isn't as impenetrable as it feels. (Disney)

Kaos
Sunny and sparky, this energetic series puts Greek gods in the modern world, threatening the balance between their encampment on Mount Olympus, the humans on Earth and the residents of the Underworld. First a warning: this is one of those series that sets up something huge, then only delivers it in the final seconds of the final episode, leaving it all hanging on a potential second season, which sadly isn't happening. That said, it's a lot of fun to watch this talented cast play with the material, including Jeff Goldblum, Janet McTeer, Cliff Curtis, David Thewlis and especially Nabhaan Rizwan. (Netflix)

Time Bandits
Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement adapted Terry Gilliam's sublime classic film into this scrappy series, considerably altering the premise to make everything much murkier. Strangely, the characters feel under-written and not particularly funny, especially the roles Waititi and Clement gave themselves (the Supreme Being and Pure Evil). Most surprising is how unsophisticated this feels, like a cheaply made children's TV show. Lisa Kudrow is enjoyable as the leader of a group marauding through time, and others have their moments. But it never quite grabs hold, and won't be back for another season. (Apple)

W E L C O M E   B A C K

Only Murders in the Building: series 4
Hilariously continuing to play with its premise, this series gets more intricate with each season. And this time our trio of podcasters (Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez) has been pulled into the sphere of a blithely shifty Hollywood producer (Molly Shannon) who wants to make a movie about them starring Eugene Levy, Zach Galifianakis and Eva Longoria. Cue their hilarious pastiche performances from them and a crowded cast of big-name stars. Through it all, a murder propels them into another messy whodunit that twists and turns with each nutty episode. (Hulu)

Heartstopper: series 3
Things get a bit more intense in this season, as one of the main story threads centres on how Nick (Kit Connor) struggles to help Charlie (Joe Locke) get help to deal with his eating disorder. The issue is never simplified, so it gets genuinely dark along the way, and this adds a shadow over most of the other plotlines as well. So while this more serious edge kind of undermines the show's usual sweetness, it also allows it to grow up a bit and tackle something important and relatable. And the production and performances are terrific as always, with a superb role for Hayley Atwell. (Netflix)

Frasier: series 2
For its second season, this legacy series continues to complicate its inter-relationships, bringing back some favourite characters (most notably Peri Gilpin) while adding some depth to the new ones who have been introduced this time around. At the centre, Kelsey Grammer shines as the oblivious egomaniac shrink with a heart of gold. While Niles' absence is still sorely felt, as is any reference to Frasier's earlier life in Boston, the writing is sharp enough to keep us laughing. And the connections between these people are warm and involving, and funny too. (Paramount)

A N D   S O   I T   E N D S

Somebody Somewhere: series 3
Frankly, this is heaven in a television series, upending all of the usual sitcom cliches to depict the relationships between a group of almost staggeringly real people. At the centre is Bridget Everett's Sam, who still hasn't quite found her place amid her feisty sister (Mary Catherine Garrison) and goofy best friend (Jeff Hiller). So she can't see why a hulking new neighbour (Olafur Darri Olafsson) could like her as much as she likes him. Like a balm for the soul, this show makes you laugh, sigh and cry ugly tears of joy. And it reminds us how important it is to find our people. (Max)

The Umbrella Academy: series 4
For their final season, this makeshift bunch of siblings is trying to get back to their original timeline. Yes, multiverse nonsense abounds, as does yet another reality-ending plot. As tiring as that is, there's enough interest in the characters to keep us watching. They are also well-played by an ensemble that has grown very tight over the run of this series, and over these six rather annoyingly fragmented episodes they get to wrap up their various stories. It also helps to have Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman on hand as the antagonists. (Netflix)

Unstable: series 2
Rob Lowe is back as the nutty tech boss who is still navigating his relationship with his adult son (played by Rob's son John Owen Lowe). The whole show feels a bit too carefully constructed as a wacky workplace sitcom, but there are funny moments along the way, thanks to a cast that isn't afraid to look ridiculous. Both owes are terrific, and their good-natured banter is thoroughly entertaining, especially when augmented by the up-for-it supporting cast. Perhaps with a little more forward momentum, this show might have caught on with viewers and then returned for more. (Netflix)

Elite: series 8
For the last season of this Spanish show set in a prestigious private school, the writers have gone even darker than usual, as almost everyone is now indulging in some sort of criminality, often involving violence that's unusually grim. That said, the storylines are as sexy as always, even if the direction has a new coyness to it that throws the camp soapiness and lurid lustiness out of balance. This means that the actors have to scramble to keep their characters grounded in any sense of reality. But it just about works, and we'll miss this nutty, lusty, grisly mess when it's gone. (Netflix)

Snowpiercer:
series 4
Returning for its final season after a long break, this high-concept futuristic thriller immediately throws logic out the window. A fractured structure never quite makes sense, while characters have jolting personality shifts, most notably Daveed Diggs' leader Layton, who thoughtlessly jeopardises everyone with a personal quest. But then, none of the plot threads serves the characters very well, and the splintered approach keeps anything from gaining momentum, as it were. It's all so choppy, and such a bit let-down after the intelligent first three seasons, that I didn't make it to the end. (AMC)

GUILTY PLEASURES: The Great British Bake-Off, Strictly Come Dancing, Queer Eye, Drag Race (UK, Global All-Stars, Canada vs the World), The Circle, Selling Sunset.

NOW WATCHING (OR INTENDING TO): Squid Game 2, What We Do in the Shadows 6, Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, Dexter: Original Sin, Black Doves, The Madness, The Day of the Jackal, Landman, The Sticky, Laid.

COMING SOON: The White Lotus 3, Severance 2, Zero Day, Prime Target, The Traitors 3.

Previous roundup: AUGUST 2024 >