The forecast is for rain, clouds and general dull weather this week – what to do? Discover these new season releases, gripping documentaries and limited series to watch now…plus a film the whole family will love…
The Bear
On Disney+ : The Bear is taking us right back to Chicago and straight into the kitchen with its recent release of the third season. Chef Carmen Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) and his crew (including Ayo Edebiri and Ebon Moss-Bachrach) return to our screens and as ever things are difficult. The Bear’s writers, directors and actors are masterful at representing the subtle quirks within all of the characters and how their relationships work. This show really is all about people – with cooking inspiration and exciting fast-paced kitchen work thrown in there too. With more celebrity guest appearances (no spoilers here), this season keeps you gripped and leaves you wondering about what is to come next.
Land of Women
On Apple TV: This comedy/drama/thriller is something pretty and easy to watch on a cloudy day in July – plus you can brush up on your Spanish. Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria stars as Gala, a New York socialite who, as a result of her husband’s shady dealings, is forced to flee to a charming Spanish wine town with her mother and daughter. A complete change of pace, Gala has to adapt to this small-town’s quirks while also confronting her deepest family secrets. The story celebrates the strong bonds women share, their resilience when met with adversity and gorgeous Spanish scenery!
Presumed Innocent
On Apple TV: If you are in need of a good courtroom drama with twists and turns then this limited series will scratch that itch. Presumed Innocent is based on the book by Scott Turow and was also the premise for the 1990 film adaptation starring Harrison Ford. The story takes place in Chicago, where a horrific murder upends the prosecuting attorney’s office as one of its own, Chief Deputy Prosecutor Rusty Sabich (Jake Gyllenhaal), is suspected of committing the crime. The series follows Sabich as he makes every effort to keep his family together. With Ruth Negga starring opposite Jake Gyllenhaal as Barbara Sabich, the strong cast includes Peter Sarsgaard, A Man In Full’s Bill Camp, The Watcher’s Noma Dumezweni and more. Next episode in 15 seconds…
We Were The Lucky Ones
On Disney+: Joey King and Logan Lerman star in We Were The Lucky Ones, a limited series based on the New York Times Bestselling Novel by Georgia Hunter. It is inspired by the incredible true story of one Jewish family who were separated at the start of World War II and stayed determined to survive and be reunited. This is a truly inspiring and gripping tale of determination, endurance, hope, love and the remarkable resilience of the human spirit in times of unimaginable pain. King and Lerman glow.
Depp V Heard
On Netflix: The 2022 defamation trial which took place in Fairfax County, Virginia that had social media gripped for six weeks has now been collated into a three-part series, with the social media narrative of the time woven throughout. The series has taken both Johnny Depp’s and Amber Heard’s testimonies and created a direct comparison between the two by placing them side by side, along with social media content or the ‘Trial by TikTok’ that was raging at the time. Be warned: it is a tough watch.
Eric
On Netflix: Set in 1980s New York, Eric is an emotional thriller directed by Abi Morgan. It follows a desperate father, Vincent (Benedict Cumberbatch) who is in search of his nine-year-old son who disappears one morning on his way to school. Vincent, one of New York’s leading puppeteers and creator of the popular children’s television show ‘Good Day Sunshine’, struggles to cope with the loss of his son and becomes increasingly distressed and volatile. It is Eric, a drawing of a blue monster puppet that his son had done, who Vincent believes will have the power and influence to get his son home. These six episodes are completely captivating.
Cinema trip?
Inside Out 2
Get yourself out of the house and into your nearest cinema for a Disney-Pixar treat. Nine years after the release of the first Inside Out – the second film is on the big screens now and it has taken over the box office sales. The genius concept of little characters representing emotions inside a little girl’s brain, has successfully evolved into this sequel with the addition of new emotions for a now 13-year-old Riley who is growing up and learning about the world. Riley is experiencing a new set of emotions including Anxiety (voiced by Maya Hawke), Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos), Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser), Disgust (Liza Lapira) and Envy who is voiced by Ayo Edebiri. This is a poignant family film about growing up and Disney always knows how to tug at the heart strings.