Five films and TV shows to hibernate with this week
Screen Time: Spend the next seven days in your natural habitat: on the sofa, with a cuppa, watching TV.
Culture
Words: Olive Pometsey
How many hours have you spent scrolling through streaming services over the past two years? We’d wager a lot. Trying to find something that you haven’t already watched and that isn’t, well, rubbish can be a challenge. That’s why we’re here to give you a helping hand, by rounding up the best TV shows and films to watch each week.
And there’s a lot to get stuck into over the next seven days. From the release of Timothée ‘n’ Zendaya’s new blockbuster Dune to the final series of Issa Rae’s Insecure, the drops you’ve been waiting for all year have finally arrived. Sit back, relax and give thanks to the weekly content churn that ensures you’re never bored.
For bingeing…
Got time? Watch it all in one go
Inside Job
Rick and Morty fans, listen up. Inside Job is Netflix’s latest series that uses animation to bring bizarre sci-fi scenarios to life on screen. Think: mothmen and robot boyfriends. The premise here is more political than its predecessors, though, taking us into the world of tech genius Reagan Ridley, a US government employee who’s charged with covering up legit conspiracy theories. In this series, Bigfoot is real, the moon landing was fake and the Illuminati is a legit organisation that rival’s Ridley’s own, Cognito Inc. And you thought your day job was tough.
Out now on Netflix.
For splurging…
The film worth leaving home to see
Dune
Timothée and Zendaya. Need we say more? This is an adaptation of a sci-fi novel that’s been deemed incredibly difficult to adapt. In fact, David Lynch’s 1984 film was so terrible that “Is Dune the worst movie ever?” is one of the most-Googled questions relating to Frank Herbert’s source material. Thankfully, our Gen Z Hollywood heroes have done a much better job with this latest attempt, their considerable talents marshalled by director Denis Villeneuve (Blade Runner 2049), who fuses arthouse sensibilities with epic, blockbuster action. In terms of the plot, it has an eerie air of colonialism, as Timothée’s family takes control of the dangerous desert planet Arrakis, where a magical, mind-enhancing, life-extending substance called “spice” can be found. Drama ensues. Oh yes, does it ensue.
Out in UK cinemas now.
For thinking…
A documentary to feed the brain
Ballet Black: Eightfold
OK, so this isn’t strictly a documentary, but Ballet Black’s new film is a piece of art that’s more than worth your attention as Black History Month comes to a close. Founded by Cassa Pancho in 2001, Ballet Black is a dance company dedicated to giving a platform to dancers of Black and Asian descent. Working with filmmaker Mark Donne and writer Natasha Gordon, the company asked eight choreographers from around the world to choose a theme for Eightfold – joy, courage, love, passion, hope, rage, strength or power – and produce a work with a Ballet Black dancer. The result is a stunning expression of all the emotions the past two years have brought to the forefront, as the dancers challenge both the boundaries of classical ballet and the perception of Black dance. Narrated by Thandiwe Newton, it’s the perfect way to inject some high-brow art into your media diet this week.
On Channel 4 on Wednesday 27th October at 00.10am and available for streaming on All 4.
For laughs…
Comedy or reality TV to crack a smile
Stath Lets Flats
The only dodgy estate agent we ever want to see in our homes, Jamie Demetriou’s Stath Lets Flats is returning for a third series. For the uninitiated, Stath is a clueless estate agent who works for family-run company Michael & Eagle, and attempts to let out terrible properties to renters. It’s essentially an office comedy, following the lives of Stath and his colleagues as they dupe customers into shit living conditions. The joke? Anyone who has ever rented a property has met a Stath. After winning BAFTAs for Best Writer: Comedy, Best Male Comedy Performance and Best Scripted Comedy in 2020 (beating the likes of Fleabag and Derry Girls), this new series promises to be Stath Lets Flats’ most confident yet. Time to schedule a viewing.
On Channel 4 on Tuesday 26th October at 10:15pm.
For chatting…
Talking points for when your next wave of social fatigue hits
Insecure
When Insecure first landed on HBO in 2016, it was a groundbreaking moment, not only for Black representation in TV, but also for the types of experiences the show’s creator Issa Rae was spotlighting on screen. A show that depicts the often messy complexities of Black womanhood with wit and wisdom, Insecure made women across the world feel truly seen and created a ripple effect that paved the way for more Black creators to take control of their own narratives. Five years later, as the show comes to a close with its fifth and final series, Rae returns as protagonist Issa for one last hurrah, in a series that will hopefully tie up all those loose ends that were left to fray at the end of series four. Will Issa and Molly be able to fix their relationship and become besties again? And will Issa be able to look past the fact that Lawrence’s ex is pregnant? Tune in with the rest of the world on Tuesday to find out.
On Sky Comedy on Tuesday 26th October at 9pm.
