Updated 04.12.24 see updated shows and movies below.
The weekend isn’t quite here yet, but I’ve decided to try posting these guides a bit early, on Wednesday evening instead of Friday. This is because a lot of stuff comes out on Wednesdays and Thursdays and it makes sense to post new content that comes out before the weekend ahead of the weekend’s arrival. I’ll update each guide with anything I might have missed, so if you think of anything don’t hesitate to message me on Twitter or Facebook.
If this works out and people enjoy having access to the guide ahead of the weekend, I’ll continue posting early. If not, I’ll return to posting on Fridays going forward. We shall test the waters and go from there.
This week there’s actually quite a bit of new shows and movies to stream, so let’s dive right in!
Check out last week’s streaming guide here:
What’s New
We’ll start with the new stuff and then go over some of the shows currently airing. I don’t always catch everything, so if you know of something new and exciting (or that you think ought to be on this list) shoot me a message on Twitter and Facebook.
Fallout (April 10th on Prime Video)
I’ll be watching this tonight, though I doubt I’ll finish all 8 episodes in one sitting. Still, I’m very excited for this adaptation of the popular post-apocalyptic video game franchise from Bethesda. I love the casting and my colleague Paul Tassi, who has seen all 8 episodes, says it’s very good. I’ll have thoughts soon. All 8 episodes land on Prime Wednesday, April 10th at 6pm PT.
Baby Reindeer (April 11th on Netflix)
This new limited series is based on true events and looks pretty wild. It’s from the creators of the dark comedy The End Of The F***cking World and comedian Richard Gadd, so if you enjoyed that you’ll probably enjoy this as well. It looks very funny, very creepy and very tense. There are no baby reindeer, however.
Blood Free (April 10th on Disney+ and Hulu)
A Korean thriller about a future where animals are no longer slaughtered for meat and some sort of conspiracy around the company that grows the fake meat in a lab. I only just stumbled on this one, so I know very little about it, but it’s out now and frankly it looks very exciting. New episodes drop on Wednesdays.
Strange Way Of Life (April 12th on Netflix)
The short film from Pedro Almodóvar stars Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal and is sort of a more action-packed Brokeback Mountain. It’s only half an hour long. Pascal and Hawke’s characters reunite and rekindle an old flame but then things go terribly wrong. It looks quite strange and I’m definitely going to have to watch.
CTRL+ALT+DESIRE (April 16th on Parmount+)
If you’re a true crime aficionado this might be the three-part docuseries for you. The three-part series is about Grant Amato, a young Florida man (heh) who became obsessed with a Bulgarian cam model, leading him to create a new persona online by stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from family members. Murder follows. The docuseries explores the story, examines the evidence and paints a complex portrait of the messy, blurred lines between fantasy and reality.
The Sympathizer (April 14th on HBO / Max)
I’m adding this new Max series that slipped by me when I published this post on Wednesday. The Sympathizer is co-created and directed by legendary South Korean director and producer (and writer and critic) Park Chan-Wook. It’s based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen and stars Hoa Xuande and Robert Downey Jr (who also produces). The series is about a North Vietnamese plant who infiltrates the South Vietnamese army. The series premiere airs on the 14th with six more episodes following each Sunday.
What’s Ongoing
Notably absent from this week’s guide is The Regime, the Kate Winslet-led dark satire that’s aired over the last six weeks on HBO and Max which I still have not watched. Here are some of the other ongoing shows worth checking out that continue to air weekly.
Sugar (Apple TV)
The last time I saw Colin Farrell as a detective it was in Season 2 of True Detective. He was spectacular in that. He also played a detective in Minority Report, hunting down Tom Cruise. Now he takes center stage in Apple TV’s Sugar, where he plays a private detective named John Sugar hired to track down a Hollywood producer’s missing grandchild. Episodes air each Friday on Apple TV+. I’ve enjoyed what I’ve watched so far, but haven’t entirely made my mind up about Sugar just yet. More thoughts to come.
Mary and George (Starz)
This hasn’t been on my radar at all but it sounds like the sort of period drama I could get into. Mary & George is the true story of Mary Villiers (Julianna Moore) who climbs the social ladder thanks to her son, George (Nicholas Galitzine) who just so happens to be sleeping with King James IV (Tony Curran). It looks like there should be plenty of political intrigue and backstabbery to keep this entertaining. New episodes air each Friday on Starz.
Shogun (Hulu)
You can read my latest recap/review of Shogun here.
The best at the moment is Shogun on Hulu, though I have the hardest time remembering that it airs so early in the week and keep forgetting to watch it on time. There are just two episodes remaining. New episodes release on Tuesdays, and we only have two left! The series is based on James Clavell’s novel and is truly exceptional in every way, from the costume and set design to the stunning cinematography, music and a bevy of brilliant performances. If you have any interest in feudal Japan or enjoy Game Of Thrones style intrigue, give it a go.
Other shows currently airing include:
- Star Trek: Discovery’s fifth season is airing every Thursday on Paramount+. This actually reminds me that I never watched Season 4. I have mixed feelings about the show. It had some great moments in its first three seasons but plenty of stuff irked me. I’m behind on all things Star Trek, truth be told.
- Parish on AMC with Giancarlo Esposito. I tried the first episode of this out and got a little bored and decided to watch something else. I have not yet returned to this show, and I’m not sure I will. But Esposito is terrific in The Gentlemen on Netflix which I’m absolutely loving. What a fun show!
- A Gentleman in Moscow on Paramount+ starring Ewan McGregor and Mary Elizabeth Winstead, about a Russian aristocrat under house arrest following the Soviet Revolution. This one is good. I need to write something up about it. New episodes come out on Sundays.
- X-Men 97 on Disney+ brings back the classic, vintage feel of the old X-Men series. It continues airing on Wednesdays and really is a lot of fun.
In Theaters
Civil War
I try to post at least one theatrical release a week despite this being a streaming guide. I just love going to the movies and I’m an advocate for the theater business’s survival, especially when COVID almost killed the industry. I don’t want to lose movie theaters.
This week’s selection is Civil War, a film about a second American civil war taking place in modern times. It’s gotten mixed reviews, though 78% on Rotten Tomatoes isn’t bad. I’m hoping to go see it this weekend and report back here on this blog. My colleague Paul Tassi has a review up which is very positive.
And that’s all for now, folks. Be sure to let me know if you have any recommendations for me as well!
Further reading from your humble guide:
And don’t forget to check last weekend’s guide for whatever you may have missed!
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