What to Watch
Must watch: The Diplomat on Netflix and Judy Blume on Prime
Dear friends,
This week’s must-watch picks include a West Wing-like political thriller and a sweet and easy documentary about a beloved author. Both have been delightful watches so far, so I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
I haven’t seen much of it yet, but Prime’s Dead Ringers also looks highly promising. That’s on my to-watch list this weekend, and if it proves to be as engaging as the above, I’ll be sure to let you know in the next letter.
As always, I hope you have a lovely weekend.
OUR TOP TV SHOW OF THE WEEK
The Diplomat
New on Netflix 🍅 rating: 91%
Part West Wing and part Veep, The Diplomat is a meaty political thriller starring Keri Russell (on the heels of a magnificent run in The Americans). Russell plays Kate Wyler, an ambassador stationed in the UK just as the country enters a dangerous international crisis involving the US, Russia, and Iran. It’s up to Kate and her husband Hal (Rufus Sewell) to put out the fires of potential warfare before it’s too late.
The Diplomat is razor-sharp and thrilling as it reveals just how delicate diplomacy actually is and how every decision, no matter how seemingly small, will ripple in massive ways across the globe. The eight-part series is also plain fun to watch, with pockets of wry comedy sneaked in between the action.
OUR TOP MOVIE OF THE WEEK
Judy Blume Forever
New on Amazon Prime 🍅 rating: 94%
Judy Blume, the author behind enduring classics like Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, Superfudge, and Forever, gifts us with her comforting presence and precise insight in Judy Blume Forever, a delightful documentary about a delightful woman.
Here, Blume looks back and lets us in on the eventful private life that inspired her prolific work life. Each book has a behind-the-scenes story, which the documentary pairs with commentary from well-known fans like Molly Ringwald, Lena Dunham, and Samantha Bee. Additionally (and most memorably), the documentary also features the years-old correspondence Blume has kept with the children who wrote and confided in her. Whether or not you’ve read her work, watching this film is a heartwarming experience that will soon have you grabbing the nearest Blume classic.
Top picks outside of Netflix and Amazon Prime
🎞️ Personality Crisis: One Night Only, Streaming on Showtime | After George Harrison: Living in the Material World and No Direction Home: Bob Dylan, director Martin Scorsese has come up with another exceptional musical documentary with Personality Crisis: One Night Only, which takes a look at the life and work of New York Dolls member David Johansen (aka Buster Poindexter). The concert film heavily features a recent live performance by Johansen, and watching it is an experience that will be doubly invigorating for fans of the Dolls and 70s punk.
📺 Boom! Boom! The World vs. Boris Becker, Streaming on Apple TV+ | Our final pick is a two-part docuseries about tennis legend Boris Becker, one of the youngest Wimbledon champions in the world (he won in the men's singles category at just 17 years old). The documentary takes a look at his exceptional rise to sports superstardom and his difficult fall to scandal and bankruptcy right after.
New titles worth your time
Noteworthy new arrivals on Netflix are the final season of Better Caul Saul and a compelling docuseries called Chimp Empire, which studies a chimpanzee community in Uganda.
On Amazon Prime, the miniseries Dead Ringers is worth checking out. It’s a darkly comic miniseries starring Rachel Weisz, who incredibly plays twin doctors willing to do everything it takes to revolutionize women’s healthcare.
Great titles that will soon expire
On Netflix, the award-winning film Big Eyes, starring Christoph Waltz and Amy Adams expires April 24. British sitcom The IT Crowd and comedy horror series Ash vs. Evil Dead also leave Netflix on April 25 and April 28, respectively.
On Amazon Prime, noteworthy titles expiring soon include Best Picture winner The King’s Speech, which leaves April 26, and romantic drama Still Mine, which leaves April 29.
That’s all for this week. This edition of the newsletter will be back on Friday, April 28.
Till then,
Renee
"...the final season of Better Caul Saul ???" What?