Another week, another set of 5 top tips to get steaming.

Still not entertained? Try a previous edition of Stream On: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20.

STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces (Apple TV+ – 90 x 2 mins )

One of the best celebrity documentaries we’ve seen in ages, with part one focusing on ‘Then’ – Steve Martin’s comedy career – and ‘Now’ – an interweaving of his film career and his personal life. A perfectly balanced blend exploring his professional and personal life, a wondrous reminder of a truly talented man.

Renegade Nell (Disney+ – 8 x 45 mins)

Sally Wainwright‘s passion project is an unexpected and fascinating choice, following a quick-witted and courageous young woman framed for murder unexpectedly ((Louisa Harland) becomes the most notorious outlaw in 18th-century England. When a magical spirit called Billy (Nick Mohammed) appears, Nell realizes her destiny is bigger than she ever imagined.

A Gentleman in Moscow (Paramount+ – 8 x 60 mins)

A Russian aristocrat (Ewan McGregor) is spared from death and placed on house arrest while the Bolshevik Revolution plays out before him.

Barbie (SKY/NOW – 8 x 60 mins)

To live in Barbie Land is to be a perfect being in a perfect place. Unless you have a full-on existential crisis. Or you’re a Ken. My review here.

Big Mood (Channel 4 – 6 x 60 mins)

I watched all 6 episodes in one go, in case you needed that insight into how good this show is. Best friends Maggie (Nicola Coughlan) and Eddie (Lydia West) have lived in each other’s pockets for 10 years, through thick, thin. But with the rest of their lives looming, and Maggie’s bipolar disorder making an unwelcome return, Maggie and Eddie’s relationship faces the future. One of the best looks at friendship in your 30s and an incredibly thoughtful, realistic and no-holes-barred look at mental health.

Another week, another set of 5 top tips to get steaming.

Still not entertained? Try a previous edition of Stream On: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19.

Joy Ride (Prime Video – 95 mins )

Last year wasn’t a particularly iconic year for comedy films, but Joy Ride was one of the exceptions. When Audrey’s (Ashley Park) business trip to Asia goes sideways, she enlists the help of Lolo (Sherry Cola), her childhood best friend, Kat (Stephanie Hsu), a college friend, and Deadeye (Sabrina Wu), Lolo’s eccentric cousin to help her. What follows is an adventure that is epic and no-holds-barred levels of hilarity, whilst also being moving and heartfelt.

Palm Royale (Apple – 10 x 45 mins)

An ambitious woman schemes to secure her seat at America’s most exclusive table: Palm Beach high society circa 1969. Kristen Wiig is fantastic at the plotting Maxine Simmons, (the!) Ricky Martin delightful as the waiter regularly standing in her way and Allison Janney a joy to watch as ever.

Passenger (ITVX – 6 x 60 mins)

A close-knit community is sent spinning on its axis following a series of strange and unnatural crimes. A twisty-turny thriller with a phenomenal central performance by Wunmi Mosaku.

Helgoland 513 (SKY/NOW – 8 x 60 mins)

In 2036, the world lies in ruins, but a totalitarian government on the island of Helgoland ensures its survival by limiting the number of survivors to 513 people. When a baby is born, questions soon arise as to who will sacrifice themselves.

When Harry Met Sally (BBC iPlayer – 95 mins)

There are some films where, once you think of them, you’ll feel an urge for a rewatch. When Harry Met Sally is most definitely one of them. So, now I’ve planted that thought in your head, you probably should go and watch it now. For those of you uninitiated in one of the greatest romcoms of all time, Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) are certain that men & women can’t ‘just’ be friends yet somehow they seem to be the exception to the rule – but are they? Really? Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a film to rewatch…

Another week, another set of 5 top tips to get steaming.

Still not entertained? Try a previous edition of Stream On: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18.

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Disney – 169 mins )

This one probably needs the least amount of introduction a Stream On pick has ever needed. If you, like me, are one of the many who didn’t get their hands on a Tay Tay ticket – this is your chance for a front row seat in the comfort of your own home. It’s a tour de force performance, an event that needs to be seen.

All of us Strangers (Disney+ – 8 x 60 mins)

I’m cheating slightly as this isn’t up when this post goes live, you’ll have to wait until Wednesday 20th – but it’s my favourite film of the year (I know it’s only March, but it’s going to take a *lot* to push it off the top spot). A screenwriter (Andrew Scott) drawn back to his childhood home enters into a fledgling relationship with his downstairs neighbor (Paul Mescal) while discovering a mysterious new way to heal from losing his parents (Jamie Bell and Claire Foy) 30 years ago. Here’s my review, which doesn’t do the film justice.

The Dry (ITVX – 16 x 30 mins)

The Dry season one first appear in 2022 on Britbox, before eventually finding it’s way to ITV, not earning the fanfare it rightfully deserved. Now we have season 2, which is somehow even better. Shiv Sheridan (Roisin Gallagher who is spectacular) returns to Dublin after years of partying in London and tries to navigate a new phase of her life. Trying to stay sober and being back with her family is not going to be easy. Her family – made up of Pom Boyd, Ciarán Hinds, Adam John Richardson and Siobhán Cullen – are all fantastic. The show wonderfully balances all of their stories in this beautifully bittersweet comedy drama.

Ladies in Black (Netflix – 109 mins)

From 2018, this is an underappreciated period drama following the lives of a group of department store employees in 1959 Sydney. Julia Ormond, Angourie Rice, Rachael Taylor and Alison McGirr are the standouts in this gorgeously costumed and life-affirming tale.

Monk (Netflix – 124 x 45 mins)

if you’re a fan of a crime procedural with a twist, you can’t get much better than Mock. Running from 2002 – 2009, the eponymous Monk (Tony Shalhoub) is a a brilliant former San Francisco detective, who now consults with the police as a private consultant whilst battling with an obsessive-compulsive disorder. Each episode could work as stand-alone but has an overarching link, Monk trying to process his grief of the loss of his beloved wife Trudy. Regularly funny and often moving, Shalhoub is fantastic, as are supporting leads Jason Gray-Stanford, Ted Levine and Traylor Howard.

Another week, another set of 5 top tips to get steaming.

Still not entertained? Try a previous edition of Stream On: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17.

Extraordinary (Disney+/ITVX – 16 x 30 mins )

Season 1 dropped last year and was an unexpected – and much appreciated! – treat. If you’ve not watched it already, go back and watch. The world of Extraordinary is one where everyone gets a superpower when they turn 18, everyone except Jen (Máiréad Tyers) who is heading into her 7th year without powers – without any idea as to why they never came. Funny and often bittersweet, this London-set comedy drama is such a delight.

The Gentlemen (Netflix- 8 x 60 mins)

Linked to his 2019 film of the same name, seemingly by name only (thankfully, as the review wrote on it’s release implies), Guy Ritchie has created, co-directed and co-written this crime romp that follows Eddie Horniman (Theo James) as he inherits a family estate, initially unaware its home to a drug empire run by a syndicate that has no plans to vacate. The standout is Daniel Ings (if you’ve *still* not seen Lovesick on Netflix, please rectify this immediately) his magnificent chaos energy here is the main reason to watch this.

The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping (Netflix – 3 x 30 mins)

A documentary series that follows Katherine Kubler and former classmates of hers from the Academy at Ivy Ridge, a behavior modification facility that was marketed as a boarding school, as they reflect on the abusive conditions they experienced in the program and the lasting trauma. Only a few days on from it’s release, and it’s already prompted for calls for investigation and criminal charges to be placed.

American Fiction (Prime Video – 117 mins)

One of 2024’s Best Picture nominees, this is the epitome of how powerfully comedy and drama can be blended. A novelist (Jeffrey Wright) who’s fed up with the establishment profiting from Black entertainment uses a pen name to write a book that propels him into the heart of the hypocrisy and madness he claims to disdain. Wright’s performance is masterful, as is Sterling K. Brown as his brother.

Poor Things (Disney+ – 141 mins)

Another Best Picture nominee, Emma Stone gives a career-defining performance as Bella Baxter, a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe). A film that needs to be seen to be believed and then experienced.

Another week, another set of 5 top tips to get steaming.

Still not entertained? Try a previous edition of Stream On: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16.

Shogun (Disney+ – 10 x 60 mins)

A sweeping historical epic, founded on real events, a mysterious European ship – led by English sailor John Blackthorne (a magnetic Cosmo Jarvis) is found marooned on the shores of a Japanese fishing village. Informed of it’s arrival, Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) finds ways to gain power and settle scores with his enemies. Insert all the superlatives here, this is magnificent television.

Dead Hot (Prime Video – 147 mins)

A mystery thriller unlike anything you’ll have seen before. 5 years ago, Elliot (Bilal Hasna) arrived home to Peter (Olisa Odele) had vanished—with nothing left behind but his finger in a puddle of blood. Still living with Peter’s twin Jess (Vivian Oparah), they don’t know if he ran away, was kidnapped or worse. Elliot tries moving on, and after a magical date with wonderful Will, that seems possible. But when shit hits the fan, Elliot and Jess know they need to find out the truth.

Iwájú (Disney+ – 6 x 30 mins)

Tola, a young girl from a wealthy island, and her best friend, Kole, a self-taught tech expert, discover the secrets and dangers hidden in their different worlds.

Mary & George (SKY/NOW – 7 x 60 mins)

I’m cheating slightly as this doesn’t drop until Tuesday 5th March, but it’s so good I couldn’t resist. Based on Benjamin Woolley’s non-fiction book The King’s Assassin (2017), this is the tale of the affair between King James I (Tony Curran)and George Villiers (Nicholas Galitzine) – as orchestrated by George’s mother, Mary (Julianne Moore). Deliciously scandalous!

Femme (Netflix- 99 mins)

Quite possibly the most underseen film of 2023, Femme is tense and dark and all kinds of wonderful. Jules (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett) is the target of a brutal homophobic attack that derails his life completely, until he unexpectedly crosses paths with the attack ringleader, Preston (George MacKay), in a gay sauna. Preston, not recognising Jules, makes a move on him – something that Jules quickly realises he could use to his advantage to get some much-sought after revenge.

Another week, another set of 5 top tips to get steaming.

Still not entertained? Try a previous edition of Stream On: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15.

Boarders (BBC – 6 x 60 mins)

Few things are as frustrating as when a streamer dumps a gem on their site with little fanfare. The silver lining though is the feeling you’ve discovered a corker – and that’s definitely what this is. Comedy drama following 5 underprivileged black students from inner-city London who win scholarships to an elite boarding school, stepping out of the urban metropolis and into a world they can only describe as something out of Harry Potter. Razor sharp yet powerful.

The Northman (Prime Video – 147 mins)

A young Viking prince is on a quest to avenge his father’s murder. That prince grows into Alexander Skarsgård. Directed and co-written by Robert Eggers, the result is a violent & epic visual spectacle.

Daughters of the Cult (Disney+ – 5 x 60 mins)

Based on life of cult leader Ervil Morrell LeBaron, leader of a religious fundamentalist group who ordered the mass murders of his rivals by using the religious doctrine of blood atonement to justify the killings.

The Way (BBC – 6 x 60 mins)

Co-created and directed by Michael Sheen, The Way is one of those examples of a show that feels almost prophetical, reminiscent in many ways to Russell T. Davies‘s incredible Years & Years. Giving a plot summary feels like too much of a spoiler, so I’ll let the trailer below hint at what to come. Blending speculative fiction with history and mythology, this is must-see tv.

Can I Tell You A Secret (Netflix- 105 mins)

Social Media remains the wild west, an unmonitored place where terrifying things can happen with little consequences to the perpetrator whilst the victims life is totally derailed. Three women’s lives were changed forever when a prolific stalker infiltrated their social media accounts. And they’re only a fraction of his many victims. Haunting.

Another week, another set of 5 top tips to get steaming.

Still not entertained? Try a previous edition of Stream On: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14.

Alice & Jack (Channel 4 – 6 x 60 mins)

A week after we got One Day, we get another beautiful story of an almost-relationship over the course of nearly two decades. Alice (Andrea Riseborough) and Jack (Domhnall Gleeson) meet on a dating app and have a disastrous date, but that leads to something that will tie them together forever. Closer in tone to Normal People than One Day, the result is a show that is a profoundly moving and heart shattering reflection in love in all it’s forms. Wonderful supporting roles from Sunil Patel, Aimee Lou Wood and Aisling Bea.

Players (Netflix – 103 mins)

After spending years working with her friends on ‘plays’ to win prospective partners, of the one night stand variety, a sports writer unused to relationships falls for a fling, leading her to reconsider playing the field in favour of commitment. It follows the formula and will go exactly as you expect, but the charisma of the cast keep you watching – Gina Rodriguez, Damon Wayans Jr., Tom Ellis, Augustus Prew, Joel Courtney and Liza Koshy. Special mention to Brock O’Hurn for… reasons.

Trust (Disney+ – 10 x 60 mins)

With The Iron Claw currently in UK cinemas, and the population finally getting on the Harris Dickinson train, it’s a good time to revisit this drama series about the notorious Getty family. In 1973 Rome, John Paul Getty III (Harris), the heir and younger member of an oil tycoons’ clan, is kidnapped by the Italian Mafia in order to get a ransom. It came out around the same time as another adaptation of the story, All The Money In The World – which attracted attention due to it’s reshoot drama – but this series definitely holds it’s own. Donald Sutherland is a powerhouse as the family patriarch and it’s always a joy to watch Brendan Fraser.

Past Lives (Netflix – 106 mins)

Now’s your chance to watch one of the indie standouts of this year’s award’s season. Nora and Hae Sung, two deeply connected childhood friends, are wrested apart after Nora’s family emigrates from South Korea. Twenty years later, they are reunited for one fateful week as they confront notions of love and destiny. The love triangle at the centre (Greta Lee, Teo Yoo & John Magaro) make this a movingly bittersweet watch.

Death Comes To Pemberley (Netflix– 105 mins)

Imagine, a spiritual sequel of sorts to Pride & Prejudice – but it’s a murder mystery. Written by P.D James in 2011,the BBC adapted it in 2013 – it still holds up and then some. Elizabeth (Anna Maxwell Martin) and Darcy (Matthew Rhys), now six years married, are preparing for their annual ball when festivities are brought to an abrupt halt. With an ensemble cast made up of Matthew Goode, Jenna Coleman, James Norton, Eleanor Tomlinson, Joanna Scanlan and Rebecca Front – this is a top tier period drama.

Another week, another set of 5 top tips to get steaming.

Still not entertained? Try a previous edition of Stream On: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13.

One Day (Netflix – 14 x 25-40 mins)

15 years since David Nicholl’s book became a mega hit, and 13 years since the less great film version, we’re now treated to televisual epic of an adaptation. In a move closer to the book, each episode focuses on one of the chapters – one day in the lives of Emma (Ambika Mod) and Dexter (Leo Woodall) over the course of two decades. A bittersweet exploration of love, loss and longing.

Rebel Dykes (Channel4 – 92 mins)

The story of a community of women in 1980s post-punk London who met doing art, music, politics and sex, and how they went on to change their world by becoming artists, performers, musicians and activists. So bloody badass.

The Marvels (Disney+ 105 mins)

There’s nothing to be gained from be clanging in on the current state of MCU, enough – more qualified – voices have done that. All I will say is that The Marvels deserved more love than it got and is one of the more accessible, you don’t *need* to have watched all/any of the other films to enjoy this science fiction romp following three super women (Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris and Iman Vellani) as they team up to save the universe.

Suncoast (Disney+ – 109 mins)

While caring for her brother along with her audacious mother (Laura Linney), a teenager (Nico Parker) strikes up a friendship with an eccentric activist (Woody Harrelson) who is protesting one of the most landmark medical cases of all time. A really charming coming-of-age story made all the more heart-rendering considering this is writer-director Laura Chinn‘s fictional account of her life in the early 2000s as a Florida teen with a severely ill older brother.

Upgraded (Prime Video – 105 mins)

Arriving to Prime Video with a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 74% freshness, an infuriatingly and unjustly infrequent high score for a 21st Century romcom, should suggest to you that this is one to check out asap. When Ana (Camila Mendes) is upgraded to first class on a work trip, she meets handsome Will (Archie Renaux), who mistakes her for her boss (Marisa Tomei). The white lie that sets off a glamorous chain of events, romance, and opportunity, until her fib threatens to surface.

Another week, another set of 5 top tips to get steaming.

Still not entertained? Try a previous edition of Stream On: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12.

Black Cake (Disney+ – 8 x 60 mins)

Based on Charmaine Wilkerson’s incredible novel from 2022, it’s the story of two estranged siblings who reconnect upon their mother’s death when they discover her hidden past. A wonderful story about how the inheritance of betrayals, secrets, memories, and even names can shape relationships and history. It’s also some of the most sumptuous looking television we’ve seen in a long time.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (Paramount+ – 100 mins)

A film with universal appeal, for both kids and those who are kids at heart. After years of being sheltered from the human world, the Turtle brothers set out to win the hearts of New Yorkers and be accepted as normal teenagers. Their new friend, April O’Neil, helps them take on a mysterious crime syndicate, but they soon get in over their heads when an army of mutants is unleashed upon them. Click here to read my original review.

Choir (Disney+ – 6 x 60 mins)

A few years on from this spectacular performance on America’s Got Talent, this 6-part documentary series follows the kids of the Detroit Youth Choir as they prepare for the performance of a lifetime. Through their eyes, we experience the highs and lows of life growing up in Detroit, navigating the challenges of balancing family, school, and athletics, all while pursuing their dreams of taking their talents to the next level and performing on one of the world’s biggest stages.

Domino Day (BBC – 6 x 60 mins)

Cor, who doesn’t love a British fantasy show. Let alone one about a powerful young witch who is haunted by her need to feed from the energy of others. Fun and a little bit sexy, you’ll quickly fall under it’s spell (#sorrynotsorry).

Our Flag Means Death (BBC – 18 x 30 mins)

With season two finally arriving in the UK today, Monday 5th February at 10pm, we’re finally going to get some answers to the heart-breaking ending of season one. With the show having been recently cancelled, enjoy our beloved gay pirates whilst you still can.

Okay, this week is a banging week for new telly. The prestige, top tier stuff that will most likely resurface at the end of the year on lots of peoples lists.

Still not entertained? Try a previous edition of Stream On: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11.

Masters of the Air (9 x 60 mins)

From the producers of Band of Brothers (2001) and The Pacific (2010) comes this companion series, focusing on the the enlisted men of the Mighty Eighth Air Force of the United States Army Air Forces. It’s exactly what you think it’s going to be, a tense and thrilling tale that is both huge and epic in scale. Featuring an array of past white boys of the month – Austin Butler, Barry Keoghan and Callum Turner (who is the stand out) – it’s reported to be the most expensive war series ever made (as much as $300m).

Expats (Prime Video – 6 x 60 mins)

Slight tonal shift here, as we go from big and bold to quite and subdued. Expats follows the personal and professional lives of a tight-knit group of expatriates living in Hong Kong. They’re all pretty miserable and, to varying extents and with some just reasons, pretty intolerable. Based on Janice Y.K. Lee’s multi-voice novel The Expatriates, the show follows three women: Mercy (Ji-young Yoo), a young Korean-American haunted by her past; Hilary (Sarayu Blue), a moneyed housewife struggling with fertility complications; and her friend Margaret (Nicole Kidman) whose grief is consuming her. A compelling melodrama about motherhood and grief.

Griselda (Netflix – 6 x 60 mins)

Something this violent shouldn’t be so damn entertaining. Opening with a quote from Pablo Escobar “The only man I was ever afraid of was a woman named Griselda Blanco.”, we know we’re going to be in for ride. Over the course of 6 episodes, this limited series follows Griselda’s rise and fall – and all the violent drama in between.

Queer Eye (Netflix – 6 x 60 mins)

Queer Eye is back for it’s 8th season, which is also interior designer superstar Bobby Berk’s last season. Still in New Orleans, we follow the Fab 5 as they help 6 new individuals to rejuvenate their lives. Fantastically feelgood.

Bottoms (Prime Video – 91 mins)

One of the best (if not the best) comedy films of 2023 is now available to stream from the comfort of your own home. Unpopular best friends PJ (Rachel Sennott) and Josie (Ayo Edebiri) start a high school fight club to meet girls and lose their virginity. They soon find themselves in over their heads when the most popular students start beating each other up in the name of self-defence. Refreshingly off-kilter and hilariously raunchy.