Looking for a good new TV show to watch – or binge through – this long weekend? If you need some quality time with your couch and remote this weekend, we’ve got just the show for you…
Whether you’re in the mood for a good cry, something comforting, something gritty and dark, something to turn your brain off – or something else entirely, we’ve got eight suggestions that hopefully will hit the spot just right!
You’re looking for: A really good Crime Drama… maybe something as good as The Mare Of Easttown?
We recommend: Task
If you loved the Mare of Easttown (that FAB show where Kate Winslet is a small-town detective investigating a murder – if you haven’t seen it, forget this list and go watch it!), this one will be up your alley, because the same folks are behind it.
It’s another short crime/drama series that is brilliant (although VERY stressful at times and I also cried for about 20 minutes after watching the finale, so be warned). Mark Ruffalo is the main character (and is surely going to win every award next award season), but there are so many great actors and the characters are all so well-formed and complex (although many are incredibly frustrating, infuriating or just plain unlikeable).
Mark Ruffalo plays an FBI agent who is heading up a task force in the working class suburbs of Philadelphia, investigating a string of violent robberies in the area. Who is behind them? What is their motivation? This show will have you on the edge of your seat (and if you’re anything like me, you’ll also be hiding behind your pillow for segments and then sobbing at the end)
Watch it on: Neon
You’re looking for: Something light and romantic – preferably very funny and preferably featuring ADAM BRODY
We recommend: Nobody Wants This
God, remember the first season of this (NO? You haven’t even seen it?! Ok, you’re in for a treat – start there! It includes one of the best first kiss scenes in television history).
The premise of the show is that a romance develops between two opposites: Noah is a Rabbi, potentially about to become head rabbi, coming out of a relationship with his long-term girlfriend whom everybody loved. Joanne is a very forthright podcaster, who is trying to sign the deal of her lifetime for the podcast hosted by her and her sister, which is all about them discussing being the “slutty single sisters” and their dating exploits in LA.
One night at a party, Noah and Joanne meet and pretty immediately fall for each other, despite being from very different worlds – and the very real issue that due to his high-profile job, Noah can only marry someone who is Jewish, which Joanne very much isn’t. The show is based on the life of writer/creator Erin Foster, who converted to Judaism for her real-life husband.
In Nobody Wants This, the pair grapple with their ‘are we only going to be friends?’ energy for a while, until there is The Big Kiss. But… what happens next? Can they overcome the divide between them?
Watch it on: Netflix
You’re looking for: A twisty murder/crime mystery show.. that you might already know a lot about (or at least think you do?)
We recommend: The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox
I vaguely remember following along with the case of Meredith Kercher – a young British woman who was savagely murdered in the flat she shared with three other girls, in a little town in Italy where she was studying abroad. But, sadly, not many of us will remember Meredith’s name, because although the murder made headline news around the world, it was due to the media circus around the young woman who was charged with her murder (alongside two others): Amanda Knox.
Amanda Knox worked as executive producer on this show, to tell the story of what happened that night in Puglia and how it came to be that she was wrongfully convicted and incarcerated for the crime.
Watch it on: Disney +
You’re looking for: Something cozy & comforting… starring midlife A-list stars
We recommend: The Four Seasons
As we’ve covered off in Capsule a fair bit of late, we are big fans of the rise of more TV shows, movies – even influencers – who are in mid-life. While yes, I’ll still watch Twilight if it’s on TV, it’s so much more fun to see women – and men – who are closer to my age being depicted (even better if they are played by someone close to my age).
The Four Seasons brings together an all-star cast, who are refreshingly, not all 20-something. They’re in a slightly different life-stage to me (they’re in their mid-50s with college aged kids, while I’m in my early 40s with young kids), but it’s so nice to see the different dynamics, challenges and joys of being 50 plus.
It’s a comedy-drama, with the biggest names being Tina Fey and Steve Carrell. Essentially, there’s three couples who regularly go on holidays all together. But, part way through the first episode – and their springtime getaway to celebrate one of the couples’ 25th wedding anniversary – one of the husbands drops a bombshell on two of the men: he’s planning on leaving his wife. What impact will this have on the six friends – on their friendships, as well as their own marriages?
It’s a great little series that does take a surprising dark turn every now and then – be warned!
Watch it on: Netflix
You’re looking for: A psychological thriller – made right here in NZ
We recommend: The Ridge
This twisty thriller is a joint production between New Zealand’s Great Southern Studios and Scotland’s Sinner Films for BBC Scotland and Sky New Zealand Originals. It centres on Mia, who is living in Scotland and has had problems battling addiction. She accepts a wedding invitation from her estranged sister in NZ, but on arrival here, she learns that her sister is dead.
On arrival Mia learns her sister is dead. While grappling with grief and an attraction to her late sister’s Fiancé she leans of tensions between environmentalists and the first people in the rugged mountain community.
Full disclosure – I’ve only got up to episode two so far, but so far, it’s pretty watchable!
Watch it on: NEON
You’re looking for: Something about crazy rich people having horrible, effed up lives
We recommend: Your Friends & Neighbours
Coop – played by Jon Hamm – is a New York hedge fund manager who is used to living an uber privileged life, full of country club visits, golfing, high end whiskeys and cigars. He has two kids in high school and lives on his own after his wife of many years had an affair with his best friend. So, his best friend (who happens to be a famous ex-basketball player) now lives in his old (ridiculously OTT) house with his wife and kids.
But early into the first episode, Coop gets another kick in the teeth when his company takes issue with his conduct and gives him the boot. His restraint of trade means he can’t get another job for two years – not that anyone else wants to hire him.
So, what does Coop do? He decides to turn to petty crime, ripping off his friends and neighbours, taking their ludicrously expensive watches and jewelry, he knows they likely won’t even miss.
I did like this show – it’s slick and well made – but I wouldn’t say I absolutely loved it. It stars Jon Hamm – who is very Jon Hamm in it – Amanda Peet (an absolute joy) and Olivia Munn. I found everyone – absolutely everyone – in this show extremely unlikable, but I also think that was likely the point. Jon Hamm’s character is completely maddening, but I kept on watching. Mainly because the show veers from what I thought it was in the synopsis (basically a rich white dude turning to petty crime) into a full murder mystery (to the point that in one episode I thought we were back in the Apple’s big show of last year, Presumed Innocent).
It’s fun enough though – and looks to be setting up for a second season, where it might just really find its stride.
Watch it on: Apple TV
You’re looking for: Something powerful & intense and… could kinda do with a good cry.
We recommend: Dying For Sex
In the friendship group I’m in that I most heavy rely on for recommendations of what to watch, we have a shorthand for when a movie or TV show is truly devastating: it’s neck tears. I can’t remember which movie – we saw in the actual cinema no less – left us crying so hard we had tears rolling down our NECKS, but it means that now, we have a yardstick for how sad a movie/show is.
I was warned that Dying for Sex is neck tears level devastating. Which is the case – but it’s also an incredible watch.
It loosely follows the real-life experiences of Molly Kochan. After being diagnosed with terminal cancer, she decides to leave her unhappy marriage of 10 years and go in search of something she’s never experienced before: an orgasm.
You know from the words ‘terminal’ exactly where this thing is headed, but it’s truly a beautifully made and powerful watch. It stars the INCREDIBLE Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate and Sissy Spacek.
If you feel like a good cry this weekend, this one’s your best bet.
Watch it on: Disney+
You’re looking for: A good gritty Brit crime/detective series… set in a grey looking Scotland
We recommend: Department Q
I was a bit ho-hum about watching this series, and now – I’m halfway through and am considering not sleeping tonight to power through the rest of the series. It’s fantastic.
The first episode has a great little twist in it, so I’m loathe to tell you too much about it in case I ruin the ‘oh, whoa!’ moment for you.
But, it follows a top-rated and very grumpy detective, Carl Morck (played by the brilliant Matthew Goode) who is finally back on the job after a shooting, which badly wounded him, left his colleague (and best friend) paralysed, and a young police officer dead. It just so happens that the Scottish Government has recently decided to improve poor detection rates, with a bit of good old PR, and do a push to look into – and hopefully solve – a few old, high profile cold cases. Who better for the job than grumpy Morck?
If you’re into classic Brit crimes, honestly this one is well with a watch. At times it also gave me vibes of Slow Horses – although, it’s perhaps bit darker and certainly less comedic. Highly recommended!!
Watch it on: Netflix
You’re looking for: Something that has the old-school comedy-drama feel to it… like Desperate Housewives, or How to Get Away with Murder
We recommend: Grosse Point Garden Society
Right off the bat this show gave me those vibes of Desperate Housewives or How to Get Away With Murder (likely because of all the shots of quite glamorous young people furiously digging graves in the moonlight?). It’s a quirky little comedy/drama mystery which centers on a seemingly perfect suburban community.
As is always the case with these things, nothing is quite what it seems on the surface, because a scandalous murder takes place which somehow forces the fancy garden club members to hide a body in their well-manicured backyards.
It stars AnnaSophia Robb and is a fun little show – it’s an easy watch if you’re not looking for anything too taxing this weekend.
Watch it on: TVNZ+
You’re looking for: A dark comedy… something that’s kind of fun & crazy, with some mystique and preferably an A list cast
We recommend: Sirens
I decided to give this show a go purely based on the cast – it has the heavy hitters of Julianne Moore, Meghann Fahy (she of White Lotus, The Bold Type and The Perfect Couple fame) and Kevin Bacon.
It’s… kind of batshit? But very watchable.
Sirens – which is based off a play – first introduces us to Meghann’s character Devon, as she is dealing with the aftermath of a hellish night that saw her in jail, and the reality of returning to her house where she is the sole caretaker of her father who suffers from dementia.
We then see her take off – rageful – in search of her younger sister, Simone, who we soon find on a beautiful little island where she appears to have become some sort of Stepford Wife, playing second fiddle to a very unusual, rich and powerful seeming woman, Michaela (played by Julianne Moore). Just what the heck is going on at this mansion?
From there, as it always does, things soon dissolve into chaos as the layers of the onion are slowly peeled back and we learn more about the pasts of these three women. To add to the fun, Kevin Bacon is in the mix as Michaela’s husband – plus Felix Solis (he was terrifying Navarro in Ozark?) who is the surprisingly hilarious head of security at Michaela’s home.
I’m not going to say anything more about this show, because I don’t want to spoil it for you, but it’s definitely a fun weekend watch.
Watch it on: Netflix
You’re looking for: A whodunnit that’s a bit dark, but not too dark
We recommend: The Better Sister
If you’re looking for a crime/mystery drama that’s not toooooo dark, this is my pick. It veers into comedy at times (how can you have Elizabeth Banks in a show without this happening?) but it also reminds me of a Gillian Flynn kind-of story.
It follows a high profile media executive, Chloe (played by Jessica Biel, who is actually pretty darn great in this), who has a picturesque life living with her husband Adam and her son Ethan – living between their chic Manhattan apartment and their country house. But then Adam is murdered and we learn a few things: Ethan is actually Chloe’s step-son and his mother is none other than Chloe’s sister, Nicky (Elizabeth Banks) whom is estranged from her family. But now, as Ethan’s surviving parent, Nicky is back on the scene. And we have no idea who killed Adam – really, it could be anyone?
I found this show surprisingly good – would definitely recommend it for a weekend watch!
Watch it on: Prime Video
You’re looking for: Something kinda trashy to turn your brain off
We recommend: The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
Look, I don’t think I need to justify my thought process here, but last week my brain was feeling busy. When I laid down to sleep, my thoughts kept turning, and when I tried to watch an episode of Department Q my thoughts kept wandering. So, I clicked out of it and discovered a second season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. This is – weirdly? – my new comfort show.
I’ve never had any interest in watching a single episode of The Real Housewives of anywhere and only made it through one season of Love Island but holy heck, something about this reality show has a hold on me.
It’s a bunch of – as the title would suggest – Mormon women living in Utah, who are ‘mum influencers’. They got famous after they started a #MomTok group on Tiktok and then even more famous when one of them – Taylor Frankie Paul – revealed that she and her husband had split, and leading up to the split, they’d been ‘soft-swinging’ with other Mormon couples.
They’re all very young, with kids, husbands, ex-husbands and some very messy back stories that make for some very entertaining tv, if you’d like to just leave your own life and worries for an hour or so. There’s two seasons now, so there’s also lots to binge!
Watch it on: Disney+