Week of May 2 – 8

What are you in the mood for this week? A violent revenge drama from the creator of “Ozark?” Oh, we’ve got one of those. It’s called “M.I.A.” and it’s on Peacock. A sensitive new movie about Sally Field’s relationship with an octopus? Specific, but yes that’s on the menu too. It’s called “Remarkably Bright Creatures” and you can watch it on Netflix. What about several new British series finally premiering on American shores? Take your pick – there’s “Lord of the Flies” on Netflix, “The Other Bennet Sister” on Britbox and “Legends” on Netflix. Heck, there’s even a pair of series that aired so long ago you might have forgotten about them but they are very much back – “The Terror” on Shudder/AMC+ and “Citadel” on Prime Video. Truly something for everyone!

On with the television! 

M.I.A.

Thursday, May 7, Peacock

Source: Peacock

Etta Tiger Jonze (Shannon Gisela) is out for revenge. Her family has been murdered and her family’s criminal enterprise, located in the Florida Keys, is shattered. She travels to Miami to avenge them and to build her own drug business. And she’s going to accomplish both by any means necessary. “M.I.A.” hails from creator and executive producer Bill Dubuque, who also created “Ozark,” with Karen Campbell, a veteran of “Outlander,” serving as showrunner and executive producer. The winning supporting cast includes Cary Elwes, Danay Garcia, Brittany Adebumola, Dylan Jackson, Alberto Guerra, Maurice Compte, Gerardo Celasco and Marta Milans and guests that include Edward James Olmos, Billy Burke, Sonia Braga, Loretta Devine, Tovah Feldshuh, Tyler Perez, Paul Ben-Victor and David Denman. All episodes of “M.I.A.,” which Peacock describes as “action-packed,” are streaming May 7, making it the perfect, binge-able treat, especially after a long week presumably spent not selling drugs or murdering people. [TRAILER]

Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord

Monday, May 4, Disney+

Source: Lucasfilm

This animated series, a follow-up to “The Clone Wars” and “The Bad Batch,” featuring a similar animation style (courtesy of Taiwanese studio CGCG) and the creative leadership of Dave Filoni (now overseeing the creative side of Lucasfilm), follows the title character (Sam Witwer) as he consolidates control during the reign of the Galactic Empire. If you’re confused how a character who was seemingly sliced in half during 1999’s “The Phantom Menace” is back and running a criminal enterprise, well, you’ve missed out on a lot of lore. But even if you haven’t memorized the Wookieepedia entry on Darth Maul, there’s still a ton to love about “Maul – Shadow Lord.” It’s darker and more mature than most animated “Star Wars” fare, illuminating a slice of the mythology that hasn’t fully been explored. There will be time – a second season is already in development. [TRAILER]

Remarkably Bright Creatures

Friday, May 8, Netflix

Source: Netflix

Based on the debut novel by Shelby Van Pelt that spent more than 64 weeks on the New York Times hardcover fiction bestseller list, and more than 30 weeks (and counting) on the trade paperback fiction bestseller list, “Remarkably Bright Creatures” stars Sally Field as a widow who works at a local aquarium and forms a special bond with a giant Pacific octopus (voiced by Alfred Mollina) and a young man who comes to town in search of family (played by Lewis Pullman). According to the official synopsis, “They uncover a mystery that will lead them to a life-changing discovery and restore their sense of wonder.” Colm Meany, Joan Chen, Kathy Baker, Beth Grant and Sofia Black-D’Elia also star in the film directed by Olivia Newman (“Where the Crawdads Sing”). This looks heartwarming in a way that we desperately need right now. And who doesn’t love an octopus, one of nature’s most ingenious and enigmatic creatures? [TRAILER]

USA 94: Brazil’s Return to Glory

Thursday, May 7, Netflix

Source: Netflix

“USA 94: Brazil’s Return to Glory” is a new Netflix documentary depicting the Brazilian national team's 1994 World Cup title run in the U.S. Directed by Luis Ara, the documentary “highlights the players and coaches' experiences as they rose to claim Brazil's coveted fourth World Cup title, 24 years after winning their third in Mexico in 1970” and “includes intimate, spontaneous memories from the 1994 team, recorded by two members of the team itself: goalie Gilmar Rinaldi, who filmed practices and time spent as a group on video cassette, and right-back Jorginho, who filmed more than six hours of footage of the team's day-to-day experience," per the streamer's official synopsis. There are few things better than a killer sports documentary and this sounds like it fits the bill. [INFO]

Send Help

Thursday, May 7, Hulu

Source: 20th Century

Sam Raimi’s wonderful new film debuted in theaters earlier this year and made nearly $100 million worldwide without being based on an established IP or serving as some crass brand extension. And if for some reason you missed it, now is your chance. In “Send Help,” Rachel McAdams plays a lowly office worker who is being cruelly underutilized by her boorish new boss (Dylan O’Brien). While on a work trip, their plane crashes on an uninhabited island and the tables are turned. McAdams has been training for years to be on “Survivor” and knows how to live on the island much better than O’Brien. A flipped power dynamic ensues, one that is occasionally ghastly but also darkly funny and always surprising. To say anything more would give away the pure, exhilarating joy of “Send Help,” which sees Raimi reteam with several key collaborators (composer Danny Elfman, cinematographer Bill Pope, editor Bob Murawski) to create a movie that you thought they didn’t really make anymore, but are sure glad they occasionally do – a no holds barred, R-rated thriller for adults. [WATCH]

Source: Shudder/AMC

“Lord of the Flies”

Monday, May 4, Netflix

This new adaptation of William Golding's classic 1954 novel comes from “Adolescence” co-creator Jack Thorne and aired in England earlier this year, to rave reviews. The four-part limited series finally washes up on American shores, with every episode directed by Marc Munden, a frequent collaborator of Thorne’s who also helmed episodes of HBO’s lauded “The Sympathizer.” [TRAILER]