With the Olympics winding down, television is springing back to life in a really big way with some very high profile launches this week.
The biggest release is probably The Marvellous Mrs Maisel, which returns for season 4 on Amazon Prime Video. No, you're not wrong in thinking it hasn't been on for a while. We last saw it in Dec 2019. And yes, it is a struggle to remember exactly what happened. But give it 10-15 minutes and the show locks back into place pretty well. I had a fun time with its return.
The best release is unquestionably Severance on Apple TV+. This show is great. Adam Scott stars in this Ben Stiller directed thriller about a world where workers can have an operation which lets them split their mind in two, enabling them to forget what they have been doing at work all day. It's the ultimate in work/life balance - as long as you're the part of the psyche who isn't stuck at the office all day every day, never going home.
Dan Barrett
The most interesting release this week is the season 2 return of Space Force. The first season was pretty flaccid, but will this follow the trajectory of the last Steve Carell/Greg Daniels show The Office (US) which changed trajectory with its second season and really stepped up their game? I'm keen to find out.
returning:
The Marvellous Mrs Maisel (s04), Space Force (s02), State of The Union (s02), Wellington Paranormal (s04), Young Wallander (s02)
new:
Bel Air - Peacock | Stan
Stars: Jabari Banks, Cassandra Freeman, Jimmy Akingbola
A re-imagination of the beloved sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" set in modern-day America through a new, dramatic take on Will's complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel Air. As these worlds collide, he reckons with the power of second chances while navigating the conflicts, emotions and biases of a world far different from the only one he's ever known.
Severance - Apple TV+
Stars: Dichen Lachman, Patricia Arquette, Adam Scott
Mark leads a team of office workers whose memories have been surgically divided between their work and personal lives; when a mysterious colleague appears outside of work, it begins a journey to discover the truth about their jobs.
The Cuphead Show - Netflix
Following the misadventures of loveable Cuphead and his cautious but easily-swayed brother Mugman as they scour the Inkwell Isles in search of fun and adventure.
Last One Laughing: Canada - Amazon Prime Video
Stars: Jay Baruchel, Caroline Rhea, Debra DiGiovanni, Andrew Phung, Jon Lajoie, Dave Foley, Colin Mochrie, Tom Green
Ten Canadian comedians compete to make each other laugh, while not laughing themselves; the comedian who doesn't break a smile wins $100,000 for the charity of their choice.
That's it for this week.
