Get in the television Hole this week with even more Joel Kinnaman
The newsletter was a little late this morning. Chalk it up to hours spent trying to figure out how to type Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole without:
a) Giggling at that title; and
b) cutting and pasting because I don’t know how to type ø on my keyboard.
A couple of thoughts about TV this week:
While The Duffer Brothers aren’t the showrunners of the series, it is strange to me that there isn’t a bigger deal being made of new Netflix horror series Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen. It is their first project after Stranger Things, which is really their only credit where they have been in charge (prior to Stranger Things, they were part of the writing team on the Wayward Pines TV series). The show launch just feels a little more quiet than I would have expected.
I haven’t seen Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole yet, but will spend some time with it this weekend. I’ve been in the mood for a good bingeable detective show and this one looks like it might meet my needs.
For All Mankind is back for season 5 on Apple TV this week. With the spin-off Star City launching in May, and FAM ending with season 6, this feels like a smart time to start watching the show if you haven’t already. It’s a strong, very entertaining alternate history of the space race as it explores the impact the US not being first to land on the moon has for global culture, politics, and technology.
With Joel Kinnaman a main cast member in Apple TV’s Imperfect Women (which debuted last week) Netflix’s Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole, and again in Apple TV’s For All Mankind, are we reaching a point where television can no longer commission a new TV series without the Swedish-American actor starring? Later this year we will also see him leading a new Prime Video US detective show titled Bishop. Seriously, what a work ethic.
Returning TV
Daredevil: Born Again (s02), Beyond Paradise (s04), For All Mankind (s05), House of David (s03), Sullivans Crossing (s04), Heartbreak High (s03), Pokémon Horizons – Rising Hope (s03)
New TV
Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen — Netflix
Who’s in it: Camila Morrone, Adam DiMarco, Shaeane Jimenez, Mason McDonald, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Ted Levine
What’s it about? Rachel and Nicky are engaged to be married in a week. Before they can tie the knot, though, something very bad happens to get in the way.
Jo Nesbø's Detective Hole — Netflix
Who’s in it: Joel Kinnaman
What’s it about? A brilliant but troubled detective, Harry Hole, hunts a serial killer while battling a corrupt adversary, Tom Waaler, as they navigate ethical grey areas, with Harry determined to bring the criminal to justice.
Bait — Prime Video
Who’s in it: Riz Ahmed
What’s it about? A struggling actor on the cusp of landing the role of a lifetime finds himself thrust into a full-blown existential crisis and conspiracy at the same time.
The Faithful — Fox
Who’s in it: Minnie Driver and Natacha Karam
What’s it about? Women from Genesis navigate love, marriage, motherhood, and faith as their descendants establish Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Hope Valley: 1874 — Hallmark+
Who’s in it: Bethany Joy Lenz, Benjamin Ayres and Jill Hennessy
What’s it about? Follows Rebecca Clarke, who travels from Chicago to the Western Canadian frontier with her 11-year-old daughter; she must accept help from local rancher Tom Moore when her wagon breaks down.
Crookhaven — CBBC
Who’s in it: Dougray Scott, Carmel Laniado, Lucas Leach, Amari Bacchus, and Leila Khan
What’s it about? Teen thieves learn to use their skills for good at a secret school for crooks. Young pickpocket Gabriel Avery joins The Crooked Network to fight ‘The Nameless’ and discovers his destiny.
Privileges — HBO Max
Who’s in it: Manon Bresch, Melvil Poupaud, and Zar Amir Ebrahimi.
What’s it about? Inmate Adèle Charki takes a bellhop job at the Citadel hotel through a day-release program led by director Édouard Galzain. She’s caught in power struggles among staff, guests, and networks, while her relationship with Édouard turns dark.
Color Theories by Julio Torres — HBO Max
Who’s in it: Julio Torres
What’s it about? Torres blends stand-up, design and dream logic into a whimsical exploration of color, emotion and identity that is equal parts comedy, theater and art piece, using color as a way of explaining observed experiences.
New Movies
53 Sundays — Netflix
Who’s in it: Javier Cámara, Carmen Machi
What’s it about? When they notice that their 86-year-old father is starting to behave very strangely, three siblings get together to decide what to do. What begins as a civilised family gathering soon turns into a situation that spirals out of control.
Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice — Hulu
Who’s in it: James Marsden and Vince Vaughn and Vince Vaughn and Eiza González
What’s it about? Two friends navigate the dangerous world of organized crime, testing their loyalty and survival skills as they get deeper into the criminal underworld.
The Red Line — Netflix
Who’s in it: Nittha Jirayungyurn, Esther Supreeleela, and Chutima Maholakul
What’s it about? Three women fall prey to a ruthless phone scam. To settle the score, they’ll take on the criminal network that stole their money and their dignity.
Pretty Lethal — Prime Video
Who’s in it: Lana Condor, Millicent Simmonds, Uma Thurman, Maddie Ziegler, and Iris Apatow
What’s it about? Five ballerinas find themselves in a fight for their lives when they seek shelter at a mysterious roadside inn that’s run by a former ballet prodigy.
That’s the newsletter for this week.
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