Finding a good show to watch these days, with all of the streaming platforms at our disposal — HBO Max, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Peacock, I could go on — sometimes feels like a 21st century take on “Where’s Waldo?” With the infinite options available to us, the illusion of choice and the search for a movie or show that suits us is real. Luckily, our A&E writers have a few sure-fire suggestions.
“Death on The Nile”: Open on war; it’s black-and-white, desolate and crushing to the human soul. Then, don’t reference the scene again until the end of the film and reveal it’s the backstory for a mustache. It may not be the best written or a well-handled mystery, but Kenneth Branagh’s followup to 2017’s “Murder on the Orient Express” sees Branagh reprise his role as detective Hercule Poirot to investigate a new batch of suspects including Armie Hammer, Gal Gadot and Letitia Wright. Branagh’s exceptional ensemble staging keeps the film afloat until a shrinking list of suspects leads to fading tensions. The weight of a dull second act is put on the cast whose immense talent manages to keep the film captivating until the end, at which point you’re reminded of the opening scene, how odd of a choice it was and remember the film’s a silly movie with bad CGI – but still thoroughly enjoyable. Available in theaters, on Hulu and HBO Max. – Leo Witzke
“Fresh”: This rollercoaster of a film starts with a familiar narrative that morphs into something just a little bit crazy. A young woman named Noa is ready to give up on dating until she has a surprising meet-cute with Steve in a grocery store. Steve seems pretty perfect — he is a handsome doctor who always knows the right thing to say. So when he invites Noa on a weekend getaway shortly after they met, she agrees. All is well until Noa learns Steve has an unusual appetite … for human flesh. The red flags showed up a little too late, and now we must watch in horror as Noa tries to escape an unthinkable situation. “Fresh” provides a humorous reflection on modern dating and keeps you on the edge of your seat while the charming cast of characters continue to shock and surprise. Available for streaming on Hulu. – Sarah Horner
“Abbott Elementary”: Quinta Brunson’s Office-esque mockumentary sitcom about the realities of being a public school teacher in Philadelphia reinvigorates the genre. Brunson, (of “A Black Lady Sketch Show” and Buzzfeed fame), wrote, produced and created the show, and also plays second-grade teacher Janine Teagues as she tries her best to navigate the cruelties that come with being an educator in a system that doesn’t prioritize education to a laughable extent. The show is heartfelt and sincere in its coverage of the all too real failures of America’s public school system while balancing out the nihilism with killer comedy writing and performances from the ensemble cast. The show’s finale will air this Tuesday, so there’s plenty of time to catch up before the next (hopefully) thirty seasons air. Available for streaming on Hulu and Apple TV. – Bel Moran
“Life & Beth”: After watching Amy Schumer’s hilarious stand-up at the Oscars this past week, I began to get into her new TV show, “Life & Beth.” The series follows Beth, a middle-aged woman who has had notable success as a wine saleswoman. Viewers witness Beth confront her past and the troubles that still affect her from her childhood growing up on Long Island. Schumer’s self-aware and slightly raunchy comedic approach blends well with the tackling of serious emotional issues. Like most of Schumer’s projects, “Life & Beth” closely correlates to Schumer’s own life, and with the series being written and directed by Schumer, it helped make the show feel authentic. Available for streaming on Hulu. – Harry Madden
