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Melissah Yang and Patricia Karounos share their picks of can’t-miss TV reveals and films which have them texting up a storm. Belief, you’ll be too.
February is right here, which implies that love is undoubtedly within the air — or, on the very least, we’re being informed it’s by the flurry of Valentine’s Day items, trend, and date-night concepts filling our feeds. Naturally, romance can also be taking on our screens. Simply have a look at One Day, a brand new adaptation of the 2009 romance novel concerning the decades-long relationship between two unlikely faculty buddies who navigate the emotional curler coaster that’s life collectively. There’s additionally Mr. & Mrs. Smith (sure, one other remake/retelling), which takes a extra critical have a look at what it actually means to be married — when you additionally occur to be spies performed by Maya Erskine and Donald Glover. And naturally, the return of one of the vital fashionable actuality TV relationship reveals.
However when you’re not within the temper for love (or simply want a break from the Valentine’s Day festivities), there’s nonetheless a lot to take a look at — like the latest season of Abbott Elementary or the extremely anticipated live-action adaptation of beloved sequence Avatar: The Final Airbender. We’ve additionally acquired the primary superhero flick of 2024 — Madame Net, which stars Dakota Johnson as a lady who will get Spider-Man-adjacent powers — and the star-studded motion movie Argylle, which is seeking to present each laughs and thrills. So, sit again and let the vibes information your watching. That’s what we’ll be doing this month.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
If you happen to’ve seen the 2005 movie model of Mr. & Mrs. Smith (starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, earlier than their tumultuous relationship dominated headlines), chances are you’ll expect this new take to be fairly comparable: a bombastic, sexed-up story about two competing tremendous assassins who simply so occur to be married. And whereas there’s actually motion and romance to be discovered within the eight-episode sequence, co-creators Donald Glover and Francesca Sloane (a author on Glover’s dramedy Atlanta) had one thing totally different in thoughts.
As a substitute, marriage — and all of the work that goes into making a relationship work — takes heart stage right here. Glover and Maya Erskine star as John and Jane Smith (not their actual names), two strangers who work at a top-secret spy company that requires them to go undercover as a married couple. It isn’t lengthy earlier than the 2 develop precise emotions for one another, making their jobs much more harmful and their lives far more difficult.
Although the present’s formidable premise usually leads to clashing tones and concepts — most episodes, for instance, are centered round a mission, however you by no means actually absolutely perceive what that mission is — Glover and Erskine are the rationale to look at. John and Jane fall quick and laborious, and the actors deliver a straightforward, partaking rapport to their dynamic, whether or not they’re lavishing within the honeymoon section or navigating an emotion-fuelled argument. It’s particularly nice to see Erskine, one of many good and hilarious stars of Pen15, exhibit a brand new facet of her abilities. In my thoughts, that’s greater than sufficient to simply accept this mission.
The place to look at: Prime Video
When: February 2
Watch when you like: Atlanta, Pen15
Argylle
“The better the spy, the larger the lie.” That’s the tagline for each the film Argylle and the fictional books (and actual life one) it covers, and it rings true within the 12 months’s first massive field workplace guess. Within the movie, writer Elly Conway’s wildly profitable Argylle novels concerning the titular undercover agent have spawned a large franchise of motion figures, T-shirts, and a faithful fanbase. However when she instantly finds herself in the midst of a real-life espionage plot that’s eerily much like the occasions of her books, nothing is because it appears and the road between fiction and actuality blurs in a blink.
The film, the most recent from Kingsman filmmaker Matthew Vaughn, options an all-star ensemble: Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Henry Cavill, John Cena, Ariana DeBose, Samuel L. Jackson, Catherine O’Hara, and contains Dua Lipa’s appearing debut.
Argylle is an element enjoyable, half camp, and 100% meta. It’s self-referential with a wink (and has already led to some conspiracy theories about who the true Elly Conway is). The twists and turns could have you questioning when you can consider what you’re seeing, and whereas issues would possibly get slightly wild within the third act, the journey remains to be definitely worth the experience.
The place to look at: Theaters, Apple TV+ (at a later date)
When: February 2
Watch when you like: The Kingsman
Abbott Elementary Season 3
Consideration, college students: class is again in session. And, due to the strike-delayed third season of Abbott Elementary — aka the most effective community comedy in years — I’ve by no means been extra excited to be heading to high school.
It’s been some time since we’ve been with the lovable forged of characters on newly-minted Emmy winner Quinta Brunson’s sitcom, so right here’s a refresher: On the finish of Season 2, the irresistible will they/received’t they instructor duo Janine (Brunson) and Gregory (Tyler James Williams) determined it will be finest if they continue to be buddies for now. This implies Janine is embarking down a path of development and self-discovery, whereas nonetheless navigating the day-to-day chaos of working at a public faculty in Philadelphia. No matter the place the story stands romantically, Abbott Elementary is the surest guess for assured laughs we’ve got in the intervening time, so it being again on TV on a weekly foundation can solely be factor.
The place to look at: Hulu, Wednesdays on ABC
When: February 7
Watch when you like: Parks & Recreation, Superstore
One Day
After I first heard that Netflix was making a brand new TV sequence primarily based on romantic drama One Day, I’ll admit that my first thought was: Why would anybody put themselves by means of that once more? I’ve each learn the 2009 bestselling novel by David Nicholls and watched the 2011 movie adaptation (starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess), and — spoiler alert, I assume? — had my coronary heart shattered into tiny items consequently. And when you, like me, have skilled both story, you additionally know that tears are mainly inevitable.
It seems that I’m a masochist as a result of I ended up watching the present anyway — and was completely charmed. The plot will probably be acquainted: every episode is about on the identical date over plenty of years (beginning in 1988), and follows the connection between Emma (Ambika Mod) and Dexter (The White Lotus’ Leo Woodall). The pair meet on the evening of their college commencement (having run in vastly totally different social circles), get pleasure from an amusing (but finally failed) try at a one-night stand, and their lives find yourself turning into irrevocably intertwined within the aftermath. As a result of the story unfolds over 14 episodes, there’s extra time to get to know each Emma and Dexter as people and watch their dynamic change through the years. It’s tender, romantic, joyful, infuriating, and really easy to get swept up in. Simply arm your self with Kleenex — and don’t say I didn’t attempt to warn you.
The place to look at: Netflix
When: February 8
Watch when you like: One Day (2011), Love, Rosie
Madame Net
“He was within the Amazon with my mother when she was researching spiders proper earlier than she died.” It was with these phrases from final 12 months’s trailer that Madame Net hilariously (and inadvertently) created the primary meme for a 2024 film, which, for my part, has already made it an vital a part of the popular culture zeitgeist.
A meme doesn’t make a film, nevertheless, and fortunately, this superhero flick seems to have much more going for it apart from unintended comedy. Tailored from a Marvel Comics, Madame Net isn’t technically a part of the MCU and is as a substitute linked to different Sony Spider-Man movies like Venom and Morbius. The technicalities don’t actually matter, although; right here’s what you truly have to know: Dakota Johnson stars as Cassandra Webb, a NYC paramedic who develops clairvoyance. This new energy brings up reminiscences from her previous, whereas Cassandra additionally (seemingly randomly) meets a trio of younger girls (performed by Sydney Sweeney, Celeste O’Connor, and Isabela Merced) who’re being threatened by a mysterious determine.
It’s been some time since there’s been a superhero film that’s actually captured consideration, and Madame Net is seeking to set itself aside. It’s a still-too-rare instance of a woman-led comedian ebook adaptation (although there have been extra in recent times), and its deal with a protagonist whose otherworldly powers are extra cerebral — so we most likely received’t be seeing a lot Hulk-level energy right here, which may very well be a much-needed change of tempo.
The place to look at: Theaters
When: February 14
Watch when you like: Spider-Man, Venom
Love Is Blind Season 6
Okay, okay, we all know Love Is Blind Season 5 was an utter catastrophe (with simply two {couples} seen making it out of the pods and just one saying “I do” on the altar), however Season 6 looks like we’re getting again to the roots of the present and re-cements Netflix’s actuality relationship experiment as must-watch TV.
As soon as once more, singles are thrust into relationship pods separated by partitions to seek out emotional connections and fall in love sight unseen. This time although, we’re in Charlotte, North Carolina, and with it comes a complete host of complicated conversations and straight-up mess. The one factor LIB has persistently dropped at the desk amid a slew of relationship reveals (some good, most not so good) is that its condensed timeline and compelled deal with the within earlier than bringing within the outdoors mirror vital dynamics in any given relationship. There’s one thing all of us can relate to and S6 is not any totally different.
It actually does really feel like most of this season’s forged are there with true intentions to seek out their fortunately ever after (and never simply vying to be a sponcon influencer), and with a present whose whole premise relies on genuine connections with out the fluff, that’s all we might ever need.
The place to look at: Netflix
When: February 14
Watch when you like: Any Love Is Blind season (besides S5 lol)
This Is Me…Now: A Love Story
I’ll be sincere: I’ve completely no thought what Jennifer Lopez’s This Is Me…Now: A Love Story is meant to be. Is it a super-long music video, or a visible companion to her upcoming album (known as This Is Me…Now), à la Lemonade? Is it a story film? A musical? J. Lo’s magnum opus that reinvents the media of movie and music in methods we’ve by no means seen earlier than? I believe solely Lopez can truly inform us.
Naturally, the trailer does nothing to clear this thriller up. It reveals a mixture of genuinely surprising visuals (Lopez strolling by means of a metropolis that appears like Gotham! Group dancing down a wedding ceremony aisle! One thing that appears like a dystopian manufacturing facility!), strains of dialogue that may barely be comprehended (“Being with you looks like residence. However I left residence for a cause.”), and an eclectic array of superstar cameos (together with Sofía Vergara, Trevor Noah, Derek Hough, Submit Malone, Kim Petras, Keke Palmer, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Jay Shetty, and, clearly, Ben Affleck). Additionally of no assist? The official synopsis, which reads: “Jennifer has created a narrative-driven cinematic odyssey, steeped in mythological storytelling and private therapeutic” that’ll present “her journey to like by means of her personal eyes” and be “an introspective retrospective of Jennifer’s resilient coronary heart.” Clearly, all the things about that is going to be very regular.
This might both be a can’t-look-away-from trainwreck or certainly one of this 12 months’s biggest items of leisure — and I can’t wait to seek out out which it’s.
The place to look at: Prime Video
When: February 16
Watch when you like: Marry Me, the music of Jennifer Lopez
Avatar: The Final Airbender Reside Motion
In Avatar: The Final Airbender, there are 4 nations — Water Tribe, Earth Kingdom, Fireplace Nation, and Air Nomads — whose benders can management their particular person parts. For 1,000 years, the nations have lived in concord that’s largely maintained by the Avatar, a once-in-a-generation determine who’s the one person who has the power to grasp all 4 parts. When the Fireplace Nation vies to take over, younger Aang goes on a journey together with his buddies to meet his future to grow to be the one who can save the world.
Getting this present on our screens has been a longggg journey. Netflix first introduced it was making a reside motion adaptation of the beloved animated sequence again in 2018. We acquired our first forged images final June, and within the months that adopted, extra seems to be dropped little by little to large buzz and pleasure. There’s a cause Avatar holds a particular place for therefore many individuals, who grew up watching the unique on Nickelodeon (which, if you wish to watch forward of the reside motion premiere, you too can catch on Netflix).
Whereas it’s a well-known coming-of-age quest narrative, the sequence cuts a lot deeper with its classes like so many animes that influenced it. That is one your pals and buddies of buddies might be speaking about — particularly as soon as they see the benders’ powers come to life.
The place to look at: Netflix
When: February 22
Watch when you like: Avatar: The Final Airbender animated sequence (duh)
Summer time Home Season 8
After final 12 months’s Vanderpump Guidelines’ Scandoval, it appeared nothing else might additional disrupt the Bravoverse. However Summer time Home, aka Bravo’s East-Coast-show-for-young-people, went up and mentioned maintain my beer (or Loverboy) and dropped a large bomb final September when OG forged member Carl Radke known as off his engagement to fellow OG Lindsay Hubbard — AND whereas cameras have been rolling. To say we have been shooketh is an understatement. There’s been a ton mentioned within the press about what did or didn’t occur, what brought on the break up, and followers have been fast to chime in with their very own ideas and theories. Now, we lastly get to witness for ourselves the coup de grace that led to the breakup.
Certain, count on the same old themed events and housemate shenanigans — in any case, summer time needs to be enjoyable! — however the principle course will most undoubtedly be Radke and Hubbard’s break up. (Exhibit A: the explosive trailer.) Time to make a sandwich (or two) as a result of we’re hungry and able to eat.
The place to look at: Peacock, Thursdays on Bravo at 9 p.m.
When: February 22
Watch when you like: Vanderpump Guidelines, Winter Home
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