It’s sad to say goodbye to the Emmy-award winning “Hacks” as the final season ends on May 28th, but maybe the new series “Big Mistakes” from Dan Levy (“Schitt’s Creek”) could provide a tad of comic relief. Classic literature and a real-life family drama provided the source material for some recent top viewing, while a few contemporary stories failed to deliver.
WATCH
“The Count of Monte Cristo”
“Revenge is a dish best served cold” — 14 years cold is what the titular character does in PBS’s well-executed adaptation of the Dumas classic. Edmond Dantès meticulously plots vengeance after being wrongfully imprisoned for 14 years. Armed with a new fortune and identity, he sets out to punish those responsible for his suffering. Tune in for an epic adventure of betrayal, revenge, and redemption — presented in the caliber one expects from a Masterpiece production. (TV-14, Eight-part, PBS Masterpiece, also PBS Masterpiece on Prime.)
“Young Sherlock”
Director Guy Ritchie (“The Gentleman”) applies his high-octane signature style to this origin story of the legendary British detective. A rebellious young Holmes is drawn into his first murder case with early partner James Moriarty, while exposing some family secrets and a far-reaching conspiracy. A stylish, entertaining romp. Not yet officially renewed for a second season. (TV-14, Eight episodes, Prime.)
“Dynasty: The Murdochs”
Even if you weren’t a “Succession” fan, this real-life battle for control of a vast media empire plays like a Shakespearean tragedy. A well-crafted four-part documentary that’s a behind-the-scenes look at the ambition, political maneuvering, and dark family dynamics (plenty of daddy issues) that shaped the creation of the Murdoch dynasty. You can’t make this stuff up. (TV-MA, Four-part, Netflix.)
MAYBE
“The Audacity”
From “Succession” and “Better Call Saul” writer-producer Jonathan Glatzer comes a satirical takedown of Silicon Valley excess, packed with outrageous billionaire man-child behavior and grotesque wealth. At its best, it’s sharply observed and uncomfortably timely; at its worst, it strains to outdo itself. You’ll either laugh — or recoil. (TV-MA, Eight episodes, AMC and AMC+.)
“The Testaments”
A sequel to “The Handmaid’s Tale,” revisits Gilead 15 years later, following a new generation of the young women as they navigate its oppressive regime. A strong young cast (including Chase Infiniti, “One Battle After Another”) brings a fresh angle to the theme of the dangers of authoritarianism — though it may lack the original’s impact. Worth a look for dystopian fans. (TV- MA, 10 episodes, Hulu.)
Quick Takes:
Protagonists battling personal demons take center stage:
“Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man”
Fans of the series and Cillian Murphy may welcome this Netflix movie — a WWII-era return to Tommy Shelby, pulled from exile to confront both Nazis and his past. A somewhat satisfying, if familiar, sendoff.
“Outcome”
Jonah Hill directs this Apple TV+ dark comedy movie starring Keanu Reeves as an actor undone by his own reputation. Terrible reviews aside, the stacked supporting cast (from Cameron Diaz to Martin Scorsese) and the fun cameos are the main attractions.
“Bait”
Riz Ahmed writes and stars in this surreal Prime limited series about an actor chasing the role of James Bond while haunted by self-doubt that takes the form of a pig’s head voiced by Patrick Stewart. Bold but tonally uneven.
SKIP
“The Madison”
The latest series from Taylor Sheridan is a predictable fish-out-of-water tale centering on a wealthy New York family moving to the wilds of Montana. Like the “Yellowstone” franchise, it’s about land and legacy, but this time focusing on women and their emotional struggles with grief after the death of the family’s patriarch. Michele Pfeiffer stars along with a formulaic mélange of characters — feisty and/or clueless attractive blondes. Grating melodrama, spiritless dialogue, and divisive exaggerated stereotyping — Country, good. City, bad — make this a miss. The saving grace are the breathtaking Montana backdrops. (TV-MA, Six episodes, Paramount+.)
“Imperfect Women”
Based on a hit novel with the same name, “Imperfect Women” is a glossy psychological thriller that wastes its talented cast (including Kerry Washington, Kate Mara, and particularly, Elizabeth Moss) with soapy dialogue and plot. An investigation into the murder of one of the trio of decades-old friends, reveals shocking secrets. Exploring dark themes about betrayal, class, and complicated female friendships, “Imperfect Women” is indeed imperfect. (TV-MA, Eight episodes, Apple TV+.)
“Vladimir”
Netflix also mines a popular novel for content in this often-cringey dark comic/drama series about a middle-aged English professor (Rachel Weisz) who becomes obsessed with a younger attractive colleague (Leo Woodall “White Lotus”) Weisz’s character breaks the fourth wall to tell us her lustful thoughts and imagined sexual encounters with the object of her infatuation. But the sultry and provocatively dressed Weisz is miscast in this role and not believable as an aging woman suffering from invisibility. (TV-MA, Eight episodes, Netflix.)
UNDER THE RADAR
“Ludwig”
This cozy BBC series starts with an overarching mystery: a brilliant and awkward professional puzzler, John Ludwig, is drawn out of his reclusive life when his identical twin brother James, a successful DCI (Detective Chief Inspector) goes missing. John reluctantly adopts James’s identity to solve the mystery of his disappearance, and as he impersonates his brother, he is pulled into solving crimes using puzzle logic. Clever and light-hearted, this sleeper hit started slow then drew millions of fans. A second season expected late 2026. (TV-13+, Six episodes, BritBox.)
