WATCH
“Widow’s Bay”
Billing something as a “horror comedy” may feel like an oxymoron for some (including me), but this eerie series delivers plenty of scares and dry, deadpan humor. The talented Matthew Rhys (“The Americans,” “The Beast in Me”) gives a compelling performance as the mayor of a New England town determined to revive the community and turn it into a tourist destination despite the superstitious locals’ warning that the island is haunted and cursed. (Think of a “Jaws”-type mayor ignoring all the ominous signs.) Creepy and not for everyone, but with comparisons to Stephen King, it will certainly appeal to horror fans. For non-horror fans like me, its witty originality merits viewing — even with some periodic eye-shielding. (TV-MA, 10 weekly episodes through June 17, Apple TV+)
“Remarkably Bright Creatures”
Switch gears to a heartwarming, feel-good movie based on the phenomenally successful book about a widow (played by Sally Fields) who works at a local aquarium and the bond she forms with an aging octopus named Marcellus (voiced by Alfred Molina). It’s a sweet story about lonely damaged people who find healing and unexpected connection with the help of a sly and witty sea creature — and some happy plot twists. Good family fare. (PG-13, 1hr 51m, Netflix)
“Legends”
Steve Coogan (“Philomena”) plays a former undercover police officer who recruits and leads a band of dissatisfied customs agents against the major drug cartels plaguing Britain’s streets with heroin in the early 90s. The ragtag team might seem a bit familiar — like the one in the hit “Slow Horses” — but “Legends” is based on a true story, making the ordinary men and women featured here remarkably heroic and capable in their efforts to infiltrate and take down violent smugglers. A story worth telling — and watching. (TV-MA, 6 episodes, Netflix)
“Running Point”
An underestimated former party girl takes over as president of a struggling professional basketball team and wins a championship — sounds like a fictional storyline, except it’s not. “Running Point” is inspired by LA Lakers CEO Jeannie Buss, who fought off a coup by her brothers to wrest control of the family’s business after their father’s death in 2013.
With proven comic pedigrees — starring Kate Hudson, creators including Mindy Kaling and Ike Barinholtz, and the addition of Ray Romano this season — the series is a successful parody of Buss’s experience in the male-dominated sports industry. A wildly competitive dysfunctional family, a scheming drug-addicted brother, and romantic tension make for funny, occasionally slapstick, bingeable entertainment. (TV-MA, Season 1 and 2, 10 episodes each, Netflix)
“Crime 101”
An unsolved string of jewelry heists along the LA 101 highway brings three characters to a turning point: the complex criminal, a cynical detective, and a disillusioned insurance agent. Solid performances from Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Halle Berry, and Barry Keoghan deliver a high-suspense movie thriller inspired by a novel from celebrated crime author Don Winslow. There’s greed, corruption, and betrayal in this intriguing cops-and-robbers neo-noir. (Rated R, 2h 19m, Prime)
“The Other Bennet Sister”
For something cozier, this delightful British series reimagines Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” from the perspective of Mary Bennet, the plain, socially awkward middle sister. Overlooked and unmarried, she pursues a different path from her sisters and journeys to self-discovery. It’s based on Janice Hadlow’s 2020 novel of the same name. Tune in for an enjoyable modern spin on an old classic. (TV–PG, 10 weekly episodes through June 24, BritBox)
MAYBE
“Beef”
Road rage, blackmail, and revenge are not typically laughing matters, but they fuel this unique anthology dramedy in which escalating personal “beefs” spiral into life-altering extremes. “Beef” dominated the 2024 Emmys and now has two completed seasons. The first season starred Ali Wong and Steven Yeun as strangers whose road-rage encounter sends them both off the rails — earning them Emmy wins. In Season 2, Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan play a country club manager and a design consultant wife, who are pitted against a struggling junior staff couple, igniting an outrageous clash of age, class, and race. A stress-inducing black-comedy thriller with a sharp warning about the destructive dangers of repressed rage and the hollow pursuit of materialism. (TV-MA, Seasons 1 and 2, 8 episodes each, Netflix)
SKIP
“The Miniature Wife”
This on-the-nose series follows a couple where the wife — who’s already feeling diminished by her husband — is accidentally and literally turned tiny by his secret scientific breakthrough project. Elizabeth Banks and Matthew Macfadyen play unlikeable, ambitious characters who curse and scream a lot. It’s hard to reach the end without losing patience — or interest. (TV-MA, 10 episodes, Peacock)
UNDER THE RADAR
“Sugar”
Colin Farrell plays John Sugar, a mysterious private detective with a dark side who is hired to find the missing granddaughter of a Hollywood mogul. Obsessed with classic films, he speaks multiple languages and belongs, along with his handler, to a secret polyglot society. There are double-crossing twists in this contemporary crime thriller with a stylishly old-timey feel. This genre-bending series blends neo-noir with something unexpected (no spoilers here!). Watch Season 1 now and be primed for Season 2, premiering on June 19. (TV-MA, Season 1, 8 episodes, Apple TV+)
