📺 "Steady is quick" | What to watch this week
Reviews of A Small Light, Saint X, and The English + 3 upcoming shows and 1 movie
Mid May already! Great news for lovers of The Bear, The Summer I Turned Pretty, and Only Murders in the Building — all of them are officially coming back for new seasons this summer (June 22, July 14, and August 8, respectively). Mark your calendars.
In today’s edition:
Weekly Watchlist
A Small Light (Disney+, Hulu)
Saint X (Hulu)
The English (Prime Video)
— Jenni Cullen and Jess Spoll
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We keep an eye on all of the new streaming content that is set to premiere. Here’s a list of new shows and movies to watch this week.
The Great (Season 3) — Jenni’s favorite ahistorical comedy-drama is back! Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult star in a wildly comedic re-imagining of the rise of Catherine the Great in 18th-century Russia.
Watch on Hulu: May 12 (all 10 episodes)
City on Fire (Limited Series) — Based on a book of the same name, this crime drama centers around the murder of a young woman in NYC.
Watch on Apple TV+: May 12 (3 of 8 episodes, then weekly)
The Mother (Movie) — This action drama film stars Jennifer Lopez as an assassin who comes out of hiding to protect her daughter.
Watch on Netflix: May 12
High Desert (Season 1) — Emmy-winner Patricia Arquette stars in this dark comedy as a recovering addict who decides to become a private investigator.
Watch on Apple TV+: May 17 (3 of 8 episodes, then weekly)
Our thoughts on brand new streaming content, and where you can watch.
A Small Light
Keywords: historical drama, miniseries, biographical
Watch if you like: Call the Midwife, Ku’damm 56, The Diary of Anne Frank
Jenni’s Rating: A-
A Small Light is a moving dramatization of the true story of Miep Gies, the woman who helped hide Otto Frank and his family from the Nazis during World War II. To be totally transparent, I have cried at least once per episode so far, but I want to assure you, this show is not all darkness and tragedy! It is more often the moments of hope and levity that bring tears to my eyes — the small actions of some that mean the world to others.
Such a charming and heartrending series is anchored by an incredibly capable main cast. Bel Powley, in particular, plays Miep with exuberance and sincerity. She easily invites us into the perspective of this young woman, so full of life and fervent in her beliefs. Miep just wants to do what’s right and can’t understand why others won’t do everything in their power to do the same.
Despite some small anachronistic qualities of linguistic, cultural, and moral natures, all of the characters in this miniseries feel entirely real. This in turn contributes to one of the show’s biggest strengths: the depth of relationships it is able to achieve. The impact of human connection appears to be the whole thesis of A Small Light. Every part of Miep’s idealism is rooted in her belief that anyone can make a difference. This series urges you to remember not to despair in the face of tragedy but to do what you can to live.
— Jenni
Length: 45-min runtime, 1 season / 4 episodes of 8 available, new on Mondays
Watch on: Hulu, Disney+ (with National Geographic)
Saint X
Keywords: murder mystery, thriller, book adaptation
Watch if you like: Big Little Lies, The Girl on the Train, Sharp Objects
Jess’s Rating: C+
Adapted from the novel by Alexis Schaitkin, Saint X tells the tale of a college-aged woman (West Duchovny) who was murdered while on vacation in the Caribbean. The story unfolds via two timelines: in the past, we see the events leading up to the victim’s death, and in the present, her younger sister is haunted by the tragedy and trying to uncover the truth of what happened.
The dual timeline device is used frequently in murder mysteries to build tension, but so far in the series, it’s achieving the opposite. The past storyline is richly layered with interesting characters and beautiful scenery, while the present is flat and plodding. Using the younger sister as an entry point to the aftermath is a clever idea, but is executed poorly, with one-dimensional characterization and lifeless and awkward performances.
If the show had focused solely on the past events, it could’ve been pretty solid. Underneath the murder-mystery premise is a thoughtful (although at times clunky) reflection on classism and racism. While it’s hard not to compare it to The White Lotus, with its luxury resort setting and group of privileged tourists who are tone deaf and entitled, this show’s scrutiny of the “Missing White Woman Syndrome” adds depth to the familiar conceit. The main mystery is compelling enough, especially if you’re into thrillers and whodunnits. I’ll keep watching to find out what happened, but from what I’ve seen and heard, I probably should’ve read the book instead.
— Jess
Length: 50-min runtime, 1 season / 5 of 8 episodes available now, new one each Wednesday
Watch on: Hulu
Where we highlight shows that were one-and-done, have ended, or been canceled — and are well-worth revisiting.
The English (2022 Miniseries)
Keywords: Western, historical drama, gritty
Watch if you like: The Last of Us, Yellowstone / 1883, Longmire
Jenni’s Rating: B+
If the first season of The Last of Us left you craving another drama rife with adventure, revenge, violence, and moral ambiguity, look no further. The English is a six-part miniseries that follows the entwining threads of Lady Cornelia Locke (Emily Blunt) and Pawnee ex-cavalry scout Eli Whipp (Chaske Spencer). The two forge an unlikely bond while traveling through the deserts of the American West and pushing back against a broken system — seeking vengeance and a home, respectively.
This revisionist Western is a stunningly shot genre exercise that aims to correct some of the glamorization of old Hollywood cowboys. I would warn anyone squeamish around gore or brutality to stay away. The series does not hold back in portraying a lawless 1800s West, full of stolen land, broken promises, sweeping violence — and short on hope.
Fantastic performances and film-caliber cinematography hold up a plot that sometimes requires a bit of patience. While we are introduced to Locke and Whipp as anchor points, early on the series begins to twist away from them and toward seemingly unrelated (but equally violent) vignettes in Nebraska, Wyoming, and Kansas. However, the payoff is mostly worth it. After a few slow middle episodes, the puzzle pieces start to come together and reveal a larger, connected narrative.
Overall, The English is dramatic, gritty, well-written, and well-acted. It is a story that deserves to be watched to the end — even if its pace doesn’t always demand it.
— Jenni
Length: 45-min runtime, 1 season / 6 episodes
Watch on: Prime Video
Your shows, returned:
The Great, Season 3: Premieres May 12 on Hulu
Queer Eye, Season 7: Premieres May 12 on Netflix
RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, Season 8: Premieres May 12 on Paramount+
Fear the Walking Dead, Season 8: Premieres May 14 on AMC
Upcoming new releases:
City on Fire: Premieres May 12 on Apple TV+
The Family Stallone: Premieres May 17 on Paramount+
High Desert: Premieres May 17 on Apple TV+
Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss: Premieres May 18 on Peacock
XO, Kitty: Premieres May 18 on Netflix