A Marvel return and international comedy: this week's watchlist
reviews of Deadloch S2, Bait, SNL UK, Daredevil: Born Again S2 and more
Happy Thursday. Our running check-in on the weekly release shows has been steadily growing throughout the month—there’s already been a ton of solid content in March. And yet, there’s always more! Welcome back to our usual rundown on what’s new, what we’ve already watched, and how much of it is worth your time this week.
— Jenni and Jess
what’s new…
(Our thoughts on brand new streaming content, and where you can watch.)
Deadloch — Season 2
Watch if you like: Ludwig, Top Of The Lake, Bad Sisters
Length: 50-min runtime, 2 seasons / 6 episodes in S2
Jenni’s rating: 3/5 ⭐ after 3 episodes
This offbeat, odd-couple Australian dark comedy is back with another mystery to solve, this time in the humid, croc-ridden outback. Detective duo Dulcie Collins (Kate Box) and Eddie Redcliffe (Madeleine Sami) are no longer strangers forced together by circumstance; after taking down a serial killer last season, there’s a trust and mutual respect between them. But that doesn’t mean their investigative styles don’t clash—with Collins measured and methodical, Redcliffe loud and unfiltered—as they look into a grizzly new murder.
There’s something about Deadloch that I admire more than I immediately enjoy. The writing is sharp, the performances are consistently strong, and the comedic voice has that Australian specificity I usually love. Unfortunately, it takes me a beat to fully click into the show’s rhythm. With both this season and the last, I found the initial episodes to be a bit of a slog, forcing myself to push through as the series juggled its sprawling ensemble and layered in absurdity alongside the central mystery. I’m probably bringing some personal fatigue with crime thrillers into the mix, but that doesn’t change that the initial investment curve of this show is consistently steeper than I’d like.
There are welcome returns in Season 2, including Nina Oyama as Abby, the sweetly naive yet surprisingly perceptive young cop—easily one of the show’s most endearing presences. While fewer familiar faces from Deadloch (the town) make the jump this season, the series remains a quirky, slightly unhinged take on the police procedural that rewards patience even if it doesn’t immediately hook. — Jenni
Our take? Stream for a slow-burn, but solid ROI. All episodes now streaming on Prime Video.
Bait — Limited Series
Watch if you like: The Studio, Ramy, Atlanta
Length: 25-min runtime, 1 season / 6 episodes
Jess’s rating: 3.5/5⭐
Riz Ahmed is fantastic in the dramas I’ve seen him in—especially in The Night Of and Sound of Metal—so I was intrigued when I found out he created and starred in a new genre-bending comedy. That comedy is Bait, a quirky, high-energy short series in which Riz plays Shah, an actor up for the legendary role of James Bond.
The six-episode season unfolds over just a few days as speculation over his casting snowballs into online backlash, public scrutiny, and a gradual psychological unraveling. It starts out feeling like an industry satire à la The Studio, with zany oners, high-energy editing, and frenetic pacing. The premise itself—a non-white Bond triggers endless internet debate—is ripe for satire, especially in the wake of the real-life discourse around Idris Elba’s rumored 007 casting.
But Bait soon pivots away from the industry-specific comedy and into a disorienting psychological tailspin. Shah becomes obsessed with the idea of playing Bond, grappling with his own self-loathing and the cultural ramifications of taking on the part. Surreal elements underscore his breakdown—most memorably, his dialogues with a severed pig’s head voiced by Patrick Stewart. The show is not especially plot-driven, nor neatly episodic in the way of The Studio. It’s more of a meandering journey through one man’s psyche as he tries to stay strong under the weight of expectations from both society and his family.
Even when it feels messy or overextended, there’s a strong POV here that makes the show compelling to watch. Bait may not fully land every swing it takes, but the ambition and passion make it worth checking out. — Jess
Our take? It’s quick and original—check it out. All episodes available now on Prime Video.
LOL: Last One Laughing UK — Season 2
Watch if you like: Would I Lie To You?, Big Fat Quiz of the Year, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown
Length: 30-min runtime, 2 seasons / 3 of 6 episodes available in S2
Jenni’s rating: 4/5⭐
LOL: Last One Laughing UK was a highlight of 2025. If you missed my review of the first season, the general premise of the show is simple: ten comedians are put in a room together for six hours to try to make each other break. The person who is able to hold a straight face for the longest, wins.
Personally, I would not last more than 15 minutes with this crew. Last year’s contestants were incredibly strong (Richard Ayoade and Bob Mortimer are icons), but this year feels next-level. Not only have they brought Mortimer back to (spoiler alert) defend his title, but this season also includes the infamously unpredictable Sam Campbell, former Bake Off host Mel Giedroyc, Peep Show’s David Mitchell, deadpan mockumentary host Diane Morgan (aka Philomena Cunk), and The Traitors UK’s most recent fan fave Alan Carr.
It helps if you recognize a few of the players—their rhythms, their go-to bits, the particular things that set them off—but the show’s success doesn’t depend on it. The humor of Last One Laughing taps into something more primal: that specific, uncontrollable hysteria that comes simply from wanting to laugh when you know you shouldn’t. Watching these comedians contort their mouths to avoid laughter—or even walk away mid-conversation to save face—is funny in and of itself. The sight of them barely holding it together is enough to send me reeling. — Jenni
Our take? Stream it, you’ll giggle for sure. Watch on Prime Video, next two episodes available today.
Daredevil: Born Again — Season 2
Watch if you like: Daredevil, Hawkeye, The Penguin
Length: 50-min runtime, 2 seasons / 8 episodes in S2
Jess’s rating: 3.5/5⭐
Coming from a fan of the Netflix Daredevil series, season 1 of Daredevil: Born Again was a disappointment. The behind-the-scenes drama was obvious onscreen, resulting in a disjointed and uneven reboot. Based on the first two episodes of season 2, though, the show feels more focused. With Fisk consolidating power and Matt back in his suit, there’s a clear conflict building, and the stakes feel more specific—especially with the “anti-vigilante task force,” a thinly veiled ICE stand-in. We see the street-level impact of a police-like entity that operates without oversight, disrupting families, targeting ordinary citizens, and inflicting violence without repercussions.
There are signs pointing to a return to the physical grit and grounded stakes of the Netflix series, but it’s still early and there’s a lot of season left. I’m not ready to be all-in, but it’s moving in the right direction. — Jess
Our take? It’s better than S1, but you may want to wait until more episodes are out. New episodes Tuesdays at 9pm ET on Disney+.
Saturday Night Live UK — Season 1
Watch if you like: SNL, Mad T.V.
Length: 75-minute runtime, 1 season / 1 of 8 episodes available
Jenni’s rating: 4/5⭐
The long-running sketch show, now cornerstone of American pop culture, comedy, and political satire, officially has a British counterpart. Former SNL head writer Tina Fey hosted the inaugural episode last weekend with musical guest Wet Leg (you’ll likely recognize their 2022 single Chaise Longue).
Not every sketch landed for me, but a) that’s par for the course with live comedy, and b) I’m not the target audience, what with my lack of UK citizenship and utter ignorance of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. On the whole, it was a strong debut. I laughed out loud more than once, particularly at cast member Jack Shep’s Princess Diana pout and Ania Magliano and Paddy Young’s weekend update segment. There’s something exciting about seeing this iteration capture the scrappy, early-days energy of Saturday Night Live, even as it recycles the format wholesale. With Jamie Dornan and Riz Ahmed set to host the next two episodes, I’m eager to keep watching. — Jenni
Our take? Stream it if you miss the messy, raw energy of early SNL. New episodes Sundays at 9pm ET on Peacock (in the US).
checking back in…
(A running check-in on the weekly releases — what’s working, what’s losing us, and what we’ve bailed on.)
finished…
Jury Duty: Company Retreat — I finished the new season (via screeners—the final 5 episodes will be released over the next 2 weeks) and I standby my initial assessment that this season is still enjoyable but doesn’t reach the heights of the first. Anthony is such a pleasant person, but I’m fairly convinced that he knew something was up. 3.5/5⭐ (JS)
The Madison — It may be Taylor Sheridan’s least grating series of recent years (…not a high bar to clear), but The Madison is overwrought at times, overly sanctimonious at others. 2/5⭐ (JS)
still watching…
(🚨THIS SECTION MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR RECENT EPISODES🚨)
Rooster — A little heavy handed this episode with the “Greg getting his feet under him” of it all, but this is still a charming show so far. I need more of Sunny’s roommate (played by Robby Hoffman). (JC)
Paradise (S2) — Absolutely insane episode. Is this confirmation of the show dabbling in time travel by way of quantum mechanics?? (JC)
St. Denis Medical (S2) — I continue to enjoy this show passively, but they really need to tighten some of these characters. There are two people functioning as the comedic foil right now (Serena and Joyce) and there can only be one!! (JS)
Best Medicine — Against all logic, Best Medicine has become my cozy watch-while-cleaning show. The procedural aspect keeps things fresh, and the setting is quaint and warm. (JS)
dropped…
Imperfect Women — Sorry to Kerry Washington, I simply am not engaged by the mystery at all. (JC)
on pause…
Ghosts - S5 (JS), Abbott Elementary - S5 (Both), St. Denis Medical - S2 (JS), Scrubs (Revival) (Both), Love Story (JC), The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins (Both), The Pitt (S2) (Both), DTF St. Louis (JS), Monarch: Legacy of Monsters - S2 (JS), Shrinking - S3 (JS)
on the horizon…
(New shows and streaming movies that are out this week but we haven’t seen yet)
Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special — This celebratory special revisits the Disney Channel phenomenon that made Miley Cyrus a household name.
Watch on Disney+: March 24Something Very Bad is Going to Happen (Limited Series) — From creator Haley Z. Boston and executive producers the Duffer Brothers, this psychological horror follows a bride-to-be (Camila Morrone) whose mounting dread and strange events in the week before her wedding make her question both her future and her sanity.
Watch on Netflix: March 26 (all 8 episodes)For All Mankind (Season 5) — The alternate-history space drama returns, continuing its decades-spanning story of an intensified global space race.
Watch on Apple TV+: March 27 (1 of 10 episodes, then weekly)Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice (Movie) — Vince Vaughn, James Marsden, and Eiza González star in this stylized R-rated sci-fi action-comedy about two gangsters and the woman they both love trying to survive one chaotic night — with the added complication of a time machine.
Watch on Hulu: March 27
in theaters this weekend…
If you’re in the mood to leave the house...)
Project Hail Mary
Watch if you like: The Martian, Interstellar, Gravity
Length: 2h 36m
Jess’s rating: 4.5/5⭐
Project Hail Mary is an easy crowd-pleaser—a massive, beautiful spectacle that will warm your heart. An adaptation of the bestselling Andy Weir novel, Ryan Gosling plays a middle school science teacher who wakes up alone on a spaceship with no memory of how he got there, and slowly realizes he’s humanity’s last hope.
Like The Martian—another Andy Weir adaptation—a lot of the momentum comes from watching a smart but normal guy solve impossible problems through an advanced knowledge of science. That’s inherently satisfying, especially for this STEM-brained reviewer, but what really gives the movie its weight are the human stakes and likable characters. Directors Lord and Miller handle the tonal balance well—the movie is suspenseful, but it’s also deeply sincere and understands that the scale of “saving the world” only matters if you care about the people trying to do it.
Most of the dense scientific detail from the book gets smoothed over, and I understand why, even if part of me missed the granular problem-solving that makes the novel so immersive. What carries over well is the heart, and Gosling is a perfect fit for Grace (sorry for ever doubting him!), bringing warmth and relatability to the role. Visually, it’s stunning and meant to be seen in a theater on the largest screen you can find. This is the kind of movie that’s truly easy to recommend to everyone. — Jess
Our take? Go see it in theaters on the biggest screen you can find! Now playing in theaters everywhere.
And a few more in theaters this week…
Forbidden Fruits — Lili Reinhart, Lola Tung, Alexandra Shipp and Victoria Pedretti star in this campy horror-comedy about mall retail workers who secretly run a witchy cult.
They Will Kill You — Zazie Beetz stars in this dark action horror comedy about an ex-convict who takes a housekeeping job in a mysterious Manhattan high-rise and discovers the residents are part of a deadly cult.
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