📺 Escapist TV: Sweetpea, Ludwig, UnREAL...
plus 'The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh' and a watchlist of 3 new streaming movies & 7 new and returning TV shows this week
It’s Thursday. This has been an incredibly hard, weird week so far. If you don’t feel like doing much of anything…same. And if you feel the need to dive into a scripted series or movie for some stability or escapism, we feel you.
In today’s edition:
Weekly Watchlist
Sweetpea (Starz)
Ludwig (BBC One)
The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh (Prime Video)
UnREAL (Netflix)
— Jenni Cullen and Jess Spoll
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Below is a selection of new shows and movies premiering this week. Our unabridged list of November releases, including theatrical releases and streaming debuts, is available here and published monthly for our premium subscribers.
My Old Ass* (Movie) — Maisy Stella and Aubrey Plaza star as older and younger versions of the same character in this coming-of-age dramedy.
Watch on Prime Video: November 7 (*Streaming Premiere)Outer Banks (Season 4b) — The Pogues are back for more treasure hunting, heart-pounding chases, and high-stakes drama as they face new dangers and rivalries in the Outer Banks.
Watch on Netflix: November 7 (all 5 episodes)Citadel: Honey Bunny (Season 1) — Spun off from the world of international espionage in Citadel, this series follows a high-stakes mission with new spies navigating deadly secrets and missions in India.
Watch on Prime Video: November 7 (all 6 episodes)Yellowstone (Season 5b) — The explosive final chapter of this hit series sees the Dutton family battle for control of their land and legacy amid increasing threats and political turmoil.
Watch on Paramount+: November 10 (6 episodes, released weekly)St. Denis Medical (Season 1) — This workplace mockumentary comedy from the creator of Superstore centers around the quirky and chaotic staff of the underfunded St. Denis Medical hospital, where saving lives and causing havoc go hand in hand.
Watch on NBC: November 12 (3 of 18 episodes, then weekly)Bad Sisters (Season 2) — The Garvey sisters are back with more secrets to unravel as they navigate the aftermath of their last attempt to protect their family from dangerous men.
Watch on Apple TV+: November 13 (2 of 8 episodes, then weekly)Sprint (Season 2) — This high-octane docuseries follows a group of athletes navigating the pressure, drama, and sacrifices on their journey to Olympic glory.
Watch on Netflix: November 13 (all 4 episodes)Emilia Pérez (Movie) — Four women (played by Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldana, Karla Sofia Gascon, and Adriana Paz) pursue happiness in Jacques Audiard's genre-defying musical crime comedy film that unfolds through a fever dream of original songs and dance.
Watch on Netflix: November 13Hot Frosty (Movie) — A widow magically brings a snowman to life, but their bond may be short-lived in this romantic comedy meets Christmas fantasy starring Lacey Chabert (Mean Girls).
Watch on Netflix: November 13The Day of the Jackal (Season 1) — A reimagining of the classic thriller, this series follows Eddie Redmayne as an international assassin as he embarks on a perilous mission to change the course of history.
Watch on Peacock: November 14 (3 of 10 episodes, then weekly)
Note: If you’re a premium subscriber, you have access to the 4 other movies premiering this week in theaters that aren’t listed above, via our November Preview edition.
Our thoughts on brand new streaming content, and where you can watch.
Sweetpea
Keywords: dark comedy, thriller, murder
Watch if you like: Dexter, Yellowjackets, Bad Sisters
Jess’s Rating: C
Like most viewers, I was instantly enamored with Ella Purnell after watching her performance in the first season of Yellowjackets. So finding out that she was going to star as a serial killer in a Dexter-esque dark comedy was delightful news. In Sweetpea, Purnell plays Rhiannon, a timid twenty-something woman who drifts through life unnoticed, resigning herself to be a pushover after enduring relentless bullying in her youth. Overlooked by her boss for promotions, avoided by her own sister, and without any real friends, Rhiannon's life takes a dark turn when a personal tragedy sends her spiraling into a murderous rampage.
Unfortunately, and to no fault of Purnell’s, the series severely mishandles its lead character. The writers’ apparent fear of making a lead female character unlikeable keeps Rhiannon from having the edge that would make her interesting. (Did they learn nothing from the success of Killing Eve?) Instead, we’re watching a sad, anxious woman try to wield some control over her life by erratically killing people. By insisting that there be a reason for her anger—a “good enough” reason to incite a murderous rage—she’s a victim, not a psychopathic vigilante. It doesn’t feel credible, it doesn’t really make sense, and worst of all, it’s dull.
At only 6 episodes, you’d expect the carnage and chaos to make the time fly by, but instead, the series becomes a game of waiting for the next murder with convenient plot twists in between and bland supporting characters at the periphery. As a revenge fantasy, Sweetpea is serviceable—and made infinitely more watchable by Ella Purnell—but all in all, it’s unsatisfying.
— Jess
Length: 45-min runtime, 1 Season / 6 episodes (5 available now, new on Thursdays)
Watch on: Starz
Ludwig
Keywords: detective, British, comedy-drama
Watch if you like: Only Murders in the Building, Sherlock, Monk
Jenni’s Rating: A-
I admit, I may be reviewing this too early for our American and Canadian readers, but this new cozy case-of-the-week detective series starring David Mitchell and Anna Maxwell Martin is too fun not to recommend.
Ludwig follows an awkward and reclusive puzzle maker, John (Mitchell) whose identical twin brother—a Detective Chief Inspector—has gone missing. When John’s sister-in-law (Maxwell Martin) enlists his help to solve the mystery, he agrees to pose as his brother to infiltrate the local police force and investigate. But puzzle-minded as he is, he can’t help but get distracted solving other cases in the process.
This series is a lovely blend of a few of my favorite things: brainteasers, cozy mysteries, and British comedy-dramas. Ludwig may be a bit heavy-handed with its clues, but I think that actually adds to its appeal. With frequent closeups on documents and thoroughly enumerated timelines, the show feels less like a nail-biting mystery and more like a puzzle we get to solve alongside John. And yes, early on, some acting feels a touch over the top, but once the series settles into its rhythm, it’s obvious that the heightened tone is part of the fun. Ludwig leans into any absurdity it introduces with such amiability that I am happy to go along for the ride.
A streaming release in the U.S. and Canada is slated for early next year, but if you’re in the market for a gentle, lighthearted detective series right now—and who isn’t—I strongly suggest you skedaddle on over to the BBC to watch (perhaps with a VPN).
— Jenni
Length: 60-min runtime, 1 season / 6 episodes
Watch on: BBC One
The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh
Keywords: network comedy, family sitcom, episodic
Watch if you like: Fresh Off the Boat, Modern Family, Never Have I Ever
Jenni’s Rating: C+
The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh follows a newly immigrated family of five as they assimilate and clash to varying degrees with their Pennsylvania neighbors. The episodic sitcom is framed through a series of interrogation logs interleaved with flashbacks, as the Pradeeps are questioned by immigration authorities about a mishap with another family.
With a cast featuring both stand-up comedians and dramatic actors, including Pete Holmes (Crashing), Sindhu Vee, and Naveen Andrews (Lost), the show has some strong character foundations and comedic timing. The Pradeep family in particular is fun to watch, with each member bringing a unique angle to the immigrant experience—and often coloring the flashbacks humorously to fit their own somewhat-warped versions of reality.
Unfortunately, while the setup and premise have potential, the series feels a bit dated, reminiscent of early-2000s sitcoms that leaned into stereotypes and easy gags. For viewers seeking nuanced storytelling and surprising humor, The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh may come off as a missed opportunity. However, if you’re in the mood for light, straightforward laughs and charming characters, it may still be worth the watch.
— Jenni
Length: 30-min runtime, 1 season / 8 episodes
Watch on: Prime Video / Freevee
Where we highlight shows that have long-since ended or been canceled, that are well-worth digging back up.
UnREAL (2015-2018)
Keywords: satire, drama, reality TV,
Watch if you like: Kevin Can F*** Himself, Beef, The Bachelor
Jess’s Rating: B+
If you’ve ever watched The Bachelor, Love Island, or any reality dating show, you’ve probably found yourself wondering how much of what you’re seeing is actually…real. UnREAL pulled the curtain back on these shows, satirizing the behind the scenes experience of producing a drama that keeps viewers coming back for more.
Pulling from co-creator Sarah Gertrude Shapiro's real experience as a Bachelor producer, UnREAL follows Rachel (Shiri Appleby), a talented reality TV producer returning to work on a dating show after an on-camera meltdown. Under the ruthless guidance of her boss Quinn (Constance Zimmer), Rachel manipulates contestants into creating ratings-worthy drama while struggling with her own moral compass.
Part workplace drama, part psychological thriller, and part scathing reality TV satire, the series is a thought-provoking exploration of the ethics of reality TV. The tone is dark, but balanced with moments of comedy that make the show's brutal moments more digestible. Zimmer (House of Cards) and Appleby (Girls) are phenomenal as two deeply flawed women with a toxic dynamic, playing two of TV’s most interesting female characters in a time when it was rare to have even one.
For those expecting a light behind-the-scenes exposé or Bachelor parody, UnREAL might be too cynical, but if you—like me—love a dark, unapologetic satire, it’s excellent. Now that it’s on Netflix, it’s finally reaching a wider audience after I’ve been trying to evangelize it for years; just be warned; the first two seasons are the only ones really worth watching.
— Jess
Length: 40-min runtime, 4 seasons / 38 episodes
Watch on: Netflix, Tubi
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