Old School. Biblically Independent.
By Dustin Rowles | TV | October 14, 2023
10. Reptile (Netflix) — Music video director Grant Singer’s feature debut stars Benicio Del Tori (who co-wrote), Justin Timberlake, Alicia Silverstone, and even Michael Pitt, and it looks and feels like a solid detective thriller. Somewhere along the way, however, it comes undone, the mystery unfolds too predictably, and the finale sputters. It’s not bad, but it could’ve been much better.
9. Frasier (Paramount+) — We will have a full review soon, but let’s just say that — based on the first two episodes — it’s neither nearly as good as the original nor as bad as some other revivals. Kelsey Grammer has no problem reinhabiting the role, but everything else around him pales. Frasier is Frasier, but the reset are stock characters. There are, however, a few magical moments reminiscent of the original that I thought made it worth watching.
8. The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (AMC+) — The first season finale of the best of The Walking Dead spin-offs will continue to confront a new, steroidal zombie, while Melissa McBride’s Carol — who had a voice cameo last week — will also make an appearance in the episode ahead of her full entry into the series next season, which is currently shooting.
7. Beckham (Netflix) — Everything I’ve read and heard about the four-part documentary series has been glowing, with most saying that the series is a genuine glimpse into the marriage of two celebrities who have been together a long time and who still love each other very much.
6. Gen V (Prime Video) — Ali was a big fan of the first three episodes, and it has honestly only gotten better. The Boys spin-off has the same sense of humor and graphic violence, but the college-aged characters are more naive, vulnerable, and likable.
5. The Burial (Prime Video) — We’ll have our review on Monday, but needless to say, I’m excited as hell about a legal comedy starring Jamie Foxx based on a true story about how a funeral parlor owner (Tommy Lee Jones) took a monopolistic corporation to the woodshed. If it’s half as good as the true story, it will be worth the watch.
4. Lesson in Chemistry (Apple TV+) — It seems like everyone has read Bonnie Garmus’ Lessons in Chemistry, even people who read infrequently. It’s like the Book Club book of the decade. The novel is a fun, entertaining feminist crowd-pleaser, and hopefully, the Brie Larson series lives up to it. Eight episodes feel like too many for what should probably be a movie or, at the most, a four-part series, but the story is too fun to miss, and it’s nice to see Brie Larson outside of the MCU (and Fast X) again.
3. Totally Killer (Prime Video) — Sara was a big fan of the time-travel horror series, writing that it “provides fans of sci-fi, teen movies, and slashers the perfect combination. While its time travel element could have used some tighter writing, it’s still humorous and bloody fun. It has plenty of heart thanks to the mother/daughter dynamic of Jamie and Pam, and it also has plenty of killer twists.” It’s an excellent use of Sally Draper, too.
2. Fall of the House of Usher — The Mike Flanagan series is the show to watch this weekend and probably the month (and we’ll have a review of this soon, as well). I don’t know what to expect, and I haven’t read anything about it yet, but it’s a Mike Flanagan series. He rarely disappoints, and I love that Rahul Kohli is a regular, as well as Zach Gilford, whose career has found new life thanks to Flanagan.
1. Fair Play (Netflix) — Netflix movies usually aren’t much better than time fillers, but the erotic thriller from Chloe Domont is, as Sarah writes, “scorching.” It reminded me of the old Michael Douglas movies if those Michael Douglas characters were seen for who they actually are. Phoebe Dynevor and Alden Ehrenreich turn in riveting performances. “There’s a reason why Fair Play dominated the Sundance 2023 IndieWire critics survey,” Sarah writes. “Its screenplay is something to admire. Domont knows how to build tension, and it grows increasingly volatile between the couple, building slowly until it rises to volcanic heat. And explodes in the most satisfying way. It’s a brutal and intoxicating takedown of gender workplace politics, male fragility, and ego.” It was the best movie I’ve seen in a long while.
