Best of Streaming: The Kardashians, The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes, Roar, Outer Range, Selling Sunset, Anatomy of a Scandal, and more TV reviews
The Marilyn Monroe Mystery: The Unheard Tapes
Netflix, Wednesday
Marilyn Monroe was found dead at home in Los Angeles on August 4, 1962. She was 36 years old. As is America’s penchant, the star’s death was “shrouded in mystery” and therefore ripe for conspiracy theories. Unfortunately, those rumors have all but eclipsed a remarkable career. Though Monroe was typecast as a “dumb blonde,” her mix of wit and tenacity was as multifaceted as her enduring legacy. While her death was ruled a suicide, there were unresolved issues. In 1982, LA rulers decided to reopen the case. Compiling her final weeks, days and hours through previously unreleased footage by those who knew her best, this film sheds light on Monroe’s complicated life and offers a new perspective on that fateful night.
The Kardashians
Disney+, stream now
Your eyes don’t deceive you. Just when many thought 2021 was going to be nothing good, the news landed KUWTK (Keeping up with the Kardashians for the uninitiated/unenthusiastic) ended after 14 years on E!. Given that 2022 has arguably been nothing short of a Skitterfest so far, you’ll either be pleased at the news that Hulu/Disney+ have acquired the Kardashian/Jenner clan — or take it as yet another indicator that the apocalypse is near. Anyway, Kris, Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, Kendall and Kylie have brought back the cameras to reveal the ever-present truth behind the headlines. From the pressure of running billion-dollar companies to the orchestrated hilarity of dropping out of school, this series brings viewers into the herd of those who seem to be constantly in the spotlight. So, depending on your current perspective, consider yourself informed or forewarned…
Roar
Apple TV+, stream now
In the Roar episode “The Woman Who Was Fed by a Duck,” Merritt Wever plays a woman who is involved with a mallard duck
What if you were a ghost that still has convulsions? Or someone who ate photos for emotional gratification? Have you ever felt like giving your other half back, or have no idea how to deal with those bite marks that keep flaring up on your flesh? If that’s the case, this eight-part anthology of genre-bending stories (starring Nicole Kidman, Meera Syal, Cynthia Erivo, and Alison Brie) might be for you — especially if you’re a Cecelia Ahern fan.
Outer Reach
Amazon Prime, stream now
Are you in the mood for a new western thriller series? You’re lucky! Royal Abbott (Josh Brolin) is a rancher fighting for his land and family who uncovers an unfathomable mystery on the edge of the Wyoming wilderness. This supposedly thrilling family saga has hints of tongue-in-cheek humor and a slightly unexpected supernatural mystery, and the series explores how humanity grapples with the unknown.
video of the day
Sell sunset
Netflix, stream now
you love to see it Possibly. Anyway, the fifth season of this channel of luxury real estate porn and not-at-all-directed drama landed yesterday. If you’ve managed to dodge the Oppenheim droids so far, check out some background: It’s a Netflix reality series that follows seven of LA’s most successful “real estate agents” (obvs in American) who all working under one roof number one agency in the region. This season, the ladies have to deal with even more stunning mansions, harrowing new romances and the usual unfortunate rivalry that shatters successful on-screen female stereotypes.
Anatomy of a Scandal
Netflix, stream now
Have you ever wondered what Sienna Miller is up to? Well, she and Downton‘s Michelle Dockery stars in this new six-part psychological thriller from creators David E. Kelley (Big little lies, Goliath) and Melissa James Gibson (house of cards, The American). A gripping courtroom drama, the series infiltrates the British elite through personal and political scandals where truth lies between justice and privilege. In fact, it’s a pretty relevant release considering what’s been going on in #11 lately.
they call me magic
AppleTV+, stream now
This four-part documentary highlights the majesty of legendary LA Lakers basketball player Earvin Johnson (you can see why sportswriter Fred Stabley Jr. insisted on nicknamed him “Magic”. Earvin just doesn’t fly). He dominated the field throughout the 1980s, but his career came to an untimely halt after it was revealed he had contracted HIV. That was 1991 – a completely different time. What many thought was the end of his time in the spotlight turned out to be a launch pad. Featuring Johnson, his family, Snoop Dogg, Barack Obama, Michael Jordan and many more.
Return to space
Netflix, stream now
Oscar-winning directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin (responsible for such high-profile National Geographic documentaries as Free Solo and The rescue, both of which are still available through Disney+) swivel their lenses to the sky. your goal? To cover Elon Musk’s 20-year effort to revive America’s space aspirations / fit into the clique of “billionaires who put private vehicles into space” – while the rest of us are busy sorting, cleaning and drying our recyclables to save the planet . This intimate depiction offers a rare entry into the first manned mission to be launched from US soil since the space shuttle was decommissioned in 2011, and features the engineers and NASA veterans Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley in the run-up to launch. It also offers unique access to mission control, with Musk and the SpaceX team guiding the crew back to Earth.
Oprah + viola
Netflix, stream now
The hessian floors and wooden balustrades are back for another Oprah Winfrey Netflix special (no doubt expect Will Smith to grace the wicker furniture soon). This time, Oprah has a chat with Oscar winner Viola Davis to discuss her new memoir, Finding Me. For the first time, Davis shares memories of her childhood, which was marked by unimaginable poverty, upsetting abuse, and “all the things that give you pain.” Davis reveals how “giving up hope that the past could be different” has brought peace, forgiveness and a sense of self.
slow horses
AppleTV+, stream now
Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb (Slow Horses/Apple TV+/PA)
Based on the book series by Mick Herron, Gary Oldman and Kristin Scott Thomas star in Apple’s adaptation of MI5’s “failures,” which are sent to Oldman’s Slough House. Expect some serious Big Mo Harris vibes from Oldman’s Jackson Lamb as he attempts to lead a team of agents working in his landfill division – thanks to their litany of career-killing glitches.
white hot
Netflix, Tuesday
Given the full title of White Hot: The Rise and Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch, any further explanation might be deemed superfluous. However, as a large crowd of teenagers spent a Wedge to get “the look” in the 2000s/2010s, it’s worth noting that the once coveted brand was allegedly involved in exclusionary marketing and discriminatory attitudes.
Parched
Disney+, stream now
This character-driven and investigative docuseries tries to find out who really controls the water in the world. Investigative journalism with narrative entertainment brings the compelling style that Jigsaw Productions is known for. Viewers will gain a disturbing understanding of our planet’s most precious resource.
https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/best-of-streaming-the-kardashians-return-marilyn-monroes-last-days-and-elon-musk-resurrects-space-travel-41595929.html Best of Streaming: The Kardashians, The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes, Roar, Outer Range, Selling Sunset, Anatomy of a Scandal, and more TV reviews