This week’s streaming releases is all about the return of big favourites – Idris Elba’s Luther, Jason Sudeikis’ Ted Lasso, Netflix’s Shadow and Bone – and the singing debut of… a crocodile?

MOVIES

Luther: The Fallen Sun

Netflix – 10 March 2023

It’s been four years since we last saw Idris Elba’s brilliant DCI John Luther on our screens, but everybody’s favourite complicated British copper is back in a new feature film spinoff from the multiple award-winning drama series. When we last left him, Luther’s morally ambiguous action while hunting down a serial killer had landed him on the wrong side of the law, but not for long! Well, relatively for us that is. It’s been nearly half a decade for Luther, who promptly breaks out of prison to stop another murderous monster – played by none other than Andy Serkis – while his former colleagues are out to catch him as well.

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile

Google Play Movies – 10 March 2023

If you’re looking for something a little less adulty to keep the kids happy, animated family musical adventure Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is now available to rent on Google Play Music. Adapting the children’s story of the same name, this one follows a family who move to New York City, “where their struggling son befriends a singing crocodile and tries to protect him from the rest of the world”. Chart-topping popstar Shawn Mendez leads a voice cast that includes Javier Bardem, Constance Wu, Scoot McNairy and more.

Chang Can Dunk

Disney+ – 10 March 2023

If cartoon crocs are not your style, but you still want something for the whole family to watch, Disney+ has you covered with Chang Can Dunk. The teen sports comedy follows the titular Chang, a 16-year-old marching band member who challenges his high school’s basketball star to a dunk competition in order to impress his crush. Only problem is… Chang can’t dunk!

SERIES

The Flight Attendant S2

Showmax – 13 March 2023

Kaley Cuoco’s barely functioning messed up flight attendant is touching down again. After a fantastic first season that saw her life fall apart – well, it was already fallen apart in a blur of alcohol and partying, but then it really fell apart when she woke up next to a dead body in her hotel room – Cuoco’s Cassie Bowden seems to have it all together now. Her previous exploits led to her becoming a part-time CIA agent while jet-setting around the globe, staying sober now, but things unravel really quickly when another mystery appears.

Shadow and Bone S2

Netflix – 15 March 2023

If there’s one thing the pandemic did, it was to totally warp my sense of time. It’s been less than two years since Netflix debuted the first season of Shadow and Bone, but it feels like ages since we saw this big-budget adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s “Grishaverse” fantasy series. I’ll have to watch a recap vid before season two kicks off next week, taking us back to the story of Alina Starkov, the young cartographer in the nation of Ravka’s First Army who discovered that not only is she a “Grisha”, aka a magic user, but also the fabled “Sun Summoner”, blessed with the ability to control light and able to destroy the oppressive Shadow Fold that divides the nation in half.

Ted Lasso S3

Apple TV+ – 15 March 2023

Arguably the greatest bit of feel-good entertainment released in… well, I don’t know how long, is coming to an end. Ted Lasso is wrapping up its story following two incredible seasons that followed Jason Sudeikis’ American Football coach after he hops across the pond to help guide a struggling English football team (the other football, that is), using his special brand of uplifting optimism and team building. What made Ted Lasso so fantastic wasn’t just how much light it brought to the world, but also how maturely it handled heartbreaking personal darkness as well. That and Roy Keane calling people %#$*ing @%&#ers! And the final season looks like it’s going to be quite the emotional rollercoaster as Ted’s one-time assistant coach and protege Nate has now become his rival at West Ham United.