It’s all about the TV series this week as the fabulous new era of Doctor Who kicks off on Disney+, while Apple TV+ drops its reality-hopping sci-fi novel adaptation Dark Matter, as well as the so-crazy-it-must-be-true The Big Cigar about Black Panther founder Huey P. Newton’s insane escape to Cuba.
SERIES
Dark Matter S1
9 May 2024 – Apple TV+
If you’re paying attention, you would notice that Apple TV+’s latest high profile sci-fi effort actually released yesterday. And I have no idea how I missed it in last week’s roundup! This is especially annoying because I’ve been keeping a very close eye on this production ever since I read Blake Crouch’s best-selling novel last year and was eagerly awaiting its adaptation. My eagerness is fueled by the hope that Joel Edgerton’s version of Jason Dessen, the scientist who finds himself at the centre of a mystery spanning countless alternate realities, is less of an obtuse idiot who takes far too long to figure out the obvious. That annoying character trait aside, Crouch’s book had some fantastic moments and I can’t wait to see them brought to life. The first two episodes are out now, with the rest of the eight-episode season following weekly.
The Big Cigar S1
9 May 2024 – Apple TV+
Another one I missed last week (I blame the fact that I was still recovering from bad case of Comic Con flu) is Big Cigar, Apple TV+’s adaptation of a story so wild it has to be true. André Holland stars as Huey P. Newton, leader/founder of the Black Panther movement in the 1960s, who, after several run-ins with the law and his life and the lives of his loved ones potentially at risk, decides to flee America for Cuba. But how do you leave the country when your every step is being dogged by the FBI? Simple. Turn to a Hollywood producer to create a fake movie production in Cuba starring real big-name actors. The Big Cigar is produced by award-winning actor Don Cheadle who also directs the opening two episodes.
Doctor Who S1
10 May 2024 – Disney+
For some weird reason, Disney+ South Africa has been keeping things relatively mum on the debut of the new Doctor Who today. You would think that a highly publicized brand-new era and perfect jumping-on point for newcomers (hence going back to “season one”) for the longest-running sci-fi series in history would deserve more fanfare. Well, if they’re not going to make some noise, I will because IT’S NEW DOCTOR WHO, BABY! Following a series of brilliant specials that saw the return and subsequent send-off of previous stars David Tennant and Catherine Tate by returning fan-favourite showrunner Russell T. Davies, the utterly fabulous Ncuti Gatwa now takes the stage as time-traveling alien The Doctor, with his new companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson). After the rough and very wobbly previous era, Davies has promised a return to the type of rollicking storytelling that made the world fall in love with this iconic character. And it all starts today!
Chasing the Sun S2
10 May 2024 – Showmax
And now for something completely different! 2020’s SAFTA-winning Chasing the Sun was hailed as “the greatest rugby documentary ever made” as it chronicled the South African rugby team’s incredible tale of redemption and victory as they won the Rugby World Cup in 2019. Now the same documentary team is back, documenting the Springboks’ utterly nail-biting and history-making campaign to defend their champion status at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, becoming the first nation to ever win it four times. This five-part documentary series features never-before-seen footage, interviews with more than 30 players and coaches, and all the major highlights from this unforgettable sporting moment. And if you missed it as it released weekly on DStv, the full series can now be binged on Showmax.
Bridgerton S3
16 May 2024 – Netflix
Hey, Bridgerton is back! Aaaaaand that’s literally all I can tell you because, unlike a huge portion of the global population with access to Netflix, I have yet to watch a single minute of Bridgerton. But if you like your steamy historical romance “set in the competitive world of Regency era London’s ton during the social season in the early 1800s, where young marriageable nobility and gentry are introduced into society” (thanks, Wikipedia!), then you’re probably quite excited for this one.
Outer Range S2
16 May 2024 – Prime Video
The first season of Outer Range was good, but weird, to say the least. Prime Video’s star-studded sci-fi western felt like a mash-up of Yellowstone and The Twilight Zone as it followed Josh Brolin’s rancher Royal Abbot, fighting to keep his family and land together after the mysterious disappearance of his daughter, when he discovers a black void in the middle of one of his pastures that appears to be some kind of spacetime rift. The first season kept us guessing throughout and teased a great mystery, but it looks like the new season may start dishing out some concrete answers, which I would really appreciate.
MOVIES
Time Bomb Y2K
15 May 2024 – Showmax
For other old folk like me, 1999 was an unforgettable year. And no, not just because of the release of The Matrix. It was a different computer-based phenomenon that, according to some, threatened to wipe out the whole world: Y2K. The rather inane computer bug ended up being one of the biggest non-events ever, but the sheer panic that gripped the uninformed/badly informed global population was unlike anything our generation had ever seen. It was so ridiculous, that folks of today probably wouldn’t think it was real. Luckily, we have documentary films like Time Bomb Y2K to show exactly how crazy the world got in those days.
Trolls Band Together
16 May 2024 – Showmax
And talking about things from the 1990s, the third Trolls film is now available for viewing on Showmax. I have not seen a single one of these movies, despite the franchise starting out as weirdly haired toys from my youth. The previous film, 2020’s Trolls World Tour made history as it became the first film during the COVID-19 pandemic to receive a simultaneous theatrical and VOD release, a move that would subsequently change the film industry in ways would never have predicted a few years prior. As for the quality of the films themselves, while Trolls World Tour received very positive reviews, Trolls Band Together has been a bit more mixed, but I’m sure the kids – and some of us older folk – will enjoy it nonetheless.