If you're looking for a new show to watch this week, I've got your back. I've scoured the schedules of Netflix, Prime, Max, Hulu, and other streaming platforms to bring you the best and most notable shows streaming this week. It's Valentine's week, so my must-watch is romance reality show Love is Blind, which will either give you hope that true love is possible, or make you glad you didn't meet your sweetheart on a reality TV show.
Speaking of love, I love The Witcher and Sly Stone, so I'll be watching both The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep and SLY LIVES! (aka the Burden of Black Genius).
Love is Blind, season 8
It's been five years since Love is Blind launched, and to mark the anniversary, Netflix is releasing a new season of the romance-based reality show. Season 8 is set in Minneapolis and finds another crop of singles agreeing to meet and date romantic partners—and potentially get engaged—without ever seeing each other. As a life choice, waiting until the wedding to lay eyes on your spouse-to-be seems unwise, but as a television diversion, it's top notch.
Where to stream: Netflix
The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep
It's probably going to be more than a year until the new Witcher game comes out, but in the meantime, check out The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep, a feature-length anime movie that continues the adventures of the famous monster hunter Geralt. Based on one of the original Witcher stories, Sirens of the Deep finds Geralt at a seaside village, investigating a series of attacks. At the risk of spoiling the story, there are monsters bedeviling the town—merpeople, mankind's ancient, soggy enemy.
Where to stream: Netflix
SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)
If you don't like Sly and the Family Stone, we probably shouldn't hang out. Directed by Questlove, whose first documentary series, Summer of Soul, is a classic, SLY LIVES! investigates the life and legacy of Sly Stone through amazing archival performance footage of Sly in his prime and in-depth interviews with the people who were there. Deeper than the "wasn't Sly cool?" movie this could have been, SLY LIVES! doesn't shy away from the bigger issues surrounding his fame or gloss over his downfall.
Where to stream: Hulu
Cassandra
Just the premise of this German sci-fi series should be enough for most people to watch it, despite the subtitles. In Cassandra, a typical suburban family moves into a home built in the 1980s that was meant to be the "house of the future." The massive old computers in the basement still work and the household robot still clanks around, but something is very wrong with this house. If you're like me, and you feel like you're being haunted by computers and AI, Cassandra will resonate deeply.
Where to stream: Netflix
Surviving Black Hawk Down
This Netflix original documentary series tells the story of the Battle of Mogadishu made famous in Black Hawk Down. Speaking of, both that film and Surviving Black Hawk Down were produced by Ridley Scott, who gathered survivors of the incident on both sides to tell the story of the harrowing day when two American helicopters were shot down in Somalia. If you like true-life war stories, don't miss it.
Where to stream: Netflix
Muslim Matchmaker
Hulu's original series Muslim Matchmaker is from Indian Matchmaking creator Smriti Mundhra’s Meralta Films, a company with a proven track record of creating cross-cultural reality dating shows. The series follows the adventures of Hoda Abrahim and Yasmin Elhady, matchmakers who help Muslim Americans find romance. The focus is on traditional Muslim relationships, so this is not a show about hook-up culture; it's a show about finding the person you want to settle down with, but that doesn't mean there's a shortage of awkward first dates.
Where to stream: Hulu
Resident Alien, season 3
I don't feel like Resident Alien gets enough love. The quirky, inventive comedy sci-fi series is entering its third season, and the first two were awesome. The titular alien, played by Alan Tudyk, is no longer on a quest to destroy all mankind. With the gray aliens on the way to end humanity, Harry (or more accurately, the alien wearing Harry's skin) now wants to save Earth and thwart the invasion, all while trying to navigate the weird culture of people without blowing his cover.
Where to stream: Netflix
Have I Got News for You, Season 2
If John Oliver isn't enough comedic news coverage for you, why not give Have I Got News for You a try? Hosted by Roy Wood Jr. with Amber Ruffin and Michael Ian Black, this show takes the grinding misery out of "following the news" and makes it fun. Each episode features a different pair of celebrity guests who compete against each other in games and quizzes that test their knowledge of current events. It's a little like a TV version of NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me.
Where to stream: Max
Last week's picks
Clean Slate
This Amazon original series was dreamed up by the late, great Norman Lear, a man known for gracefully spinning comedy gold from hot-button social issues. Clean Slate stars actress and trans activist Laverne Cox as Desiree, who returns to her hometown after decades of living in the city. She's been gone for so long, her father, played by George Wallace, doesn't recognize her, mainly because he used to think of her as his son.
Where to stream: Prime
The Kardashians, season 6
Love 'em or hate 'em, the Kardashians are an American institution, and they're back for another season of rich people hijinks. This season's drama includes Khloé reuniting with her ex, Lamar Odom; a look at Kim and Khloé's summer getaway to India; and North West's Lion King tribute performance. I can't freaking wait. (OK, I can wait.)
Where to stream: Hulu
Common Side Effects
This Adult-Swim-produced cartoon looks intriguing. Common Side Effects' executive producer, Mike Judge, created both King of the Hill and Beavis and Butthead, but Common Side Effects is not really a comedy. It's a moody, stylish drama about a pair of high school friends who discover both a drug that cures literally everything, and a vast conspiracy from the pharmaceutical industry and the government to cover up its existence.
Where to stream: Max
Love You to Death
In this Spanish language drama, Joan Amargós and Verónica Echegui play Raúl and Marta, a pair of estrella-crossed lovers. It kicks off with overly cautious Raúl deciding to reconnect with his childhood friend Marta after a bout with cancer. Things get romantic, but Marta is the kind of free spirit who doesn't like being tied down, while Raúl is looking for his one and only. Will opposites attract? I'd bet on "si, claro."
Where to stream: Apple TV+
Grimsburg
In this Fox cartoon for adults, Jon Hamm voices hardboiled detective Marvin Flute. Flute has cracked some of the most complicated and, er, grim cases in history, and now he's returning to his home town to tackle his most puzzling mystery: his own family. Judging from the trailer, Grimsburg looks pretty funny, with sharp writing and a talented voice cast. I'm going to give it a shot.
Where to stream: Netflix
Sweet Magnolias, season 4
Sweet Magnolias is the kind of feel-good, heartfelt series that never makes it past my algorithm, but enough people dig it that it's coming back for a fourth season. This time, the Magnolias' world is shaken and their bonds tested by a town tragedy and a destructive storm. I don't know for sure, but I have a feeling that love and hope will ultimately save the day.
Where to stream: Netflix
Wicked Game: Devil in the Desert
If you like your true crime grisly and twisted, check out Wicked Game. Here's the official show description: "Hunting the mastermind of a violent abduction, authorities unravel a twisted tale of obsession during the early days of legalized pot." Compelling, but that doesn't capture how disturbing the central crimes were, nor does it mention the jailbreak plot twist that takes Wicked Games from "wow, that's messed up" to "wait, this actually happened?"
Where to stream: Hulu
Home Improvement, Seasons 1-8
If you're in the mood for comforting nostalgia, you could do much worse than Tim Allen's iconic late '90s/early aughts series; it's the ultimate mildly amusing, totally mindless family sit-com (maybe after Full House). Allen plays Tim Taylor, host of home improvement show-within-a-show Tool Time and patriarch of a suburban Detroit family that regularly gets involved in all kinds of sit-com style dilemmas. The Taylors' mix-ups and lighthearted hassles fill up eight seasons' worth of episodes, so feel free to binge them all at once while pretending it's still the carefree '90s.
Where to stream: Netflix
The Åre Murders (Season 1)
I'm not sure why icy Northern European nations produce so many great neo-noir murder series, but I'm glad they do. Swedish Netflix original The Åre Murders tells the story of one of Stockholm's finest, officer Hanna Ahlander, whose vacation at a ski resort in Åre is interrupted by a missing person case. A young woman has disappeared, and the understaffed local cops need Ahlander's skills to solve the mystery. But can they trust her enough to work together?
Where to stream: Netflix
My Best Friend's an animal
As anyone with a loyal pet can tell you, love doesn't care what species you are. My Best Friend's an Animal is a for-the-whole-family documentary series by National Geographic that examines the bond between people and unusual, exotic pets. Expect a ton of awwwwws.
Where to stream: Hulu
Celebrity Bear Hunt
In this reality show version of The Most Dangerous Game, professional survival guy Bear Grylls hunts a group of 12 celebrities in the jungles of Costa Rica. Sadly, the cast is made up of British celebrities like Shirley Ballas, Mel B., and Boris Becker, and losing contestants aren't gunned down like rabid wildebeests when Grylls catches 'em. Still, Celebrity Bear Hunt puts privileged people in uncomfortable situations, which is always good TV, and the scenery is beautiful.
Where to stream: Netflix
Invincible, season 3
Both critics and fans love superhero cartoon-for-adults Invincible; the Rotten Tomato scores for season 1 are 98% and 93% respectively, and one critic called it "the Game of Thrones of the Superhero genre." If you're unfamiliar, Invincible is based on The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman’s long-running comic that tells the story of 17-year-old Mark Grayson. Mark is just like any teenager, except his dad is world famous hero Omni-Man, and he's developing super powers. Season 3 sees Mark meeting up with tons of villains, including Powerplex, voiced by Aaron Paul; The Elephant, voiced by John DiMaggio; and the merciless leader of The Order, Mr. Liu, voiced by Tzi Ma.
Where to stream: Prime
The Takedown: American Aryans
This HBO original docu-series details law enforcement's battle with the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas, a neo-Nazi street and prison gang responsible for dozens of murders and hundreds of other crimes, including the brutal killing of a young woman named Breanna Taylor (no relation to the Breonna Taylor who was shot to death by police in 2020). Through interviews with cops, Taylor's family, and members of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas, The Takedown: American Aryans examines the investigation, arrests, and trials that crippled the notorious criminal enterprise.
Where to stream: Max
How I Left the Opus Dei
I was brought up Catholic, but it was "try to go to church on Sunday because it makes your mom happy" style Catholicism, which is a world away from the hardcore Catholics in Opus Dei. They really mean it. Among other things, they sleep on boards instead of beds and are into "mortification of the flesh," and not in a fun/kinky way. Anyway, How I Left Opus Dei is a docu-series that tells the story of 13 women who got sick of being abused and left the group. I'm definitely checking it out.
Where to stream: Max
