Q Wave’s Watchlist: March 2021

By: Darren Chu

"There's nothing to watch" is not a phrase that should exist in a world drowning in content. Join us every month to get curated content - from the latest and greatest to revisiting oldies - we'll help you avoid the dreaded “Netflix Block” and find something to watch!

Bling Empire (Netflix)

Wealth. Beauty. Glamour. Drama.

Imagine being able to fly your friend to Paris for her birthday to shop the most expensive jewelry stores of the Champs-Elysées. Imagine being able to give away Rolexes as party favours. Imagine having a top fashion brand like Chanel bring a collection to your home where you can simply choose what to keep and what to send back.

There are really no words to capture the amount of wealth among these individuals in Los Angeles. But Netflix’s newest hit show, Bling Empire, offers us a glimpse into the real world lives of actual crazy rich Asians. The show is told from the perspective of Kevin Kreider, a Korean model who was adopted into this world by his friend, Kane Lim (real estate, shipping, oil). Along the way, you’ll also meet Anna Shay (whose fortune came from selling a defense and government contractor company), Christine Chiu (philanthropist), Kelly Mi Li (entrepreneur, film producer), Cherie Chan (denim heiress), and Kim Lee (DJ and former model).

Bling Empire doesn’t really get any deeper than Keeping Up With The Kardashians (though it does make them look poor by comparison) but it does shine a light on Asian culture and the role of Asian-Americans in society. Mostly, it’s pure entertainment, and you will appreciate Kevin’s missteps as he fumbles his way through high society.

You'd like this if you enjoyed: Crazy Rich Asians
Runtime: 8 Episodes
Genre: Reality, Drama

For All Mankind - Season 2 (Apple TV+)

When Apple TV+ launched just over a year ago, new subscribers were treated to a handful of Apple original series. One of the few that has a second season airing, For All Mankind, reveals an alternate history that might have been had the Soviets been the first to land on the moon. What follows is an international game of leapfrog that has NASA and the Americans always playing catch-up after the Soviets beat them to major milestones. Season 2 picks up a decade after the events of the Season 1 finale, with expanded operations on the moon (I won’t say more to avoid spoilers for those who haven’t seen the first season).

The cast is led by Joel Kinnaman, whom you will recognize from such shows as Altered Carbon, The Killing, and DC’s Suicide Squad. He is joined by other notable actors: Chris Bauer (The Wire, True Blood), Colm Feore (The Umbrella Academy, The Chronicles of Riddick), Wrenn Schmidt (The Americans, Boardwalk Empire), and Shantel VanSanten (One Tree Hill, Shooter).

Viewers will enjoy seeing history play out differently and the impact of decisions on the course of major historical events. If you’re a fan of “what ifs” and/or Harry Turtledove novels, you will truly enjoy For All Mankind.

You'd like this if you enjoyed: The Man in the High Castle
Runtime: 21 Episodes (2 Seasons)
Genre: Science Fiction, Historical

The Resident (Disney+)

There is no shortage of medical dramas on TV these days; some focused on doctors, some on nurses, others on surgeons. The Resident offers a glimpse into serialized medicine from the perspective of resident internist, Conrad Hawkins (Matt Czuchry). Conrad’s mission is not only to serve his patients with his incredible diagnostician abilities but also to disrupt the institution of medicine from the inside.

The Resident sets itself apart from other medical dramas through its light-hearted and more professional approach to portrayals of medicine. Naturally, characters stray and make impulsive decisions, but there is less of the blatant unprofessionalism displayed on Grey’s Anatomy or Chicago Med, where every doctor and nurse is a rogue agent. Solid character development grounds the show, but it never does escape the predictable “solve this case in one hour” formula.

The cast is full of many familiar faces: Emily VanCamp (Revenge, Captain American films), Bruce Greenwood (J.J. Abram’s Star Trek, Capote), and Morris Chestnut (The Enemy Within, Rosewood). You’ll find The Resident under Disney+’s new Star catalogue of shows.

You'd like this if you enjoyed: Grey’s Anatomy, Chicago Med
Runtime: 4 Seasons
Genre: Medical, Drama

The Map of Tiny Perfect Things (Amazon Prime Video)

Carpe diem - seize the day. What if you could find all the tiny perfect things that happen in a single day in a small town? And what if, like a video game, you could replay that day over and over until you found them all? Such is the premise of the Amazon original, The Map of Tiny Perfect Things.

Enter: Mark (Kyle Allen), a 17-year old who is stuck in a temporal loop and has to relive the same day over and over again. It’s clear from the beginning that Mark has been stuck in today for some time; he has perfected his morning routine and enjoys the freedom that comes with knowing how each moment will go. But when he discovers Margaret (Kathryn Newton), who is also stuck in the time loop, everything changes. Suddenly, he’s not alone in a day that repeats, and no one remembers.

This movie is cute in its own way, and even references Groundhog Day explicitly, but takes a more romantic (and less comically vulgar) approach than Palm Springs did with Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti. You will enjoy seeing all the tiny perfect things, such as avoiding being pooped on by birds, the angel wings on a truck lining up perfectly with a man sitting on a bench, and saving a girl from being hit in the face with a beach ball at the pool.

You'd like this if you enjoyed: Palm Springs, Groundhog Day
Runtime: 98 Minutes
Genre: Teen Drama, Science Fiction

The New Corporation: The Unfortunately Necessary Sequel (Crave)

In 2003, UBC law professor Joel Bakan wrote The Corporation, a critical examination of modern-day corporations, which was also turned into a documentary film. The Corporation was part of the early 2000s era of exposé documentaries, such as Super Size Me and Bowling for Columbine.

In the sequel, The New Corporation, the filmmakers examine corporations and their transitions to socially-responsible entities. The documentary continues with its premise of corporations being akin to psychopaths using the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria (callous disregard for the feelings of other people, incapacity to maintain human relationships, reckless disregard for the safety of others, deceitfulness - continuous lying to deceive for profit, incapacity to experience guilt, and failure to conform to social norms and respect the law). This time the directors are focused on the so-called socially-responsible aspects of major corporations.

The devious nature of large corporations like BP, JP Morgan Chase, and Amazon are on display here, and you may find yourself wondering if the decisions you make are in line with actual social responsibility when it comes to your choices as a consumer. There are a wide variety of people selected to provide commentary, and the tone at the beginning is pretty dark and depressing, but it does switch gears midway through.

You'd like this if you enjoyed: The Corporation
Runtime: 105 Minutes
Genre: Documentary

The Great Canadian Baking Show (CBC Gem)

Sourdough bread and COVID-19. Need I say more? If you’re looking for some wholesome competition, look no further than The Great Canadian Baking Show on CBC Gem. Here you’ll find amateur bakers from across Canada, each competing for the title of Star Baker.

Now in its fourth season, the GCBS features 10 bakers who compete in weekly challenges. Each episode consists of three challenges: a signature bake, a technical bake, and a show stopper. In the signature bake, each contestant can put their own spin on a particular baked good (in episode 1, this was a bundt cake). In the technical, contestants are given the same set of ingredients to bake something they may or may not have ever seen before. The show stopper is their chance to showcase something truly spectacular, often by baking large-scale pieces like multi-tier cakes.

Hosts have included the likes of Dan Levy (Schitts Creek) and Julia Chan (Saving Hope). This year it’s Ann Pornel and Alan Shane Lewis. You may find yourself cheering for local bakers, Oyaks Airende from Calgary and Larry Harris from Edmonton.

You'd like this if you enjoyed: The Great British Bake-Off
Runtime: 8 Episodes
Genre: Reality, Competition

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