Q Wave’s Watchlist: August 2021
"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!
Masters of the Universe: Revelation (Netflix)
I think it’s safe to say that we’ve entered the Golden Age of Reboots. Franchises that were once considered nothing more than Saturday morning cartoons have now emerged as serious contenders for viewers’ attention. Transformers, GI Joe, She-Ra, and others have been reinvented for modern consumers. We can now add He-Man and the Masters of the Universe to that list.
Helmed by veteran actor and filmmaker, Kevin Smith (Jay and Silent Bob), this newest iteration of the He-Man franchise finds us picking up where the original series left off. The show is about He-Man (now voiced by Chris Wood), a sword-wielding, Conan the Barbarian-type warrior who channels the power of a mystical castle called Grayskull by speaking the words we all know and love, “By the power of Grayskull…” His non-empowered alter ego, Prince Adam (also Chris Wood) is prince of Eternia and is surrounded by his many friends. These include Cringer (Stephen Root), the cowardly green tiger who transforms into Battle Cat; and Orko (Griffin Newman), a clumsy mage from another dimension. Also returning are the famed villains, Skeletor (voiced perfectly by Mark Hamill), and Evil-Lyn (Game of Thrones’ Lena Headey).
Much of the story revolves around Teela (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and her relationships with these characters, which includes her father Duncan, AKA Man-at-Arms (Liam Cunningham), as she searches for a way to restore magic to the universe. Despite rumours to the contrary, this sequel is not a bait-and-switch and is still about He-Man (as Kevin Smith put it, “You really think Mattel Television, who hired me and paid me money, wants to do a ‘Masters of the Universe’ show without He-Man? Grow up!”). The show works best if you remember that stories with deep betrayal are often the most engaging (think: The Empire Strikes Back). Fans will also love that Alan Oppenheimer who originally voiced Skeletor has been given a role in the new show.
Part 2 is in post-production and will air soon.
You'd like this if you enjoyed: She-Ra, Thundercats, Transformers
Runtime: 10 episodes, 29-33 minutes each
Genre: Animation
Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
The surprise breakout hit of 2020, and our favorite feel good show of the year, is back! SNL alum, Jason Sudekis, steps back into the role of mustache-sporting soccer coach, Ted Lasso in the show's sophomore season.
The series picks up with Ted still at the helm of the AFC Richmond Greyhounds, navigating an unprecedented streak of ties. The supporting cast gets more room to shine this season as well, including Juno Temple (from Apple TV+’s recent Palmer) returning as Keely Jones, a supermodel who is in a serious relationship with the recently retired and ever cranky Roy Kent, played by Brett Goldstein in the biggest role he’s had to date, and who is also credited as a writer on the show.
Season 2 comes hot on the heels of a slew of Emmy nominations for the show's previous season - 20 to be exact - which makes the show the most nominated first season of a comedy series in Emmy history (the previous record holder was Glee, with 19). Among the nominations are Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a comedy series for Jason Sudekis, but noteworthy is the amount of love the rest of the cast recieved with a whopping six nominations in the supporting categories (four for Outstanding Supporting Actor for Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt, Nick Mohammed and Jeremy Swift, two for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Juno Temple and Hanna Waddingham).
With all the hype and expectations drummed up for Season 2 in the wake of the first season's success, it’s refreshing to see the show not only live up to the expectations, but surpass them. Critics have also hailed the second season as a triumph.Season 2 started airing July 23, and a new episode drops every Friday until October. If you’re curious to see if Ted Lasso can bring home Emmy gold, the ceremony airs September 19th on CBS and CTV.
You'd like this if you enjoyed: Parks & Recreation, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Runtime: 12 episodes, 29-33 minutes each
Genre: Comedy
Black Widow (Disney)
What a long, strange journey it’s been for Marvel’s Black Widow, which finally hit theatres and streaming on July 9th.
Originally slated to be released on May 1, 2020, and filmed all the way back in 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic forced Disney’s hand in reshuffling the deck on its release schedule for the MCU. This resulted in shelving the film for more than a year as it shifted focus to its TV shows, with WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Loki all leapfrogging Black Widow and airing before the film was released.
This rollout strategy saw Black Widow released in theatres and streaming on the same day, and the box office has Disney rethinking that strategy for its future film releases This was a long overdue solo outing, acting as a send off for the character who met her fate in Avengers: Endgame, and is a solid action movie that lays breadcrumbs for the future of the MCU.
Set in 2016, following the events of Captain America: Civil War, Natasha Romanoff AKA Black Widow, played by Scarlett Johanssen (Marriage Story), is on the run for violating the Sokovia Accords, and ends up reconnecting with her family of fellow super spies, including a scene stealing Florence Pugh (Midsommar) and a delightfully comedic David Harbour (Stranger Things), while fighting a threat from her past.
This is only the second Marvel movie to be centered around a female lead, but Black Widow feels like a movie we should have gotten a long time ago, pandemic aside, with expertly crafted fight scenes as well as the overall chemistry between the well-rounded cast that make it worth the wait. While this looks to be Johanssen’s last outing as the red-headed Avenger, there are indications that we could see other characters from this film in future projects down the road.
The film is currently in theatres, as well as available to stream on Disney+ Premier Access for $34.99.
You'd like this if you enjoyed: Any Marvel movie
Runtime:134 minutes
Genre: Action, Superhero
A Quiet Place 2 (Amazon Prime)
Another big budget blockbuster that was put on ice for well over a year, A Quiet Place 2, the follow up to the 2018 hit, debuted in theatres on May 21st and now finds itself available on Amazon Prime (free if you already have a subscription).
Development on the sequel began back in 2018, shortly after the success of the first movie, and A Quiet Place 2 actually had its world premiere last March in New York City. Fast forward more than a year later with multiple dates being rescheduled, A Quiet Place 2 became one of the first major movies to be released in theatres as they reopened around the world.
As it turns out, good things truly do come to those who wait as the sequel is arguably better than its predecessor, which itself was very good. Like the original, A Quiet Place 2 was directed by John Krasinski (The Office) who takes a step back from starring in the film and gives more screen time to his on-screen and real life wife, Emily Blunt (Mary Poppins Returns) and their characters’ children played by Milicient Simmonds (Wonderstruck) and Noah Jupe (The Undoing), reprising their roles from the original.
Picking up right where the previous movie left off, Blunt and her kids find themselves on the run, evading killer aliens who are drawn to sound at every turn. Cillian Murphy (Peaky Blinders) is a welcome addition to the cast, playing a reclusive survivor who knew the family before the alien invasion. Krasinski, who did a solid job in the first movie, really flexes his directorial muscles here and looks to be rounding into form. He is one to keep an eye on, as his behind-the-camera work is excellent, with the way he focuses on visuals and adds a Hitchcockian element of dread to the mix. Be sure to elevate the suspense by turning up the volume and watching in the dark, sound is a key element to this movie.
As for the future of the franchise, though nothing is official, Emily Blunt says that Krasinki has a couple of ideas for where the third installment could go.
You'd like this if you enjoyed: A Quiet Place, The Purge
Runtime: 97 minutes
Genre: Horror
The White Lotus (Crave)
HBO has a high success rate with limited series, as evidenced by churning out recent classics such as Chernobyl, Watchmen and Mare of Easttown. Enter their newest submission to their ever growing library of hits: The White Lotus.
The six episode series, which was created, written and directed by Mike White who, despite having a long career in Hollywood, might be best recognized as a Survivor runner up, focuses on an idyllic, exclusive Hawaiian resort called The White Lotus. The series follows the guests, dripping in privilege and entitlement, as a darker complexity begins to emerge amongst the vacationers, and we the viewers are left to ponder a mysterious death. Aside from the fantastic soundtrack and stunning visuals thanks to shooting the show on location in Hawaii, the series offers up laughs in the form of biting satire of the elite and their interaction with the staff maintaining the hotel.
The show sports deep bench in terms of cast, starring Connie Britton (Nashville), Steve Zahn (The Good Lord Bird), Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria), Jake Lacy (Girls), Alexandra Daddario (Baywatch), and longtime comedy legend Jennifer Coolidge (2 Broke Girls), but it’s the manager of The White Lotus resort Armond, a recovering addict whose stressful job tests his sobriety, played by Murray Bartlett (Looking) who anchors the cast. White expertly crafts a twisting plot, weaving in a wide cast of different characters all brimming with dark comedic elements that makes the show sizzle.
You'd like this if you enjoyed: Succession, Big Little Lies
Runtime: 6 episodes, 54-58 minutes
Genre: Comedy, Drama