What will you watch this weekend?
Credit: Netflix / Focus Features / Amazon
This Sunday marks the halfway point in December. That means it will be around two weeks after New Year’s Eve. . . One way or another, it will be in 2025. A quarter century to go, three centuries to go. If only we lived that long. Either way, this weekend’s streaming guide will have you exploring serial killers, space marines, and a magical Colombian village. Enjoy the new animation from the creators of Love, Death & Robots, an ambitious adaptation of one of the most important literary works of the last century. There are many more.
Every week, I’m obsessively searching for the best (and sometimes worst) shows and movies you should watch (or avoid). Some of them I’ve seen before, and many I haven’t seen yet. This is a guide for you and me. I like to stay on top of everything that comes out, but I often miss new shows and movies, so this guide is for you. If we missed something in this guide, feel free to send us a tip on Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky, or Facebook.
Alright, let’s jump right in!
You can check out last weekend’s streaming guide here.
New and noteworthy information this weekend (12/13/24)
100 Years of Solitude (Netflix)
Based on one of the most important novels of the 20th century, One Hundred Years of Solitude is a gorgeous and beautifully directed film. I’m only a short way into the eight-episode part one (the second eight-episode half-season will be released at an unspecified date), but I’m already captivated. Check it out.
Carry On (Netflix)
Taron Egerton stars in this flight-based terror thriller. Egerton plays Ethan Kopech, a TSA agent who is blackmailed into bringing a dangerous carry-on onto a plane. Otherwise, he will watch his girlfriend be executed. The villain is played by Jason Bateman, who is usually a good guy. This is very much in the tradition of Die Hard as an action thriller disguised as a Christmas movie. We have received very good reviews in reviews!
Secret Level (Prime Video)
Secret Level is a collection of video game-themed animated short films from the creators of Netflix’s hit animated anthology, Love, Death & Robots. It’s on Prime Video and includes a lot of familiar games, from D&D to Warhammer 40k. The quality of each short story varies greatly, and the selection is a bit unusual. Given that Schiff is a much smaller and lesser-known game than Pac-Man, I was surprised that it had its own episode. It’s interesting that Concord, one of gaming’s most pathetic failures, has its own story. This game didn’t even last long enough to appear here when the show came out. This single episode will outlast the game Concord. Up to 8 episodes are currently being released. The remaining seven will be released next Tuesday.
Dexter: Original Sin (Paramount+)
I don’t know how to feel about yet another Dexter spin-off. This is a prequel that explains, as prequels do, how Dexter became Dexter, which is effectively already explained in the main story and takes about the time it takes. You’ll have to watch the premiere to see if it’s worth going back to Dexter’s Verse. Dexter expanded universe?
I Don’t Do Good Things (Netflix)
A dark comedy from the creator of Dead To Me about a middle-aged Southern California couple trying to sell their home. Dark secrets, nefarious buyers, etc. make this song sound a little soapy, but it’s probably a fun binge.
“The Lord of the Rings: Battle of the Rohirrim” (now in theaters)
I don’t think this Lord of the Rings anime is worth seeing on the big screen, so I’ll wait until it’s available for streaming. This prequel has received decent reviews, although audiences (84%) are far more optimistic than critics (52%). However, I’m not sure if I like this style of animation in The Lord of the Rings. It’s just a personal bias, but I’d rather see Western 2D animation.
Joker: Folie à Deux (Max)
The poorly received Joker sequel is finally available for streaming. You can watch the musical sequel to the great first movie on Max. I’ve never been to the movie theater, so I’m planning on seeing it soon. It’s a musical, and it’s not a very good one by any stretch of the imagination, but I like musicals, and frankly, this sounds like a pretty thought-provoking, pretty subversive movie.
Conclave (Peacock)
With a critics score of 93% and audience score of 86%, Conclave is an Oscar dream come true. A mystery thriller that takes place after the death of Pope Gregory XVII. The College of Cardinals gathers for a papal conference to elect a new pope, but things go horribly wrong.
Bonus: Jane the Virgin (Prime Video)
I’ve been binge-watching the first season of Jane the Virgin recently (I bought it on Prime Video) and it’s absolutely amazing. It’s basically a romantic comedy mystery that is an American parody/homage to the TV novel. Gina Rodriguez plays Jane, a virgin who accidentally gets pregnant (I don’t want to spoil it), and she plays the role very, very charmingly. I’m definitely in big love. The rest of the cast is great and really lovable, and it’s a fun melodramatic mystery with lots of twists and turns. I am endlessly reminded of Bad Monkey, from the entertaining narrator to the summaries. If you missed this show when it first came out (it debuted way back in 2014), you should definitely give it a watch.
What I watch every week
Rather than do a whole section with all the trailers and everything else currently streaming (because that would make the post too long and bulky), I’ll just give you an overview of some of the shows I’m currently following. I thought I’d explain. I don’t know if I’m late or keep watching.
I started watching the spy thriller Black Doves on Netflix, but every time I watch it I feel tired and sleepy, and I think the show is too slick and empty to hold my attention. It’s a glossy, empty, and not-so-engaging spy drama that’s very hard to pin down atmospherically, but not in a good way, despite a great cast.
I was very impressed with Skeleton Crew on Disney+. The new Star Wars show is being billed as “The Goonies of Space,” which is pretty accurate, though not as much as that movie. Still, Episode 3 introduced Crimson Jack, played by Jude Law, and he made a huge contribution to the series’ progress. To be honest, he’s already one of my favorite Disney-era Star Wars characters. I love that this show is just a fun adventure without being preachy.
I’m also still watching Rivals (Hulu/Disney+). This remains one of my favorites on TV thanks to a strong cast and some seriously hot scenes. The show follows the showbiz shenanigans of Britain’s rich and famous in the 1980s, and so far it’s been a lot of fun.
We’re a little behind on Outlander. This is a show that I really like, but I can also get annoyed by the constant melodrama that can make some characters feel like they’re really stuck in a loop. Claire in particular drives me crazy sometimes. And I’m annoyed that their stay in Scotland was so short.
I’ve also been enjoying the last few episodes of Shrinking on Apple TV. Season 2 isn’t as good as season 1, but I like the characters enough that it doesn’t really bother me. Oh and Silo continues to be great on Apple TV, but I’m also an episode or two behind it. It’s a busy time!
Finally, Dune: Prophecy airs its fifth and penultimate episode this Sunday, but with two more episodes to go and not a single likable or empathetic character, how can it be? I have no idea if you’re trying to make me care about that episode!
What are you watching, dear reader? Let us know on Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky, and Facebook.
Further reading from truly you:
