Welcome to the latest issue of Stream On, the weekly newsletter from Consequence that answers the eternally confounding question: What films and TV shows should you be watching? (Subscribe here!) We’re looking at all the new and recent releases from Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Prime Video, Paramount+, Peacock, HBO Max, and more for ideas — not to mention a Blast From the Past and streaming recommendations from this week’s special guest: Comedian Jackie Kashian!
This Week’s Picks
Vladimir (TV)
Vladimir (Netflix)
Created by: Julia May Jonas
Cast: Rachel Weisz, Leo Woodall, Jessica Henwick, Ellen Robertson, John Slattery
Streaming on: Netflix
Stories about the storied world of academia can be hit or miss, but using a liberal arts university as the backdrop for a wry tale of psychosexual obsession works pretty damn well for Vladimir. Central to its success is Rachel Weisz as our unnamed protagonist, a professor grappling with her husband’s looming sex scandal as well as her fascination with the titular new colleague (Leo Woodall of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy and The White Lotus Season 2). Weisz rides a few different razor’s edges here, leading to some wild developments, and overall the very character-focused storytelling really worked for me. No spoilers here, but definitely a fun one.
Hamnet (Film)
Hamnet (Focus Features)
Directed by: Chloé Zhao
Cast: Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn
Streaming on: Peacock
And now, for something a little less fun. But hey, if you’re looking to complete your Oscars viewing before the ceremony on the 15th, know that the sad tale of Shakespeare’s wife (played by likely Best Actress winner Jessie Buckley) isn’t non-stop despair. Honestly, there’s some true beauty to the grieving Agnes’s journey, especially for anyone who believes in the power of storytelling as a healing force. Have some tissues handy. But don’t be surprised by how cathartic those tears might feel.
The Secret Agent (Film)
The Secret Agent (NEON)
Directed by: Kleber Mendonça Filho
Cast: Wagner Moura, Carlos Francisco, Tânia Maria, Robério Diógenes, Alice Carvalho, Gabriel Leone, Maria Fernanda Cândido, Udo Kier
Streaming on: Hulu
Speaking of Oscar nominees, Hulu’s got a bunch of awards season favorites right now, including Brazil’s Best Picture (and Best Actor!) nominated entry. The Secret Agent is a fascinating movie set during the military dictatorship that ruled Brazil from 1964-1985, anchored by the incredible Wagner Moura as a man trying to reconnect with his son and escape the political turmoil of the era. There’s a brutality to the storytelling here, but such a rich depth of humanity as well, especially when writer/director Kleber Mendonça Filho puts the spotlight on the gentle community of ex-pats just trying to get by in”mischievous times.” “Mischievous times,” we’re all learning lately, aren’t much fun to live through.
Young Sherlock (TV)
Young Sherlock (Prime Video)
Created by: Matthew Parkhill
Cast: Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Dónal Finn, Zine Tseng, Joseph Fiennes, Natascha McElhone, Max Irons, Colin Firth (!)
Streaming on: Prime Video
My friends, do you know how many different Sherlock Holmes movies and TV shows there are out there? Hundreds! Maybe thousands! And more of a few of them have dared to ask the question “What if Sherlock, but young?” That said, if your definitive modern-day Holmes is the one played by Robert Downey Jr., then you’ll likely enjoy director/producer Guy Ritchie returning to the character for this irreverent series adaptation, with star Hero Fiennes Tiffin demonstrating some real zest for the role. Oh, and you’d better believe the first episode establishes its versions of nearly every supporting character from Doyle’s original tales (minus Dr. Watson), while also introducing new mysteries to be solved. Like I said, there have been a ton of on-screen Sherlocks. But there’s a good reason we keep going back to this well.
Blast From the Past
The home screens of streaming services are always packed with the latest new releases, but we don’t spend enough time appreciating how much good library content is streaming across all of these platforms. Each week, Stream On will spotlight one less-than-new favorite (must pre-date the founding of Consequence, so 15 years or older) that deserves attention from modern-day eyes.
The Comeback (TV)
The Comeback (HBO)
Created by: Lisa Kudrow, Michael Patrick King
Cast: Lisa Kudrow, Malin Åkerman, Robert Bagnell, Lance Barber, Robert Michael Morris, Laura Silverman, Damian Young
Streaming on: HBO Max
In 2005, Lisa Kudrow and Sex and the City producer Michael Patrick King used HBO’s money to create a searing takedown of reality TV that was well ahead of its time. For years, it seemed like a one-and-done experiment, until The Comeback came back for a second season in 2014, this time using HBO’s money to satirize prestige TV shows (just like the ones on HBO!).
That second season ended pretty much perfectly, making it a huge surprise when Kudrow and King revealed that a Season 3 would premiere March 22nd, 2026. I have not yet seen screeners for what’s to come, but I did find Seasons 1 and 2 to be so brilliant that I’m strongly encouraging any newcomer with a high tolerance for cringe to catch up before this long-awaited return. Again, the cringe factor is high. But at the core of this story is a woman grappling with the trappings of fame in ways you’ve never seen before on TV, and it’s fascinating.
A Special Guest Recommends!
Liz isn’t the only person in the world capable of suggesting stuff for people to watch… So each week, Stream On will now feature picks from a special guest! Said special guest could be literally anyone from the world of entertainment — actors, writers, directors, musicians, or anyone else Liz thinks might be watching something interesting.
This Week: Jackie Kashian!
Jackie Kashian (photo by Carmen Morales) and How to Get to Heaven From Belfast (Netflix)
Who Are They? Jackie Kashian is one of the great touring “comic’s comics” working today, as evidenced by her latest stand-up special, Alter Kashian. (Recommended in last week’s newsletter!) She’s released multiple comedy albums and specials over the years, guest-starred on series including Maron and Lady Dynamite, and has also done voice work on Bob’s Burgers and the Apple TV show Strange Planet. Can’t stress enough how much I enjoy listening to her rage at the world. (The world deserves it.)
What Do They Recommend? Jackie’s taking us to Ireland with this recent Netflix series:
How to Get to Heaven From Belfast (Netflix) is a darkly funny murder buddy mystery tv show from the makers of Derry Girls, and it’s fantastic. I like European shows because they don’t dumb down what they think you might know culturally, and they aren’t above a really dumb joke.
Thank you so much to Jackie for this pick! Check out Alter Kashian on YouTube now.
One Last One Before Bed
Finally, let’s spotlight a movie or TV show that’s not only great, but won’t take up too much of your time: Think of this section as the answer to the question “What’s something I can watch before hitting the hay, that won’t keep me up too late?” The only rule is that it has to be less than 95 minutes if it’s a movie, or less than 30 minutes an episode if it’s a TV show. Otherwise, sky’s the limit!
How to Shoot a Ghost (Short Film)
How to Shoot a Ghost (Kanopy)
Directed by: Charlie Kaufman
Cast: Jessie Buckley, Josef Akiki
Streaming on: Kanopy, The Criterion Channel
Oh hey, speaking of Hamnet star Jessie Buckley! This is a big week for the acclaimed actress, with the wild Maggie Gyllenhaal romp The Bride! now in theaters, and this short film as well as Hamnet now streaming. I found The Bride! to be flawed but ultimately enjoyable chaos made unforgettable by Buckley’s performance; How to Shoot a Ghost, which originally premiered at the Venice Film Festival, is a far more sedate project by comparison. Yet it still bursts with life, as Buckley and past collaborator Charlie Kaufman team up for an unconventional, poetic ghost story.
We’ll be back next week with more picks — in the meantime, stay safe out there, or better yet stay inside, where it’s definitely safe, and there’s so much film and TV to watch. We’ll update this post every Friday morning with the best to consider, and also be sure to subscribe to the newsletter as well!
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