On Demand
(Un)Well (Netflix, from Wed)
Barely a week goes by without some fitness expert singing the praises of a new diet, skincare regimen, or a cure for whatever ails us, from sleepless nights to other more embarrassing issues. "If only there was a series that investigated controversial wellness fads," you may sigh. Well, you're in luck because each episode of this new strand takes a deep dive into trends and treatments that catch on like wildfire, but inspire both passionate support and deep skepticism. So, if you wanted to know more about apitherapy (a branch of alternative medicine that uses honey bee products); essential oils, breast milk, extreme fasting, ayahuasca (a concoction with hallucinogenic properties claimed to heal past trauma) and tantric sex, then this is just the show for you... and maybe Sting, who made headlines with his views on at least one of those issues.
Ted Lasso (Apple TV+, from Fri)
Fish-out-of-water comedies about coaches from different backgrounds sent to whip teams into shape are one of the most reliable formulas in the book. You can imagine the culture clash that kicks off (pun intended) when a small-time college football coach from Kansas is hired to coach a professional soccer team in England, despite having no experience coaching the beautiful game. Jason Sudeikis, who was on top form in Horrible Bosses, We're the Millers, and Anne Hathaway gem Colossal, plays the eponymous character which was first created in 2013 as part of promotional videos for NBC Sports. Jason, who developed the series with Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence, hasn't worked on a regular TV series since leaving the iconic Saturday Night Live seven years ago, so it should be interesting to see how this goes down with fans and casual observers alike.
Boys State (Apple TV+, from Fri)
What happens when a thousand Texas high school seniors build their own state government? That's the focus of this critically acclaimed documentary from film-makers Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine. It closely tracks the rising tensions that arise within a particularly riveting 'gubernatorial' race (In case you're in the dark, gubernatorial relates to a governor, particularly that of a state in the US). Among those featured is Ben, a confident, Reagan-loving arch-conservative who has had no shortage of problems, and Steven, a progressive-minded child of Mexican immigrants. It's an often compelling portrait of contemporary American masculinity as well as just a fascinating watch. Or rather "Ridiculously entertaining," as one review commented. "A must see," screamed another. Best to make up your own mind.
World's Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji (Amazon Prime, from Fri)
Brit Mark Burnett has been responsible for some of the biggest TV hits in decades, including Survivor, The Apprentice, and The Voice. Now he teams up with host Bear Grylls for what promises to be a fascinating study of human endurance. The 10-parter tells the story of the ultimate expedition race, in which 66 teams from 30 countries race non-stop for 11 days, 24 hours a day, across hundreds of miles of rugged Fijian terrain. Ain't no mountain high enough for these contestants, who also have to tackle jungles and oceans. It's the ultimate battle to the finish for 330 competitors (who form teams of five, including four racers and an assistant crew member). The greatest challenges are not the competing teams, but the gruelling 426 miles of terrain which stands between those competing and the finish line.
Project Power (Netflix, from Fri)
There was a time when Joseph Gordon-Levitt seemed to be everywhere. Following the success of Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, and Snowden, he returned recently with nail-biting thriller 7500. Now he stars in this offering, which feels like a cross between Bradley Cooper drama Limitless and The Boys. It takes place on the streets of New Orleans, where a mysterious new pill is doing the rounds. It unlocks superpowers unique to each user, but the catch is you don't know what will happen until you take it. Some might develop bulletproof skin, others invisibility or super strength. When the drug leaves crime rates soaring, a local cop (Gordon-Levitt) teams with a teen dealer (Dominique Fishback) and an ex soldier (Jamie Foxx) to track down and stop the group responsible for creating it.
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