Pick of the week
Hostage
Abigail Dalton has assured her husband, Alex, that becoming prime minister won’t stop her from making the right decisions for her family. This is then tested painfully. Dalton (Suranne Jones) is already facing a tough negotiation with the French president, Vivienne Toussaint (Julie Delpy), who is wooing the far right in the name of re-election and hardballing her on the subject of immigration. When Alex is kidnapped in French Guiana, his fate is in Toussaint’s hands. But she has a personal weakness that makes her an easy target for blackmail. Certain aspects of Hostage feel generic but it’s pacy and gripping and the two leads bounce off each other with captivating frenemy relish.
Netflix, from Thursday 21 August
***
Long Story Short
Exciting news for BoJack Horseman fans: creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg explores the triumphs and tragedies of the loving but dysfunctional Schwooper family in this new animation. It’s told via a series of narrative jumps between childhood and adulthood, locating a perfect balance between the delightful, infuriating triviality of family life and the big stuff that gives context to the everyday. In common with Bob-Waksberg’s previous show, it packs a hefty emotional punch. And don’t be afraid to get invested in these likable, slightly hapless characters – season two has already been confirmed.
Netflix, from Friday 22 August
***
The Real Housewives of London
Another bout of soul-crushing affluenza, this time introducing the London arm of a franchise that has, since 2006, found a comfortable niche in monetising pathological deficits of self-awareness. The six squabbling socialites include Juliet Angus and Caroline Stanbury whom fans of the genre may remember from Bravo’s Ladies of London and The Real Housewives of Dubai. While this pair have the benefit of experience, their companions soon get into the swing – it’s a feast of big houses, garish frocks, status-led conflict and overuse of the word “iconic”.
Hayu, from Monday 18 August
***
America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys
“This is a soap opera, 365 days a year.” Dallas Cowboys owner, president and general manager Jerry Jones is describing his NFL team but he’s also offering an insight into why the readymade narratives of sports teams are currently so irresistible to documentary-makers on streaming platforms. This series has a wider scope than most, telling the story of the rise of the Cowboys through the 90s and the controversies that accompanied them on their route to three NFL titles. It’s slick, glossy and very pleased with itself.
Netflix, from Tuesday 19 August
***
The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox
This eight-part drama is written from the point of view of Amanda Knox, who was initially convicted of the 2007 murder of Meredith Kercher before being acquitted on appeal. The tone is uncertain, going from oddly jaunty to melodramatic, and its foregrounding of Knox’s story won’t be to everyone’s taste – hardly surprising, given that she (and Monica Lewinsky) executive produced the show. But it does capture the sense of rising panic as, surrounded by legal proceedings she barely understands, Knox starts to realise how much trouble she’s in.
Disney+, from Wednesday 20 August
***
Invasion
At times during its first two seasons, this divisive sci-fi show has achieved the seemingly impossible by making an alien invasion of Earth seem humdrum. As the third instalment arrives, it’s still hard to shake off the feeling that Invasion should be better than it is – it is brave to keep the focus on the Earthlings and not the extraterrestrials but that can make the show feel like a slow burn. Still, action is surely in the offing this time as survivors from around the world must band together on a mission to infiltrate the aliens’ mothership.
Apple TV+, from Friday 22 August
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The Truth About Jussie Smollett?
The bizarre story of the allegedly racist and homophobic hate attack against actor Jussie Smollett began in 2019 and ended in him serving six days in prison in 2022 for apparently staging the incident with two acquaintances. The conviction was later overturned, but the fallout has seriously damaged Smollett’s career. This documentary (from the producers of Don’t F**k With Cats) looks set to reignite the controversy. Could Smollett’s story have been true all along? It features interviews with police, lawyers and investigators who claim to have found new facts about the case.
Netflix, from Friday 22 August
