While almost every streaming service rolls out Cyber Monday deals, Netflix remains famously resistant to discounting its subscription plans. Unlike Disney+ or Paramount, Netflix continues to play the Grinch.

The good news, binge-watchers, is that I've researched the cheapest Netflix Cyber Monday prices, and found Netflix deals for as little as $2.87 per month!

Where to get $3 Netflix deal

In countries like Pakistan, Egypt, India, Nigeria, and Kenya, Netflix subscriptions are priced far below what US or European customers pay.

For example, in Egypt, the Standard plan costs roughly EGP 170/month — about $5.44 USD or £4.59 GBP — compared to $7.99 in the United States.

Pakistan’s Standard plan is even lower, at around $2.87 USD/month – a saving of almost 65% on the US price.

But what if you're entitled to one of these cheap deals but currently in the US, UK, Canada or Australia?

With a VPN, you can unblock your local Netflix deal and grab the savings – as if you were back in, say Pakistan.

Watch Netflix with Cyber Monday VPN deals

While there's no Cyber Monday Netflix coupon or holiday deal in the USA, savvy international citizens can save by subscribing to their local Netflix.

If you're on holiday or traveling, why not subscribe your local Netflix? You can access it with NordVPN, Surfshark and Express VPN.... which are on sale for Black Friday.

Here's why there's no Netflix Cyber Monday deal

Netflix doesn’t 'do' Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals because it doesn’t need to – its content, global reach, and smart regional pricing keep subscribers paying year-round.

With Jingle Bell Heist, Stranger Things season 5, Squid Game and huge live events such as the upcoming Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua boxing event, Netflix attracts binge-watchers without breaking a sweat.

If Netflix were to offer Cyber Monday deals, users would likely hang tight and wait for the deals to drop – instead of subscribing year-round.

With 230 million subscribers around the world, Netflix's scale and exceptional content library allows it to grow without seasonal discounts.

You may also enjoy:

• How to watch I'm a Celebrity 2025 online
• How to watch The Ashes for FREE
• The best Netflix shows

Black Friday 2025 just delivered a streaming knockout: Disney+ and Hulu have slashed their combined ad-supported bundle to a ridiculous $4.99 a month – down from $12.99. That’s a $95 savings over the year, which is basically like Disney handing you a free month… every month.

The catch? You’ve got until December 1 to lock it in. After that, the price rockets back up and you’re stuck searching for streaming deals again.

Why this deal stands out: For under five dollars a month you unlock an enormous catalog – Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars, animated classics, live-action hits, and new releases like Freakier Friday and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Meanwhile Hulu loads you up with prestige dramas, next-day network shows, and the kind of reality TV you tell people you "don’t watch," but definitely do.

The huge $95 price cut comes against a backdrop of endless industry-wide subscription price hikes that will almost certainly continue in 2026. So if you’re tired of chasing free trials and juggling log-ins like a second job (urgh), this is your moment. Five bucks. Two massive libraries. A year of content.

For families, cinephiles, binge-watchers, or anyone just tired of overpriced subscriptions – this isn’t just a sale, it’s a way to reset your life. But like all good things this holiday season, it won’t last long. If you want to load up your watchlist and take shelter from rising streaming costs, act fast because the Disney's Black Friday deal comes to a screeching halt on 1 December.

You may also enjoy:

• No Netflix Black Friday deal? Here's where to get Netflix for $3
• How to watch I'm a Celebrity 2025 online
• The best Netflix shows

We've all faced the disappointment of finding a US drama we really want to watch, only for it not to be available in the UK.

The US is constantly creating must-see entertainment content and you might be thinking that these programs are only available to US audiences — but that's not the case.

Thanks to these US streaming platforms securing deals with UK broadcasters like Sky and ITV, we can now watch award-winning content from a variety of genres. Although the UK isn't guaranteed the same release date as those across the pond, it saves you from waiting an age until they reach UK screens.

Here are the US dramas available to watch on both UK channels and streaming this week, as well as our top picks.

Our top picks across TV and streaming

Monster: The Ed Gein Story

Monster: The Ed Gein Story is the third season of Ryan Murphy's true crime anthology, which lands on Netflix on October 3. After his terrifying takes on Jeffrey Dahmer and Lyle and Erik Menendez, Murphy's latest project focuses on convicted murderer and suspected serial killer Ed Gein (Charlie Hunnam).

Gein, also known as 'The Butcher of Plainfield,' terrorised rural Wisconsin and confessed to killing two women between 1954-1957. His crimes went on to inspire a number of classic horror films, such as The Silence of the Lambs, Psycho and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

Netflix reveals that it's the "most harrowing instalment yet" as "Monster: The Ed Gein Story tells the story of how one simple man in Plainfield, Wisconsin, became history’s most singular ghoul. He revealed to the world the most horrific truth of all — that monsters aren’t born, they’re made... by us."

The Rookie season 7

Although nothing seems to be stopping cop John Nolan (Nathan Fillion), it can't be said for The Rookie season 7 as it concludes on Sky Witness on September 30.

The Rookie follows forty-year-old John, who moves to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of joining the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). As their oldest rookie, he's met with disbelief by colleagues who view him as a walking midlife crisis and must navigate the challenges of being a cop.

What To Watch writer Terrell Smith writes that: "The series has become ABC's premier crime procedural and continues to wow viewers who clamour for more." So it's good news that The Rookie has since been renewed for another season.

Billy the Kid season 3

Billy the Kid season 3 gallops its way onto MGM+ on September 28, with Tom Blyth reprising his role as the notorious outlaw for one last ride. This refreshing modern Western story explores the life of Billy the Kid through exciting action, so saddle up as this saga is set to come to an epic conclusion.

Billy and Sheriff Pat Garrett (Alex Roe) have a reckoning to come; meanwhile, "Billy has the opportunity to quit New Mexico altogether and pursue a future with Dulcinea (Nuria Vega), the love of his life. But he has unfinished business with Garrett, who has betrayed him, and decides to stay. Jesse Evans (Daniel Webber), Billy’s long-time friend, rival, and enemy, also remains in Lincoln, searching for a newfound purpose and perhaps atonement for his sins. Billy will fight like hell to try to finally find the justice that has long eluded him, even if it means he’ll die trying."

US dramas available to watch in the UK across TV and streaming

• Billy the Kid season 3 episode 1 airs on MGM+ on Sunday, September 28
• Doc episode 3 airs on Sky Witness on Wednesday, October 1
• FBI season 7 episode 9 airs on Sky Witness on Thursday, October 2
• FBI: International season 4 episode 9 airs on Sky Witness on Thursday, October 2
• FBI: Most Wanted season 6 episode 8 airs on Sky Witness on Tuesday, September 30
• Fire Country season 3 episode 10 airs on Sky Witness on Wednesday, October 1
• Gen V season 2 episode 5 airs on Prime Video on Wednesday, October 1
• High Potential season 2 episode 3 airs on Disney Plus on Wednesday, October 1
• Invasion season 3 episode 7 airs on Apple TV Plus on Friday, October 3
• Monster: The Ed Gein Story airs on Netflix on Friday, October 3
• NCIS: Tony & Ziva episode 6 airs on Paramount Plus on Thursday, October 2
• Only Murders in the Building season 5 episode 6 airs on Disney Plus on Tuesday, September 30

• Outlander: Blood of My Blood episode 9 airs on MGM+ on Saturday, September 27
• Peacemaker season 2 episode 7 airs on Sky Max on Friday, October 3
• S.W.A.T. season 8 episode 11 airs on Sky Max on Sunday, September 28
• Task episode 4 airs on Sky Atlantic on Monday, September 29
• The Morning Show season 4 episode 3 airs on Apple TV Plus on Wednesday, October 1
• The Rookie season 7 episode 18 airs on Sky Witness on Tuesday, September 30
• The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox episode 8 airs on Disney Plus on Wednesday, October 1
• Tulsa King season 3 episode 2 airs on Paramount Plus on Sunday, September 28
• Wild Cards season 1 episode 5 airs on 5USA on Monday, September 29
• Wild Cards season 2 episode 5 airs on Paramount Plus on Monday, September 29
• PLEASE NOTE: Following recent events in America, the launch of The Savant on Apple TV+ has been delayed

If you're planning your next week of movie nights and binge watches in advance, then you'll want to know what's new on Netflix and worth a watch. And thankfully, you're in the right place.

I'm What to Watch's streaming editor and every week, I write a round-up just like this one about Netflix's upcoming releases. This is a curated pick of everything coming to the streamer, with 7 new options this week.

When I say "this week", I'm talking the days between Saturday, September 20, and Friday, September 26. There's a nice mix of TV shows and movies this time around.

So let's find you something to watch on Netflix this week.

Crime Scene Zero

Hit Korean reality series Crime Scene gets a Netflix-ified reboot over the next few weeks; four episodes will release on Tuesday, September 23 followed by four more the following week and two final ones the week after.

In Crime Scene Zero, real-life contestants are given roles in a murder mystery and they have to investigate a crime in order to discover which of them is a murderer. Each episode will see them interview a new "suspect" (ie actor) to understand more about the case.

• Releases from Tuesday, September 23

House of Guinness

Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight gets his newest show on Netflix this week, which is loosely inspired by the history of the famous Irish stout company Guinness.

House of Guinness follows the death of Benjamin Guinness (the grandson of Arthur Guinness, who founded the beer brand) and the power struggle between his children as to the direction of the company. The cast includes James Norton, Jack Gleason, Anthony Boyle and Louis Partridge.

• Releases Thursday, September 25

Alice in Borderland season 3

Despite its story wrapping up, popular Japanese sci-fi series Alice in Borderland gets a shorter third season this week.

Alice in Borderland is about a young man who’s transported to a weird alternative version of Tokyo which houses a deadly game they compete in. In the third season the survivors of the games are in the real world, only remembering their adventures through dreams, until the games mysteriously recommence.

• Releases Thursday, September 25

Wayward

Netflix's next binge crime series is Wayward, created by Canadian comedian Mae Martin and starring her along with Toni Collette.

Wayward is about a woman who moves to a creepy town with her partner, and discovers that something bizarre is happening in a local school for troubled teens.

• Releases Thursday, September 25

Ruth & Boaz

We now move from the "TV shows" part of the week into the "movies" part, and the first of these is the Tyler Perry-producer Ruth & Boaz.

Ruth & Boaz is a romantic drama about a hip-hop artist from Atlanta who moves to a small Tennessee town to look after her mother. There, a romance blossoms with a man she meets.

• Releases Friday, September 26

Mantis

The next movie coming to Netflix that's worth watching is Mantis, an action-thriller from South Korea which stars Squid Game's Yim Si-wan.

In Mantis, a skilled assassin takes a holiday, and when he returns finds the industry he worked for has been turned on its head. All his former co-assassins are now going head-to-head to be dubbed the best of the killers and our main character finds himself caught along in the action.

• Releases Friday, September 26

French Lover

Our final movie is another romance one, but instead of taking place in small-town USA, it's set in France. Omar Sy and Sara Giraudeau star.

French Lover is about a successful movie star whose recent career has been on a bumpy track. That is, until he meets a down-on-her-luck recent divorcee, with whom he starts up a relationship.

• Releases Friday, September 26

Given that my job is to cover streaming services for What to Watch, I often have to start far more TV shows than I could feasibly finish. However over the years, I've found a fool-proof way of weeding out the best Netflix shows that doesn't take any time.

This 'test' lets me watch just a single episode of a series on Netflix, be it an original creation or something the streamer added, and determine whether it's an addictive binge or just another forgettable piece of 'content' for the streamer.

Admittedly, not a single series from 2025 has passed this test, but that says more about the streamer's own quality rather than the efficacy of this test. So without further ado, let me introduce the Seinfeld Test...

The Seinfeld Test

One of the most popular draws for any streaming service remains the box-set comedy. In the early days of Netflix people would sign up just to watch The Office and now, entries like Parks & Rec, Superstore and The Peep Show remain easy binge watches that keep people coming back (depending on country, those shows aren't necessarily all on Netflix).

For me, this series is Seinfeld, which is on Netflix in the US, UK and Australia, with all 9 seasons available to view. I've seen it before, and I'll see it again, but it's one of my favorite comedies (my actual favorite, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, isn't available on the ad-supported tier of Netflix which I use, and anyway I've seen it far too many times at this point!).

So what's the Seinfeld Test?

Every time I boot up Netflix, one of the first things I see is the 'Continue Watching' bar. This will, of course, include Seinfeld, but usually after one or two of the various Netflix shows I've tested. I like the classic comedy but I'm not such an addict that I'm watching it every day.

The Test, though, is what I'll click when I see this carousel. If I'm genuinely interested in a show, to see where its story takes it or how the characters develop, I'll click on the next episode to continue the series. If not, I'll click Seinfeld to sink back into my comfort show.

A problem with the test

My test works because while I like Seinfeld, I'm not addicted to it, and I'd gladly watch something else if it gripped me. There are a few series I've gotten really stuck into this year like Andor season 2, Foundation season 3, The Studio and High Potential (which only came to the UK this year, so I'm counting it, but I've already started season 2).

The problem is that none of these series have been Netflix ones. In fact, not a single series has passed the test this year. Many series I start fail the test because they just don't make an impression on me, and an increasing number of Netflix Originals this year have actively irked me for one reason or another (most recently was Untamed because of how Eric Bana's character is told he's alcoholic yet in the first episode we never see him drink, and it's funny watching how hard the show tries to bend over backwards to avoid showing him imbibe).

The last Netflix series I finished was Black Doves from last year, and even that I totally forgot about until writing this article (as the similarly-titled Black Rabbit just came out).

And my test doesn't apply for movies, which you sit down and finish in one go. I'm more of a film fan anyway, although Prime Video is still my go-to for those.

Of all What to Watch's writers, I'm probably the most down on Netflix — every time the editor-in-chief asks if I've seen anything good to see on the streamer, to add to our round-ups, the answer is invariably "no" — and I'd say this test is probably to blame, having highlighted how I'd rather watch a 35-year-old show that I've seen before, rather than whatever Netflix has out this week.

Hopefully that'll change before the year is out. Stranger Things season 5 and A Man on the Inside season 2, both in November, return shows I'd previously binged, which is probably the streamer's best bet of beating the test.

Richard Osman has revealed that the next book in his "Thursday Murder Club" series has a cheeky nod to Netflix's recent adaptation of his first novel.

The hugely popular star has just penned the fifth in the series, "The Impossible Fortune", which will be released later this month.

And Richard told The Times there’s a saucy little reference to James Bond legend Pierce Brosnan, who plays Ron in the film version. Recurring character Connie, who's a drug dealer, is asked about her top Bond actor, and she replies: “Pierce Brosnan. I'd climb that man like a tree."

Richard revealed in the chat that it was his one nod to the movie. “They're different universes for me, but I had to at least acknowledge it."

Setting up the new book, publishers Penguin say: "Who's got time to think about murder when there's a wedding to plan?

"It's been a quiet year for the Thursday Murder Club. Joyce is busy with table plans and first dances. Elizabeth is grieving. Ron is dealing with family troubles, and Ibrahim is still providing therapy to his favourite criminal.

"But when Elizabeth meets a wedding guest who fears for their life, the thrill of the chase is ignited once again. A villain wants access to an uncrackable code and will stop at nothing to get it. Plunged back into their most explosive investigation yet, can the gang solve the puzzle and a murder in time?"

As for the movie, there’s been a mixed reaction from critics and fans. The film has a largely positive critical reaction on Rotten Tomatoes, but it only has a 53% rating from audiences.

Asked about the general response to the movie, which also stars Helen Mirren, Celia Imrie and Ben Kingsley, Richard replied: "Do you know what I make of it? Absolutely nothing because it isn’t anything. We’ll find out if it’s good because people will watch it and enjoy it, or people won’t watch it and enjoy it."

There’s no official news yet on a sequel, but it’s hard to imagine Netflix not making more Thursday Club Movies.

You can watch the movie on Netflix now.

Want to watch something new on Netflix this week? If so, you're in the right place, because I'm going to find you your next movie night fodder or must-watch binge series.

As What to Watch's streaming editor, it's my job to keep tabs on all the new releases across streaming services, including Netflix, and since so much comes to Netflix each week I create a curated list to help you follow the must-watch new releases.

This week my list covers all new Netflix Originals between Saturday, September 13 and Friday, September 19, both inclusive.

We begin the week with a few documentary and competition entries before moving to fiction later in the week.

So let's find you something to watch on Netflix this week.

Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford live boxing match

Netflix continues its quest to become a live sports broadcaster with Canelo vs Crawford, which streams live from Saturday, September 13 at 5:30pm ET/2.30 pm PT/10.30 pm UK and is expected to be available on demand the day after.

There will be four fights in the main event and another six in the prelims, headlined by the main showdown between the Mexican and American fighters. The streamer expects the full show to last just shy of 5 hours with the main card beginning at 9 pm ET/6 pm PT/2 am UK on Sunday, September 14.

• Live streamed on Saturday, September 13

Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story

The only documentary movie hitting Netflix this week is Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story, which was directed by Tiger King’s Rebecca Chaiklin and produced by Frye’s Chris Smith.

Rebel Royals looks at the romance and marriage between Märtha Louise, the daughter of Norway’s king, and Durek Verrett, an "alternative therapist". The existence of the doc has proven a scandal in Norway, where many criticize the royals’ use of a Netflix film to bolster their reputation and their cutting out local press from the royal wedding in favor of Netflix production crews.

• Releases on Tuesday, September 14

Next Gen Chef

Netflix’s next cooking show looks even more competitive than past ones, so don’t go expecting Nailed It! With Next Gen Chef.

The series is based within the Culinary Institute of America, a lesser-known CIA, and sees 21 young chefs go through a battery of tests in order to see who’s the next top chef. TV presenter Olivia Culpo, TV chef. Kelsey Barnard Clark and CIA alum Carlton McCoy host.

• Releases on Wednesday, September 17

Matchroom: The Greatest Showmen

Our final documentary before we move over to fiction is Matchroom: The Greatest Showmen, which Netflix is billing as a sports docuseries but is more about sporting promoters.

Matchroom is about Barry and Eddie Hearn, a father and son who run a sports promotion company of the same name which runs boxing, darts and snooker competition. We follow the son, Eddie, as he tries to keep the company going all from their Essex base.

• Releases on Wednesday, September 17

Black Rabbit

Perhaps the biggest new series of the week is Black Rabbit, which could be Netflix’s take on The Bear. It stars Jason Bateman and Jude Law with Amaka Okafor, Troy Kotsur and Cleopatra Coleman in the cast too.

Black Rabbit is about a restauranteur in New York City (Law) whose estranged brother (Bateman) returns to list life. This troubled sibling quickly drags his brother down to his level and into the city’s criminal underworld, which threatens to destroy the restaurant and their newfound bond.

• Releases on Thursday, September 18

Platonic: Blue Moon Hotel

Another hospitality-based story now, but one which is a little more light-hearted. Platonic: Blue Moon Hotel (which Netflix sometimes refers to simply as Platonic, but presumably added the rest to differentiate it from the Apple TV Plus series) is a Turkish romantic comedy series.

The story centres on a mother-daughter-daughter trio whose boutique hotel is popular with the rich and successful. When a businessman sets his sights on buying the establishment he books a stay there, and both daughters promptly fall in love with him. Cue conflict as they vie for the man’s affection.

• Releases on Thursday, September 18

Billionaires’ Bunker

We end the week with a thriller series from Spain… or from underneath Spain, as the very title makes clear.

Billionaires’ Bunker is about a luxury underground refuge, designed to protect its inhabitants from catastrophe. Two families get trapped in it and conflicts quickly emerge, and they have to team up or take each other down as their secrets come out.

• Releases on Friday, September 19

Netflix has added The Wrong Paris, which, judging by the trailer and the pictures released, is likely to be the cheesiest rom-com of the year.

If you're into a frivolous rom-com, this could be for you, as it's set up in a sort of Emily in Paris way, although in this case, it's Dawn in the wrong Paris!

To explain, our leading lady, Dawn (Miranda Cosgrove), thinks she's joining a dating show in Paris, France, only to discover it’s Paris, Texas. D’oh!

Dawn had been hoping to study at an art school in the City of Light and presumably spend her time wandering around the Louvre and flirting with French waiters, but was struggling to afford the trip, and so she grabbed the chance to be on reality show The Honey Pot, apparently in Paris.

Instead she finds herself thousands of miles away from her dream in the middle of America.

However, things start to look up when she meets charming bachelor Trey (Pierson Fodé).

In the trailer (below), we see Dawn struggling to afford her flight to France before spying an advert for The Honey Pot, which, to be fair, from the ad does look like it's in actual Paris. Her friend points out that when she gets eliminated from the show, she’ll already be in Paris. “To a hot French man,” toast the competitors on the plane. But then it lands in Paris, Texas — they’ve been circling for nine hours!

Dawn is devastated, but dashing Trey tells her French men are overrated and insists he will prove it to her.

The Wrong Paris actually looks like it's going to be fun from the trailer, especially one of the competitors confronting Trey with a mocked-up photo of how their kids will look! Trey looks suitably terrified. Trey also seems to spend quite a lot of time with his top off and a hose for reasons not fully explained.

Dawn is conflicted by her feelings for Trey and the fact that she doesn’t want to give up her dream of studying art in Paris. Can she have both? Or will she have to give one up?

Star Miranda Cosgrove shot to fame as a child actor, first in Drake & Josh and then in iCarly, both on Nickelodeon. More recently, she has voiced Margo in the Despicable Me movies and appeared in another Netflix rom-com, Mother of the Bride. Meanwhile, Pierson Fodé has appeared in many shows, including Jessie and Bold and the Beautiful.

The Wrong Paris is available on Netflix now (check out our best movies on Netflix guide for more films to enjoy).

Netflix has added The Dead Girls, based loosely on the true story of serial-killing brothel owners in Mexico.

An adaptation of Jorge Ibargüengoitia's acclaimed 1977 novel, which used dark humor to reinterpret the real events, Netflix says the series "fictionalizes the rise and fall of the sisters Arcángela and Serafina Baladro".

In the 1960s, the fearsome pair open a successful brothel in a small town, and as their wealth grows, they set about expanding, opening more and more brothels.

However, things begin to go wrong, and girls start to vanish. The book it's based on is described as black comedy, and judging by the trailer below, that tone is pushed even further in the six-part Netflix version

A policeman is heard saying, "In all the cases I had to handle in my career, nothing ever took on the proportion of the Baladro sisters and their brothels."

We then see the glitzy Casino Del Danzon, where we hear one of the women declaring, "the most important thing is for customers to feel comfortable so they'll spend as much as possible.” We see men ogle and clap as the girls perform on stage.

And then we hear shots, and two bodies crash to the ground. The police take action, closing down the Casino Del Danzon as the order goes out that all brothels in the state are to be shut down.

Considering the dark subject matter, the tone appears very light-hearted.

Mexican actor Paulina Gaitán, who plays Serafina Baladro, said of her character that she "is strong, crazy, intense, passionate, has so many nuances that, I think, in the end all actresses want to do a character like her."

Showrunner, producer, and director Luis Estrada said: "Ever since I read the novel, I wanted to film it. Throughout my career, I tried to acquire the rights but couldn’t."

He adds: "For me, it was very important that whoever knows the book recognizes it in the series, and whoever sees the series and then reads the book, recognizes it more."

Over 150 actors took part in the series, and 220 sets were built in the mammoth project.

Is The Dead Girls worth a watch?

Yes, it's a fascinating story, and clearly a lot of love has been thrown at bringing it to the screen. Also, if you like dark humor, this is sure to appeal.

The Dead Girls is on Netflix now. Please check out our best shows on Netflix guide for more series to enjoy.

After three years of co-hosting C4’s The Great British Bake Off with Noel Fielding, the excitement of immersing herself in the glorious world of gingham-clad tables, bucketloads of bunting and a deluge of delicious delicacies still hasn’t worn off for Alison Hammond.

"I’ve never worked on a show where such a cross-section of people come up to talk to me about it. It really brings people together. It’s happy TV. I love it!" says the always bubbly Brummie. "Each series is completely different and this is a lovely, quality season."

Here, as the new run continues with the bakers trying to impress judges Paul Hollywood and Dame Prue Leith in Biscuit Week, Alison tells us more…

The Great British Bake Off airs on Tuesday evenings at 8 pm on Channel 4 in the UK, and in the US new episodes land every Friday on Netflix.

Netflix has just dropped The Killing Kind, a thriller starring Merlin actor Colin Morgan and based on the bestselling book of the same name by Jane Casey.

The streamer has added the series in the UK (it's available via Hulu in the US), which stars The Witcher's Emma Appleton as Ingrid Lewis, a top-flight barrister, while Colin plays her charismatic but dangerous former client John Webster, who she successfully defended when he was accused of harassment and stalking but who ended up ruining her life.

When Webster gets back in touch with Ingrid out of the blue to warn her that her life is in danger, her instinct is to ignore him after everything he's put her through.

But then tragedy strikes Ingrid’s charismatic mentor Belinda (Sara Powell), and an increasingly paranoid Ingrid starts to suspect foul play. But she is unsure who she can trust and whether, this time, John is hero or villain.

Colin Morgan said: "Getting the opportunity to explore a more dark and complex role with John Webster has been enlightening and such fun. Working with the brilliant Emma Appleton has already been such a highlight, along with the rest of the incredible cast. The story had me hooked from page one and I am looking forward to seeing it play out on screen.”

Emma added: "Ingrid defended John on stalking charges and got quite close to him but when she tried to leave the relationship, he made her life very hard work."

Originally on Paramount Plus, the drama later came to ITVX, and now Netflix viewers finally have a chance to discover it.

Is The Killing Kind worth watching?

Well, it's had a mixed reception from audiences, but if you're into your thrillers, then this has to be worth a watch. Or you could try the book, which was critically very well received, with the Daily Mail describing it as "creepily good" while the Sunday Times described it as "chilling".

The Killing Kind is on Netflix now in the UK and Hulu in the US. Check out our best shows on Netflix guide for more series to enjoy.

Want to find something new to watch on Netflix this week? You're in the right place because I'll find you your next movie night entertainment or bingeable series.

As What to Watch's streaming editor, it's my job to keep tabs on all the new releases across streaming services, including Netflix, and since so much comes to Netflix each week I create a curated list to help you follow the must-watch new releases.

This week my list covers all new Netflix Originals between Saturday, September 6 and Friday, September 12, both inclusive.

We've got stand-up specials, dating shows, international dramas and docuseries, so whatever it is you sign up to Netflix for, you'll find something to watch.

Jordan Jensen: Take Me With You

Comedian Jordan Jensen gets their first Netflix stand-up special this week in the form of Take Me With You.

This special will see Jensen talk about, according to Netflix, "failing at femininity, the paradox that is “self love” and the horrors of trying to find it".

• Releases on Tuesday, September 9

aka Charlie Sheen

The actor behind Two and a Half Men and Anger Management is the subject of new Netflix docuseries aka Charlie Sheen, which releases in its entirety this week.

aka charts the life and times of the actor, looking at how he came to prominence and then fell in the public eye due to a string of controversies. The actor is set to reflect on these amidst a eight-year bout of sobriety

• Releases on Wednesday, September 10

Love is Blind France & Love Is Blind Brazil season 5

Netflix has two different spin-offs of Love Is Blind releasing on the same day, so I've combined them into one entry. There's the debut of Love Is Blind: France as well as the return of Love Is Blind: Brazil, with the fifth season dubbed 'It's Never Too Late' bringing only contestants who are over 50.

As always, Love Is Blind sees a group of single people put in pods so that the only way for them to communicate is digitally. They have to build connections without ever seeing each other, and the ultimate test is when they're finally put face-to-face. The contestants are gathered from the region of the show, so this week brings Brazilians and French.

• Both release on Wednesday, September 10

Beauty in Black season 2

Tyler Perry's drama series Beauty in Black returns for a second season this week, following on from the first in 2024. The season is releasing in two parts, but we only have the release date for the first right now: Thursday, September 11.

Beauty in Black is about a nightclub dancer who ingratiates herself with the family behind the club and a successful fashion brand. By season two she's settled herself as its new matriarch but this has made her plenty of enemies, and she'll need to navigate the new minefield of this family she's joined.

• Releases on Thursday, September 11

The Wrong Paris

Next up a romantic comedy movie that seems stolen straight from Hallmark, The Wrong Paris stars Miranda Cosgrove and Pierson Fode.

The Wrong Paris is about a woman who signs up for an exotic dating show filmed in Paris. She only discovers too late that, as the title suggests, this is the city in Texas rather than the capital of France. However her attempts to get eliminated from the competition go awry when she finds herself falling for the bachelor at the heart of the show.

Maledictions

We travel back to South America for the final entry in this list: Maledictions is an Argentinian thriller series which releases in its entirety on the same day.

The story is about a kidnap plot which sees the daughter of a governor taken away in the midst of an important law being passed. As the governor negotiates to free his child, secrets from the past are revealed.

• Releases on Friday, September 12

I Will Find You is the new Harlan Coben adaptation for Netflix - and although it isn't due to land on our screens until next year, we have been treated to some new behind-the-scenes images from filming - and you can already tell this is going to be a cracker of a series.

I'm a huge fan of Harlan Coben's novels, and sometimes when you love a book so much, the TV adaptations can be a bit of a letdown - but that definitely isn't the case with Harlan Coben and Netflix. Every adaptation the streaming site has made of Harlan's novels so far has been transferred from page to screen with perfection - and I have every belief that I Will Find You will be no different.

The story follows an innocent father, David, who is wrongfully serving a life sentence for murdering his son.

But when he receives word that his son may actually be alive, David must embark on a truth-finding mission that leads him out of prison and into a world of deceit and despair.

As with all of Harlan's other Netflix series, I Will Find You boasts an all-star cast, with Sam Worthington as the main character, David Burroughs, Britt Lower as Rachel Mills, David’s ex-sister-in-law, and Milo Ventimiglia as as Hayden, Rachel’s ex-boyfriend.

“The cast we’ve assembled is nothing short of phenomenal,” showrunner Robert Hull told Tudum. “Any one of these incredible artists would be a dream on their own. The fact we’ve somehow drawn them all in is a testament to the power of Harlan’s storytelling and the incredible support of everyone at Netflix. I cannot wait to watch them bring these roles to life.”

The behind-the-scenes images released today, Friday, September 5, show the series is well into filming, and on track for the 2026 release that has been confirmed by Netflix.

The series follows in the footsteps of hugely successful Harlan Coben shows like Fool Me Once, Safe, Missing You, Stay Close, Shelter, Caught and the much-anticipated Run Away, which is the next UK-based adaptation to land on the streaming site.

I Will Find You will be available worldwide on Netflix in 2026.

Netflix has added Love Con Revenge, a new documentary following former-relationship fraud victim Cecilie Fjellhøy, whose story was told in the streamer's megahit The Tinder Swindler.

Cecile teams up with private investigator Brianne Joseph as they embark on a mission to unmask romance scammers and take back control. Romance fraud sees criminals use fake profiles to make someone fall in love with them before stealing their money. It's an unfortunate side effect of the explosion of dating apps.

She told Netflix: "I never imagined my personal story would resonate the way it has.

"Since The Tinder Swindler, I've heard from people all over the world who've been targeted by criminals hiding behind love. Love Con Revenge is a way for me to use what I've learned to help others heal, reclaim their voices, their power, and their lives."

She declares in the trailer: "These scammers have been getting away with this for way too long."

Series creative director James O'Reilly adds: "Love Con Revenge uncovers the jaw-dropping scale of romance fraud — and the emotional and financial toll it takes on victims.

"This is a truly modern crime that is exploding in the United States and around the world. It's been incredible to follow Cecilie and Brianne as they investigate these cases — to bring justice to the victims, and hold the perpetrators to account who've gotten away with this for far too long."

Since The Tinder Swindler went out in 2022, Cecile, who lives in London, has spoken out to warn others of the dangers of fraudsters.

She has also featured in the Channel 4 series Celebs Go Dating.

Love Con Revenge is on Netflix now. See our best shows on Netflix guide for more series to enjoy.

The Great British Baking Show 2025 is finally here, once again kicking off 10 weeks of cake-related catastrophes and mouthwatering recipes as a new batch of bakers enter the tent all with one mission in mind — impress Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith enough to win the title of Star Baker.

The new series, which landed in the UK on Channel 4 on Tuesday, September 2, is now available to watch in the US on Netflix, with new episodes landing on the streaming site every Friday.

As we get to know the new bakers, who have all got their sights set on earning themselves a coveted Hollywood handshake, this series looks like it's going to be the best yet, as it gets off to one of the most dramatic starts ever when Cake Week almost ends in catastrophe.

While we don't want to spoil the drama for you, let's just say there are more soggy bottoms than sponge-based masterpieces this week as the bakers are tasked with first making a Swiss Roll with an inlay design, before having to create a batch of Fondant Fancies for the technical challenge with no recipe at all.

Finally, the bakers are faced with creating a landscape cake for their showstopper, which ends in varying levels of success.

The bakers taking part this year are Toby, Nadia, Aaron, Leighton, Jessika, Jasmine, Hassan, Lesley, Front row: Tom, Pui Man, Iain, Nataliia - but who will be improving their baking skills each week and joining The Great British Baking Show winners list, and who will be feeling the heat in the tent before they're sent home?

In the UK, The Great British Bake Off 2025 airs on Channel 4 on Tuesday evenings at 8 pm, and in the US, new episodes will land on Netflix every Friday.

Though its Originals release slate is pretty bare through the first week of September, Netflix is offering a lauded drama to UK subscribers. You can now watch Hard Truths using the streaming service, after it was added on Friday, September 5.

Not in the UK? Hard Truths is streaming on Paramount Plus in the US but isn't available on any streaming service in Australia.

Hard Truths is the latest movie from accomplished British director Mike Leigh, and after premiering at Toronto International Film Festival it was released in December 2024 in the US and January 2025 in Europe (including the UK).

In the movie Marianne Jean-Baptiste stars as London mother Pansy, who's depressed and anxious and lashes out at everyone around her. We follow her in the build-up to Mother's Day as she clashes with her sister over their mother's legacy, and butts heads with her seemingly good-for-nothing son.

Upon its release, Hard Truths instantly became a critical hit, and it hit 95% on Rotten Tomatoes (a score it currently sits at still). It also won plenty of awards from the National Society of FIlm Critics, National Board of Review and various film festivals, and was nominated for plenty more from bodies like the British Independent Film Awards and British Academy of Film and Television Awards. Particular praise went to Jean-Baptiste for her performance as the vicious Pansy.

Despite being critically-acclaimed, Hard Truths wasn't widely seen in the UK, making an estimated $800,000 according to box office information. In part this could be due to it being quite a hard-hitting drama, but the January release date certainly couldn't have helped; that's when movie studios dump terrible horrors while riding the coat-tails of winter blockbusters and the release of awards-bait films. A release more in line with the US would have helped people see this film.

If Hard Truths doesn't sound up your street, it's not the only non-Netflix release on the same day, with The Royal Hotel from 2023 also being added. This Aussie psychological thriller, about two friends backpacking who get into trouble, sits at 89% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Netflix has finally added Wednesday season 2 part 2, with fans in a frenzy over Lady Gaga's role.

The pop legend joins as Rosaline Rotwood, a character we know little about, although she's thought to be a Nervermore teacher. We also know that her song "The Dead Dance" features in the four new episodes added globally today [Wednesday, September 3].

"Lady Gaga is one of the kindest, most grounded people I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with," says Wednesday star Jenna Ortega.

Talking at a fan event, Lady Gaga said, "I had a wonderful time working on Wednesday season 2, even just being a small part of the show. I loved working with Tim Burton and Jenna."

OK, so spoilers ahead if you've not watched the first four episodes (head over to Netflix now and watch them!).

Driven by terrifying premonitions, Wednesday was last seen heading to psychiatric facility Willow Hill, where outcasts are used for experimentation, to uncover the identity of a crow-manipulating serial killer and the truth behind "LOIS". But after freeing the inmates, Wednesday came face to face with her ex, Tyler Galphin (Hunter Doohan), in his monstrous Hyde form and ended up being hurled through a window.

Now in a coma, can Wednesday claw her way back to the waking world, regain control of her psychic abilities, and protect Nevermore from Hyde’s rampage?

"It's probably the darkest note that we've ever left on, and I was excited to do that midway through the season,” says Ortega. "We had so much fun shooting it, and it was great to see Wednesday in that Willow Hill environment. It makes total sense that she would release a bunch of patients from a psych ward."

Wednesday season 2 part 2 is on Netflix now. See our best Netflix series guide for more shows to enjoy.

Here's our TV tonight picks for Wednesday, September 3 (for more information about what's on TV, see our TV Guide)...

Stranded on Honeymoon Island, BBC1, 9 pm

The world of modern dating can be hit and miss at the best of times – so we certainly couldn’t imagine being stranded on a remote island for three weeks, with someone we’d only met for just five minutes! Well, that’s the challenge facing 12 ‘honeymooners’ in this new social experiment, hosted by Davina McCall, which vows to determine whether true love can thrive in isolation (aka a secluded beach in the Philippines!). Our six newly-wed couples will each have to work together to survive – but with minimal supplies, only the clothes on their backs and exes added to the mix, you just know it won’t be plain sailing... Continues until Friday.

Wednesday, Netflix

Season 2 of Tim Burton’s spooky series returns with a second serving of four episodes, picking up with Nevermore reeling from the mayhem at the psychiatric facility, Willow Hill. Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) was last seen freeing inmates before being launched through a window, while her ex, Tyler Galpin (Hunter Doohan), escaped in his Hyde monster form. With Wednesday in a coma and her fate on a knife-edge, can she regain control of her psychic abilities and stop the Hyde’s rampage? Lady Gaga joins in a mysterious new role that also marks the release of a new song titled Dead Dance, while Hester Frump (Dame Joanna Lumley) continues her uproarious mentorship of Wednesday.

Long Lost Family, ITV1, 9 pm

In this emotional two-parter, Davina McCall and Nicky Campbell shine a spotlight on the impact of the practices carried out in mother and baby homes in England, where many unmarried mums gave birth in the mid-20th century before their children were adopted. Among those sharing their painful memories are Jean, who, in 1956, when she was 16, had a daughter Maria, now called Cathy. After the show’s experts trace Cathy, a poignant reunion awaits. Meanwhile, siblings Viv and Julie begin a desperate bid to help mum Margaret track down their older sister. Concludes tomorrow.

MasterChef, BBC1, 8 pm

The fifth and final heat sees the hopefuls making what they can of three different secret ingredients - vanilla, cherries and almonds - in just 45 minutes. After that, the successful ones get the chance to cook a two-course meal for the three 2010 MasterChef finalists - champion Dhruv Baker and runners-up Alex Rushmer and Tim Kinnaird.

Joyce Meadowcroft is a joy in Richard Osman's "The Thursday Murder Club" mystery; sadly, that joy went in Netflix's movie adaptation.

To be fair, it was an almost impossible task. One of the delights of the novel is the many chapters written as diary entries by Joyce with wry little observations. Also, I can’t have been alone in at one point suspecting that Joyce might be the killer after all. She's just so sweet that she appears to be too good to be true. Osman dangles the Agatha Christie false narrator possibility before your eyes, before that's revealed as a bluff.

You get none of this in the movie. Indeed, after watching on Netflix, you might be left wondering how this novel sold millions of copies. The movie is fine, but it’s nothing better than a passable episode of Death in Paradise.

Former nurse Joyce is played nicely enough by Celia Imrie, but there's none of the depth the character has in the book. She's also rather posher than I imagined, as is Ron (Pierce Brosnan). I did, though, rather enjoy Joyce's little rant at her loaded daughter, Joanna. "You won't call me more than once a week. You won't visit me for more than 47 minutes at a time. And now you won't even eat my cake".

The closest character to the book is Helen Mirren's Elizabeth, who's forever teasing her secret service past.

As I feared before watching it, the movie largely wipes out the quirky Englishness of the book, except for references to Ron's son being on Dancing on Ice and Celebrity MasterChef.

Coopers Chase turns Downton Abbey!

And what was going on with Coopers Chase?! It looked like Downton Abbey! Never mind when I'm old, I want to go there now. It looks amazing!

I half expected to see Lord Grantham playing croquet on the perfect lawn.

The Thursday Murder Club movie has leapt to the top of Netflix’s worldwide streaming chart, and you suspect Netflix will be eager to adapt all of Osman's novels.

There's no arguing it has a great cast, also including Ben Kingsley, David Tennant, and Richard E Grant. But I think your time would be better spent reading the books while eating one of Joyce’s terrifically yummy-looking cakes.

The Thursday Murder Club movie is on Netflix now.

For indie movie fans or lovers of powerful thrillers – or both – the name Jeremy Saulnier on a film is always a cause for celebration. It means heart-pounding, riveting stories and a skewed world where nothing is ever quite what it seems. Yet, strangely, he’s nowhere near as big as he should be. So the chance to see Hold The Dark on Netflix is unmissable.

Made for the streamer back in 2018, it’s full of Saulnier’s trademarks but also took him into new territory. A slow-burn wilderness thriller set in Alaska, it boasts a strong cast, with Riley Keogh as the mother of a young boy who disappears and everybody assumes he’s the victim of marauding wolves. She calls in an expert to get her son back. Russell Core (Jeffrey Wright) is a man out of his comfort zone in the harsh landscape, quickly becoming aware of its inherent danger. When the boy’s father (Alexander Skarsgard) comes home after military service, he seems to resurrect something sinister in the town that translates into brutal violence.

This is an inhospitable place, where so much can kill – the brutal landscape, the cold and, of course, the people – so there’s a sense of threat right from the beginning and the characteristic Saulnier violence is ever-present, either lurking just below the surface or exploding into the open. The dark mystery, the intensity of the emotions and the bleak setting make for a film that grabs its audience and refuses to let go, and the performances from Wright and Skarsgard make that grip even stronger.

Saulnier’s sophomore feature, Blue Ruin (2013), caused ripples on the festival circuit so that fans of meaty thrillers already had their appetites whetted when it landed in cinemas. It didn’t disappoint, with its story of a mysterious stranger living out of his car whose quiet life is turned upside down when he returns to his childhood home with vengeance on his mind. Plunged into being an assassin and finding himself lacking, he’s soon embroiled in a brutal fight to protect his estranged family. It was tough, it was bloody, it wasn’t as straightforward as it looked, and it went down a storm. Rotten Tomatoes gave it 96%.

Playing the ham-fisted stranger was Macon Blair, who went on to become a Saulnier regular. He was back in the director’s next film, the even bloodier Green Room (2015), but in a smaller role alongside the likes of Patrick Stewart and Imogen Poots. It all centred on a punk rock band finding themselves cornered in a neo-Nazi skinhead bar after they’ve witnessed a horrific murder. The killers weren’t about to let them go anywhere in what was more of a gory horror than Blue Ruin. But it also reinforced that Saulnier was a director to watch – and then some.

Last year saw him return to Netflix with one of the streamer’s biggest hits. The pulsating Rebel Ridge attracted over 31 million views over its first three days and a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes. This was a more commercial Saulnier using a familiar story, but viewing it from a different angle and turning our knuckles white in the process. It pitched former Marine Terry (the impressive Aaron Pierre) against local sheriff Don Johnson in a small, unwelcoming town. All Terry wants to do is post bail for his cousin and time is tight, but corruption, coupled with systemic racism, gets in his way and culminates in a showdown with the cop. The combination of the two actors promised fireworks and, boy, did we get them!

Compared to Rebel Ridge, Hold The Dark takes its time, allowing the strong cast to invest in developing their characters. For Alexander Skarsgard, who’s so memorable as the aggressive father, the role came just as he emerged as one of the most in-demand actors around. After the first series of Big Little Lies (2017) and then as a deeply racist husband in Rebecca Hall’s Passing (2021), he took on challenging roles, such as The Northman (2022), and was a recurring character in TV blockbuster, Succession (2021 – 2023). He’s now the star of another massive hit, Apple TV+s Murderbot, which was recently greenlit to return following a first season that attracted a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Set in a future where technology rules, the show and its appealing mix of comedy and sci-fi adventure puts the spotlight on a security robot who develops free will. He has to keep it hidden, so he joins a mission to protect scientists on another, much more dangerous planet. It goes against the grain. All he wants to do is binge-watch soaps, his favourite being Sanctuary Moon. By the time the season finale arrives, he’s embarking on his own personal mission to find out who he really is now that, at long last, has the freedom to do it.

It promises a thoughtful second season, one which gives Murderbot the chance to explore his own emotions and how he can reconcile them with killing people. Whether that’s the writers’ vision will no doubt emerge over the coming months, as well as a date for the show’s return. Late 2026 or early 2027 looks likely, but everything is very much under wraps. It’s not even been confirmed yet if Skarsgard will be back in that suit again, but he’s so crucial to the show and its popularity, it has to happen. And everybody’s hoping that Sanctuary Moon will be back as well.

Hold The Dark and Rebel Ridge are both on Netflix in the US and the UK.

For director Robert Eggers, it’s all in the detail. And that keen eye for accuracy and period has become his trademark over the course of just four films, along with a taste for violent horror and the darkest of atmospheres. His third film, The Northman (2022) has it all, plus the spectacle of an epic and a very familiar storyline. And it charges onto Netflix today, Thursday, August 28.

Based on the Norse legend of the Viking prince, Amleth, the film follows the young nobleman on his quest for bloody vengeance against the uncle who murdered his father and married his widowed mother. Sounds familiar? It should do. It’s the tale that inspired Shakespeare’s Hamlet, although his version was inevitably more wordy than Eggers’. Alexander Skarsgard plays Amleth who, as a boy, witnessed the slaughter of his father, King Aurvandil (Ethan Hawke), at the hands of his uncle Fjolnir’s (Claes Bang) henchmen. Unable to tolerate the marriage of his uncle and his mother (Nicole Kidman), the prince escapes and grows into manhood in exile, obsessed with the thought of avenging his father’s death but, when he returns home, his plans turn out to have broader ramifications, kick-starting a bigger, and more terrifying, retribution.

Although Eggers is more than happy to retain the Shakespearean echoes, the film is still very much his. The story has been honed down to be more direct and muscular so the hesitation that plagued the Danish prince simply isn’t there. Nor is the feigned mental illness. It’s all swept away to give us a single-minded prince, roaring in anger and clad simply but spectacularly in a loincloth and wolf’s head. The result is a film with all the violence and chaotic brutality that goes with its Viking setting, one that takes delight in going over the top in its action sequences and is utterly compulsive viewing. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes agreed, giving it a massive 90% score.

The release of The Northman cemented Eggers’ reputation as a director to watch, one with a distinctive style and the courage to give familiar stories a radical re-interpretation. His first feature, The Witch (2015), was set in New England in the 1630s and was based on the infamous Salem witch trials, which actually took place decades later. With its brooding menace and atmospheric photography, its story of the disintegration of a family facing an all-powerful evil made Eggers the darling of the indie circuit, earning him a Spirit Award and a directing award from Sundance, as well as many other nominations.

Fans had to wait four years for The Lighthouse (2019), a dark psychological two-hander with Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson stranded on a remote island and trying to preserve their sanity. His fourth, and most recent, movie arrived last year, two years after The Northman, and took a startlingly fresh look at one of the greatest of all horror stories. Nosferatu (2024) was a gloriously gothic tale of obsession, with highly-praised performances and a deeply sinister Count Orlok (an almost unrecognisable Bill Skarsgard). It was also a box office success, grossing nearly $182 million worldwide.

Aside from his own individual approach to storytelling, one of the reasons behind Eggers’ success is his unofficial repertory company of frequent collaborators. The striking visuals and atmospheric photography are all down to cinematographer Jarin Blaschke, who has been behind the camera for all four of the director’s films. Whether it’s the grainy black and white of The Lighthouse, the mixture of tones in The Northman or the subtlety and shadows of natural light in The Witch, he never fails to capture Eggers’ vision and won Oscar nominations for both The Lighthouse and Nosferatu. It’s a collaboration set to continue with the director’s next film, Werwulf, which is scheduled for release towards the end of next year.

That film also looks likely to see Eggers reunited with a number of actors, especially Willem Dafoe, so memorably grizzled in The Lighthouse and manic in The Northman. He’s also in discussions to appear in what looks like being the director’s next film after Werwulf, a re-working of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. It’s a lip-smacking prospect. Aaron Taylor-Johnson from Nosferatu is also confirmed for Werwulf and his co-star Lily-Rose Depp is in talks to join him.

Roger Eggers’ name on a film immediately points to a real experience, often with a fresh viewpoint on a classic story. And, if horror is added to the mix, so much the better. The Northman has the lot.

The Northman is now on Netflix in the UK and is on Prime Video in the US.

When the debut novel from a top TV presenter becomes a record-breaking best seller and no less than Stephen Spielberg snaps up the rights for the film, it’s a dead cert there’s a big hit on the way. Netflix clearly thinks so. And now The Thursday Murder Club has arrived on our screens, the one question on their minds will be “how big?”

Written by Richard Osman, the co-presenter and brains behind quiz show Pointless, The Thursday Murder Club was a publishing phenomenon in both the UK and the US. It sold over a million copies in each country when it was published in 2020 and topped both best seller lists, as well as attracting positive reviews for its humour, characters and the mystery at its core. With all those boxes ticked, a further three books followed and a fifth is due towards the end of September, in time for all those Christmas lists.

It's also been described as reviving “cosy crime” – think amateur sleuths like Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot or, further afield, Alexander McCall Smith’s Mma Ramotswe – which has captured audiences of all ages thanks to its warmth, humour and comforting escapism. In Osman’s world, we enter the luxurious setting of Coopers Chase, a retirement home that, with its many activities and lush grounds, looks more like a five-star country hotel.

The film version starts with a trio of residents who meet every week to exercise their minds by solving cold cases. Former high-ranking government agent Elizabeth (Helen Mirren), retired psychiatrist Ibrahim (Ben Kingsley) and one-time radical trade unionist Ron (Pierce Brosnan) are poring over some crime scene photographs when they’re interrupted by a new arrival, Joyce (Celia Imrie). When Elizabeth realises she used to be a nurse, she invites her to bring her medical knowledge to the club’s meetings. Now a gang of four, their skills are put to the test for real when the owner of Coopers Chase is murdered. The prime suspect is his business partner, who has always wanted to convert the property into luxury apartments, so, with the help of local police officer Donna DeFreitas (Naomi Ackie), they set about finding the killer – and saving their home.

It's a top drawer cast, one that also includes David Tennant, Richard E Grant, Jonathan Pryce and Daniel Mays and, in truth, they all look as if they’re having as much fun as the audience, without having to try too hard. The familiar tropes are all there, especially Mays’ portly police inspector who struggles to keep up with everybody in all senses of the phrase, and it’s coupled with an endearingly self-deprecating sense of humour. Elizabeth being told by her husband that she looks “just like The Queen” is a show-stopper.

And, while they’re protected from the outside world by the wrought iron gates at the end of the drive, they’re very much of the 21^st century with their mobile phones and Joyce’s bakery skills, which wouldn’t be out of place on a certain TV show that returns next week. Her mouthwateringly generous portions of sponge would bring a twinkling smile to Paul Hollywood’s face.

With a Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score of 87% so far, Netflix must be looking forward to a similar response from audiences. Many of the reviews so far have pointed out the film’s shortcomings – that it feels like a throwback to the 70s, that Brosnan is miscast as a former trade unionist, that it’s undemanding and punctured with plot holes – but they all agree when it comes to its entertainment value. The production values are high – who wouldn’t want to live in Coopers Chase? - the story is an enjoyable head-scratcher and Home Alone director, Chris Columbus, has created a film which pays affectionate tribute to its many partners in cozy crime.

While the original novel has been credited with making the sub-genre popular again, in truth, it’s never really left our screens, regardless of size. Most recently, Kenneth Branagh spearheaded the return of an outrageously moustached Hercule Poirot to the big screen in three lavish, all-star productions. As throwbacks to the glamour of the 20s and 30s, they proved popular with audiences, but there’s no sign of another return for the Belgian sleuth in the near future.

Meanwhile, on TV, cozy crime has had an update with recent shows, including the Columbo-esque Elsbeth and High Potential, about a crime-solving cleaning lady. Both are heading for second seasons.

So will The Thursday Murder Club be the start of a new franchise, one that means cozy crime is back as one of the most popular film sub-genres? There’s no official word yet, but Helen Mirren has already indicated that she, and the rest of the cast, would “jump at the chance” of a sequel, at the very least.

Time will tell but, if it turns out to be the hit Netflix is hoping for, we may not have to wait too long to find out. In the meantime, cake anybody?

The Thursday Murder Club is now on Netflix in the US and UK.

Here's our TV tonight picks for Thursday, August 28 (for more information about what's on TV, see our TV Guide)...

The Thursday Murder Club, Netflix

The eagerly awaited film adaptation of Richard Osman’s debut novel –about residents of a retirement village who look into cold case murders as a hobby, then find themselves investigating a real-life killing – is finally here. The success of the best-selling book alone would have made it a must-see, but the cast and crew involved also happen to be first-class, with Home Alone and Harry Potter director Chris Columbus at the helm and stars including Dame Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan – who wouldn’t want Jane Tennison and James Bond on the case?! The cast also includes Celia Imrie, Sir Ben Kingsley, Daniel Mays and Richard E Grant.

Atomic, Sky Atlantic and Sky Showcase, 9 pm

The heat is on in this five-part thriller set across North Africa and the Middle East. After drug smuggler Max (Alfie Allen) is hijacked by the mysterious JJ (Shazad Latif) while crossing the desert, the odd couple find themselves desperate for money and with only each other to rely on. Deciding to complete a job for Max’s boss, the pair aren’t aware that the antiquities they’re transporting are filled with uranium – to be used as a nuclear bomb. And there are plenty of people out to stop them, including undercover CIA agent Cassie Elliott (Samira Wiley).

New Lives in the Wild, 5, 9 pm

Ben Fogle travels to northern Thailand to meet Yidan, who, like many others, was inspired by Covid-19 to change her life. Originally from China, the 34-year-old left a high-flying city career to build a rural life from scratch on a farm, where she looks after animals and grows her own food. As always, Ben gets down to practicalities, helping her in the rice field and constructing bamboo poles for crops, but he also finds his creative side by making clay sculptures. To Ben’s surprise, unlike many of the people he meets in remote places, Yidan wants to share her way of life with others and uses social media to encourage people to join her.

My Life with the Walter Boys season 2, Netflix

Nikki Rodriguez is back as Jackie Howard for a second series of the teen drama. After spending the summer in New York, Jackie returns to Colorado, determined to repair her relationship with Alex after kissing Cole. But finding her place within the Walter family isn’t easy, especially as Alex is a changed man and Cole is slipping back into his old ways.

The Netflix cancellation curse continues: despite it enjoying more than a month in the Netflix Top 10 list, drama series The Waterfront has been axed.

That's according to Deadline which has run a report saying that cast and crewing are being told about the cancellation of this series, which premiered on Thursday, June 19.

The Waterfront is about an embattled family which sees its rule over a North Carolina town dwindle due to mismanagement, external threats and heart attacks. Holt McCallany, Melissa Benoist, Jake Weary and Maria Bello star.

News of a cancellation may come as a shock to Netflix subscribers, because The Waterfront was in the streamer's top 10 most-watched series list for over a month.

For its first three weeks, it dominated the top spot, getting around 25,000,000 'views' in that time (what Netflix counts as a view is a little nebulous), before getting displaced by The Sandman's second season in its fourth week. In its fifth and final week it dropped to seventh place, and another US drama series Untamed was on top.

Evidently, solid viewing figures are no protection from Netflix's proactive cancel goblins, and we've already seen other 2025 US series on the streamer like Pulse and The Residence go the same way

However, it's not always the case, as the aforementioned Untamed has been renewed for a second season, and as another crime thriller set in a specific rural part of the US, they tread similar ground.

According to reports, viewing figures aren't the only thing that Netflix looks at when renewing a show, as its cost to produce is also something to factor in. Budgets for TV shows are rarely revealed, so it's impossible to say how The Waterfront compared to Untamed or the various other crime dramas Netflix is cancelling or renewing right now.

The takeaway from this news is that nothing is precious on Netflix, and anything can be cancelled, whether or not it's successful. It's not great news if you get attached to characters who get winked out of existence, but at least it solves that age-old cable TV problem of series getting endlessly renewed with nowhere for their stories to go!

The Great British Bake Off 2025 sees 12 more contestants get ready to try to tantalise the taste buds of judges Paul Hollywood and Dame Prue Leith with their culinary efforts.

Hosted once again by Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding, the 16th season gets underway on Channel 4 in the UK on Tuesday, September 2 and on Netflix in the US – where it is called The Great British Baking Show – from Friday, September 5. And as the competition kicks off with Cake Week, Paul and Prue are putting the new bakers through their paces in the tent with three tough challenges – a swiss roll Signature, fondant fancies for the Technical and a landscape cake for the Showstopper.

Here, Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith tell WhattoWatch.com all about The Great British Bake Off 2025 and why it has been the toughest season to judge…

The Great British Bake Off is back! What were the bakers like this year?

Paul Hollywood: “The bakers this year are amazing and really nice. What we're attracting now is not just bakers, they're engineers, they're artists, they're creative, so their bakes are elevated to another level. ‘This was the hardest year to decide who's going to leave. The quality was excellent."

Prue Leith: “Every year, I think it can't get better. But it does! They were a good mix. We had very artistic people, like hairdressers and a wedding stylist and designers, so their Showstoppers were amazing. And they were good fun!”

The Great British Bake Off starts in the UK on Tuesday, September 2 at 8pm on Channel 4 and will be available on the channel’s streaming site from the same date. And in the US it will air as The Great British Baking Show from Friday, September 5 on Netflix.

Here's our TV tonight picks for Wednesday, August 27 (for more information about what's on TV, see our TV Guide)...

Destination X, BBC1, 9 pm

‘This game is brutal!’ winced one of the contestants a couple of episodes into the series – and they definitely had a point! The players competing for the £100,000 prize realised early on that this wasn’t going to be all ‘caring and sharing’ and that misleading the others, even if it meant their exit from the contest, might turn out to be necessary. The ‘Dortmund lie’ was just the start of it… As the X-bus has taken them through lush forests, Alpine villages and snow-covered peaks, they’re now nearing the end of their journey. But who will be able to place their ‘X’ nearest to the final destination? Concludes tomorrow.

Mudtown, U&Alibi, 9 pm

As the Welsh drama continues, the community are reeling after the shocking events of the day before. Magistrate Claire (Erin Richards) decides to do some digging, to the police’s frustration, and pays a visit to crime boss and ex Pete (Tom Cullen, doing menacing as effectively as he did in The Gold) to find out more about his tip-off. But instead of answers, he gives her another warning. ‘Don’t forget, I know who you are,’ he snarls – and the mystery deepens.

Saving Lives at Sea, BBC2, 8 pm

The message running through tonight’s featured stories is how hard it is to see a casualty in the water – a body on its own can look like a rock – and how a rescue is made harder when people are not wearing wetsuits or life jackets. Among the lives in peril are a windsurfer and two paddleboarders. But first, a fishing boat loses power in the English Channel during Storm Noa, and after being in ‘a washing machine’ for five hours, the Hastings crew are exhausted… There is also a focus on the work of RNLI beach lifeguards, as rookie Elenie heads out on a jet ski to bring in a pair of kayakers who can’t conquer the swell.

Katrina: Hell and High Water, Netflix

Twenty years on, this three-part docuseries, executive-produced by Spike Lee, follows the story of Hurricane Katrina, which, in August 2005, changed the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, forever. With first-person testimony from those who lived through it and harrowing stories of survival against the odds, it shows how systemic governmental neglect left The Big Easy defenceless in the face of the devastating tropical cyclone when the levees broke, as well as how recovery after the tragedy was bungled. The programme also features previously never-before-seen footage.

Here's our TV tonight picks for Tuesday, August 26 (for more information about what's on TV, see our TV Guide)...

The Great British Sewing Bee, BBC1, 9 pm

World-famous artists Sir Grayson Perry and the late Andy Warhol are the inspirations for what promises to be a colourful Art Week. In the Pattern challenge, the sewers are tasked with making a baby-doll dress, often worn by Grayson, while for the Transformation, they must make a used painter’s overalls into an asymmetric outfit. Then, in the Made to Measure, the sewers embrace the bold colours and shapes of pop art. Who will impress judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young to make it through to next week’s quarter-finals?

The Big Pound Shop Swap, Channel 4, 8 pm

As Denise Van Outen concludes her mission to help consumers swap their everyday items for cheaper options, she’s in Holywood, Northern Ireland, with the Beimers. They’re a healthy bunch, reluctant to do without their supermarket staples, let alone mum Aimee’s vitamin supplements. Can Denise convince them to make the swap?

With Love, Meghan season 2, Netflix

The Duchess of Sussex’s lifestyle show filmed in Montecito, California, returns for a second series from today. This time, guests will include chef José Andrés, model Chrissy Teigen and Queer Eye host Tan France.

The Yorkshire Vet, A Passage To India, 5, 9 pm

Fans of The Yorkshire Vet will be thrilled to see Peter Wright out of his usual checked shirts and dressed up to the nines in a colourful Punjabi outfit, learning how to bhangra dance at the Vaisakhi harvest festival! It’s certainly a far cry from his life in North Yorkshire, but there’s a serious side to Peter’s adventure in northern India in tonight’s one-off special, as he and fellow vet Rohin Aojula bring their expertise to rural communities in the region who don’t have access to top veterinary care. That means helping to rescue and even operate on stray dogs, while Peter gets to examine his first buffalo!

One of the most familiar faces on big and, more recently, smaller screens, Kevin Costner’s acting career has been founded on powerful roles. From Elliot Ness in The Untouchables to regular returns to the western, his everyman quality, coupled with portraying unexpected heroes, has never let him down, even when his star seems to be on the wane. But voice acting? While many other actors have ventured into the booth, he’s only ever been in front of the mic once, and the result arrives on Netflix in the UK this weekend. In The Art Of Racing In The Rain (2019), he’s the voice of an adorable Golden Retriever.

Enzo (Costner) is adopted as a puppy by aspiring Formula One driver, Denny (Milo Ventimiglia) and, as he grows, the dog watches over the highs and lows of his master’s career. But this is no ordinary dog. He’s the narrator of his and Denny’s story, and feels so close to him that he wants to be reincarnated as a human. Denny also believes that some of his driving techniques from the track can be applied to his own journey through life. The relationship between man and dog seems to change when Denny meets and falls in love with Eve (Amanda Seyfried) and their family is complete when baby Zoe arrives. There’s more change ahead when Eve falls ill and Enzo provides the constancy that the family needs to stay together.

It's a three-hanky movie, one that mixes Marley And Me with motor racing, aiming single-mindedly for your tear ducts by telling the story through the eyes of the beloved dog. The combination of Enzo’s POV, Costner’s warm, gravelly tones and the emotional story means you might need more than a mere three. It’s hard to say “no” to a cute puppy, so that first lump in the throat comes early. And, despite a less-than-warm reception from critics, audiences took Enzo and his family to their hearts, welcoming them with 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. For anybody who feels the slightest affection for animals, it’s a must-see and, if they happen to buy into the whole idea of following your dreams, it’s irresistible.

Fans of the film were given a taste of what to expect earlier in the same year with the release of A Dog’s Way Home (2019), an adventure drama with strong echoes of the original Lassie movie. The main difference was that the dog at the centre of the story, a German Shepherd cross called Bella (voiced by Bryce Dallas Howard), could speak directly to the audience while she’s separated from her owner and travelling the 400 miles to find her home again. A heartwarming tale from the get-go, it was also directed by Charles Martin Smith, best known for starring alongside Kevin Costner as Oscar the accountant in The Untouchables (1987).

Few storylines are as laden with emotions as those involving a dog and its owner. The set-ups may change – a much-loved pet, a military dog, a therapy companion – but what’s important is the strength of the bond between them and the lessons that come with it. But it’s not every talking dog movie that takes this approach. Strays (2023) most certainly didn’t. There was nothing cute about these four dogs trekking across America to take revenge on one especially cruel former owner.

Director Josh Greenbaum chose the voices to perfection for his cheerfully bad taste comedy, with Will Ferrell as sweet natured Border Terrier Reggie, who is abandoned by his unpleasant owner, and Jamie Foxx as the fast talking, streetwise Bug, the Boston Terrier who befriends him. Along with Australian Shepherd Maggie (voiced by Isla Fisher) and a gentle Great Dane called Hunter (the voice of Randall Park), he radicalises the naïve little mutt. An antidote to The Art Of Racing In The Rain if ever there was one, it’s still for dog lovers, hilariously up-ending the usual one man and his dog cliché.

If we needed any more proof that the film industry loves dogs, with or without voices, we only have to look as far as Cannes and its annual Palme Dog. Since 2001, it’s been awarded for the best performance by a single or group of dogs (live or animated) in the festival’s line-up. Terrier Uggie became a star in his own right after winning the coveted dog collar in 2011 for The Artist, as well as a regular on the red carpet during the film’s award campaign. It culminated in five Oscars the following year. English Bulldog, Nellie, won in 2015 for her uniquely expressive face in Paterson. She played a male, Marvin, who hated his adopted owner, the Paterson of the title, and the feeling was mutual. The antipathy between the dog and its reluctant master (Adam Driver) produced some of the film’s most deliciously funny moments – and were definitely worth a round of a-paws!

The Art Of Racing In The Rain is on Netflix in the UK now and on Prime Video in the US.

Strays is on Netflix in the UK and on Prime Video in the US.

Netflix has a few big releases to watch this week (and another you might want to hate-watch) and you can decide what you'll want to stream below.

Every week I look through every new Netflix Original that'll be coming to the streamer, and create a curated list of what you should be looking out for. Maybe it'll be the new best Netflix show or your future binge watch.

This week my list includes options coming between Saturday, August 23 and Friday, August 29, and as usual most of the releases fall towards the end of that week.

So let's find you something to watch on Netflix this week...

With Love, Meghan season 2

Despite being torn to shreds by everybody who watched it, Meghan Markle lifestyle series With Love, Meghan is back for a second season.

The show sees the Duchess of Sussex hang out with celebrity friends, make food and arrange flowers, all while dropping pieces of life wisdom.

• Releases on Tuesday, August 26

Katrina: Come Hell and High Water

To mark its 20th anniversary, Netflix is releasing a Spike Lee-produced three-part docuseries about Hurricane Katrina.

Katrina: Come Hell and High Water looks at the damaging hurricane which tore apart New Orleans. It's made up of plenty of first-hand accounts, telling stories of the disaster and how people picked up the pieces after the winds died down.

• Releases on Wednesday, August 27

Fantasy Football Ruined Our Lives

Fantasy Football Ruined Our Lives is an Italian comedy movie with a title that makes it sound like a documentary.

The film is about a group of fantasy football friends, who are shocked by the disappearance of their champion on his wedding day (and the league's final day). We follow a judge as she interrogates the members of the group in order to discover what happened to the missing man.

• Releases on Wednesday, August 27

My Life with the Walter Boys season 2

Netflix's young adult romance series returns for a second season, with a third already confirmed to be releasing next year.

The story follows an orphaned girl called Jackie who's forced to move to Colorado after her parents die. The family she moves in with consists of a huge number of sons and quickly romance blooms. In season 2 Jackie returns after a summer in the city and she has to try to salvage some relationships she's damaged.

• Releases on Thursday, August 28

The Thursday Murder Club

Possibly the most anticipated release of the week, The Thursday Murder Club is the star-studded adaptation of a book by British game show host Richard Osman. Pierce Brosnan, Helen Mirren and Ben Kingsley all star, while Chris Columbus directs.

The Thursday Murder Club is about a group of aging amateur detectives who stumble upon a case that hits much closer to home. They find themselves wrapped up in a murder that is bigger than they expected and could put them in harm's way.

• Releases on Thursday, August 28

Two Graves

Next up we travel to Spain for the new crime series Two Graves, which will appeal to fans of Euro-thrillers.

Set in Andalusia, Two Graves follows on from the disappearance of two 16-year-old girls. Two years after their strange vanishing, after the case is closed, the grandmother of one of them picks up the investigation for herself and a quest that slowly turns into a crusade for revenge.

• Releases on Friday, August 29

Unknown Number: The High School Catfish

We're ending the week with a true crime documentary movie that focuses on cyberbullying, and one in which Netflix's promotional material seems coy to mention the actual original case.

Unknown Number: The High School Catfish is apparently about a young girl who, along with her boyfriend, begins receiving strange and harassing text messages. This continues for several months and when authorities get involved, their findings turn the case on its head.

• Releases on Friday, August 29

While its name has become synonymous with binge-watch shows, Netflix has also been creating original films, taking on subjects that provoke debate and ask difficult questions.

Biopics, satire, and sci-fi have all hit the headlines by pushing boundaries, but in putting eating disorders at the centre of an emotional story, the streamer created one of its most controversial films. And To The Bone, released in 2017, remains a deeply thought-provoking movie.

As the film opens, young artist Ellen (Lily Collins) is being thrown out of her treatment programme. She simply won’t follow the rules, and her clothes are hanging off her skeletal frame.

She’s been ill for years but as her family now regards her as dead, she goes to stay with her step-family in the hope of finding some peace. Step-mom Susan (Carrie Preston) is the only adult woman in her life, and while she can sometimes be too forceful, her intentions are compassionate and she gets Ellen a place at a treatment unit. Run by a doctor (Keanu Reeves) with an unconventional approach to eating disorders, it uses a mixture of tough love and cognitive behavioural therapy.

Yet she’s more influenced by the other “rexies” (anorexics) around her, especially Luke (Alex Sharp), a ballet dancer, who takes her under his wing.

The movie received mixed reviews, but many highlighted its sense of authenticity, which came straight from the personal experience of the film’s writer and director, Marti Noxon. She uses the language and the dark humour of the young people at the treatment centre to give the film an unexpectedly light touch. Given the subject matter, which is one that’s rarely featured in mainstream movies, it’s refreshing, but it still treats it seriously.

First seen at Sundance at the start of 2017, it sparked a lot of interest, but questions about glamorising the condition rose to the surface and continued when the film arrived on Netflix.

Collins herself received substantial attention and praise for her performance.

She received the script for the film just after writing the chapter in her memoir, "Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me", about her own history with eating disorders and knew that she would have to lose weight for the role. But she accepted it, knowing that she would be supervised by a nutritionist and that it would be a safe environment.

In interviews at the time, she talked about the importance of bringing the condition and her own experiences to public attention.

Aside from the central roles played by Collins and Reeves, one of the most significant characters in the film is Carrie Preston’s Susan, the closest thing Ellen has to a mother figure. She doesn’t understand what’s going on, tries to do her best to help and, indeed, gets it wrong at times, but she’s smart enough to put her step-daughter in the care of a doctor with a different approach.

With more conventional routes having failed, she’ll try anything. That intelligence and intuition is key to Preston’s latest role, one that’s earned her tens of thousands of fans but, as TV’s Elsbeth, she lives in a very different world — that of cops, attorneys and the skyscrapers of New York City.

Audiences have warmed to the adventures of brilliant and unconventional attorney Elsbeth Tascioni, who was originally a recurring character in The Good Wife. After the second season of the show that bears her name averaged 11 million viewers, a third one is currently being filmed and Preston recently gave visitors to her Instagram account a peek behind the scenes.

With its quirky main character, lightly comic tone, and murder of the week format, what has been dubbed the 21st century Columbo will be back on CBS on October 12. A release date for the UK has yet to be confirmed, but autumn is looking more than likely.

The show follows her as she finds her way around the NYPD, standing out from the crowd with her brightly coloured couture and vast collection of tote bags, and using her unique skills to solve cases in the most unusual of ways. For the cops working alongside her, her unorthodox methods are simultaneously frustrating and awe-inspiring. Guest stars have been a regular feature of the show from day one, and it looks like season three will use them to place even more emphasis on comedy, with appearances from the likes of Amy Sedaris and The Late Show’s Stephen Colbert.

Elsbeth could be exactly what we need when the colder weather sets in. Bright colours, gentle comedy and a light-touch mystery every week. What's not to like?

To The Bone is currently on Netflix in the US and the UK.

Seasons one and two of Elsbeth are available on CBS in the US and on Sky Witness in the UK.

Earlier in the year, at a film festival, I watched what's probably going to end up being the best Netflix documentary of the year, and while it didn't have a release date at the time, the streamer has finally let us known when it'll release the movie.

The doc I'm talking about is called The Perfect Neighbor, and after playing at several film fests (including Sundance where it premiered and Sheffield DocFest where I saw it) it's set to release on Netflix on Friday, October 17. After those initial screenings it sits at a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes with over 30 positive reviews.

The Perfect Neighbor is about the growing tensions in a small Florida neighborhood, blossoming out from one resident who constantly complains to the police about the other. The dispute escalates until someone's dead and another is doing their best to get off from the crime scot-free.

While that could describe your generic Netflix true crime docuseries, what makes The Perfect Neighbor stand out is that almost all of the story is constructed from police bodycam footage taken during the various complaint call-outs and investigations. We can directly see how the players acted during the events, and judge them for ourselves without having to rely on any talking heads telling us how to feel.

The experience is also strangely gripping and visceral, putting us in on the action while also giving us the benefit of hindsight to know how it'll play out. This certainly isn't a doc you should watch while scrolling your phone; it's one to pay attention to.

I will say that one downside of this is that bodycam audio can be really hard to make out — I couldn't make out whole sentences during my screening, so I'd recommend you make the most of Netflix's subtitles feature to ensure you don't miss anything.

Like the true story it portrays, The Perfect Neighbor touches on the important topic of stand-your-ground laws, as beyond the events it looks at the consequences of the killing and court trial. I'd recommend avoiding looking into the story behind the case for fear of spoilers, which is why I haven't named the people involved despite it being public record.

The movie is a harder-hitting release than we usually see from Netflix but that's why you should watch it!

Hostage, a brand-new political thriller on Netflix, sees Abigail Dalton (Suranne Jones) swept into a plot of kidnapping and blackmail that threatens her role as Prime Minister as she meets with the French President, Toussaint.

As the two women head into political battle, it appears the threat is far greater than each other. During the French President's visit to Downing Street, the pair become embroiled in a terrifying plot that could destroy everything they've worked so hard to build.

As Abigail's husband, Alex, is kidnapped, Toussaint finds herself blackmailed into a stalemate that leaves each head of state faltering.

But, can they unravel the truth before it jeopardises their entire careers, their loved ones and even themselves? Spoilers to follow.

Here's a recap of everything that happened in Hostage episode 5.

The final episode opens on a little girl arriving at Sylvie’s birthday party, back before Abigail was PM, but still a minister. Abigail receives a phone call and they ask her for codeword clearance. She’s put through to Belize where a situation is unfolding and they want to know whether to evacuate troops as they can’t get in touch with the defense secretary. They tell her she’s the most senior minister they can get hold of, so she has to make the call.

It’s explained that the Guatemalan army have taken Belize. They have the British troops ready to fly out, but Abigail needs to give clearance to leave the Belize civilians that helped them behind. This will risk them being executed. Abigail tells them to wait and stick to the original plan, but the woman on the phone says if they wait, they might not get anyone out at all. To this, she tells them to get their planes in the air.

In the present day, Abigail and Alex are escorted to a safe room where Sylvie is already waiting. She watches the news of the blast. Matheo arrives and watches the coverage while Abigail frantically washes the blood from her hands. Alex reassures her it's okay. Meanwhile, Shagan meets with his group, including Saskia, loading up cases of weapons. One of the team hugs Shagan and says the mission is complete. He tells them to dump the guns and they’ll meet at the plane, but he wants Saskia to stay with him.

Shagan receives a phone call. It’s General Livingston. He’s angry at what Shagan has done, destroying Downing Street without his authority. Shagan says he had to kill Abigail and the General tells him he missed and she’s still alive. He argues that Abigail was right next to the laptop, but the General tells him it was Toussaint that he killed. The General says he didn’t want Abigail dead, just out of the way, but Shagan has a different mission in mind. General Livingston instructs him to get out of the country now. As the General hangs up, the Cabinet arrives. He welcomes Dan, as Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, Saskia wants to know why Shagan said detonating the laptop was following orders, when it wasn’t. He ignores her and instead tells her to run automatic number plate recognition to find Abigail. At the safe house, Abigail sits with Matheo and he blames himself for Toussaint’s death. Abigail tells him it’s not his fault and it was actually her that was supposed to be the target. Abigail watches the latest news with Dan declaring a state of emergency across the country, announcing Toussaint’s death, announcing his role as interim Prime Minister and revealing that General Livingston and his troops will be deployed to the streets to manage civil unrest.

At Downing Street, injured people are still being treated. The troops arrive and insist the press evacuate to a designated safe zone. Zadie asks where they’re being taken, but they won’t tell her. Abigail rings Ayesha and tells her it’s a coup. She wants her to gather the team and Kofi will know where to find her. Abigail tells Alex and Sylvie they need to go somewhere else, away from her, and she’s going to stay. Matheo offers his friend’s place, where he’s also heading, outside of London. As they head off in the car, Alex tells Abigail to be careful and make them pay.

Meanwhile, Kofi is walking through the streets of London as troops descend. He meets Ayesha, Zadie and Tristan and they enter the underground safe house. Inside, Abigail is relieved to see her team. Meanwhile, Matheo, Sylvie and Alex arrive at Matheo’s friend’s house, an enormous manor. The guard with them tells them to lay low and keep off the grid. Kofi reveals he’s run Shagan through MI6 and Interpol and has found nothing. But, then he searched the MOD files and found Captain John Michael Shagan from the same 3rd Battalion as Saskia. Abigail remembers seeing him at Downing Street right before the blast. Zadie says she also recognises him and asks Tristan to pull up the footage from Attaf’s vigil. They see him, dressed as police.

In Shagan’s report, it’s revealed that he was in Belize to train troops as a colour sergeant. He was involved in the mass evacuation and was medically downgraded due to mental health and depression. Abigail reveals she was junior minister at the Foreign Office and made the call to extract the troops. Kofi tells her she did that to save British lives. But she says she left local people to die. Tristan argues it would’ve saved Shagan’s life, so why would he want to kill Abigail? Ayesha thinks it’s not even about the why, it’s about the how because all this organisation must’ve been paid for and dealt with by someone of authority. Kofi asks who deployed Shagan in Belize and they pull up the name.

With General Livingston, a member of the Cabinet, Cathy, questions the violent tactics the troops are using on the streets, but Livingston defends it. She argues that it’s not a conflict situation and they should be worried about the press coverage, to which Livingston reveals he’s executed plans to make sure there’s a 24-hour media blackout. Dan interrupts to say they have the visitor log for Downing Street with Matheo entering 10 minutes before the bomb was detonated. He’s got the Met looking for him. Abigail calls Cathy on an unknown number. She tells her Livingston is behind it all and she wants Cathy to help her get into the Ministry of Defence.

At the large manor house, Alex and Sylvie wait. Alex asks Sylvie to make some food to distract Matheo from what’s happened. Outside, Saskia is waiting with Shagan. Saskia hesitates to say she’s found the house, but Shagan says Abigail discarded their battalion and Saskia is worth more than that and that now, they must end it. In London, Cathy is arguing with the guard to let Abigail and her team in as they arrive. He says he can’t do that until he gets authorization from the General, but Abigail argues that she knows who killed Toussaint and why. He lets them in.

As Abigail enters, General Livingston is angry to see her. She recites the name Captain John Michael Shagan and asks him if he knows the name. Dan comes to find out what’s going on and Cathy tells him to hear what Abigail has to say. Livingston denies knowing Shagan, but she argues he was Shagan’s commanding officer in Belize, so should remember him. Kofi and Abigail tell everyone that Shagan is behind the kidnapping, the civil unrest and the bomb detonating in Downing Street, killing Toussaint. And that it was all orchestrated by General Livingston.

In response, Livingston says Abigail cut the military budgets and left the whole country exposed and that everyone needs protecting. He tells her they need protecting from her. He instructs his troops to remove her and Kofi stands them down. She tells Dan that General Livingston will return the country back to him safe and sound and he’ll reward him with an increase in military budget, enough to reverse Abigail’s cuts and exactly what he wanted.

She calls Livingston a traitor and he argues that he’s a patriot. To this, Abigail says he gave the order to bomb Downing Street and killed an ally. He denies it. Now irate, he says if he wanted to kill her, he wouldn’t put a bomb in a laptop. To this, Dan says no-one has told him about a laptop. Dan instructs the troops to put General Livingston in custody. But, he tells Abigail before he goes, that she doesn’t know what people will sacrifice to keep the nation safe. She tells him not to talk to her about sacrifice.

Back at the house, the security guard hears a noise upstairs and goes to investigate. As she heads one way, a figure can be seen walking. There’s a window open in one of the bedrooms and as she shuts it, Saskia comes up behind her and they fight. Outside, Shagan takes out another security guard. Saskia strangles the one inside to death. She communicates to Shagan that she’s got them down and he tells her they’re in the kitchen, but he can’t see Abigail. Saskia heads downstairs with a gun. In the kitchen, Matheo and Sylvie are making pasta. When he turns round, Saskia is holding a gun up to him and Shagan tells her to kill them if she has to. He picks up a knife and heads to look for Abigail. Matheo asks Saskia how she could murder Toussaint and tears stream down her face as she continues to hold the gun at them.

Hostage ending explained

Alex is stoking the fire as Shagan walks around the grounds searching for Abigail. Alex spots him as he enters the room. Shagan tells him to drop the poker and asks where Abigail is. He tells her she’s not there and that he missed again. He calls Saskia on his phone and tells her to put Sylvie on. He hears her over loudspeaker and drops the poker. Meanwhile, Dan tells Abigail that the emergency powers have been halted and that the no confidence motion is now void. He tells her, as Prime Minister, she should make an address. Ayesha enters and hands Abigail a phone with Alex on the line. But, it’s not Alex. It’s Shagan. He tells her he’s got Alex and Slyvie and tells her to come alone. If she doesn’t, he’ll kill them both.

Matheo tries to talk Saskia down. He tells her Shagan is only in control if she lets him be, but she can still save the situation and herself. She tells him she’s in control and he tells her he loved her. Shagan tells her Abigail is on the way. She tells them to sit on the floor and behind his back, Matheo gets his phone out. Sylvie wants to know what’s going to happen to her mum and she tells her she didn’t save Alex when she could’ve and now because of the choices she made, they’re all there.

As Alex and Shagan sit across from each other, Alex notes where the poker still lays on the ground. He asks Shagan what he meant by telling him he had a daughter, too. He asks how he lost her and Shagan tells him that whatever Alex says, he won’t be distracted long enough for Alex to grab the poker. He asks Alex if he’s ever killed anyone and Alex says he shot one of his men. Shagan stands up and takes the poker. He looks outside as Abigail arrives. Shagan tells Saskia to wait for his signal. To this, Matheo calls 999 behind his back.

Meanwhile, Matheo starts to tell Saskia they’re being held hostage to which she asks to see his hands. As he reveals he’s on the phone to 999, she lunges for it and he smacks the gun out of her hand. They fight and Matheo tells Sylvie to run. She picks up the gun as she goes. Saskia strangles Matheo and tells him to fight back, but he won’t. She tells him if he knew what she was like, he wouldn’t have wanted her and he tells her she’s wrong. She lets him go. On the phone, an armed unit will be sent if he taps the keypad to acknowledge it. She hands him the phone and lets him respond, leaving the room.

As Abigail enters, Shagan calls for her to come to the room they’re in. He immediately holds the knife to her. She says they made a deal and he needs to let her family go first. Sylvie is looking for them. Abigail tells him she knows it’s all about Belize. As Shagan gets angry about the deaths of the local people that helped them, Alex asks what his daughter was called. Shagan reveals she wasn’t even born yet as his pregnant fiancée was a local translator, left behind by Abigail’s call. She was shot and they both died. He tells her he’s happy the bomb didn’t kill her because he wants to gut her the way she gutted him. Again, she asks for him to release her family first.

Outside, the police arrive. Shagan tells Abigail she broke her word, but she tells him she didn't. While distracted, Alex runs at Shagan and grabs him. Abigail shouts for help. Shagan slices at Alex’s front as Sylvie enters the room with the gun. Abigail and Alex plead with her not to do it. Abigail tells her to put the gun down as the police are coming.

To this, Shagan begins to tell Sylvie to pull the trigger slowly or she’ll miss. He tells her not to miss, getting inside her head. The police enter the house, but they haven't found the room yet, and Abigail again pleads with Sylvie not to do anything stupid. Shagan taunts Sylvie and tells her if she’d acted sooner, her grandad would still be alive. As Sylvie gets upset, Abigail tells her he’s trying to get into her head. Shagan tells her he cruelly put an end to her grandad's life and Sylvie shoots him dead. Just as she shoots, the police enter and they're all taken down. Sylvie is arrested and taken away.

Three months later, Abigail is at Downing Street. Her phone rings and she says she’s on her way down. Alex and Sylvie are there and she hugs him and asks Sylvie if they’re sure about what they’re going to do. They agree. Abigail heads downstairs and passes a portrait of Toussaint now hanging on the wall.

Ayesha tells her the press are ready for her and she takes Kofi, Tristan and Zadie with her. She stands at the podium and repeats Toussaint’s speech about providing the truth to the country and not listening to the wrong people and making the wrong decisions. She pays homage to Toussaint and calls for a general election. She wants a radical new mandate, but wants to tell the general public about it with all the facts and then, they can decide if they still want her.

All episodes of Hostage are available to stream on Netflix.

Hostage, a brand-new political thriller on Netflix, sees Abigail Dalton (Suranne Jones) swept into a plot of kidnapping and blackmail that threatens her role as Prime Minister as she meets with the French President, Toussaint.

As the two women head into political battle, it appears the threat is far greater than each other. During the French President's visit to Downing Street, the pair become embroiled in a terrifying plot that could destroy everything they've worked so hard to build.

As Abigail's husband, Alex, is kidnapped, Toussaint finds herself blackmailed into a stalemate that leaves each head of state faltering.

But, can they unravel the truth before it jeopardises their entire careers, their loved ones and even themselves? Spoilers to follow.

Here's a recap of everything that happened in Hostage episode 4.

The penultimate episode opens on several news reports on the growing protests across the country against Abigail and the NHS crisis. The protests want Abigail out of office and say she’s been distracted by saving her husband. The protests are violent with fights breaking out, riot police and fires burning. The Home Secretary is being driven through the streets at night and comes across a protest led by the masked gunman in civilian clothing. They swarm his car, stopping him from escaping. They smash the windows and drag him out of the car, beating him violently on the floor as they chant: “Dalton out!”

Meanwhile, Abigail is at the mortuary to identify her father’s body. She cries and apologises to him. Sylvie helps her pack away his things. Abigail tells Ayesha that she wants to stay at the hospital for a while, but Ayesha tells her the Home Secretary has been attacked. At a Cabinet meeting, the MPs discuss what has happened and tell Abigail the Home Secretary has a bleed on the brain. Dan argues that order has gone and the public fear they’re being put at risk because Abigail won’t resign. Another MP argues that Abigail is protected, but no one else is. Even Dan says that while Abigail has recovered her husband, the country has suffered. He tells her the Cabinet all agree that she should step down.

Abigail tells them they don’t know what they’re dealing with and that many things are unresolved, like who the men were that posed as police at Attaf’s vigil. She tells them all that everything they’re doing is to force her out like kidnapping Alex, blackmailing Toussaint, and, she admits, she thinks they murdered her father. She calls them terrorists and says they can’t let them win. Again, she refuses to go. The other MPs say they support Dan for interim PM. Abigail says to Dan if they want her to leave, she’ll have to be dragged out.

After, Ayesha shows Abigail the news as reports are now circulating with the video of Toussaint and her stepson, Matheo, in bed together. Abigail says she needs the car and Ayesha tells her Alex will be arriving soon, but Abigail says she’ll be there. Meanwhile, Matheo wakes up with the press gathering outside his home. He has multiple messages and missed calls. Matheo reads the news and packs a bag, escaping out onto the roof. The masked gunman follows him when he reaches the street below.

Elsewhere, Toussaint arrives to find her husband, Elias, who has gathered his team. He wants to leave and asks why she doesn’t have her luggage, to which Toussaint says she can’t go until she has answers from Pelletier. Elias says they need to save her campaign. He instructs his VP of Media, April, to ask his wife questions. She begins by asking if Toussaint ever bought Matheo gifts, paid for by her office. She answers, no. April then asks if Toussaint could be pregnant with Matheo’s child and she’s angry at Elias, saying she doesn’t want to play his games. She says the real story is that her and Abigail are being targeted and they should be finding those people. Elias isn’t interested.

Toussaint dismisses Elias’s team and he sarcastically suggests they form a coalition with Desmaris. Instead, she tells him it’s over between them and she wants a divorce. Elias tells her Matheo isn’t worth throwing everything away for and she says it’s not about him. He tells her she wouldn’t even be President if it wasn’t for him and she defends herself. Instead, she says, she’s going to find out the truth. Elias is angry as Toussaint walks away.

Kofi is gardening and listening to the news on the radio about Toussaint’s affair. Suddenly, Abigail arrives at his home. He wants to know what she’s doing there, so she tells him that MI5 has finished their report on him. She tells him she knows about the tax loophole he used that his friends at the Treasury told him about, which made him £72,000. She asks him what he spent it on, to which he reveals he used it on his wife, Titi’s, respite care when she was ill.

He says while it was the worst decision of his life, he’d do it again. Abigail asks for his help and explains that Dan Ogilvy is trying to replace her with the Cabinet’s support. She thinks there’s a link and explains the kidnappers were British. She wonders if they’re ex-military and with Dan being the Secretary of Defence, it could be him. She asks Kofi to look into it. He agrees. Abigail receives a call that Alex’s plane has just landed.

At an RAF base, Alex is getting a medical examination. Abigail and Sylvie arrive for an emotional reunion. Alex can see Abigail’s upset and asks what’s happened, to which Sylvie explains that her grandad died the previous night. He holds them and asks Sylvie if he can speak to Abigail alone. Abigail explains to Alex that there’ll be an autopsy, but she thinks it was the same people that kidnapped him that killed her father. She wants Alex to speak to the intelligence team as a man called her and said he knew of the rescue and that the country had to burn.

It cuts to the lead gunman still following Matheo. He watches him sit down on a bench and Matheo takes out Saskia’s laptop. He finds a file titled ‘Matheo’ and looks at surveillance photos, including the video of him with Toussaint. Meanwhile, Saskia is outside the French embassy as Toussaint arrives. She speaks through her earpiece to the gunman and tells him what’s happening. He tells her Toussaint is going to question Pelletier. Saskia says she won’t talk, but the gunman thinks Pelletier could hand over their names. He tells her she knows what she needs to do, to which she argues Pelletier's one of them. He tells her it’s an order and calls her Corporal. Saskia looks up at an open window to shoot from. Matheo continues on the move.

Inside the French embassy, Pelletier is being questioned, but she won't say anything. Toussaint enters and the woman stops the recording. She tells her Pelletier is not talking, apart from asking for coffee. Toussaint says she should get her a coffee then, dismissing her. Toussaint sits down alone with Pelletier and demands a name. Elsewhere, Abigail enters the situation room with Alex. General Livingston is there and wants to ask Alex some questions. Back with Pelletier, she still refuses to talk. Toussaint asks her when she started to betray the country, to which Pelletier replies that it’s Toussaint that is doing that. She calls her a fraud and says she doesn’t stand for anything anymore.

Alex listens to the phone call to Abigail. Again, he speaks of how Pelletier is one of many. Now, Pelletier is talking and angry. She tells Toussaint she won’t let her children grow up with corrupt politicians. When Livingston asks Alex if he recognises the voice, Alex is visibly upset. Abigail asks for a moment alone. Toussaint asks Pelletier for a name and says she won’t even be able to raise her kids if she doesn’t, or she’ll only see them in prison.

Meanwhile, Saskia readies her gun. Abigail asks Alex about the voice and he tells her it's the man who killed Jacobs, even though Alex begged him to stop and let them go. He explains that he told the man he had a daughter and the man replied: “So did I.” Again, Toussaint asks Pelletier for a name. This time, she says she will give her one if she can see her family. Toussaint and Pelletier leave with Pelletier in handcuffs, but Saskia has her in her line of sight. Saskia falters and shoots one of the bodyguards instead of Pelletier. Panicking, the rest of the bodyguards protect them and get them inside a car, driving off quickly. Again, Toussaint asks for a name.

At Downing Street, Abigail is on the phone demanding more time before they vote her out. Ayesha enters and tells her about the shots fired outside the French embassy. Toussaint is on her way there. She arrives to lots of press waiting outside and goes in to see Abigail. She immediately tells her of the attempted murder of Pelletier. She explains she’s sent her on a plane back to Paris, but not before she got a name from her, Shagan. She couldn't tell Toussaint who he was working for, but he didn’t want Abigail and Toussaint working together. She says she’ll give her the drugs, but they have to make a deal now before they lose control. Abigail says she’s losing support as they speak. Abigail says she’ll pull the negotiating team back in.

Toussaint answers a call from Matheo and he tells her about Saskia’s laptop and that she took surveillance photos of him before they even met. He says he needs to meet with her immediately to tell her more. But, Shagan is following him. At Downing Street, the deal is made and Abigail hands it to Zadie to get out immediately. She runs. Matheo arrives at Downing Street and Shagan looks through his many fake official badges using a press card to gain access. Abigail and Toussaint go out to speak to the press. She reveals they’ve signed an emergency NHS drug agreement for the supply of drugs, arriving in the next 24 hours. Ayesha leads Matheo up the stairs inside. Simon Kingsley, the reporter, wants to know what the French get in return, to which Toussaint replies nothing.

She reveals while she came seeking French guard on British soil, she was led to believe that’s what it would take for her to win the next election. But, she says she was listening to the wrong people and that she forgot who she was. Now, she wants to be truthful and she says the truth is that if Abigail is removed from office, the people targeting them will have won. Shagan moves through the crowd of press. Abigail pleads to anyone who has been violent to reconsider what they’re doing. As she speaks, Shagan reaches into his bag. He pulls out a camera and takes her photo. She says she wants to continue protecting her country and to continue with the agreement. They step back inside together.

Ayesha immediately brings Matheo to meet with them and tells Abigail that Kofi is on the phone. Toussaint tells Matheo she’s divorcing his father, so she can listen to herself. He shows her the laptop. Abigail speaks to Kofi who reveals he’s looked through the Ministry of Defence budget during Dan Ogilvy’s period, cutting spending, exactly as she asked. He can’t find any evidence it’s him behind this all. Ayesha interrupts to say the no-confidence ballot is being announced. Abigail tells Kofi to look for the name Shagan and find out what he can. He wishes her good luck.

Alex and Sylvie come to meet Abigail for the results of the ballot. Tristan listens on the phone. He stares at Abigail nervously. After, Abigail goes to Toussaint and reveals she lost the motion by 22 votes. She only has a few hours left in office. Toussaint apologises to her, but she still wants to find who’s doing this. Matheo reveals the laptop to Abigail. He explains while his girlfriend's name is Saskia Morgan, she said she’s not on social media. But, his friend found a deleted profile under Corporal Saskia Morgan, 3rd Battalion of the Highland Guards. They don’t know who she was messaging, but they have the messages instructing her to head to Abigail’s father’s hospital room.

Ayesha shows Abigail that the 3rd Battalion was shut down in the recent MOD cuts. But, the camera on the laptop is live and Shagan is watching. He starts to dial a code into his phone. Abigail asks Matheo why Saskia would leave the laptop behind. Shagan enters the code and detonates the bomb hidden inside the laptop. Toussaint pushes Matheo aside as the laptop explodes. The press and police officers scream outside and Alex and Sylvie run downstairs. Shagan simply stands there as the chaos unfolds.

Alex searches desperately for Abigail as Shagan walks calmly away. He finds Ayesha on the ground, but she doesn’t know where Abigail is. Alex finds her under rubble, unconscious. She’s still breathing and he manages to bring her round. The police enter Downing Street and start pulling out Matheo and Ayesha. Abigail climbs over to Toussaint, but she’s bleeding. Alex checks her pulse and she’s dead.

All episodes of Hostage are available to stream on Netflix.

Hostage, a brand-new political thriller on Netflix, sees Abigail Dalton (Suranne Jones) swept into a plot of kidnapping and blackmail that threatens her role as Prime Minister as she meets with the French President, Toussaint.

As the two women head into political battle, it appears the threat is far greater than each other. During the French President's visit to Downing Street, the pair become embroiled in a terrifying plot that could destroy everything they've worked so hard to build.

As Abigail's husband, Alex, is kidnapped, Toussaint finds herself blackmailed into a stalemate that leaves each head of state faltering.

But, can they unravel the truth before it jeopardises their entire careers, their loved ones and even themselves? Spoilers to follow.

Here's a recap of everything that happened in Hostage episode 3.

The episode opens with Abigail’s speech taking over the news. Pelletier arrives to meet a man who has landed by helicopter. At Downing Street, Tristan is instructing the team to distribute any calls. Zadie hands a message from the President of the United States to Kofi and Abigail heads into the House of Commons to give an emergency statement. She tells them the threat level of the UK has been upped to critical.

As she speaks, an MP shows Oliver something on his phone. Oliver asks Abigail to give way. He says she’s speaking of the national security of the British people, yet there’s a video on social media circulating of five-year-old Attaf Diwala. His mother took him to a 24-hour pharmacy to get medication for Attaf’s asthma, but it was closed as there was no medicine left. Attaf died in the street and Oliver shows her the video. Abigail stands and berates Oliver for using a child for his own political gain. She says she won’t resign because she will fix the drug crisis. Oliver stands and replies that she can risk her own husband’s life, but she’s also risking the entire country.

Elsewhere, Toussaint is playing online poker when Pelletier disturbs her. She tells Toussaint her husband is there. Elias enters and wants to know what the kidnappers are blackmailing her with. She tells him that it’s proof of a past relationship and she wants him to stand by her or she’ll lose the election. He wants to know who the man is. She tells him it was Matheo, his son. He takes a seat and asks her who else knows. She reveals she thinks Matheo’s girlfriend, Saskia, does. She tells him that Abigail doesn’t know. She says Abigail can help them find out who these people are and then they can cover up the truth.

Meanwhile, Abigail arrives home and Sylvie isn’t in her room. Abigail knocks on the locked bathroom, but Sylvie won’t let her in. She tells her she thought if everyone knew then Abigail would have no choice but to resign. She reveals it was her that told the journalist, Simon, about what's going on. She says now her dad is going to die because Abigail cares more about her job than them. Abigail begs to be let in and Sylvie comes out, but won’t let Abigail touch her.

In French Guiana, Thomas tells the doctors they need to escape or they’ll all die. The female doctors think it’s a bad idea, but Alex agrees that it is. Even he can admit Abigail isn’t coming for them. Kofi comes to see Abigail and she’s asleep on the sofa, it’s 1:45 am. He tells her Toussaint is on her way over. Kofi praises her for putting her country first and tells her he won’t quit. She tells him the kidnappers have gone quiet and he says it’s because they don’t know how to react to what she’s done.

Toussaint arrives to speak to Abigail. She tells her it was insane to go on TV and she’s got Toussaint in a lot of trouble. She says the US President is now putting pressure on her, too. Abigail tells her she doesn’t care what the kidnappers are blackmailing her with, but she wants her to let the US launch their own rescue mission. She says she could do that, or she could just launch her own. But, before she does, she wants Abigail to help her find out who is blackmailing her. She asks if Abigail has someone she trusts completely who can look into both their staffs. Abigail says she’ll do it if Toussaint rescues Alex and gives her a supply of drugs for the UK. She agrees.

The next day, Ayesha is waiting in a pharmacy for a prescription and there’s no medicine on the shelves. Abigail sends Ayesha a list of British and French names from the summit and asks her to do a background check on them all. Meanwhile, Pelletier goes to see Toussaint who is on the phone. She tells her they’re waiting for a response from her to Abigail’s broadcast. Pelletier asks who was on the phone and Toussaint tells her it was Philippe Arnault, one of the pharmaceutical suppliers. She wants to know if Toussaint is helping the British. Toussaint tells her they’re sending in the US after dark, but it’s confidential information. Elias and Toussaint head out.

The masked gunman arrives on a private jet, dressed in civilian clothes. He kisses his hand and places it on British soil. Three men meet him off the plane and they get into a car. The man looks at the news, watching the video of Attaf and his mother. Pelletier calls him and tells him about the US rescue mission. Elsewhere, Abigail has a meeting with her Cabinet and apologises for not telling them about the kidnapping. Dan brings up the virality of the Attaf video and Abigail tells him they’re close to making a deal on the supply of drugs.

When Abigail arrives home, her dad is there with Sylvie. He tells her he discharged himself from hospital because he needed to talk to her face-to-face. He tells her he knows what Sylvie did, but she clearly didn’t have a choice. He asks if the kidnappers have been in touch since she went public and she says no. Her dad tells Sylvie to give them a minute alone.

He tells Abigail nothing is more important than family and she’s risking losing Sylvie forever, as well as Alex. She tells him she has a plan, but he doesn’t trust her. She tells him if her mother was there... but he shuts her down before she can finish and says he knows her better than anyone. She calls him a coward for telling her to give into the people making demands. He tells her getting Alex back is the only thing that matters. She argues she has other priorities and he tells her he doesn’t know who she is and leaves.

Matheo and Saskia lay in bed together. The doorbell interrupts them and it’s Toussaint’s security team again, along with Toussaint and Matheo’s father, Elias. Saskia introduces herself to him and he says he wants her to leave, but Matheo insists she stays. He asks if she knows about him and Toussaint and she says she does. Elias tells Matheo they’re going to stick together and he tells them they’re all going to go to church together. Matheo thinks it’s a joke and Toussaint says she can’t as it goes against separation of church and state. Elias argues if they do, it’ll take over the news and drown out Abigail. He insists to Matheo that they need him there, but he says he doesn’t owe him anything since he doesn’t take his money or use his name.

In French Guiana, the guards are on the move again. Alex is watching them under the door. Thomas says it’s their best chance to escape. He says when they get led out, they should make some distance between themselves. He tells Alex to pretend to fall and then grab the guard’s gun. Alex tells the other doctors he’ll call out and they should pull their blindfolds down and run in different directions.

Ayesha calls Abigail and she asks her to come and meet with her. Tristan comes to Kofi and tells him the French are on the way, despite cancelling their meeting. Toussaint and Abigail meet with Ayesha away from Pelletier and Kofi. Ayesha shows Abigail that Kofi opened a new bank account six months ago, set up under an offshore shell company. £72,000 was deposited and then immediately withdrawn. Toussaint receives a call and tells them to commence the rescue mission. Kofi and Pelletier are called into the situation room, where Toussaint and Abigail tell them they’re launching a French team that was on a need-to-know basis only. Pelletier thought they had three hours until the US entered.

The video feed goes live and Kofi notes as Pelletier sneaks out quietly. She calls the lead gunman and tells him. He says they must know there’s a mole and he’s doing what has to be done. She argues that they weren’t supposed to be killing doctors and she didn’t sign up to that. To this, Kofi walks in and hears her. He picks up the phone and calls for a Special Branch officer.

The gunman sends word and the guards begin to move. As they lead them out, Alex stumbles, as planned, and grabs the guard's gun, shouting to alert the others. Thomas overpowers his handler and takes his gun, shooting him. The other doctors run and Alex shoots another gunman dead as he wrestles with Thomas. They start to run and Alex follows one of the other doctors, Maya, but she’s shot down and killed. As Abigail watches the live feed, the French team manage to rescue the other doctor and Thomas, but Alex has a gun held to his head by the guard who killed Maya. Suddenly, the French military shoots him down and saves Alex. Overcome by emotion, Alex is handed a radio and he talks to Abigail. Abigail takes her heels off and runs up to Sylvie so she can speak to her dad. He tells her he’s coming home.

As Toussaint sighs with relief, Kofi leads Pelletier out in handcuffs. Abigail and Toussaint ask what’s going on and Kofi reveals he knows that Pelletier is compromised. But, while they lead her away, Abigail says she knows about Kofi’s offshore account and has to suspend him. He argues that she’s making a mistake, but she makes him hand over his pass.

Meanwhile, the main gunman and the three others park up and get out of the car. Him and two others are dressed in police uniforms. They head to a vigil for Attaf. The third man stands in the crowd dressed as a civilian. As Attaf’s mother gives a speech, the gunman comes over and tells them all to disperse as it's an unlawful gathering. The man in the crowd pulls out a smoke grenade and then smashes a pharmacy window. One of the other men dressed as policeman pepper sprays the crowd and they all begin to lose control. The main gunman pulls Attaf’s mother off the floor and walks away.

Elsewhere, Toussaint and Elias are visiting the church for a press opportunity. Toussaint poses for photos before dismissing the photographer and tells Elias he’s not trying to save her presidency, he’s trying to preserve his pride. He says what she’s done with his son will come out in the press eventually and he won’t look bad. He says he’s told his own press to break the story in 30 minutes and then he’ll issue a statement. He says if he shows he’s forgiven Toussaint, the public will too. She asks him what about his secrets and tells him if he comes out with her secret, he’ll tell everyone all of his.

She steps out of the church to all the press waiting. She tells them that her chief of staff, Pelletier, has been arrested on suspicion of blackmail and extortion. She also tells them that Abigail’s husband has been rescued by a French mission. As Abigail watches, Ayesha comes in and takes her to the situation room. She watches the news clips of the riot at the Attaf vigil and is told there were seven casualties, with one dead.

Matheo arrives home and Saskia is gone. He hears her laptop beeping under the bed and pulls it out to see messages from S saying: “We’ve lost P. You need to step up,” and “Green ward. Room 19. Let me know when it’s done.” Meanwhile, Pelletier’s phone calls in the situation room from a private number. Ayesha answers it, and the man asks for Abigail. Tristan records the call. Abigail tells the man that they’ve caught Pelletier, but the man says they have many more just like her. Matheo tries to call Saskia, but the line is disconnected. Elsewhere, Saskia arrives at the hospital.

The man on the phone to Abigail congratulates her on saving Alex, but says instead the country will burn. She tells him he’s lost, but he says the game isn’t over and hangs up. Meanwhile, Saskia arrives in Room 19, where Abigail’s dad lies in his hospital bed. She injects a blue liquid into his IV line, killing him.

All episodes of Hostage are available to stream on Netflix.

Hostage, a brand-new political thriller on Netflix, sees Abigail Dalton (Suranne Jones) swept into a plot of kidnapping and blackmail that threatens her role as Prime Minister as she meets with the French President, Toussaint.

As the two women head into political battle, it appears the threat is far greater than each other. During the French President's visit to Downing Street, the pair become embroiled in a terrifying plot that could destroy everything they've worked so hard to build.

As Abigail's husband, Alex, is kidnapped, Toussaint finds herself blackmailed into a stalemate that leaves each head of state faltering.

But, can they unravel the truth before it jeopardises their entire careers, their loved ones and even themselves? Spoilers to follow.

Here's a recap of everything that happened in Hostage episode 2.

The episode opens with Thomas Mercer chasing the two cars with the hostages inside. The lead masked gunman instructs the driver to lose him. Meanwhile, Abigail tries to call Toussaint, but the President ignores her. Guards arrive at Matheo’s place to search for concealed surveillance. Toussaint arrives as Saskia is leaving. When she's gone, Matheo asks Toussaint what’s going on.

Elsewhere, Abigail goes to see General Livingston, chief of the defence staff. She tells him she’s sent MI6 to locate the four doctors being held hostage. She says she knows it’s not normal protocol, but there was supposed to be a French rescue mission by Toussaint, but she aborted at the last minute. She informs him she’s got an agent following the hostages. When he asks why, she reveals one of the hostages is Alex. Meanwhile, Toussaint tells Matheo she’s being blackmailed with a video of them together. She tells him they want Abigail to resign.

Abigail asks if there’s any more military support they can use, but General Livingston tells her it’d take 48 hours and would be impossible to hide themselves heading into French territory. She says she'd need to get Toussaint’s clearance. Meanwhile, Matheo pleads with Toussaint to get the Secret Service involved, but she doesn’t want anyone knowing.

She doesn’t know who to trust and doesn’t want to risk Desmaris, her political rival, and the far-right taking control of France. She asks for Matheo’s help. He says he knows someone who can look at her phone. She hands it over. Abigail tries to call Toussaint to plead for her help, but it goes straight to voicemail.

In French Guiana, Thomas is still on the kidnappers’ trail. The lead gunman instructs the car behind him to slow Thomas down. Then, he stops and steps out into the road in front of him. As Thomas turns the corner, he begins to shoot at him. Thomas fires back and hides behind his car. He sneaks up on him and shoots him in the shoulder before grabbing him and putting him in the back of the car with the other hostages. Another gunman asks him, in English, why he didn’t kill Thomas and he replies angrily, telling him to speak in French. Alex overhears.

Abigail’s getting ready and listening to the radio. A woman is on air complaining about the lack of cancer drugs available in the UK. She struggles to put her contacts in and heads down in glasses. Abigail asks Kofi where Toussaint is, but he tells her Thomas is now missing. MI6 found his truck, blood, but no body. Kofi says they’ll need to wait for the 1 pm deadline to see what the kidnappers do next, but she can’t negotiate with them because then they’ll hold all the power. He tells her to choose her country over her family. He again insists she tells the Cabinet what’s going on.

In a Cabinet meeting, Abigail tells her MPs that Toussaint wants French border forces on UK soil in exchange help with the NHS crisis. Dan argues that they can’t let the French dictate what they do, but Abigail shuts him down. He then reveals he’s heard rumours that Toussaint left the reception abruptly the night before and asks whether there’s more they should know. Abigail again refuses to tell them.

Returning to her office, Sylvie is there reading the classified file and says she now knows about the deadline and someone being killed. Ayesha was trying to stop her. Sylvie is angry and asks for more, to which Abigail tells her about Toussaint aborting the mission. When Abigail reveals they want her to resign, Sylvie tells her to. She says she won’t and it’s what Alex would want, too. Sylvie tells her that if anything happens to her dad, she’ll never forgive her.

In French Guiana, it’s nighttime and the cars arrive at a new location. They offload Thomas and the doctors. As they take their blindfolds off, Alex determines Thomas must be MI6 and asks another doctor for her help to treat his bullet wound. Alex and Tom introduce themselves to each other and Alex packs the wound. One of the female doctors discusses the factthat their captors are British and Alex says it means someone’s really trying to get rid of his wife.

Elsewhere, Matheo watches the video of him and Toussaint in bed. He remembers how they met in a hotel room and kissed. Saskia calls him and when he picks up, she tells him someone’s following her. She tells him it’s his stepmom’s security. She thinks there must be something he’s not telling her and he finally reveals he was in a relationship with her. He tells her it didn’t last long, but it was real and happened in the weeks he helped her on her campaign. He tells Saskia he loves her and needs her.

At Downing Street, Abigail tells Kofi she’s going to speak to Toussaint again and try and change her mind. Kofi says she's just playing hardball to win her election, but Abigail says she’ll give her what she wants. He tells her she can’t negotiate and should tell her ministers instead, but again she refuses. To this, he tells her he can’t work for her if she won’t take his advice and tells her he wants to quit.

Abigail and Toussaint meet again, this time at an electric vehicle expo for their next public appearance during the summit. Abigail tries to talk to Toussaint, but she tells her not there. Abigail replies that she’s out of time. She says if she lets Toussaint put French border forces on UK soil, she’ll be done in politics. But, she says she hasn’t got a choice and she’ll do it. To this, Toussaint says she still can’t help her. Abigail begs her to help bring Alex home and asks Toussaint again why she can’t do it. She tells Toussaint she wants her in the room with her when the deadline expires, so she can have blood on her hands, too, if any of the doctors are killed. The journalist, Simon, from earlier notices the two women talking.

Afterwards, Matheo is waiting and tells Pelletier he needs to see Toussaint. He gets into the back of the car with her to talk. He wants to know if it was her plan to have Saskia followed and she admits it. He gives her back her phone and says that whoever sent the video used a dark web SMS gateway to hide their location and he can't find them. Before he can get out the car, she holds his arm and apologises. She says she can’t let her enemies win and he says she’s changed and to stay away from him and Saskia.

Sylvie plays a card game with her grandad in hospital. She asks him if he trusts Abigail and he wants to know why she’s asking. She tells him they’re going to kill her dad. He asks who. Meanwhile, it’s minutes to the deadline and Abigail steps into the situation room. Her dad tries to call her, but she ignores it. Toussaint is there. Abigail says she’ll speak to them when they call. A live video link is sent for them to open and Alex is placed front and centre. Alex can see them, too. Words are brought over for Alex to read. He asks Abigail: “What’s it going to be?” She wants to know who the kidnappers are and why they’re doing it.

The masked gunman types a reply for Alex. It reads: “No more time. Say goodbye.” He then holds a gun to Alex’s head and everyone in the situation room flinches. Abigail begs and says she can help them and they have her attention. They type again telling her to resign, adding: “You can make us all safe. It’s up to you.” But, she asks for more time. She tells Alex she loves him and he says it back, telling her he trusts her.

They hold the gun to Alex’s head and he tells her it’s the kidnapper’s betrayal, not hers. Sylvie appears outside the room and begs Ayesha to see her mum. Alex reads another message to say that time is up. Ayesha steps back into the room and Sylvie shouts for her dad. As he shouts back, one of the gunmen shoots another of the male doctors, Noah, in the head, killing him. Abigail runs up to Sylvie, but she’s angry and crying.

Thomas and the doctors are taken back into the room they’re being held in. Alex begs with the lead gunman and says to leave the others alone since the problem is to do with his wife. He tells him he has a daughter and the gunman replies that he did, too. They close the doors. Meanwhile, Toussaint goes to see Abigail. Abigail says they need to be honest with each other or every hostage will die.

Toussaint reveals she’s being threatened and explains she was sent a video. When Abigail asks what it was, she won’t tell her. She says if she helps, they’ll go public and she’ll lose her presidency. Abigail recalls Alex’s words that it’s the kidnapper’s betrayal and explains he means you can only betray someone you have an allegiance to, which Abigail thinks means the kidnappers are British. Abigail says they should stand together, but Toussaint doesn’t want to ruin her career and family. Abigail asks if that means she has to lose everything, but Toussaint says it’s her choice to save herself.

Afterwards, Zadie comes to see Abigail and tells her they have a leak. Simon, the journalist, says a source of his has given him information related to Alex. He knows about the hostage situation. He also knows about the demands. He even knows about the aborted French mission. Abigail asks what Simon wants. But Simon says what he knows is in the public interest. He knows two hostages have already been shot and that if Abigail doesn’t act, they’ll all die. He tells her the story will be front-page news tomorrow, but he offers her the chance to give her side of the story. Abigail says no comment. Kofi dismisses him.

When he’s gone, Kofi tells Abigail they’ll issue a D-notice to the Times and tell them it’s a matter of national security. She says they’ll find a way round it and it can’t be stopped. Instead, she says they should make an announcement that evening. She says she’ll put an end to it with the only thing she can say. Kofi tells her not to resign. That evening, Abigail goes live on air.

Meanwhile, her dad continues to try and call her, before noticing she’s on the news. Pelletier runs into Toussaint and puts on the news, too. Toussaint tries to stop her by calling Kofi, but he ignores it. Abigail tells the entire truth about the hostage situation, her husband’s kidnapping and Toussaint’s negotiations. She tells the nation she wants her husband back, but she can’t give in to them for the sake of her country. She tells them she’s not to be threatened, she won’t negotiate and she won’t resign.

Sylvie watches on and starts shaking. She says if she resigns, then no one is safe. Abigail also reveals that Toussaint is also being blackmailed. When asked what they’re blackmailing her with, she says she doesn’t know. She reveals that two people have already been killed.

During the speech, Pelletier receives a phone call and moves to another room to answer. The masked gunman asks her what is happening and she says she doesn’t know. He tells Pelletier she’s on the ground to stop surprises like this. She tells him that they misjudged Abigail and he says it was her that misjudged.

Now, he says, it’s time to up the ante. He tells her he’s coming home. Abigail continues speaking on the news, telling the reporter she is loyal to her country, despite how much she wants her husband home, and won’t let the country be held to ransom. She says whoever thought they could do that has underestimated her.

All episodes of Hostage are available to stream on Netflix.

Netflix has added Hostage, a new political thriller starring Suranne Jones as a British Prime Minister placed in an impossible situation.

The five-part story sees theVigil actor play Abigail Dalton, who is hosting French President Vivienne Toussaint (Before Sunrise star Julie Delpy) for an important summit. But during the meeting, Abigail receives the horrifying news that her husband Alex (The Ipcress File’s Ashley Thomas) has been kidnapped while carrying out humanitarian work overseas.

When the kidnappers threaten to kill Alex unless Abigail resigns, she is forced to ask Vivienne for help — and discovers that her French counterpart is also being targeted by blackmailers. Can the pair put aside their differences to unravel the sinister plot that threatens them both?

Academy Award-nominated British screenwriter Matt Charman (Bridge of Spies), who created the series, tells us that Suranne inspired him to pen the series.

"It came from really wanting to work with Suranne! We talked a lot about women and power, and what it takes for a woman to rise up the ranks. In this country, we can be cynical about politics, but I thought if anyone was going to make me care, it would be Suranne. So the challenge was, 'If we make the character a prime minister who's going through something awful, how far can we push it?'"

Hostage features Downing Street and the House of Commons. Matt explains they tried to film in the real House of Commons, but that didn't quite work out.

"We got very close to shooting in the real chamber of the House of Commons! The Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, was amazing and did everything he could with his staff to make that happen but, logistically, it just wasn’t going to be possible, so we built a set.

"When you've got hundreds of people working on something like that, you think, ‘Have I done enough with this amazing opportunity? Are these words good enough?’ The biggest challenge is making sure you don’t collapse under the pressure and use it to make the scene as good as it can be."

Is Hostage worth a watch?

If you enjoy political thrillers like The Diplomat and House of Cards, then this is clearly for you. It has a great cast and writer, and appears a quality production. If you're into high action stuff and find political thrillers incredibly dull then maybe not so much!

Check out our best Netflix shows for more series to enjoy.

Hostage, a brand-new political thriller on Netflix, sees Abigail Dalton (Suranne Jones) swept into a plot of kidnapping and blackmail that threatens her role as Prime Minister as she meets with the French President, Toussaint.

As the two women head into political battle, it appears the threat is far greater than each other. During the French President's visit to Downing Street, the pair become embroiled in a terrifying plot that could destroy everything they've worked so hard to build.

As Abigail's husband, Alex, is kidnapped, Toussaint finds herself blackmailed into a stalemate that leaves each head of state faltering.

But, can they unravel the truth before it jeopardises their entire careers, their loved ones and even themselves? Spoilers to follow.

Here's a recap of everything that happened in Hostage episode 1.

The episode opens on Abigail and Alex walking through a forest. They’re discussing the pros and cons of her becoming Prime Minister. She’s worried their daughter, Sylvie, will have cameras in her face. But, Alex argues that Abigail can make a real difference. It starts to rain and they take shelter under a tree. Abigail doesn’t want it to affect the three of them and Alex assures her she’ll make the right choice, if she has to. They kiss.

It cuts to Abigail as the newly-appointed Prime Minister. She stands in front of the press to greet them as Alex and Sylvie stand off to the side, supporting her. They head into Downing Street together and hug as a family. Kofi welcomes her. It cuts to eight months later and Abigail is in the House of Commons. An MP, Oliver Bahrami, asks her about how she planned to save the NHS and social care system by taking funds from the military. But, the British Army is now much smaller and yet, the NHS is still suffering with no critical cancer drugs and other medicines. He wants to know if it’s time for her to apologise to the British people.

Meanwhile, a car is driving through a thick jungle. Someone is photographing as the doctors from Médecins Sans Frontières travel inside, one of whom is Alex. They visit people to give free vaccinations and health checks. Photos are still being taken from a drone above. Back at the House of Commons, Oliver thinks the plan to go to the French for help isn’t enough. And, that while the PM is starting a critical summit with President Toussaint, she should reassure the British public that they’re not going in naked.

Abigail steps forward to reply. She amuses her party with her fiery response, but assures them all that she will end the shortage and that nothing will distract her from it. Meanwhile, masked and armed men are driving through the jungle with Alex’s face on an intel sheet.

Back at Downing Street, Kofi tells Abigail her reply in PMQs is all over the news and now everyone is expecting the French to be the answer to their problem. She tells him she read his update on the SOS Méditerranée. He says there’s 12 more cases of Ebola, resulting in 79 in total. He suggests they take on the boat of refugees in exchange for the medication the country needs. As she changes quickly, Kofi tells Abigail she also needs to apologise for the ‘hot mic’ incident where she was caught calling Toussaint “a handmaiden to the hard right.” Abigail heads outside to greet President Toussaint.

As they head back inside Downing Street, Abigail greets her in French, an introduction she was shown on a piece of paper moments before Toussaint’s arrival. Touissaint jokes that she spent far too long discussing how long they’d shake hands for. Tousssaint says her husband isn’t joining since Abigail’s is away working. Meanwhile, Alex and the doctors are giving medical care as the masked gunmen suddenly appear in their cars. They grab all the doctors and as the translator runs forward, they shoot him dead. Then, they take a photo of Alex.

Toussaint gives Abigail a gift, a replica of the Field of the Cloth of Gold, a 16th century summit. Toussaint quips that during the summit, the heads of state wrestled and King Henry VIII lost. The press take more photos and Abigail dismisses everyone aside from Kofi and Toussaint’s second, Adrienne Pelletier. Abigail begins by apologising for the comments she made. Toussaint says she found it amusing. She says she’s listening to her people.

Abigail says they need her help with the NHS crisis and she notes they need their help in exchange with the immigration problem. Toussaint blames the UK’s border and says she wants to police them for her. She says she’ll provide the manpower, but she wants French police on British soil. Abigail refuses. She wants a stable supply of cancer drugs and other medications in exchange for the UK taking in the people onboard the SOS Méditerranée. Toussaint says she’s not interested in those people.

Sylvie, Abigail and Alex's daughter, arrives home and Abigail tells her that her friend Jess’s dad phoned her and she knows she lied. She says they only went out in London and Abigail’s worried she’ll get a photo taken of her that’ll ruin her life. She says she knows and asks for her phone back because Ayesha took it. Abigail hands it back and tells her to stay off social media. Sylvie wishes her dad was there and Abigail says he’ll phone later.

Alex and the other doctors are now tied up and blindfolded. They're sitting in the back of one of the cars. Kofi receives a phone call and goes to find Abigail. He tells her that Alex's Médicins Sans Frontières jeep has been found abandoned in French Guiana. Their translator is dead and the doctors are missing. They believe Alex has been abducted. He says it might be about money, but they haven’t had a ransom request yet. They also don’t have resources in the region to launch an immediate rescue mission.

Abigail says since it's French territory, they can help, but Kofi thinks they don’t know about it yet. He tells her if she asks Toussaint for help, it’ll weaken her negotiations. She wants to keep it need to know, but he says they should assemble the Cabinet. Abigail refuses. She says he can only brief Ayesha, Zadie, and Tristan, who can run point with MI6, but she doesn't want it going any further.

Abigail goes to speak with Sylvie. But before she can, Sylvie receives a message, a video from her dad. Abigail grabs the phone before Sylvie can watch and calls for Ayesha. She tells Sylvie that her father and the other doctors have been abducted. Sylvie wants to see the video, but Abigail passes it to Ayesha and tells her to take it to MI6. Meanwhile, Toussaint drives through immigration protests. Talking to her husband on the phone, he tells her that the refusal to let the boat dock in Calais is on the news. Toussaint notes that her step son is stood amidst the protestors, staring at her.

Meanwhile, Toussaint and Pelletier gather on a basketball court for a sports press event. Pelletier is on the phone to her child and tells her she’ll be home soon. Kofi arrives and tells Pelletier that Abigail has business she’s attending to. Pelletier comments that she can’t understand why Abigail would ever consider getting rid of Kofi and asks him whether the rumors are true. He says it’s entirely possible since it was her predecessor who appointed him. Pelletier overhears whispers of police involvement as Tristan speaks to Kofi. After, Kofi asks if Toussaint can return to Downing Street.

Abigail, Sylvie and Ayesha are looking at the briefing about Alex and the other missing doctors. They bring in President Toussaint and Pelletier and show them the video of Alex. Alex reads from a card: “The path of least resistance is the easiest to walk. It takes no imagination or ingenuity. You need to take that path now, Abigail. You need to resign as Prime Minister by 1PM tomorrow.” He goes on to tell her that if she does so, Alex and the other three doctors will be released. But, if she doesn’t, one of them will die and they’ll try again.

Toussaint asks if they’re doing anything to find the captors and Tristan reveals they have one man on the move. Abigail reveals she will not resign, but that, as French territory, she wants Toussaint to send in her military. Toussaint agrees to send in the police to find the location and then send in the military once they do. Pelletier says they have a press conference in six minutes and although Toussaint says to cancel it, Kofi says if they don’t go, people will start to talk, which could put the doctors in further danger.

Abigail makes her apology again, this time to the press, regarding her comments about Toussaint. Simon Kinglsey from the Times asks about the medicine supply chain crisis, but directs his question at Toussaint, asking if she’ll help. She explains there’s a lot of history between France and the UK, but to keep the bond strong, they both need to act. She announces that Abigail is letting the SOS Méditerranée dock in the UK, without them having confirmed it between themselves.

Afterwards, Abigail is angry at Toussaint, but she argues that Abigail could give up her power to save her husband, instead of asking for France’s help. Abigail questions then whether taking in those people is the price for bringing Alex home and asks Toussaint why she said wasn’t even interested in them. She says they weren’t of interest to her as part of the deal she was proposing because she didn’t want to use them as bargaining chips. She says she’ll help bring Alex home, but in exchange, she wants French border forces on UK soil like she asked. She’s up for re-election and she won’t lose it.

In French Guiana, one of the men removes their masks and reads a text message saying that Toussaint is launching a rescue mission and that more details are coming. That evening, Abigail tells Sylvie she’ll bring her dad home. Sylvie asks what they want, but Abigail won’t tell her. They also agree not to tell Sylvie’s grandad. Abigail argues he always sees right through her.

They go to visit Sylvie’s grandad in hospital. He apologises for dying in the middle of Abigail’s summit, but she tells him he’s not dying. He replies that’s only because she won’t let him. Immediately, he asks what’s going on. Sylvie tells him it’s because she got drunk with her friend and got in trouble. Back at home, Abigail gets ready for a reception. She thinks of the time her and Alex discussed whether she should even run for Prime Minister. Kofi is waiting for her downstairs.

Toussaint and Pelletier arrive at the reception. Pelletier informs her they haven’t located the doctors yet, but they’ll have the polling results from after her press conference soon. Pelletier praises Toussaint for forcing Abigail to take on the migrants. Toussaint asks if Matheo, her stepson, has arrived and Pelletier says he has, with his girlfriend. Matheo and his girlfriend are upstairs talking and Toussaint greets them. He introduces his girlfriend, Saskia. Toussaint asks Matheo in French where he found this one and he tells her it’s serious and tells her to be nicer.

The hostages are being held in an empty shed and Alex tries to reassure the other doctors who are crying. He tells them they’ll be putting a rescue mission together. Meanwhile, Abigail arrives at the reception. She stands with Toussaint and asks her what she does for joy. Toussaint jokes and then tells her she plays online poker. Abigail notes that while they’re never alone, she always feels lonely. Toussaint watches as Saskia leaves Matheo alone and excuses herself to head over to speak with him.

Kofi tells Abigail they’ve located the doctors. In French Guiana, a man watches over the guards and shed with a camera. At the reception, Matheo asks why Toussaint invited him. She replies by asking why he came. He says he wanted to thank her for saving the people on the boat. She tries to dismiss it and tell him to thank Abigail instead, but he says he knows it was her idea.

He says the woman he knew before was campaigning for positive change and she argues she always did things right politically. He says that’s why she married his dad because he owns a news channel and two papers. And now, he can see they’re all pushing her right and she’s better than that. She tells him to stop protesting. Pelletier interrupts.

Abigail is watching a live feed of the man’s camera in French Guiana. Tristan tells Abigail he’s called Thomas Mercer, their man on the ground. Abigail radios to him and asks if he sees him. Then, he notes that the doctors are being moved. Thomas asks for back-up and a helicopter is on the way. Kofi says they’re running facial recognition to confirm IDs and while they look, Toussaint receives a video message on her phone.

It’s a video of Matheo, topless, getting into bed with Toussaint and giving her a kiss. She then receives a message: “We know about you and your stepson. No rescue. Or we go public. Dalton must resign.” Suddenly, the messages all disappear. The team gets a positive ID on the three doctors, but no Alex. Abigail sees them and Pelletier says the French military are two minutes out; they just need the order from President Toussaint. Instead, she tells them to abort. The helicopter flies away and the cars with the doctors in drive off. Abigail instructs Thomas to stay on them. Abigail dismisses all the staff apart from Toussaint and then asks her why she aborted the mission. Toussaint tells Abigail she'll have to resign to get him back.

All episodes of Hostage are available to stream on Netflix.

Has Netflix just added a new "so-bad-it's-good" watch? It certainly could be the case with the addition of a movie that sits at just 24% on Rotten Tomatoes.

This movie is In The Lost Lands, and it was released in theaters around the world in March; you'd be forgiven for not knowing that because it only made an estimated $6 million back on its $55 million budget.

And now, as of Monday, August 18, the movie is streaming on Netflix in the UK (it's on Hulu in the US).

In The Lost Lands comes from director Paul W.S. Anderson, known for the Resident Evil movies and more recently Monster Hunter (his highest-rated movie on Rotten Tomatoes, at 44%). It's also based on a short story by Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin, who doesn't seem to have much to do with its actual production.

The movie is set in a fantasy post-apocalypse world and after having read the plot description, I'm still not quite sure what it's about. It seems to center on two people going on an adventure in a dangerous wasteland.

These two people are played by Anderson's wife and stalwart star Mila Jovovich, and wrestler turned respected actor Dave Bautista.

As of writing this, the movie is the fifth most-watched film on Netflix UK, two spaces below a 2007 action movie called The Kingdom which was released a week prior and further below two Netflix originals but above My Oxford Year, Bend it Like Beckham and Taxi, all also recently added.

Given the Rotten Tomatoes score, the box office results and the track record of the director, it's possible that In The Lost Lands could become a popular "so-bad-it's-good" watch, with other Anderson movies hitting that sweet spot in the past. However, I'm still burnt out from recent War of the Worlds so I'm not planning on finding out.

Despite his films often being found on Netflix (they're generally not made by big studios, which have their own streaming services), In Lost Lands is currently the only Anderson movie on the streamer. But Dave Bautista fans can find plenty of his movies including My Spy, Blade Runner 2049 and Glass Onion: A Knives out Mystery, so there's something for his fans to see.

There's great news for Dept Q fans as Netflix has announced today, Tuesday, August 19, that the Edinburgh-based crime drama has been commissioned for a second series.

It has also been confirmed that the main cast from Dept Q season 1 will be back, including Matthew Goode as lead character DCI Carl Morck and his team of misfits – Alexej Manvelov as Akram, Leah Byrne as Rose and Jamie Sives as Hardy.

The first season, which was made up of nine episodes, followed Carl as he was tasked with opening Department Q, a new branch of the police department that reopened unsolved cases after taking time off work following a shooting that left his partner paralysed and a younger officer dead.

His first case saw him investigate the disappearance of a prosecutor called Merritt Lingard, but little did Carl know he was digging into a world much darker than he could have ever imagined, and soon the case threw his entire world into turmoil.

Season 2 will see Carl and his team opening another cold case that has previously been deemed unsolvable, once again working to unearth the truth while delivering a series of darkly humorous one-liners.

The first season saw fans fall in love with the complex mysteries not just of the cases but of the detectives themselves as they fought to find out what really happened to Merritt - leading to the series spending 6 weeks in the Global Top Ten on Netflix earlier this year.

Speaking about returning for a second series, Matthew Goode said: “I'd like to thank Netflix for giving us the opportunity to further investigate Department Q's storylines. We have a wonderful cast and crew, headed by our resident genius Scott Frank. I cannot wait to read what comes from his magic quill!”

While Mona Qureshi and Manda Levin from Netflix added: “We are raring to return to Carl Morck and his band of glorious misfits at Dept. Q. Scott Frank brought us best-in-class storytelling and thrilled Netflix audiences worldwide. We can’t wait to see what Morck and the gang uncover in season 2…. Edinburgh, we’re back.”

All episodes of Dept Q season 1 are available on Netflix now.

Netflix was the first of the big streamers to become moviemakers. After releasing Beasts Of No Nation in 2015, Prime Video were right behind them in 2016 and others followed suit. Since then, they’ve all gathered some star power, with names such as Adam Sandler, Eddie Murphy, Millie Bobby Brown, John Cena and Mark Wahlberg becoming regulars. Wahlberg’s first Netflix original was five years ago – and if you didn’t catch Spenser Confidential then, now is the time.

He plays the Spenser of the title, an ex-cop back on the streets of Boston after a jail sentence but who is pulled back into the crime that put him away. All he wants to do is earn his truck driving license and move to Arizona to put some distance between him and his ex. But he can’t walk away when a couple of former police colleagues are murdered, especially as he sniffs a cover-up. So, with some help from his old boxing trainer Henry (Alan Arkin) and his roommate Hawk (Winston Duke), he gets back to solving crimes, exposing the truth – and acquiring the bruises and scars to prove it.

We’re on buddy-cop crime mystery territory for what turned out to be Wahlberg’s fifth and last collaboration with director Peter Berg. While Wahlberg has since been mixing it up with a variety of films for both streamers and the big screen, Berg has concentrated on TV projects, most recently this year’s American Primeval, Netflix’s brutal western mini-series.

The majority of his films with Wahlberg were actioners based on real life, but Spenser Confidential is a long way from that, concentrating more on a humour which is beefed up by a handful of salty supporting characters. The action is still there, but this time it’s designed to entertain, with Spenser beaten up so often it almost becomes a running gag in its own right. His partnership with Hawk and their inevitable banter give Wahlberg and Duke the opportunity to forge a sparky on-screen partnership that helps drive the story along.

Spenser Confidential was also the last appearance in front of the camera from Oscar winner Alan Arkin, who plays trainer, Henry, in his customary curmudgeonly style, but with a twinkle never far from his eyes. He’s only in a few scenes but the part fits him like a glove, allowing him to bring an earthiness to the film.

Alongside him in the colourful supporting cast is Marc Maron, in a role that has his name written all over it. As Wayne Cosgrove, a reporter on The Boston Globe, he’s cynical and world weary but his principles remain intact and he’s trying to shine a light on wrongdoing. He gives Spenser the vital clue he needs to crack the case and, although we only see him in a couple of scenes, he leaves an indelible impression.

Having started out as a stand-up comedian, Maron is also a writer, an award winning podcaster and, more recently, a prolific actor both on TV and in movies. After the success of last year’s taut thriller, The Order, he’s due back on the big screen later this year as record producer Chuck Plotkin in the much-anticipated Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, alongside Jeremy Allen White, Paul Walter Hauser and Jeremy Strong. Currently he’s immersed in the world of golf in Apple TV+ Plus’s sports comedy Stick. And, after a first season that garnered an 82% score on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s been greenlit for a second outing.

Owen Wilson stars as Pryce Cahill, an ex-pro golfer whose career came to an abrupt halt 20 years ago. Emerging after the breakup of his marriage, he’s working in a sporting goods store and places his future in the 17 year old hands of golfing prodigy Santi (Peter Dager), who is seriously in need of a coach. The combination of sport and the show’s good hearted tone has prompted comparisons with Apple TV Plus’s big hitter, Ted Lasso.

And, just like Bill Lawrence’s affectionate look at football, it’s a show that depends very much on the chemistry between its cast. For Stick, the relationship at the centre of everything is the one between Pryce and Mitts, his long-term friend and former caddy, played by Maron. Essentially the comic relief, he always has a great gag for any occasion and the actor’s immaculate timing means his dry, sarcastic lines are delivered to perfection. The big laughs all come from him and, while Wilson is no stranger to comedy – and certainly has his moments in season one - he’s the straight man, with the dramatic side of the narrative falling in his shoulders. And he produces some really tearjerking moments.

There’s no word yet on when filming starts for the new season, nor when it’s likely to arrive, although next year looks a good bet. The script is under wraps as well, but there’s been hints of a backstory about Mitts’ late wife and it sounds like a natural. If the past year has been a busy one for Maron, 2026 could be a hole in one!

Spenser Confidential is on Netflix in the USA and the UK.

All episodes of season one of Stick are on Apple TV Plus in both the USA and the UK.

Fans of one of the best Netflix shows from 2023 who want more are going to have their wishes fulfilled this week, albeit with a slightly different series.

A new series called Final Draft hit Netflix today [Tuesday, August 12], and it's a Japanese competition show. It puts together 25 former athletes whose careers ended for various reasons, and pushes them through a series of trials in hopes of winning ¥30 million (around $200,000).

Sound familiar? That's a very similar premise to Physical: 100, which released in 2023 and saw a second season in 2024. This show was a Korean one which involved 100 contestants, and not just former athletes, but the gist is the same: a series of competitive trials sit between competitors and a sum totally around $200,000).

Physical: 100 was a smash hit, becoming one of the biggest non-English shows for several weeks after its release and garnering respect for challenging stereotypes about race and gender.

A third series of Physical: 100 is on the way which is set to broaden the scope from Korean competitors to entries from across Asia, and is being called Physical - Asia as a result. A US version is in the works too, because this is Netflix and everything big in Korea needs an American version apparently (you can actually apply to it here), as is a European one.

But back to Final Draft; this will probably be a more personal show than Physical: 100 by cutting the competitor list to just a quarter. There's also a redemption element, with the athletes all trying to reclaim their past careers (though sadly not all will succeed).

Promotional images show lots of gym-based challenges but also one which seems to show two people pushing a giant ball, and long hikes in snowy conditions. So don't expect to stay in the Squid Game-looking studio of the picture at the top.

Another important distinction between Final Draft and Physical: 100 is that all episodes of the new series will land at once, not weekly, so you won't need to wait to binge them. You can see them right now!

Final Draft is now on Netflix.

Nobody does romcoms quite like JLo. She's the queen of the genre, giving us all those essentials — the laughter and tears, the glamour, the heart, and the happy ending — and she delivers with such charisma that they’re hard to resist.

Despite forays into more dramatic roles, she’s never far away from another heartwarming romance and one of her most popular has landed on Netflix today [Sunday, August 10] in the US. Marry Me (2022) has the ultimate meet cute.

Lopez is Kat, a global singing sensation and half of a super-glam power couple. She and Puerto Rican superstar Bastian (Maluma) are getting married, but this will be no ordinary ceremony.

They’ll perform their latest hit, “Marry Me”, at Kat’s concert and exchange vows in front of countless fans, both at the venue and on numerous platforms around the world. That’s the plan, but it all goes out of the window when, seconds before the ceremony, Kat discovers Bastian has cheated with her assistant.

With her life crumbling in front of her, she looks into the audience and locks eyes with Charlie (Owen Wilson), a divorced maths teacher who’s been dragged along to the concert by his daughter.

And Kat decides to marry him there and then. Her split-second decision turns into romance, but coming from such different worlds, their future soon begins to look rocky...

The ending is all-too-obvious, but the movie is smart enough to make their relationship burn appealingly slowly, so we’re given the chance to get to know the unlikely couple and get behind their efforts to make it work. The odds may be stacked against them, but we’re backing them all the way, so it’s tissues at the ready.

And audiences fell in love almost as heavily, giving it a heartwarming 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics weren’t quite as enthusiastic, but it’s since become a regular in their top five JLo romcoms.

It's a favorite all round. And it’s not hard to see why. The premise is sweet, the title track sticks in your memory, and the script gives Lopez an opportunity to flex her acting muscles with some heartfelt scenes about life in the public eye.

For somebody whose leading men have included Matthew McConaughey, Ralph Fiennes and Richard Gere, Owen Wilson’s ramshackle teacher is a change in style, but she has chemistry not just with him, but Maluma as well.

• Best movies on Netflix

Aside from starring in romcoms and producing many of her own movies, Lopez has been steadily building a reputation as a dramatic actress. Marry Me was her first film since Hustlers (2019), which saw her play the brains behind a group of streetwise former strippers who decide to turn the tables on their sharp-suited clients.

Described by many as a "career best performance", it attracted some Oscar buzz but, when the nominations were announced, the Academy looked the other way, even though she received Golden Globe, SAG and Critics’ Choice nods.

More recently, she was back in another strong dramatic role, this time in Unstoppable (2024), playing the tower-of-strength mother in the true-life story of wrestler Anthony Robles.

But her squillions of romcom fans won’t have to wait too long to see her back where she belongs in Office Romance, which is due on Netflix sometime next year. This time she’s teamed with Brett Goldstein, and there's a heavy-hitting cast including Jodie Whittaker, Tony Hale, Edward James Olmos, and Bradley Whitford all in support.

She plays a company CEO who finds herself in danger of breaking her own company’s anti-fraternization policy – and, judging from the on-set photographs, the reason is pretty obvious. The actress whose name spells romcom paired with Ted Lasso’s grumpy Roy Kent? We can’t wait for that meet cute!

Marry Me is on Netflix in the US from 10 August and on Prime Video in the UK.

This week's selection of new Netflix releases covers the gamut of the streamer's ordinary fare: an international drama, a stand-up special, a documentary about something cultural, the list goes on.

Every week I look through every new Netflix Original that'll be coming to the streamer, and create a curated list of what you should be looking out for. Maybe it'll be the new best Netflix show or your future binge watch.

This week my list includes options coming between Saturday, August 9 and Friday, August 15, and as usual most of the releases fall towards the end of that week.

So let's find you something to watch on Netflix this week...

Jim Jefferies: Two Limb Policy

Comedian Jim Jeffries gets his fourth Netflix stand-up special this week with Two Limb Policy which releases on the streamer's standard comedy special day: the Tuesday.

Jim Jefferies: Two Limb Policy sees the American comic talk about "tiny mustaches, straight-guy struggles and why acting doesn't count as a real job" according to the streamer.

• Releases on Tuesday, August 12

Fixed

Netflix may have dramatically slowed down in churning out adult animated comedies in recent years, but it's clearly not stopped: Fixed is a new movie by the maker of Dexter's Laboratory and Hotel Transylvania.

Fixed is about a family's dog which learns that it's going to be neutered in one day. To make the most of this final 24 hours he assembles a team of friends and goes on an adventure.

• Releases on Wednesday, August 13

Songs From the Hole

Songs From the Hole is a documentary movie for which Netflix hasn't provided a very coherent synopsis, so I'm reading between the lines a little bit in this description.

The story focuses on a man called James Jacobs, a musician who killed someone aged 15. This doc, which Netflix describes as an "innovative documentary visual album", was created to chart his coming-of-age while incarcerated. It combines fiction and non-fiction elements with lots of music by Jacobs.

• Releases on Wednesday, August 13

 In the Mud

In some weeks, there are countless international drama series hitting Netflix, but this week we've only got one. In The Mud is an Argentinian prison drama which lands in its entirety on Thursday.

The story is about five women who are bonded by a deadly experience, and use this connection to steer each other through the prison system. However their tough journeys threaten to tear them apart, despite their initial unity.

• Releases on Thursday, May 14

Night Always Comes

A fairly big new movie releases this week: Night Always Comes is a thriller starring Vanessa Kirby which releases on Friday, August 15.

The movie follows a woman's attempts to save her home over the course of one evening, as she undertakes a journey through her city. Netflix's descriptions are staggeringly vague but the reason I say it's big are the cast; beyond Kirby there's Jennifer Jason Leigh, Eli Roth, Rnadall Park, Michael Kelly and Julia Fox.

• Releases on Friday, August 15

Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser

The latest in Netflix's list of docuseries taking aim at pre-Netflix TV shows is Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser, which consists of three episodes and releases on Friday, August 15.

As the title tells, this series is about the US competition TV series The Biggest Loser, which tasked overweight individuals with losing mass amounts of weight to win. Fit for TV charts the rise and fall of this popular show (which ended in 2016, not including a failed revival in 2020) while questioning the real health benefits for this workout regime and the kind of public exposure individuals received.

• Releases on Friday, August 15

In the same summer that she played Sue Storm in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Vanessa Kirby takes on another kind of hero’s journey in Night Always Comes. Though how they go about it is quite different, Kirby’s Sue and her character Lynette in the Netflix original movie both have the same drive — doing what has to be done to save their family.

Kirby and Netflix have been in a good partnership in recent years. She starred in the first couple of seasons of the Netflix original series The Crown as Princess Margaret, earning an Emmy nomination, and the Netflix movie Pieces of a Woman, for which she received a Best Actress Oscar nomination. Will this new pairing between Netflix and Vanessa Kirby lead to another hit on the streaming service?

Before we figure that out, here’s everything you need to know about Night Always Comes.

Night Always Comes release date

Night Always Comes premieres exclusively on Netflix on Friday, August 15. A Netflix subscription is required to watch the movie.

Night Always Comes cast

Vanessa Kirby stars as Lynette in Night Always Comes, a woman who goes on a harrowing journey over the course of one night to secure her family’s future. We’ve already mentioned some of Kirby’s biggest roles in Fantastic Four, Pieces of a Woman and The Crown, but she’s also starred in the Mission: Impossible franchise, Napoleon and, also premiering in August, Eden.

The strong supporting cast of Night Always Comes includes Jennifer Jason Leigh (Fargo season 5, The Hateful Eight), Zach Gottsagen (The Peanut Butter Falcon), Stephan James (The Piano Lesson, If Beale Street Could Talk), Julia Fox (Presence, Uncut Gems), Eli Roth (The Idol, Inglourious Basterds), Randall Park (The Residence, WandaVision) and Michael Kelly (Lioness, Jack Ryan).

Night Always Comes plot

Based on Willy Vlautin’s 2021 book The Night Always Comes, with the adapted screenplay written by Sarah Conradt, here is the official synopsis from Netflix:

“Night Always Comes follows Lynette, a woman who risks everything to secure the house that represents a future for her family. On a dangerous odyssey through a single night, Lynette is forced to confront her dark past in order to finally break free.”

Night Always Comes trailer

Watch the trailer for Night Always Comes right here:

Night Always Comes director

Benjamin Caron is the director of Night Always Comes. This is the second feature movie directed by Caron. His previous movie directing credit was for the Apple TV Plus original movie Sharper. However, he has plenty of experience on big projects, including directing multiple episodes of Andor, The Crown (where he previously worked with Kirby) and Sherlock.

Night Always Comes behind the scenes

In addition to being backed by Netflix, Night Always Come is a production by Aluna Entertainment, Co Created Media, H2L Media Group and Squared Eye Pictures. Producers on Night Always Come are Ryan Bartecki, Benjamin Caron, Jodie Caron, Lauren Dark, Billy Hines, Vanessa Kirby and Gary Levinsohn.

The movie was shot in Portland, Ore.

My main fear about Netflix's upcoming The Thursday Murder Club movie is that it will lose the quintessential British charm that made Richard Osman's book so enjoyable, and after seeing the new trailer, I’m even more worried.

The trailer is slick, beautiful, full of shiny actors — all things that strike me as being a million miles away from the novel. Let’s start with the crazy casting of Pierce Brosnan as Ron, who, along with Joyce (Celia Imrie), Elizabeth (Helen Mirren), and Ibrahim (Ben Kingsley), solves murders from their retirement village. Brosnan looks magnificently handsome and smooth in the trailer and very much like a man who's played James Bond, because, well, he has.

In the book, he’s painted as a tattooed, grizzled ex-trade union man, so basically the complete opposite of Brosnan. You can imagine Ray Winstone as Ron, but not Brosnan.

But it’s not just Brosnan's casting that gets you worried. The charm of the book is the sense that they're all seeing out their days in peace, but boredom at Coopers Chase until they get involved in murder solving. I got the impression from the book that it's at the upmarket end of retirement homes, but in the movie, it looks like Downton Abbey!

It’s also hard to imagine that the makers, wanting to appeal to a global Netflix audience, will be able to keep in Osman's quirky references to British life for fear that people from other countries won't understand them.

Do Americans get the sort of weird British supermarket class system where Waitrose, which Osman references, is considered at the upmarket end? And how the British secretly judge people based on where they shop?

"Waitrose delivery vans clink with wine and prescriptions,” Osman writes in the book, indicating immediately to British readers that the residents of Coopers Chase are doing well for themselves as they can afford wine from Waitrose. There are also references in the books to things like recording episodes of Inspector Morse, which you can’t imagine staying in.

I’d be far less concerned if the BBC were making it. OK, we wouldn’t get the Hollywood cast, but that wasn’t the point of the book. One of the delights was imagining your grandparents/parents cracking crimes at their retirement village. They're meant to be the type of pensioners people easily ignore because they’re not glamorous.

If you take out all the quirky British humor of the book, I’m not quite sure what you’re left with. This is far from saying it won’t be an entertaining movie; it might be brilliant.

It’s meant to be a faithful adaptation, but I can’t imagine how they will pull that trick off and make it appeal to a global audience. If they do, it will be a masterstroke by American director Chris Columbus. To be fair, he did a great job with the two Harry Potter movies he helmed.

Will The Thursday Murder Club movie get lost in translation? We will have to wait until the end of the month. The Thursday Movie Club movie hits Netflix globally on August 28. In the UK, it will have a limited cinema release on August 22.

Typically we're not crazy about the end of summer arriving, but one silver lining to the change in seasons is the launch of the fall TV slate, which always brings a bevy of new shows to the networks (ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and various cable channels) and streaming services (Apple TV Plus, Hulu, Netflix, Peacock and more).

Fall 2025 is looking to have a solid lineup for viewers, both with a range of new shows and returning favorites. To help you identify some of the biggest comedies, dramas and reality TV series that you should be keeping an eye on, my colleagues Sarabeth Pollock, Terrell Smith and I are offering our most anticipated fall TV shows and why they're must watch.

Read on for our picks and when and where you'll be able to watch them this fall.

The Paper (Peacock)

The Office is, without a doubt, one of my favorite shows of all time. If you were to ask my friends, they’d probably tell you I can even quote lines from specific episodes of the series. It’s because of my love for The Office that I’m optimistic about the sequel show, The Paper.

The new mockumentary follows the employees of a dying newspaper in Toledo, Ohio, as they try to deal with job uncertainty along with the ebbs and flows of their personal lives. The concept of The Paper and The Office are similar, I just want the comedy of both shows to be similar as well. — Terrell Smith

The Paper premieres Thursday, September 4, exclusively on Peacock.

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 3 (AMC)

After spending the first two seasons in France, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 3 is moving to Spain. Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Carol (Melissa McBride) are still trying to get home and it looks like there could be a path, but it means venturing into Spain. They’ll face new challenges and new threats in addition to the hordes of undead wandering around.

Daryl Dixon will spend the next two seasons in Spain before the series bows at the end of season 4, so fans will be watching to see how Carol and Daryl’s arrival sets up the beginning of the end of their journey. — Sarabeth Pollock

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 3 premieres Sunday, September 7, on AMC and AMC Plus.

Only Murders in the Building season 5 (Hulu)

It's just not fall without an Only Murders in the Building mystery to solve. Since 2021, the series has probably been my favorite show on TV thanks to their clever mysteries, fantastic writing and directing, great supporting casts, but most importantly the wonderful and hilarious chemistry between stars Selena Gomez, Steve Martin and Martin Short.

The show has yet to let me down, which is why I'm stoked to watch Only Murders in the Building season 5, which will attempt to solve who killed the Arconia's doorman Lester, with a host of suspects and new guest stars to choose from.

Only Murders in the Building season 5 premieres Tuesday, September 9, exclusively on Hulu.

High Potential season 2 (ABC)

I started High Potential when it premiered on ABC last fall and loved Kaitlin Olson’s performance as a struggling single mom who has an incredibly high IQ and becomes a consultant for the LAPD, but I got behind on the show and have had to play catch up. But I’m determined to stay up to date with High Potential season 2, as it is probably my most anticipated network TV show this fall.

I'm excited to see Olson’s Morgan Gillroy back on the case, using her unorthodox investigating skills, bantering with her partner (Daniel Sunjata) and trying to unravel what happened to her husband after he mysteriously disappeared years earlier. — Michael Balderston

High Potential season 2 premieres on Tuesday, September 16, on ABC; streams on-demand the following day on Hulu.

Gen V season 2 (Prime Video)

It’s been nearly two years since Gen V premiered, and as a fan of nearly all things The Boys, you can imagine my excitement to see the spinoff series pick up where it left off with Gen V season 2.

With Marie (Jaz Sinclair), Emma (Lizze Broadway) and the other actual “heroes” now portrayed as enemies of Homelander (Antony Starr) and Vought, I’m intrigued to see how the young supes get out of their predicament. On a sadder note, based on the trailer, I get the sense that the real-life death of show star Chance Perdomo, who portrayed Andre, will be handled with care and respect in the new episodes. — Terrell Smith

Gen V season 2 premieres Wednesday, September 17, exclusively on Prime Video.

Love Island Games season 2 (Peacock)

Love Island Games season 2 finally arrives this fall, nearly two years since the first season of the series premiered. Having become a major fan of Love Island USA and just wrapped Love Island USA season 7, the biggest season of the franchise to date, I’m ready to see which past islanders will be competing in the next round of Love Island Games and what romantic connections will be formed.

I’m hoping to see Love Island USA season 5’s Leo and season 7’s Coco, Andreina Santos-Marte and Jeremiah all back on screen in Love Island Games season 2. — Terrell Smith

Love Island Games season 2 premieres Wednesday, September 17, exclusively on Peacock.

Reasonable Doubt season 3 (Hulu)

During its tenure on air, Reasonable Doubt has provided a nice fix for my craving for high-octane legal dramas. With Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder and Your Honor, all resting in the annals of TV history, Reasonable Doubt has stepped into the void and is doing an exceptional job showcasing the journey of high-profile attorney Jax Stewart (Emayatzy Corinealdi).

Since Reasonable Doubt season 2 ended on a cliffhanger in regards to Jax and Lewis (McKinley Freeman) being sued over the death of Lewis’ baby with Toni (Tristan Cunningham), I can't wait to see if this becomes the case Jax is dealt a loss. — Terrell Smith

Reasonable Doubt season 3 premieres Thursday, September 18, exclusively on Hulu.

Chad Powers (Hulu)

Ted Lasso was born from a NBC Sports commercial for the Premier League; is our next great sports comedy going to have similar origins?

Chad Powers stars Glen Powell as a disgraced college quarterback who attempts to get a second chance at glory by donning some makeup and a wig and going by the alias Chad Powers to be a walk-on at a struggling program. The series was inspired by a prank video that featured two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Eli Manning attend tryouts at Penn State.

Ted Lasso may be lofty expectations, but I’ve been a big fan of just about everything Powell has done in recent years, so count me in on this one. — Michael Balderston

Chad Powers premieres Tuesday, September 30, exclusively on Hulu.

Task (HBO)

Remember how Mare of Easttown, the Kate Winslet-led crime drama, had us all hooked back in 2021? Well, Brad Ingelsby, the creator of Mare of Easttown, is back with another series set in the Philadelphia suburbs.

In Task, Mark Ruffalo stars as an FBI agent who leads a task force created to put an end to a violent string of robberies in the area. There won’t be any mystery for audiences as to who is doing the crimes, as Tom Pelphrey (Outer Range) has been tapped for that role, but the hunt by Ruffalo and his team to take him down has the potential to be pretty compelling TV. And the pedigree of HBO and Ingelsby's last series bodes well. — Michael Balderston

There is no confirmed premiere date for Task at this time, though HBO has confirmed that the series will premiere in September, streaming simultaneously on HBO Max.

Abbott Elementary season 5 (ABC)

Over the past four seasons, Abbott Elementary has absolutely been the best comedy series in my opinion, so, of course, I’m excited for Abbott Elementary season 5. I can’t wait to see Janine (Quinta Brunson) and Gregory (Tyler James Williams) take their relationship to the next level, Ava (Janelle James) get reacquainted with her job as principal and what other obstacles the Abbott crew faces as they just try to teach in this modern age. Also, who doesn’t want to see more quirky moments from Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis)? — Terrell Smith

Abbott Elementary season 5 premieres Wednesday, October 1, on ABC; streams on-demand on Hulu the following day.

Nobody Wants This season 2 (Netflix)

If Kristen Bell is in it, I’m usually invested in the project (sans Frozen, which I’ve embarrassingly enough haven’t seen). So when Nobody Wants This debuted last year on Netflix, I quickly powered through the episodes and loved the funny take on opposites attracting and falling in love. She was brilliant as Joanne, an agnostic dating podcaster, falling for Adam Brody’s Noah, a modern rabbi.

In season one, the duo faced a few obstacles as a couple, so I’m left wondering what additional obstacles they may face in season 2, especially given Noah’s promotion in the temple. — Terrell Smith

Nobody Wants This season 2 premieres Thursday, October 23, exclusively on Netflix.

Talamasca: The Secret Order (AMC)

The Anne Rice Immortal Universe is expanding with a brand new spinoff, Talamasca: The Secret Order. Based on the secretive society of observers who keep watch over the world’s supernatural residents, the series will be a spy thriller that sees the agents furtively keeping tabs on witches, vampires and other supernatural beings all over the world.

What we love about this series is that it has the potential for lots of crossovers between Interview with the Vampire and Mayfair Witches, so that means we get to see more from our favorite immortals. — Sarabeth Pollock

Talamasca: The Secret Order premieres Sunday, October 26, on AMC and AMC Plus.

Down Cemetery Road (Apple TV Plus)

Slow Horses remains one of my favorite shows on TV, and I’m excited about Slow Horses season 5. However, I’m just a bit more intrigued by the potential of Down Cemetery Road, a new Apple TV Plus series that is based on a book series by Slow Horses author Mick Herron.

Emma Thompson stars as a private investigator who helps Ruth Wilson in the search for a missing young girl, which quickly spirals into a wide-ranging conspiracy.

Premiering right after Slow Horses ends, it could be the perfect complimentary series and another exciting thriller to stream on Apple TV Plus. — Michael Balderston

Down Cemetery Road premieres Wednesday, October 29, exclusively on Apple TV Plus.

The American Revolution (PBS)

2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, so there are going to be plenty of celebrations revolved around that, including probably more than a few TV specials. It’s a little early, but one of those is a PBS documentary series from Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David P. Schmidt, The American Revolution.

Burns has made a name for himself with his in-depth documentaries, including previous ones about the Civil and Vietnam wars. We all know the basics about the American Revolution, but expect for Burns and his co-creators to dive into things that we may never have known about but should not be forgotten. — Michael Balderston

The American Revolution premieres Sunday, November 16, on PBS.

Stranger Things season 5 (Netflix)

At long last, the final season of Stranger Things is here. It’s been more than three years since Stranger Things season 4 set up the end game in the battle between our Hawkins heroes and the Upside Down, so expectations are high for the Duffer Brothers and company to close out the series.

Netflix is making sure that the series is at least getting an epic rollout, with Stranger Things season 5’s eight episodes broken into three parts. The first four premiere in time for Thanksgiving, the next three as a Christmas Day treat, and the Stranger Things finale dropping on New Year’s Eve.

I honestly am having a hard time remembering a series that has had this much anticipation around its finale since Game of Thrones. Here’s hoping they stick the landing better. — Michael Balderston

Stranger Things season 5 part 1 premieres Wednesday, November 26; Stranger Things season 5 part 2 premieres Thursday, December 25; Stranger Things season 5 part 3 premieres Wednesday, December 31, all exclusively on Netflix.

All Her Fault (Peacock)

When Marissa (Sarah Snook) sends her son on his first playdate, the last thing she thinks is that she’ll never see him again, but when it’s time to pick him up, the woman who answers the door isn’t the same mother she dropped him off with, and what’s more is that the woman has no idea who her son is. So begins All Her Fault, a thriller that portrays a desperate woman living through a parent’s worst nightmare. — Sarabeth Pollock

All Her Fault is coming to Peacock this fall.

All’s Fair (Hulu)

When Kim Kardashian dazzled critics with her turn as a devious attorney in American Horror Story: Delicate, Ryan Murphy quickly recruited her for another series he was dreaming up. All’s Fair is the story of a powerful Los Angeles law firm run by women. Kardashian plays the firm’s divorce lawyer who works with her team to get the best deal for her clients.

I'm excited to see this powerhouse cast that includes Kardashian, Glenn Close and Sarah Paulson. — Sarabeth Pollock

All’s Fair is coming to Hulu this fall.

Halloween Baking Championship season 11 (Food Network)

Spooky season is on the way and there’s nothing like Food Network’s Halloween Baking Championship to get you in the mood to bake up some terrifyingly tasty treats. The series, now in its 11th season, features bakers who let their imaginations run wild as they create some of the most extraordinary confectionary creations ever seen.

Each season has featured special guest stars and fun themes so we’re eager to see what this season has to offer. (If they make a life-size M3GAN doll made of cake we’re out of here! — Sarabeth Pollock

Halloween Baking Championship season 11 premieres this fall on Food Network.

Holiday Touchdown: A Bill’s Love Story (Hallmark Channel)

Hallmark Channel partnered with the NFL in 2024, leading to their crossover film, Holiday Touchdown: A Chief’s Love Story, which premiered during Countdown to Christmas 2024. This season, Hallmark is heading to Buffalo to bring their brand of holiday magic to the Bills Mafia. Holland Roden, Matthew Daddario and Tony Danza star in what’s sure to be a holiday classic for years to come, especially if you’re a Bills fan. The movie will arrive during the 2025 Countdown to Christmas celebration. — Sarabeth Pollock

Holiday Touchdown: A Bill’s Love Story premieres this fall on Hallmark Channel and streams the next day on Hallmark Plus.

Next Level Baker (Fox)

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is taking baking to new heights with Next Level Baker. After the success of Next Level Chef, a cooking competition that features three teams competing on three different levels of a moving set, it makes sense that Ramsay would expand the franchise and add baking.

With cold weather right around the corner, nothing beats a good baking show to help us prepare for the holidays and we’re excited to see how Ramsay puts his unique stamp on the genre. — Sarabeth Pollock

Next Level Baker premieres this fall on Fox.

Netflix has added Stolen: Heist of the Century, an intriguing-sounding documentary about arguably the world's most audacious diamond robbery, which seems like something out of Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible movies.

In February 2003, a gang of thieves broke into the seemingly impenetrable Antwerp World Diamond Centre and snatched gems estimated to be worth between $100 million and $500 million. The police were baffled by how the villains got into the vault, which had every protection imaginable, including thermal-motion sensors, a magnetic field, and a lock with millions of possible combinations. The crooks didn't set off any alarms, and their crime wasn't discovered until the following day.

And, amazingly, most of the diamonds have still never been found!

The methods by which the thieves pulled off the breathtaking heist and the current whereabouts of the diamonds are still the subject of great debate.

Netflix teases: “An ingenious gang of master jewel thieves from Italy known as The School of Turin were behind the audacious heist — now, after more than 20 years, the world will finally learn how they pulled it off."

In the trailer (above), someone involved with the case is heard saying: "No one could imagine that the diamond district could be cracked. This isn't the story of a crime. It's more like the script of a movie.

"How they did it with no force, no violence, we had no idea."

The makers have interviewed the Antwerp detectives who cracked the case and also the alleged criminal mastermind behind it. Netflix says it will give a "blow-by-blow account of what really happened”.

It’s from the producers of The Tinder Swindler and American Nightmare, so it suggests it will be a great production.

We know the crime required a lot of planning and a string of ingenious methods to evade the huge security around the diamonds. What happened afterwards is just as interesting as the heist, as the criminals went about trying to profit from their crime while the police played catch-up and started to gather evidence.

Netflix will be hoping it matches the huge success of the Guy Ritchie true crime documentary The Diamond Heist, which became a global smash on the streaming service earlier this year.

The three-part documentary, which easily makes our best shows on Netflix guide, is about the attempted theft of £350 million worth of diamonds, including the famous Millennium Star, from London's Millennium Dome back in 2000.

Stolen: Heist of the Century is on Netflix now.

Judi Spannegel is a new character who is first seen in Wednesday season 2 episode 2.

The character in the Netflix hit is played by The Princess Diaries star Heather Matarazzo, and it turns out to be more of a key part than people imagined.

Bubbly Judi works as an executive assistant to Dr. Rachael Fairburn (played by Thandiwe Newton) at the scary Willow Hill Psychiatric Facility, an asylum for Outcasts (people with supernatural abilities). This is where "Hyde", Tyler Galpin (Hunter Doohan), resides.

Teasing the character on her Instagram, Heather wrote: "She loves cats…..and jellybeans…..and other things…to find out what, you're gonna have to tune in."

How is Judi Spannegel introduced in Wednesday season 2?

We first see Judi in episode 2 at Willow Hill. She's very enthusiastic about Dr. Fairburn's work and tells Wednesday she should read her book.

When Wednesday comments that Dr. Fairburn isn’t an Outcast, Judi doesn't think that should matter. It’s a brief exchange, and we only see Judi a couple more times, picking Dr Fairburn up in the car when she comes to Nevermore and when Dr. Fairburn discusses what she’s planning to do with their new patient, Marilyn Thornhill. However, things take an interesting turn of events...

What’s the big reveal about Judi Spannegel in Wednesday season 2 (MAJOR SPOILERS!)?

Judi Spannegel is unmasked as a major villain in Wednesday season 2 episode 4. She’s revealed to be Augustus Stonehurst’s daughter, which is how she knew about the secret passages at Nevermore since her father worked there and used them to visit the aviary he built her in Iago Tower.

She says her father loved Outcasts so much that he wanted to be one. She says they are trying to extract their abilities to give to Normies and reveals that while she was born a Normie, thanks to her father’s work, she’s an Avian. Fester thinks it’s wrong that he experimented on his own daughter, but Judi says she volunteered. She says Augustus wanted to be a DaVinci, but his body couldn’t take it. It sent him mad, and he was admitted as a patient at Willow Hill. He was also previously a science teacher at Nevermore.

As she talks, Fester powers up his electricity to fire at her. When he lets it go, all the lights go out at Willow Hill.

The power cut releases the patients Judi has held hostage, and they begin to attack her, but she manages to escape.

Where have I seen Heather Matarazzo before?

Heather's most famous role is as Lilly Moscovitz, best friend of Anne Hathaway’s Mia, in The Princess Diaries and its 2004 sequel. She’s also turned up in movies like Scream 3 (2000) and made her debut as a child actor in Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995). On television, she appeared in Now and Again, The L Word and Roseanne.

But there’s no doubt that Wednesday season 2 is her biggest role of recent times. The character has made a big impact on fans, and she’s become arguably the most talked-about character from the first four episodes.

Wednesday season 2 part 2 will land on Netflix on September 3. You can watch the first four parts of season 2 now.

If you're looking for something to watch featuring young New Yorkers navigating love and life in the big city, there's a new series on Netflix starring Anna Kendrick that you might enjoy. Love Life originally aired for two seasons on HBO Max but has branched out to the global streaming service.

The logline for the series, created by Sam Boyd, reads, "From first impressions to lasting connections, New Yorkers navigate the twists and turns of love in this romantic comedy anthology series."

Love Life, which premiered in 2021, was one of HBO Max's first original scripted series when the fledgling streaming service debuted. It features Kendrick as Darby and William Jackson Harper as Marcus; the first season follows Darby's story while season 2 is devoted to Marcus. The series also features a number of cast members who show up in both seasons including Zoë Chao, Peter Vack, Sasha Compère, Lesley Manville, Jessica Williams, Christopher Powekk, Punkie Johnson and Keith David.

The series was popular with viewers and critics alike with a 79% "Certified Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Though fans enjoyed the premise and change of perspectives between the seasons, the series was an early victim of Warner Bros. Discovery's cost cutting measures. Some of the other series with a similar fate at the time include Gordita Chronicles and Minx.

After it was pulled from the streamer, Love Life languished in cold storage for a while before emerging recently on paid video on-demand platforms as well as Tubi, so being available to access the series on Netflix is a welcome change.

You can take a look at the trailer for Love Life below:

With 20 episodes between the two seasons, Love Life would be a great series to binge for anyone missing Emily in Paris, Girls or even the early days of Sex and the City. Though dating is at the forefront, there's a lot of self-reflection that takes place in Darby and Marcus' lives and viewers get to go along for the ride as they figure out their place in the world. With its vibrant characters, fast pacing and whip-smart writing, Love Life makes for a perfect weekend or late-night binge.

Love Life is available to stream now on Netflix.

Everyone is very excited about Lady Gaga being in Wednesday season 2.

However, sadly, you won’t find the superstar singer in the first four parts that finally arrived on Netflix on Wednesday, August 6. However, there appears to have been a reference to her character in the opening episodes. Here's all we know so far about Lady Gaga being in Wednesday and the song she has lined up...

When will Lady Gaga appear in Wednesday season 2?

Lady Gaga will arrive in the second wave of four episodes released on Netflix on Wednesday, September 3.

Who does Lady Gaga play in Wednesday season 2?

Lady Gaga plays teacher Rosaline Rotwood, who Netflix has teased clashes with Jenna Ortega's Wednesday. The makers say, "the mysterious and enigmatic Rosaline Rotwood, a legendary Nevermore teacher who crosses paths with Wednesday." So this sounds more than a brief cameo.

The makers gave a further tease saying: "Rosaline Rotwood. Cloaked in mystery with a reputation that precedes her. Our paths will surely cross. Welcome to mayhem”.

While the character isn’t directly referenced in the first four episodes of the new series, the Addams family (Morticia and Gomez) are staying in Rotwood Cottage at Nevermore, which is where Marilyn Thornhill was before them.

One theory offered online is that Rosaline is a Raven in Wednesday’s bloodline, but we won't find out for sure what’s going on until September.

• Wednesday cast: who's who guide

Is Lady Gaga releasing a Wednesday song?

Yes, Variety reports that Lady Gaga will release a song and a video for a track titled "Dead Dance". It seems logical that it will be released in early September to tie in with the singer making her debut in Wednesday.

Wednesday director Tim Burton has been full of praise for Lady Gaga, saying: "She’s such an artist and so for me, working with an artist is inspirational".

Unfortunately, we don’t yet have much more on the new song.

Has Lady Gaga been in a TV series before?

Yes, she has. And she even turned up in The Sopranos as a 15-year-old.

Lady Gaga will be seen in Wednesday part 2 when it’s released on Netflix on Wednesday, September 3. Please check out our best shows on Netflix guide for more series to enjoy.