Latest news with #TVSeries
The Verge
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Verge
I did not expect King of the Hill to make me feel this much.
Andrew Webster But the new intro for the upcoming Hulu revival is a remarkable little slice of storytelling, cramming a whole lot into just 40 seconds. The new season hits starts streaming on August 4th.
Telegraph
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Under the Vines, review: no fizz, no excitement and decidedly non-vintage
At what point does nice become insufferable? One way to find out is to binge-watch Under the Vines (BBC One), an odd-couple comedy-drama set in the world capital of normalised niceness, New Zealand. When an old vintner leaves his South Island vineyard split between his nephew, a stuffy middle-aged Brit (Charles Edwards) and his stepdaughter, a flighty, spendthrift Aussie (Rebeca Gibney), they both descend on Central Otago to check out their inheritance. They quickly decide to sell it – they don't like each other, neither of them knows anything about wine-making and anyway, the vineyard's a bust. We all know what happens next. Louis (Edwards) and Daisy (Gibney) inevitably end up falling in love with the place, the quirky locals and, in the fullness of six episodes, each other. It is a tale as old as TV time – the town mice and the country mice; Northern Exposure, Green Acres, Death in Paradise and many more, whereby simple living leads to personal discovery with a healthy dose of fish-out-of-water chuckles on the way. Both Louis and Daisy's lives back home needed fixing – he is an overworked lawyer who was about to split up with his wife and lose his child if he didn't get his act together. She was a Sydney socialite reliant on handouts from the now dead stepfather to sustain her Jimmy Choo habit. Wine and grapes and careful husbandry are used as an overarching metaphor for them both slowing down and paying attention to the things that matter. Once Louis and Daisy start to realise what those things are – family, good people, nature – they begin to revel in their new life. It presents writer Erin White with a problem about halfway through the first series, because Louis's beloved son Julian is back in London. He is flown down for a convenient holiday and a dubious plot twist later on in the run, but the fact remains that, were Under the Vines anything approaching half-credible, Louis would never have gone to New Zealand in the first place. It leads you to ask in what reality this show is set, and the answer comes in learning that it is a series that is nearly five years old. It was first aired on Acorn TV, a British-American streamer that specialises in nice British telly, just after the pandemic. In that context Under the Vines makes a lot more sense: it offers the lure of getting away from it all, the idea of working outside, of actually interacting with strangers at all and seeing hills and mountains and rolling fields. This was all we really wanted from television in 2021. But while wines may improve with age, Under the Vines has not. A few years ago, there was also a vogue for what was then called 'slow' television in which nothing much happened, and Under the Vines is slow, gently sozzled, sundowner TV served with a few gigglers and some idiosyncratic characters as ballast. Great for the New Zealand tourist board, great for the wine industry, but expect only to be tickled, never engrossed.
Digital Trends
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
The Last of Us is over. Here are 5 more movies and TV shows to watch based on video games
HBO's hit adaptation of The Last of Us has finally reached the end of its second season, meaning that fans of the show will likely try to fill the void as they wait for season 3. Some may be looking to watch other top-tier adaptations of their favorite video games, which might be a challenge. For many years before The Last of Us, the film and television industries have struggled to develop high-quality adaptations of beloved video games. However, in recent years, there has been a growing number of film and TV adaptations like The Last of Us that respect and even build upon the source material. While the world holds its breath for The Last of Us season 3, here's a guide to five must-see movies and TV shows based on video games. Recommended Videos Need more recommendations? Then check out the best new shows to stream this week, as well as the best shows on Netflix, the best shows on Hulu, the best shows on Amazon Prime Video, the best shows on Max, and the best shows on Disney+. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022) While Cyberpunk 2077 garnered controversy upon its release, one of the most notable outcomes was the creation of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. The animated series follows David, a gifted teenager from Night City who resorts to a life of crime with the aid of cybernetic implants to make ends meet after his mother's death. Though David and his friends dream of making it big and escaping from their bleak lives in Night City, this thrilling sci-fi series depicts the harsh and timely realities of their world that they struggle to break free from, including violent gangs, sinister corporations, and addictive technology. Stream Cyberpunk: Edgerunners on Netflix. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024) Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is far more kid-friendly than The Last of Us (which should be refreshing to some viewers). However, the third movie is much darker than the previous Sonic films thanks to Shadow the Hedgehog, a character exceptionally voiced by Keanu Reeves. Much like Ellie, Shadow's life is marked by loss, grief, and a desire for revenge, and his conflict with Sonic brings out the darkness in the Blue Blur himself. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 leaves plenty of room for lighthearted humor in its tale of revenge, especially with Jim Carrey playing two Doctor Robotniks. It also features some spectacular anime-style action carried out by its superpowered hedgehogs, making it the most faithful and thrilling Sonic film yet. Stream Sonic the Hedgehog 3 on Paramount+. Castlevania (2017-2021) Long before The Last of Us hit HBO, Netflix showed how video game adaptations could be taken seriously with Castlevania. This animated hit depicts the hellish war between humans and vampires unleashed by Dracula (Graham McTavish) after his human wife is burned at the stake. Similar to The Last of Us, Castlevania portrays characters searching for meaning and happiness in a bleak world while battling monsters, both human and undead. Such a dark and bold series delves into heavy issues of religious oppression, grief, and depression, all while delivering some of the most compelling characters ever seen in a video game adaptation. On top of that, the action is thrilling, the animation is breathtaking, and the voice acting is music to the ears. Stream Castlevania on Netflix. Arcane (2021-2024) Based on League of Legends, Arcane is a mature animated series centered around sisters Vi (Hailee Steinfeld) and Jinx (Ella Purnell), who ultimately turn on each other while caught up in the violent war between two cities. Both Arcane and The Last of Us explore the cycle of violence that unfolds in a world seemingly determined to destroy itself, while also telling a story about finding love in the unlikeliest of places. Also, with incredible voice acting and animation on par with the Spider-Verse films, Arcane delivered a dazzling and immersive video game adaptation in a league of its own. Stream Arcane on Netflix. Fallout (2024-present) Prime Video's Fallout follows Lucy (Ella Purnell), who, after living in an underground bunker her whole life, ventures out into the radioactive wasteland to rescue her father from raiders. Like The Last of Us, this vast and dense series takes place in a post-apocalyptic version of America filled with monsters, albeit one created by a nuclear war. The show's characters face several horrors and dark truths about the world they once knew and the people they love. However, Fallout takes a more comedic approach to its dark, sprawling story. As the naive Lucy and her allies face a world plagued by vicious marauders, horrific 'ghouls,' and evil corporations, the upbeat fantasy fed to her and the other Vault dwellers burns away in a haunting satire of American society at the height of the Atomic Age. This all makes for a bold, thrilling, but enjoyable dystopian drama that does justice to its acclaimed source material. Stream Fallout on Prime Video.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
J K Rowling gives decisive four-word verdict on new Harry Potter child stars fronting TV series
J K Rowling has given her decisive four-word verdict on the new Harry Potter child stars fronting the upcoming TV series. On Tuesday the three lead stars were finally announced after months of speculation - and Dominic McLaughlin has bagged the role of Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton is set to play Hermoine Granger and Alastair Stout will portray Ron Weasley. One fan took to X, formerly known as Twitter to get the author to tell them how loved they already are by the fandom. JK, 59, said: 'All three are wonderful. I couldn't be happier.' The writer was replying to a tweet which said: '@jk_rowling @streamonmax @harrypotter Please tell Dominic, Arabella and Alistair that they are already loved by the fandom and we can't wait to see the show! 'We wish them all the best and that they have a magic time.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loo p. Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter in the film franchise, Emma Watson as Hermione and Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter movie franchise The lucky three children are set to start filming this summer and have been picked from more than 32,000 audition tapes from across the UK and Ireland. The programme will be made into seven seasons, similarly to the films - which have seven in total. The HBO TV show is said to be costing £75million an episode and the three child actors could land themselves even bigger fortunes than the original stars. Producers Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod praised the 'wonderful' talent of the three newcomers. They said: 'After an extraordinary search led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann, we are delighted to announce we have found our Harry, Hermione, and Ron. 'The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen. 'We would like to thank all the tens of thousands of children who auditioned. It's been a real pleasure to discover the plethora of young talent out there.' JK released the first Harry Potter novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 1997, followed by Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets the following year. Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban was released in 1999, followed by Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in 2000. Three years later Harry Potter and the order of the Phoenix was published and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in 2005. The final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was released in 2007. Daniel Radcliffe took in the role of protagonist Harry Potter in the film franchise. Emma Watson played Hermione, while Rupert Grint was Ron Weasley. The first movie was released in 2001 and the final one came out in 2011. They played their roles for a decade. Back in December it was revealed that the films were being made into a TV show. Protagonist Daniel spoke out about the TV show while chatting with He said: 'My understanding is that they're trying to very much start fresh and I'm sure whoever is making them will want to make their own mark on it and probably not want to have to figure out how to get old Harry to cameo in this somewhere. 'So I'm definitely not seeking it out in any way. 'But I do wish them, obviously, all the luck in the world and I'm very excited to have that torch passed.
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Lost for seven years, Josh Holloway is back in the driver's seat
Josh Holloway was stranded in a Hollywood wasteland five years ago when the phone rang. It was J.J. Abrams, and he was offering a route out of the figurative desert — by way of a literal one. The third and final season of the Holloway-starring series 'Colony' had aired more than a year earlier. Freshly 50, Holloway accepted that the dystopian drama was probably his last leading-man gig. If the offer came to play, say, a leading man's father? He'd be there. But that wasn't happening, either.
