Pick of the week
Dead Ringers
The fact it’s adapted from a David Cronenberg film should be a hint that this series about identical twin gynaecologists is not for the faint-hearted. The brothers from the film are gender-flipped and this gives the story a fresh dynamic in both personal and political terms. Here, Elliott and Beverly Mantle are played by Rachel Weisz, who does a fine job of capturing the uncanny oddness of twin sisters doing the same, intimate work. The Mantles are ambitious – they’re in collaboration with “the most morally corrupt woman on the planet”, opioid magnate Lara, who is funding their experimental clinic (there’s no altruism involved; she just wants to “skip the fucking queue”). Things get very messy.
Prime Video, from Friday 21 April
***
True Lies
If your marriage loses fizz after the arrival of children, this series (inspired by the James Cameron action comedy but never remotely living up to its gleeful absurdity) suggests an answer: simply join a spy agency – the jeopardy will reboot your relationship in no time. When Helen (Ginger Gonzaga) witnesses her husband Harry (Steve Howey) defuse a fight, she wonders about his past. It turns out he’s working for intelligence agency Omega Sector – and they might be able to use her yoga skills, too. Cue an oddly bland yarn in which the couple undertake missions while keeping their adventures a secret from their teenage kids.
Disney+, from Wednesday 19 April
***
How I Met Your Father
The first season of this paternally focused reboot divided fans of the original flashback sitcom How I Met Your Mother – which itself felt like a decent idea extended beyond its sell-by date. Still, Hilary Duff returns to star in season two as Sophie who, as we rejoin her, is worried about her lack of progress in terms of major life goals. She and her girlfriends are “running out of board games to drink to” and all of the men in her life are in some way disappointing. The dating shenanigans that ensue are never remotely subtle but Duff remains a sparky lead, even if the material itself is patchy.
Disney+, from Wednesday 19 April
***
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always
“It’s morphin time!” Big news for superhero fans of a certain age as the Lycra-clad avengers return to do battle with the forces of darkness. This special features many of the original heroes, including Blue Ranger Billy Cranston (David Yost) and the first Black Ranger Zack Taylor (Walter Emanuel Jones). And Barbara Goodson reprises her role as villain Rita Repulsa – who is revealed to have killed Trini, the original Yellow Power Ranger. The TV world may now be overflowing with superheroes but nostalgic viewers might want to tune in for curiosity’s sake.
Netflix, from Wednesday 19 April
***
The Diplomat
A glossy thriller in which the new US ambassador to London, Kate Wyler (Keri Russell), finds herself in the middle of a huge international crisis while she’s still getting used to the job. To make matters worse, she’s married to the former ambassador Hal (Rufus Sewell) who can’t get used to his newly marginal role and won’t stop backseat driving. Even if the plot threatens to stretch the bounds of plausibility (would someone so inexperienced really be given such far-reaching responsibilities?), the cast – which also features Rory Kinnear and Celia Imrie – make the best of what they have.
Netflix, from Thursday 20 April
***
Drops of God
Never cross an angry oenologist. That’s the lesson to be learned from this intriguing drama, adapted from the manga series of the same name, in which Camille Leger (Fleur Geffrier) inherits the world’s greatest wine collection (worth a cool $148m) from her father. But there’s a catch: her dad had a protege (Tomohisa Yamashita’s Issei Tomine) whom he regarded as his “spiritual son” and equally deserving. Now, the pair must compete in a series of demanding gustatory tests with a fortune at stake. But for Tomine, it’s terrifyingly personal.
Apple TV+, from Friday 21 April
***
Big Beasts
The Apple TV natural history team who gave us Tiny World in 2020 have gone to the opposite extreme for this visually spectacular celebration of everything that is large in nature. Over 10 episodes and filmed across 17 countries over two years, the featured unwieldy beasts include whales, tigers, elephant seals, giant otters, hippos and bears. The series is narrated by Tom Hiddleston, who inevitably lacks the gravitas of David Attenborough (or even Morgan Freeman) but does at least manifest the mandatory sense of wide-eyed wonder.
Apple TV+, from Friday 21 April
