Pick of the week
Squid Game
The first game may be over but the desperation underpinning it is stronger than ever; there will always be another group of victims forced into risking everything by society’s inequities. As the smash Korean drama returns, everyone left standing is bearing the scars. Most troubled is the victor, Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), who is determined to put a stop to the winner-takes-all contest – at the cost of making the ultimate sacrifice. Squid Game’s satirical, polemical intentions feel foregrounded this time round and there’s arguably too much expository prologue. But as the brutal action begins, the themes of impotence in the face of unaccountable power have lost none of their resonance.
Netflix, from Boxing Day
***
Say Nothing
Dramas related to the Troubles require precision: the narrative is so contested, the tragedy so palpable and the horror seems so recent that taste and sensitivity issues are difficult to negotiate. All the more so, when you’re telling a story largely from the perspective of two paramilitary volunteers who many would argue have blood on their hands. This adaptation of Patrick Radden Keefe’s book traces the trajectory of the Troubles via the stories of the family of abducted mother of 10 Jean McConville and IRA operatives (and sisters) Dolours and Marian Price. It’s gripping and nuanced, via the startling central performances from Lola Petticrew and Hazel Doupe.
Disney+, out now
***
Queen Woo
This lavish succession battle set in Korea’s ancient Goguryeo kingdom divides its emphasis between political scheming, raunchy sex scenes and bloody violence. The titular Queen Woo Hee is loosely based on a real figure – though since the action takes place about two millennia ago, much of the history is speculative. Queen Woo attempted to solve the tribal machinations that followed her father King Ko Nam Moo’s death by marrying her dead husband’s younger brother. This gambit, aimed at uniting various interested parties, wasn’t without its issues.
Paramount+, from Monday 23 December
***
The Famous Five
For all that it’s seen as the archetype of a certain strain of British wholesomeness, there’s a weird modernism to aspects of the Famous Five stories. Particularly George, whose refusal to submit to gender stereotypes is highlighted in these Nicolas Winding Refn renderings. In the latest tale, the Five reunite at the creepy Prospect Hotel – in the words of one porter, “a bloody unsuitable place to dump a bunch of kids”. A story involving the foretold death of a jazz pianist ensues. It’s fun for families but there are some enjoyably sinister adult touches, too.
BBC iPlayer, from Monday 23 December
***
The Road Trip
Despite the absurdly contrived setup involving a traffic accident and a lost driving licence, this comedy drama (adapted from Beth O’Leary’s novel) is funny, smart and spicy. A couple of years after a breakup, Addie (Emma Appleton) and Dylan (Laurie Davidson) are thrown together on a long, troubled trip to a mutual friend’s wedding in Spain. Initially, the rights and wrongs of their split seem fairly clearcut – but via flashbacks, perspectives begin to shift, as do audience sympathies. And in any case, is their relationship quite as dead as it seems?
Paramount+, from Boxing Day
***
Rivals
Jilly Cooper’s sun-dappled, 80s- excess bonkbuster offers a jolt of colourful glamour that is perfect for midwinter gloom. Ordering another series was one of the easiest decisions in commissioning history – its tale of sex and booze-addled powerplays in the world of regional TV has plenty of distance to run and the stellar ensemble cast gelled perfectly. Also, Rivals contains the sweetest will-they, won’t-they love affair of the year (Katherine Parkinson’s Lizzie and Danny Dyer’s Freddie) and we need to know where that particular story is heading. Roll on series two.
Disney+, out now
***
Black Doves
This espionage thriller leans into its own absurdity and becomes excellent, mindless fun that works a treat, as long as you avoid thinking too hard about the logic of the plotting. The Black Doves of the title are a semi-official spy agency headed by Sarah Lancaster’s icy Reed. Keira Knightley’s Helen (who is married to a government minister) and “trigger man” Sam (Ben Whishaw) are two of their star operatives – both are ambivalent about their work but are dragged into a huge, bloody conspiracy with stakes that escalate by the episode.
Netflix, out now
