What to Watch

Whether you are looking for a recommendation for a good movie or a series to binge watch, here is where you can find what other TWC members are watching. 

What is your favorite series or movie? Tell us about a TV show, movie or documentary you enjoy by emailing it to twc-webmaster@outlook.com.

        Shrinking

                   Apple TV

In Shrinking, a feel-good therapy sitcom, Jimmy (a therapist played by Jason Segel) mourns the death of his wife while he helps others to overcome equally overwhelming circumstances. While the protagonist relies on friends and co-workers (especially Paul, played by Harrison Ford) to cope with the painful loss, he also tests an unconventional approach to therapy with his patients. Instead of giving objective insight to those that visit his office, Jimmy just shares with them his personal opinions and snide remarks over what he hears them say.  Ignoring his training and ethics, he finds himself making big changes to people’s lives including his own.

Watched by Barb Shea

The Secrets of Penguins 

Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime

Explorer Bertie Gregory uncovers the Secrets of the Penguins in a stunning new documentary series.

From the winning waddle to the warming huddle, penguins have always held a special place in our hearts. But besides being cute, these loveable flightless birds are also resourceful and resilient, as explorer Bertie Gregory reveals in his globe-trotting new wildlife documentary series all about penguins.

From South Africa and South Georgia to the Galapagos, Namibia and Antarctica, Secrets of the Penguins captures remarkable behaviour from different species in contrasting habitats as they negotiate life's challenges, including finding a mate, rearing chicks, catching food and evading predators. And, most importantly for the iconic Emperor penguins featured in episode one, keeping warm!

Watched by Robin Stuck

           Nonnas

                      Netflix

Nonnas is a heartfelt drama, inspired by the life of Joe Scaravella, who, after losing his mother, opened Enoteca Maria on Staten Island in 2007. Still thriving two decades later, the restaurant became famous for the grandmothers or nonnas in the kitchen. Each of them cooking dishes from different Italian regions.

“You need to feed your grief. It’s the only way through.” The film tells the story of a grieving son, played by Vince Vaughn, who creates a place where grief is transformed into a haven, one spoonful at a time. By the end, we find a parallel for that first quote: "Food with family and friends will heal you."

Watched by Roz Callahan

   The Last Rodeo

Joe Wainwright is a former bull riding world champion who risks it all to save his grandson who needs an expensive invasive surgery on a brain tumor that Joe's military veteran benefits and the family's insurance do not cover. Facing his own painful past in which he had broken his neck riding a bull while drunk, he enters a high-stakes bull riding competition organized by Professional Bull Riders that is open to former legends with $750,000 prize for the first prize, as the oldest contestant ever, and has to sign an insurance waiver. Along the way, he reconciles old wounds with his estranged daughter, who had to take care of him after his injury and given up on her own professional pursuits and proves that true courage found in the fight for family.

Watched by Robin Stuck

           The Friend

                     Apple TV

Based on Sigrid Nunez’s novel.  In The Friend, writer and teacher Iris (Naomi Watts) finds her comfortable, solitary New York life thrown into disarray after her closest friend and mentor (Bill Murray) dies suddenly and bequeaths her his beloved 150 lb. Great Dane. The regal yet intractable beast, named Apollo, immediately creates practical problems for Iris, from furniture destruction to eviction notices, as well as more existential ones, his looming presence constantly reminding her of her friend's problematic choices in both life and death. Yet as Iris finds herself unexpectedly bonding with the animal, she begins to come to terms with her past, her lost friend, and her own creative inner life.

Recommended by Barb Shea

           Ludwig

             BritBox Season 1

Puzzle setter John 'Ludwig' Taylor's life of solitude is upended when his identical twin, DCI James Taylor, disappears. Drafted in by his sister-in-law Lucy, John reluctantly assumes his brother's identity as a detective in the Cambridge Police Authority in order to find clues to his brother's whereabouts. John is tasked with infiltrating the Major Investigations Team, gathering information and solving a completely unconnected murder all whilst remaining in character as his brother.

We really enjoyed watching – clever plot and excellent acting. 

Looking forward to a Season 2.

Reviewed by Barb & Craig Patterson

         Caught

         Netflix Series

Caught, based on a Harlan Coben novel, is a gripping mystery novel that intertwines two narratives. On one hand, we follow 17-year-old Haley McWaid, a promising high school student. On the other, journalist Wendy Tynes, whose life revolves around exposing sexual predators. Both stories lead us through a dark and twisted reality where appearances mislead, and truths remain hidden.

Haley McWaid is the quintessential good girl. As the captain of her lacrosse team, she has a bright future ahead. Her parents are proud, nurturing dreams of her college success. Yet one morning, her mother wakes to discover Haley missing. Three months pass without any sign of her, fostering a climate of despair in their suburban community. The community’s fear morphs into suspicion, leading them to assume the worst.

Wendy Tynes is a driven reporter, dedicated to different sectors of her life. Her focus primarily lies in a television program called ‘Caught in the Act.’ This program sets up elaborate sting operations to catch alleged predators. Wendy is relentless in her mission to bring these men to justice, exposing their misdeeds on national television. This time, her target is Dan Mercer, a seemingly admirable social worker. As Wendy investigates, he appears to be connected to various troubling situations involving young girls. When events spiral out of control, Wendy’s pursuit of the truth leads her to question everything she thought she knew. After an intense operation, Dan is expelled as a potential predator. However, he narrowly escapes conviction due to a technicality. This aggravates Wendy severely, given that she heavily invested in portraying Dan as a villain. The plot thickens rapidly as she grapples with guilt and anger over his escape from justice.

Watched by Adell Kabins

     Landman

        Season 1

       Paramount+

A modern-day tale of fortune seeking in the world of West Texas oil rigs.

Landman is set within the world of oilfields, where roughnecks and wildcat billionaires are fueling a boom so big it’s reshaping our climate, our economy, and our geopolitics.

Billy Bob Thornton steps into the cowboy boots and straw hat of Tommy Norris, a no-nonsense landman, who spends his days putting out fires, both literal and metaphorical for a big oil company.  Like the oil he secures, Tommy is crude to a fault; he’s brusque, surly, and full of the kind of tell-it-like-it-is conservatism that sounds like honey coming out of Thornton’s mouth but turns to dust when it hits the brain.  For those unfamiliar, a landman is the public-facing side of an oil company’s production team; their job is to secure leases and mineral rights for oil drilling.

The Season 1 finale had viewers on the edge of their seats with a shocking death and the introduction of a vital new character.

An American drama series created by Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace. 

Production has officially begun on Season 2 of Landman! It was confirmed on April 2, 2025, that the cast had begun shooting for the second season.

Watched by Barb Shea

           Adolescence

           Netflix Series

Adolescence is rated as harrowing, heartbreaking and a must-watch.

The four-episode Netflix miniseries combines brilliant performances and audacious filmmaking to tell a complex story about the world children and parents live in today.

A story of how a family’s world is turned upside down when 13-year-old Jamie Miller is arrested for the murder of a teenage girl who goes to his school.  Told from a vantage point that includes the shame and horror of the suspect’s family, the struggles of the teenagers’ hapless educators, and the intractable anger and fear of the teenagers impacted by the violence.

Watched by Ruth Fowler who added, “I think every parent or future parent should watch this excellently done Netflix movie from England. It was difficult to watch but so well done.  The role of the 13-yr old boy, his first ever as a movie actor, and the role of his father, one of the writers and directors of the film, was casting at its best.  Incredible film making and each episode was done in ONE take with cameras never stopping.”

             Severance

                 Apple TV+

              Amazon Prime

The Emmy Award-winning show follows Mark Scout (Adam Scott) as he leads a team at Lumon Industries whose employees have undergone a severance procedure that surgically divides their memories between their work and personal lives. Lumon Industries is a biotechnology company that uses a medical technique known as "severance" to disconnect workers' consciousness when an implanted chip is activated. When they enter one of the company's restricted "severed" floors, the implant is typically triggered spatially, presumably to prevent the leakage of highly classified work.

When a mysterious colleague appears outside of work, it begins a journey to discover the truth about their jobs.

Admittedly, things start off slow and drag slightly with the first episode. Fear not though, because Severance picks up with an increasing amount of drama and mystery, climaxing perfectly with a season finale that balances that fine line of leaving you wanting more, while quenching your appetite to remain satisfied until

Season 2.

Watched by Roz Callahan

            The Agency

       Paramount+ Series

           Amazon Prime

Covert CIA agent Martian is ordered to abandon his undercover life and return to London Station. When the love he left behind unexpectedly reappears, their romance reignites, pitting his career, his real identity and his mission against his heart while hurling them both into a deadly game of international intrigue and espionage.

Starring: Michael Fassbender, Jeffrey Wright, Jodie Turner-Smith, and  Richard Gere

Watched by Robin Stuck

     Flight Risk (Movie)

   An Edge-of-Your-Seat Thriller!!!

If you're in the mood for a heart-pounding thriller, "Flight Risk," this one is great starring the incomparable Mark Wahlberg.

The plot centers around an air marshal who is tasked with the critical mission of locating and escorting a key witness for a mob boss's trial to Anchorage. The air marshal successfully finds the witness and arranges for a chartered plane to take them from Fairbanks to Anchorage. It's here that Mark Wahlberg steps into the scene as the pilot of the chartered plane.

As the plane takes off, the tension rises, and the journey becomes anything but ordinary. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, each moment more thrilling than the last.

"Flight Risk" is filled with nail-biting moments and edge-of-your-seat excitement. The storytelling is masterful, constantly keeping you guessing and engaged. The chemistry between the characters, the high-stakes environment, and the ever-present threat of danger make this movie a must-watch for thriller enthusiasts.

Watched by Movie & Lunch Group 1