Week of August 1 – 7

We are headed into the dog days of summer and it has been absolutely boiling all around the country, which makes all of this fresh TV all the more appealing. From a new Ryan Murphy series (“The Shards” on FX and Hulu) to a new “Quiet Place”-ish movie starring Wagner Moura and Greta Lee (“The Last House” on Netflix) and the long-awaited return of “Ted Lasso” (on Apple TV), there’s something for everyone this week. Beat the heat, stay inside and flip on the TV.

On with the television! 

The Shards

Wednesday, August 6 at 9 p.m., FX

Source: FX

“The Shards,” based on Bret Easton Ellis’ 2023 novel of the same name, has been one of the hottest properties in television development for years — at first it was set up at HBO, with Ellis producing and Luca Guadagnino (and then later “The Drama” filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli) directing. But when that version of the adaptation came to loggerheads (pinned on the dreaded “creative differences”), Ryan Murphy revived the property, this time at FX, his longtime cable network home. Set in 1981, the book was a fictionalized account of Ellis’ senior year of high school. How it differs from Ellis’ actual life is that the characters face down a deranged serial killer, which we’re pretty sure the author of “Less Than Zero” never had to do. (The novel was first distributed as audio-only episodes of Ellis’ podcast via his Patreon and later adapted into a traditional book format.)

Igby Rigney plays the fictionalized Ellis, surrounded by other very hot people like Homer Gere, Kaia Gerber, Graham Campbell and Wes Bentley, with Evan Rachel Wood in a recurring role. “Metatextual 1980s-set Los Angeles horror story” is pretty much Ryan Murphy’s Winter Soldier activation phrase, so we have high hopes for this one, especially with Murphy and Ellis co-writing the first couple of episodes. Could be bloody good fun. [TRAILER]

Sugar

Friday, August 7, Apple TV

Source: Apple TV

John Sugar (Colin Farrell) closes his second case with this Season 2 finale. Critics have praised the second batch of episodes even more highly than the first, with its liberal mixture of sun-bleached detective noir and high-concept sci-fi (if you haven’t had the twist spoiled for you yet, you won’t be getting it from us). Whether anybody is watching the show, with its starry cast and top-notch production values, or not, remains to be seen. As does whether or not it will return for a third season. If so, we hope to not have to wait over two years for it. If you want to make sure it comes back, be sure to watch this week’s finale — and all of the other episodes too. [TRAILER]

The Last House

Friday, August 7, Netflix

Source: Netflix

Everybody wants — no, needs — their own “A Quiet Place.” There have been movies like “The Silence” (the monsters are attracted to sound, just like “A Quiet Place”), “Elevation” (the monsters don’t go beneath 8,000-feet above sea level) and “Arcadian” (the monsters don’t appear in the light), which try to situate a snug survival narrative around gnarly creatures with a specific angle or ability. The latest is “The Last House,” premiering on Netflix and centering on a somewhat dysfunctional family (led by Greta Lee and Wagner Moura) who are trapped inside their house when a race of sinister sea creatures emerges from the earth’s oceans.

Full of COVID-era parallels, including an itchy claustrophobia, some nifty creature work by Industrial Light & Magic and a pair of ace performers attempting to imbue the story with some emotional earthiness (whether they succeed on this quest is up to you), “The Last House” will remind you of a time you’d probably rather forget — and scare you silly in the process. [TRAILER]

Monsters of God

Thursday, August 6 at 9 p.m., HBO

Source: HBO

This five-part documentary from A24 looks absolutely fascinating. Filmmaker Eric Goode (of “Chimp Crazy” and “Tiger King” fame) “follows his first love — reptiles — into the dark and gonzo underworld of exotic animal smuggling. In this global network, everyone is chasing the ultimate prize, whether it be owning the rarest of species, claiming the biggest fortunes or taking down the most elusive criminals. The billion-dollar criminal enterprise is fueled by extreme obsession for these creatures, driving many to push the boundaries of laws and environmental ethics. As he digs deeper, Goode uncovers a labyrinth of outlaw traffickers, bombastic collectors, and the dogged law enforcement agents on their tails,” according to the official synopsis. How great does that sound? We are so in. Watch with your favorite snake or lizard. [TRAILER]

The Watcher

Netflix

Source: Netflix

If “The Shards” has you hungry for more Ryan Murphy-produced horror fun, why not revisit “The Watcher?” Released for Halloween 2022 and based on a supposedly true story (as documented in an article in New York Magazine), “The Watcher” was super creepy and absurdly compelling, following a couple (Naomi Watts and Bobby Cannavale) who move into their dream home with their children only to realize that it has a very dark history. And what’s worse — there’s a shadowy figure who calls themselves “The Watcher” and leaves threatening notes for them. (In real life, the Watcher was never identified.)

With an impressive supporting cast that includes (but is not limited to) Jennifer Coolidge, Margo Martindale, Mia Farrow, Christopher McDonald and Noma Dumezweni, and smart, snappy scripts (most of them co-authored by Murphy), “The Watcher” is one of the uber-producer’s most compelling projects and one certainly worth another watch. While a second season was ordered in 2022, it has yet to materialize. But you never know when “The Watcher” might strike again. [WATCH] 

Source: USA