Hey TV watchers! TV critic Michel Ghanem here. Every two weeks, I share the shows worth your TV time for Trust Me, I Watch Everything. Whether you prefer sticking to cable, catching the latest on streaming or digging up a hidden gem that slipped through the cracks, I try to curate something for everyone.
This week, all eyes are on Paramount+’s Dutton Ranch, the Yellowstone sequel spin-off that finds Beth and Rip center stage — and starting anew down in Texas. Over on streaming, The Other Bennet Sister, a charming story drawn from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, might be BritBox’s buzziest show yet. For docu-reality enthusiasts, Couples Therapy is better than ever in its just-launched fifth season streaming on Paramount+. Finally, Mr. Bigstuff, a British import about a carpet seller whose estranged brother shows up out of nowhere, was quietly added to Hulu. And there’s plenty more where that came from — let’s jump in.
⏰ Tune in
My recommendation: Dutton Ranch
Why you should watch it: Beth and Rip are back! The Taylor Sheridan television empire has expanded rapidly since Yellowstone first aired in 2018. We’ve got prequels (1883 and 1923), sequels that don’t resemble the flagship at all (Marshals) and shows that feel like they could be in Yellowstone’s universe but aren’t (The Madison and Landman). That being said, Dutton Ranch feels like Yellowstone’s real successor, and it’s one of the most anticipated shows of the spring.
The last time we saw Beth (Kelly Reilly), she was stabbing her adopted brother, Jamie, (Wes Bentley) to death after finding out he played a role in the death of their father, John Dutton (Kevin Costner). Rip (Cole Hauser), her gruff husband and confidant, helped cover the murder up. The Yellowstone land was given to the fictional Broken Rock Tribe, as foretold in a prophecy when the Duttons first settled there in 1883. And as far as the Yellowstone finale was concerned, Beth and Rip, plus their informally adopted son, Carter (Finn Little), lived happily ever after on a new ranch in Montana.
That is, until Dutton Ranch, which kicks off with a raging fire that engulfs their home and the land around it. Rather than start over in Montana again, Beth and Rip buy a ranch down in Rio Paloma, Texas, with the hopes of finally finding some peace and quiet away from the many bodies they’ve buried back home. That inevitably doesn’t last long, though.
Their neighbors, the Jackson family, hold something of a ranching monopoly in town, with its matriarch Beulah (Annette Bening) calling the shots. Her son Rob-Will (Jai Courtney), the foreman of their 10-Petal ranch, is a loose cannon who ends up being involved in a murder cover-up that has repercussions for the rest of the season. Dutton Ranch does recruit some allies along the way, though, like Everett McKinney (Ed Harris), the friendly veterinarian in town who isn’t very fond of the Jackson family.
Much of the conflict in the first few episodes centers on Beth and Rip establishing themselves as a viable business. They need to figure out where to chop up and sell their new Angus herd, and how to navigate the land mines the Jackson family keeps laying around for them to step on (metaphorically … mostly).
That said, Dutton Ranch is not quite Yellowstone. Sheridan has passed the reins over to showrunner Chad Feehan (who’s already been fired), and this show feels like a much slower burn. To Feehan’s credit, he invests a lot of time building out this new world and its characters. We even get to spend lots of time with now 19-year-old Carter as he gets his first girlfriend and starts figuring out what he wants to do with his life.
Sometimes, that slower character focus yields a show with a bit less edge than you might be used to, especially when it comes to Beth’s character, who has found some unexpected zen despite losing roughly half her family. This was once the woman who tore random men apart at bars and had insane screaming fits. To be fair, her behavior wasn’t always popular among viewers, but you can’t help but feel the rest of the show has been sanded down alongside her.
That said, critics were only given the first four of nine episodes, so there’s plenty of time for Dutton Ranch to pick up steam and build on what is still a decently entertaining foundation with an impressive cast who seem up to the challenge.
How to watch: New episodes of Dutton Ranch air Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on the Paramount Network and stream on Paramount+.
But that’s not all …
Amadeus: If you’re craving an adaptation about one of the classical greats, this series written by Joe Barton (Black Doves) is tackling the fictionalized story of Mozart that originated in Alexander Pushkin’s 1830 play Mozart and Salieri (and subsequently, the 1984 film). Stretched out into five episodes, Will Sharpe plays Mozart, a 25-year-old who arrives in Vienna to not only meet his future wife but a composer who would change his life. — New episodes air Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on STARZ and stream on the STARZ app.
📺 Stream it
My recommendation: The Other Bennet Sister
Why you should watch it: We’re all probably familiar with Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen’s beloved 1813 novel that has been adapted a million times (my household is partial to the 2005 Oscar-nominated film adaptation). In 2020, British writer Janice Hadlow expanded the story in her book, The Other Bennet Sister. The BBC/BritBox adaptation of Hadlow’s book by Sarah Quintrell and Maddie Dai is nothing but delightful.
The Other Bennet Sister returns to Pride and Prejudice’s scene of the crime: A Regency-era story of a family with only daughters and a micro-managing mother (Ruth Jones) who is trying to marry them off to men of decent reputation. But one daughter keeps getting in the way. Enter Mary (Ella Bruccoleri), the awkward duckling of the Bennet family, whose new spectacles and bookish nature aren’t helping her to find a mate. Her (evil) mother won’t even let her participate in dances or marry the kind but not wealthy optometrist in town, out of fear that she could harm the family’s reputation and her more likable sisters’ chances of finding a match.
Mary really comes into her own when she leaves home for London after being hired by her uncle and his wife to tutor their kids. There, exposed to a more metropolitan life and a new social crowd, she meets two men with whom she bonds on a more intellectual level, developing something of a love triangle with William Ryder (Laurie Davidson) and Tom Hayward (Dónal Finn)
There are, of course, Pride and Prejudice Easter eggs for Austen fans. Mr. Darcy (Victor Pilard) pops in every now and again, and Mr. Collins (Ryan Sampson) plays something of a pivotal character for Mary’s journey. But it’s really a whole new coming-of-age story, filled with whimsy and perfectly paced over 10 half-hour episodes.
Yes, this ends up being something of a rom-com — but what’s most cathartic to experience is Mary’s process of figuring out what makes her happy outside of the expectations of marriage. Plus, the gowns!
How to watch: All 10 episodes of The Other Bennet Sister are streaming on BritBox.
My bonus recommendation: Couples Therapy
Why you should watch it: Couples Therapy is about couples in therapy, but it is also about how these relationships are microcosms for what is actually happening in the world, which is part of what makes it so compelling to watch. Dr. Orna Guralnik, a psychotherapist in New York, is our guide; over the course of a season we watch as she helps four couples navigate a wide range of issues, from infidelity to polyamory.
The first episode of the fifth season, which you can jump into without having seen any previous episodes, opens with a couple who are at odds over politics. The wife is a Democrat and staunch supporter of women’s rights; the husband is a Republican who feels misunderstood because he too cares about their daughters but can’t seem to find common ground in their relationship.
They argue about it in front of Guralnik during their session, and she later points out in a voiceover that relationships function as mini political systems: They internalize the broader culture’s polarization, and it becomes a point of conflict in the actual relationship.
Guralnik’s commentary is always incisive and thoughtful. I often have to pause an episode and analyze what she’s saying. Sometimes she brings her cases to another therapist who can help coach her around what she’s struggling with in session. In other cases, she will attend a larger support group of psychotherapists who can offer advice and act as a sounding board. It takes a village!
It helps that the docuseries is filmed softly, with a gentle score and excellent editing. I find myself strangely attached to the couples by the end of the season, feeling along with them as they find breakthroughs and revelations.
Sometimes I find myself understanding a dynamic I might otherwise have scoffed at, like a throuple that Guralnik took on last season. In one case, a Palestinian client clashes with Guralnik, who was raised in Israel, over their differing political perspectives.
The intimacy of Couples Therapy stays with you after you watch. Personally, it makes me want to be a better human and someday, when I’m not single, a better partner. If that’s not effective television, I don’t know what is.
How to watch: All nine episodes of Couples Therapy’s fifth season are available to stream if you have Paramount+ Premium Plan. If not, you can catch new back-to-back episodes weekly on Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Paramount+ With Showtime.
But that’s not all …
Rivals: If you’re looking for something from a more recent time period, Rivals — back for another acclaimed season — tackles the mid-1980s and a rivalry between British MP Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) and Tony, Lord Baddingham (David Tennant). It is quite the juicy romp, capturing the full excess of the ‘80s in all of its glory with loads of comedy along the way.. — Both seasons are streaming on Hulu.
The Boroughs: If you’re missing Stranger Things, the Duffer Brothers have produced a science fiction drama that has the potential to fill the Hawkins-sized gap in our hearts. This time, residents of a picturesque retirement community have to band together to stop an otherworldly force. The drama is anchored by a fantastic cast including Alfred Molina, Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard and Bill Pullman. — All eight episodes are streaming on Netflix starting May 21.
💎 Hidden gems
My recommendation: Mr. Bigstuff
Why you should watch it: A raucous comedy from the U.K. has quietly made its way stateside to Hulu. Mr. Bigstuff is created and written by Ryan Sampson, who stars in the series as Glen, a somewhat meek sales associate who works at World of Carpets and is having trouble angling for a promotion. He needs the money though, to raise funds for his wedding to fiancée Kirsty (Harriet Webb).
As he’s trying to muster the confidence to change his life, Lee — his much bolder and chaotic estranged brother — returns into his life. Lee’s played by Danny Dyer, who won a BAFTA for the role. You may recognize Sampson from playing Mr. Collins on The Other Bennet Sister, but this is his first project as its auteur.
If the estranged brothers plot is sounding familiar, you might also be aware of Richard Gadd’s Half Man, which explores similar themes but under much, much darker circumstances.
Mr. Bigstuff is much more interested in extracting comedy out of the situation. Lee’s audacity definitely gets the brothers in trouble — like when they get into an altercation to the point of police involvement at a Chinese restaurant for demanding to move to a table further away from the bathroom — but it infuses Glen with new energy to take control of his life (and actually do something about his erectile dysfunction).
There’s a Tony Soprano element to Lee, which is fun to watch. If crass hijinks and dry British humor are up your alley, Mr. Bigstuff is worth the binge.
How to watch: Both seasons of Mr. Bigstuff are streaming on Hulu.
That’s the end of this week’s episode, but there’ll always be more TV to watch. I’ll be back on June 1 with new recommendations.
Think there’s something missing that deserves my TV time? Let me know what else I should have on my radar in the comments below!
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