Weekend Binge-Watch: Top Picks
The current streaming landscape is packed with high-intensity entertainment, blending athletic drama with gripping crime narratives. Whether you are looking for laughs or suspense, this weekend offers a variety of compelling options.
‘Ride or Die’ (Prime Video)
Ever wondered what would happen if the iconic duo from Thelma & Louise were transformed into elite action heroes? Prime Video’s new eight-episode series, Ride or Die, explores exactly that. The story follows Debbie (Octavia Spencer), a former attorney turned bored housewife, who discovers that her best friend of many years, Judith (Hannah Waddingham), is secretly a lethal assassin.
When Debbie’s safety is compromised, Judith swings into action to protect her using every weapon at her disposal. While the pacing might feel slightly stretched across 50-minute episodes—a format that could have arguably worked better as a tight feature film—the show is anchored by the undeniable charisma of its leads. Watching Spencer and Waddingham dive into both comedic and physical roles makes this a fun watch.
‘Lucky’ (Apple TV+)
Apple TV+ continues its streak of high-quality programming with Lucky, a crime thriller starring Anya Taylor-Joy. She portrays Luciana “Lucky” Armstrong, a seasoned con artist whose luck evaporates after a multi-million dollar heist goes sideways. With her husband and partner, Cary (Drew Starkey), missing and a dangerous mob boss played by Annette Bening hunting her down, Lucky must rely on her sharp instincts to survive.
Taylor-Joy delivers a standout performance, capturing a character who is equal parts dangerous femme fatale and vulnerable protagonist. The first two episodes are currently available, with new installments dropping every Wednesday through August 19.
‘Quarterback’ Season 3 (Netflix)
Since its 2023 debut, the Quarterback series has become a must-watch for sports fans and non-fans alike by humanizing the stars behind the gear. The third season shifts the lens to four specific players across seven episodes: Joe Flacco, Cam Ward, Baker Mayfield, and Jayden Daniels.
The season highlights compelling personal narratives, such as rookie Cam Ward navigating his first year in the NFL and veteran Joe Flacco handling a surprise trade to a rival team. The series reinforces the idea that the drama unfolding in the personal lives of these athletes is often more captivating than the games themselves.
‘The Hawk’ (Netflix)
Will Ferrell returns to the screen in the new comedy The Hawk, playing a past-his-prime golf professional determined to win the only major trophy he has never secured: the U.S. Open. Standing in his way is his peak-performance rival, Golden Fisk (Luke Wilson).
While the series has seen a mixed reception from critics, it remains an intriguing look at Ferrell playing a character defined by his own ego. The ensemble cast, featuring Molly Shannon, Jimmy Tatro, and Fortune Feimster, adds significant comedic weight to the production.