Cheddar recommends the return of British royalty in "The Crown" Season 5, the Jennifer Lawrence drama "Causeway," Sherlock's smarter little sister in "Enola Holmes 2," the animated "Wendell & Wild," the OG "Black Panther," and the PBS explaier "Crypto Decoded."
The Crown Season 5 - Netflix
Picked by Growth Associate Keara O’Driscoll
In your loudest singing voice:
GOD SAVE OUR GRACIOUS QUEEN, LONG LIVE OUR NOBLE QUEEN, GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!
Finally, The Crown is back for its fifth season. After the real world loss of Queen Elizabeth II, it’s nice to see her (or at least a fictional version of her) again on our screens, especially on a show that paints her in such a flattering light. However, rumor has it that this season will not be so flattering to some other members of the royal family, including the newest King of England. This season will tap into some not-so-great moments from the royal family's recent history, including the cringiest of the cringe, “tampongate” (if you know, you know, and I’m sorry you know) and the tragic death of Princess Diana. Needless to say this will be a difficult season in terms of topics, but nonetheless, maybe the most important to date.
Causeway - Apple TV+
Picked by Reporter Alex Vuocolo
When Jennifer Lawrence first hit the scene in 2010 with Winter's Bone, many critics correctly heralded the launch of a major career. Yet in the decade-plus since, Lawrence has mostly avoided the kind of understated material that made her reputation. With Causeway, an Apple TV+ exclusive, the blockbuster star is back in her creative element. She plays an Afghan war vet who is recovering from a serious brain injury and must return home to New Orleans until she can redeploy. The story that unfolds, which was penned by author Ottessa Moshfegh, is a simple slice-of-life drama about recovery, but it gives Lawrence plenty of opportunities to show her incredible range.
Enola Holmes 2 - Netflix
Picked by Sr. News Editor Dina Ross
Sherlock Holmes' sister Enola is back for another big adventure. Unhappy playing second fiddle to her more famous detective brother, Enola (played by Millie Bobby Brown) sets off to find her own big case, and that she does. When a young woman goes missing, Enola digs high and low to find her. It's a lighthearted mystery, good for both your family and fans of the Stranger Things star.
Wendell & Wild - Netflix
Picked by Digital Editor Mike Nam
From the director of stop-motion animation classics Coraline and The Nightmare Before Christmas, Henry Selick, with a screenplay co-written by Jordan Peele, comes another delightfully creepy cartoon about a young orphan girl who raises two demon brothers to the land of the living. Featuring the voicework of Peele, along with his longtime collaborator Keegan-Michael Key, the quirky animated feature will haunt you well into the holiday season.
Black Panther - Disney+
Picked by Reporter Lawrence Banton
With the sequel to Black Panther set to hit theaters this weekend, it seems fitting to revisit the OG film. In the original, T'Challa, a.k.a. the Black Panther, returns to Wakanda after the death of his father T'Chaka to take up his new role as king. One of the interesting things about this film is that while it encompasses everything that an superhero action flick should, there is a deeper storyline that examines the complicated relationship between Black Americans and Africans, which plays out between the character Killmonger, played by Michael B. Jordan, and T'Challa.
Crypto Decoded - PBS
Picked by Newsletter Writer Graison Dangor
If you, like me, are not a cryptocurrency expert, PBS could not have chosen a better time to release a documentary to demystify the opaque, jargony topic. It premiered on Wednesday as FTX, one of the largest crypto exchanges, was in the middle of collapsing, a hot mess that has vaporized billions in the value of Bitcoin and other currencies. So let's all watch this and share what we learned next week, okay?
