Melissah Yang and Patricia Karounos share their picks of can’t-miss TV shows and movies that have them texting up a storm. Trust, you will be, too.
February is here, which means that love is undoubtedly in the air — or, at the very least, we’re being told it is by the flurry of Valentine’s Day gifts, fashion, and date-night ideas filling our feeds. Naturally, romance is also taking over our screens. Just look at One Day, a new adaptation of the 2009 romance novel about the decades-long relationship between two unlikely college friends who navigate the emotional roller coaster that is life together. There’s also Mr. & Mrs. Smith (yes, another remake/retelling), which takes a more serious look at what it really means to be married — if you also happen to be spies played by Maya Erskine and Donald Glover. And of course, the return of one of the most popular reality TV dating shows.
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But if you’re not in the mood for love (or just need a break from the Valentine’s Day festivities), there’s still plenty to check out — like the newest season of Abbott Elementary or the highly anticipated live-action adaptation of beloved series Avatar: The Last Airbender. We’ve also got the first superhero flick of 2024 — Madame Web, which stars Dakota Johnson as a woman who gets Spider-Man-adjacent powers — and the star-studded action film Argylle, which is looking to provide both laughs and thrills. So, sit back and let the vibes guide your watching. That’s what we’ll be doing this month.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
If you’ve seen the 2005 film version of Mr. & Mrs. Smith (starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, before their tumultuous relationship dominated headlines), you may be expecting this new take to be quite similar: a bombastic, sexed-up tale about two competing super assassins who just so happen to be married. And while there’s certainly action and romance to be found in the eight-episode series, co-creators Donald Glover and Francesca Sloane (a writer on Glover’s dramedy Atlanta) had something different in mind.
Instead, marriage — and all the work that goes into making a relationship work — takes center stage here. Glover and Maya Erskine star as John and Jane Smith (not their real names), two strangers who work at a top-secret spy agency that requires them to go undercover as a married couple. It isn’t long before the two develop actual feelings for each other, making their jobs a lot more dangerous and their lives much more complicated.
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Though the show’s ambitious premise often results in clashing tones and ideas — most episodes, for example, are centered around a mission, but you never really fully understand what that mission is — Glover and Erskine are the reason to watch. John and Jane fall fast and hard, and the actors bring an easy, engaging rapport to their dynamic, whether they’re lavishing in the honeymoon phase or navigating an emotion-fuelled argument. It’s especially great to see Erskine, one of the brilliant and hilarious stars of Pen15, show off a new side of her talents. In my mind, that’s more than enough to accept this mission.
Where to watch: Prime Video
When: February 2
Watch if you like: Atlanta, Pen15
When: February 2
Watch if you like: Atlanta, Pen15
Argylle
“The greater the spy, the bigger the lie.” That’s the tagline for both the movie Argylle and the fictional books (and real-life one) it covers, and it rings true in the year’s first big box-office bet. In the film, author Elly Conway’s wildly successful Argylle novels about the titular secret agent have spawned a massive franchise of action figures, T-shirts, and a devoted fanbase. But when she suddenly finds herself in the middle of a real-life espionage plot that’s eerily similar to the events of her books, nothing is as it seems and the line between fiction and reality blurs in a blink.
The movie, the latest from Kingsman filmmaker Matthew Vaughn, features an all-star ensemble: Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Henry Cavill, John Cena, Ariana DeBose, Samuel L. Jackson, Catherine O’Hara, and includes Dua Lipa’s acting debut.
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Argylle is part fun, part camp, and 100% meta. It’s self-referential with a wink (and has already led to some conspiracy theories about who the real Elly Conway is). The twists and turns will have you questioning if you can believe what you’re seeing, and while things get a little wild in the third act, the journey is somehow still worth the ride.
Where to watch: Theaters, Apple TV+ (at a later date)
When: February 2
Watch if you like: The Kingsman
When: February 2
Watch if you like: The Kingsman
Abbott Elementary Season 3
Attention, students: Class is back in session. And, thanks to the strike-delayed third season of Abbott Elementary — aka the best network comedy in years — I’ve never been more excited to be heading to school.
It’s been a while since we’ve been with the lovable cast of characters on newly-minted Emmy winner Quinta Brunson’s sitcom, so here’s a refresher: At the end of season 2, the irresistible will they/won’t they teacher duo Janine (Brunson) and Gregory (Tyler James Williams) decided it would be best if they remain friends for now. This means Janine is embarking down a path of growth and self-discovery, while still navigating the day-to-day chaos of working at a public school in Philadelphia. Regardless of where the story stands romantically, Abbott Elementary is the surest bet for guaranteed laughs we have at the moment, so it being back on TV on a weekly basis can only be a good thing.
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Where to watch: Hulu, Wednesdays on ABC
When: February 7
Watch if you like: Parks & Recreation, Superstore
When: February 7
Watch if you like: Parks & Recreation, Superstore
One Day
When I first heard that Netflix was making a new TV series based on romantic drama One Day, I’ll admit that my first thought was: Why would anyone put themselves through that again? I’ve both read the 2009 bestselling novel by David Nicholls and watched the 2011 film adaptation (starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess), and — spoiler alert, I guess? — had my heart shattered into tiny pieces as a result. And if you, like me, have experienced either story, you also know that tears are basically inevitable.
It turns out that I’m a masochist because I ended up watching the show anyway — and was totally charmed. The plot will likely be familiar: each episode is set on the same date over a number of years (starting in 1988), and follows the relationship between Emma (Ambika Mod) and Dexter (The White Lotus’ Leo Woodall). The pair meet on the night of their university graduation (having run in vastly different social circles), enjoy an amusing (yet ultimately failed) attempt at a one-night stand, and their lives end up becoming irrevocably intertwined in the aftermath. Because the story unfolds over 14 episodes, there’s more time to get to know both Emma and Dexter as individuals and watch their dynamic change over the years. It’s tender, romantic, joyful, infuriating, and so easy to get swept up in. Just arm yourself with Kleenex — and don’t say I didn’t try to warn you.
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Madame Web
“He was in the Amazon with my mom when she was researching spiders right before she died.” It was with those words from last year’s trailer that Madame Web hilariously (and inadvertently) created the first meme for a 2024 movie, which, in my opinion, has already made it an important part of the pop culture zeitgeist.
A meme does not make a movie, however, and thankfully, this superhero flick appears to have a lot more going for it other than accidental comedy. Adapted from a Marvel Comics, Madame Web is not technically part of the MCU and is instead connected to other Sony Spider-Man films like Venom and Morbius. The technicalities don’t really matter, though; here’s what you actually need to know: Dakota Johnson stars as Cassandra Webb, a NYC paramedic who develops clairvoyance. This new power brings up memories from her past, while Cassandra also (seemingly randomly) meets a trio of young women (played by Sydney Sweeney, Celeste O’Connor, and Isabela Merced) who are being threatened by a mysterious figure.
It’s been a while since there’s been a superhero movie that’s really captured attention, and Madame Web is looking to set itself apart. It’s a still-too-rare example of a woman-led comic book adaptation (though there have been more in recent years), and its focus on a protagonist whose otherworldly powers are more cerebral — so we probably won’t be seeing much Hulk-level strength here, which could be a much-needed change of pace.
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Love Is Blind Season 6
Okay, okay, we know Love Is Blind season 5 was an utter disaster (with just two couples seen making it out of the pods and only one saying “I do” at the altar), but season 6 feels like we’re getting back to the roots of the show and re-cements Netflix’s reality dating experiment as must-watch TV.
Once again, singles are thrust into dating pods separated by walls to find emotional connections and fall in love sight unseen. This time though, we’re in Charlotte, North Carolina, and with it comes a whole host of complex conversations and straight-up mess. The one thing LIB has consistently brought to the table amid a slew of dating shows (some good, most not so good) is that its condensed timeline and forced focus on the inside before bringing in the outside mirror important dynamics in any given relationship. There’s something we all can relate to and season 6 is no different.
It really does feel like most of this season’s cast are there with true intentions to find their happily ever after (and not just vying to be a sponcon influencer), and with a show whose entire premise is based on authentic connections without the fluff, that’s all we could ever want.
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This Is Me… Now: A Love Story
I’ll be honest: I have absolutely no idea what Jennifer Lopez’s This Is Me... Now: A Love Story is supposed to be. Is it a super-long music video, or a visual companion to her upcoming album (called This Is Me… Now), à la Lemonade? Is it a narrative movie? A musical? J.Lo’s magnum opus that reinvents the media of film and music in ways we’ve never seen before? I think only Lopez can actually tell us.
Naturally, the trailer does nothing to clear this mystery up. It reveals a mix of genuinely unexpected visuals (Lopez walking through a city that looks like Gotham! Group dancing down a wedding aisle! Something that looks like a dystopian factory!), lines of dialogue that can barely be comprehended (“Being with you feels like home. But I left home for a reason.”), and an eclectic array of celebrity cameos (including Sofía Vergara, Trevor Noah, Derek Hough, Post Malone, Kim Petras, Keke Palmer, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Jay Shetty, and, obviously, Ben Affleck). Also of no help? The official synopsis, which reads: “Jennifer has created a narrative-driven cinematic odyssey, steeped in mythological storytelling and personal healing” that’ll show “her journey to love through her own eyes” and be “an introspective retrospective of Jennifer’s resilient heart.” Clearly, everything about this is going to be very normal.
This could either be a can’t-look-away-from-it trainwreck or one of this year’s greatest pieces of entertainment — and I can’t wait to find out which it is.
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Where to watch: Prime Video
When: February 16
Watch if you like: Marry Me, the music of Jennifer Lopez
When: February 16
Watch if you like: Marry Me, the music of Jennifer Lopez
Avatar: The Last Airbender Live-Action Adaptation
In Avatar: The Last Airbender, there are four nations — Water Tribe, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and Air Nomads — whose benders can control their individual elements. For 1,000 years, the nations have lived in harmony, largely maintained by the Avatar: a once-in-a-generation figure who is the only person that has the ability to master all four elements. So when one nation vies to take over, young Aang goes on a journey with his friends to save the world.
Getting this show on our screens has been a longggg journey. Netflix first announced it was creating a live-action adaptation of the beloved animated series back in 2018. We got our first cast photos last June, and in the months that followed, more looks dropped bit by bit to huge buzz and excitement. There’s a reason Avatar holds a special place for so many people who grew up watching the original on Nickelodeon (which, if you want to watch ahead of the live action premiere, you can also catch on Netflix).
While it’s a familiar coming-of-age quest narrative, the series cuts much deeper with its lessons like so many animes that influenced it. This is one your friends and friends of friends will be talking about — especially once they see the benders’ powers come to life on screen.
Where to watch: Netflix
When: February 22
Watch if you like: Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series (duh)
When: February 22
Watch if you like: Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series (duh)
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Summer House Season 8
After last year’s Vanderpump Rules’ Scandoval, it seemed nothing else could further disrupt the Bravoverse. But Summer House, aka Bravo’s East Coast show for young people, went up and said hold my beer (or Loverboy) and dropped a massive bomb last September when OG cast member Carl Radke called off his engagement to fellow OG Lindsay Hubbard — WHILE the cameras were rolling. To say we were shooketh is an understatement. There’s been a ton said in the press about what did or didn’t happen, what caused the split, and fans were quick to chime in with their own thoughts and theories. Now, we finally get to witness for ourselves the coup de grace that led to the breakup.
Sure, expect the usual themed parties and housemate shenanigans — after all, summer should be fun! — but the main course will most definitely be Radke and Hubbard’s split. (Exhibit A: the explosive trailer.) Time to make a sandwich (or two) because we’re hungry and ready to eat.
Where to watch: Peacock, Thursdays on Bravo at 9 p.m.
When: February 22
Watch if you like: Vanderpump Rules, Winter House
When: February 22
Watch if you like: Vanderpump Rules, Winter House
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