This week, a lusty “Outlander” prequel arrives to steam up your TV and give romance lovers a boost. We review that, along with Jason Momoa’s epic Apple TV+ series about the unification of Hawaii, the 10-part second season of the comedy “Platonic” with Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen and a new Disney+ animated series based on “Black Panther.”
They are all out this week, along with the stellar family film “Sketch,” which lands in theaters Aug. 6.
Here’s our roundup.
“Outlander: Blood of My Blood”: Those not versed in the popular “Outlander” historical fantasy franchise created by author Diana J. Gabaldon and then adapted into a successful Starz TV series might want to sample a dram or two of this 10-part prequel. I polished off two episodes that were made available in advance and not only was each enjoyable but they made me want to start digging into the interconnected time-shifting timelines. I even considered starting where the book phenom began. In this sexy and romantic outing — said to the eighth and final season of the series — the focus shifts between two love stories – the 18th-century romance of Jamie Fraser’s parents, Brain Fraser (Jamie Roy) and Ellen MacKenzie (Harriet Slater; and the time-traveling pickle that happens between former World War I-era British soldier Henry Beauchamp (Jeremy Irvine) and letter censor employee Julia Moriston (Hermione Corfield). There’s a lot of family background and drama to set up, which explains the need for the first episode to clock in at nearly 80 minutes. But the episode never lags, as it creates indelible characters, peppers in a few spicy moments and revels in the period details of the time, all richly brought to life. The second episode primarily sets up the passionate letter-exchange and marriage of the traumatized Henry and the smart, resourceful Julia. Both trip their way into the center of those magical stones and then get separated in 18th-century Scotland. “Outlander” series showrunner Matthew B. Roberts gives us four worthy — and, yes, appealing — lead actors and characters, all of whom also have acting chops to match their striking looks. There are, of course, bagpipes spouting off, clan skirmishes, muddy games and critter hunts, and kilts and scheming aplenty. The Highlands are almost as gorgeous as the cast. I’m hooked and expect “Outlander” fans and newbie addicts will be too. Details: 3 stars out of 4; first episode drops Aug. 8 on STARZ.
“Eyes of Wakanda”: “Black Panther” mythology comes together with ancient legend in Disney+’s speedy and all-too short (four 30ish minute episodes only!) episodic animated streaming series. Director/executive producer Todd Harris emphasizes the action and does it with style to spare for each of these exciting, briskly told tales united by the actions of a secret Wakanda group called the Hatut Zaraze. They’re on a mission to retrieve stolen Wakanda artifacts. Each episode introduces a fleet of new characters and relates a crackling good Indy Jones/Marvel-like story, from a fierce female Wakanda warrior challenging a rogue male Wakanda warrior who’s stolen those artifacts and is now terrorizing 1260 BC Crete and on to a Wakandan chumming around with Achilles so he can snatch back another stolen artifact. Oakland native Ryan Coogler and Zini Coogler and the team behind Proximity Media serve as executive producers, and that does guarantee quality. But “Eyes of Wakanda” is a triumph for Harris, whose storytelling flair leaps from genre to genre, from a sand-and-sandal epic to a swashbuckling pirate adventure. The bummer is that there are only four episodes. Details: 3 stars; now available on Disney+.
“Platonic Season 2”: The primary reasons to tune into the sophomore season of Apple TV+’s thoroughly enjoyable but risk-adverse series about the exploits of the likable but L.A. neurotic besties Syliva (Rose Byrne) and Will (Seth Rogen) are: 1. Byrne. 2. Rogen. 3. Luke MacFarlane. Season 2 allows all three a wide comedic berth in which to play around with their characters’ own-worst-enemy selves. And they’re up for the challenge. The three characters’ foibles hide a darker side as they fumble about trying to break free from the many neuroses that bind them. Created by Francesca Delbanco and Nicholas Stoller (“Forgetting Sarah Marshall”), the series is witty and fun but too restrained at times, not allowing the characters to go deep enough into the wounded parts of who they are. While the wildly funny banter between Byrne and Rogen produce comedic gold, there’s an unwillingness to allow any of these characters to really plumb their dark places (case in point, MacFarlene’s Jeopardy-obsessed lawyer who undergoes a change that gets resolved too easily). If you’re going to put these characters out on a hook, don’t gloss over the resolution. But, hey, this is a comedy foremost and much of this is hilarious as Sylvia helps plan Will’s upcoming nuptials to ultra-rich entrepreneur Jenna (Rachel Rosenbloom). Wishy-washy about her career, Sylvia sticks her foot in her mouth time after time, and you can’t help but love her since Byrne is such a joy — in every scene — as are her two male leads. Carla Gallo adds some kicks as Sylvia’s podcasting chum. My favorite episode has a bit of “The Studio” to it and involves a tiresome heartthrob whose every whim gets met. That show goes a bit dark, and maybe next season it’ll fully embrace that edginess. Details: 3 stars; two episodes available Aug. 6 with one followed every week until Oct. 1.
“Chief of War”: Apple TV+ must have spent a bundle on this intense, violent 10 parter that’s spearheaded by Jason Momoa and plunges into the blood-drenched history of the Hawaiian Islands of the 18th century. The gripping production, complete with a stirring Hans Zimmer score, unerringly depicts that it took a whole hell of a lot of sweat, blood and guts to unify those islands. Co-creators Momoa and Thomas Pa’a Sibbett have gone to passionate lengths to nail the details (the costumes alone suck you into another era) and highlight traditions (a sled race down a cliff side is absolutely thrilling) as well as Hawaiian culture – all that have gotten such short shrift in American movies, series and books. That alone makes “Chief of War” noteworthy and commendable, and helps us to overlook minor issues such as an overreliance on graphic violence, especially near its begging for a sequel finale. Otherwise, the transportative series ranks as one of the best historical streaming epics yet from the streamer. It does chart how King Kamehameha (Kaina Makua) led the charge for unification and how he strained relationships, but mostly focuses on warrior Kaʻiana (Momoa) who left Kauai and supported and then clashed with Kamehameha and journeyed outside of the island realm where he became an iconic figure. “Chief of War” is invigorating, compelling and sweeping (New Zealand subbing in often for the islands) and also give Momoa one of his meatiest roles yet. He’s never been better. It by no means sugarcoats how bloody that war got, and though it isn’t as narratively daring as “Shogun,” it is on the same playing field as that Emmy winner when it comes to the pure spectacle of it all and the level of exacting attention it pays to cultural detail. Details: 3½ stars, new episodes drop through Sept. 19.
“Strange Harvest”: Director/screenwriter Stuart Ortiz understands that the found-footage horror subgenre has been pumped dry. So he’s come up with a fresh approach that’s reminiscent of it but is different enough and works: the fictional true-crime documentary. All the conceits of a true-crime film are there – the lead detective interviews, shaky images from police-cams, the salacious headlines, the nauseating crime scene photos, the TV news reports, teary interviews with friends and family. They get thrown into this lurid serial killer manhunt of an elusive murderer who collects body parts and uses leeches for insane reasons. The slayings are as gruesome as any that popped up in the “Hannibal” TV series. While the climax sputters a bit, the rest is taut and engrossing. As the dogged and tormented detectives Kirby and Apple, Peter Zizzo and Terri Apple feel like they walked right out of the cop shop. Ortiz knows the true-crime genre ever so well and gets every morbid detail right. So much so that it’ll have you scurrying to do a search for the “Mr. Shiny” serial killer. I’ll save you the trouble. I did it already. Details: 3 stars; opens Aug. 8 in area theaters.
“Shaman”: An American missionary family hides dark secrets, even a preference for kinky sex, as they piously insinuate themselves into the lives of a small tight-knit community of indigenous people in Ecuador. Their faith gets shaken to its core due to the omnipresence of a devil in a cave. Director Antonio Negret’s affecting horror movie comes with a blistering message about the soul-crushing corruption of unwanted Christian conversion and packs a punch as controlling mom Candice (Sarah Canning) summons an exorcist to expunge the devil inside her son Elliot (Jett Klyne). Candice – played to the nines by Canning – is too taken with herself to realize that she and the family –which includes a recovering heroin addict husband (Daniel Gillies) – are way out of their league and have demons already chasing inside themselves, making her comeuppance all that more satisfying to behold. Details: 3 stars; available on digital Aug. 8.
Contact Randy Myers at [email protected].
