Following a busy week here at ScreenTimes that included our very own Jonathan Reed sitting down to talk with Phil Lord and Chris Miller about ‘The Afterparty’, a look at tvOS 15.3 from Sigmund Judge and plenty of news on upcoming TV+ releases, here’s our guide to your week ahead on Apple TV.
Apple TV+
Suspicion
S1, E1-2 | TV-MA
When the son of a prominent American businesswoman (Uma Thurman) is kidnapped from a New York hotel, four seemingly ordinary British citizens who were at the hotel on the night in question become suspects. As they find themselves in a cat and mouse race to evade the combined forces of the National Crime Agency and the FBI to prove their innocence, it becomes apparent that not everyone can be trusted. This paranoia-fuelled, trans-Atlantic thriller features plenty of twists and turns. You can read our full review by Jonathan Reed now.
Servant
S3, E3 | 30 min | TV-MA
Season 3 of M. Night Shyamalan’s ‘Servant’ has taken the show’s suspense and paranoia to all new heights, which looks set to continue this week. In the third episode, Julian digs for the truth about Jericho while mysterious new visitors at the local park begin to worry Leanne. Don’t forget to check out our conversations with Ruper Grint and Toby Kebbell as well as Lauren Ambrose on the show’s return.
The Afterparty
S1, E4 | 33 min | TV-MA
As the mysterious events behind Xavier’s murder continue to unfold, Chelsea reveals her not-so-innocent motive: revenge, plain and simple. Her recollection is a tense psychological thriller. After only four episodes,’ The Afterparty’ is already proving to be one of the most entertaining shows on television and its marketing has been equally as fun and creative. If you’re still morning the loss of Xavier, you can now listen to his final tracks on this new EP, which is available to stream now. Don’t forget to also check out the official video for ‘Imma Live Forever’ below.
Apple Fitness+
It’s American Heart Month and Apple Fitness+ has plenty of new workouts this week to get you moving and help close your rings. There’s also two special awards that be earned throughout February - the Lunar New Year Challenge, which you can earn by completing a 20 minute workout by the 15th of the month and the Unity Challenge. In honour of Black History and looking to our future together, you can earn this award by closing your Move ring seven days in a row during February. Here at ScreenTimes HQ, we’ve been enjoying the new 20 minute HiiT workout with Coach Kim, which celebrates Lunar New Year and features a fantastic upbeat anthems playlist featuring Kool & The Gang, Sister Sledge and more.
Apple Arcade
Bridge Constructor+
Puzzle | 4+
The popular physics-based simulation-puzzle game arrives on Apple Arcade this week. In the game, you have to prove yourself as an accomplished bridge builder across 40 different levels. You’ll build bridges over deep valleys, canals, and rivers and stress tests reveal whether the bridge you build can withstand the daily continual use from cars, trucks and super-heavy tank trucks. The Apple Arcade version also introduces the ‘SlopeMania’ and ‘Trains’ add-ons with 42 combined new levels to enjoy.
Apple Arcade Library Updates
This week's most notable Apple Arcade title updates include Charrua Soccer which celebrates its 2 year anniversary with daily events giving you a second chance to unlock all the previous event based characters and Super Leap Day which adds a new theme called Sunken Island and new bonus game Fishing Day. Other updates include bug fixes and stability improvements to Solitaire Stories, What The Golf? and World of Demons.
ScreenTimes Apple TV Recommendations
C'mon C'mon
TV app | 1 hr 45 min | R
Sigmund: “The latest feature from Mike Mills, ‘C’mon C’mon stars Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny, a single man trying to find his way in the world following the death of his mother. A radio journalist by trade, his latest project sees him interview kids about their lives in America, their perspective on the world, whether adults listen to them, and their future. Unbeknown to him, those roles soon switch when he’s asked to take care of his nephew (Woody Norman). Captured in beautiful black and white by Robbie Ryan across New York, on first glance this is a very gentle film in the same mold as Woody Allen’s Manhattan. In reality, its an incredibly important film about grief, self discovery and the great weight of responsibility that comes with being a parent. One of the year's very best.”
How I Met Your Father
Hulu | 4 Episodes, New Episodes Every Tuesday | TV14
Devon: “Hilary Duff stars as Sophie in this sequel series to the beloved sitcom How I Met Your Mother. Created by Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger with original series creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas onboard as executive producers, this series has a similar premise to the original with its own twist. In the year 2050, Sophie tells her son about the night she met her father in 2022 and their ensuing love story. Let the speculation about the father’s identity commence!
This show hits a lot of notes for me. I loved the original series, and I’ve been a fan of Hilary Duff since I was a kid watching her on the Disney Channel. If Disney won’t give us the grown-up Lizzie McGuire reboot we were promised, at least we’ll get to see Duff find love in New York another way. It’s fun, quirky, and heartfelt like HIMYM was, maybe with a bit more irreverence thrown in thanks to streaming services following looser rules than network TV.
How I Met Your Father also stars Christopher Lowell, Francia Raisa, Suraj Sharma, Tom Ainsley, Tien Tran, and Kim Cattrall as Future Sophie. It’s available to stream on Hulu now and will hit Disney+ outside the U.S. on March 9.”
We Need To Talk About Cosby
Showtime | 4 Episodes, new episode every Sunday | TV-MA
Jonathan: “W. Kamau Bell is one of the smartest comedians around and with his show ‘United Shades of America’ examined some of America’s most divisive issues. In this new 4-part docuseries he examines how Bill Cosby fooled everyone for so long even though the clues were in plain sight all along. Instead of being a simple tear-down of a guilty man it’s an examination of a predator and how he infiltrated the culture so well. Featuring interviews with people who knew him and many who he inspired, it’s a sobering account of how sexual predators can so easily operate as well as looking at how the revelations have made people reexamine their relationship with their hero.”
Lego Star Wars: Castaways
Apple Arcade | Adventure | 9+
James: “Castaways might be the most fun I’ve ever had on Apple Arcade. In the game, players explore a colourful, mysterious island with endless character customisation and can play and battle with friends in a variety of ways or just play through the single player story. It provides a true social, open world role-playing experience on the platform.
Developer Gameloft has crafted a visually impressive world that feels alive and one that is simply a joy to spend time in. The game makes great use of the Lego multiverse and George Lucas’ beloved franchise with some hidden references that will have players grinning from ear-to-ear. It’s also taken the Apple Arcade community by storm and there’s never a shortage of players to team up with or new missions to undertake as you progress through each of the game’s class system rankings. The most recent update has also added a host of new interactive features to the island
Whether you’re battling a legion of Stormtroopers, collecting hidden items or taking part in an island podrace with your friends, Lego Star Wars: Castaways is the most fun you’ll have this side of a galaxy far, far away.”
New and Exclusive to the TV app This Week
Acorn TV:
- Help
ALLBLK:
- Double Cross - season 3
Comedy Central:
- South Park - season 25
Criterion:
- Sun Children
- Death on the Nile (1978)
- THE Discreet Charm Of The Bourgeoisie
- Magnificent Obsession, Written On The Wind, All That Heaven Allows
- Mississipi Mermaid
- Sweet Sweetback’s Baaddasssss Song, Don’t Play Us Cheap
- Love Meetings
- Odds Against Tomorrow
- Zebrahead
Crunchyroll / Adult Swim:
- Shenmue The Animation
Disney+:
- Torn
EPIX:
- Uunprotected Sets- season 3
ESPN+:
- 30 For 30: The Tuck Rule
HBO Max:
- Nightmare Alley
- Raised by Wolves - season 2
- Airheads
- Pump Up the Volume
- National Velvet - HD exclusive
- Cleopatra Jones - HD exclusive
- Libeled Lady - HD exclusive
- Inside Daisy Clover - HD exclusive
- Looney Tunes Cartoons Valentine’s Exttwavaganza!
- Cry Macho - back on HBO
- Rick & Morty - season 5
- Terry Bradshaw: Going Deep
- And Just Like That… The Documentary
- Travels With My Aunt - HD exclusive
- John Paul Jones
- Five Came Back
- Beau Brummell - HD exclusive
- Going Hollywood
- The Horn Blows at Midnight
- Hell’s Kitchen
- Gentlemen’s Fate
- Sunday In New York - HD exclusive
- The Dark Horse
- Jimmy the Gent - HD exclusive
- Death of a Scoundrel
- The World, The Flesh and The Devil - HD exclusive,
- Kongo
- Honolullu
Hulu:
- Pam & Tommy
- Nightmare Alley
- Small Engine Repair
- The Beta Test
- Hamburger Hill - also on Paramount+ and EPIX
- Beans
- Charli XCX: Alone Together
- Rick & Morty - season 5
- Hustle & Heat - Vivica A. Fox
- The Ambassador- also on Paramount+ and EPIX
Mubi:
- Looking For Venera
- Madelena- Brazilian drama with good visuals
- Honey Cigar - French drama
Netflix:
- Murderville
- Raising Dion - season 2
- Sweet Magnolias - season 2
- The Tinder Swindle
- Patsy and Loretta
- Django & Django
- Time
- Kid Cosmic
- My Best Friend Frank
- New York Prison Break: The Seduction of Joyce Mitchell
- Through My Window
- Looop Lapeta
- Dark Desire - season 2
- Finding Ola
- Gabby’s Dollhouse - season 4
Paramount+:
- The Deep House- also on Hulu and EPIX
- How It Ends
Peacock:
- Dragons Rescue Riders: Heroes of the Sky - season 2
- Balibo
Prime Video:
- Reacher
- BOook of Love
- Phat Tuesdays
- Flashback
- One Cut Two Cut
Showtime:
- Werewolves Within
- Sisters With Transistors
- American Insurrection
Shudder:
- Slapface
STARZ:
- Power Book IV: Force
- Summertime
TCM:
- Girl Shy
- The Long Night