From Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 to Sweet Tooth Season 2, Should You Add These To Your Watchlist?
These shows and movies have one big theme in common — friendship and the lengths someone will go to to help a friend — so should you watch them?
A Small Light
National Geographic brings the story of Miep Gies to life in their new biographical miniseries A Small Light. The show represents the real-life, unsung heroes who bravely helped hide Anne Frank’s family. Bel Powley delivers a fiercely layered performance as Miep Gies, Otto Frank’s secretary. What makes A Small Light stand out is the way that it makes the true story so accessible and relatable. They don’t play to the dark ending that we know is coming, but instead to the hope and life of the people we’re following.
We first meet Miep Gies as a carefree young woman going out with friends at bars and looking for a job. She is a modern woman in so many ways, from her frank discussion of politics to her lack of desire to have children. Over the course of the season Miep keeps her spirit, but grows so much as she works to try to help her friends survive the Holocaust. “I don’t like being called a hero because no one should ever think you have to be special to help others,” said the real-life Miep Gies. “Even an ordinary secretary or a housewife or a teenager can turn on a small light in a dark room." A Small Light is a beautiful tribute to the idea that you don’t have to be “the chosen one” to make a difference, you can be an everyday person working to do what’s right.
The first two episodes of A Small Light debut on National Geographic on May 1, with episodes hitting Disney+ and Hulu the next day.
Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret
Nearly fifty years after its debut, Judy Blume’s controversial-but-popular book Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret has finally been adapted for the big screen. The story follows 11-year-old Margaret Simon (Abby Ryder Fortson) who moves to a new town and begins questioning everything — life, friendship, religion, and when she’s finally going to go through puberty.
The book has been a staple for young girls growing up. I vividly remember reading both the “We must, we must increase our bust” and restaurant scenes, which both appear in the adaptation. The film portrays the awkwardness of growing up, but really shines when it centers on Margaret and her family. Instead it focuses more on vignettes, which worked in the book, but gave off a disconnected feeling in the movie.
Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret is playing in theaters.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3
Fresh off the events of The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special comes Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3. The film is the final chapter to the Guardians trilogy as the team goes on a dangerous mission that parallels with parts of Rocket Raccoon’s past resurfacing.
After so much superhero movie fatigue, the film is a refreshing and unexpected joy to watch. It carries tons of emotional weight, laughs, and action. There were a few moments that surprised me in mixed ways, but it’s a beautiful tribute to friends who are like family.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 opens in theaters on May 5.
School Spirits
In School Spirits, Maddie Nears (Peyton List) is a teen girl trapped in her high school while investigating her own mysterious disappearance. With the help of old friends in the real world and new friends in the afterlife, she goes on a crime-solving journey… but the closer she gets to the truth, the more secrets and lies she discovers.
While the show can be uneven at times, things really pick up in the finale and when they explore more of the lore of the ghosts. They go to some unexpected places that will definitely have you hooked by the end.
School Spirits is streaming on Paramount+.
Sweet Tooth Season 2
The first season of Sweet Tooth was whimsical and captivating as it followed Gus, a hybrid deer boy, as he searches for a new beginning in a post-apocalyptic world with a poacher turned ally named Tommy Jepperd.
As the show returns for season two, most of the time is spend following Gus and the other hybrid kids trapped in the Preserve that’s been taken over by Abbot. Because of that, Sweet Tooth loses some of that storybook magic in favor of a story that feels limited in scope. While the cast is still fun to watch, the stakes don’t feel as high as they could and the pacing is off. Unfortunately, season two doesn’t live up to the excellence of the first one. Due to Netflix’s lack of promotion, I was worried about us getting to see the story wrap up. Luckily, season two and three filmed back to back so we are officially getting a third and final season.
Sweet Tooth is streaming on Netflix.
