From The Idea Of You to Chucky Season 3 Part 2, Should You Add These To Your Watch List?
Mysteries, friendship, and ghosts galore! Should you add these films and shows to your watchlist? The writers of Pop Culture Planet break down which ones are worth your time and which ones… aren’t.
Big Mood
Maggie and Eddie have been best friends for a decade. As they grow older and feel the pressure of their futures looming, Maggie’s bipolar disorder tests their friendship.
Nicola Coughlan and Lydia West play the most realistic and honest friends I have ever seen on screen. The two are hilarious, passionate, and brutally raw with one another, emulating the real nuance of being friends for that long. Some of the special effects and aspects of Maggie’s bipolar disorder are portrayed in an odd way, but still shows a side to mental health that is not seen widely on screen.
Big Mood is streaming on Tubi.
- Jordan Bohan
Chucky Season 3 Part 2
Chucky returns to the White House for season 3 part 2 — but he’s not alone! Meanwhile, Chucky and Tiffany find themselves truly facing mortality for the very first time.
Part 2 ups the ante from part 1, which was mostly full of cameo appearances. This season finds Brad Dourif back in live-action as the Ghost of Chucky, coming face to face with Damballa, and beating death once and for all. It was incredible to see the return of this horror icon on our screens, playing opposite his real-life daughter Fiona Dourif as a brilliant version of a young Charles Lee Ray. After a stint in the ghostly realm, we even see Jake get possessed by Chucky, seeing Zackary Arthur deliver an impressive portrayal of the red-headed killer. Lexy finally finds her sister who has gone to the dark side, while Devon has the weakest storyline of the trio.
In the end, both Chucky and Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly) end up back in their doll bodies, riding off into the sunset to continue their rampage of terror. Their not the only ones who ditch their human bodies as Jake, Devon (Bjorgvin Arnarson), and Lexy (Alyvia Alyn Lind) are turned into dolls in a shocking cliffhanger. Full of blood, ghosts, and campy humor, Don Mancini continues to take the legacy of Chucky to the next level with his creativity and ability to leave viewers surprised every season.
Chucky is streaming on Peacock.
- Kristen Maldonado
Dead Boy Detectives
You’re about to be obsessed with Dead Boy Detectives. Set in the world of Netflix’s The Sandman, Jayden Revri and George Rexstrew play Charles and Edwin, two teenage ghosts and best friends, who solve supernatural mysteries.
Dark and whimsical, you will fall in love with this cast of newcomers. The heart of the series is Charles and Edwin’s friendship, while Yuyu Kitamura quickly becomes a fan favorite as the joyful, manga-loving Niko. The series perfectly balances its supernatural mystery of the week format, while it dives deeper into its quirky cast of characters.
Dead Boy Detectives is streaming on Netflix.
- Kristen Maldonado
The Idea of You
Based on the best-selling book by Robinne Lee, The Idea of You follows 24-year-old Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), the leading member of the hottest boy band. He meets Solène (Anne Hathaway), a 40-year-old single mother, unexpectedly at Coachella and the two have instant chemistry. Will their love for each other outweigh the public scrutiny?
Nicholas Galitzine is a star on the rise and had quite the challenge by playing opposite of long time celebrated actress Anne Hathaway, but he pulled it off not only with chemistry but with undeniable talent. Some of the writing is cheesy and only explores the surface level of their connection, but the music is catchy and you cannot help but root for the duo. An age gap romance isn’t for everyone, but, for a story largely inspired by Harry Styles, this movie outshines every fan fiction adaptation of the past.
The Idea of You is streaming on Prime Video.
- Jordan Bohan
Shardlake
Set in 16th century Tudor England, Matthew Shardlake attempts to solve crimes all while avoiding getting caught up in the political implications of his work under Henry VIII.
This mini series is everything you want from a period piece mystery. From its breathtaking sets to costumes, not an element feels out of place. While Arthur Hughes plays the lead, he is often outshined by the charismatic Anthony Boyle. The twists and turns are never predictable and you will be left questioning who came out on top after the truth comes out. A murder mystery in its truest sense.
Shardlake is streaming now on Hulu.
- Jordan Bohan
