As studios continue to dump their stock into the wasteland that is the January and February movie calendar, streaming options are picking up the slack.
This month, Austin Butler takes flight in a new Apple TV+ WWII-era series, Donald Glover takes an early 2000s hit and spins it for a new generation, and Snoop Dogg takes a punt with a kids sports comedy with disastrous results. And from one Snoop to another, Franklin Armstrong is given his long-overdue credit in a special Snoopy Presents instalment within the Peanuts world.
Be sure to read our past editions of Tune In or Turn Off here for more streaming hits and misses.
Tune In: Allegiance
(CBC Gem)
Joining the ranks of Canadian procedurals such as Rookie Blue, Flashpoint and Hudson & Rex is the Surrey, BC-set Allegiance. For fans of the format (including yours truly), Allegiance offers another option to fulfill our crime-loving hearts. The series doesn’t reinvent the wheel but it’s every bit as engaging as expected from episodic crime solving with the added element of using contemporary issues to consider the challenges police forces and communities are facing today.
Tune In: Expats
(Prime Video)
Lulu Wang's latest project has come with its fair share of controversy, from Nicole Kidman being given permission to break quarantine rules in 2021 to its depiction of Hong Kong amidst the territory's political and societal struggles. Beneath the external noise, though, are three stories that weave together to create a compelling six-episode limited series. Sarayu Blue is the highlight of the series with a devastating performance as a woman whose marriage falls apart before our eyes.
Tune In: Masters of the Air
(Apple TV+)
A story as dangerous and gripping as that of the Bloody Hundredth feels like an obvious choice for a limited series. And although Masters of the Air lacks the heart and soul found in predecessor Band of Brothers, the spectacle and stories behind the men and women of the United States Air Force during WWII still offers an engaging and thought-provoking narrative.
Tune In: Mr. & Mrs. Smith
(Prime Video)
Spinning the married assassin premise of Doug Liman's 2005 film into a whole series wasn't going to be an easy task, but with thanks to Donald Glover's storytelling and comedic sensibilities, this adaptation feels fresh and modern. Our new Smiths, played by Glover and PEN15's Maya Erskine, have a sizzling chemistry that's equal parts sexy and anxiety-ridden, which alone makes the series worthwhile to check out.
Tune In: Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin
(Apple TV+)
When Franklin was introduced into Charlie Brown's world in 1968, the thoughtless decision to have the only Black character seated alone in a beach chair opposite the all-white Peanuts gang during Thanksgiving dinner didn't go unnoticed. It's taken over 50 years to formally correct this "oversight," but at least it’s here. Welcome Home, Franklin is the heartwarming tale of Franklin meeting Charlie, Lucy, Linus and the whole crew for the first time after moving around from army base to army base. Franklin and Charlie become especially acquainted when they build a toy car together for the upcoming Soapbox Derby. A sweet instalment in the Snoopy Presents series that will touch fans new and old, it finally gives Franklin the homecoming he deserves.
Turn Off: The Under Doggs
(Prime Video)
"Snoop Dogg does Hardball/The Mighty Ducks/Bad News Bears" sounds great on paper, and while he's as delightfully charming and Snoop-like as we hope, The Under Doggs' crude schtick runs out quick. Mike Epps tries his best to keep the laughs going — but, ultimately, there's not enough gin or juice to make this entertaining.
