April in Canada is arguably worse than the long winter months. The promises of beautiful spring weather are quickly washed away by freak sub-zero temperatures and random hail storms. This is much like a certain Netflix show that I kept seeing as the service's top show on my homepage and only left me disappointed in myself for not seeing the obvious warning signs.
But it's not all bad this month — I've got a new favourite TV show of the year, the return of a beloved family, and a touching miniseries from CBC. There were also a couple pleasant surprises this month, with a fantastic rom-com from the UK and the return of Kiefer Sutherland to our screens.
Be sure to read our past editions of Tune In or Turn Off here for more streaming hits and misses.
Tune In: BEEF
(Netflix)
My favourite show of the year so far, BEEF finds a happy medium between intense drama and clever dark comedy. Steven Yeun and Ali Wong are deliciously delightful as two incredibly despicable people who can't let a road rage incident fall by the wayside, instead turning into an all-consuming affair. It's one of the best shows Netflix has released in a long while, with plenty of rewatch value.
Tune In: Here & Queer
(CBC Gem)
Host Peter Knegt interviews some of the most notable LGBTQ+ creatives working today, such as Billy Eichner, Bilal Baig, Elegance Bratton, Tegan and Sara, and Lido Pimienta. In each episode, Knegt discusses his guests' latest projects and career paths, how their sexuality has influenced their work, and challenges they've encountered along the way. Knegt is a natural conversationalist, and he elicits enlightening conversations across the 10 episodes.
Tune In: Rabbit Hole
(Paramount+)
We're halfway through the first season of Rabbit Hole and I'm surprisingly gripped. Kiefer Sutherland's John Weir is a spy who has been framed for murder — and while the set-up may seem pedestrian, the execution has been pure thrilling adrenaline. Sutherland is fantastic in the lead role with a great supporting cast, including the always engaging Charles Dance. Rabbit Hole shows you don't necessarily need over-the-top production or plot twists every few minutes, though having Jack Bauer certainly helps.
Tune In: Rye Lane
(Disney+)
The directorial debut of Raine Allen-Miller, Rye Lane is the Before trilogy with a South London vibe. A very funny and heartwarming rom-com lead by David Jonsson and Vivian Oparah, Rye Lane is one of this year's best-kept secrets. The dynamic between Jonsson and Oparah is effortless, elevating a simple premise into a vibrant love story.
Tune In: Succession, Season 4
(Crave)
Everyone's favourite dysfunctional family of media barons are back for one final season — and it has been a hell of a ride so far. No spoilers here, but just know that creator Jesse Armstrong is going out with a bang. Everyone has brought their A game this season: the writing is sharp, the music is bold and affecting, and the acting has been stellar across the board. We'll be sad to say goodbye, but what a way to go.
Turn Off: Tetris
(Apple TV+)
When cartoonish espionage meets lukewarm board room drama, the result is a very middle-of-the-road film about one of the most enduring video games. Taron Egerton is great as Henk Rogers, the designer and businessman who brought Tetris to the world, and his chemistry with Nikita Efremov, who plays Tetris inventor Alexey Pajitnov, is fantastic. Where the film loses me is in its paint-by-numbers approach and focusing on the less interesting character of this story.
Turn Off: The Night Agent
(Netflix)
The Night Agent has become one of Netflix's most-watched shows, and for the life of me I don't understand why. For an espionage conspiracy thriller series, there are little to no thrills, but plenty of bores and tropes. Each episode, I kept waiting for the shoe to drop on the show's appeal; instead I was just checking how many more of these I had to sit through.
But it's not all bad this month — I've got a new favourite TV show of the year, the return of a beloved family, and a touching miniseries from CBC. There were also a couple pleasant surprises this month, with a fantastic rom-com from the UK and the return of Kiefer Sutherland to our screens.
Be sure to read our past editions of Tune In or Turn Off here for more streaming hits and misses.
Tune In: BEEF
(Netflix)
My favourite show of the year so far, BEEF finds a happy medium between intense drama and clever dark comedy. Steven Yeun and Ali Wong are deliciously delightful as two incredibly despicable people who can't let a road rage incident fall by the wayside, instead turning into an all-consuming affair. It's one of the best shows Netflix has released in a long while, with plenty of rewatch value.
Tune In: Here & Queer
(CBC Gem)
Host Peter Knegt interviews some of the most notable LGBTQ+ creatives working today, such as Billy Eichner, Bilal Baig, Elegance Bratton, Tegan and Sara, and Lido Pimienta. In each episode, Knegt discusses his guests' latest projects and career paths, how their sexuality has influenced their work, and challenges they've encountered along the way. Knegt is a natural conversationalist, and he elicits enlightening conversations across the 10 episodes.
Tune In: Rabbit Hole
(Paramount+)
We're halfway through the first season of Rabbit Hole and I'm surprisingly gripped. Kiefer Sutherland's John Weir is a spy who has been framed for murder — and while the set-up may seem pedestrian, the execution has been pure thrilling adrenaline. Sutherland is fantastic in the lead role with a great supporting cast, including the always engaging Charles Dance. Rabbit Hole shows you don't necessarily need over-the-top production or plot twists every few minutes, though having Jack Bauer certainly helps.
Tune In: Rye Lane
(Disney+)
The directorial debut of Raine Allen-Miller, Rye Lane is the Before trilogy with a South London vibe. A very funny and heartwarming rom-com lead by David Jonsson and Vivian Oparah, Rye Lane is one of this year's best-kept secrets. The dynamic between Jonsson and Oparah is effortless, elevating a simple premise into a vibrant love story.
Tune In: Succession, Season 4
(Crave)
Everyone's favourite dysfunctional family of media barons are back for one final season — and it has been a hell of a ride so far. No spoilers here, but just know that creator Jesse Armstrong is going out with a bang. Everyone has brought their A game this season: the writing is sharp, the music is bold and affecting, and the acting has been stellar across the board. We'll be sad to say goodbye, but what a way to go.
Turn Off: Tetris
(Apple TV+)
When cartoonish espionage meets lukewarm board room drama, the result is a very middle-of-the-road film about one of the most enduring video games. Taron Egerton is great as Henk Rogers, the designer and businessman who brought Tetris to the world, and his chemistry with Nikita Efremov, who plays Tetris inventor Alexey Pajitnov, is fantastic. Where the film loses me is in its paint-by-numbers approach and focusing on the less interesting character of this story.
Turn Off: The Night Agent
(Netflix)
The Night Agent has become one of Netflix's most-watched shows, and for the life of me I don't understand why. For an espionage conspiracy thriller series, there are little to no thrills, but plenty of bores and tropes. Each episode, I kept waiting for the shoe to drop on the show's appeal; instead I was just checking how many more of these I had to sit through.
