Happy birthday to Pluto TV—the free streaming service turns 10 years old this week. Other FAST (free ad-supported TV) streamers have popped up since 2014, but Pluto TV will always be the O.G. It seems like just yesterday that I was watching six straight hours of Mystery Science Theater 3000 on Pluto TV … oh yeah, it was just yesterday.
This week’s What to Watch recs include the returns of Beacon 23, American Horror Story: Delicate, and Loot; the premieres of Ripley, Dinosaur, and Sugar, new documentary The Truth vs. Alex Jones, rom-com How to Date Billy Walsh, and WWE WrestleMania pro-wrestling action. No April Foolin’ here!
What’s new on TV this week
Beacon 23 | MGM+ | Drama, sci-fi
Season 2 premiere, Sunday, April 7: At the edge of the galaxy, Halan (Stephen James) mans Beacon 23, a deep space “lighthouse” of the Interstellar Space Authority. His solitude is interrupted when Aster (Lena Heady) crash-lands nearby, and he has to take her in. Soon, it becomes clear that neither of them is really who they claim to be. The claustrophobic sci-fi of Beacon 23 is similar to that of Silo and Snowpiercer, but with a smaller budget and bigger ambitions. Neither of those is coming back soon, so try Beacon 23.
WWE WrestleMania | Peacock | Sports, wrestling
Coverage begins Saturday, April 6, 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET: Live from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, it’s WrestleMania 40. On the card for the big 4-0 edition over April 6 and 7: Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins vs. The Rock and Roman Reigns, Iyo Sky vs. Bayley, Gunther vs. Sami Zayn, Rhea Ripley vs. Becky Lynch, Logan Paul vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens, LA Knight vs. AJ Styles, Jay Uso vs. Jimmy Uso, and The Kabuki Warriors vs. Bianca Belair and Naomi–will WWE newbie Jade Cargill foil that last one? Count on it.
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What to watch on Netflix this week
Ripley | Netflix | Drama
Series premiere, Thursday, April 4: Patricia Highsmith’s Tom Ripley novels were previously adapted for 1999’s The Talented Mr. Ripley movie, but writer/director Steven Zaillan spreads his story over eight episodes filmed in—brace yourselves—black and white. In the 1960s-set Ripley, con man Tom (Andrew Scott) is hired by a wealthy man to locate his delinquent son in Italy and return him to New York City—as you may have guessed, things don’t go as planned. Dakota Fanning and John Malkovich also star.
Scoop | Netflix | Drama
Movie premiere, Friday, April 5: In the current scandal-a-day news climate, it’s easy to forget the 2019 bombshell BBC interview that brought down Britain’s Prince Andrew. Biopic Scoop dramatizes Emily Maitlis’ (played by Gillian Anderson) televised confrontation with Prince Andrew (Rufus Sewell) over his relationship with convicted pedophile Jeffery Epstein, as well as the allegation of the Prince’s sexual assault of a minor (which he later settled out of court). Scoop also stars Billie Piper and Keeley Hawes.
What to watch on Hulu this week
Season 12 pt. 2 premiere, Wednesday, April 3: When American Horror Story left us hanging in October, Anna’s (Emma Roberts) chief competition for an Oscar had been decapitated in a car crash, and it certainly seems like her agent Siobahn (Kim Kardashian) had something to do with it (she’s really good at her job, after all). Oh, and Anna’s imminent baby may belong to Satan, NBD. American Horror Story: Delicate has so far been one of the most engaging seasons of AHS yet—let’s hope it sticks the landing in the final five episodes.
Dinosaur | Hulu | Comedy
Series premiere, Friday, April 5: Nina (Ashley Storrie), a 30-something autistic woman, loves her comfy life living with her sister Evie (Kat Ronney). But, when Evie impulsively gets engaged and asks Nina to be her maid of honor at their wedding in just six weeks, Nina’s world is rocked. Further complicating matters, Nina may have found her own new love (Lorn McDonald). This new British comedy from the producers of Fleabag is called Dinosaur because Nina is a paleontologist, if you were wondering.
What to watch on Apple TV+ this week
Loot | Apple TV+ | Comedy
Season 2 premiere, Wednesday, April 3: It’s been almost two years since the first season of Loot premiered—get it together, Apple TV+. A refresher: After her husband of 20 years abruptly divorces her, Molly (Maya Rudolph) has to figure out what to do with her life, not to mention her $87 billion settlement. When she learns that she owns a charity foundation, she throws herself into working there, despite knowing nothing about it. Loot is one of the funniest shows you’ve been sleeping on, so catch up.
Sugar | Apple TV+ | Drama, mystery
Series premiere, Friday, April 5: Don’t be fooled by the title—this Sugar is anything but sweet. When private investigator John Sugar (Colin Farrell) is hired to find the granddaughter of a legendary movie producer who’s gone missing, what he finds is more than he possibly could have imagined. Framed as a classic Hollywood film-noir mystery with a Big Twist, Sugar boasts an impressive cast, including Amy Ryan, James Cromwell, Anna Gunn, and Kirby Howell-Baptiste. Three of eight episodes stream on April 5.
More of what to watch on streaming this week
Movie, now streaming: There are some of us who at one time enjoyed the AM radio rantings of conspiracy mogul Alex Jones as ironic comedy (guilty). But, at the dawn of the 2010s, Jones’ rhetoric turned toxic and deadly—specifically, about the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting of 2012. The Truth vs. Alex Jones goes inside the “angertainment” circus of Jones in the courtroom, where grieving parents won nearly $1 billion in damages over his “hoax” claims. He’s still broadcasting, by the way.
How to Date Billy Walsh | Prime Video | Comedy, romance
Movie premiere, Friday, April 5 (rescheduled from September 2023): British teens Amelia (Charithra Chandran) and Archie (Sebastian Croft) have been friends since childhood, and Archie has finally mustered the courage to declare his love for her. Enter American transfer student Billy Walsh (Tanner Buchanan), who Amelia instantly crushes on, foiling Archie’s plans. Can he keep Amelia and Billy apart without ruining his lifelong friendship? Also: Is this Billy Walsh related to the Billy Walsh of Entourage?
New movie releases available to rent/buy on VOD this week
- The American Society of Magical Negros (April 2)
- Baby Assassins 2 (April 2)
- Bag of Lies (April 2)
- Dagr (April 2)
- Killing Me Softly With His Songs (April 2)
- Mister Sleep (April 2)
- A Perfect Day for Caribou (April 2)
- Strictly Confidential (April 5)
- A Bit of Light (April 5)
- Model House (April 5)
- Underdog (April 2)
