Paramount+ has been in a fantastic groove for series that are great to binge over a weekend (or a few weekdays)—perfect if you want to be hooked quickly and just keep going.
For the January 9 to 11 weekend, I’m mixing things up with an odd little variety, from a deeply disturbing supernatural watch and a miniseries about one of R&B’s most famous boy groups, to a light Australian romantic comedy you can nibble on at your leisure.
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Evil
Over the holidays, a relative of mine with a superb eye for dark, hair-raising supernatural movies and shows recommended Evil, a deliciously creepy and sometimes quirky show that took me a minute, but that I ended up just loving. A Paramount+ original from the husband and wife team responsible for The Good Wife, The Good Fight, and Elsbeth, Evil will surprise you with all kinds of Exorcist-grade jump-scares, fantastic beasts, and genuinely disturbing moments.
Kristen Bouchard (Westworld’s‘ Katja Herbers) is a sceptical forensic psychologist who doesn’t believe in demons, but teams up with a Catholic priest in training (Luke Cage‘s Mike Coulter) and a hard-boiled tech expert (The Daily Show‘s Asif Mandvi) to investigate possessions, hauntings, and other unexplained cases to help determine they’re evil or just crazy. Season one features a recurring storyline about a murderer who may or may not be possessed by a demon named Roy. Yep, buckle up.
Like any good horror, it’s fun to watch the non-believer characters slowly turn. But Bouchard is a tough nut to crack, even after she starts having nightmares about her own demon, George, a truly creepy dude that pops up at the bottom of her bed and is also terrorizing her kids—a running arc throughout the show’s otherwise story-of-the-week format. If Evil looks weird and quirky, that’s because it is. But don’t let that deter you, it might just warm on you as it did me.
Evil
Release Date
2019 – 2023
Network
CBS, Paramount
Showrunner
Michelle King
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The New Edition Story
If you’re a fan of early ’80s R&B and pop music, and are curious about the early blueprint for pretty much every boy band that would come after—from New Kids and Boyz II Men to Back Street Boys and NSYNC—then this three-part, fictionalized biopic series is going to hit all the right notes.
With an impressive 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, The New Edition Story is dramatic, intense at times, well-acted, and full of impressive musical performances that make it feel authentic. It traces the rise and fall of the legendary five (whose name was meant to impart a “new edition” of the Jackson 5) from the projects in Roxbury, Boston—Bobby Brown (Woody McClain), Ralph Tresvant (Algee Smith), Michael Bivins (Bryshere Y. Gray), Ricky Bell (Elijah Kelley), and Ronnie DeVoe (Keith Powers). It follows the young boys from scrapping it out at talent shows to their overnight success with hits like Candy Girl and Cool It Now. The series ramps up the drama when egos clash, and fractures start to emerge within the group, ultimately leading to solo ambitions (most notably, Bobby Brown), the introduction of new member Johnny Gill (played by Luke James), and some juicy drama.
The New Edition Story was actually authorized by the group, who also act as producers, further adding weight to the show. Selfishly, my favorite character in the series is record producer Maurice Starr, mainly because he’s played by Faizon Love, who was Big Worm from Friday. Additionally, look for Stranger Things‘s Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) as young Ricky Bell.
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Colin from Accounts
I don’t watch a lot of rom-coms. But seeing as Australians are some of the funniest people I’ve ever met, and they’ve got a great track record globally with shows like the legendary Kath & Kim, Please Like Me, and (my favorite) Summer Heights High, I had no reservations about trying Colin from Accounts.
The first thing I’ll say about Colin from Accounts is that its stars, Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall, couldn’t have been better matched on screen, as their chemistry is palpable. This makes total sense when you learn that the Aussie co-creators are actually husband and wife in real life, too. Things set up quickly in episode one, when Ashley (Dyer), while crossing the street, flirtatiously flashes Gordon (Brammell) a little skin while he’s sitting in his car. Distracted, Gordon runs over a little stray dog, bringing the couple together with mutual guilt and an enormous vet bill. So, they find themselves adopting the pup, and the cute courtship begins.
Less “platonic” than Apple TV’s Platonic, Ashley and Gordon’s flirtations and obvious compatibility instantly make you want to root for them (root means something entirely different in Australia, though—look it up). But what makes the show so addictive is that it’s not stereotypically gushy, both characters are flawed and bring relationship baggage to the proceedings, making for some hilariously cringe moments. Critics love the show, now in its second bingable season, with Rotten Tomatoes scoring it at 100% fresh.
Whether you’re looking for something dark and creepy, dramatic and musical, or just plain flirtatious and fun, I’ve been having some solid luck on Paramount+ with binge-worthy weekend watches.
Subscription with ads
Yes, $8/month
Simultaneous streams
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