Streaming Giants Unleash Entertainment Bonanza This Week
This week brings an exciting array of new entertainment options to streaming platforms, featuring returning favorites and fresh content across television, films, music, and gaming. From Ted Danson's detective series returning to Netflix to Ariana Grande's highly anticipated Wicked soundtrack release, there's something for every entertainment enthusiast.
Must-Watch Film Releases
Train Dreams arrives on Netflix this Friday, November 21, marking Clint Bentley's adaptation of Denis Johnson's acclaimed novella. The film stars Joel Edgerton as Robert Grainier, a railroad worker and logger in the early 20th century Pacific Northwest. Bentley co-wrote the script with Greg Kwedar, the same duo behind last year's critically acclaimed Sing Sing.
Peacock welcomes The Bad Guys 2 on Friday, November 21, bringing back the reformed criminal gang of animals for another heist adventure. The returning voice cast includes Sam Rockwell, Awkwafina, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, and Marc Maron. This sequel introduces a new rival team called the Bad Girls, though AP's Mark Kennedy criticized the over-amped plot that surprisingly reaches into space.
Another notable release is The Roses, Jay Roach's remake of Danny DeVito's 1989 black comedy The War of the Roses. Featuring Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch as a loving couple turned bitter enemies, the film was described by Kennedy as an escalating hatefest that loses all fun by the time a loaded gun appears.
Music and Soundtrack Highlights
Musical theater enthusiasts have reason to celebrate with Friday's release of the Wicked: For Good official soundtrack. Fans can stream life-affirming compositions including Ariana Grande's The Girl in the Bubble and Cynthia Erivo's No Place Like Home. The soundtrack also features contributions from Jeff Goldblum and Jonathan Bailey, offering plenty of musical treasures.
Rock legends Aerosmith make a comeback with new music through a collaborative EP called One More Time with next-generation rocker Yungblud. This release follows their 2023 Greatest Hits collection and comes months after concluding their Peace Out: The Farewell Tour, which ended due to Steven Tyler's permanent vocal cord damage. The anthemic opening track My Only Angel sets the powerful tone for this unexpected collaboration.
Compelling Television Series
Ted Danson's A Man on the Inside returns to Netflix for its second season on Thursday. Danson plays Charles, a widower who discovers new purpose as an amateur private detective. After moving into a retirement home to catch a culprit in Season One, Charles now goes undercover at a college to solve a new case. The season adds real-life wife Mary Steenburgen as Charles' love interest, exploring themes of second chances at romance.
For those missing Succession-style drama, Swedish series Vanguard debuts Tuesday on Viaplay, dramatizing the story of Jan Stenbeck, one of Europe's most influential media moguls. The series promises plenty of ambition, betrayal, and sibling rivalry.
The Assassin premieres Thursday on AMC, starring Keeley Hawes as a retired assassin living in solitude on a Greek island. Her peaceful existence is disrupted when her estranged son, played by Freddie Highmore, visits, forcing them to work together when danger threatens their lives.
Jordan Peele presents High Horse: The Black Cowboy, a three-part documentary series arriving on Peacock Thursday. The series examines how stories of Black cowboys have been systematically erased from both pop culture and history books.
Gaming Entertainment
Nintendo Switch 2 owners get a new racing option with Kirby Air Riders, designed by Masahiro Sakurai of Super Smash Bros. fame. The game combines chaotic combat with racing, featuring different weapons for each competitor and unique benefits and drawbacks for each vehicle. The signature Kirby inhale technique allows players to absorb opponents' skills by swallowing them, creating a uniquely weird racing experience available Thursday.
This week's entertainment lineup demonstrates the continuing expansion and diversity of streaming content, offering viewers multiple options across different genres and platforms.
