Movies

The Best New TV Shows of February 2025

BBG News

2025 has had a sluggish beginning in the world of television for me, but things are definitely picking up now! Despite popular shows like “Severance” and “The White Lotus” dominating conversations, February has also seen some lesser-known debuts that deserve attention. Here’s my take on three captivating British dramas, a hilarious new project from Mindy Kaling, an updated version of a groundbreaking documentary series, and an intelligent animated thriller that promises to become a cult favorite.

A Thousand Blows (Hulu)

Known primarily for his work on the long-running BBC-Netflix series “Peaky Blinders,” Steven Knight, a writer, producer, and director, isn’t currently experiencing much success. His 2023 adaptation of Pulitzer Prize winner Anthony Doerr’s novel “All the Light We Cannot See” was one of the poorest TV shows during the streaming era; another contender for that title was his expensive and unconventional Apple TV+ sci-fi/fantasy series, “See,” from 2019. The disappointing FX espionage thriller “The Veil” from last spring, featuring Elisabeth Moss in a poorly suited lead role, was only slightly better than those two prior attempts.

However, he’s returned in peak condition with “A Thousand Blows,” a series that shares a similar criminal underworld backdrop with “Peaky Blinders” but offers a unique twist. Set in the grimy, smoky slums of 1880s London’s East End, it follows two young Jamaican men, Hezekiah (Malachi Kirby) and Alec (Francis Lovehall), who have escaped a difficult past in their homeland and are now trying to make their mark in the Old World. Struggling with poverty and discrimination, they find themselves drawn into bare-knuckle boxing rings, challenging reigning champions Sugar Goodson (Stephen Graham) and his brother Treacle (James Nelson-Joyce). Erin Doherty, who was impressive in “Chloe” and as Princess Anne in “The Crown,” plays Mary Carr, the ruthless leader of an all-female gang, the Forty Elephants. Their paths eventually cross in a tale that explores the struggle for survival. Although Knight’s dialogue can occasionally be overly dramatic or rigid, the fast pace, memorable characters, strong performances, and immersive world-building make it easy to overlook this.

Best Interests (Acorn)

12-year-old Marnie, suffering from a unique type of muscular dystrophy throughout her life, faces a challenging health situation. Her parents Nicci (Sharon Horgan) and Andrew (Michael Sheen), along with her 17-year-old sister Katie (Alison Oliver), have long known that Marnie’s lifespan would be limited. However, the emotional toll becomes unbearable when a respiratory issue forces Marnie (Niamh Moriarty) onto a ventilator, and her doctor, Samantha (Noma Dumezweni), delicately explains that she has little to no chance of recovery. In light of this prognosis, Samantha suggests transitioning Marnie to palliative care instead of prolonging painful, possibly ineffective treatments. As the situation sinks in, reserved Andrew reluctantly accepts his daughter’s impending departure. However, determined Nicci, who has seen Marnie overcome long odds in the past, is resolute on keeping her alive, even if it involves collaborating with a religious, anti-abortion group to contest the hospital’s decisions in court.

Day-to-day tales like this one, featuring ordinary people grappling with extraordinary dilemmas, are becoming less common on television. However, this four-part drama, penned by Jack Thorne (known for his work on His Dark Materials) and directed by Michael Keillor, stands out as a particularly compassionate and astute portrayal. The central couple, Nicci and Andrew, share a deep love but have sacrificed over a decade of their lives caring for a sick child. Their disagreement about her future leads to a profound rift within their marriage. A seasoned, thoughtful, and nurturing doctor named Samantha struggles privately with Nicci’s doubts about her intentions. Katie, the daughter in this family, has grown up feeling isolated as her parents focus on caring for her disabled sister. While no one is to blame, it’s understandable that Katie might feel neglected. As for Marnie, the show Best Interests excels at portraying her as more than just a hospital patient. Through flashbacks, we witness a clever and inquisitive girl who cherishes her life, despite its challenges. This helps us understand why Nicci would compromise her principles to keep fighting for Marnie.

Common Side Effects (Adult Swim)

The animated sci-fi thriller titled Common Side Effects boasts a distinguished group of executive producers: Mike Judge, Greg Daniels from The Office, Joseph Bennett (of the popular cartoon series Scavengers Reign from last year), and Steve Hely (Veep). Each of these creators’ unique styles can be seen in the show’s grand, eccentric, subtly psychedelic, politically charged premise. The character Marshall, voiced by Dave King, is a brilliant madman who has found a glowing blue mushroom that can heal any disease or injury. His former high school lab partner, Frances (played by Emily Pendergast), witnesses him causing trouble at a shareholders meeting for a pharmaceutical company where she secretly works. Before long, they join forces to distribute the mushroom widely, which puts them in danger from corporations like Big Pharma and government agencies.

Despite its well-known figures and grand themes, “Common Side Effects” carries an endearing charm that is reminiscent of the quirky independent animations you could stumble upon late at night on ’90s MTV. The show’s rebellious atmosphere is palpable. Its animation style draws inspiration from Studio Ghibli as much as it does from “King of the Hill” by Judge and Daniels. Moreover, the series’ unsettling surrealism seems to reflect modern-day anxiety more than the flawed realism found in many recent thrillers, such as “Zero Day”.

Eyes on the Prize III: We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest 1977-2015 (HBO)

While it might not seem like the perfect time to rejoice over victories in racial justice, let’s not allow that to deter us from exploring a lesser-known extension of a timeless documentary series about the Civil Rights Movement, originally broadcast on PBS in 1987. Now under HBO’s ownership and with the ’80s firmly in the past, Eyes on the Prize continues to shine light on the ongoing struggle for Black freedom, a battle that persists with troubling regularity. This new installment serves as a reminder of the cyclical nature of progress and setbacks in our quest for equality.

The six installments of Eyes on the Prize III, skillfully crafted by documentarians like Samantha Knowles (Black and Missing) and Rudy Valdez (Choir), progress in a sequential manner, delving into pivotal instances from Rodney King and the Million Man March to Barack Obama and the emergence of Black Lives Matter. However, the series resonates most profoundly when it tackles intricate, less frequently discussed subjects and personalities. Topics such as intersectionality, environmental racism, class, gender, and LGBTQ rights become prominent in various episodes. The opening episode, directed by Geeta Gandbhir (Why We Hate), stands out with a dual portrait of housing activists who reclaimed the Bronx in the late ’70s and a Muslim woman who spearheaded the fight against AIDS within Philadelphia’s African American community.

Running Point (Netflix)

The phrase “Gordons don’t lose” is the motto of the dysfunctional family featured in the new Netflix comedy, Running Point. The Gordons own a renowned Los Angeles NBA team, depicted as the Waves but influenced by the Lakers and their owner, Jeanie Buss. For decades, the team was controlled by a stern patriarch. With his passing, his four adult children, all employed by the franchise, must determine if the traditional management style requires a more compassionate overhaul. The debate becomes more pressing when Cam (Justin Theroux), the eldest son and franchise president, gets into a drug-induced car accident and transfers his position to his often overlooked and underestimated sister, Isla, portrayed by the appealing Kate Hudson.

In a way, “Running Point” resembles “Succession,” but it’s set in professional sports. Characters are plagued by affluenza and intense competition, much like the Roys, but lacking the close bond with their father. Unlike many recent family dramas, “Running Point” isn’t trying to be “Succession.” Instead, it’s a genuine comedy, produced by Mindy Kaling, Ike Barinholtz, and Buss. It also shares similarities with “Ted Lasso,” if the fish-out-water sports sitcom had focused on Hannah Waddingham’s AFC Richmond owner rather than Jason Sudeikis’ coach. The combination of damaged characters and lighthearted tone works effectively, keeping the show from becoming either pretentious or overly sweet, and resulting in Kaling’s first consistently good series for adults. [Read the full review here.]

Toxic Town (Netflix)

In 1995, two expectant mothers named Susan McIntyre (previously from ‘Doctor Who’) and Tracey Taylor (a notable figure in the current season of ‘The White Lotus’) find themselves in the same hospital on the brink of childbirth. This wasn’t a mere coincidence; it was Corby, an industrial town in England’s East Midlands, where the authorities were redeveloping a former steelworks site that had been closed since 1981, leaving the area in ruins. Unbeknownst to these mothers at the time, the cause of the unusually high rate of birth defects in Corby was traced back to the reddish-brown liquid and dust emanating from dump trucks, contaminating workers’ clothing and accumulating in puddles due to this construction project. It would take years for these mothers to successfully argue their case in court, but it was soon discovered that the pollutants were at the heart of the problem.

This new four-part drama series from “Best Interests”‘ Thorne, titled “Toxic Town,” is inspired by real events and chronicles the 14-year struggle for justice undertaken by Susan, Tracey, and their neighbors. The narrative delves into the mystery surrounding a toxic-waste cover-up by the Corby old boy network, while ensuring that the story remains engaging by focusing on the everyday lives of the families affected by the scandal. Jodie Whittaker delivers a compelling performance as Susan, a no-nonsense, down-to-earth woman who evolves into a strong leader. The supporting cast features an array of talented British actors, such as Wood, Rory Kinnear, Brendan Coyle from “Downton Abbey,” Claudia Jessie from “Bridgerton,” Joe Dempsie from “Game of Thrones,” and Robert Carlyle, known for his roles in “Trainspotting” and “The Full Monty.” The series is set during the 90s.

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2025-02-28 02:06

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