Drama

Who’s up for a good long trailer?! HBO is rallying their forces to bring Perry Mason back to your screen with a noir update that looks really exciting. It’ll debut later in June, but let this little peek get your motor running now. Thanks for the tip, Polygon!

HBO’s reimagined Perry Mason looks like a dazzling noir

Matthew Rhys and Tatiana Maslany star in the new series arriving in June from the writers of Westworld and the director of Game of Thrones. This is not the Raymond Burr series your grandpappy grew up with. The show is set to premiere June 21 on HBO, HBO Go, HBO Now, and HBO Max.

Happy Friday, folks! We’re trying out a new little idea here… Friday show previews for your upcoming weekend of watching. We’re looking for different shows on different streamers, and today we’re sending you over to NPR for some quick quality reviews. Let’s start with Normal People, which in one more brick in Hulu’s impressive wall of great content lately. And… go!

‘Normal People’ Is A Love Story To Cherish

The Hulu adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel is gently romantic, wise and sometimes sad, and made with the care that an adaptation of a beloved book deserves.

As this article deftly points out, it’s hard to put a finger on exactly what makes noir noir. But the road to figuring it out is a fun and dark one, and they’ll tell you the one film to start with and give you the directions you need to succumb to the pull of fate. (To put it noir-ishly.)

Want to Be an Instant Expert on Film Noir? Watch This Drama

For a crash course on a category that can be hard to pin down, Nicholas Ray’s psychologically complex “In a Lonely Place” has it all, starting with a sneering Bogart.

A great friend in LA – with always-great taste, btw! – has been bingeing BCS. That got me poking around a bit. This breakdown really is an eye-opener about prequels, in general, and sheds light on what makes this ride special.

How ‘Better Call Saul’ Broke the Prequel Curse — The Ringer

Most don’t work. The ‘Breaking Bad’ spinoff is the wonderful exception.

And, of course, NPR is here to tell it well. This one is looking like a breakthrough on so many fronts, so don’t let it slip off your radar.

South African ‘Queen Sono’ Is A Savvy Secret Agent — And A First For Netflix

Pearl Thusi stars as a spy with a complicated past in the new crime drama. It’s Netflix’s first commissioned series fully produced in Africa.

Some reviews tell you what, but this great CNN piece offers a compelling why you’ll want to dive into “Ozark.” It just keeps getting better. I’ve still chosen “Arrested Development” as my morning workout binge – I need my morning cup of comedy, people! – but season three of Ozark is living proof that a show can deepen and darken masterfully before your very eyes.

‘Ozark’ hits new heights with its best-yet third season