Born In Synanon is unique among cult-related docuseries because it shows that not all cults start because of one person’s narcissism and messiah complex; some actually have good intentions. Of course, it makes it all the more fascinating to watch it all go wrong.

Jack Ryan has successfully evolved its formula of spycraft and gunfights to accommodate John Krasinski’s brand of charm. In other words, it’s solidly-built, with just enough of everything that a show in this genre requires.

The Beatles: Get Back is clearly a labor of love for director Peter Jackson, but it plays as one of the clearest forms of fan worship there ever was, letting the band members act and speak for themselves in a natural format true to even the smallest moments of this crucial period in their history.

Win Or Lose manages to tell detailed stories about each of its characters, with emotions rooted in reality while taking advantage of Pixar’s ability to create a fascinating visual landscape.

Rain Dogs promises to be an interesting examination in a certain kind of found family that’s by turns darkly funny and warmly inspiring.

Just because a show goes in the direction of a procedural-type show doesn’t mean that it can’t be elevated by a good cast and sharp writing. After the ace performances by Millman and Griffiths, we’re looking forward to seeing what direction Total Control goes in.

While not hilarious, Sunny Nights works because of Carden’s performance, the premise’s clash of sensibilities, and its ability to give viewers a glimpse at Sydney’s seedier side.

Starz’s latest female-focused costume drama does excel at showing audiences that the formidable Queen Elizabeth was not the only extraordinary woman vying for power. The best part of Becoming Elizabeth might not be what it tells us about the legendary ruler, but how it lets the complex women in her orbit shine.

Harry & Meghan feels like a genuine and honest story of what it’s like behind palace doors.

The South Westerlies is as refreshing as an ocean breeze, with a fine cast that has great chemistry from their first scenes together.

Justified: City Primeval will satisfy both fans of the original series and people who are just looking for a well-written, sometimes-funny cop drama to watch.

Little Demon makes sure to root most of its humor in character and situation instead of gags. Sure, there are plenty of gags, but we just love the idea of a seemingly relatable story being layered over by ridiculous circumstances.

One Piece’s storytelling compass remains pointed in the right direction.

Groundbreaking it sure is not, but cozy, it most definitely is. The Marlow Murder Club features a charming ensemble of British actors doing what they do best: countryside murder mysteries with low stakes and high quality. Pour a cuppa and get comfy under a blanket because this is peak cozy murder mystery material.

Hysterical isn’t the be-all, end-all for documentaries about women in comedy. But it’s a step in the right direction. ... f you’re not already a comedy nerd and need an awakening, this is a good start. But for a deeper dive, I’d recommend the singular documentaries of legends such as Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work, or Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley.

The Patient delivers a good story and dramatic tension in a compact package. It’s an exercise in “less is more”, and Carell and Gleeson are especially good at reining in their characters’ extreme emotions.

Three Little Birds is intended to be a feelgood series, but it’s not schmaltzy and doesn’t shy away from the issues Jamaicans and other Black people faced in England in the 1950s.

In the second season of Shrinking, Lawrence’s patented “found family” vibe is in place, with different segments of the excellent cast mixing and matching easily in storylines that feel earned and unforced.

Atlantic Crossing has its dry moments, but it’s lavish scenery and fine performances more than make up for that. We’re especially excited to see more of MacLachlan and Harris as Franklin and Elanor Roosevelt.

The final frame of the pilot challenges your notion on how the rest of this journey will go. ... These two slaves are going to be free at some point, but what they will encounter on their way north will create enough tension and empathy to keep viewers’ attention beyond the first episode.

The White Lotus should be an interesting six-hour look at how privileged people mess things up with that privilege. It’s a fine marriage of smart writing and a fantastic cast.

Even if you didn’t catch Renée Ballard working with Harry Bosch in the Legacy finale, Ballard’s arrival feels fully formed. Maggie Q brings her serious-minded, action-oriented capacity to the lead role.

Warrior Nun feels revived and reenergized as it begins the second season nobody was originally sure it would receive. There’s a lot to sort out, like Adriel’s true lineage and who will survive the continued bloodshed. But as Ava, Alba Baptista is ready to lead the charge.

Heron has come into his own as the hero of Olympus, and watching him grow into much more of a hero than a confused lead who doesn’t know what he’s capable of. That makes for a much more exciting narrative overall, and now that we know more about Heron’s lineage, there’s so much more that can be done with the story’s direction from here.

John Wayne Gacy is certainly more empathetic of Gacy’s victims and their families than many other serial killer dramatic series have been. The approach is enhanced by Michael Chernus’ excellent portrayal of Gacy.

Things take a little while to develop in the first episode of Hijack‘s second season. But once we learned exactly what was going on, we were locked back into what we expect to be a fast-paced season, with the usual excellent performance from Idris Elba.

A Man on the Inside is a breezy and fun septuagenarian shenanigan tale from start to finish.

If you were a fan of Harvey Birdman, Birdgirl should be a satisfying return to the nutty world of Sebben & Sebben. But with Brewster carrying the comedic load, there should be a good story arc to follow, as well.

It’s about time we were reminded that comedians aren’t just observers or philosophers, but sometimes more importantly the voices we need to hear to remind us of the plights of those among us who don’t enjoy the same rights as the rest of us.

[Tom Hanks] manages to take what are pretty standard nature documentary scenes, like baby animals being unsure about leaving the nest or predators stalking their prey, and gives them a simi[l]ar air of importance that the best known narrator in this genre, Sir David Attenborough, gives the docs he works on. If there is anything innovative about The Americas is that it makes things that were previously unseen into interesting drama.

Even though the repetitiveness of some of the stock footage — closeups of recorders, Farrow looking at papers behind a microphone but not talking into it — might get old, the story is structured in a way that brings viewers in immediately, giving them information on it that they may not have known if they didn’t read Farrow’s book or listened to his podcast.

We enjoyed the quirky fun of the first episode of Best Medicine, as well as the layered performances of Josh Charles and Abigail Spencer.

Riot Women is a poignant and often funny look at women trying to break out of the bubbles they’re put in during their 50s and 60s, with the added fun of a great ’90s-heavy soundtrack and songs written specifically for the series.

Arcane continues its considerable dramatic momentum from the first season.

Season 2 of Harlem continues the winning formula from Season 1, thanks to its four great leads playing characters that are well thought-out.

The Surgeon’s Cut tries to humanize the surgeons who have pioneered amazing procedures, and for the most part, it succeeds in its mission. Could it be a little less laudatory? Absolutely. But the laudatory nature doesn’t take away from the medical miracles they perform.

We Are: The Brooklyn Saints is designed to be heartwarming and inspirational, and Valdez hits the mark on both.

Ultimately Only Murders in the Building doesn’t break new ground so much as it deftly embraces what makes the mystery genre so universally compelling.

This Valentine’s Day special is unexpectedly sweet in all the right places. It doesn’t shy away from how much Harley and Ivy care about each other, It’s fast, funny, and frantically horny. And if you’re a fan of Harley Quinn as a series, there’s plenty to love here, too.

There are moments when his deeply silly shenanigans seem too deeply silly to hold water, but he and his cohorts execute their pranks with an impressive level of conviction, and I laughed very much in spite of myself.

While it is naturally big on the technicalities of tennis, there is a humanistic story at the center that is appealing to everyone.

Calls is wholly immersive and totally chilling, a unique storytelling experience able to send shivers down your spine without the help of on-camera actors.

While the storytelling on One Day In October can be a bit uneven, the true stories of October 7 survivors, combined with real audio and video, kept us riveted to the relatively-short episodes.

Oh Cook! is low-key funny, but definitely generates a number of laughs. ... But it’s surprisingly informative, due to May’s grasp of food history minutiae, and the meals he makes are surprisingly well-done.

It’s apparent that the new iteration, helmed by Hampton’s authentic tough love and direction, launches a solid ensemble cast exuding their own signature star power and sass.

Fans of the original Daredevil series should enjoy Daredevil: Born Again, because it continues the original series’ story and its dark tone, with a story that’s feels like it’s going to build to an exciting climax.

Around the World in 80 Days isn’t an earth-shattering Jules Verne adaptation, but it is a lovely one. Thanks mostly to the way it understands how to harness David Tennant’s magnificence on screen.

The Fall And Rise Of Reggie Dinkins is as reliably funny as any Fey/Carlock production, with smart writing and a great cast.

Heartstopper continues to revel in the small moments in relationships as well as the big ones, and seeing all of this romantic stability onscreen makes us feel good, which is the show’s objective.

Hoggart’s innate comedic timing and natural charisma generate so much fun, awkward humor that you’ll be summarily charmed by the offbeat comedy.

Geek Girl is a well-written and well-acted look at what happens when someone who doesn’t usually embrace surprises in life does so out of the simple desire to be seen.

Gremlins: The Wild Batch continues the pre-movie mythology of the Mogwai with good voice acting, fun action sequences and expressive animation.

As a resolute Celtics hater, it brings me absolutely no pleasure to report this, but Celtics City is quite good, and has appeal for fans of any NBA team–even the 29 that the Celtics like to look down their noses at.

Ultimately, Starstruck is a romantic comedy that understands, respects, appreciates, and celebrates the genre, all while still carving out its own unique place in the category.

Tim Robinson’s new series of psychotic vignettes are just as funny (if not more so, on occasion) as his first season, and that’s largely thanks to some genuinely unhinged writing and an amazing group of guest stars.

100 Foot Wave brings to bear the sheer force of the waves its subject is surfing, but is enlightening, too, offering insights into the world of professional tow-in surfing and the personalities involved in making it happen at sea level.

The fact that the five Liars on the show are in group therapy together for the shared trauma the endured last season is the grounding force of the show. .... The new season brings a new killer, new romances and friend dynamics, and enough changes from last season to make it feel like it’s not just treading the same ground.

Jones and Oyelowo carry the first episode of Silo with great performances. But the rest of the cast, as well as the hopeful ending and Yost’s proven storytelling ability, tells us that the show won’t be a typical depressing dystopian drama.

Welcome To Flatch gets out of the gate almost fully-formed, with a world we want to watch and characters that are funny and have the potential for a lot of room to develop.

Breeders Season 4 feels like it’s building up to a bang that’ll leave us craving more of the Worsleys, but more than anything else, it’s just great to see this series back on track as it looks to wrap up this tale in fine fashion.

Amber Brown is a delightful family sitcom, highlighted by Bonnie Hunt’s witty, easygoing writing style and Carsyn Rose’s revelatory lead performance.

Welliver’s ability to keep the quaking emotions of his character consistently interesting – has always been a highlight of Bosch: Legacy and the series it emerged from. And with Bosch as PI existing untethered by department rules and regs, it’s enticing to consider what walls he’ll run through next.

This strong season premiere sets a different, more mature tone for Dan Da Dan and places our favorite paranormal investigators in new territory.

Swagger is a realistic look at how a talented kid becomes a superstar in the youth basketball world, but at least learns how to be a fully-realized person if basketball (more than likely) doesn’t make him rich.

Adult Material is a smart blend of genuinely affecting interpersonal drama, workplace comedy, and it seems like there may even be some crime elements ahead, based on that cliffhanger. It feels like a British Boogie Nights for the digital age, but with a welcome focus on a woman’s experience.

Invincible continues to give viewers one of the more nuanced superhero stories we’ve ever seen, and while the show finds itself in a dark place in Season 4, it’s still a compelling show to watch.

Cross is a solid crime thriller made very watchable by Hodge’s performance as the title character.

Common Side Effects is definitely more thriller than comedy, but there are enough funny moments to lighten the mood as things get more complex and serious by the third and fourth episodes. Once we get to that point, though, it’s a surprisingly gripping thriller that keeps viewers engaged.

With the requisite beautiful photography and a funny but warm narration from Oswalt, Penguin Town is definitely something you can either binge or dip in and out of, especially if you’ve bought into the penguins as something akin to sitcom characters.

The show looks gorgeous and can stand side-by-side with the other nature docs on Netflix. The lessons it teaches are also worth learning. It’s actually not hard to imagine Down to Earth becoming part of a very hip, very millennial high school teacher’s curriculum when school starts back up in the fall.

We’re not sure if throwing Ethan back into the mix, even if he somehow gets tangled up with the people chasing after Elliot, is the best idea, either. But there’s more than enough good stuff going on in Season 2 to override those concerns, at least for right now.

Lincoln’s Dilemma take an unflinching look at Lincoln’s role in the abolition of slavery in America, and isn’t shy about criticizing him, or at least putting his role — and his conflicted politics — in the right context.

The Lady makes a compelling true crime story into a compelling drama through the performances by both McKenna-Bruce and Dormer, who try hard to make their famous characters nuanced and real.

Devs emerges as an indisputably stunning mystery.

Sasquatch may not prove to you one way or another that sasquatches actually exist, but it’s an entertaining true crime story with some interesting twists and turns.

One Last Time: An Evening With Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga is both a fitting public farewell for a musical legend and a fun throwback to the golden age of live entertainment.

That comedic vibe is really what makes Baking It distinctive from TGBBS. ... If you want a gentle, family-friendly baking show that’s pretty funny, then Baking It is a good choice to watch over the holidays. Rudolph and Samberg are on their A-game here, but the opinionated grannies are the show’s secret weapon.

The Tower does a good job of telling its central mystery without a lot of filler, and Whelan’s performance as Collins is both intense and emotional.

In You Season 4 Part 2, the series remains grotesque, absurd, slick, vapid, skewering, and often quite predictable. All of which makes it totally binge-able.

Servant of the People is a surprisingly fun watch for an American viewer — a political fish-out-of-water comedy in the vein of movies like Dave, Bulworth or Head of State.

Minx improves on a fun first season with an even more fun and ambitious second season, with an ensemble that’s clicking and meaty (pun intended) storylines for everyone in that ensemble.

The series is for fans of Bieber's serving as an update on his progress as an artist and human. Ultimately, Beliebers will find a lot to enjoy here.

The issues Patel examines in the series are some pretty big ones, and he does a good job of taking these huge concepts down to a personal level while keeping the themes universal. ... As usual with these CNN-produced documentaries, the photography is top-notch and really brings you into the destination that’s being profiled, closer to the actual culture of the town than most travelogues are able to do.

Not every athlete is worthy of a documentary, but Simone Biles isn’t just any athlete. Simone Biles: Rising is a well-crafted document of one of the best to ever do it.

Thanks to a fine performance from Stanfield as well as a story that’s just starting to get spooky by the end of the first episode, The Changeling hooks in the viewer and gets them ready to follow Apollo on a journey that promises to be full of scares and surprises.

Just like Season 1, those personalities are so strong that we love seeing them interact with each other, even if the cases they’re working on aren’t that intriguing.

Drops of God: Season 2 continues to deliver a layered, character-driven story that raises the bar from Season 1 as it blends cultures, explores complex family ties, and satisfies the senses on an even greater scale.

Adult Swim’s The Elephant is a fun experiment that turns out to be an entertaining 23 minutes of TV (48 if you extend it to the accompanying documentary) from some very talented creators.

Will Trent continues to entertain with characters that have really deep backstories and cases that are good enough to follow, even if they take a backseat to all of the character arcs.

We like Being Reuben because Reuben de Maid’s personality is so big that he compels you to watch. But his family is a lot of fun, too, which makes for a light, fun reality series that’s perfect for watching while folding laundry or making some “breakies.”

Doctor Who may be taking a slightly different direction as it arrives on Disney+, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not as funny and witty as ever. And the chemistry between Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson does a lot to make up for any encroaching tweeness.

Season 5 of Harley Quinn keeps the hilarity coming at a rapid-fire clip, concocts a whole host of new misadventures for its main duo – this time with Metropolis under threat – and expands on and strengthens Harley and Ivy’s love story in ways well worth shipping.

While we wonder if the Jessie-Tom relationship cycle is getting a bit old, we still find Starstruck a warm and funny show, with Matafeo leading a confidently funny ensemble.

Here We Go is one of those cases where the execution is so good that the fact that the concept isn’t fresh doesn’t matter.

Star Trek: Prodigy sets up a fun story that’s only somewhat connected to the greater canon of the Trek franchise, but with the addition of Mulgrew, makes the show accessible to newcomers and Trek fans alike.

With a wealth of archival performance footage and an intriguing visual style, Wayne Shorter: Zero Gravity is an open door to exploring the saxophonist’s legacy, but also creativity as a beacon of light.

The Captain is broad enough to entertain anyone, but it’s an absolute must-stream for baseball fans.

Tattoo Redo is fun makeover show that sets the right tone by making fun of the awful tattoos people get while celebrating the artists that do an expert job of covering them up.