And outside the night
Fabrizio Gifuni (r.) as Aldo Moro, together with Toni Servillo as Pope Paul VI.
(Photo: Anna Camerlingo/Arte)
What happens: Italy 1978. For a decade, Italians have seen the political and ideological conflict escalate. The highlight: the Red Brigades kidnap the former Prime Minister Aldo Moro. The series tells of the 55 days up to his assassination from four different perspectives – a picture full of fine shades of gray of state and society.
Secret Star: Daniela Marra, who as a young terrorist Adriana Faranda has doubts about the correctness of her actions and who sees more in the kidnapped Moro than just the representative of a hated system.
Not suitable for: Everyone who expects fast-paced kidnapping thrillers. The focus is on the characters and the social mood. Philip Riessenberger
Six episodes in the Arte media library.
Agent Elvis
Wild, forever young and slim: Agent Elvis aka Matthew McConaughey and Bobby Ray, voiced by Johnny Knoxville.
(Photo: Netflix)
What happens: Elvis Presley, the king, goes on a criminal hunt and frees drug pope Timothy Leary. He nearly messes up Stanley Kubrick’s fake moon landing and, steel-blue eyes, heads to the Manson Family ranch. And then his monkey shoots himself into space. It’s all made up, but then again, Elvis actually had an FBI badge, and wife Priscilla even speaks herself here. Desert animation series, starring Elvis as an action hero who stays young forever – and willowy.
Secret Star: Matthew McConaughey, who you can’t see but hear.
Not suitable for: Conspiracy theorists and other gullible people. Susan Vahabzadeh
Ten episodes, on Netflix.
Blackwater
Birger (Rolf Lassgård) and Anni (Pernilla August) find each other.
(Photo: ARD Degeto/SVT 2021/Johan Paulin)
What happens: A mysterious double murder on Midsummer Night 1973 remains unsolved for 20 years. Until Annie (Pernilla August) thinks she recognizes the killer in her daughter’s new boyfriend. Parallel to the present 1991, the events of that midsummer night are rolled up. There could be a motive for the crime behind every family feud and every drama of jealousy. It remains unclear who committed the murder until the last episode. An unusually quiet but gripping thriller with a first-class retro feel.
Secret Star: The delightful Rolf Lassgård, known from “Wallander” and “A Man Named Ove”, plays the charismatic Birger.
Not suitable for: People who fall asleep on the sofa watching crime thrillers without any lasting thrills. Johanna Mueller
Six episodes in the ARD media library.
Tulsa King
Big city Rambo in the provinces: Sylvester Stallone in “Tulsa King”.
(Photo: Paramount+)
What happens: Mafia capo Dwight Manfredi (Sylvester Stallone) gets out of prison after 25 years. However, he is not rewarded for his silence by his New York colleagues, but chased away to Tulsa, Oklahoma. This leads to the expected conflicts, but also too much comedy when he waltzes through the provinces like a big-city rambo.
Secret star: There’s little room for stardom other than Sylvester Stallone, but Martin Starr, who plays the pothead shop operator, is the perfect counterpart.
Not suitable for: People who consider epic, narrated sidelines to be a must-have in series. And everyone who doesn’t like Stallone. David Piper
Nine episodes, on Paramount+.
The gift
Daniela Vega as Sister Maria gratefully takes part in the great change.
(Photo: Ludovic Robert/Amazon Prime Vide)
What happens: Teenage girls around the world are developing a new organ that they can use to deliver electric shocks—even deadly ones—like crickets. This quickly reverses the balance of power, women become the stronger sex. It’s not just pretty utopian in this action-packed adaptation of the novel. Because the revolution goes hand in hand with everything that is known from male rule: violence, oppression, injustice. Nevertheless: For the feeling of unknown self-empowerment, the sci-fi fun is definitely worth it.
Secret Star: A trans woman lives as a nun in the convent that hosts future religious leader Ave. Although it is not benefiting from the electric revolution, it is gratefully participating in the great change.
Not suitable for: Friends of “hard” science fiction who want watertight scientific explanations for everything. Kathleen Hildebrand
Nine episodes, on Amazon Prime.