Young and royal

Queen Victoria’s early years explored in ‘Victoria’

BINGE THIS:

If you enjoy period pieces and British dramas, I highly recommend binge watching season 1 of “Victoria,” starring Jenna Coleman (“Doctor Who”), available on

Amazon Prime starting Tuesday, Aug. 29. The series depicts the reign of Queen Victoria, starting with her accession to the throne at the age of 18. It covers her political tutelage, her relationship with Prince Albert (Tom Hughes, “The Game”) and the birth of her first child. The history of Queen Victoria’s rule alone is enough to engage an audience; her lifestyle, personal and political viewpoints and struggles are thrilling, poignant and informative. Dramatic highlights include her relationship with Lord Melbourne, played by the bewitching Rufus Sewell (“A Knight’s Tale,” 2001), and the infamous assassination attempt on the Queen’s life in 1840. Catch the first season of this eight-part series starting Tuesday, Aug. 29, on Amazon Prime.

WHAT’S NEW:

If you followed the story of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar in real life, you already know when and how his life ended. Recognizing the compelling drama and intrigue that characterized his rise and demise, Netflix created “Narcos,” knowing that Escobar would not live to see the third season. That third season premieres Friday, Sept. 1, on the streamer, and viewers are anx-

ious to see what it has in store now that the biggest and baddest is in the ground. If you haven’t seen the series, I recommend a binge of seasons 1 and 2 before you get to the third. At first, it’s kind of hard not to see Escobar (Wagner Moura, “Tropical Paradise”) as a Robin Hood figure, as the poverty-entrenched man builds an illegal empire from scratch and uses his profits to benefit his crumbling community. However, as the violence and bloodshed escalate, watching Escobar struggle to keep control is like watching a train wreck: you’re horrified and enthralled, and you can’t look away. The story leads you seamlessly from admiration to horror as he becomes more and more ruthless, and yet still leaves you distraught by his inevitable death. It may seem hard to envision where the series can go now that its antihero is dead and the DEA is left to fight against the Cali Cartel, but there is a reason why the series is called “Narcos,” and not “Escobar.” Find out where this edgeof-your-seat thriller is headed when “Narcos” returns Friday, Sept. 1, on Netflix.

I love a good comedy-drama — even more so when it’s based on real people — so I won’t be missing out on “Florence Foster Jenkins” when it lands on Hulu Sunday, Aug. 27. The film follows the career of the real-life Florence Foster Jenkins, played by the flawless Meryl Streep (“The Devil Wears Prada,” 2006), a New York heiress who becomes an opera singer, despite the fact that her voice is absolutely horrendous. Not even her husband, a British Shakespearean actor played by Hugh Grant (“Notting Hill,” 1999), will tell her the truth about her terrible singing voice, and she’s spurred on by the yes-men who surround her. Her performances receive stellar reviews — mostly due to the fact that audiences perceive them to be satirical — and her career blossoms, much to the horror of her husband, his mistress and others working with Jenkins. The film is charming, witty and whimsical. Catch this hilarious, one-of-a-kind film starting Sunday, Aug. 27, on Hulu.