STREAMING THIS WEEK
WHAT’S NEW ON DISNEY+
“The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” Get your plan in place and get ready to make landfall because your new mission begins Friday, March 19, on Disney+. The new miniseries “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” kicks off that day on the streamer, and we want you to be ready to attack it with mission leads Sam Wilson, aka Falcon (Anthony Mackie, “The Hurt Locker,” 2008), and Bucky Barnes, aka Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan, “Once Upon a Time”). Formerly at odds with each other during previous events in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, such as “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (2014), the two heroes are now forced to mend their differences, learn from the past and work side by side while pooling their skills and resources to fight crime and defend the lives of superheroes the world over. Taking place after the events of the hit Russo brothers film “Avengers: Endgame” (2019), Falcon and Winter Soldier will need to keep their wits about them — sometimes with a bit of help from their therapist (Amy Aquino, “Bosch”) — as they face threats both old and new.Viewers can expect to see appearances from Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp, “Revenge”) and supervillains Baron Helmut Zemo (Daniel Brühl, “Inglourious Basterds,” 2009) and Batroc the Leaper (played by Canadian mixed martial artist Georges St. Pierre, “Never Surrender,” 2009), to name a few. The six-episode series was directed by Kari Skogland (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) with lead writing credits attributed to Malcolm Spellman (“Empire”).
“Big Hero 6:The Series” Season 3 The Disney XD trailer said it best when it told fans “something big is happening.” Now, that thing is coming to Disney+: Season 3 of “Big Hero 6:The Series” joins the streamer on Friday, March 19, and subscribers are excited to see what comes of the heroes in the newest, and sadly the last, season of the popular animated show.With Season 1 having been ordered to begin in 2017 following the success of 2014’s “Big Hero 6” film, Season 3 was announced in April 2019, premiered on Disney networks in September 2020 and was canceled following its 10-episode third season in January 2021. During the public announcement, the actors who voice Baymax (Scott Adsit, “30 Rock”), Hiro (Ryan Potter, “Titans”), Go Go (Jamie Chung,“The Gifted”),Wasabi (Khary Payton, “The Walking Dead”), Honey Lemon (Genesis Rodriguez, “Tusk,” 2014) and Fred (Brooks Wheelan, “Saturday Night Live”) gathered via Zoom to look back at the series and reminisce over their favorite moments of the show. Ending with the episode “Krei-oke Night/The Mascot Upshot,” the series wraps up in true Big Hero fashion, giving fans everything that they have come to expect from 14-year-old robotics master Hiro, his reprogrammed medical-assistant robot, Baymax, and their rag-tag group of sidekicks from the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology. Recurring voices over the series have also included Diedrich Bader (“American Housewife”), Maya Rudolph (“Bridesmaids,” 2011), Jenifer Lewis (“Black-ish”) and John Michael Higgins (“Pitch Perfect,” 2012).
WHAT’S NEW ON NETFLIX “Sky Rojo”
Run for your life with the new Spanishlanguage series “Sky Rojo,” coming to Netflix on Friday, March 19. From the minds of Esther Martínez and Álex Pina, writers of the popular Netflix original series “Money Heist” (also known as “La casa de papel”), comes this “Thelma & Louise” (1991) and “Hustlers” (2019) type of series about three prostitutes — Gina (Yany Prado, “La Reina Soy Yo”), Wendy (Lali Espósito, “That’s Not Cheating,” 2016) and Coral (Verónica Sánchez, “Fat People,” 2009) — who have grown tired of their lives in the sex trade and long for freedom at all costs.While fleeing their pimp, former boss and owner of the Las Novias Club, Romeo (Asier Etxeandia, “Ma Ma,” 2015), the women run into all manner of sins and unsavory situations as well as two of Romeo’s henchmen, Moisés (Miguel Ángel Silvestre, “Sense8”) and Christian (Enric Auquer, “Eye for an Eye,” 2019). In keeping with the dire sense of urgency fueled by the fast-paced action and desperation of the show, each episode will last approximately 25 minutes, thus coming in at approximately three and a half hours for the entire season.With filming having taken place primarily on the Spanish mainland and the Canary Islands beginning in November 2019 and into 2020, viewers can expect a rather dry, harsh setting to accompany the bright outfits and dark subject matter. Featuring series music from Iván Martínez Lacámara (“Servir y proteger”) and Manel Santisteban (“Money Heist”), “Sky Rojo” has already been given the green light for a second season.
“Country Comfort”
A new multi-camera comedy is coming to Netflix this month and it stars “American Idol” Season 5 runner-up Katherine McPhee (“Scorpion”). The new 10-episode series “Country Comfort” joins the streamer’s roster on Friday, March 19, and, from the sounds of it, it has many qualities that will be adored by music and television fans alike. In many ways channeling the hit ‘90s sitcom “The Nanny” and the classic Rogers and Hammerstein musical production “The Sound of Music” (1965), McPhee plays Bailey, an aspiring country singer who makes a shift in her career path following a blow to both her professional and personal life. Captured by his Southern charm and need for help, Bailey agrees to begin working for the ruggedly debonair and aptly named cowboy Beau (Eddie Cibrian, “Third Watch”) as the nanny to his children. At first taking the job for a bit of extra money and to explore life outside her dwindling music career, Bailey soon begins to find that the children she is minding could, in fact, be the key to helping her get back on her feet. Helping her with her confidence and her music, Bailey and the five children — played by Ricardo Hurtado (“The Goldbergs”), Jamie Martin Mann (“Boychoir,” 2014), Griffin McIntyre (“Return of the Mac”), Shiloh Verrico (“Crown Vic,” 2019) and Pyper Braun (“Life in Pieces”) — harvest a bond unlike any they could have expected. Created by “The Nanny’s” Caryn Lucas, “Country Comfort’s” team maintains that the show is not a reboot of the beloved ‘90s series, rather an homage to a trope used time and again by movie and television producers — it’s a classic because it works! This premiering feel-good series also stars Eric Balfour (“The OC”) and Janet Varney (“You’re the Worst”).
WHAT’S NEW ON HULU “Trolls: Trolls Topia” Season 2
Get in tune and practice your scales because the Trolls are back for another round of animated fun. “Trolls: TrollsTopia” Season 2 lands on Hulu Thursday, March 18, and the high-spirited musical high jinks continue as Poppy (voiced by Amanda Leighton, “The Fosters”) builds the city of Trolls. Season 1 brought the discovery of five new musical tribes for Poppy to incorporate into her me-troll-polis (get it?), but at the end of the season there was the possibility of losing one of their very own to Rock Hollow. When her best friend showed up for a concert, Val (voiced by Lauren C. Mayhew, “Raise Your Voice,” 2004) considered leaving TrollsTopia with her after ward. Taking it upon herself not to let Val leave, Poppy has to show Val what she means to TrollsTopia and the Trolls who live there. Going into the second season of this colorful children’s show, it appears the Trolls will have to work harder than ever to create a bond despite their differences as they learn to work together. Animated by DreamWorks and featuring music by Alex Geringas (“Pitch Perfect 3,” 2017), “Trolls: TrollsTopia” also stars Skylar Astin (“Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist”), Kevin Michael Richardson (“Lilo & Stitch,” 2002), Sean T. Krishnan (“The Dictator,” 2012), Kenan Thompson (“Kenan & Kel”) and Walt Dohrn (“Mr. Peabody & Sherman,” 2014).
“The Relationtrip” (2017)
Let loose and drop all societal expectations of romance with “The Relationtrip,” coming to Hulu on Monday, March 15. Starring Matt Bush (“Adventureland,” 2009) and Renée Felice Smith (“NCIS: Los Angeles”) as Liam and Beck, two 20-something self-proclaimed loners, this un-romantic comedy is a surreal testament to all things individual.When Liam and Beck meet, they agree that neither of them understands the appeal of couple-y behavior and committed relationships. Preferring to be alone and happy than miserable and in a relationship, Beck and Liam decide to take a road trip together as friends. Everything seems normal ... until it’s not.Amid a rush of changing scenery, growing feelings and downright odd manifestations including puppets, hammock cocoons and adult play forts, the pair realize they might be on a bigger trip than they expected. From the twisted minds of leading lady Smith and filmmaker/composer C.A. Gabriel (“We Don’t Hate It Here”), “The Relationtrip” also stars Linda Hunt (“The Practice”), Sally Struthers (“Gilmore Girls”), Eric Christian Olsen (“Fired Up!,” 2009), Brandon Kyle Goodman (“Alive in Denver”) and Nelson Franklin (“Black-ish”).
“Sister Aimee” (2019)
Can you hear them calling? “Sister Aimee” comes to Hulu on Monday, March 15.Very loosely based on real events (about 5.5% is true according to the official trailer), the film tells the story of Sister Semple (Amy Hargreaves, “Homeland”), a beloved American evangelist. Based on Aimee Semple McPherson, the Canadian-born Pentecostal pioneer of televangelism whose disappearance rocked the United States in the 1920s, “Sister Aimee” follows a fictionalized version of the icon through her performances, religious ties, family life and, eventually, through an imagining of the events that occurred during her alleged kidnapping in 1926. Entertaining and somewhat biographical in nature, the Samantha Buck (“21 Below,” 2009) and Marie Schlingmann (“Canary,” 2016) film weaves comedy, music and drama to create a rich tapestry of who the sister may have really been. Starring Michael Mosley (“Castle”), Jordan Elsass (“Little Fires Everywhere”), Julie White (“Transformers,” 2007) and Blake DeLong (“When They See Us”) in supporting roles, “Sister Aimee” features music by Graham Reynolds (“A Scanner Darkly,” 2006).
WHAT’S NEW ON PRIME
“Words On Bathroom Walls” (2020) Based on the novel of the same name by author Julia Walton and adapted for the screen by Nick Naveda (“Say You Will,” 2017), don’t miss the poignant romance film “Words on Bathroom Walls” when it joins Prime on Friday, March 19. Charlie Plummer (“Looking For Alaska”) stars as Adam, a seemingly average high school senior who dreams of becoming a professional chef. However, following an incident in chemistry class that resulted in the injury of a friend and fellow student, Adam finds himself expelled from public school and suddenly diagnosed with schizophrenia. Now, having been enrolled at a Catholic school to finish off the year, Adam wants nothing more than to lay low and keep his mental illness a secret from the world. His perspective on life soon changes as he meets Maya (Taylor Russell, “Lost in Space”), a brilliant and outspoken student. Adam takes comfort in Maya’s friendship, and as their relationship grows, he learns to open his heart and mind, refusing to let his illness determine who he is from day to day. Also starring Andy Garcia (“Ocean’s Eleven,” 2001),Walton Goggins (“The Unicorn”) and AnnaSophia Robb (“The Carrie Diaries”), witness “the unforgiving ecosystem that is high school” through the eyes of a teen coping with mental illness when “Words on Bathroom Walls” joins Prime.