This week’s offerings get real, and a little bit ruff
With so many different streaming platforms and cable offerings to navigate, choosing what to watch has never been harder. To make things easier, here are our best tune-in tips for the week ahead.
TUESDAY
Pamela, a Love Story
Described as an intimate portrait of the woman who many credit with popularizing the term “blond bombshell,” Netflix’s “Pamela, a Love Story” follows Pamela Anderson’s life and career from her humble beginnings in Ladysmith, B.C., to becoming an international sex symbol, activist and mother. Unlike the scripted “Pam & Tommy” miniseries, this one seeks to examine Anderson’s sensitivities instead of just her scandals. Netflix
WEDNESDAY
Gunther’s Millions
The pick of the week is a four-part investigative docuseries that follows the world’s richest dog. Gunther IV inheriting $80 million can be traced back to the late German countess Karlotta Leibenstein, who willed her entire fortune to her dog, Gunther III. After Gunther III passed on, his grandson assumed control of the fortune. I am sure you are skeptical at this point, but believe me when I say this is all real. If you are wondering what possessed the late countess to bequeath her pet all of her assets, she had no children or any close relatives. In any event, Gunther IV’s estate is now managed by a team of humans who are also featured in the series and detail how the dog controls private jets, a yacht and several properties in Italy. Gunther is worth over $400 million. Netflix
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
The highly anticipated sequel to “Black Panther” features Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke) and Okoye (Danai Gurira) fighting to protect their nation after the death of King T-Challa (Chadwick Boseman). Disney Plus
La Brea
This underrated drama returns for its winter premiere with a new episode that features the Harrises returning to 10,000 BC. This is in an effort to upload a virus that will stop the creation of any sinkholes in the future but also eliminates any possibility of the family ever returning home. For those unfamiliar with the show, the sci-fi series is about a massive sinkhole that opens in the middle of Los Angeles. The sinkholes are later discovered to be tied to a project developed in 2076 in which researchers were attempting to combat their lack of resources. CTV & CTV.ca
That Girl Lay Lay
This Nickelodeon comedy debuted a couple of years ago but will be available to stream on Paramount Plus Canada. It follows Sadie (played by Gabrielle Nevaeh Green) as a high school student struggling to make friends. Instead, Sadie finds solace in Lay Lay, an avatar from a phone app that she uses to vent. Sadie is shocked to find out that her wish of Lay Lay turning into a real person comes true. It’s a little campy. Paramount Plus Canada
THURSDAY
Ainara’s Bookshelf
While adults might struggle to add to the reading list for their next book club meeting, finding interesting books can also be challenging for kids. Teen Instagram influencer Ainara Alleyne attempts to address this by introducing tween readers to 10 of her favourite books in a new TVO series. Each episode features Ainara reviewing one book and interviewing one author or celebrity. Featured guests include David A. Robertson, Jerry Craft and Claribel A. Ortega. TVOKids.com
FRIDAY Dear Edward
This new Apple TV Plus series is adapted from Ann Napolitano’s bestselling novel and stars Emmy nominees Connie Britton (“Friday Night Lights”) and Taylor Schilling (“Orange Is the New Black”). It tells the story of Edward Adler (Colin O’Brien) a 12-year boy who survives a devastating plane crash that kills every other passenger on the flight, including his parents. As Edward and the rest of the world try to figure out what happened or how Edward managed to survive, new communities and relationships are formed. If you are getting major “The Sixth Sense” or “Unbreakable” vibes, I am too. That said, if it’s half as good as those movies Apple could have another hit on its hands. Apple TV Plus
True Spirit
This movie is based on the true story of Jessica Watson, a 16-yearold Australian who became the youngest person to sail around the world by herself. Watson travelled some of the most isolated waters in the world on her own, surviving several knock-downs, and spent 210 days alone at sea. At the end of her journey, she was greeted by the Australian prime minister, who called her a national hero. Netflix