Debut of sci-fi series Foundation is the TV event of the season
A lavish science-fiction epic raises the bar on streaming spectacles and an array of 20th anniversary documentaries re-examine the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Here’s a rundown of streaming highlights for September:
Foundation: Isaac Asimov’s sci-fi space novels get a densely plotted, jaw-dropping adaptation from the deep pockets of Apple Inc. The 10-episode space saga follows a group of exiles who, under the leadership of psychohistorian Hari Seldon (Jared Harris of The Crown), work to rebuild humanity after the fall of the Galactic Empire. Filmed over more than a year and a half, the series is stacked with grandiose set pieces, dazzling costumes and serious ambitions to become this fall’s most talked about television event. (Apple TV Plus, Sept. 24, episodes weekly) Scenes from a Marriage: Ten years into their seemingly idyllic marriage an American couple (played by Jessica Chastain and Oscar Isaac), begin to reexamine what they long deemed a successful relationship. Based on Ingmar Bergman’s acclaimed 1974 miniseries, this five-part limited series uses the Swedish director’s story of love, monogamy, parenthood and the unspoken erosion of trust, as the framework for a contemporary update that introduces new dynamics and technology into the mix. (Crave/HBO, Sept. 12, episodes weekly)
Come From Away: Canadian couple David Hein and Irene Sankoff’s rousing musical jumps from the stage to the small screen in a recorded performance captured earlier this year on Broadway. Come from Away is based on real-life folks in Gander, N.L., who unexpectedly played host to thousands of passengers on flights that were diverted in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks. Their colourful story is brought to life using little more than 12 chairs, a few tables and some East Coast spirit. Director Christopher Ashley, who picked up a Tony Award for his work on the stage production, keeps faithful to the stage version while offering light touches that draw viewers closer to each character. (Apple TV Plus, Sept. 10)
9/11 Documentaries: Twenty years after the World Trade Center attacks shook New York City, nearly all of the major streaming services are revisiting the tragedy with fresh eyes and untold stories. The featurelength documentary 9/11: Inside the President’s War Room (Apple TV Plus, Sept. 1) retraces the historic day, minute by minute, through the eyes of George W. Bush and other U.S. leaders. The five-part series Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror (Netflix, Sept. 1) steps back to establish the context around the attacks, touching on al-Qaida’s roots, the terrorists who boarded each plane and the so-called “war on terror” that followed. Spike Lee’s NYC Epicenters 9/11-2021½ explores several New York stories — including how the city faced COVID-19 — but its third episode (Crave/HBO, Sept. 5) serves as a time capsule of that fateful day. Using an extensive collection of footage from the attacks and unsettling imagery of people jumping from the towers, Lee recreates the fear that swept through the city and finds new stories of resilience, including one of a littleknown maritime rescue effort.