After a blazing summer, the first signs of fall have been a welcome reprieve from the heat and sun. A little rain and cooler temperatures as we head into the holiday season always makes for a good time to check out great TV shows or films you might have missed out on.
“Found” (NBC)
From the moment I caught the trailer on Twitter—I still refuse to call it by that new “name”—I was intrigued. Now, I can confidently report that episode one did not disappoint.
“Gabi Mosely (Shanola Hampton) will stop at nothing to find the missing and forgotten… but to get results, she hides a chilling secret.”
The secret—which isn’t much of one because they tell us in the trailer—is that she’s kidnapped her kidnapper from 20 years ago, Sir (Mark-Paul Gosselaar).
We’re four episodes in and the show’s proved to be just as fascinating and curious as it’s trailer.
You can catch it Tuesdays on NBC and streaming the next day on Peacock.
“The Irrational” (NBC)
Who was expecting NBC to come through this fall with the Black-led dramas? Not me, but here we are with “The Irrational.”
Alec Mercer (Jesse L. Martin) is an expert in human behavior and “has solving crime down to a science.”
It’s another crime of the week show, but also features a haunting mystery that Alec hasn’t been able to solve, because he can’t remember exactly what happened.
Airing Mondays on NBC and streaming the next day on Peacock.
“Wolf Like Me” (Peacock)
I love certain kinds of monster fare and werewolves have always been one of my favorites. I saw “Wolf Like Me” on the Peacock homepage and immediately hit play. I went into it with a decent idea of what to expect and yet they still managed to surprise me.
Gary (Josh Gad) is a widowed father trying to pick up the pieces as grief continues to affect both him and his daughter. Mary (Isla Fisher) is also trying to work through grief, but her connection to Gary and his daughter is almost immediate. As they both struggle through life’s challenges, we find out Mary “has a secret she can’t bring herself to share with anyone.”
“Wolf Like Me” is heart-warming, charming, heartbreaking, incredibly thoughtful and hysterical.
You can stream both seasons on Peacock.
“The Protégé” (Peacock)
I love a good action movie, especially when it’s led by a woman, and “The Protégé” fits the bill. Anna (Maggie Q) is the world’s most skilled contract killer, but when a hit is put out on her mentor, Moody (Samuel L. Jackson), she’ll stop at nothing to exact her revenge.
I wasn’t familiar with Q’s work prior to seeing this film, but I was pleasantly surprised by her performance, so much so that I watched another one of her films, “Fear the Night”—which I also enjoyed—off the strength of “The Protégé.”
If you’re in the mood for gun fights, action, and unexpected flirty fun, this is a movie for you.
Now streaming on Peacock.
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” (Paramount+)
Everybody said it was good, but when it was time to watch I was a little skeptical. I couldn’t remember much from the TV show I watched as a kid, but as the movie unfolded, I was accosted by the best feelings of nostalgia!
"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" was always FUN and "Mutant Mayhem" was an intentional return to the feeling of the TV show. It manages to capture the fun and the nostalgia of ‘80s babies who became ‘90s kids for a new generation.
If you’re looking for a good time, put this on. There’s a plot I could tell you about but really, just watch it. I smiled and laughed through the whole thing. I think you will too.
Now streaming on Paramount+.
Perdita Patrice is a Texas-based writer and documentary filmmaker. She enjoys live music, reading, and watching TV. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram @perditapatrice