The Weekend Binge: Stephen King Scaries at 'The Institute', 'Dexter' Has Risen, Lena Dunham's 'Too Much', New Seasons of Foundation + OC Housewives, and A 🍷 To Pair with Justin Bieber's New Album
Current Weekend Plans: Sippin' and Streamin' 🍷 📺
There’s always that one weekend a month where the streamers drop all their best streams — this is that weekend. We have Lena Dunham’s new comedy Too Much which I’m looking forward to streaming mostly because it stars my girl from Hacks — Megan Stalter.
Spinoff series are big this weekend with Ballard, a new series from the world of Bosch and Dexter: Resurrection from the Showtime cult classic. New seasons of Foundation (Apple TV+) and The Real Housewives of Orange County (Bravo/Peacock) premiere this weekend. And for movies, we have an A24 movie, Opus starring The Bear’s Ayo Edebiri, and Drop (Peacock) starring The White Lotus’ Meghann Fahy (geez, this girl is in everything!). I’m most excited about the Stephen King adaptation of his bestselling novel, ‘The Institute’, premiering this weekend on MGM+.
The Institute (MGM+)
Drop (Peacock)
Too Much (Netflix)
Jaws at 50: The Definitive Inside Story
Tiffany’s Two Cents - And Just Like That: Season 3 - Episode 7
Carrie throws Charlotte a birthday party at her townhouse, Seema gets serenaded by the landscape architect, and Anthony meets Giuseppe’s mom (played by Patti LuPone). As I’m hate-watching this show, mostly now just for the fashion, I keep hoping that the writers wake up from their coma to bring life back into these characters. The “comedy” in this series feels so forced and tired — the karaoke machine, the drunk guy singing for sex, the re-gifted candle. The little bestie spat that Carrie and Miranda get into regarding her flirting with the British writer felt like it was straight out of Beverly Hills 90210 — so privileged high school. The upside was that Aidan wasn’t in this episode to bulldoze over it completely, but according to next week’s trailer — he is back in NYC and wants Carrie to share her closet with him. Oof!
Here’s Everything New Streaming This Weekend
Too Much
Megan Stalter stars as New Yorker Jessica who, after a breakup, moves to London to be alone, but she meets Felix who causes her to reconsider finding love again. Co-stars The White Lotus’ Will Sharpe and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’s Michael Zegen. Streaming Time: 10 episodes.
Pair with 🍷: Laudato Pinot Grigio - Veneto, Italy
Also New On Netflix - Aap Jaisa Koi, Almost Cops, Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano 3, Madea’s Destination Wedding, Brick, 7 Bears, Leviathan, Sneaky Pete: Seasons 1-3, Building the Band, The Gringo Hunters, Under a Dark Sun, Ziam, Better Late Than Single, Nate Jackson: Super Funny, Quarterback: Season 2, Sullivan’s Crossing: Seasons 1-2, Trainwreck: The Real Project X
Netflix’s Top 5 Weekend Streams (TV/Movies)
Sullivan’s Crossing / K-Pop Demon Hunters
Squid Game / Trainwreck: The Real Project X
Dan Da Dan / Brick
Nate Jackson: Super Funny / Penguins of Madagascar: The Movie
The Waterfront / The Old Guard 2
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Season 17 Premiere
Behold, the longest running comedy series of all time. Now, in its 17th season the Sunny gang are back and the season opener stars months after they visit Abbott Elementary, Principal Ava walks viewers through some of the unseen footage of the gang’s volunteerism and reveals their true intentions. Streaming Time: 8 episodes.
Pair with 🍷: Eccentric Malbec Bourbon Barrel, Argentina
Also New On Hulu - Suspicious Minds: Premiere, Deep Sea Detectives: Season 2, 90-Day Fiance: Season 6, 90-Day Fiance UK: Season 3, Prison Wives Club: Season 1, Celebrity Family Feud: Season 11 Premiere, Mountain Men: Season 13, In The Lost Lands, LOL Live with Chico Bean, LOL Live with Chinedu Unaka, Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations Seasons 5 & 6, Extreme Road Ragers: Season 1, Summer Baking Championship: Season 1, , Ancient Aliens: Origins, Insomnia UK: Season 1, Team Players: Season 1, Bachelor in Paradise: Season 10 Premiere, Born To Be Viral: the Real Lives of Kid Influencers, Marked Men, Such Brave Girls: Season 2, Deep Sea Detectives: Season 1, Travel Texas: Season 1 (NatGeo)
Ballard
From the world of Bosch comes a new story of LAPD Detective Renee Ballard overseeing a new cold case division in the department. Streaming Time: 10 episodes.
Pair with 🍷: Muccietto Primitivo Organic - Apulia, Italy
Also New On Prime Video - One Night in Idaho: The College Murders, Menem, Simple Plan: The Kids in the Crowd
Prime Video’s Top 5 Weekend Streams
Ballard
Countdown
Heads of State
We Were Liars
The Better Sister
Dexter: Resurrection (Showtime)
He’s baaack! Michael C. Hall returns as Dexter Morgan who awakens from a coma and sets out for New York City, determined to find Harrison and make things right. But when Miami Metro’s Angel Batista arrives with questions, Dexter realizes his past is catching up to him fast. Co-stars Peter Dinklage, Uma Thurman, and Krysten Ritter. Streaming Time: 10 episodes.
Pair with 🍷: Clos D’Angel La Finca Cabernet Sauvignon - Colchagua Valley, Chile
Also New On Paramount+ - Big Brother: Season 27 (CBS)
Paramount+’s Top 5 Weekend Streams (TV/Movies)
Criminal Minds Evolution / Novocaine
The Chi / The Patriot
Dexter Resurrection / Gasoline Alley
Spongebob Squarepants / Extract
NCIS / Paw Patrol: Super Charged
Drop: Movie Premiere
A widowed mother’s first date in years takes a terrifying turn when she’s bombarded with anonymous threatening messages on her phone during their upscale dinner, leaving her questioning if her charming date is behind it. Stars The White Lotus’ Meghann Fahy and It Ends With Us’ Brandon Sklenar. Streaming Time: 1 hour, 35 minutes.
Pair with 🍷: Tensley Syrah - Santa Barbara, California
Also New On Peacock - Love Island: Beyond the Villa, Friends: The Next Chapter - Season 3, The Real Housewives of Orange County: Season 19 Premiere (Bravo), Survival Mode: Season 1 (Peacock)
Peacock’s Top 5 Weekend Streams (TV/Movies)
Love Island USA / The Idaho Student Murders
Poker Face / Horton Hears a Who
The Real Housewives of Miami / The Woman in the Yard
Below Deck / American Pie
The Valley / Hotel Transylvania 2
Foundation: Season 3
In this sci-fi epic space drama, a complex sage of human are scattered on planets throughout the galaxy all living under the rule of the Galactic Empire. Stars Terrance Mann and Jared Harris. Streaming Time: 10 episodes. New episodes every Friday.
Pair with 🍷: Alta Nova Cabernet Sauvignon - Paso Robles, California
Also New On Apple TV+ - The Wild Ones: Documentary
Apple TV+’s Top 5 Weekend Streams
Stick
Smoke
Murderbot
Foundation
The Buccaneers
Opus (A24)
The Bear’s Ayo Edebiri stars in this psychological thriller about a writer who travels to the compound of a pop icon who disappeared years ago. Surrounded by his cult of sycophants, as well as a group of fellow journalists, she soon discovers his twisted plans for the gathering. Co-stars John Malkovich, Juliette Lewis, Murray Bartlett, and Tony Hale.
Pair with 🍷: Opus One Overture - Oakville Napa, California
Also New On HBO Max - Gold Rush Mine Rescue with Freddy and Juan: Season 5 (Discovery), Rage: Season 1, Chasing the West: Season 1 (HGTV), House Hunters International: Volume 9, Season 202 (HGTV), House Hunters: Volume 10, Season 243 (HGTV), Back to the Frontier: Season 1 (Magnolia), Celebrity IOU: Season 10 (HGTV), Isadora Moon: Season 1, 90-Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? Season 9 (TLC), Wardens of the North: Season 4 (Animal Planet)
HBO Max’s Top 5 Weekend Streams (TV/Movies)
And Just Like That / Sinners
The Gilded Age / Minecraft Movie
Chespirito / My Mom Jayne
Back To The Frontier / The Great Wall
1000-lb Roomies / In Time
Push: Film Premiere
Eek! This horror movie follows a realtor who must survive a night of terror when a deranged client shows up at her open house. Streaming Time: 1 hour, 29 minutes.
Pair with 🍷: House Wine Rose Bubbles
Also New On AMC+ - Operation Aunties (ALLBLK), The Madame Blanc Mysteries: Season 4 (AcornTV)
The Institute: Series Premiere
Based on Stephen King’s bestselling novel, The Institute is a psychological horror about a teen genius who wakes up in a strange place full of children who got there the same way he did (Stranger Things vibes!), and who all, like him, possess unusual abilities. Stars Shadow and Bone’s Ben Barnes, Mary Louise-Parker, and X-Men’s Julian Richings. Premieres Sunday. Streaming Time: 8 episodes.
Pair with 🍷: Textbook Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Reserve
Jaws at 50: The Definitive Inside Story
This documentary is inviting everyone to return to the water to relive the iconic shark movie 50 years later. Alongside Steven Spielberg, this doc charts the extraordinary journey from Peter Benchley’s bestselling novel to one of the most iconic films ever made. Featuring rare archival footage and interviews with acclaimed Hollywood directors, top shark scientists, and conservationists, the documentary uncovers the behind-the-scenes chaos and how the film launched the summer blockbuster, inspired a new wave of filmmakers, and paved the way for shark conservation that continues today.
Pair with 🍷: Summer Water Rosé - Central Coast, California
Also New On Disney+ - People & Places: Premiere, Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires
Disney’s Top 5 Weekend Streams
Zombies
Zombies 2
Zombies 3
Marvel’s Ironheart
National Geographic Sharks Up Close
The Ex-Wife: Season 2
This psychological thriller follows Tasha, a wife and mother who has the perfect house and loving husband and beautiful little girl, but her husband’s ex-wife just won’t leave them alone. Based on the novel by Jess Ryder. Note: The Ex-Wife first streamed on Paramount+ in the UK and is now streaming on BritBox. Streaming Time: 4 episodes.
Pair with 🍷: Three Wives Remy’s Red - Willamette Valley, Oregon
7 Bears (Netflix)
Isadora Moon: Season 1 (HBO Max)
Justin Savant Red - Paso Robles, California 🍷
This bold, luscious wine is a 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Syrah blend. In the glass your eyes will see a marriage of deep purple and lighter ruby hues. Give your glass a swirl and dip your nose to catch aromas of violet florals, spice aromas, juicy blackberries and cherries and a savory roasted red pepper. Another swirl and you’ll get notes of warm gravel, cocoa butter, and pink peppercorns. What I love about this wine is that it is dry and full-bodied. On the palate, you’ll taste red and black cherry and ripe blueberry fruit with notes of toasty spice and warm cedar. At the finish, layers of sweet tobacco, leather, and sage.
Pairing this wine with the release of Justin Bieber’s new album, SWAG (just released today), which I have been listening to as I’m finishing this newsletter.