Sonal Pandya

The first season of Apple TV’s Palm Royale, while intriguing, had a shaky narrative. That mainly had to do with its large cast of characters; it was hard to keep up with who’s who. Loosely based on Juliet McDaniel’s 2018 novel, Mr & Mrs American Pie, the series adds a few more characters and ups the melodrama, making for a confusing watch. Despite the complexity, the ensemble cast of the dark comedy plunges on with their stylish costumes and lavish production that takes the action away from 1960s Palm Beach, Florida.

The political series Maharani returns with a big time jump and a new era as it expands beyond the state. Huma Qureshi is joined by several new faces in this latest instalment that sees the politics and the collaborations grow murkier. This next generation of the Bharti clan is more in focus as they begin to grow their political roots as well. Created by Subhash Kapoor, the SonyLIV show manages to inject more intrigue in its fourth season, leaving audiences keen to wonder what will happen next.

Two of Vince Gilligan’s creations likely sit on the list of the best all-time great TV shows of all time. After Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, all eyes are on Gilligan’s next Pluribus starring Rhea Seehorn, and it does not disappoint. Set in a world where a virus has taken over humanity, one woman fights to save civilization from being taken over. Will she be successful? To find out more about this complacent new world, tune in weekly on Fridays to Pluribus.

After the British series The Stolen Girl, All Her Fault is the second series of the year revolving around a missing child attached to a fake playdate. Sarah Snook plays the mother whose child goes missing, and the Succession star ably headlines this strong drama about hidden secrets and family tragedies. Like The Stolen Girl, All Her Fault is also adapted from a novel, and creator-writer Megan Gallagher does well to hold audience interest episode to episode as the truth behind the kidnapper and their motives is revealed.

The eight-episode series, Down Cemetery Road, has a conspiracy plot that rivals another Apple TV show, Slow Horses. The similarities arise since both are adapted from author Mick Herron’s books. In this current series set in Oxford, a concerned neighbour finds herself being gaslit by those around her and stumbles upon a larger cover-up. Led by stalwart British talents Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson, the twisty will keep you on the edge until its satisfying finale.

A year after the world fell in love with agnostic podcast host Joanne (Kristen Bell) and hot rabbi Noah (Adam Brody), the Netflix series Nobody Wants This is back to check in on the couple. Erin Foster’s series about an interfaith couple struck a chord with audiences. With its new season, it’s time to see whether Joanne and Noah can make it work despite their differences. While the rom-com gets candid for several characters, it also keeps circling around the same issue for the main couple.

After Santosh, The Apprentice is the second film releasing on Lionsgate Play that didn’t receive a theatrical release in India because of censor issues. Ali Abbasi’s Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice is almost overshadowed by another man, Jeremy Strong’s Roy Cohn. Set in the 1970s, the drama follows young Donny’s journey into becoming Donald Trump, ably played by Sebastian Stan, who subtly gives glimpses of the businessman and future president used to cutting corners to get ahead.

Based on Ruth Ware’s bestselling novel, The Woman in Cabin 10, follows a journalist, Laura Blacklock, seeking the truth in a suspicious murder. With only herself as a witness, Laura is fighting a losing battle. Starring Keira Knightley as the determined heroine, the film features some cookie-cutter characters who fail to raise interest. The central mystery at the heart of this thriller is too easy to guess as well.