Happy Sunday, Streamers.
Congratulations, everyone. We made it through Spotify Wrapped Week ($5 to anyone who can explain what a “zen mystical victorian” vibe is). We’re sure we speak for everyone when we say thank god wrapped doesn’t exist for TV - who wants the world to know just how much Great British Bake Off you’re binging?
For those of you who are new here: welcome to The Sunday Stream, the answer to what has become one of the most challenging questions of our time:
What Should I Watch Tonight?
Every Sunday morning, we send the best things to watch straight to your inbox. No think pieces, no pretense; just one or two recommendations, along with the what/why/who/where (what is it about, why should I watch, who’s in it/made it, and where can I stream) because no one should waste their free time on bad content.
Warm up a cup of tea because this week, we have two shows that spotlight some plucky Brits. Now let’s get to it.
The English
What It’s About: A woman (Emily Blunt) seeks revenge for her son's death with the help of a Pawnee ex-cavalry scout (Chaske Spencer).
Why You Should Watch: For visuals reminiscent of Dances With Wolves and dramatic action that more than nods to Sergio Leone and Emily Blunt kicking ass.
With maybe the exception of Godless (which, if you missed a couple of years back, is excellent), a Western is a rare thing to find on prestige TV these days (we would put Yellowstone firmly in the soap opera category, please don’t @ us). That’s why The English is such a treat. It’s everything you want in a modern Western and dutifully pays homage to the best of the genre (knowing it stands on the shoulders of the giants that came before it). There are heroes at low angles, glorious vistas set to Morriconesque scores, bloody and brutal violence, and more than a couple of John-Ford-doorway shots. Best of all, The English remains true to the theme that is the foundation for every great Western: when faced with lawlessness, do men and women choose to uphold order? Or give in to violence? With only six episodes, The English is more than worth the time to see where Blunt and Spencer’s characters net out on the question.
Who’s In It, and Where You Probably Know Them From:
Emily Blunt - The Devil Wears Prada, Looper, Sicario, Edge of Tomorrow, A Quiet Place, Mary Poppins Returns, or as Jim Halpert’s real-life Pam.
Chaske Spencer - Banshee or The Twilight Franchise
Who Made It, and What Else Have They Done: Hugo Blick created the show and is most known for helming other prestige limited series like The Honorable Woman and Sensitive Skin.
Where You Can Watch: Prime Video
Slow Horses (Season 2)
What It’s About: A bitter, washed-up spy (Gary Oldman) heads up a team of British intelligence agents who serve in the dumping ground department of MI5 due to their career-ending mistakes.
Why You Should Watch: For spy games, next-level British cheekiness, and Gary Oldman.
Seemingly out of nowhere (did Apple run out of marketing spend?), our favorite n’er do-well British spies are back. This time, the threat isn’t from within; it’s from Russian sleeper cells which - shocker - want to take down the West. Season 2 is even better than the first because now that we know the characters, the show doesn’t need to do any work giving us too much backstory. Instead, it dives straight into everything we loved from Season 1: gripping action set pieces, witty humor, double-crossing spies, and the always great Gary Oldman (whom you can still almost smell through the screen) chewing up the scenery every chance he gets. Here’s to hoping Apple keeps up this production schedule and we only have to wait another six months for Season 3.
Who’s In It, and Where You Probably Know Them From:
Gary Oldman - Another “where to begin this guy has done so much,” you probably know this legend as either Commissioner Gordon in Christoper Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy or Sirius Black from the Harry Potter Franchise. Honestly, you probably don’t even realize the extent of how many movies he’s done because he’s such a chameleon - see below:
Jack Lowden - As one of Dunkirk's many young, facey British soldiers.
Kristin Scott Thomas - The English Patient, Fleabag, Mission: Impossible, Four Weddings and a Funeral
Who Made It, and What Else Have They Done:
Most of the episodes are directed by James Hawes, who is probably best known for his work on Black Mirror, and written by Will Smith (no, not that one), who is best known for his work on Veep.
Where You Can Watch: Apple TV+