540 Best TV-MA Movies to Watch (Page 22)

There are layers to Dublin Murders that make it stand out from many others like it. It’s intriguing as a mystery to be sure, but it’s also a psychological thriller and a study of a town warped in its own twisted history. Initially, its breadth could seem like a flaw. In the first couple of episodes, it feels overwhelming to learn about so many characters who will be set aside and not reintroduced until much later on. But every single role and backstory will be addressed in the course of the show’s eight episodes, and they’ll all feel well-earned. Couple this slow burn with the show’s eerie, ghostly tone, and you have yourself a murder mystery that doubles as a horror thriller, perfect for the coming Halloween months.

Genre: Crime, Drama

Actor: Amy Macken, Barry O'Connor, Conleth Hill, Eugene O'Hare, Kathy Monahan, Killian Scott, Leah McNamara, Moe Dunford, Peter McDonald, Sam Keeley, Sarah Greene, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor

Rating: TV-MA

There are plenty of divorce-related Korean dramas, but Divorce Attorney Shin is a gem among them. Based on the webtoon with the same name, the show is centered on an eccentric lawyer, whose trot-dancing ways and unconventional handling of clients doesn’t detract from his winning cases. Instead of the ruthless and collected attorneys we’ve seen previously, Shin Sung-han has a human side, a side that enables him to empathize with his clients. And like the lawyer, the show does the same, handling multiple cases, without discarding them by the end of the episode, and embracing its nuances in a well-rounded way.

Genre: Drama

Actor: Cha Hwa-yeon, Cho Seung-woo, Han Eun-seong, Han Hye-jin, Jang So-yeon, Jeon Bae-soo, Jung Moon-sung, Kang Mal-geum, Kim Kwang-shik, Kim Sung-kyun, Lee Eun-jae, Noh Susanna, Park Jung-pyo

Rating: TV-MA

Daisy Jones & The Six is riddled with rock and roll clichés—sex, drugs, and alcohol abound—but the series has enough strengths to save it from sheer banality, the most prominent of which is the music. The original songs, performed by the actors themselves, are genuinely good. They're true to the times and recall the likes of Fleetwood Mac and Buffalo Springfield, but they also sound fresh, modern, and invigorating. The showrunners seem to know this since each performance, whether onstage or in-studio, is given ample focus in each episode, and the show is all the better for it.

Aside from the stellar music, the show also has chemistry and production quality going for it. Riley Keough and Sam Claflin as the Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham of the fictional band are fiery and magnetic, while the authentic setting feels like an old polaroid come to life. 

Daisy Jones & The Six might not be for everyone, but if you enjoy musical dramas and nostalgia trips, then the show is a sure banger. 

Genre: Drama, Music

Actor: Camila Morrone, Josh Whitehouse, Nabiyah Be, Riley Keough, Sam Claflin, Sebastian Chacon, Suki Waterhouse, Timothy Olyphant, Tom Wright, Will Harrison

Rating: TV-MA

Cunk on Earth is a five-episode mockumentary that takes the piss out of every single historical documentary you’ve seen. The host, Philomena Cunk (Diane Morgan), asks actual experts stupid but funny questions about world history, which will often leave them stunned and speechless. 

That’s part of where the brilliance of this show lies really—in the reaction of the intellectuals who take Cunk’s questions seriously without ever breaking. A much bigger part relies on Morgan’s deft impression of a daft host. It’s all idiotic good fun, and it's a breeze to binge if you’re looking for something lighthearted to put on the screen.

Genre: Mockumentary

Actor: Diane Morgan

Director: Christian Watt

Rating: TV-MA

When Cristobal Balenciaga was in his prime, the courtier was lauded for his technique. More than anything, his dedication to the tiniest detail of dressmaking, not just design, made his sculptural dresses stand out. This titular miniseries about his years in Paris is made in the same vein. It has a strong foundational form, from smart camerawork and beautiful lighting to period-accurate backdrops and tight storytelling. But it has plenty of substance too as it’s clearly, and endearingly, in love with haute couture. Every scene is dripping with elegance, and every gown (even the supposed bad ones!) is so gorgeous that you must pause and take a moment to marvel at it. But perhaps the most impressive thing about the series is that it doesn’t shy away from history; in fact, it welcomes it fully, even the controversial parts of Balenciaga’s past. What we get isn’t a glorified icon, but a flawed human being who is all the more resplendent in his wholeness.

Genre: Drama

Actor: Adam Quintero, Alberto San Juan, Anouk Grinberg, Cecilia Solaguren, Gemma Whelan, Josean Bengoetxea, Thomas Coumans

Rating: TV-MA

With the worldwide pandemic, there were less and less opportunities for a potential meet-cute when everyone was encouraged to stay home. At the Moment finds those rare moments where love was still able to bloom. It plays with so many of the familiar cheesy romantic tropes, but always with a twist, never playing the tropes straight out. Being an anthology, it doesn’t stick with one couple, so it doesn’t develop really in-depth dynamics, but each episode feels self-contained yet part and parcel of the quarantine experience. Ultimately, At the Moment feels like a little sweet treat for romance fans after a long period of self-isolation.

Genre: Drama

Actor: Austin Lin, Berant Zhu, Derek Chang, Esther Liu, Gingle Wang, JC Lin, Jing-Hua Tseng, Johnny Yang, Puff Kuo, Shiou Chieh Kai, Terrance Lau, Vivian Sung

Director: Lien Yi-Chi, Norris Wong, Pin-Chuan Kao, Ray Wu, Remii Huang

Rating: TV-MA

This miniseries is based on a Margret Atwood novel and was also produced by her. The script was written by Canadian filmmaker extraordinaire Sarah Polley (Stories We Tell).

Grace is a poor but bright Irish immigrant in Upper Canada who is accused and convicted of a double murder. 15 years into her life sentence, a young American doctor is sent to try to get her out.

Genre: Drama

Actor: Anna Paquin, David Cronenberg, Edward Holcroft, Kerr Logan, Paul Gross, Rebecca Liddiard, Sarah Gadon, Zachary Levi

Rating: TV-MA

Fear and paranoia are the hallmarks of plenty of thriller series, but Who Were We Running From? takes this paranoia on a whole other level. Based on a 2007 novel, the Turkish mystery series is centered around a mother-daughter duo with a codependent relationship. Flitting from hotel to hotel, what’s normal for Bambi is an unhealthy bond with her mother, to the point where they personally believe that it’s them against the world. Yet, on some level, as they attract scrutiny, this paranoia feels almost justified. Through cinematic visuals, contrasts between them and everyone else, and near silence from the mother’s perspective, Who Were We Running From? creates a compelling mystery that stands out from other crime series available on the platform.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery

Actor: Eylül Tumbar, Melisa Sözen

Rating: TV-MA

Tragedy can strike at any time, but some instances are preventable, and rare is the instance where people do seek justice for it. After all, after losing so much, it would be awful to fight and lose again. But these instances do still exist, and one such incident is the Uphaar cinema fire. Trial by Fire depicts this tragedy, but rather than focusing on the fire itself, it focuses on the fight the victims’ families took in order to seek justice. The show doesn’t play out as a courtroom drama, it takes an intimate look into their day-to-day actions, faithfully portrayed by the excellent Rajshri Deshpande and Abhay Deol. And while the industrial giants depicted tried to file an injunction against this show’s screening, thankfully, Trial by Fire is still able to make its stand. It’s solemn and grim, but it’s a potent reminder of the power we hold as a collective.

Genre: Crime, Drama

Actor: Abhay Deol, Anupam Kher, Ashish Vidhyarthi, Rajesh Tailang, Rajshri Deshpande, Ratna Pathak Shah, Shilpa Shukla

Director: Avani Deshpande, Prashant Nair, Randeep Jha

Rating: TV-MA