As previously advertised, today’s the day Netflix made Syfy (US)’s Happy! available to stream for UK viewers. And this morning, I got an email from Netflix to let me know this fact, entitled “Rob, we just added a TV programme you might like”.
Huh.
Let’s read how they describe Happy!
A boozy ex-cop turned hit man thinks he’s losing his marbles when a cartoon unicorn only he can see urges him to rescue a girl kidnapped by Santa
All accurate – although arguably Happy himself is a uni-donkey, not a unicorn, even if he claims to be a horse (of course). The question is: why did Netflix think I would like Happy!?
I mean they’re not wrong. By the end, I liked it very much. But they can’t have read this ‘ere blog or else they’d have known I’d already seen it, which means some algorithm deep in the bowels of Netflix has worked this out for itself, presumably based on my past viewing choices, shows I’ve browsed and the list of shows I’ve flagged to watch.
Now have a look at the description again. I wonder what I’ve been watching that made the algorithm think that.
And if you can work it out, I believe Cambridge Analytica would like to offer you a job.
Trailer trash
PS I’ve watched Netflix’s trailer for Happy! Largely it’s the same as Syfy’s except it’s been edited somewhat. Now, I can understand why they might edit the trailer since anyone can view it, I presume, and there were one or two things in the original trailer that would probably be a bit much for kids – who might be inclined to watch it because of the delightful Happy (unicorns are so hot right now).
However, Netflix has also rated the show a 15. I think that’s possibly a bit of a stretch, given some of the content, but it’s possible. Yet I’m still worried that they might have edited it from an 18 to make it that lower certificate. I’ve no idea why they’d want a lower certificate, but I’m worried.
So let me know if you spot some edits. How will you know? Well, if you get through episode seven and still want to know the answer to that, I’ll have my answer for sure.
Every Friday, TMINE lets you know when the latest TV shows from around the world will air in the UK
After last week’s disappointingly empty slate of acquisitions and premiere dates, this week’s a whole lot more promising. Coming as part of Syfy’s spring schedule are Freeform (US)’s Siren (which hasn’t aired yet) and Stitchers (which has), but we’ve not got precise airdates at the moment. I’ll let you know when we do. What’s that, though? Maybe five actual new TV programmes airing on Syfy now. Wowzers.
We have had a good few other acquisitions as well, but they came with proper premiere dates. Let’s chat about them after this nice subheading.
Premiere dates
Runaways – Every teenager thinks their parents are evil. What if you found out they actually were? Marvel’s Runaways is the story of six diverse teenagers who can barely stand each other but who must unite against a common foe – their parents. The series stars Rhenzy Feliz, Lyrica Okano, Virginia Gardner, Ariela Barer, Gregg Sulkin, Allegra Acosta, Annie Wersching, Ryan Sands, Angel Parker, Ever Carradine, James Marsters, Kevin Weisman, Brigid Brannah, James Yaegashi, Brittany Ishibashi, and Kip Pardue. From left: Gert Yorkes (Ariela Barer), Nico Minoru (Lyrica Okano), Alex Wilder (Rhenzy Feliz), Chase Stein (Gregg Sulkin), Karolina Dean (Virginia Gardner) and Molly Hernandez (Allegra Acosta), shown. (Photo by: Paul Sarkis/Hulu)
“Teenagers discover their parents are supervillains” could go in a lot of directions, particularly once those teenagers start to acquire ‘powers’ of their own, but in the hands of Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, we get something that’s only occasionally a superhero show but is mostly part Gossip Girl, part Breakfast Club, as our young heroes and heroines go on various emotional coming-of-age journeys, full of secrets, friendships and shades of grey (particularly the theme tune). A little slow in places and occasionally a bit daft, but a good cast, good plotting and Julian McMahon shows up halfway through, too.
Happy! (US: Syfy; UK: Netflix)
Premiere date: Thursday, April 26
When Happy! first started, it seemed a relatively obvious bit of Grant Morrison dadaism. “I know, let’s partner a gritty, hard-boiled killer and a cute little flying unicorn! Imagine the meta-fun and the explicit violence we can have!” But after eight episodes, the series is a shoo-in for this year’s list of TMINE’s Top Shows. How did this come to be?
The show’s has two strands. About 50% is Christopher Meloni staggering around as a Very Bad Detective, pulling faces and generally sending up the conventions of grimdark comics, all in a small-screen version of Crank – you know, the nice Jason Statham movie. Here the show is incredibly violent, profane and sexually edgy. I’m surprised it was allowed on basic cable, to be honest.
The other 50% of the show slowly evolves into Toy Story 3. It doesn’t start that way, with Happy the imaginary flying Unicorn-Donkey more irritating and Scrappy Doo-ish than genuinely cute. It doesn’t help that his CGI is a bit of a work in progress, either. But by about episode three, little Happy is a genuinely lovely character and a source of a very sweet form of humour. And better animated.
Combined, those strands give you a show that’ll have you wincing, laughing and even weeping buckets of tears for a sock (no, really). Give it a watch – give it at least three, maybe four episodes to hit its stride – and you’ll have a great time.
Monkey, Tripitaka, Sandy and Pigsy in The New Legends of Monkey
The New Legends of Monkey (Australia: ABC Me; UK: Netflix)
Premiere date: Friday, April 27
Although ostensibly an adaptation of classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, it’s as much a modern homage to previous Journey to the West adaptation and 70s UK TV favourite Monkey! Not as silly as it should have been and a bit undermined by its relocation away from Asia to a Hercules: The Legendary Journeys-style “other world”, it’s still an enjoyable watch.
SUPERSTITION — Pictured: (l-r) Brad James as Calvin Hastings, Mario Van Peebles as Isaac Hastings — (Photo by: Mitchell Galin/Xlrator Media/Syfy)
Superstition (US: Syfy; UK: Netflix)
Premiere date: Sunday, April 29
Mario van Peebles directs, writes and stars in a black, Southern, male version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, playing the owner of a funeral home and one of a long line of monster slayers. It sounds bad and it is quite bad, but it is at least impressive in a few areas. Although it’s a new show, it feels like it’s already had a pilot movie and three seasons before it. It’s got a fully formed mythology that it doesn’t always feel the need to explain. There’s a touch of smartness in its references to the likes of Glycon the snake god and there’s also a nice Southern feel to the whole thing, too – it’s filmed in Georgia, so it looks the part as well.
But it was still too rubbish for me to watch more than one episode.
Cobra Kai (YouTube Red)
Premiere date: Wednesday, May 2
Sequel to The Karate Kid (the 80s version) that reunites at least two of the original cast. The now down-and-out Johnny (William Zabka), seeking redemption, reopens the infamous Cobra Kai dojo. This reignites his rivalry with a now-successful Daniel (Ralph Macchio), who has been struggling to maintain balance in his life without the guidance of his mentor, Mr Miyagi (the late Pat Morita). The half-hour show then follows the duo as they address demons from their past and present frustrations – through karate.
A word of warning – it’s a comedy. And treasured childhood memories might be crushed.
The Rain (Netflix)
Premiere date: Friday, May 4
After a brutal virus wipes out most of the population, two young siblings embark on a perilous search for safety. It’s Danish but it’s also a dystopian young adults drama. It’s not for me. It might be for you.
Sophie Okonedo, Marc Warren, Rufus Jones et al join W’s Flack
BBC One green lights: series of surveillance thriller The Capture, December-May drama Gold Digger, abuse pay-off drama Dark Mon£y and dementia mystery drama Elizabeth is Missing
It’s “What have you been watching?”, your chance to recommend anything you’ve been watching this week
For once, I actually managed to watch and review all the TV I promised to watch and review last week. Well done me. True, Boxset Monday ended up as Boxset Tuesday, but that’s largely because Squinters turned out not to be Boxset Monday-worthy material.
Later in the week, I’ll be dealing with HBO’s Here and Now, as well as anything else that pops up despite the Winter Olympics. But today, there’s the latest episodes of the current roster of regulars: Baron Noir, Black Lightning, Corporate, Counterpart and The Magicians. Star Trek: Discovery‘s season finale has aired, too, but taking its place in the viewing queue is the returning DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. Lastly, it turned out that High Maintenance returned a few weeks ago without my noticing, so I’ve been playing catch-up with that.
