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TV Shows To Watch This Weekend: 'Slow Horses,' 'De La Calle' & 'High on the Hog'
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A photo of a screening for Season 2 of the show "Slow Horses."
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Gerald Matzka/Getty Images for Apple TV+
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Getty Images for Apple TV+
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Just coming back from a long holiday weekend, you might be feeling a bit more exhausted than usual.
You’re tired, and some television might be a nice way to get your mind off the day … but what do you watch? What’s a show that’ll help guide you through your evening and feel like you’re getting an experience in the comfort of your couch?
Well, that’s where we step in. Each week on AirTalk, LAist 89.3's daily news show, we pull together some of the latest television shows that help inform you about what’s out there in the world streaming. We do this through the help of some professional television critics whose job is to sift through shows and find those hidden gems.
This week, we spoke to Cristina Escobar, TV critic and co-founder of LatinaMedia.Co, and Steve Greene, freelance TV critic, about shows that caught their eyes recently.
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TV-Talk: 5 Shows To Watch Including ‘Slow Horses’ Season 3 ‘High on the Hog,’ ‘De La Calle’ & More
This week’s shows include:
- Slow Horses [Season 3] (Apple TV+)
- De La Calle (Paramount+)
- Black Cake (Hulu)
- High on the Hog (Netflix)
- A Murder at the End of the World (FX & Hulu)
Slow Horses [Season 3]
Streaming on Apple TV+
"So many spy stories are built around the destruction of cities or trying to avert widespread catastrophe [so for them] to take this subgenre and dial it down to really interpersonal relationships, and people mobilizing to save one of their own is fascinating."— Steve Greene, freelance TV critic
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First impression: The show centers on a group of MI5 spies looking to serve and protect England by resolving cases that aren’t the sexiest. The reasoning for this is their spotty records, which resulted in them getting scrutiny from head officer Jackson Lamb.
Lasting impression: The British spy thriller has gained a solid following for its combination of great acting talent and the appreciation folks have for Slough House, the original book series by Mick Herron. I appreciate the book-a-season approach, with this season being an adaptation of the book Real Tigers, the third installment of the series.
When it comes to performances, Gary Oldman and Jack Lowden are great. Both offer solid portrayals of these imperfect spies who take their jobs seriously when push comes to shove.
Who's behind it: The show is executive produced and written by Will Smith. Previously he worked as a supervising producer on HBO’s Veep and writer on the BBC show The Thick of It. To clarify, this is not the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
When and where: Episodes 1 and 2 are now streaming on Apple TV+.
De La Calle
Streaming on Paramount+
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"I think it's a pretty fun series to watch and get to learn a little bit about the genre that may feel new to many folks, but has a really long, interesting and storied history." — Cristina Escobar, Latinamedia.co
"I think you get a better appreciation of what went into the making of this music and the making of this history by seeing people move through those spaces, music, [and] greater culture-at-large." — Steve Greene, freelance TV critic
First impression: Journalist Nick Barili follows the storied tradition of Latin/Urbano music through some of its major hubs across the Western hemisphere. Each episode in the eight-episode series spends time in a different Latin center of the world.
Lasting impression: It's always nice to see Latino culture visited through these explorative series, which I think are solid intros for folks unfamiliar with la Raza and a worthwhile revisiting for folks within it. It focuses on popular music genres within the ethnic community and gets into how folks used this art as a means to collectively protest. I say this even understanding that Spain, a colonizer for many of the nations included, is at the center of one episode. The episode itself is quite interesting, focusing on Spain’s hip-hop scene following the end of its fascist dictatorship. All in all, it’s a series that even in eight episodes can explore a fair amount of Latin culture.
Who's behind it: The show is hosted and led by Barili, who is best known for his work on the YouTube channel Hard Knock TV, where he’s directed interviews with folks across the hip-hop scene since 2005; since then he’s covered rappers like Kendrick Lamar and reggaetoneros like J Balvin.
When and where: All eight episodes are now streaming on Paramount+.
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High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America [Season 2]
Streaming on Netflix
"It is built around centering food as part of a conversation about where the roots of this country come from and how you can track those throughout the world." — Steve Greene, freelance TV critic
First impression: American food writer Stephen Satterfield takes a journey across the United States to tell the origins of African American cuisine, through not just specific cuisines but the families who’ve held onto these recipes for generations.
Lasting impression: I’m a big fan of these kinds of food docuseries, which serve as a reminder that cultural dishes are just a result of one’s resources and the genius it takes to assemble something flavorful. I think Satterfield and company do such a great job of using this medium in the way Anthony Bourdain did — highlighting the beauty of a community, even if those that are historically disadvantaged.
Who's behind it: The show’s host is Stephen Satterfield, who folks may know from his work at Whetstone, a media organization he founded. Whetstone’s print and audio work has been a great place for folks who are interested in learning more about the diversity of food cultures around the world.
When and where: All four episodes are now streaming on Netflix.
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