Image via Netflix
Aside from the latest Scream movie dropping last week, this January seems to be pretty slow in terms of new movie and TV releases—but there’s still plenty to watch. Last year ended on a high note with Spider-Man: No Way Home killing it at the box office, but Scream knocked it out of the No. 1 spot last weekend. That is a good sign for things to come and 2022 is already looking promising with a wide range of movies and TV shows that are scheduled to hit theaters and streaming services later this year.
While Hollywood is pretty quiet ahead of awards season, there are more than enough new releases this week that are well worth your time. The first part for the final season of Ozark has arrived on Netflix, while How I Met Your Father starring Hillary Duff dropped on Hulu earlier this week. On Apple TV+, executive producer/showrunner/director M. Night Shyamalan and his writer/director daughter Ishana Shyamalan’s Servant made a return, and Sujata Day’s Definition Please hit Netflix. Winter is really the perfect time to stay home and cozy up in front of the TV and catch up on as much entertainment as possible, so take a look below to find some of the best offerings from this week and see which ones are up your alley.
'How I Met Your Father'
When: Jan. 18
Where: Hulu
If you’re anything like me and have been waiting for years for a Lizzie McGuire reboot, Hulu has something for you to watch. This might actually be the closest thing we get to seeing Lizzie living her best grown-up life now that the reboot is no longer in the works at Disney. How I Met Your Father is a reboot of How I Met Your Mother and it stars Hilary Duff, Francia Raisa, and Kim Cattrall. For those who watched the original, the premise of this show is similar. It fast forwards to the year 2050, and a woman named Sophie (Kim Cattrall) starts narrating the story of how she met her son’s father. The show then begins to follow the younger version of Sophie, played by Duff, as she is living in NYC with her roommate Valentina, while she searches for the love of her life.
The first two episodes dropped on Hulu earlier this week and Episode 1 revealed that both shows exist in the same universe. While viewers loved the original CBS show, this one has a different feel. It is also somewhat diverse (to reflect the real New York), and is a bit more modern, including dating apps and things that hadn’t taken off when How I Met Your Mother premiered in 2004. Having a woman as the lead might also mean that it will steer away from the casual sexism that the original displayed, and maybe it will also show Sophie having a bigger purpose aside from just finding love. But that’s just wishful thinking. If you’re looking for a lighthearted comedy to watch while lounging on the couch, or if you’re missing your dose of Samantha Jones in the Sex and the City reboot And Just Like That, this show might be the one for you. —Karla Rodriguez
‘Ozark’ (Season 4, Part One)
When: Jan. 21
Where: Netflix
Real Ozark fans already started binging the first part of the show’s final season as soon as it hit Netflix early on Friday, Jan. 21. Season 4 is being split into two parts and that can only mean one thing—the story is about to get so wild that it needs to be shared in separate installments. Things are about to get intense for the Byrde family as they gear up to bring one of Netflix’s most beloved shows to a close. While Marty and Wendy Byrde are the heads of the family, fans have gravitated toward their kids and they’ve become the real stars of the show. Julia Garner’s portrayal as their daughter Ruth has made her a two-time Emmy winner, and Skylar Gaertner’s performance as Jonah is one of the show’s standouts. This season’s trailer promised plenty of action, drama, and suspense as the family attempts to find their way out of the messes they’ve found themselves for the past three seasons. We already know Jason Bateman doesn’t disappoint when it comes to Ozark, so prepare for nothing but stress and excitement before you hit play. —Karla Rodriguez
'Servant' (Season 3)
When: Jan. 21
Where: Apple TV+
Anyone who has watched any of M. Night Shyamalan’s work knows what to expect going in. Shyamalan serves as the executive producer, showrunner, and director on Apple TV+’s Servant, while his daughter Ishana Shyamalan is also a writer on the show alongside Tony Basgallop. The series debuted in November 2019 and started off when a wealthy Philadelphia couple named Dorothy and Sean Turner start having trouble in their marriage after their newborn son, Jericho, dies. The couple turns to transitory object therapy, which uses a lifelike reborn doll to help fill the void after Dorothy deals with a psychotic break after losing her baby. The couple hired a nanny named Leanne to care for the doll, who brought a “mysterious force” into their home, and things went haywire from there.
For those who have kept up with the show since its premiere, there’s so much more madness in store for you this season. For those of you who have yet to watch, we won’t spoil where the show left off in Season 3, as this is the perfect time to catch up. The show has been renewed for its fourth and final season and the new season is now available to stream on Apple TV+. The series stars Lauren Ambrose, Toby Kebbell, Nell Tiger Free, and Rupert Grint. —Karla Rodriguez
'Definition Please'
When: Jan. 21
Where: Netflix
It’s dope when good people win the right way. Sometimes it’s the only way. Sujata Day’s directorial debut being acquired by Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY for release on Netflix is a huge win after spending a good chunk of the quarantine working the virtual and IRL festival circuit, gaining awards and acclaim along the way. The fact that it’s a story that’s true to Day—life after winning a spelling be for a Bengali American woman living in Pennsylvania—makes it one of the more unique family dramedies you’ll see in 2022, but it’s Day’s intricate weaving of indie sensibilities with Bollywood flourishes. It’s true to her, true to those living with mental health issues, and really...the more I write about it, the more I wish you’d just watch it. Then you can dissect our conversation, and patiently wait for her next film. —khal