New to TVNZ+ in March

March 3, 2023 0 Comments

Lucky Hank (express from March 20) stars Better Call Saul’s Bob Odenkirk in an offbeat dramedy based on Richard Russo’s novel Straight Man.

He plays Professor Hank Devereaux Jr., the unlikely chair of the English department of an underfunded college in Pennsylvania, where he feels trapped by the self-involved faculty he runs.

Caught in the grip of a full-blown mid-life crisis, he becomes increasingly unhinged as he navigates the dysfunctional chaos of his personal and academic life.

Mireille Enos (The Killing), Oscar Nunez (The Office), Diedrich Bader (Office Space) and Suzanne Cryer (Silicon Valley) co-star.

Rabbit Hole (express from March 26) stars Kiefer Sutherland (24) and Charles Dance (Game of Thrones) in a political thriller about a corporate spy and master of deception who’s framed for murder by powerful forces that can influence and control populations.

Better (full season, March 24) is billed as “a messy, thrilling story of redemption” starring Leila Farzad (I Hate Suzie) and Andrew Buchan (Broadchurch). Reads the burb:

Detective Inspector Louise ‘Lou’ Slack has a deep, dark secret. Although she appears to be an upstanding citizen and cop, for the last 20 years she has been in the pocket of powerful crime boss Col McHugh. When her son almost dies, Lou undergoes a moral awakening. What started as minor favours and cover ups has spiralled out of control and she decides to atone for her crimes and ultimately take Col down.

“Ignore the anti-climactic intro to this police drama,” urged The Guardian. “Its tale of a dodgy detective who wants to change really starts to blossom as it goes on.”

Desperate Measures (full season, March 6) is another UK thriller, about a desperate mother who will do anything to save her son after he’s coerced into a botched drug deal by a local gang. Forced to pay back the money he lost, but with no way of raising it, she commits to a dangerous heist at the bank she works in.

Amanda Abbington (Sherlock), Warren Brown (The Responder) and Francis Magee (Kin) star in a series that went to air last week on Channel 5.

“A frankly implausible plot and sketchily drawn supporting characters let this bank-job drama down, despite Abbington’s best efforts,” was The Telegraph’s verdict but the Daily Mail gave it the thumbs up.

We Are Not Alone (full season, March 9) is a British sci-fi comedy the culture clash between humankind and its new masters, the Gu’un aliens, who are trying to make sense of a planet so confusing and idiotic that its inhabitants can’t even agree which side of the road to drive on.

“Outright jokes take second billing to the story, however, so it’s more smileworthy than laugh-out-loud,” Chortle said.

“But viewers will be drawn to the story and the diverse array of characters, with strong comedy cameos across the board.”

Stuck (full season, March 14), another UK comedy about an age-gap relationship at a crossroads starring Dylan Moran and Morgana Robinson.

Declan Baxter (Ghosts), Joe Thomas (The Inbetweeners), Vicki Pepperdine (How To Build a Girl) and Mike Wozniak (Man Down) star.

“This sitcom about a long-term relationship is vintage Moran,” raved The Guardian, “and unerringly captures the compromise needed to survive coupledom. I’ve never felt so seen.”

However, the Independent had a different take, dubbing it “vapidly inoffensive …There are charming moments in new BBC series, but its niceness starts to feel like laziness.”

Flowers in the Attic: The Origin (full season, March 20): A prequel to the Flowers in the Attic series of novels by V.C. Andrews about the headstrong and determined Olivia Winfield who’s wooed by Malcom Foxworth, one of America’s most eligible bachelors and becomes mistress of the imposing Foxworth Hall — only to discover the fairy-tale life she expected is actually a nightmare.

Max Irons, Jemima Rooper, Kelsey Grammar and Paul Wesley star; the movie Flowers in the Attic and its sequels Petals on the Wind, If There Be Thorns and Seeds of Yesterday already can be streamed on TVNZ+.

The Gymnasts (full season, March 4) is a foreign language drama about a team of elite teenage athletes competing at an international tournament in the Italian mountains, where rivalries flare and friendships are tested – to the point that some competitors will kill to win.

The synopsis says it combines a “powerful coming-of-age storytelling with a compelling murder mystery to create a captivating thriller”.

Caged: Kai Kara-France (full season, March 23) profiles one of NZ’s most successful sports stars on the world stage, a top MMA fighter competing in the flyweight division of the UFC.. In the aftermath of a devastating loss at UFC 277 in Dallas Texas in 2022, it follows Kai as he rallies, returning to life, training and fatherhood while reigniting his connection to tīkanga Māori.

Reframed: Marilyn Monroe (full season, March 18) is a four-part docuseries that reveals the screen icons progress from pin-up actress to a feminist and activist — a complex, fascinating woman who took on the power brokers of Hollywood and challenged the misogyny of 1950s America.

Bobby Brown: Every Little Step (full season, March 11) is a reality newcomer about singer/songwriter Bobby Brown as he juggles his music career, raises a family, and deals with the recent loss of his son and his sobriety.

Other TV additions in March include The Bay S1-2, The Case of Marine A, An Unexpected Killer S1 (March 7), Superman & Lois S3 (March 21), A Lie to Die For S1 (March 22), Smother S3 (March 30) and New Zealander of the Year 2023 (March 30).

Coming soon for movie buffs are:

March 7