What To Watch TV Reviews: Cape Fear, Not Suitable For Work, Office Romance and Two Years Later

Cape Fear

Friday, streaming on Apple TV Plus

In Hollywood, everything old is new again. In this particular case, three times over.

This 10-part series stars Amy Adams, Javier Bardem and Patrick Wilson, and is the latest reimagining of a stalker thriller that’s been intriguing people for the better part of 70 years.

The first time the story made it to screens (based on a 1957 book by John D. MacDonald) was in 1962, when Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum terrified as a lawyer and his sociopathic client playing a deadly game of cat and mouse.

In 1991 Nick Nolte and Robert De Niro took on the roles of lawyer Sam Bowden and twisted criminal Max Cady, and this is based on that iteration, with the movie’s original producer and director, Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese, serving as EPs on this.

This time, they have Amy Adams and Patrick Wilson playing the lawyers first involved with Cady’s trial (in this, Cady is played by Spanish actor Javier Bardem, who is absolutely terrifying). Nearly two decades after he’s sent to jail, they’ve struck up a relationship and are happily married with two kids when Cady is exonerated and re-enters their life — uh oh.

Is Cady looking for revenge? Is he just toying with them? Or is something far more sinister at play?

If you’ve spied the explosive trailer, you’ll have a sense of what’s about to unfold — expect lots of psychological mind games, twists and turns, and gaslighting aplenty.

“What Max is trying to do is get them to destroy themselves,” Adams recently told Esquire.

“He’s just a catalyst, but they’re the ones that are actually going to do the work for him.

“Part of what’s so scary is getting people to turn on each other.”

This one’s going to be big. Get ready to scare the pants off yourself.

Rafa

Streaming now on Netflix

Everyone in the world loves Rafael Nadal — he’s one of tennis’ brightest stars. But how much do we really know about the champion sportsman? This four-part series takes a peek into Rafa’s world, zeroing in on the people who have stood by his side as he’s fought his way to the top. This is promising to reveal Nadal’s “pain, the constant pressure, and the determination to keep moving forward even when his body seems unable to continue”. One for tennis fans.

Not Suitable For Work

Tuesday, streaming on Disney Plus

There are few TV creators who have managed to capture “coming of age” as perfectly as writer and creator Mindy Kaling. Starting with Never Have I Ever then moving to The Sex Lives Of College Girls, she’s finishing her trilogy with this series, all about a group of friends in their early twenties who are new to the workforce. Kaling has nailed this very specific transition into early adulthood, and this has shades of New Girl and Friends, two of my all-time faves. A great addition to the genre.

Two Years Later

Thursday, streaming on Paramount Plus

Phoebe Tonkin and Brenton Thwaites play two strangers, Emily and Ryan, who first meet while commuting to work by bus. After COVID lockdowns force them to work from home, they pick up their commuter friendship two years on after returning to work in the office. On a whim, Ryan suggests they take their connection from the bus stop to the real world. Can they make a real and lasting romantic connection after only eight dates? Love this premise — worth a look.

Office Romance

Friday, streaming on Netflix

Wait, what? Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein — yes, that Brett Goldstein, of gruff Ted Lasso fame — as romantic love interests? Surely that has to be the most unlikely pairing in history? Ah, what the heck: we’re onboard. In this, Lopez plays an airline CEO who falls for her lawyer (Goldstein). The pair strike up an office romance, but is their love doomed to fail before it’s even got off the ground? This looks entirely cringe. And I am entirely there for it.