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Ah, April. Spring isn’t just in the air, it’s on our television sets. Baseballs are zipping through the air. Flowers are blooming in the park. Desperate TV networks are capitalizing off national holidays with religious programming. It’s all happening, and Netflix is playing along. Not only did the streaming giant get an early jump on the Emmy race by launching the confusing awful ambitious “3 Body Problem” in March (giving voters enough time to wade through its arduous episodes), but April has its own awards contender in “Ripley.”
I would be surprised if any other April original series draw the TV Academy’s attention, but we should never write off a series executive produced by Norman Lear (“Good Times” gets the animated reboot treatment this month), nor can a nature documentary series from Netflix be considered out of the running (especially one narrated by Cate Blanchett, like the forthcoming “Our Living World”). Greg Berlanti isn’t known for producing awards bait; he’s a people-pleaser, and “Dead Boy Detectives” fits snugly next to similar populist teen dramas like “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” and The CW’s superhero shows (which also stream on Netflix). But hey, “The Flight Attendant” made a little Emmy noise in its first season (landing Berlanti one of his two total nominations), so maybe a Neil Gaiman adaptation can, too.
Still, the biggest story of the month still isn’t what Netflix created, but what it’s acquired. “Sex and the City” becomes the latest HBO original to stream on Netflix, which is both a sound financial decision for the cash-strapped Warner Bros. Discovery and an awful branding choice for HBO, which has been operating under the subscribers-only access model since before Netflix first tu-dummed. Extra eyeballs around Carrie & Co. may generate renewed interest in “And Just Like That,” the Max-exclusive sequel series, but without new episodes arriving anytime soon, the scheduling of this “SATC” Netflix drop remains deeply suspect.
Can any of Netflix’s originals compete? Does it matter what subscribers are watching so long as they’re watching it on Netflix? The debate will rage on across Hollywood, but fans can rest assured they’ll find something worth streaming in April. Maybe it’s “Sex and the City,” maybe it’s “Ripley,” maybe it’s “The Circle.” Spring is in the air, so why not stay inside and watch TV?
1. ‘Ripley’
Release Date: Thursday, April 4
Writer/Director: Steven Zaillian
Cast: Andrew Scott, Johnny Flynn, Dakota Fanning, Eliot Sumner, Maurizio Lombardi, Margherita Buy, John Malkovich
Format: 8 hourlong episodes
Best Reason to Watch: Following in the footsteps of Anthony Minghella’s feature adaptation of “The Talented Mr. Ripley” is a prospect daunting enough to be discouraging — for creators and fans alike. But as untouchable as the 1999 film feels, it’s best to remember that Tom Ripley is a character who originated with Patricia Highsmith, an author whose thrilling work has inspired everything from “Strangers on a Train” to “Carol.” Just Ripley, her suave identity thief, has popped up in “Purple Noon” (1960), “The American Friend” (1977), “Ripley Under Ground” (2005), and “Ripley’s Game” (2002) — and those are just the movies. Now, Steven Zaillian (“The Night Of,” “The Irishman,” “Moneyball”) is taking a turn in an eight-episode interpretation of “The Talented Mr. Ripley” with Andrew Scott as the titular talent. Originally developed at Showtime, the black-and-white series was shot on location in Italy by Oscar winner Robert Elswit (“There Will Be Blood,” “Good Night and Good Luck”). There’s a lot of reasons to be excited about this one — even if you (rightly) treat Minghella’s version as gospel.2. ‘Sex and the City’
Release Date: Monday, April 1
Creator: Darren Starr
Cast: Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Willie Garson, Mario Cantone, David Eigenberg, Evan Handler, and a whole slew of now-famous guest stars
Format: 94 half-hour episodes
Best Reason to Watch: As “And Just Like That” shovels dirt on the grave of its beloved predecessor, perhaps it’s a good thing that HBO agreed to license one of its legacy originals to Netflix, so audiences old and new can see for themselves just how great Carrie, Miranda, Samantha, and Charlotte were at their best (you know, when they were all on the same show).3. ‘Good Times’
Release Date: Friday, April 12
Showrunner: Ranada Shepard
Executive Producers: Norman Lear, Stephen Curry, Seth MacFarlane, Ranada Shepard
Cast: J.B. Smoove, Yvette Nicole Brown, Jay Pharoah, Marsai Martin, Slink Johnson, Rashida “Sheedz” Olayiwola
Format: 8 half-hour episodes
Best Reason to Watch: Norman Lear’s extraordinary legacy lives on in yet another reboot of yet another classic sitcom from the late Hollywood icon. This “Good Times” still follows the Evans family as they persevere in a housing project on the South Side of Chicago, only this family is a few generations past Florida and James’ kids, and, oh yeah, it’s an animated series. With a strong voice cast and the approval of Lear himself (before he passed), here’s hoping this “Good Times” can find the same creative success as the recent reboot of “One Day at a Time.”4. ‘Dead Boy Detectives’
Release Date: Thursday, April 25
Showrunners: Steve Yockey, Beth Schwartz
Executive Producers: Greg Berlanti, Jeremy Carver, Sarah Schechter, Steve Yockey, Beth Schwartz
Cast: George Rexstrew, Jayden Revri, Kassius Nelson, Briana Cuoco, Yuyu Kitamura, Ruth Connell, Jenn Lyon
Format: 8 hourlong episodes
Best Reason to Watch: Originally developed at Max (back when it was still HBO Max), “Dead Boy Detectives” is TV’s latest attempt to adapt one of Neil Gaiman’s popular comic book series (after “The Sandman,” “Good Omens,” and “American Gods”). This one follows Edwin Payne (George Rexstrew) and Charles Rowland (Jayden Revri), two everyday best friends who also happen to be ghosts who run a detective agency. They’ve chosen to stay on Earth to do good (rather than retire to the afterlife), and the duo spends their days solving supernatural mysteries plaguing the planet’s still-living people. Does that sound like a little bit of a throwback? Like an “X-Files” successor where ghosts solve a new creepy case each week? Well, with super-producer Greg Berlanti behind the scenes, it could be, but it’s also part of the same universe as“The Sandman,” so it’s got a bit of modern DNA (aka IP) as well.5. ‘The Circle’ Season 6
Release Date: Wednesday, April 17
Executive Producers: Shane Byrne, Tim Harcourt, Stephen Lambert, Daisy Lilley, Susy Price, Chet Fenster, Richard Forster, Toni Ireland
Format: 16 hourlong episodes
Best Reason to Watch: I dunno, you guys. I dipped my toe back in the reality TV cesspool for “The Traitors,” and I’ve felt dirty ever since. “The Circle” Season 6 is moving from England to Atlanta, GA, if that does anything for ya, and it’s always nice to see Michelle Buteau. But… by now, you know if this is your bag or not. Happy for everyone who’s ready to jump through the hoops, but I can’t join in at this time.6. ‘Our Living World’
Release Date: Wednesday, April 17
Creative Team: Ben Roy (producer), James Honeyborne (Executive Producer), Kate Hall (Head of Production), Steve Barnes (Editor), Mark Robertson (Editor)s
Cast: Cate Blanchett, Cute Animals
Format: 4 hourlong episodes
Best Reason to Watch: Cate Blanchett narrates the latest nature docuseries filled with stunning photography and zero other distinguishing factors. Even as a professional critic who’s reviewed a number of these, I would be hard-pressed to outline significant differences between Netflix’s current crop of “Planet Earth” successors, including “Our Planet,” “Our Planet II,” “Life on Our Planet,” “Our Universe,” “Our Great National Parks” (I think this one has Obama), “Night on Earth,” “Earthstorm,” and so on and so forth. But hey, there’s nothing wrong with appreciating the natural elements from the comfort of your nonbiodegradable couch, especially with Cate Blanchett as your tour guide.7. ‘Black Sails’
Release Date: Wednesday, April 17
Creators: Jonathan E. Steinberg, Robert Levine
Cast: Toby Stephens, Hannah New, Luke Arnold, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Tom Hopper, Zach McGowan, Toby Schmitz, Clara Paget
Format: 38 hourlong episodes
Best Reason to Watch: What’s a pirate’s favorite pattern? Arrrrrgyle. (It’s a pirate show! I’m tired! Have a good month!)The Rest of Incoming TV
“100 Days To Indy” Season 1 (available April 4)
“I Woke Up a Vampire” Season 2 (available April 4)
“Parasyte: The Grey” (available April 5)
“Spirit Rangers” Season 3 (available April 8)
“Anthracite: Secrets of the Sect” (available April 10)
“The Hijacking of Flight 601” (available April 10)
“Unlocked: A Jail Experiment” (available April 10)
“As the Crow Flies” Season 3 (available April 11)
“Heartbreak High” Season 2 (available April 11)
“Meekah” Season 2 (available April 11)
“Midsummer Night” (available April 11)
“The Fairly OddParents” Seasons 4-5 (available April 15)
“Bros” (available April 18)
“The Upshaws” Part 5 (available April 18)
“CoComelon Lane” Season 2 (available April 22)
“Brigands: The Quest for Gold” (available April 23)
“Fight for Paradise: Who Can You Trust?” (available April 23)
“Deliver Me” (available April 24)
“Don’t Hate the Player” (available April 24)
“The Asunta Case” (available April 26)
“Boiling Point” Season 1 (available April 29)
“Fiasco” (available April 30)TV Leaving Netflix in April
“Imposters” Seasons 1-2 (unavailable April 4)
“The Nice Guys”*** (unavailable April 8)
“Barney and Friends” Seasons 13-14 (unavailable April 30)
***not a TV show, but boy, wouldn’t it make for a good one?
