Mandatory Streamers: Be Careful What You Search For in HBO’s Lovecraft Country
Welcome to Mandatory Streamers, our column covering the best new streaming content coming your way every week! For the week of August 10, Misha Green and Jordan Peele’s Lovecraft Country series adaptation, based on the novel by Matt Ruff, is ready to take on monsters both familiar and Lovecraftian in a terrifying new tale also executive produced by J.J. Abrams. Check out the best shows debuting and returning online this week as well as the latest renewal announcements below, and be sure to visit our mother site Mandatory by clicking here!
HBO
Lovecraft Country, Series Premiere: The ten-episode series follows Atticus Freeman (Jonathan Majors) as he joins up with his friend Letitia (Jurnee Smollett-Bell) and his Uncle George (Courtney B. Vance) to embark on a road trip across 1950s Jim Crow America in search of his missing father (Michael Kenneth Williams). This begins a struggle to survive and overcome both the racist terrors of white America and the terrifying monsters that could be ripped from a Lovecraft paperback. The series will premiere on Sunday, August 16, and will be available to stream on HBO Max.
Quibi
Mapleworth Murders, Series Premiere: Co-created by stars Paula Pell (A.P. Bio) and John Lutz (Saturday Night Live), the series centers on a murder-mystery writer as she solves homicides in her small town, with each episode featuring guest victims and suspects, to answer the question, why are there so many murders in one small town? The first three episodes are now streaming with the next new episode releasing on Monday, August 17.
Acorn TV
The Other One, Exclusive U.S. Premiere: This BBC One comedy is about what happens when you discover your recently-deceased father had a secret family living 13 miles away and you now have a brand-new sister with the same name and is only five days younger. Both of the twentysomething women have always wanted a sister, but the only thing these two have in common are their name, Catherine Walcott (a smart move by dad if you’ve got a secret daughter). Their mothers also couldn’t be more opposite. Created and written by Holly Walsh (Motherland, Dead Boss) and Pippa Brown (Psychobitches, Bad Education), all seven episodes are now streaming.
Peacock
Five Bedrooms, U.S. Series Premiere: Five singles meet at, of all places, the singles’ table at a wedding. After several bottles of champagne, they decide to pitch in and buy a house together. Five singles buy a house together – what could go right? It’s a grand social experiment with one glaring problem: they’ll have to actually live with each other. All while journeying together through disasters, life-turning crises, and moments of love, joy, and heartbreak. The Australian comedy-drama will launch on Thursday, August 13.
Renewals
Hunters, Season 2: Just six months after the dark comedy conspiracy thriller debuted to solid reviews from critics and audiences alike, Amazon Prime announced the Al Pacino-starring Hunters will return for a second season on the streaming platform! Also starring Logan Lerman, the first season is available to stream now.
Close Enough, Season 2: Creator and lead star JG Quintel announced that HBO Max has officially renewed the animated comedy series Close Enough for a second season! The eight-episode first season is available to stream now.
Love, Victor, Season 2: Hulu has renewed Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger’s Love, Victor series for a Season 2! The first season is available to stream now.