Fans of action, drama, thrillers, and comedies are all getting their fill this weekend.
John Wick: Chapter 4 is hitting theaters on Friday, while another thriller, Rabbit Hole, lands at Paramount+ to close out the week. The premiere of the fourth and final season of HBO’s comedy-drama Succession is also arriving on Sunday. While Yellowjackets, which became a huge success for Showtime last year, is returning with Season 2 this week too. (We wrote a short recap for you ahead of the show’s return, which you can find below). There’s more than enough fare for just about any taste this week, so enjoy.
Check out our choices for what you should be watching this week below, and come back next week for more.
'John Wick: Chapter 4'
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When: Friday, March 24
Where: In theaters
When it comes to franchises, the trend seems to be that the films get worse as they go. The more there is of something the more diluted the content seems to be, but the John Wick franchise may just be the exception. It’s hard to believe but we are already in the fourth installment of the action-packed Keanu Reeves-led films, and so far, it seems like they hit it out of the park with this one too. Not only has it gotten bolder and the action and storyline are even more memorable than the last, but it seems like fans are already turning up at the box office in larger numbers than with the previous three films.
Fans perhaps love this franchise so much because Reeves has fully committed to this role. So much so that he revealed he once “cut a gentleman’s head open” while on the set of a John Wick film—in typical Wick fashion. The stars and fans are also mourning the untimely passing of Lance Reddick who passed away the week prior to the film’s release. But as always, the late actor is a gift in any film or project he is in, including Chapter 4.
I refuse to share any spoilers but if you’re one of the many who went to watch it in theaters already or want to prepare before you go this weekend, here is our full review. —Karla Rodriguez
'Yellowjackets' Season 2
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When: Friday, March 24
Where: Showtime
Yellowjackets will sink its teeth into you. The sophomore season of Showtime’s Lost meets Lord of the Flies horror/drama/dark comedy proves that the character-driven ensemble wasn’t just a one-hit wonder and that the show is poised for the long haul, even if some of its storylines ebb and flow throughout the first six episodes sent to critics for review.
Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson’s series, for those unaware, charts the journey of the titular Yellowjackets girls’ soccer team, whose plane crash-lands in the Canadian wilderness in 1996, leaving them stranded before jumping to the present day to see how the team is faring 25-years later. The opening minutes of the series premiere primed viewers with a delicious tease: Things eventually get bad enough out in the wild that the girls turn on one another—and to cannibalism—to survive the winter.
Season 2 opens in the immediate aftermath of a juicy finale with a bit of table setting before diving head first into some of the darkest moments on the show thus far. As we learn more about what happened in the wild, that past begins to catch up with the women in 2021. As such, the impact of overarching dual storylines tends to bounce from episode to episode—but the good news is there’s always something to dig into from a narrative perspective. For me, the most effective moments are a big decision in 1996 that sets the younger ‘Jackets down on a startling descent into madness or the newfound partnership between adult Misty (Christina Ricci) and her investigator friend, played by Elijah Wood. Melanie Lynskey’s adult Shana remains a captivating presence, especially as she draws her husband Jeff (Warren Kole) and daughter Callie (Sarah Desjardins) deeper into her life.
Yellowjackets poises itself to be an even bigger breakout hit this season, so if you’ve missed out, now’s the perfect time to get a taste for one of television’s most exciting shows, anchored by one of the most well-assembled ensembles on air. Check out our interview with Sophie Nélisse here. —William Goodman
'Succession' Season 4
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When: Sunday, March 26
Where: HBO
It’s time to say goodbye to the Roys. After four seasons, the hit HBO series is coming to an end and the fourth and final season is kicking off this weekend. Season 4 finds the Roy siblings banding together to try to outsmart their father, Logan (Brian Cox). The show has chronicled the tensions between the family while delivering some of the most remarkable, funniest, and clever television in recent memory. While fans and most of the cast weren’t ready to say goodbye, Cox was quick to tell Entertainment Tonight that he was at peace with the show coming to an end, saying: “In a good way, I’m happy it’s over.”
“I think we’ve, you know, got to the point where the show has reached its natural closure,” he said at the show’s premiere, agreeing with the creator Jesse Armstrong’s decision. “Jesse won’t let anything go on further than it needs to. A lot of shows outstay their welcome, and I think our show is perfect, and neat, in the way it is.”
He’s right. You have to know when to call it quits, and ending it while the show is still on top and leaving fans wanting more is better than the show getting stale. Check out our review of the first four episodes here and don’t miss the show’s last season premiere this Sunday. —Karla Rodriguez
'Rabbit Hole'
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When: Sunday, March 26
Where: Paramount+
Kiefer Sutherland is back in his 24 bag with another thriller, Rabbit Hole. This time, the actor will star in the eight-episode series as a private espionage agent. He quickly learns that nothing is as it seems when his character, John Weir, who is described as a master of deception in the world of corporate espionage, is framed for murder by powerful forces with the ability to influence and control populations. The action-packed series, created by John Requa and Glenn Ficarra, is set to premiere with its first two episodes on March 26, battling against Succession. It’s a bold move, but thanks to streaming, viewers don’t have to choose. Sutherland fans can always catch up on the new show at any time on Paramount+. —Karla Rodriguez
