What to Watch This Week: 'The Northman,' 'Better Call Saul,' 'Barry' and More

Our picks for the best new movies & shows for April 22-24. From 'The Northman,' 'Barry,' 'Better Call Saul,' 'The Flight Attendant,' and more.

What to Watch and Stream this Weekend: The Northman, Better Call Saul, and more
Focus Features

Image via Focus Features

What to Watch and Stream this Weekend: The Northman, Better Call Saul, and more

We’re back at it again with another installment of our What to Watch column. We’ve been gone for a couple of weeks, and so much has gone down both on TV and at the box office. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore underperformedSonic the Hedgehog 2 quickly made its way to No. 1, and Michael Bay returned with his latest action flick Ambulance. On TV, Atlanta has been killing it with some thought-provoking episodes, while Woke returned for Season 2, and The Kardashians made their grand move to Hulu. April has had a lot to offer so far and this week is one of its strongest yet!

The Northman is hitting theaters and it’s something you have to experience firsthand. The trailer doesn’t do it justice, and even if these types of films aren’t your cup of tea, you don’t want to miss this one. Nicolas Cage has been everywhere lately, it seems, and that’s because he’s promoting his very unique film The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, which is loosely based on his own life—and he’s also playing himself. Better Call Saul is also back on AMC and from the looks of it, it still is one of the best shows on TV. HBO is delivering new seasons of both Barry and The Flight Attendant this week, while Netflix isn’t falling behind by sharing Season 2 of Russian Doll. Continue scrolling to see what to watch this week, and come back again next week for more. 

‘The Northman’

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

When: Friday, Apr. 22

Where: In theaters

If Mike Tyson’s airplane fight this week wasn’t enough violence for you and you’re still in the mood for more, The Northman is just what you need. Robert Eggers really went all out with this Viking epic, and I can’t lie, I had a few “WTF” moments while watching. The film tells the typical story of a man looking for revenge, but then, it develops into so much more than that. The Northman is based on the legend of Amleth, which was the inspiration for Shakespeare’s Hamlet. In the film, Prince Amleth (Alexander Skarsgård) was just a child when his uncle brutally murdered his father and kidnapped his mother (Nicole Kidman), and he made a vow to someday get justice. Now that he is a Viking, Amleth travels through Slavic villages, as he follows his mission to avenge his father and save his mom—but he quickly learns that things aren’t always what they seem.

Kidman delivers one of her best performances to date in the movie, while surrounded by an all-star cast including Anya Taylor-Joy, Ethan Hawke, Björk, Willem Dafoe, and Claes Bang. Eggers understood the assignment and created a stunning film that deserves to be experienced in theaters, so go ahead and buy your tickets now. Just make sure you’re prepared for a little bit of gore, blood, and a whole lot of nudity. —Karla Rodriguez

‘Better Call Saul’

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

When: Monday, Apr. 18

Where: AMC and AMC+

After a nearly two-year hiatus, one of television’s best—if not the best—show is back, as Better Call Saul returned to AMC on Monday, Apr. 18. Picking up right after Season 5’s tense finale, both “Wines and Roses” (Episode 1) and “Carrott and Stick” (Episode 2) manage to keep and increase the dread after the fallout of Gus’ (Giancarlo Esposito) botched hit on Lalo (Tony Dalton) as Jimmy (Bob Odenkirk) and Kim (Rhea Seehorn) begin to unfurl their plot against Howard (Patrick Fabian). 

Outside of the predictably tense showdown between Nacho (Michael Mando) and members of the cartel—brilliantly directed by Vince Gilligan—the most shocking reveal is Kim’s continued descent. After last season’s events, Jimmy feels farther away from Saul Goodman than before. But Kim? Well, that’s a different story entirely, as her machinations—she and Jimmy are planning on drudging up a fake cocaine problem for Howard—are a definitive sign of her breaking bad. Kim is now a far cry from her first innocent con with Jimmy, a memento which we see unceremoniously dropped to the curb in the cold open of “Wines and Roses.” 

Perhaps the most gutting part is Jimmy realizing that the old Kim is around somewhere. The tenderness in which he admires her client work in the El Camino diner (a perhaps not so subtle nod to the Netflix sequel film) reminds him why he fell in love with her to begin with. But this glimpse is fleeting, at best. Jimmy and Kim are down in the gutter together now, just like the bottle stopper of the Zafiro Añejo. So what happens when they both realize it’s too late to escape? — William Goodman

'Barry'

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

When: Sunday, Apr. 24

Where: HBO and HBO Max

OK, finally! It feels like we’ve been waiting for what feels like forever for Season 3 of Barry—and we kind of have. The show premiered in 2018, and returned for Season 2 in 2019. The pandemic delayed Season 3 a bit but it did allow some time for people who missed watching the show in real-time to catch up. And what a ride it was. Barry, created by the hilarious Bill Hader (he also stars in the show), is about a notorious and talented hitman who is ready to leave his criminal life behind to pursue an acting career. He meets a lot of hilarious and mesmerizing characters along the way, including his acting coach Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler), and the incredible NoHo Hank (Anthony Carrigan), the leader of the Chechen mafia Barry works for, who is also easily one of the greatest TV characters of the past five years.

Season 3 will explore as each character finally gets what they want out of life, but they quickly realize all that it takes to maintain it. The show balances and blends comedy, drama, and suspense so well, yet each storyline is so strong it could very well be its own show. Aside from this being Hader’s best role so far in his career, Barry also features outstanding performances from Stephen Root, D’Arcy Carden, and Sarah Goldberg. If you’re not up on Barry yet, this is your chance to get on board. The show’s third season hits HBO on Sunday, Apr. 24. —KR

‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent’

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

When: Friday, Apr. 22

Where: In theaters

I have no words for this movie. I had heard some rumblings about The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent before watching it but I truly didn’t know what to expect. But honestly, that’s how the film should be experienced, so I won’t say too much about the plot. This movie explores what it’s like for actor Nicolas Cage to try to find his footing in his career years after reaching his prime. With debts to pay and not being able to get work despite his experience, fame, and massive talent, Cage finds himself in a tricky situation when he accepts a $1 million offer to attend his rich fan Javier’s birthday party. That offer turns into one of the most batshit movie experiences I’ve had in years. However, one of the best aspects of this film is the bromance that develops between Cage and Javier, played by the wonderful Pedro Pascal—and I do hope the actors work together again in some capacity. If they do, I’ll be front row and center for the ride. Go to the movies to watch this film this weekend with no expectations, and you’re guaranteed to laugh, be confused, and be glad to see Nicolas Cage as the big movie star we always knew him to be. —KR

‘The Flight Attendant’

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

When: Thursday, Apr. 21

Where: HBO Max

After a strong first season, HBO Max’s The Flight Attendant returns for a compelling, if not slightly unfocused, sophomore season. The Kaley Cuoco vehicle remains a fantastic showcase for Cuoco, whom you’ve likely slept on because she spent the better part of a decade on The Big Bang Theory. Flight Attendant doubles down on the showiness of her performance in an exciting twist that’s better left unspoiled until you watch the first two episodes, which hit the streaming service this week. 


While the plot of Season 2 ebbs and flows in terms of quality, the show improves on its ensemble by finding a clever way to include Zosia Mamet’s Annie and Deniz Akdeniz’s Max in the proceedings; the chemistry between Mamet, Akdeniz, and Cuoco more than buoys the slower narrative moments. But if you’re in the mood for a fun, funny, and stylish thriller, Flight Attendant offers a lot to love. —WG

'Russian Doll'

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

When: Wednesday, Apr. 20

Where: Netflix

Sequels are hard to do—and even harder to do well. However, that uphill battle isn’t stopping Netflix, Natasha Lyonne, Amy Poehler, and Leslye Headland from trying to capture lightning in a bottle for a second time as the new season of Russian Doll hits Netflix on, perhaps in a fitting fashion, 4/20. While the first series saw Nadia Vulvokov (Lyonne) stuck Groundhog Day-style time loop, Season 2 curbs from your favorite time travel series as Nadia ends up back in 1982 after taking the 6 train. 


Along for the ride, this time around is Schitt’s Creek comedic superstar Annie Murphy and increased roles for Greta Lee and Chloë Sevigny. Russian Doll took plenty of big, exciting swings in its first season, and we anticipate the same will be true here. Let’s hope all of them land, but considering Netflix’s, uh, recent financial issues, having the return of a beloved series couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. —WG

Latest in Pop Culture