Shifty to The Waterfront: the seven best shows to stream this week

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"This Week's Top Streaming Shows: Highlights and Recommendations"

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TruthLens AI Summary

Adam Curtis’s new documentary series, 'Shifty', opens with notable historical figures Jimmy Savile and Margaret Thatcher, setting the tone for a reflection on the disappointments faced by Britain in the late 20th century. The series employs Curtis’s distinctive style, characterized by deep dives into archival footage and unexpected juxtapositions, to explore the overarching theme of loss. It chronicles Britain's decline in industry, community, and empire, as well as the struggle to navigate the individualistic complexities that have emerged in their wake. Although the narrative may take time to crystallize, the impressionistic nature of Curtis’s work invites viewers to engage with the content as an art installation, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of Britain's evolving identity. This series is available on BBC iPlayer starting Saturday, June 14.

In a different vein, a new drama from 'Dawson’s Creek' creator Kevin Williamson presents the Buckley family, whose fishing dynasty is threatened by both environmental regulations and unscrupulous competitors. This series, reminiscent of 'Succession' but lacking its sharp wit and psychological depth, focuses on the ailing patriarch Harlan and his heir Cane as they navigate familial conflict triggered by a shipwreck revealing illicit cargo. Additionally, a documentary on the late Toronto mayor Rob Ford examines his rise to power and chaotic lifestyle, reflecting early signs of populism that later characterized figures like Donald Trump. The series also features Philip Rosenthal’s travel show, showcasing culinary delights from around the globe, and a frothy costume drama set in the Gilded Age, where American newcomers reshape London society. Other highlights include a melodramatic adaptation of E Lockhart's novel about privilege and a Channel 4 series that allows parents and children to swap phones for 48 hours, providing insight into the challenges of digital life. This week promises a rich selection of shows across multiple platforms, catering to diverse interests.

TruthLens AI Analysis

The article highlights several new streaming shows, providing insights into their themes and narratives. The diverse selection reflects contemporary societal issues, historical perspectives, and family dynamics, suggesting an intention to engage viewers with thought-provoking content.

Cultural Reflection

By featuring a documentary from Adam Curtis, the article taps into Britain's historical disappointments and the loss of community, industry, and empire. This choice not only resonates with viewers familiar with these themes but also encourages a reflection on current societal issues. The documentary format, coupled with Curtis's style, aims to evoke emotional responses, positioning the content as both artistic and informative.

Family Dynamics and Competition

The mention of a drama centered on the Buckley family exploring themes of inheritance and competition in a struggling fishing dynasty serves to parallel contemporary concerns about wealth and environmental regulations. This connection may resonate particularly with audiences experiencing similar familial and economic tensions, thereby broadening the show's appeal.

Political Commentary

The analysis of former Toronto mayor Rob Ford's tenure hints at a larger commentary on populism and political integrity. By drawing parallels between Ford and contemporary political figures, the narrative suggests a cautionary tale about leadership, potentially appealing to a politically aware audience disillusioned with current events.

Viewer Engagement and Target Audience

The selection of shows appears to target a demographic that values both entertainment and deeper analysis of social issues. The blend of historical documentaries, family dramas, and political biographies indicates an intention to attract viewers who appreciate narrative complexity and social commentary.

Potential Manipulation

While the article does not overtly manipulate information, the framing of themes such as loss, competition, and political integrity can guide viewer perceptions. The language used subtly influences how audiences might interpret each show, potentially steering them toward a specific emotional response or ideological stance.

Trustworthiness and Reliability

The article generally provides accurate descriptions of the shows and their themes. However, the editorial slant towards certain interpretations may affect its perceived objectivity. The emphasis on societal issues and historical context may resonate with specific audiences while alienating others who seek lighter entertainment.

In conclusion, the article serves to inform and engage viewers while also reflecting broader societal themes. Its reliability is upheld through accurate content representation, though the framing may suggest an underlying agenda in shaping audience perceptions.

Unanalyzed Article Content

The first people we see inAdam Curtis’s latest documentary series are Jimmy Savile and Margaret Thatcher. It’s hard to think of a more fitting pair to embody the disappointments of Britain in the late 20th century. Curtis’s signature style – a mix of archive deep dives and uncanny juxtapositions – still startles. Loss is the theme of Shifty: it’s a story of Britain losing industry, community and empire, and struggling to come to terms with the individualistic complexity that replaced these certainties. It takes a while for the narrative to sharpen, but Curtis’s films are often best understood as impressionistic art installations so maybe abstraction is their natural final destination.BBC iPlayer, from Saturday 14 June

A wealthy businessman with a recent health scare reasserting himself as his adult children jostle for inheritance? This drama from Dawson’s Creek creator Kevin Williamson has echoes of Succession, albeit without that show’s razor-sharp wit or psychological acuity. It centres on the Buckley family, whose fishing dynasty is threatened by environmental regulations and corner-cutting competitors. When a ship runs aground (and reveals its illicit cargo), it triggers conflict between ailing patriarch Harlan (Holt McCallany) and his son and apparent heir Cane (Jake Weary).Netflix, from Thursday 19 June

Looking back on the story of the late Toronto mayorRob Ford, it is tempting to posit his success as an early warning of Trumpite populism; a politician whose lack of polish (to say the least) only served to make him more relatable to certain sections of the electorate. However, as this documentary shows, Ford, who became mayor in 2010, pushed this trend to extremes. It explores his unlikely appeal to voters as well as his chaotic lifestyle, which included allegations of sexual harassment and culminated in revelations about crack cocaine use in 2013.Netflix, from Tuesday 17 June

The indefatigable Philip Rosenthal has,for eight seasonsnow, occupied one of the most desirable niches on television: he gets to travel the world, eating the best every country has to offer. As ever this is a convivial affair – Rosenthal sees food as an expression of friendship and cultural exchange, a means by which people can offer and receive hospitality. This time his destinations include Guatemala, Tbilisi, Amsterdam, Adelaide and San Sebastián. Look out for cameos from actor Brad Garrett, comedian Ray Romano and singer Donny Osmond.Netflix, from Wednesday 18 June

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This frothy “gilded age”costume dramais proudly maximalist, adding sex, sass and power games to its picturesque settings and lavish selection of gowns. In the first season, the brash American arrivals took London society by storm. Now, some of them have become the establishment. As we return, Nan (Kristine Froseth) is preparing for the corseted life of a duchess while Conchita (Alisha Boe) is now Lady Brightlingsea. Still, at least Imogen Waterhouse is keeping things messy: she’s on the run from the police and on the front page of the papers.Apple TV+, from Wednesday 18 June

The Sinclairs are American old money – the kind of rich, complacent family who “summer” on a private island in New Hampshire. However, their idyll is jeopardised when a terrible accident befalls the golden girl of the family, Cadence (Emily Alyn Lind). Does their apparent paradise have a dark side? As Cadence tries to understand what happened to her, it starts to seem as if everyone is hiding something. This adaptation of an E Lockhartnovelis a glossy, melodramatic, YA-slanted story of wealth and privilege as a pressure cooker and, eventually, a prison.Prime Video, from Wednesday 18 June

This series will probably gain added traction in the wake of Adolescence and the panic about children’s online habits that has ensued. It sees parents and their children swap phones for 48 hours to sample digital life as it is experienced by another generation. Afterwards, psychologists assess the results and suggest possible solutions to problems around bullying, pornography and simple information overload. Expect a lot of frantic deleting from the younger participants but also, hopefully, some fresh understanding of the challenges they face.Channel 4, from Thursday 19 June

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Source: The Guardian