The Lowdown stars Ethan Hawke as Lee Raybon, a bookstore owner who publishes a story in the local paper which leads to bad press for governor hopeful Donald Washberg (Kyle MacLachlan).Shane Brown/FX
The Lowdown, Disney+
The Lowdown, Sterlin Harjo’s follow-up to Reservation Dogs, is a Tulsa, Okla.-based murder mystery that’s not so much about the actual case as it is the characters entwined within it.
Ethan Hawke gives an unforgettable performance as Lee Raybon, a struggling bookstore owner and self-described “truthstorian” who also writes features for the local paper. One of his pieces irks governor hopeful Donald Washberg (Kyle MacLachlan) when it leads to bad press.
What follows can only be described as a comedic, Oklahoman noir romp that never quite anchors itself as a series but still delivers memorable performances at every turn. Watch out for Canadian Kaniehtiio Horn as Lee’s ex-wife Samantha; Ryan Kiera Armstrong as his daughter Francis; Tim Blake Nelson as his brother Dale; and Jeanne Tripplehorn as his sister-in-law, Betty Jo.
Cocaine Quarterback follows Owen Hanson in his journey from college football player to cartel kingpin. The three-part series uniquely features Hanson himself retelling his experiences.Amazon Prime
Cocaine Quarterback, Prime Video
Mark Wahlberg’s production company, Unrealistic Ideas, is all about stranger-than-fiction true stories, such as the 2020 doc McMillions, about the McDonald’s Monopoly game scandal. Cocaine Quarterback is certainly on theme, although it goes deeper and darker than past projects.
The three-part series unfolds the story of convicted drug trafficker Owen Hanson, who went from a college football player smuggling steroids to a kingpin for one of the world’s most dangerous cartels.
What sets this retelling apart are appearances by Hanson himself, as he revisits the moments that led to his incarceration. Other notable appearances include FBI informant R.J. Cipriani, who helped police catch Hanson, and other friends and acquaintances who witnessed the athlete’s downward spiral.
House of Guinness follows sons Arthur (Anthony Boyle), pictured, and Edward after the death of their father, Sir Benjamin Guinness.Netflix
House of Guinness, Netflix
Succession meets Peaky Blinders in Oscar-nominated screenwriter Steven Knight’s new historical family drama. The eight-episode series takes place in the aftermath of Sir Benjamin Guinness’s death and the reading of his controversial will.
In 1868, the beer mogul left control of the Guinness brewery to sons Arthur and Edward (played by Anthony Boyle and Louis Partridge), while leaving his other two children without the same wealth. The series homes in on the subsequent drama between Arthur and Edward, spinning stories of power struggles, generational secrets and shocking turns. Plenty here is fictionalized for story’s sake, but the plot certainly keeps you tuned in.
In the French-language series Toujours Canadiens, a trio part of the Montreal Canadiens' legacy take centre stage.Crave
Toujours Canadiens, Crave
Crave continues building out its French-language programming with this docuseries, which dives into the history of the Montreal Canadiens and a trio of men who are part of the team’s legacy: Stephane Richer, Chris Nilan and Claude Lemieux.
Over three 60-minute episodes, the project explores what it means to be part of a revered hockey franchise. As the men sit down to tell stories about their journeys and the moments that defined them, the viewer gains fresh insight into Canada’s oldest professional hockey team.
Leo Suter stars as TV-series namesake Tommy Lynley and Ted Lasso alum Sofia Barclay plays Barbara Havers in this British series based on the novels by Elizabeth George.Britbox
Lynley, BritBox
Fans of BBC’s The Inspector Lynley Mysteries from the early aughts should ensure their BritBox subscriptions are up-to-date. This time around Leo Suter (Vikings: Valhalla, Sanditon) stars as a modern version of the title detective while Sofia Barclay (Ted Lasso) plays DS Barbara Havers.
Like Elizabeth George’s bestselling novels, the series mines the unlikely partnership between two cops from different worlds as they navigate complex cases and class divides. There’s plenty of strong performances, but the real reason to catch this series is the eerie cinematography and mood-building sets.