Little house, big female energy and golf drama

From its earliest black-and-white flickers to today’s kaleidoscope of small-screen streaming options, television has offered many pleasures.

This new handful of new viewing recommendations dances nicely along that spectrum, from a period drama with a much needed modern perspective, a weekend of she-raging, a couple of spy thrillers and golf as a path to true grace (and a few gut-laughs). Onward!

●Little House on the Prairie (series premières Thursday on Netflix)

Based on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved Little House books, a new Winnipeg-shot adaptation moves beyond the 1974-83 sentimental TV adventures of the Ingalls family homesteading in the 19th-century American Midwest. The new effort promises to be not only grittier but also narratively broader, expanding beyond the story of the family planting roots in “free land.” Says the show’s Osage Nation consultant Julie O’Keefe, “If you’re going to tell the story, then you need to tell both sides.” The series has already been renewed for a second season. For more on the series, check out Randall King’s recent preview.

●Five Star Weekend (series premières Thursday on W Network; all eight episodes the same day on the StackTV app)

Jennifer Garner, recently seen in The Last Thing He Told Me, stars as Hollis, a grief-stricken celebrity cook who tries to both comfort herself and create content by gathering people from significant eras of her life. Fear of a syrupy hug-fest at least appears to be countered by sharp casting. Chloë (Big Love) Sevigny’s character, casually lashes out (not spilling a drop of wine) with: “Just shut your mouth right now.” There’s also a sleepover pyjama dance party, liberal references to The Golden Girls, and Timothy Olyphant (Justified) as the romantic interest. Also stars Regina Hall (Girls Trip), D’arcy Carden (The Good Place) and Gemma Chan (Humans).

●Lucky (series premières Wednesday, July 15, on Apple TV)

Canadian author Marissa Stapley’s bestselling novel is the template for this spy thriller, which relies on the classic setup of an almost reformed criminal forced to go back for one last job. “Everything is going to plan,” our heroine is told. “Until it isn’t,” counters Lucky (Anya Taylor-Joy, The Queen’s Gambit). Also stars Timothy Olyphant, this time playing the title character’s not-so-loving father. Annette Bening (Dutton Ranch), Clifton Collins Jr. (Eddington) and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (Lovecraft Country) round out the main cast.

●Ride or Die (series premières all eight episodes Wednesday, July 15 on Prime Video)

While the Five Star Weekend guests are pyjama-dancing through their trauma, 20-year best friends Debbie Claybourne (Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures) and Judith Burton (Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso) are about to reckon with some major truth-telling in this thriller. Think: a dash of Thelma and Louise, a sprinkling of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, a touch of True Lies and a glorious bit of Bob Odenkirk’s Winnipeg-shot Nobody. Which is to say, lots of guns, high-speed chases and running in fancy clothes. The spy master is played by Bill Nighy (Love Actually). Good fun.

●The Hawk (series premières Thursday, July 16, on Netflix)

Not everyone appreciates the humour of Will Ferrell. Poor them. This new sports comedy is for the superior humans who don’t so much get all the jokes as they are open to benevolent silliness, of which world is in greater need. And so, voilà, The Hawk. One-time “big-time golfer” Lonnie Hawkins (Ferrell) is fighting his sagging physique, his family’s advice and all the odds by trying to execute the greatest comeback in golf history. Tiger who? Also stars Jimmy Tatro (Home Economics) as his son and golf rival, Molly Shannon (SNL) as his explosive ex-wife, and standup comic Fortune Feimster as his caddy and biggest booster.

As is increasingly the case in this world of media mergers and cross-border rights squabbles, broadcast details are subject to change. All questions, comments and suggestions gratefully accepted at winnipegfreepress.com/deniseduguay