Tag: Apple TV +

Book to series adaptation: ‘Dark Matter’ by Blake Crouch

The television adaptation of ‘Dark Matter’ will premiere on Apple TV + on May 8, 2024. Photo: Amazon

Speculative fiction is such an imaginative genre, which is why it’s one of my favorites. Blake Crouch’s “Dark Matter” resolves around the concept of the Many-Worlds Interpretation (MWI) of quantum mechanics – that every quantum event spawns a branching universe, creating an infinite number of parallel realities. I’ve always found the concept intriguing, and luckily this book has been adapted into a television series.

Blake Crouch is a bestselling novelist and screenwriter. His novels include the New York Times bestseller “Dark Matter,” and the internationally bestselling Wayward Pines trilogy, which was adapted into a television series for FOX. Crouch also created the TNT show Good Behavior, based on his Letty Dobesh novellas. “Dark Matter” is a speculative thriller about an ordinary man who awakens in a world inexplicably different from the reality he thought he knew. It has been adapted into a television series for Apple TV + and will premiere the first two episodes on May 8 for a total of nine episodes. (Amazon, 2024)

Book synopsis:
From bestselling author Blake Crouch, “Dark Matter” is a mind-bending thriller about choices, paths not taken, and how far we’ll go to claim the lives we dream of.

“Are you happy with your life?” Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the kidnapper knocks him unconscious. Before he awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits. Before a man he’s never met smiles down at him and says, “Welcome back, my friend.”

In this world he’s woken up to, Jason’s life is not the one he knows. His wife is not his wife. His son was never born. And Jason is not an ordinary college professor but a celebrated genius who has achieved something remarkable. Something impossible. Is it this life or the other that’s the dream? And even if the home he remembers is real, how will Jason make it back to the family he loves?

Series synopsis:
Jason Dessen is abducted into an alternate version of his life. To get back to his true family, he embarks on a harrowing journey to save them from the most terrifying foe imaginable: the alternate version of himself. It stars Joel Edgerton as Jason Dessen, Jennifer Connelly as Daniela Dessen, and Alice Braga as Amanda.

Photo: Apple TV

Binge worthy shows you should watch

Photo: Tech Daily on Unsplash

The last few years have been a feast for the eyes, heart, and soul when it comes to streamable series. More people now watch classics and brand-new series via streaming services like Netflix, HBO, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ than they do on regular TV. After all, almost all of the best shows will be released in bulk rather than a once-a-week release like TV.

Meaning when you have a few hours free, you can get into it! 2022 was great for TV shows, and there were some new seasons added to shows like Succession, and of course, we were blessed with the SATC women again with Just Like That.

But what does 2023 hold? And don’t worry, if you don’t live in the country with these releases, you can use a VPN for streaming!

Shrinking
An Apple TV+ release starring Jason Segel, and if you have watched Our Friend, you are probably itching to see Jason in more emotionally meaty roles.

Well, in Shrinking, he loses his wife, and we follow him go through the complexities of loss – and see how he helps himself and others—a great show with a big heart – funny, sad, and nuanced. A great show that deserves applause.

Beef
Is there anything Ali Wong can’t do? Not only does she have flawless comedic timing, but Beef is the show that keeps on giving – and yes, you will end up hungry from time to time, but we are talking Beef as in an argument, not Beef as in the food. While Ali Wong and Steven Yeun are the stars, David Choe and Amy Lau are right there with them. So far, it has received critical acclaim and is praised as what will be one of the best Netflix shows of 2023.

Coming from Korean director Lee Sung, we follow the foursome as they go to extreme lengths after an incident of road rage. Beef, while funny, smart, and often outrageous, does force you to look inwards at how you might be dealing with your own anger. A dark comedy that is just the right amount of spicy.

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
Bridgerton has been a runaway success, and from that, Queen Charlotte has arrived. What makes Queen Charlotte so intriguing is that it is a dramatization of the real-life story of King George III and Queen Charlotte.

While many of the characters from Bridgerton do make appearances, it is not 100% necessary to watch it first. But, for the sake of getting the full scoop and enjoying a show that millions did, it’s a good idea anyway.

While they are based on real people and some real events – it is not a history lesson, just a very enjoyable period series. Oh, and it has been stated to be a limited series, and no season 2 will be coming (or at least there are no announced plans).

Daisy Jones and the Six
An Amazon Prime series with the rather dashing Sam Clafin and gorgeous Riley Keough as the leads. The band is fictional but not far into the first episode, you will be hoping for them to release an album.

The band is a huge success and is topping the charts – only to crash and burn. The scenes switch between interviews of the band members, flashbacks, and more so that we, the viewers, can piece it together.

The original author, Taylor Jenkins Reid, said that it was inspired by Fleetwood Mac, who is well known for having a tumultuous time. Daisy Jones and the Six also deals with some heavy themes, so it is worth checking out trigger warnings.

The Witcher
This is the last time you can see Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia before Liam Hemsworth steps into the role for season 4. While it is not due to be released until the end of June, Netflix has been generous with plenty of teasers, first looks, and more.

The other Witcher seasons offered action, magic, mythical beasts, romance, and more. Based on the book and then the game, The Witcher has a lot of lore – and season 3 is set to be incredible.

The Bear
The Bear season one was an incredible success, and season 2 is set to be just as sizzling. Jeremy Allen White plays the uptight, hyper-precise, and messy chef we come to know as Carmy. Available on Hulu or the Star Hub on Disney +.

In season one, we see Carmy leave his high-flying fine dining career to take over a smaller place and the trials and tribulations that follow. The Bear deals with some heavy topics, too – so another one to check trigger warnings.

And let’s never forget there is always: The Lincoln Lawyer television series on Netflix!

Collaborative Post

Book adaptation: ‘The Last Thing He Told Me’ by Laura Dave

‘The Last Thing He Told Me’ has been adapted into a limited time series available on Apple TV+. Photo: Google

Laura Dave is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of “The Last Thing He Told Me,” “Eight Hundred Grapes,” and other novels. Her work has been published in thirty-eight countries. “The Last Thing He Told Me” has been adapted into a limited series starring Jennifer Garner. It is available for streaming on Apple TV+. “The Last Thing He Told Me” is about a woman who thinks she has found the love of her life—until he disappears. (Amazon, 2023)

“The Last Thing He Told Me” – Before Owen Michaels disappears, he smuggles a note to his beloved wife of one year: Protect her. Despite her confusion and fear, Hannah Hall knows exactly to whom the note refers—Owen’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey. Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. Bailey, who wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother. As Hannah’s increasingly desperate calls to Owen go unanswered, as the FBI arrests Owen’s boss, as a US marshal and federal agents arrive at her Sausalito home unannounced, Hannah quickly realizes her husband is not who he said he was and that Bailey just may hold the key to figuring out Owen’s true identity—and why he really disappeared. Hannah and Bailey set out to discover the truth but as they start putting together the pieces of Owen’s past, they soon realize they are also building a new future—one neither of them could have anticipated.