Four streaming picks: grief, noir thrills, murder

best TV – Netflix and Apple TV bring grief-soaked drama, a new murder mystery case, and Prime Video swings into Depression-era superhero noir. Also on the list: Apple TV’s Star City asks what if the Soviets landed on the moon first.

When the weekend hits, the world can feel miles away—even inside your living room. Netflix. Prime Video. and Apple TV are leaning into that escape in a big way. with fresh seasons and new series built for binging: a group still processing a death. a caped noir anti-hero with a fedora. and a teen sleuth pulled back into danger. If you want your viewing to feel like travel. or like time travel to the moon. this lineup has you covered.

The four picks below are all available on May 30-31—each offering a different kind of momentum, from grief-driven relationships to conspiracy in black and white.

‘The Four Seasons’ Season 2 — Netflix
Steve Carell’s TV exits have a reputation for shaking things up. The Four Seasons season 2 doesn’t seem interested in following that pattern. Season 2 is “even better without Carell’s sad-sack character, Nick,” whose death reshapes everything from the first moments.

In case you missed how season 1 ended. Nick died—and season 2 opens with his six friends still trying to process their grief. Among them are his ex-wife, Anne (Kerry Kenney-Silver), and Nick’s very pregnant girlfriend, Ginny (Erika Henningsen). The emotional pressure lands hardest on Jack (Will Forte). Nick’s best friend. and it’s already straining Jack’s once-solid marriage to Kate (Tina Fey).

Danny (Colman Domingo) and Claude (Marco Calvani) are dealing with their own stresses. too. as they debate the merits of adopting a child and what it could change in their lives. What makes the show’s mood easier to swallow is where it’s set. The Four Seasons plants its drama in gorgeous locations like Tuscany and Puerto Rico. making the series both easy escapism and a surprisingly resonant look at middle age.

‘Spider-Noir’ Season 1 — Prime Video
Prime Video may not always get it right with Spider-Man spinoffs. but Spider-Noir is the rare one that lands. The series stars Nicolas Cage as Ben Reilly. a superhero who isn’t Spider-Man—though he’s called “The Spider” and carries powers similar to the wallcrawler fans know.

The premise comes with built-in tragedy. Set during the Great Depression. The Spider used to be New York City’s resident hero until he failed to save the woman he loved. Ruby. from a tragic death. After that, Ben drifts through his days as a low-rent private investigator while drowning his sorrows with some bootlegged alcohol.

Then his current case collides with power and paranoia when he crosses paths with the gangster Silvermane (Brendan Gleeson). From there, Ben uncovers a vast conspiracy that only The Spider can tackle. The question isn’t whether trouble is coming—it’s whether he still has what it takes to save the day.

The show leans hard into style. Spider-Noir is shot in luminous black and white, and it’s also available in digitized color. The recommendation is clear: stick with the black and white. Either way. the series is described as “hella fun. ” driven by an involving narrative. a great cast of kooky supporting characters. and Cage at his wild. unhinged best—“Peter Parker. who?”.

‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ Season 2 — Netflix
Netflix isn’t just chasing thrills this weekend—it’s back with a murder mystery that starts with momentum and refuses to let Pip breathe.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder was a 2024 pleasant surprise, mixing charm with a low-stakes setup. In the first season. Emma Myers played Pip. a British teen who tries to clear her friend Sal’s (Rahul Pattni) name after he’s falsely accused of his girlfriend’s murder. Pip succeeded. but the series immediately finds a way to pull her back into another case—one that forces her to keep sleuthing while sorting out her feelings for her boyfriend. Ravi (Zain Iqbal).

Season 2 begins when Connor’s (Jude Morgan-Collie) brother Jamie (Eden H. Davies) goes missing. Jamie’s disappearance sends Connor to Pip as the one person he believes can help. Pip, though, is perplexed by why anyone would kidnap Jamie.

The clue she’s left with points toward a wider legal storm. Jamie is a key witness in an ongoing criminal case involving Max (Henry Ashton). who is accused of assaulting several women. The core question becomes immediate: Is Max involved in Jamie’s disappearance?. And even if the answer points one way, Pip has to prove it before time runs out for Jamie.

‘Star City’ Season 1 — Apple TV
For viewers who want their weekend to feel like stepping into history, Apple TV is offering Star City.

Star City is a spinoff of the long-running sci-fi series For All Mankind. It asks a tantalizing “what if?”—what if the Soviets were the first to put a man on the moon?

Rhys Ifans stars as the Chief Designer of the Cosmonaut program. The job is not just scientific—it’s personal, high-stakes, and terrifying. He has to find a way to launch a human into outer space without killing them. and he has to do it under the oppressive eye of Lyudmilla Raskova (Anna Maxwell Martin). the head of the KGB at Star City.

Raskova oversees everyone and demands total allegiance to Mother Russia, turning every step toward the moon into a test of loyalty as much as engineering. It’s an escapist premise with pressure baked in.

By May 31, the choices are clear: grieve, investigate, chase conspiracies, or sprint toward the moon. Pick your mood—and let the streaming do the traveling.

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