Lanterns, Twisted Metal and three other TV series not to be missed in August
As you browse through the full range of streaming, satellite and digital terrestrial services, here’s a selection of programmes you won’t want to miss
Super Market (Prime Video), the TV series by the Terzo Segreto di Satira collective, is witty, engaging and full of ideas that showcase the writing talent of these Milanese video-makers. At last, some good news from our country. It’s reminiscent of Justin Spitzer’s *SuperStore*, but the tone and characters are distinctly our own and contemporary. Less impressive, far less impressive, is House Of Dragon (Sky, HBO and NowTV), which, as I write, isn’t over yet but never ceases to disappoint with its constant lack of focus: from the actors, who are at times over the top, to the pace, which is often excruciatingly slow. We’re eagerly awaiting the finale – in every sense of the word. Finally, we come to August, which has never been a brilliant month for TV series fans. *Dark Matter 2* is a safe bet, whilst *Atomic* could be the surprise hit. I’ll go out on a limb and mention *Twisted Metal*: the PlayStation game was a bit hit-and-miss, but there were stories to be told in it. Let’s hope so.
Twisted Metal – Season 1 – 31 August
It looks like an adaptation that doesn’t take itself too seriously – fun, visceral and packed with references and over-the-top car chases. Just like the PlayStation game it’s based on. The series follows a chatty courier (Anthony Mackie) who is given a chance at redemption: to deliver a mysterious parcel across a devastated America populated by motorised criminals and psychopaths. Here’s hoping for some black humour (Sky and Now TV)
Lanterns – Series 1 – 16 August
Rather than a traditional superhero story, it promises to be a sci-fi-tinged detective thriller. The plot follows two Green Lanterns (recruit John Stewart and the legendary Hal Jordan) sent to the rural heart of America to investigate a mysterious murder that conceals a secret with cosmic implications. It’s a mature and ‘down-to-earth’ take on science fiction. DC Comics beats Marvel 5–0. from DC Comics. (HBO Max)
Dark Matter – Series 2 – 28 August
A direct sequel to the quantum thriller based on Blake Crouch’s novel. The new season explores the ethical and conceptual ramifications of the existence of the ‘Box’ (the device for travelling between parallel worlds), leading the protagonists to face the consequences of their decisions in a universe pushed to the brink of chaos. It’s pure hard sci-fi. If you’re looking for mind-bending sci-fi exploring the multiverse, temporal paradoxes, quantum physics and moral dilemmas, this is one of the best-written series on offer today. (Apple+)
Atomic – Series 1 – 20 August
A suspenseful investigative thriller packed with visual and political tension. Inspired by the non-fiction book *Atomic Bazaar*, it follows the story of two ordinary men who find themselves caught up in the illegal trafficking of uranium across North Africa, amidst criminal cartels, secret services and geopolitical power struggles. It is a realistic, sophisticated series, free from the usual Hollywood clichés of glamorous espionage. Let’s hope it’s the surprise hit of August. (Sky and Now)
