Weekly Streaming Recommendations: From Spy Thrillers to Holocaust Documentaries
Nicholas Wennö curates the best new series and films available on streaming platforms.
1Spy Thriller Returns
Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw return for the second season of the dark spy thriller Black Doves on Netflix. The series blends British holiday atmosphere with political intrigue as Helen balances her life as a politician's wife and a secret agent. Her husband approaches the premiership at 10 Downing Street.
2Medical Drama Intensity
SVT Play presents the second season of a high-intensity Norwegian medical drama, often compared to The Pitt. Petra and her colleagues navigate their final six months as medical interns in Oslo. The show explores moral boundaries and life-altering decisions within a realistic, human-centered narrative set in a pressured emergency room.
3Golfing Comeback Dreams
Owen Wilson stars as the faded golf star Pryce Cahill in the second season of this Apple TV series. His protégé Santi is nearing the professional circuit, while Pryce aims to become the oldest player to win a major tournament. Rhea Seehorn joins the ensemble cast for this heartwarming sports narrative.
4Muhammad Ali's Origins
Prime Video explores the formative years of Muhammad Ali in the series The Greatest. The narrative focuses on Cassius Clay's transformation between 1960 and 1964, covering his Olympic gold in Rome and the victory against Sonny Liston. Jaalen Best portrays the icon during his early political awakening and boxing rise.
5South Korean Masterpiece
Netflix premieres Lee Chang-dong’s award-winning drama, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival. The film depicts a manipulative power struggle between a documentary filmmaker and a traumatized worker. It is praised for its social realism and intense chamber-play style, featuring performances by Jeon Do-yeon and Sul Kyung-gu.
6Intimate Artistic Portrait
Mubi features a documentary by Eleanor Coppola regarding the making of Marie Antoinette. Compiled from 80 hours of raw footage, the film serves as both a portrait of Sofia Coppola’s artistic process and a mother-daughter study. It was completed following Eleanor Coppola’s passing in 2024 and also screens at Stockholm Film Festival.
7French Family Dysfunction
SVT Play showcases a French drama centered on the Vuillard family during a chaotic Christmas dinner. The matriarch requires a bone marrow transplant, forcing family members to confront alcoholism, infidelity, and psychological breakdowns. Despite the excessive consumption and internal conflicts, the narrative concludes with themes of reconciliation and enduring family love.
8Historical Holocaust Documentation
SVT marks the anniversary of the 1938 November pogroms by airing Claude Lanzmann’s nine-hour documentary Shoah. The work utilizes interviews with survivors, witnesses, and perpetrators to analyze the Holocaust. It is accompanied by Guillaume Ribot’s new documentary, which provides context on the creation of this monumental piece of historical film history.