This month sees the return of “Emily in Paris” and a superhero ensemble, along with a heartbreaking documentary about the daughters of imprisoned men.
Every month, Netflix adds movies and TV shows to its library. Here are our picks for some of the most promising new titles in August. (Note: Streaming services occasionally change schedules without giving notice. For more recommendations on what to stream, sign up for our Watching newsletter here.)
‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ Season 1
Stream it here
The charming young actress Emma Myers (seen recently as an irrepressibly cheerful werewolf on “Wednesday”) gets a starring role in this adaptation of the best-selling young adult novel by Holly Jackson. Myers plays Pip, a sweet but somewhat naïve British schoolgirl, who for a class project decides to reinvestigate the death of a popular teen and her boyfriend — a crime that her small town’s local police force classified as a murder-suicide. To get closer to the truth, Pip relentlessly pesters her peers and tries to cozy up to her worldlier, more party-minded classmates. “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” is a mystery series with a somewhat unusual hero: an awkward amateur detective who is learning as much about herself and her neighbors as she is about the crime.
‘The Umbrella Academy’ Season 4
Stream it here
The fourth and final season of this surreal superhero series brings back the world-saving, reality-bending Hargreeves family for one more adventure, set in another of their many timelines. This time, the siblings find themselves stuck in a world where none of them have superpowers, and where some new enemies intend to take advantage of their sudden weakness. Based on a comic book franchise created and written by Gerard Way (the lead singer for the rock band My Chemical Romance), “The Umbrella Academy” retains the wildness of its source material, converting Way’s love of science-fiction and teen angst into a visually imaginative, absurdly funny and frequently unpredictable show about a fractious family whose members have to learn over and over that they are stronger together.
‘Daughters’
Stream it here
For over a decade, Angela Patton has helped lead a program called Girls for a Change, which offers resources and guidance to young women whose lives have been affected by poverty, crime and incarcerated parents. Patton is also the co-director (with Natalie Rae) of the documentary “Daughters,” which takes an intimate look at one remarkable G.F.A.C. program, which gives imprisoned men an opportunity to attend a dance with their daughters. The film spends time with the children and their fathers, both in the weeks leading up to the dance and in the weeks after. “Daughters” blends hope and heartbreak into a story about how broken families can stay broken for generation after generation until someone makes an effort to fix them.
‘Emily in Paris’ Season 4, Part 1
Stream it here
Season 3 of this breezy romantic-comedy series ended with the American influencer Emily Cooper (Lily Collins) suddenly single after a breakup with her boyfriend Alfie (Lucien Laviscount), prompted by her feelings for the seemingly unavailable Gabriel (Lucas Bravo). Season 4 will be released in two parts (the second comes on Sept. 12) and will see Emily contemplating new romantic opportunities while still dealing with her attraction to both of the men in her life. As always, this new set of “Emily in Paris” episodes will emphasize the glamorous locations and fashions of Europe, as the heroine shares her travails and her travels on social media — often to the consternation of her friends, colleagues and potential lovers.
‘Kaos’ Season 1
Starts streaming: Aug. 29
The fantastical comedy “Kaos” imagines a world where the gods and heroes of Greek myths are still around in our modern times, meddling in mortals’ lives and receiving their tribute. Jeff Goldblum plays Zeus, whose immense power and popularity doesn’t keep him from feeling anxious about his legacy and future. Aurora Perrineau plays Eurydice, who receives a dire prophecy that shakes up her relationship with her pop star husband, Orpheus (Killian Scott). An eclectic cast — including Janet McTeer as Hera, Cliff Curtis as Poseidon, David Thewlis as Hades and Stephen Dillane as Prometheus — fills out the creator Charlie Covell’s satirical epic, which deals with the perils of fame and fortune and the dangers of divine caprice.
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Source: Television - nytimes.com