…Is a return to form, at least for Netflix and Prime Video. It’s the same for Hulu for that matter. Streaming is as streaming is, I guess. So, what am I talking about here? It’s simple. HBO turned up with some first-rate offerings while Netflix was also true to form. Prime Video did the best it could with what it had to work with, I assume. And Hulu? Well, let’s just say that Hulu stayed busy doing Hulu. What does it all mean? Let’s unpack it all.
HBO Delivers Diverse TV
HBO has four original releases this week and the selection couldn’t be more diverse. You’ve got a women’s college basketball documentary alongside a sci-fi Western, Italian coming-of-age tale, and a post-World War II alternate history film. Only HBO could pull off such diverse content and make it all work. Prediction: This week’s original selections will make for some great television.
The one that immediately caught my eye was Women of Troy. While I’m not a huge basketball fan, I come from a family of players and rabid fans. ESPN’s Sports Center was on nearly 24/7 in my childhood home. As a result, the names Cheryl Miller, Cynthia Cooper, and Pam and Paula McGee are not unknown to me. I’m sure my family will be watching this documentary… if they haven’t seen it already:
Here are the original releases that hit HBO and HBO Go this week:
- Women of Troy (March 10)
- Westworld: Season 3 (March 15)
- My Brilliant Friend: Season 2 (March 16)
- The Plot Against America (March 16)
Netflix Still King of Original Content
Back when I started this weekly column, I raved about Netflix. I called it the “king of original content,” and the streaming service provider lived up to that title this week. Starting on March 9, the big red provider will release a total of 15 original movies and series. That’s quite a bit of original content to be released in just a week’s time. It’s also typical Netflix as far as I’m concerned.
It wouldn’t be a Streaming Saturday post if I didn’t share a trailer of an original show I want to see. Well, this week is no exception. I checked out the trailers for every one of these shows and quite a few caught my eye. I think this is the only one I can share with you and still remain relatively family-friendly. It’s a murder-mystery/police set in Iceland, of all places. Check it out!
Here is a complete listing of the original series and shows that have made their way to Netflix this week:
- Carmen Sandiego: To Steal or Not to Steal (March 10)
- Marc Maron: End Times Fun (March 10)
- The Circle: Brazil: Season 1 (March 11)
- Dirty Money: Season 2 (March 11)
- On My Block: Season 3 (March 11)
- Hospital Playlist (March 12)
- 100 Humans (March 13)
- Beastars (March 13)
- Bloodride (March 13)
- Elite: Season 3 (March 13)
- Go Karts (March 13)
- Kingdom: Season 2 (March 13)
- Lost Girls (March 13)
- The Valhalla Murders (March 13)
- Women of the Night (March 13)
Amazon Prime Video Hangs in There
Prime Video is known for its original content. That said, it’s nowhere near the numbers that Netflix puts up. At least not this week. While the big red streaming provider released 15 original releases this week, Prime Video only managed to eke out three. That’s not a lot, but I have no way of knowing what else this provider plans to unveil this month and beyond. In the meantime, here’s the short list of Prime Video originals and the release dates:
- The Test: A New Era for Australia’s Team: Season 1 (March 11)
- Agatha Christie’s The Pale Horse: Season 1 (March 13)
- Jessy & Nessy: Season 1 (March 13)
What About Hulu?
Does anyone even ask this? Seriously. Well, in the off chance that someone might, I’ll answer the question. The green streaming service provider released a grand total of no original shows or series this week. I’m talking zip, zilch, zero, nada, and goose egg. So, in the absence of original content, what did Hulu release this week? It looks like seven rehashed movies and TV series. Take a look:
- Monos (March 9)
- Fire Force: Season 1 (March 11)
- Love Island: Australia: Season 2 (March 13)
- Keeping up with the Kardashians: Season 17 (March 14)
- 4 Lovers (March 15)
- Always Shine (March 15)
- Hello I Must Be Going (March 15)
And the Other Streaming Services?
I honestly don’t know. It’s difficult for me to tell you anything about shows I’m never going to see. That’s because I don’t subscribe to every streaming service under the sun. I wish I could though, but bills keep getting in the way of me seeing shows like The Mandalorian and Cobra Kai. If I missed any shows from the streaming services you use, why not share them in the comments section below. I’d love to hear about all the great shows I’m missing. And who know? You might even be able to convince me to subscribe to those other streaming services.
