Introduction
Welcome to Nicholas Wennö’s weekly guide to the best streaming options now available. This week’s slate blends high-spirited comedies, tense thrillers, and thoughtful dramas from global platforms, proving once again that there is something for every mood and every streaming habit. Whether you crave light-hearted wit, Nordic satire, or hard-hitting true-to-life storytelling, these picks are designed to help you navigate a crowded catalog with confidence.
Chad Powers (Disney+)
Chad Powers is a surprisingly charming sports comedy anchored by Glen Powell’s magnetic performance as the mercurial yet vulnerable Russ Holliday. The premise—an arrogant star masquerading as an underdog to reclaim his career—pays affectionate homage to crowd-pleasers like Ted Lasso and Mrs. Doubtfire. Across six episodes, the show blends playful deception with a warm, humane arc about forgiveness, reinvention, and the power of teamwork. It’s breezy enough for a weekend binge but with enough heart to linger after the credits roll.
Solsidan 9 (TV4 Play)
The ninth season of Solsidan returns with its beloved cast delivering status anxiety, snobbery, and the everyday misadventures of a Swedish villa enclave. Ten bitesized episodes, roughly 30 minutes each, continue to skew toward the dry humor and cringe-worthy social situations that fans crave. As Fredde, Mickan, Alex, and Anna navigate new life chapters, the familiar supporting turns from Ove and the gang keep the series buoyant and timely. It’s classic, locally flavored satire—spot-on for fans of Swedish humor and observational comedy.
Mister Books Mysteries (SVT Play)
In a postwar London still shaped by rationing and shadowy markets, Mark Gatiss brings a tweed-clad charm to Gabriel Book, a quirky bookshop owner who aids Scotland Yard on its toughest cases. The show balances wit with a touch of noir, and its Lavender Marriage setup adds an intriguing layer of social commentary. Gatiss’s storytelling—sharp, cozy, and sly—delivers a uniquer blend of British humor and period mystery that’s as inviting as it is clever.
Nails (SkyShowtime)
Nails marks SkyShowtime’s first foray into a Spanish-language original, centering a diverse group of women who channel ambition, solidarity, and rebellion inside a bustling beauty salon. The centerpiece becomes a “free women’s club” that challenges conventional beauty standards and societal pressures. The ensemble’s chemistry is a standout, with humor and resilience carrying the emotional throughline as these characters navigate friendship and self-definition.
Monster. The Ed Gein Story (Netflix)
Ryan Murphy returns with another chilling chapter in his American anthology of infamous criminals. This installment spotlights Eddie Gein, the Wisconsin reclus e who became a grotesque legend in American horror. Charlie Hunnam leads a gripping cast that also includes Tom Hollander as a chilling Hitchcock, while the series explores the cult of personality and media’s hunger for sensational crime. It’s dark, provocative television that invites tough questions about fame, fear, and the cost of obsession.
Friendship (SF Anytime)
This quirky, awkwardly tender film follows Craig (Tim Robinson) as he falls for his neighbor Austin (Paul Rudd) and finds himself navigating the murky waters of male friendship, longing, and a surprisingly morbid twist. The humor lands via cringe-worthy setups and earnest sincerity, turning social discomfort into something unexpectedly endearing. It’s a reminder that even awkward love can yield surprising connections when honesty, weirdness, and vulnerability collide.
Steve (Netflix)
Steve is a sharp, emotionally honest drama about a headmaster wrestling with integrity, pressure, and the weight of his own mental health. Cillian Murphy delivers a quietly powerful performance as a man trying to anchor a school while facing existential questions, all set against a backdrop of internal conflict and external upheaval. The film’s restrained realism and character-driven storytelling offer a thoughtful counterpoint to more melodramatic Hollywood equivalents.
Hacking Hate (SVT Play)
From Simon Klose, a deep-dive documentary that follows journalist My Vingren as she infiltrates extremist networks online. Its tense, investigative approach uncovers how the internet can radicalize and destabilize democratic norms. This timely film blends meticulous reporting with a psychological portrait of online propaganda—an essential watch for anyone seeking to understand how hate spreads in the digital age.
Holdovers (2023) (Netflix)
Alexander Payne’s Holdovers is a witty, melancholic ensemble piece about a small brood of misfits who linger at a New England prep school during the holidays. Paul Giamatti anchors the film as a stubborn, loveable teacher whose quirks become the glue that holds a fractured group together. It’s a holiday crowd-pleaser with bite, warmth, and a sense of humane melancholy that lingers long after the final scene.
12 Years a Slave (SVT Play)
This Oscar-winning epic is a stark, unflinching look at slavery in 19th-century America. Steve McQueen’s restrained direction places the camera where it hurts, letting the performances do the heavy lifting. Chiwetel Ejiofor embodies Solomon Northup’s pain and resilience with a blend of quiet dignity and ferocious determination that lingers in the viewer’s memory, making the film as challenging as it is unforgettable.
Hjärter dam (Queen of Hearts) (SVT Play)
Hjärter dam pushes into taboo territory with a Danish thriller that dives into dangerous desire and power games within a blended family. Trine Dyrholm leads with magnetic intensity as a lawyer entangled with a younger lover, while the film probes moral boundaries and the consequences of reckless passion. It’s a taut, adult drama that doesn’t flinch from thorny questions about consent, ambition, and the cost of secrets.
In the Mood for Love (2000) (SVT Play)
This is Wong Kar-Wai’s exquisite romance that threads longing and restraint with lush visual poetry. The film follows two neighbors who uncover a shared, unspoken attraction in a restrained, almost devastating fashion. Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung deliver magnetic performances in a world of color, texture, and mood that lingers long after the final note of the soundtrack.
Why this lineup works now
Taken together, these picks reflect streaming’s current sweet spot: a balance of intimate character studies, high-spirited comedies, and provocative documentaries. The week’s best tips encourage audiences to rotate between comfort viewing and something more challenging, letting mood guide the choice without sacrificing depth. For anyone curating a month of viewing, this mix offers both instant wins and thoughtful, conversation-sparking titles that can spark new favorites across platforms.
Final thoughts
Whether you’re catching a quick laugh, a sharp thriller, or a sweeping drama, this week’s streaming tips from Nicholas Wennö are designed to help you decide faster and enjoy more. Happy watching, and may your favorite screen be never dull.
