TV Watchlist: Peacock Expands the 'John Wick' Universe and 'American Horror Story' Returns

Plus the finale of "Winning Time," a Hulu original alien invasion movie and an Apple doc on iconic supermodels Week of September 16 – 22 While most of Hollywood is currently on pause, you wouldn’t know it to look at your TV and streaming line-up, especially considering this week’s abundant buffet of options – from a new series set in the “John Wick” universe (“The Continental”) to a new sci-fi thriller on Hulu (“No One Will Save You”) to new seasons of “American Horror Story” and “Sex Education.” Plus a new “Spy Kids” movie and documentaries devoted to “The Super Models” of yore and a baseball huckster (“The Saint of Second Chances”), there really is something for everyone. More than something, probably several something’s worth! On with the television! The Continental Friday, September 22, Peacock Source: Peacock Subtitled “From the World of John Wick,” this new three-night event series centers around The Continental, the hotel for hit men from the “John Wick” film franchise. Instead of a modern day affair, this is set in the 1970s, influenced heavily by groovy songs and the films that defined the period (Kung Fu, Blaxploitation and the like). In terms of story, it follows a young Winston Scott (Colin Woodell, played in the movies by Ian McShane), who is recruited by Continental management to find his brother (Ben Robson), who has absconded with a key piece of High Table tech. What follows is a blood-soaked adventure as Winston looks to take power away from the villainous Cormac (Mel Gibson, chewing scenery) and restore order to New York’s criminal underworld. Peacock is rolling out “The Continental” like an old school miniseries over three Friday nights. And it really does feel like an event; each episode of “The Continental” is its own feature-length movie, with two nights directed by “Menace II Society” visionary Albert Hughes and the other by Charlotte Brändström (who has directed episodes of “The Witcher,” “The Outsider” and “Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power”). If you’re looking for a series that cleverly expands on the world and mythology of the original “John Wick” films while adding in its own sensibilities, well, this is the limited series for you. It rules. [[TRAILER](] Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty Sunday, September 17 at 9 p.m., HBO Source: HBO “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” has, by all accounts, been just as great in its second season as it was in its buzzy first season (which premiered last March), as it charts the ascension of the Lakers during the fabled “Showtime” era. But this season, which had just seven episodes as opposed to last season’s 10, hasn’t been getting the attention or the accolades that the first season garnered, even with the stellar cast intact (among them: John C. Reilly, Quincy Isaiah, Jason Clarke and Adrien Brody) and the same energy and excitement. Even those close to the show are skeptical about it returning for a third season. If you’re a fan of the series, you might want to make an appointment to watch it live. Otherwise it could be closing time for “Winning Time.” [[TRAILER](] No One Will Save You Friday, September 22, Hulu Source: Hulu Halloween kicks off a little bit earlier this year thanks to “No One Will Save You,” a balls-to-the-walls horror movie and the unofficial start to the streaming service’s Huluween programming block. Kaitlyn Dever stars as a young woman who has purposefully cut herself off from society – she makes clothes and knickknacks in her home, far away from the rest of the town and her mother has recently died, leaving her even more of a solitary shut-in. But sometimes, when you want to be left alone, that’s when something comes for you. It would be criminal to give away anything else, but just know that Dever will be faced with an overwhelming (otherworldly?) threat. Can a woman who has given up the world also be the one who saves it? Written and directed by Brian Duffield, who has made a solid career out of clever genre conceits (he wrote “Underwater,” “The Babysitter” and “Love and Monsters”), “No One Will Save You” will have you gasping for breath – and wanting more. [[TRAILER](] The Saint of Second Chances Tuesday, September 19, Netflix Source: Netflix The titular “Saint of Second Chances” is Mike Veeck, a self-described “friend of laughter, audiences, baseball, fans” and former Major League Baseball executive, who pioneered creative marketing and promotion within the baseball community. He also oversaw, according to the official Netflix synopsis, “a disco disaster that nearly undid it all.” Even if you’re not a baseball fan, this documentary looks super fun and gripping, and that’s the biggest compliment of all. The doc was directed by Academy Award-winner Morgan Neville (“20 Feet From Stardom”) and Jeff Malmberg (“Marwencol”), is narrated by Jeff Daniels and features Charlie Day as a younger Veeck in historical reenactments. Now doesn’t that sound like a good time? Mike Veeck couldn’t have engineered it better himself. [[TRAILER](] John Wick, John Wick: Chapter 2, John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum Peacock Source: Peacock If you wanted to revisit some of your favorite “John Wick” moments or maybe want to watch the mainline movies before watching “The Continental,” Peacock has you covered. They’ve got the first three movies, which trace the return of John Wick (Keanu Reeves), a deadly assassin who had left the business to settle down with his wife. After her death, he gets an unexpected gift – a puppy, from her, that rekindles his love of life. Of course, some goons soon kill the dog and steal his car, which leads him to launch a campaign of bloody vengeance that has reverberated across three sequels (“John Wick: Chapter 4” opened earlier this year) and, now, a television series. Ingeniously directed by Chad Stahelski, the movies craft a world much bigger and more mythologically driven than most action extravaganzas, with the emotional journey of John being at the heart of each and every installment. They are, simply put, some of the most entertaining and artful movies around. Why not use the release of “The Continental” as an excuse to watch them one more time? Or in the words of John Wick: yeah, I’m thinking you’re back. [[WATCH](] Source: FX/Hulu “American Horror Story: Delicate” Wednesday, September 20 at 10 p.m., Hulu Is it even Halloween without a new “American Horror Story” cycle? After last year’s grim, contemplative “NYC,” “American Horror Story” is taking a different approach altogether – this is the first season that has been adapted, instead of merely inspired, from outside material (in this case the novel “Delicate Condition” by Danielle Valentine). Also, the season will be split in half since production was halted due to the ongoing strikes. So, yes, this batch of five episodes will leave you wanting more. The general vibe this season seems to be modern “Rosemary’s Baby,” with a cast led by “AHS” stalwart Emma Roberts and Kim Kardashian, alongside Cara Delevingne, Matt Czuchry, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez and Zachary Quinto. We suspect this will also be the most standalone cycle in a while; don’t expect Bloody Face or the witches from “Coven” to make an appearance. [[TRAILER](] “The Super Models” Wednesday, September 20, Apple TV+ Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington are the subject of this new doc, which traces their ascension in the 1980s and 1990s and follows their unprecedented career trajectory (and ongoing friendship) that followed. This is going to be like “The Last Dance” but for supermodels, who for a time dominated pop culture in a truly insane, zeitgeist-capturing way. (Things were different back then!) This four-part documentary series comes from Imagine Documentaries and One Story Up and is directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Roger Ross Williams and Larissa Bills, and features talking head interviews from the models themselves and close collaborators (yes, David Fincher makes an appearance to talk about the “Freedom ‘90” video). You ready for it? [[TRAILER](] “Sex Education” Thursday, September 21, Netflix “Sex Education,” the quietly beloved Netflix comedic drama that premiered back in 2019, is back with its fourth and, we are sorry to report, final season. (There were some bumpier than expected issues with actors returning this season and several have sat it out, so maybe that contributed?) If you haven’t watched the charming show, it focuses on Asa Butterfield’s character, who is an awkward teen trying to figure out life and his relationship with his mother, played Gillian Anderson. Anderson is a sex therapist who also gets into sexual relationships with men that rarely coalesce into actual relationships. Ah, the awkwardness of youth. [[TRAILER](] “Cassandro” Friday, September 22, Prime Video Roger Ross Williams returns! This time with his first narrative feature, “Cassandro,” which stars Gael García Bernal as Saúl Armendáriz, a gay wrestler who lives in El Paso, Texas, in the early 1980s. He crosses over the border to compete in luca libre matches and eventually embraces life as a crossdressing wrestler. Also: this is based on a true story. The movie premiered at Sundance earlier this year, where it got strong notices and is probably just the kind of feel good sports movie that we need right now. Bring it on! [[TRAILER](] “Spy Kids: Armageddon” Friday, September 22, Netflix It’s been more than a decade since the last live-action “Spy Kids” film, 2011’s “Spy Kids: All the Time in the World.” Since then, filmmaker and “Spy Kids” mastermind Robert Rodriguez has formed a connection with Netflix; that’s where he unleashed his “Spy Kids” animated series (2018’s “Spy Kids: Mission Critical”) and where he made his insanely popular family film “We Can Be Heroes,” which definitely had some overlap with the “Spy Kids” tone and aesthetic. This is more of a full bodied reboot of the franchise, with a similar story to the very first film (the kids of two spies are forced to step up and save their family – and the world). The parents are Gina Rodriguez and Zachary Levi and the kids (Everly Carganilla and Connor Esterson) are battling Billy Magnussen’s evil game designer. This’ll be a fun watch for the whole family. [[TRAILER](] 2034 Armacost Ave. | Los Angeles, CA 90025 [Unsubscribe](