Weekend Watch: December 15, 2023

The Crown's final chapter, becoming Wonka, and a very merry Kate McKinnon...

Dec 15, 2023

*Kate McKinnon (Photo: Screenshot from YouTube|SNL)*

Hey there, TueNighters! As we gear up for the weekend, we're back with this week’s lineup of movie releases, new series drops, and binge-worthy streaming all featured in our latest issue of the TueDo List — let’s get right to it.

Here are this week’s picks:

Under Pressure: The U.S. Women's World Cup Team (Netflix): The four-episode docuseries follows the USWNT team before and during the tournament, and includes many intimate moments with the players as they try to cope with mounting expectations during a time of transition.

The series includes veteran champions like Alex Morgan and Lindsey Horan, as well as 18-year-old rising star Alyssa Thompson and U.S. Women’s World Cup Team first-timers Lynn Williams, Kristie Mewis, and Savannah DeMelo.

The Crown Season 6 | Part 2 (Netflix): With the release of the second part of The Crown’s final season, we enter a new millennium. While the first part of Season 6 was dedicated to the final days of Princess Diana, the second focuses on the young Prince William, the future British monarch, deaths within the Royal Family, planning for the Queen's Golden Jubilee, Charles and Camilla's marriage, and Tony Blair's run as prime minister.

Fun fact: Did the confrontations between Charles and William in The Crown truly happen? Explore the real story behind Part 2 in this article featured on The Daily Beast.

Carol & The End of The World (Netflix): A funky adult animated series premiere — with a mysterious planet hurtling towards Earth, extinction is imminent for the people of the world. While most feel liberated to pursue their wildest dreams, Carol (Martha Kelly), quiet and always uncomfortable, stands alone, lost among the hedonistic masses.

Guest stars include Stephen Colbert, LeVar Burton, Laurie Metcalf, and others.

Wonka (Theaters): Based on the extraordinary character at the center of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl’s most iconic children’s book and one of the best-selling children’s books of all time, the film tells the wondrous story of how the world’s greatest inventor, magician and chocolate-maker became the Willy Wonka we know today. Timothée Chalamet stars in the title role.

Critics Consensus via Rotten Tomatoes: With director Paul King at the helm and some solid new songs at the ready, the warmly old-fashioned Wonka puts a suitably sweet spin on the classic character while still leaving some room for the source material's darker undertones.

SNL’s Holiday Special (NBC, Peacock): Fans were bummed to see Kate McKinnon leave Saturday Night Live after 10 years and 11 hilarious seasons — ditto! Kate's making a comeback, and this time she's taking on the role of host for the first time THIS WEEK on December 16th, with Billie Eilish as the musical guest. Woot-woot!

And did anyone else clock that subtle nod to Home Alone?

Disclaimer: While we *think* these shows and movies might be worth checking out, there are no guarantees they'll all be your jam. It's always best to trust your own instincts.