This week brings a fresh wave of must-watch television to UK streaming platforms, featuring high-stakes thrillers, glossy dramas, and the poignant end of an era for a beloved reality series.
Prime Video's High-Stakes Heist and a Glossy Sci-Fi Drama
Leading the charge is 'Steal', a new thriller premiering on Prime Video from Wednesday 21 January. The series stars Sophie Turner as Zara, an office worker whose mundane life at a pensions company is violently interrupted by a brutal gang executing a £4bn heist. What begins as a tense crime caper evolves into a complex narrative that reimagines the perfect financial crime for the digital age.
Turner delivers a deceptively subtle performance, her character's initial apathy slowly giving way to reveal a cunning intellect. Archie Madekwe provides strong support as her colleague, Luke. This is a show that promises to keep viewers guessing with its unsettling twists.
Meanwhile, Ryan Murphy follows last year's poorly received 'All's Fair' with 'The Beauty', launching on Disney+ from Thursday 22 January. Based on a comic book, this flashy drama centres on a miraculous injection that promises physical perfection with the slogan: 'One shot makes you hot'.
Starring Bella Hadid, Rebecca Hall, and Isabella Rossellini, the series explores the dark side of this fountain of youth, which proves to be both lethal and contagious. Described as deeply unserious, it offers a dose of scandalous, high-concept entertainment.
Final Bows and Global Sensations
In bittersweet news, the groundbreaking makeover series 'Queer Eye' returns for its eighth and final season on Netflix from Wednesday 21 January. For its last outing, the Fab Five – Jonathan Van Ness, Tan France, Antoni Porowski, Jeremiah Brent, and Karamo Brown – head to Washington DC.
The season will mix new transformations with nostalgic looks back at their most memorable projects, promising an emotional farewell for fans. Tissues are highly recommended.
Also on Netflix, Turkish heartthrob Can Yaman makes a play for UK audiences in the swashbuckling piracy epic 'Sandokan', available from Monday 19 January. Yaman stars as the eponymous adventurer sailing the South China Sea, whose destiny becomes entangled with the British empire in 19th-century Asia.
Documentaries, Talent Searches, and More
The streaming giant also delivers a powerful documentary in 'Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart' (from Wednesday 21 January). It revisits the harrowing 2002 abduction of the 14-year-old from Salt Lake City, featuring candid testimony from Smart herself about her nine-month ordeal and its lasting impact.
Talent show fans can enjoy a reboot of the classic 'Star Search', hosted by Anthony Anderson and judged by Jelly Roll, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Chrissy Teigen. Launching on Tuesday 20 January, the show was once a launchpad for stars like Beyoncé and Usher.
Finally, Apple TV+ serves up the second season of the peculiar but compelling 'Drops of God' (from Wednesday 21 January). The drama, adapted from a manga, continues the story of rivals Camille and Issei as they hunt for the origins of a mysterious vintage wine, testing their fragile new alliance.
