Chris Packham's 'Evolution' Crowned as Attenborough Successor
Chris Packham's new BBC docuseries 'Evolution' has been hailed as a coronation, with critics calling him a worthy successor to David Attenborough. The five-part series, available on BBC iPlayer, explores humanity's evolutionary journey with awe-inspiring wonder.
Lucy Mangan of The Guardian wrote: 'Evolution is a coronation. With this new, five-part BBC nature documentary, the presenter Chris Packham is effectively crowned the successor to David Attenborough. And a worthy one, I think most would agree.' The series makes viewers feel like children again, marveling at the origins of life.
Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' – Epic Homer Adaptation
In cinemas now, Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' stars Matt Damon as Odysseus in a grand adaptation of Homer's epic. The film conveys the true cost of war with thrilling ambition, according to critic Peter Bradshaw.
Bradshaw described it as 'a gigantic, shimmering mirage, a mysterious three-hour vision of crazy episodes that does not yield up wisdom or contentment, but only a grim resolution to continue with the fight.' The film features an epic cast and has been praised for its poetic storytelling.
TV Highlights: 'Ride Or Die', 'Ann Droid', and More
Hannah Waddingham stars in 'Ride Or Die' on Prime Video, a comedy thriller about a 50-year-old assassin going rogue. Lucy Mangan called it 'the perimenopausal comedy thriller caper of your dreams.'
Diane Morgan's 'Ann Droid' on BBC iPlayer features her as a robot carer to a reluctant elderly widow. Hannah J Davies noted the poignant parsing of human emotion. 'Jesy Nelson: Life Changing' on Prime Video documents the Little Mix singer's journey after her twins were diagnosed with a life-threatening muscle-wasting condition.
'Believe Me' on ITVX is a sensitive drama about survivors of black-cab rapist John Worboys, praised by Lucy Mangan as 'compelling as well as nonexploitative.'
Books: 'The Brexit Effect' and Other Must-Reads
Edited by Anthony Seldon, 'The Brexit Effect 2016-2026' offers verdicts on Britain's EU break. Fintan O'Toole wrote: 'The nature of Brexit was that it was doomed to become an instant lost cause.'
Avni Doshi's 'The First House' explores a marriage implosion, with Daisy Hildyard praising her 'tooled, dense and alert' prose. Sheila Armstrong's 'The Red Mouth' is a profound second novel set in Ireland, where mysteries remain unanswered but exquisitely rendered. 'Up All Night' by Imogen Willetts is a radical history of going out, featuring dancer Anita Berber. 'Hidden Creatures' by Dino Martins surveys parasites with admiration for their 'brilliant scam.'
'May We Feed the King' by Rebecca Perry won the Waterstones debut fiction prize, described by Melissa Harrison as a 'dazzling puzzle box of a novel.'
Film: 'The Days She Returns', Wallace and Gromit, and 'Deep Water'
Hong Sang-soo's 'The Days She Returns' is a quietist film about an actor returning from a career break, possessing 'infinitely subtle poignancy.' A double bill of Wallace and Gromit shorts – 'A Matter of Loaf and Death' and 'A Close Shave' – deliver action-adventure in 30 minutes with romantic subplots and visual gags.
Renny Harlin's 'Deep Water' is a disaster movie with a plane crash and hungry sharks. Leslie Felperin noted the 'doozy' crash and Harlin's skill with fake sharks. 'Heartstopper Forever' on Netflix is the film-length finale to the teen LGBTQ+ show, with Owen Myers calling it 'cosy indulgence.'
Music: Loathe's 'A Stranger to You' and Other Releases
Metalcore band Loathe's album 'A Stranger to You' offers stylistic swerves with granite-hard riffs and balm-like electronics. Dave Simpson called it 'a thrilling ride.' Nia Archives' 'Emotional Junglist' combines breakbeats and heartbreak, with Aimee Cliff praising its 'ambitiously expansive' gen Z project.
Norma Winstone's 'A Timeless Place' features lustrous vocals with an orchestra. Robert Laidlow's 'Reality Eaters' explores complex concepts like Einstein's field equations and AI, with Clive Paget noting its approachable intricacy. Bon Jovi's tour, including Madison Square Garden and UK/Ireland dates, has been praised for a poignant return after JBJ's vocal cord surgery.
