Shows to watch on Disney+ as it launches in SA

WHEN the news broke that Disney+ will be available for South African consumers, we were relieved because we will finally be able to catch up on all the shows people were talking about when the platform initially launched.

We missed out on The Mandalorian

(and Baby Yoda!) hype in 2020, and also could not watch WandaVision (at least legally), which was quite important for the Dr Strange sequel to make sense to us. Of course there’s also Moon Knight and Loki, which we are all looking forward to watching.

Disney+ is launching in South Africa on Wednesday, and we can finally be fully part of the zeitgeist in real time. While many are looking forward to the aforementioned shows and other Marvel shows like What If?,

there’s more to the platform than just Star Wars or the Marvel properties. There are other interesting shows you should pay attention to. Here are some:

‘The Beatles: Get Back’

Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson was initially going to turn the footage from the The Beatles’ unforgettable rooftop concert at London’s Savile Row into a film, but decided to rather make it a three-part documentary. A great decision. The documentary is about the band’s journey as they write and rehearse 14 new songs while planning their first live show in two years.

‘Abbott Elementary’

This is one of the most spoken about comedies of the year. Created by Quinta Brunson (A Black Lady Sketch Show) it’s about a group of Philadelphia public school teachers who are passionate about getting the best out of their pupils, despite the difficulties that they are facing. Underfunded and dealing with a lazy and narcissistic principal (an incredible Janelle James), they make the most of their jobs, while dealing with their interpersonal issues, their lives, and the politics of the school district. If you loved Parks and Recreation, you will be obsessed with Abbott Elementary. It will be enjoyed by the whole family.

‘The Dropout’

Elizabeth Holmes must be the best scam artist ever. She managed to

hoodwink everyone – from billionaires to politicians, glossy magazine editors and Silicon Valley. And if you enjoyed Inventing Anna and other related shows about scammers, then you will enjoy The Dropout. Based on the investigations the podcast of the same name, which told the story, it stars Amanda Seyfried as Holmes, who can be described as an optimistic and determined young woman, who saw fit to drop out of Stanford University because she believed she had founded a company that would change the nature of health. The company, Theranos, was supposed to be a new blood-testing start-up. Instead, it turned out to be a pipe dream – and cost its investors billions.

‘Only Murders in the Building’

I would never have expected that a comedy starring Selena Gomez with Steve Martin and Martin Short would be a hit, but here we are. The Disney

star is holding her own with the comedy legends in the dramatic comedy about Upper West Side neighbours Charles, Oliver and Mabel, who are obsessed with true crime. That is, until they find themselves caught up in a crime that happens in their building. The show has been renewed for a second season that will stream in June.

‘Pam & Tommy’

Before there was Kim Kardashian and Ray J, there was Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee. The mini-series is based on the Rolling Stone article “Pam and Tommy: The Untold Story of the World's Most Infamous Sex Tape” by Amanda Chicago Lewis, which told the story of how their honeymoon sex tape was stolen and leaked to the public. The series stars Lily James and Sebastian Stan as the title characters. There have been a lot of rumblings from people saying that the show is as bad as the men who stole the sex tape

and distributed it. And since Anderson did not agree to the story being told, then she was being exploited all over again. So if you feel aggrieved, don’t watch this show. However, James and Stan do give amazing performances that are garnering praise from critics and the industry.