Our TV critic recommends a new show starring Kerry Washington, a juicy spy drama and a challenging Korean documentary series.
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By Margaret Lyons
This week I have … a half-hour, and I want a light drama.
‘UnPrisoned’
When to watch: Arrives Friday, on Hulu.
Delroy Lindo and Kerry Washington star in this surprisingly peppy series about a father and daughter who rebuild their relationship when he is released from prison after 17 years. Washington’s Paige is a therapist, a vlogger and a single mother to a teen son, and her whole life has been shaped by her father’s absence and lies; his release is an upheaval more than a relief, and it of course prompts ample “therapist, heal thyself” moments. Despite the heavy premise, “UnPrisoned” isn’t a misery machine weepfest — it has the warmth of a quirky ’90s dramedy, layered and truthful but still light on its feet. All eight episodes drop on Friday.
… an hour, and someone’s always listening.
‘A Spy Among Friends’
When to watch: Begins Sunday, on MGM+.
The personal is political in this juicy period drama, based on a true story about two British spies (played by Damian Lewis and Guy Pearce) who form an intimate friendship over decades — except one of them was working for Russia the whole time. Even the characters aren’t quite sure which is the worse betrayal, that of country or confidant, and the show finds depth in both its emotional wounding and its jazzy spy craft. If you still think about “The Americans” a lot, or if you like shows where repressed fussy British men let loose at Christmastime only to regret even that fleeting moment of happy pleasure, try this.
… several hours, and I like difficult documentaries.
‘In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal’
When to watch: Now, on Netflix.
This eight-part Korean documentary series (in Korean, with subtitles or dubbed) spotlights four different new religious movements and the leaders who used their positions of tremendous influence to exploit and abuse their followers. The stories and footage here are horrific; one woman plays an audio recording of her own rape, and the filmmakers do not censor crime-scene photos. But the use of disturbing material doesn’t feel lurid and instead serves as an important record of the facts. There are a lot of documentaries right now about high-control groups and dangerous, charismatic ringleaders, but “Betrayal” stands out for its breadth of coverage and the severity of the suffering it depicts.
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