It’s a big week for new series, with seven showrun or directed by women. These cover post-apocalypse, near-future, slice-of-life, thriller, and a pair of mysteries. I’m always fascinated by what comes to us from other countries, and how streaming services choose to pursue certain markets. For instance, Hulu continues chasing Netflix’s lead in the burgeoning K-drama audience, as Netflix continues making deep inroads into producing and licensing Japanese live-action work.
There used to be a lot of competition for European shows between Max and Netflix, but since Discovery effectively took over Warner Bros. and HBO Max – and decided they didn’t want to pay European residuals – that area has been left for Netflix to farm. You’ll notice all three titles from continental Europe this week are on Netflix – that’s pretty usual these days. (The one from the U.K. is, too, but everyone tends to bring in British work.)
This week, new shows by women come from France, Japan, Korea, the U.K., and the U.S. New movies by women come from Spain and Sweden.
NEW SERIES
Fallout (Amazon)
co-showrunner Geneva Robertson-Dworet
Based on a beloved video game franchise filled with off-kilter humor, a woman who’s lived her life in an underground vault must trek a post-apocalyptic world filled with radiation and mutants.
Geneva Robertson-Dworet showruns with Graham Wagner. She also co-wrote the screenplays for “Captain Marvel” and the 2018 “Tomb Raider”.
All 8 episodes of “Fallout” are out on Amazon Prime immediately.
Blood Free (Hulu)
showrunner Lee Soo Yeon
Genetically engineered meat has replaced the consumption of animal meat, but the corporation that’s brought about this revolution is approaching turmoil. Rumors swirl about CEO Yoon Ja Yoo, and her bodyguard Chae Woon must engage a future world of industrial espionage.
Showrunner Lee Soo Yeon also wrote on “Stranger” and “Life”.
The two-episode premiere of “Blood Free” is out on Hulu. A new episodes arrives every Wednesday.
Anthracite (Netflix)
co-showrun by Fanny Robert
A reporter goes missing in the Alps, leading his daughter – a sleuth in her own right – to a remote and unsettling mountain town. The French series was filmed in Switzerland.
Fanny Robert showruns with Maxime Berthemy. Robert also wrote on “Profilage” and produced on “Passport to the World”.
All 5 episodes are out on Netflix.
Tonari no Yokai-san (Crunchyroll)
directed by Yamauchi Ami
A mountain town sees humans and supernatural beings living a cozy life side by side.
This is Yamauchi Ami’s second series as director after 2022’s “Ryman’s Club”.
“Tonari no Yokai-san” is on Crunchyroll. The premiere is out, with a new episode every Saturday.
Baby Reindeer (Netflix)
directed by Weronika Tofilska, Josephine Bornebusch
A stand-up comic is stalked from gig to gig and in his private life, forcing him to confront both his stalker and long-buried trauma. The series is based on Richard Gadd’s one-man play, and he writes the series.
Weronika Tofilska and Josephine Bornebursch direct. Tofilska co-wrote the exceptional “Love Lies Bleeding” and has directed on “The Irregulars”, “Hanna”, and “His Dark Materials”. Bornebusch wrote on “Love Me” and “Orca”.
All 8 episodes of “Baby Reindeer” are on Netflix immediately.
Mission: Yozakura Family (Hulu)
directed by Minato Mirai
Taiyo loses his family in a car crash. He’s comforted by his longtime friend Mutsumi. They eventually marry, but he must become a spy – just like every other member of the family.
Minato Mirai has also directed on “Bofuri” and “The Misfit of Demon King Academy”.
“Mission: Yozakura Family” has its premiere on Hulu, with a new episode every Sunday.
Destiny (Netflix)
showrunner Yoshida Noriko
(No embeddable trailer out, but you can see one on Netflix here.)
Kanade becomes a prosecutor, spurred on by the death of her prosecutor father. Years after she splintered from her friends in law school, she takes up the case that split them up…and it may reveal new information about her father’s death.
Yoshida Noriko showruns and writes.
The premiere of “Destiny” is on Netflix, with new episodes every Tuesday.
NEW MOVIES
Love, Divided (Netflix)
directed by Patricia Font
A young pianist named Valentina conflicts with – and falls for – David, a noisy inventor. I believe this is the feature film acting debut for Spanish singer-songwriter Aitana.
The Spanish comedy is helmed by Patricia Font and written by Marta Sanchez.
“Love, Divided” arrives on Netflix tomorrow, Friday April 12.
Stolen (Netflix)
directed by Ellke Marja Eira
A Saami woman tracks down a killer in a world where her culture is being choked out. The Swedish film is told in Saami and Swedish.
Elle Marja Eira directs.
“Stolen” is out on Netflix tomorrow, Friday April 12.
Take a look at new shows + movies by women from past weeks.
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Gabriel Diego Valdez 