Rueben's Ramblings

On May 31, the Netflix streaming series When They See Us will debut online.

Based on a true story that gripped the country, the series will chronicle the notorious case of five teenagers of color, labeled the Central Park Five, who were convicted of a rape they did not commit; focusing on the five teenagers from Harlem — Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana and Korey Wise.

Beginning in the spring of 1989, when the teenagers were first questioned about the incident, the series will span 25 years, highlighting their exoneration in 2002 and the settlement reached with the city of New York in 2014.

The ensemble cast includes Aunjanue Ellis, Blair Underwood, Famke Janssen, John Leguizamo, Joshua Jackson, Kylie Bunbury, Niecy Nash, Storm Reid, Vera Farmiga and William Sadler [among others].

Here is a trailer for When They See Us:

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On May 29, the new NBC drama The InBetween will debut at 10 PM.

Cassie Bedford (Harriet Dyer from the Australian series Love Child) was born with a rare ability. She has visions. Whether she likes it or not. Sometimes Cassie sees events that have previously occurred or will happen in the future.

In addition, sometimes she encounters unsettled spirits who need her help. When her father, Det. Tom Hackett (Paul Blackthorne from Arrow), and his new partner, former FBI Agent Damien Asante (Justin Cornwell from Training Day), need assistance solving a dark and puzzling murder, Cassie reluctantly agrees to use her abilities and helps solve some of the city’s most challenging cases.

The cast include Chad James Buchanan (Star), Cindy Luna (The Last Ship) and Anne-Marie Johnson (In the Heat of the Night).

Here is a trailer for The InBetween:

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On May 24, the new DC Universe series Doom Patrol will debut online.

This is a re-imagining of one of DC’s most beloved groups of outcast Super Heroes: Robotman (Brendan Fraser), Negative Man (Matt Bomer), Elasti-Girl (April Bowlby) and Crazy Jane (Diane Guerrero) led by modern-day mad scientist Dr. Niles Caulder aka The Chief (Timothy Dalton). The Doom Patrol’s members each suffered horrible accidents that gave them superhuman abilities – but also left them scarred and disfigured. Traumatized and downtrodden, the team found purpose through The Chief, who brought them together to investigate the weirdest phenomena in existence – and to protect Earth from what they find.

Part support group, part Super Hero team, the Doom Patrol is a band of super-powered freaks who fight for a world that wants nothing to do with them. Picking up after the events of Titans, the show will find these reluctant heroes in a place they never expected to be, called to action by none other than Cyborg, who comes to them with a mission hard to refuse, but with a warning that is hard to ignore: their lives will never, ever be the same.

The cast includes Alan Tudyk and Joivan Wade.

Here is an extended trailer for Doom Patrol:

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The new Sundance TV drama The Name of the Rose will debut on May 23 at 10 PM.

The limited series, set in Italy in 1327, follows the Franciscan monk William of Baskerville (John Turturro) and his novice Adso von Melk (Damian Hardung) as they arrive at a secluded monastery in the Alps. There they become witnesses to a series of mysterious murders. While Baskerville and Melk investigate and search for the killer, they are hunted themselves by the merciless inquisitor Bernard Gui (Rupert Everett), who prosecutes those who criticize the pope.

The cast includes Michael Emerson (Lost and Person of Interest).

Here is a trailer for The Name of the Rose:

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On May 17, the new streaming series Catch-22 will debut on Hulu.

Based on Joseph Heller’s seminal novel of the same name, the story of the incomparable, artful dodger, Yossarian (Christopher Abbott), a US Air Force bombardier in World War II who is furious because thousands of people he has never met are trying to kill him. But his real problem is not the enemy, but rather his own army, which keeps increasing the number of missions the men must fly to complete their service.

Yet if Yossarian makes any attempt to avoid his military assignments, he’ll be in violation of Catch-22, a hilariously sinister bureaucratic rule which specifies that a concern for one’s own safety in the face of dangers which are real and immediate is the process of a rational mind; a man is considered insane if he willingly continues to fly dangerous combat missions, but a request to be removed from duty is evidence of sanity and therefore makes him ineligible to be relieved from duty.

The cast includes Austin Stowell, George Clooney and Kyle Chandler [among others].

Here is a trailer for Catch-22:

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On May 13, the new drama L.A.’s Finest, based on The Bad Boys film series, will debut on Spectrum’s cable service today

Show Synopsis: The series follows Syd Burnett (Gabrielle Union), last seen in Miami taking down a drug cartel, who has seemingly left her complicated past behind to become an LAPD detective. Paired with a new partner, Nancy McKenna (Jessica Alba), a working mom with an equally complex history, Syd is forced to confront how her unapologetic lifestyle may be masking a greater personal secret. Taking on the most dangerous criminals in Los Angeles while skirting the rules, and speed limits, Syd and Nancy become a force to be reckoned with – on the streets, and in each other’s lives.

The series also stars veteran actor Ernie Hudson, Ryan McPartlin (Chuck), Zach Gilford (Friday Night Lights), Duane Martin (All of Us) and Zach McGowan (The 100).

Here is a trailer for L.A.’s Finest:

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On May 10, the new 10-episode Netflix series The Society will debut online.

Show Synopsis: The series follow a group of teenagers who are mysteriously transported to a facsimile of their wealthy New England town, but soon discover their parents are nowhere to be found.

The series includes Kathryn Newton (Supernatural) and Kristine Froseth (Sierra Burgess Is a Loser).

Here is a trailer for The Society:

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On May 6, the HBO original mini-series Chernobyl will debut at 9 PM.

This 5-part mini-series dramatizes the 1986 nuclear accident, one of the worst human-made catastrophes in history, telling the story of the brave men and women who made incredible sacrifices to save Europe from unimaginable disaster, all the while battling a culture of disinformation.

The cast includes Jared Harris (The Crown), Stellan Skarsgard (Good Will Hunting) and Emily Watson (Gosford Park).

Here is a trailer for Chernobyl:

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On May 5, the new Starz period piece drama The Spanish Princess will debut at 8 PM.

Show Synopsis: This series is set in 16th century London, focusing on Catherine of Aragon (Charlotte Hope from Game of Thrones), the strong-willed young Princess of Spain, who has been promised the English throne since she was a child.

She arrives in a grey, rain-lashed England with her glorious and diverse court including her ladies-in-waiting Lina – a Spanish noble of African Iberian descent – and the sweet and free-spirited Rosa. When her husband Prince Arthur dies suddenly, the throne seems lost to Catherine until she devises an audacious plan and sets her sights on the new heir, the charismatic and headstrong Prince Harry (Ruairi O’Connor) who will one day rule as King Henry VIII.

The cast includes Elliot Cowan (Lost in Austen), Dame Harriet Walter (Downton Abbey and Sense and Sensibilities), Georgie Henley (Chronicles of Narnia franchise) and Laura Carmichael (Downton Abbey) [among others].

Here is a trailer for The Spanish Princess:

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