The best new streaming shows this week: Penelope and more

The last weekend of the month is here, and so is our weekly list of shows you cannot miss out on. Last week’s list was chock full of shows any crime aficionado would appreciate, so be sure to scroll down and look at that too. As for today’s list, we’ve got some great picks.

The best new streaming shows this week

Feel free to click on any links that pique your interest.

• Release date: September 24, 2024 
• Genre: Drama
• Rating: N.A. 
• Director: Mel Eslyn, Mark Duplass
• Cast: Megan Stott, Krisha Fairchild, Amber Wolfe Wollam, Cynthia Geary, Austin Abrams, Barry O’Neil, Eddie Lee Wollrabe

16-year-old Penelope abandons her modern life for a solitary journey into Washington state. Feeling disconnected from the world around her, Penelope steals camping equipment and sneaks into a national park, determined to live off the land and find herself in nature.

As she struggles to adapt to life in the forest, Penelope faces physical and emotional challenges that test her resolve. She learns survival skills, builds a makeshift shelter, and forms an unlikely bond with the local wildlife. Along the way, she encounters an eccentric guitarist, a group of religious teens on a retreat, and an elderly conservationist dedicated to protecting the ancient trees.

• Release date: September 26, 2024 
• Genre: Drama
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Francesco Bruni
• Cast: Federico Cesari, Andrea Pennacchi, Bianca Nappi, Ricky Memphis, Filippo Nigro, Fotinì Peluso, Lorenzo Renzi

Two years after his transformative experience in a psychiatric ward, Daniele Cenni finds himself facing a new chapter filled with unexpected challenges and profound personal growth. Now a father to young Maria, Daniele must navigate the complexities of co-parenting amidst a turbulent custody battle with his ex-partner, Nina.

Driven by a desire to give back to the community that once supported him, Daniele makes a bold career change. He returns to the psychiatric hospital where he was once a patient, this time as a nurse. The fine line between caregiver and patient blurs, challenging Daniele’s resolve and forcing him to question whether he can truly save others while still fighting for his own salvation.

• Release date: September 24, 2024 
• Genre: Documentary
• Rating: N.A.
• Director: Ben Klein
• Cast: Steve Iavarone, Pamela Perry, W. Scott Poole

This new true crime docuseries examines real-life criminal cases with bizarre paranormal elements. The series premiere focuses on a 2020 explosion in downtown Nashville, tied to a man deeply invested in the “lizard people” conspiracy theory. There are other cases too, explored in the subsequent episodes.

Through interviews with experts, witnesses, and law enforcement, the show examines the evidence behind these cases and the impact of paranormal beliefs on criminal investigations. While maintaining a skeptical approach, Out There: Crimes of the Paranormal invites viewers to consider the unexplained and question the boundaries between fact and fiction in the criminal justice system.

• Release date: September 26, 2024 
• Genre: Reality
• Rating: N.A.
• Director: Harbinder Singh
• Cast: Joel McHale, Curtis Stone, Yolanda Gampp, T Lawrence-Simon, Fadi Odeh, Amber Croom, Yassmeen Haskins

The hit culinary detective competition returns with a sweet new twist. This season, instead of pairing professional and amateur bakers, Crime Scene Kitchen brings together teams of friends and family members to test their combined sleuthing and baking skills.

The competition is divided into two rounds per episode. In the first “safety bake,” teams investigate the crime scene kitchen and attempt to replicate the dessert. The team that comes closest earns immunity and advances to the next week. The remaining teams face an elimination round, where they must bake another mystery dessert. The weakest performing team is sent home each week until a winner is crowned.

• Release date: September 24, 2024 
• Genre: Documentary, Sport
• Rating: N.A.
• Director: FredAnthony Smith
• Cast: Michael Vick, Jamie Foxx, Common, Larry Wilmore 

This docuseries explores the rich and complex history of Black quarterbacks in professional football. Through archival footage, interviews with players past and present, and expert commentary, the series traces the journey of African American athletes in the most prominent and scrutinized position on the field.

The show examines the persistent myths and biases that kept Black players from the quarterback position, including false narratives about intelligence and leadership abilities. It also celebrates the unique talents and playing styles that Black quarterbacks brought to the game, reimagining the position and the sport as a whole.

What was new and worth watching over the last month

Missed our other lists? Here’s a quick recap. Also, check out our list of streaming movies if you’re in the mood for something longer this weekend.

• Release date: September 19, 2024
• Genre: True Crime
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Ian Brennan, Ryan Murphy
• Cast: Evan Peters, Richard Jenkins, Cooper Koch

This true crime drama series delves into the infamous case of Lyle and Erik Menendez, who brutally murdered their wealthy parents in their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989. The show allegations of abuse and the sensational trial that took place.

As the brothers’ defense team, led by Leslie Abramson, argues that years of sexual and emotional abuse drove them to kill, you will be challenged to grapple with questions of guilt, victimhood, and the true nature of evil. Who’s in the wrong here?

• Release date: September 19, 2024
• Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Jay Oliva, Eric Carrasco, Zack Snyder
• Cast: Sylvia Hoeks, Stuart Martin, Pilou Asbæk, Paterson Joseph, Rahul Kohli, Jamie Clayton, Kristofer Hivju

This animated epic from visionary director Zack Snyder reimagines Norse mythology for a new generation. When her wedding day is transformed into a massacre, the fierce warrior Sigrid is out for vengeance against the Norse gods themselves.

Joined by her husband, King Leif, and a band of unlikely allies, Sigrid’s journey will take her from the heights of Asgard to the depths of Hel as she challenges the very foundations of the Norse pantheon. Does Sigrid’s actions threaten to bring about Ragnarök itself?

• Release date: September 20, 2024
• Genre: Crime
• Rating: N.A.
• Director: Sara Mast
• Cast: Nick Coleman, Isabella Olivas, Nora Lee Nichols

This three-part true crime docuseries is about the shocking case of Kaitlyn Conley, a young woman convicted of killing her former boss and ex-boyfriend’s mother, Mary Yoder. For the first time since her sentencing, Conley speaks out, maintaining her innocence and shedding light on what she describes as a toxic relationship with her ex-boyfriend, Adam.

You get to watch exclusive interviews and never-before-seen police footage and listen to audio recordings. Conley also offers her own theories about who really killed Yoder and why. The complexities of small-town crime will leave you questioning whether an innocent woman is behind bars or if a manipulative killer is spinning one last desperate tale.

• Release date: September 19, 2024
• Genre: Crime, Drama, Fantasy
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Lauren LeFranc
• Cast: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Michael Kelly, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Deirdre O’Connell, Clancy Brown

Set in the immediate aftermath of The Batman, this gritty crime drama follows Oswald Cobblepot, a.k.a. The Penguin, as he attempts to fill the power vacuum left in Gotham’s criminal underworld. With the city reeling from the Riddler’s devastating attack, Oz sees his chance to rise from underboss to kingpin.

Oz will be pushed to his limits as he fights, schemes, and murders his way to the top. This series promises to dig deep into the psyche of one of Batman’s most iconic villains, exploring the wounds and desires that drive a man to embrace a life of crime.

• Release date: September 17, 2024
• Genre: Crime
• Rating: N.A.
• Director: Alex Alexandrou
• Cast: Jose Tarouca

Let’s go on a global tour of some of history’s most infamous serial killers. Each episode focuses on a different country and case, offering access and insights through interviews with investigators, forensic experts, journalists, and even family members of both killers and victims.

From the horrifying discoveries at 25 Cromwell Street in England to the hunt for the world’s first known transcontinental serial killer between Vienna and Los Angeles, the series promises to shed new light on these notorious crimes. You’ll even hear from Charles Sobhraj himself in an exclusive interview about his deadly exploits across Southeast Asia in the 1970s.

• Release date: September 11, 2024 
• Genre: Game Show, Reality
• Rating: TV-MA 
• Director: Tim Harcourt
• Cast: Michelle Buteau, Shubham Goel, Emma Bunton, Mel B, Brian Clark, Billie-Jean Blackett, Marvin Achi

Yet another season of pure entertainment, showbiz, and drama. In the seventh season of this popular reality competition, a new group of contestants enters The Circle, competing for a $100,000 prize. It’s very Gen Z; they build online personas and strategically build alliances, and the ones who do it best win. This season introduces a twist called “The Disruptor” mode, which allows players to gain powerful advantages or face unexpected setbacks — fair’s fair.

For example, this season, the first Disruptors on the show gain immunity from elimination. As new players join and alliances shift, the contestants must navigate deception, charm, and strategy to make it to the finale. Will this be the most unpredictable and dramatic season of The Circle? Probably, until the next one.

• Release date: September 12, 2024 
• Genre: Drama, History, Mystery
• Rating: TV-14
• Director: Elif Usman
• Cast: Yasemin Szawlowski, Tansu Biçer, Engin Hepileri, Hazal Kaya, James Chalmers, Selahattin Paşalı, Hakan Dinçkol

Esra is still stationed at Pera Palace Hotel on a quest to uncover the truth about her origins, which may be tied to events in 1941. As she and Ahmet navigate between 2022, 1941, and other periods, they encounter figures like Alfred Hitchcock while trying not to alter history drastically.

Meanwhile, the villainous Halit has also time-traveled to 2022 and discovered a mysterious “Gateway of Truth” in the hotel. With bombs going off, secrets being revealed, and the fabric of time at stake, Esra must piece together her own history while preventing disaster across multiple eras. More historical cameos, romantic intrigue, and mind-bending time travel twists await you at the Pera Palace.

• Release date: September 10, 2024 
• Genre: Documentary, Sport
• Rating: N.A.
• Director: Drea Cooper
• Cast: Livvy Dunne, Angel Reese, Flau’jae, Jayden Daniels

This documentary series offers an inside look at how recent rule changes in college sports are transforming the financial landscape for student athletes. Focusing on Louisiana State University, the show follows star athletes like gymnast Olivia Dunne and basketball player Angel Reese. For the first time, these young athletes can profit from their personal brands through sponsorships and social media while still competing at the college level.

The series explores the opportunities and challenges this creates, from athletes supporting their families to concerns about the future of college sports. Through intimate access to the athletes, their families, and LSU staff, The Money Game examines a pivotal moment in college athletics history and its wide-ranging impacts.

• Release date: September 9, 2024 
• Genre: Drama
• Rating: TV-MA 
• Director: Saverio Costanzo
• Cast: Anna Rita Vitolo, Alba Rohrwacher, Gaia Girace, Margherita Mazzucco, Alessio Gallo, Luca Gallone, Francesco Serpico

Based on Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Novels, the fourth season concludes the decades-spanning story of Elena “Lenù” Greco and Raffaella “Lila” Cerullo. Now in their 60s, the two women must confront the consequences of their choices and how their lives have diverged and reconnected over the years.

As Lenù deals with the aftermath of leaving her family for her lover, Nino, she must also reckon with her complicated relationship with Lila, who has become an influential figure in their Naples neighborhood. With its nuanced portrayal of two complex women and their intertwined destinies, My Brilliant Friend’s final chapter aims to provide a satisfying and emotionally resonant conclusion to this epic story.

• Release date: September 13, 2024 
• Genre: Comedy
• Rating: N.A.
• Director: Natasha Rothwell
• Cast: Natasha Rothwell, Conrad Ricamora, Jocko Sims, KeiLyn Durrel Jones

This new dramedy series stars Natasha Rothwell as Mel, a socially awkward airport employee whose life takes an unexpected turn after a near-death experience on her birthday. Realizing she’s been living in fear and isolation, Mel begins a journey of self-discovery and personal growth.

Mel navigates awkward social situations, budding romances, and fraught family dynamics as she attempts to become bolder and more engaged with life. The show balances humor with heartfelt moments as Mel learns to open herself to new experiences and connections. Along the way, she forms unlikely friendships with her quirky co-workers and begins to see the world — and herself — in a new light. A heart-warming watch, terrifically relatable too.

• Release date: September 13, 2024 
• Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure
• Rating: TV-G
• Director: Chris Buckley
• Cast: Gaten Matarazzo, Bobby Moynihan

This animated series combines the beloved LEGO style with classic Star Wars characters for an all-new adventure. Set after the events of the original trilogy, the show follows familiar heroes like Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo as they embark on a mission to rebuild and restore balance to the galaxy.

Our heroes must join forces with new allies to face formidable foes and uncover hidden secrets. The series promises to blend action, humor, and heart in the tradition of other LEGO Star Wars properties. Expect plenty of clever LEGO building scenes, iconic Star Wars moments reimagined in brick form, and more of the trademark irreverent humor.