The Fall Content You Need Right Now

Cozy-up content.

It’s fall, y’all, and that means a whole lot of fresh storytelling coming your way, just in time for chilling by that first fire (or seasonal candle for the hearth-less among us). Whether it’s the return of your last binge-worthy favorite after a painful pandemic production wait, or the thrill of something entirely new, the season ahead is chock full of feast-your-eyes content. So break out your favorite throw and stake your claim on the couch for the best of fall’s page-turners and silver streaming hits. 

The Morning Show, Season 2 (on now)

Despite the star wattage, we had our worries that this story had been told—and that its premise hit too close to home at this particular moment. But this take on a high-profile morning host who is fired in the wake of a #metoo scandal—and the fallout for those around him—really did its thing. It’s among Steve Carrell’s and J. Ani’s best performances, and we can’t wait to see where the second season takes us. 

SIX the musical (on now)

If you’re lucky enough to be near Broadway, you’re lucky indeed. We’ve had this soundtrack on repeat in anticipation of reopening and can only imagine the thrill of it live. The premise is simple, yet inventive: The six wives of Henry VIII are reimagined as a Spice Girls-style girl group who recounts their individual stories. In summary, divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived.

Muhammad Ali (tonight)

Ken Burns turns his one-and-only documentarian eye to the original G.O.A.T., who was “bigger than boxing, larger than life” in Burns’ view. The four-part documentary will cover the totality of Ali the man—flawed, brave, triumphant, principled. Long before Colin Kapernick stepped onto the sporting stage, Ali risked everything for his beliefs and inspired people from across the globe. 

The Many Saints of Newark (9/24)

While some of us may never get closure on what that last Sopranos episode actually meant, we can now avail ourselves of the Tony Sopranos origin story in this prequel film. Sadly, James Gandolfini died suddenly in 2013, but his son Michael has stepped in to play the young Tony. Backed up by stars like Vera Farmiga, Ray Liotta and Leslie Odom, Jr., the cast is poised to portray compellingly what Dr. Melfi would consider a difficult childhood.

The Lehman Trilogy (9/25)

We officially count this as the most thrilling thing we’ve seen on stage in the last decade. Acted entirely by three actors on a genius single set, the play tells the story of the Lehman Brothers, from their arrival in America to the fateful day on September 15th, 2008 when their firm collapsed. It doesn’t take an MBA to realize that this is really the story of the American economy. While we initially put our money on its three-hour duration running long, the show’s strong arc paid off: We didn’t want it to end. 

The Plot Thickens, Season 3 (10/12)

We love this podcast from Turner Classic Movies, with its soothing delivery by Ben Mankiewicz (yes related to THE Mankiewiczs). The first two seasons in the bag, the subject now turns to trailblazer and funnywoman Lucille Ball. The trailer already has us hooked with promises to reveal her many triumphs and tragedies in the detail that only TCM can deliver.

The Velvet Underground (10/15)

Todd Haynes has touched on various rockers previously through his pseudo biopics I’m Not There (Dylan) and Velvet Goldmine (Bowie), but with “The Velvet Underground,” he’s gone straight-up documentary. In addition to covering the band’s musical contributions with rare footage, the film will illuminate the unique merging of art, culture and music that characterized the group. To boot, one of the band’s claims to fame is that it wrote the one and only mainstream song with our founder Stephanie’s name in it (Stephanie Says).

Succession, Season 3 (10/17)

If you haven’t dipped your toe into this one, loosely based on the Murdochs’ story of greed and family dysfunction, we’ll wait. The pro tip we would offer: The first four episodes are slow but they set the table for one wild ride, with brilliant characters and the superior talent of Adam McKay of The Big Short fame. Also Greg and Tom?! Am I right?

The French Dispatch (10/22)

Eagle-eyed Verse readers will note that this is the second time we have recommended this movie, but such are the publication gymnastics of COVID times and release dates. We’ll keep our recommendation for it short this time: Wes Anderson. In France.

Insecure, Season 5 (10/24)

Sure, we’ve said it before: “Sex and The City” demanded a lot of let’s-pretend (that apartment filled with Manolos on a writer’s salary?!) and a cast that didn’t reflect New York’s own diversity, but we stayed for the exploration of friendships and relationships that did feel very real. Insecure takes the very best of SATC and bases it more firmly in reality, with Los Angeles the city acting as an additional character. This is the final season, so if you haven’t watched before, you might just stream all the way through.

The Red Boat Fish Sauce Cookbook: Beloved Recipes from the Family Behind the Purest Fish Sauce (10/25)

We’re longtime Red Boat devotees around here, so count us among the intrigued to see what else the makers of this fabulous concoction have up their sleeves with this tome.

Solid Ivory: Memoirs (11/2)

Any of the recent period dramas—from “Downton Abbey” to “Emma”—surely owe a debt of gratitude to James Ivory, who along with his partner Ismail Merchant, created the genre with films like “A Room with a View,” “Howard’s End” and “The Remains of the Day.” His memoir promises to reveal the behind-the-scenes of these beautiful films.

House of Gucci (11/24)

Not since the Borgias has there been this much wealth, treachery, murder and family infighting. Add the glamour of Gucci on top, and we are most definitely all in. With an all-star cast that includes Lady Gaga, Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons, Adam Driver and an unrecognizable Jared Leto, we’ve already watched the trailer of this book-based movie about a milioni times.

The Tragedy of Macbeth (TBD)

Joel Coen of Coen Brothers fame breaks out on his own to direct his wife, Frances McDormand, and Denzel Washington in Shakespeare’s “Scottish Play.” While it is expected this fall, we w