What to Watch the Week of March 3: So You Think You Can Dance’s Revamped Return, and NatGeo’s Must-See Docuseries, Queens

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

So You Think You Can Dance is back this week for season 18. Host Cat Deeley describes the new season as a bit of a “refresh,” and it is, considering that beloved dancers/choreographers Allison Holker and Maksim Chmerkovskiy are joining the judges table, along with JoJo Siwa.

For Holker especially, this opportunity was one that couldn’t have come at a better time, given the heaviness of the last 14 months. When I spoke with Holker for this very personal story last week, she told me that she knew her purpose growing up was always to be a beacon of love and joy through dance, a motivation she feels even more committed to in the wake of her husband, Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss’ tragic passing.

“Now it’s much deeper and means so much more, but it’s the same purpose,” she says. “Now I can use my words as well [as a judge and as an advocate]. I hope when people turn on the TV and see this new season, they’ll be inspired by it.”

They most certainly will. Take a look below.

The other debut worth your time this week is National Geographic’s Queens. It’s an utterly compelling docuseries about the female animal kingdoms around the world and the lengths these species must go to in order to protect their environment and families.

It’s also the first major series in the natural history space that’s produced by a female-led crew. That’s a rarity in this field and a change that has been long overdue. What these women are doing behind-the-scenes to mentor and train the next generation of female filmmakers is truly inspiring, and I can’t think of a better way to support their efforts than to watch Queens.

A lioness nuzzles her young cub.

National Geographic for Disney/Oscar Dewhurst

But also, Queens is just that good. Faith Musembi, who is one of the producers and directors, says one of the reasons female species haven’t had their time in the spotlight as much as their male counterparts is that there’s this misconception that female wildlife is boring or uninteresting.

“But when you watch how these females lead, it’s complex. It’s exciting. They are fierce,” Musembi tells Glamour. “They show this resilience in how they go about everything, and it’s exciting to watch them navigate their relationships and leverage everything that they’re up against to work in their favor.”

For more on how to watch Queens on National Geographic—as well as Disney+ and Hulu—see below.

There’s also Kate Winslet’s new series on HBO called The Regime, which is kinda wacky in an unexpected way. It’s fun to see Winslet like this, as it’s different from really anything else she’s done before. And over on Netflix, Millie Bobby Brown’s new film, Damsel, premieres on Friday. Angela Bassett also stars.

With that, I’ll see you back here next Sunday for the official end of awards season (that’s code for the Oscars)!

Sunday, March 3The Regime (HBO/Max): Starring Kate Winslet, the six-episode political drama from Succession writer Will Tracy tells the story of one year within the walls of the palace of a modern European regime as it begins to unravel. Matthias Schoenaerts, Guillaume Gallienne, Andrea Riseborough, Martha Plimpton and Hugh Grant also star. 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT and streaming on Max

Monday, March 4The Bachelor (ABC): It’s hometowns! 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT and streaming the next day on Hulu

So You Think You Can Dance (Fox): Allison Holker and Dancing with the Stars alum Maksim Chmerkovskiy team up with JoJo Siwa and Comfort Fedoke for the 18th season of SYTYCD, hosted by Cat Deeley. 9 p.m. ET/PT, 8 p.m. CT

Queens (National Geographic): The powerful wildlife series premieres on NatGeo today with three episodes, followed by four next week. (However, all the episodes will drop on Hulu and Disney+ tomorrow). Here’s the breakdown of the first three episodes:

“African Queens” In the towering walls of Tanzania’s Ngorongoro crater, the sisters of a lion pride clash with a hyena clan ruled by an all-powerful queen. 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT

“Rainforest Queens” In the Congo forest, a young bonobo must leave behind everything she knows to find her place in a world where friendship means survival. 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT

“Tiny Jungle Queens” Under the rainforest canopy, two tiny insect queens build their empires—one through great sacrifice and the other through betrayal. 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT

A portrait of a female bonobo.

National Geographic for Disney

Tuesday, March 5Queens (Disney+/Hulu): In case you don’t have National Geographic, all episodes of Queens will stream today on Disney+ and Hulu. Here’s the loglines for the final four episodes:

“Savanna Queens” A baby is born into the ultimate animal sisterhood: a family of elephants. She will need all their experience and protection if she is to survive. 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT

“Mountain Queens” A gelada monkey and an Ethiopian wolf fight for their families and legacy in a world of ancient Ethiopian mountain peaks. 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT

“Coastal Queens” An orca family’s success relies on the experience of their 60-year-old matriarch, while a first-time bear mother must raise her three cubs alone. 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT

“Behind The Queens” A celebration of the extraordinary women filmmakers and game-changing conservationists behind the “Queens” series. 11 p.m. ET/10 p.m. CT

Queens’ director Faith Musembi, and director of photography, Sophie Darlington, film elephants from their vehicle.

National Geographic for Disney/Rachael Kinley

Wednesday, March 62024 Billboard Women in Music Awards (Streaming on billboard.com): This year’s ceremony will be hosted by Tracee Ellis Ross at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles. The honorees include Kylie Minogue, Maren Morris, Ice Spice, Charli XCX, Young Miko, Victoria MonĂ©t, NewJeans, TEMS, and LuĂ­sa Sonza. Streaming

Thursday, March 7The Gentlemen (Netflix): Theo James (The White Lotus) plays Eddie Horniman, a young man who unexpectedly inherit his father’s sizable country estate only to discover it’s part of a cannabis empire. To make matters more complex, some suspicious characters from Britain’s criminal underworld want a piece of the operation. But when Eddie tries to beat the gangsters at their own game, he finds himself intrigued by the operation he’s trying to defeat. The eight-episode limited series is from Guy Ritchie, and also stars Joely Richardson, Giancarlo Esposito, and more. Streaming

Hot White Heist (Audible) The queer action-comedy starring Bowen Yang returns for six half-hour episodes. In addition to Yang, Sara RamĂ­rez, Joel Kim Booster, Ian McKellen, Jane Krakowski, Jesse James Keitel, RaĂșl Esparza, Shannon Woodward, Cynthia Nixon, Jane Lynch, Abbi Jacobson, Stephanie Beatriz and Bianca Del Rio also star. Stream here

Poor Things (Hulu): The Yorgos Lanthimos film starring Emma Stone begins streaming on Hulu today, so now’s your time to watch before the Oscars next Sunday, where it’s nominated in 11 categories. The film is about the evolution of Bella Baxter (Stone), a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe). Streaming

Friday, March 8First Time Female Director (The Roku Channel): Chelsea Peretti writes, directs, and stars in this film, which also features Megan Mullally, Amy Poehler, Max Greenfield, and a lot of surprise cameos. Here’s the logline: “Aspiring writer Sam (Chelsea Peretti) is thrust into the role of director when the Regis Theatre’s director is fired. Hand-picked by the theatre’s artistic director, Sheldon (Andy Richter), Sam is asked to direct the Regis’ upcoming Southern-inspired play, ‘Rain’s Comin’ In.’ Sam dives into the opportunity, and hilarity ensues as she struggles to wrangle the eclectic cast—including classic theater kid Rudy (Benito Skinner); over-trained amateur Clara (Kate Berlant); vain, tech-addict Davina (Meg Stalter); theater vet Marjory (Megan Mullally); acting savant Simon (Jak Knight); and Corden (Blake Anderson), whose minor acting credits give him high status in the company. Barely making it through each rehearsal, Sam vents to her eccentric therapist, Meg (Amy Poehler) and even turns to the Regis’ arrogant-but-dorky usher, Robbie (Max Greenfield), for drunken comfort. As Sam struggles to understand why she can’t seem to nail her production, she tries different tactics to make her play a success. Will she finally hit it big? Or will being a first-time female director lead her to try a totally different career?” Streaming

Cabrini (Angel Studios): Cristiana Dell’Anna stars as Francesca Cabrini in the biopic of one of the most influential people at the turn of the 20th century. You’ll learn about the Italian nun who fought for equal rights in New York during the late 1800s. Cabrini will be released on International Women’s Day and is a powerful film about one woman’s fight the equality, health, and happiness of immigrant orphans. In theaters

Wonka (Max): The Warner Bros. film starring Timothée Chalamet makes its streaming debut. Streaming

Damsel (Netflix): Millie Bobby Brown plays a dutiful damsel who agrees to marry a handsome prince, but then she discovers the royal family has recruited her as a sacrifice to repay an ancient debt. When she’s thrown into a cave with a fire-breathing dragon (of course), she must find a way to survive and outsmart everyone out to get her. Ray Winstone, Nick Robinson, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Brooke Carter, Angela Bassett and Robin Wright also star. Streaming

Jessica Radloff is the Glamour senior West Coast editor and author of the NYT best-selling book The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series.

Reviews

75 %

User Score

9 ratings
Rate This

Leave your comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

3 Comments