Skip to main content

Between the Streams: ‘Blade Runner 2049’ relief, ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ review

DT’s weekly entertainment show, Between the Streams, is your guide to all of the hottest, most important, and (of course) dumbest new developments in streaming and entertainment, providing a handy recap of the week that was and a preview for what’s ahead. Follow us here at 2 p.m. PT every Friday, or add us via RSS, iTunes, or Stitcher at the links below to take BtS on the road!

badge_itunes-smallest   stitcher-smallest   rss-smallest

We’ve got so much to talk about this week, but we’ll start with some relief for all those sci-fi nuts out there: Blade Runner 2049 is awesome. That’s according to DT contributor Phil Hornshaw (who was one of the lucky few to attend the advanced screening), as well as just about every other reviewer who’s seen the ridiculously hyped film. With about 40 reviews in, 2049 is garnering an impressive 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, but more importantly, it’s coming in at just under a 9-out-of-10 average score. We’ll talk about why our reviewer thinks this film is destined to ink its own indelible mark in the hallowed history of sci-fi greats.

And while the rest of us will have to wait till next week to get our Blade Runner kicks, there’s also plenty to talk about from the current week in entertainment today, including another anticipated movie you can actually watch today from Mr. Tom Cruise. We’re talking about American Made, the film that features Cruise as a drug-running pilot working for the CIA, which is garnering its own high marks with critics. Our steadfast entertainment writer Rick Marshall says it’s Cruise at his best and most fun, and after 30 years and more hit movies than you can count on all your fingers and toes for the superstar, that’s saying something.

Of course, there’s another movie in theaters this week, one that no one asked for and presumably few are excited about. Yes, that’s pretty harsh, but did we really need a reboot of Flatliners? The answer is no. We called this one when we saw the first Flatliners trailer, and it’s … it’s not going well. The reviews have been merciless. Pro tip: Forget that movie exists and go see American Made.

Outside of the box office, there’s plenty more to talk about this week, including the premiere of Star Trek: Discovery. After months and months of pushback, 10s of millions of dollars spent, the loss of the show’s original showrunner, Bryan Fuller, and a barricade behind the CBS All Access firewall, there were plenty of reasons for this series to fail. We’ll tell you why we think it won’t, and how CBS is crafting a new kind of Star Trek series that’s very much of the essence of the era.

Also this week, we’ll be discussing new casting for Sony’s Venom movie, Ant-Man and Wasp villain news, our Stephen King block of news (which is really becoming a thing now), Han Solo news, the latest trailer from the director of Ex Machina, Alex Garlandand more.

So tune in and hit us up live at 2 p.m. PT today, or take us along for the ride with our podcast version by following the links at the top of this story.

Editors' Recommendations

Ryan Waniata
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ryan Waniata is a multi-year veteran of the digital media industry, a lover of all things tech, audio, and TV, and a…
Where to watch the People’s Choice Country Awards
The group known as Little Big Town in promo art for the People's Choice Country Awards.

This week, country music lovers are excited about the first-ever People's Choice Country Awards, which puts the power to honor the best country superstars in the hands of the fans themselves. And if you're looking to find out where you can watch the People's Choice Country Awards, then you've come to the right place!

NBC is the broadcast network partner for the inaugural People’s Choice Country Awards on Thursday, September 28. The event is being televised live from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. Additionally, the group known as Little Big Town (pictured above: Jimi Westbrook, Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, and Phillip Sweet) is going to be hosting the event. The biggest names in country music are in contention for the top prizes, and there will be live performances as well. Watching it on your big screen television is clearly the best option, especially during the songs. But if you're not able to watch the People's Choice Country Awards on television, there are streaming options as well.
Where to watch the People's Choice Country Awards
The People's Choice Country Awards will go live at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT/5 p.m. PT on NBC. Cable subscribers also have the option of streaming it through their providers or on NBC's official site.
Watch the People's Choice Country Awards live stream on Peacock TV

Read more
Everything coming to Netflix in October 2023
The cast of The Fall of the House of Usher.

The Fall of the House of Usher | Official Trailer | Netflix

While there's a multitude of streamers to choose from, Netflix continues to be the primary destination for streaming movies and TV shows. With recent hit shows like The Lincoln Lawyer, Suits, and The Witcher season 3, plus blockbuster movies like Heart of Stone and the popular rom-com Love at First Sight, Netflix still rules the streaming landscape like no other.

Read more
9 Netflix shows you didn’t know existed
Lorenzo Richelmy in Marco Polo.

What's your favorite Netflix series? If you said something like The Witcher, Stranger Things, Orange is the New Black, or Beef, then you may be unintentionally missing out on the hundreds of Netflix shows that you didn't know existed. Not every series created for Netflix manages to become a buzzy hit or an awards show favorite. Many shows simply appear for a season and quietly get canceled with little fanfare beyond the passionate few who managed to find and enjoy the series. This is the reality of the streaming era, especially on Netflix.

Every time something new arrives on Netflix, the streamer prioritizes the latest shows over the ones that didn't have a lasting impact. That's why we've put together this list of the 10 Netflix shows you didn't know existed. Or more likely, these are the series that you forgot about. But that doesn't mean that they don't deserve another chance to earn your attention. And if you're looking for something new to binge, you may find your next favorite show here.
Marco Polo (2014)

Read more