This week brings a diverse and exciting selection of streaming content to screens across the UK, offering everything from superhero meta-commentary and nostalgic boyband documentaries to regency romance and high-stakes thrillers. With major platforms like Disney+, Netflix, Apple TV+, Channel 4, and Prime Video all releasing compelling new series and specials, viewers are spoilt for choice. Here is your essential guide to the seven best shows to stream over the coming days.
Wonder Man: A Meta Marvel Adventure
Marvel Studios ventures into intriguing new territory with Wonder Man, a miniseries that cleverly blends superhero fantasy with behind-the-scenes Hollywood satire. While the character may lack the immediate name recognition of Wonder Woman, this allows the show creative freedom to explore unique narrative avenues. The plot follows struggling actors Simon Williams, portrayed by the talented Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Trevor Slattery, played by Ben Kingsley, as they desperately vie for roles in eccentric director Von Kovak's film Wonder Man.
What begins as a sharp critique of Tinseltown gradually transforms as Simon discovers he shares uncanny attributes with his fictional superhero persona. This development introduces special powers and a deeper, more philosophical layer to the story. The series draws favourable comparisons to Seth Rogen's The Studio, offering fans a refreshingly meta and intellectually engaging addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Disney+ subscribers can stream all episodes from Wednesday 28 January.
Take That: A Nostalgic Boyband Exposé
Netflix delivers a feast of nostalgia with its new documentary series focusing on the iconic British boyband Take That. This production serves as an all-access backstage pass, meticulously chronicling the group's meteoric rise, internal tensions, and eventual fragmentation. The early years prove particularly gripping, showcasing Gary Barlow's evolution as a songwriter and the band's humble beginnings performing at school assemblies and gay clubs.
The documentary does not shy away from the burgeoning conflicts within the group, highlighting the pressure on Barlow to continuously produce hits while other members felt relegated to mere backing dancers. Abundant archive footage weaves an intimate and compelling narrative, aptly described by Robbie Williams as a tale of "working class lads given the golden ticket." This fascinating origin story is available on Netflix from Tuesday 27 January.
Skyscraper Live: Death-Defying Viewing
For those seeking an adrenaline rush, Skyscraper Live promises almost unbearably tense viewing. The special follows free-climbing maverick Alex Honnold as he attempts a live, unharnessed ascent of Taipei 101, one of the world's tallest skyscrapers. This endeavour pushes his notorious brinksmanship to terrifying new extremes.
Audiences familiar with the Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo will recall the gripping anxiety of watching Honnold conquer El Capitan. This latest feat is guaranteed to deliver extraordinary, edge-of-your-seat spectacle, likely best observed through parted fingers. The entire thrilling event is streaming now on Netflix.
Shrinking: A Warm Return to Therapy
Apple TV+'s heartfelt series Shrinking returns for a new season, blending broad comedy with gentle philosophical insight. Jason Segel reprises his role as therapist Jimmy, who continues to grapple with profound grief following the loss of his wife. Despite his professional training, Jimmy remains emotionally stuck.
The narrative catalyst this season is the impending departure of his daughter, Alice, played by Lukita Maxwell, for university. Jimmy's admission that he wishes she would live with him until his peaceful death underscores his unresolved pain. This storyline enables a lucid and moving exploration of grief, portraying it as a manageable yet ever-present force. New episodes arrive on Apple TV+ from Wednesday 28 January.
Bridgerton: Regency Romance Reignites
The lavish and raunchy world of Bridgerton makes a welcome return to Netflix. While the show's formula is becoming familiar, the third season spices things up by shifting focus to the rakish Benedict Bridgerton, portrayed by Luke Thompson. As another society ball approaches, Benedict's mother grows concerned about his perpetual bachelor status.
His world is upturned when he glimpses a captivating stranger who initially eludes him. Enlisting his sister Eloise, played by Claudia Jessie, to aid his search, Benedict discovers high society knows nothing of this mysterious woman. This sets the stage for a classic Bridgerton dilemma: could she be from a less noble background, and will love triumph over societal constraints? The new season debuts on Netflix from Thursday 29 January.
The Pushover: A Moody Danish Thriller
Channel 4 presents The Pushover, a moody Scandinavian thriller adapted from Lone Theils' novel. Set against the backdrop of North Zealand, known as the Danish Riviera, the story begins with the discovery of a wealthy woman dead in her swimming pool. Suspicion immediately falls upon her boyfriend, Tom.
As Tom's chequered past comes to light, he readily confesses to fraud but vehemently denies any involvement in murder. Detective Morten Stark finds himself believing Tom's claims, a conviction that intersects with an independent investigation by Copenhagen journalist Nora Sand. This gripping mystery launches on Channel 4 from Friday 30 January.
Nicholas Rossi: An Unbelievable True Story
Prime Video offers a deep dive into one of the most astonishing real-life stories with Nicholas Rossi: Conman and Predator. While Channel 4 previously covered this tale in 2024, the narrative remains so wild it merits repeated examination. The documentary begins in 2021 on a Glasgow Covid ward, where a man awakens from a coma to find detectives accusing him of being a fugitive wanted across America.
Insisting he is an academic named Arthur Knight, the man's true identity unravels to reveal a saga involving tell-tale tattoos, a thwarted political career, and a faked death. The intricate backstory is so extraordinary it nearly defies belief. This compelling documentary special is available on Prime Video from Friday 30 January.
