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Reviews


THIS BITING, BRILLIANT SHOW WILL BE HBO’S NEXT SLEEPER HIT

STAY DRY



The new dramedy “Rain Dogs” explores the highs and lows of a single mother, who
dabbles in sex work and darkly comedic, toxic friendships to make ends meet.

COLEMAN SPILDE

Entertainment Critic

Updated Mar. 05, 2023 3:05AM ET / Published Mar. 04, 2023 9:45PM ET 


HBO



When single mother Costello Jones (Daisy May Cooper) is booted from her
subsidized London flat in the first moments of HBO’s new dramedy Rain Dogs, it’s
still early in the day. Costello and her preteen daughter, Iris (Fleur
Tashjian), have to hold their heads high as they stroll past looky-loo neighbors
and cops, well before anyone has had time for a spot of tea. “Poverty porn, at
its finest!” Costello yells to the crowd, swinging a trash bag of her
possessions over her shoulder.

Costello’s declaration could just as well serve as Rain Dogs’ logline. The
eight-episode first season, which begins airing weekly on March 6 and streams on
HBO Max, follows Costello and Iris, as they try their best to navigate the
massive wall of socioeconomic forces forged against them. The show takes a
linear-yet-scattered approach to telling an untidy story. Episodes jump through
time as Costello, an aspiring writer, hunts for new solutions to a problem
always nipping at her heels—our only sense of time coming from Costello’s
sober-tracker app.



Despite its chaotic narrative, Rain Dogs manages to craft a powerful and
blisteringly authentic portrait of modern perseverance. The series is crass,
off-color, and vibrantly British, but it never feels offensive or melodramatic,
despite its mordant handling of heavy subjects. With sharp writing and an
undeniably brilliant central performance from Cooper, Rain Dogs is set to be the
dark horse of the spring television season.

Created by playwright and author Cash Carraway, Rain Dogs explores similar
subjects to what’s found in Carraway’s 2019 memoir, Skint Estate. From its
premiere alone, it’s quite clear that the series isn’t a tale of poverty thrust
through a studio filter. Costello and Iris’ story borrows from Carraway’s own
experiences; the grime between the lines is real, not plastered on by some
exploitative Hollywood hack. Yes, these misadventures of a mother and the
daughter that she’d do anything for are often frustrating, but that’s life. All
too often, one step forward pushes us 600 steps back, as we fall back on our
asses each time we try to get back up.



But Costello’s not entirely alone, either. Unfortunately, that’s part of her
problem. Costello’s best friend Gloria (Ronke Adekoluejo) is just as
dysfunctional as Costello, only on another end of the spectrum of hard living.
Gloria can take Iris on nights when Costello has to work peep shows on the seedy
side of London, or while she’s hunting for other sex work to try to make ends
meet. All of these sordid experiences will hopefully, one day, result in a
bestselling memoir. “Like Oliver Twist, with big tits,” Costello imagines.

HBO

Her penchant for indulging in life’s most noxious thrills for the sake of her
writing has kept Costello reluctantly in touch with Selby (Jack Farthing), her
best friend from University. Costello and Selby’s dynamic gives an entirely new
meaning to the phrase “toxic relationship,” as viewers find out when Selby is
released from prison at the start of the series. Selby might be everything
Costello isn’t—gay, posh, and obnoxiously wealthy—but somehow, they get along.
Selby loves and cares for Iris as if she’s his own daughter, and Iris is the one
thing that doesn’t keep her mother and father figure from tearing each other
apart.

Selby’s weekly allowance from his estranged mother is given to Costello and Iris
with abandon, propping them up, only to bring them tumbling down again when he’s
inevitably cut off for more bad behavior. After all, Selby has a penchant for
punching the goons that Costello brings into her orbit. It’s often difficult to
ascertain which of Costello and Selby’s actions toward one another are done out
of love, and which are done out of hate. But their pernicious bond illustrates
how incredibly difficult it can be to extricate yourself from a bad situation,
once you’re steeped in it—the same way Costello must constantly hack through the
suffocating weeds of her economic class.


 * NEW ON HBO AND HBO MAX MARCH 2023
   
   NOW STREAMING
   
   FLETCHER PETERS
   
   

Rain Dogs has a new surprise at every turn, and not all of them are particularly
cheery. Costello cleans the apartments of perverts (whom she has a keen affinity
for, most of the time) while they masturbate to her dumping dirty mop water down
a sink. She’s tricked by newspaper hucksters trying to sanitize her story for
the snooty moms at Iris’ school. She’s fooled into modeling a nightgown for a
lowly chap offering her a place to sleep. But she’s resourceful as hell,
unwilling to let any of the mountainous things that stand in her way keep her
from climbing.

Cooper is a revelation as Costello. She’s brash and hilarious as she threads the
needle that stitches together her character’s dual life. Magnetic as any
seasoned performer, it’s a shock she hasn’t yet broken out across the
Atlantic—especially with two BAFTA wins under her belt. But Rain Dogs, which was
produced in association with the BBC, just might be the heralding of a new
comedic star in the States as well. Opposite Cooper, Farthing casts a gleefully
demented glow as Selby, melding together the two most charismatic, British
Grants: Hugh and Richard E., naturally.

HBO

While the series often ricochets between farcical and dramatically dour at a
madcap pace, its would-be slapdash construction works in its favor. Each episode
of Rain Dogs is no more than 27 minutes long, allowing viewers a nice taste of
Costello’s acerbity without ruminating too much on the intrinsic darkness of her
situation. We’re allowed to live this story through her eyes: trying to value
the good and toss out the bad. In order for things not to plod or become
histrionic, they have to keep moving. And that’s just what Rain Dogs and
Costello do so effectively: stay in flux.

Each episode of Rain Dogs opens with a title card in a glowing, script font
straight out of the marketing campaign for Sofia Coppola’s The Beguiled. That
title card alone highlights exactly what the series does so well: contrasting
the inevitable grit of its premise with undeniable, unexpected beauty at the
heart of Costello and Iris’ relationship.

Rain Dogs certainly won’t be for everyone—least of all those who don’t enjoy
caustic, dark English humor—but that’s why it’s so surprising. Here’s one of the
first series of the year that doesn’t try to operate on a scale of mass appeal.
Instead, it’s focused on itself, making sure that its characters find a way
forward for a satisfying tale of what real tenacity looks like.




READ THIS LIST


THE 18 MOST EXCITING COMEDIES COMING TO TV THIS SPRING

THE DAILY BEAST


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SHANNON O’CONNOR


JONATHAN MAJORS IS ON A HOT STREAK (LITERALLY)

BARRY LEVITT


‘THE LAST OF US’ EPISODE 8 RECAP: DEATH BECOMES HER

SHANNON O’CONNOR


THE BIG ‘PERRY MASON’ MYSTERY: HOW’D THIS SHOW GO SO WRONG?

NICK SCHAGER




What to Watch


THE 18 MOST EXCITING COMEDIES COMING TO TV THIS SPRING

LOL



It’s our spring TV comedy preview! Everyone from Ted Lasso to Catherine the
Great and Carol Burnett herself is coming to help us laugh our way through the
next few months.

THE DAILY BEAST

Updated Mar. 06, 2023 10:35AM ET / Published Mar. 06, 2023 3:56AM ET 


PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY THOMAS LEVINSON/THE DAILY
BEAST/NETFLIX/APPLE/HULU/SEARCHLIGHT



There’s a plethora of dark-and-twisty content to look forward to this spring
because, well, this is 2023—darkness and twistiness is the current state of
being. That’s why we’re so grateful for these 18 series, specials, and movies
coming to TV and streaming in the next three months.

From a “history of the world” that’s been four decades in the making to more Ted
Lasso, more Bob Odenkirk, and more musical theater, there’s no shortage of
laughs and joy coming down the pike. Presented in order of their premiere dates,
here are some of the most exciting new TV projects coming this spring.


HISTORY OF THE WORLD: PART II


MAR. 6 ON HULU




A continuation of Mel Brooks’ 1981 screwball comedy film, History of the World:
Part II takes a deeper dive into, well, the history of the world. The Hulu show,
which will air over four nights with a total of eight episodes, stars a handful
of big celebs: Seth Rogen, Johnny Knoxville, Taika Waititi, Emily Ratajkowski,
and Tyler James Williams, to name a few. This sequel is 40 years in the making;
hopefully, the series lives up to its predecessor. —Fletcher Peters


TED LASSO (SEASON 3)


MAR. 15 ON APPLE TV+



There are rumors that Ted Lasso will end after the upcoming third season—say it
ain’t so! The Apple TV+ series about peppy American soccer coach has skyrocketed
in popularity since its premiere in 2020, taking home so, so many awards at the
Emmys and Golden Globes for its previous two seasons. Now, nearly two years
after Season 2 and some online discourse, the series will return for one
(final?) chapter of sweet biscuits and Roy Kent’s handsome sailor mouth. —F.P.


SWARM


MAR. 17 ON PRIME VIDEO



The logline for Swarm doesn’t exactly suggest a comedy: Dre (Dominique Fishback)
is “a young woman whose obsession with a pop star takes a dark turn.” But trust
that with co-creator Donald Glover (Atlanta) on board, this show will be as
funny as it is harrowing. Playwright Janine Nabors brings an especially biting
edge to this satirical, surreal, shocking take on what happens when fandom goes
too far. —Allegra Frank


LUCKY HANK


MAR. 19 ON AMC



Bob Odenkirk is back on TV, one year after loosening Saul Goodman’s tie for the
last time. For AMC’s Lucky Hank, he’ll trade in a life of skirting legal gray
areas for another hellhole: a liberal arts college. This black comedy, based on
Richard Russo’s novel Straight Man, stars Odenkirk as the English department
chair at a small, rural college. Resources are low, and tensions are high. Hank
is a self-described “difficult man,” and Odenkirk seems like the perfect fit for
this irascible fiftysomething. —A.F.


UP HERE


MAR. 24 ON HULU



It’s been a long time since we’ve had a good musical rom com. Up Here looks like
a promising way to fill that gap, offering a La La Land-esque take on New York
in 1999. The series follows Lindsay (Mae Whitman) and Miguel (Carlos Valdes), as
they fall in love. If they want to pursue a relationship, they’re going to need
to settle the voices in their head (which are acted out by real people in this
show) to make things work. —F.P.


THE BIG DOOR PRIZE


MAR. 29 ON APPLE TV+



In this new Apple TV+ series, a mysterious machine appears in a small town’s
local grocery store. That device will purportedly reveal the true potential and
destiny of all who approach it. It’s sort of like when you dump what you think
is a ton of quarters into a Coinstar, only to find out you were holding onto
$17’s worth of change. Anyone who has read M.O. Walsh’s original novel knows
that The Big Door Prize promises to reveal much more wild, hilariously
existential possibilities than the contents of an old piggy bank. —Coleman
Spilde


MURDERY MYSTERY 2


MAR. 31 ON NETFLIX



Well, you just solved one puzzle: This is, indeed, the sequel to Murder Mystery.
You’re off to a great start! The follow-up to 2019’s hit Netflix original
reunites stars Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler, who have spring-boarded from
their first international homicide snafu into becoming full blown private eyes.
When a mutual friend of the couple goes missing, they will have to secure their
detective hats once again to solve the crime in this comedy of errors, or risk
going belly-up in the cutthroat world of espionage. —C.S.


RYE LANE


MAR. 31 ON HULU



Rye Lane premiered at Sundance earlier this year, winning over critics with its
two lead stars’ (Vivian Oparah and Industry’s David Jonsson) performances.
Coming in at under 90 minutes-long, the romantic comedy flies by, as an
unexpected duo meets in a gallery, gossips about the struggles of their personal
lives, and tears their exes’ lives apart. The real question: Will there be a
second date? —F.P.


MO’NIQUE: MY NAME IS MO’NIQUE


APR. 4 ON NETFLIX



This has been a long time coming. Oscar-winning actress and comedian Mo’Nique is
finally coming to Netflix for her first standup special for the streamer. When
the special was announced last summer, it came as a pleasant surprise. Mo’Nique
had filed a lawsuit against Netflix in 2019, accusing the company of racial and
gender discrimination over their opening offer for her standup contract. That
suit was settled shortly before news of the special’s production broke, and
finally, the legendary comedian will be coming to our living rooms in April with
material she “thought she would take to her grave.” Sounds like a pretty juicy
set you won’t want to miss! —C.S.


SCHMIGADOON! (SEASON 2)


APR. 5 ON APPLE TV+

For an exact cross section of pop-culture fans, Schmigadoon!’s first season was
a dream too perfect to even dare to dream: Some of the industry’s most talented
comedy stars (Cecily Strong, Keegan-Michael Key, Martin Short), several Broadway
icons (Aaron Tveit, Ann Harada), and titans of both worlds (Kristin Chenoweth,
Alan Cumming) starred in a series about hikers who stumble upon a magical town
where everyone acts like they’re in a Golden Age Broadway musical, complete with
original tunes and spectacular production numbers. Season 2 applies the
treatment to Schmicago, set in the world of ’60s and ’70s musicals, like the
Kander & Ebb hit. The potential of the inevitable “All That Jazz” homage alone
has us excited. —Kevin Fallon


BEEF


APR. 6 ON NETFLIX

When a road-rage incident incites a feud between Danny (Steven Yeun), a
contractor whose business is in flux, and Amy (Ali Wong), a rich entrepreneur,
the two opposites become consumed by their interaction. Before long, their
dynamic threatens to undo both of their lives in dark but devilishly funny ways.
A24 is producing the series, so fans who gravitate toward the distinct style of
the company’s projects will certainly be gripped when the series premieres this
April. —C.S.


GREASE: RISE OF THE PINK LADIES


APR. 6 ON PARAMOUNT+



Grease has been the word for seven decades, and it shows no signs of stopping.
Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies takes place at Rydell High School, four years
before Rizzo, Frenchie, and Marty ruled the school. It’s an origin story for the
pink jacket-wearing divas, charting how a group of outcasts dared to have fun on
their own terms, shaking up the straight-laced community and inciting a moral
panic. And, yes, it will be a musical series. You can’t have Grease without it.
—K.F.


SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE (SEASON 2)


APR. 23 ON HBO



We apologize for every angry, cynical thought we’ve had about the state of the
entertainment industry, because the return of Somebody Somewhere this spring
absolves every maddening, boneheaded programming decision networks and streamers
have made. Bridget Everett’s gem of a TV series is a big-hearted portrait of a
woman trying to figure out what in life makes her happy, while also wondering if
it’s too late for that. A sensational supporting performance from Jeff Hiller as
her best friend only adds to the excitement for the show’s return. —K.F.


CAROL BURNETT: 90 YEARS OF LAUGHTER AND LOVE


APR. 26 ON NBC

One of TV’s greatest comedy icons and biggest trailblazers is getting the
celebration she deserves. In honor of Carol Burnett’s 90th birthday, NBC is
throwing a TV special that includes musical tributes from Kristin Chenoweth,
Bernadette Peters, and Katy Perry, and special appearances from a star-studded
list of celebrities that includes Lily Tomlin, Kristin Wiig, Cher, Julie
Andrews, and more. Without a doubt, we’ll be so glad we had this time together.
—K.F.


THE LAST LATE LATE SHOW


APR. 27 ON CBS

James Corden’s nine-season, 1,000+-episode run as host of The Late Late Show has
been a wild ride. Embracing the late-night variety show format, regular sketches
like Carpool Karaoke and Crosswalk Musical became cultural phenomena—even if
Corden’s omnipresence in the zeitgeist eventually grated on some critics.
Nonetheless, we’ll all remember how delighted we were the first time we saw
Adele sitting in the passenger seat rapping Nicki Minaj’s verse from “Monster.”
—K.F.


THE AFTERPARTY (SEASON 2)


APR. 28 ON APPLE TV+

Season 2 of the Apple TV+ murder mystery series reunites us with these high
school reunion attendees, whose chaotic post-reunion soirée kicked off this
Rashoman-style story. But don’t expect them to re-open the same case: Season 1
ended by naming their classmate’s killer. Instead, stars Zoë Chao and Sam
Richardson are among the cast members returning to solve a new mystery. Tiffany
Haddish will again play a detective, who’s determined to find out which wedding
guest killed the groom. Among this season’s suspects are Zach Woods (Silicon
Valley), Anna Konkle (PEN15), and Ken Jeong (Community). —A.F.


THE GREAT (SEASON 3)


MAY 12 ON HULU

Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult’s Hulu series The Great is just as sexy as it is
sardonic. After an extended gap between seasons, the show will return in May for
Season 3, promising plenty of hilarious royal infighting between Catherine the
Great and Emperor Peter III. No, that sound of metal rustling isn’t the swords
of Catherine’s consorts getting ready to swing; it’s the noise of teenagers
unsheathing their phones for another 10 episodes’ worth of fancams. —C.S.


FUBAR


MAY 25 ON NETFLIX



The Terminator himself is starring in a TV series for the first time in his long
career. As CIA operative Luke, Arnold Schwarzenegger will toe the line of action
hero and doting dad in this spy-comedy about keeping secrets. Not only is Luke
working for the most secretive government organization in the country, but his
daughter Emma (Monica Barbaro) is too. Awkward! Expect laughs, love, and at
least one “I’ll be back” joke. —A.F.

Keep obsessing! Sign up for the Daily Beast’s Obsessed newsletter and follow us
on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.




READ THIS LIST


‘THE LAST OF US’ TELLS A BLOOD-SOAKED COMING-OF-AGE STORY

SHANNON O’CONNOR


JONATHAN MAJORS IS ON A HOT STREAK (LITERALLY)

BARRY LEVITT


‘THE LAST OF US’ EPISODE 8 RECAP: DEATH BECOMES HER

SHANNON O’CONNOR


THE BIG ‘PERRY MASON’ MYSTERY: HOW’D THIS SHOW GO SO WRONG?

NICK SCHAGER


HOW THE ‘PERFECT MATCH’ POOL SCENE INCITED A FAN FRENZY

LAURA BRADLEY, FLETCHER PETERS








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