Need some content to curl up with on the big screen, laptop, or tablet this weekend? Cheddar recommends the Netflix Waco docuseries, an Australian apocalyptic comedy, a critique of ultra-fandom, a classic action flick with Gerard Butler, and a pop culture podcast.
Waco: American Apocalypse - Netflix
Picked by Digital Editor Mike Nam
It's a bit of a heavy pick, but for some of us who can recall, the Waco, Texas standoff was a turning point for how we viewed the competency and motivations of U.S. law enforcement. In 1993, an ATF raid on the Branch Davidians cult's Waco compound took place in order to arrest leader David Koresh and confiscate a stockpile of weapons — but it all went wrong. A drawn out firefight turned into a raging fire that, in the end, took more than 80 lives, including many children. The botched assault incensed anti-government groups and brought intense scrutiny on then-Attorney General Janet Reno's office and the Clinton administration. The Netflix docuseries touts having never-before-seen footage from the tragedy as well.
Class of '07 - Amazon Prime Video
Picked by Senior Editor Dina Ross
A millennial beauty lives in solitude after making a complete fool of herself on national television. Then, the apocalypse happens. The same night as her 10-year high school reunion. From her all-girls alma mater. Everyone's at the reunion: the popular girl, the mean girl, the girly girl, the frenemies, the loner, and more. Once the show quickly sets the scene, we get to enjoy a much more relatable comedy about dredging up the good, bad, and ugly moments of our teenage years once we've become a full-fledged adult. I haven't made it through the full season yet, but I'm expecting the dark comedy to take an even darker turn soon and I'll be there with my Crocs on.
Swarm - Amazon Prime Video
Picked by Lawrence Banton
Stan culture can be unhinged — to say the least — and Donald Glover and Amazon Prime Video take a peek into what happens when an obsessed fan takes things just a little too far. Or, in this case, VERY far. Swarm is the story of a pop star-obsessed fan-turned-serial killer. While Beyoncé isn't explicitly named in this series, fans are drawing comparisons between the character Ni'Jah (played by Nirine S. Brown) and Bey. Damson Idris, Chloë Bailey, and Billie Eilish all make appearances in the horror-comedy limited series.
Plane - Amazon Prime Video
Picked by Reporter Alex Vuocolo
Plane, starring Gerard Butler and Mike Colter, is a meat-and-potatoes action film that may confuse movie fans who have gotten used to Hollywood's bloated epics and never-ending franchises. But here's the thing about meat and potatoes: They're delicious. Plane does wonders with a simple plot, and Butler is great as an indefatigable pilot just trying to keep his crew safe and get home to his daughter. If you're a fan of action films from the 1980s and '90s, let this classy throwback take you for a ride.
Podcast Pick:
Not Skinny But Not Fat - Apple Podcasts, Spotify
Picked by Keara O’Driscoll
If the names Tom, Ariana, Raquel, Hailey, and Selena have been used in your daily conversations over the last two weeks, then I might be speaking to the choir. But if not, this could also be the perfect podcast for keeping you updated with a weekly dose of all things entertainment and pop culture. Host Amanda Hirsch shares her commentary as an extension of her Instagram account, @notskinnybutnotfat, in this hilarious podcast.
