This week’s new shows have a whole lot of action – both on and off the sports field.
At the top of Watch With Us’ binge list is Prime Video’s Ride or Die, which asks the question, “What would happen if Thelma & Louise were ass-kicking action heroes?”
Apple TV continues its hot streak with Lucky, a crime thriller starring one of Hollywood’s best young actresses, Anya Taylor-Joy.
And sports fans are in for a treat this weekend with the debut of Will Ferrell’s new Netflix comedy, The Hawk, the return of the football docuseries Quarterback and the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.
‘Ride or Die’ Season 1 – Prime Video
Octavia Spencer and Hannah Waddingham in Ride or Die. Prime Video
How well do you know your best friend? That’s what former attorney and now discontented housewife Debbie (Octavia Spencer) asks herself when her BFF for decades, Judith (Hannah Waddingham), reveals a secret she’s been hiding from her for years – she’s really an elite assassin! With Debbie’s life in jeopardy, Judith has no choice but to protect her friend the only way she knows how – by killing lots of people with knives, guns and even her bare hands.
It sounds like a setup for an entertaining action-comedy film, but Ride or Die is an eight-episode series, with each episode clocking in at around 50 minutes. That’s the show’s primary weakness – this story is really better served in a tightly placed, 100-minute movie. But it’s still worth streaming for its two charismatic stars, who are given ample opportunities to showcase their skills in comedy, drama and punching guys in the face. Spencer and Waddingham are clearly having fun playing their complicated characters, and you’ll have fun watching them.
‘Lucky’ Season 1 – Apple TV
Anya Taylor-Joy in ‘Lucky’. Apple TV
Luciana “Lucky” Armstrong (Anya Taylor-Joy) usually lives up to her name – she’s been lucky conning people out of money. But when she gets involved in a multi-million dollar heist that goes horribly wrong, her luck runs out – fast. With her cohort and husband, Cary (Drew Starkey), missing, and a mob boss, Priscilla (Annette Bening), who wants the money Lucky owes her yesterday, Lucky will have to rely on her wits and, yes, a little luck, to make it out alive.
Apple TV has been killing it this summer, with the horror-comedy Widow’s Bay reaping multiple 2026 Emmy nominations and the thriller Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed becoming one of this season’s most binge-worthy shows. Lucky is just as good – and addictive – as those shows, with a never-better Taylor-Joy sinking her teeth into a role that’s part action heroine, part femme fatale and all fun.
The first two episodes are streaming now, with each subsequent episode released every Wednesday until the season finale on August 19.
‘Quarterback’ Season 3 – Netflix
Since its debut in 2023, Netflix’s Quarterback series has captivated both sports fans and viewers who’ve never touched a pigskin in their lives. The show transcends its sport by focusing on the complex humans underneath the helmets and shoulder pads. Season 1 featured Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins and Marcus Mariota, while season 2 showcased Joe Burrow, Jared Goff and Cousins.
In Quarterback season 3, four players are featured across its seven episodes, all streaming now on Netflix: Joe Flacco, Cam Ward, Baker Mayfield and Jayden Daniels. Some highlights include Ward’s journey as an NFL rookie during his debut season and football veteran Flacco navigating an unexpected trade from the Cleveland Brows to its rival team, the Cincinnati Bengals. In taking a look at the private lives of some of football’s biggest stars, Quarterback makes a compelling case that the more interesting drama happens off the field than on it.
‘The Hawk’ Season 1 – Netflix
Jimmy Tatro and Will Ferrell in The Hawk Netflix
Lonnie “The Hawk” Hawkins (Will Ferrell) is all washed up. A veteran golf pro, he’s won almost every major tournament except one – the U.S. Open. Before he strikes his last golf ball, Lonnie wants to win the one significant trophy that’s eluded him, but his mediocre golf swing, combined with an in-his-prime rival, Golden Fisk (Luke Wilson), stands in his way. Can Lonnie win one last time?
While The Hawk has received mixed reviews from critics, it’s still worth watching to see Ferrell as an athlete still lost in his own ego. He’s supported by a terrific cast of newcomers and vets, including fellow SNL alum Molly Shannon, future Gorilla Grodd Jimmy Tatro and stand-up comedian Fortune Feimster.
