Stream On This Week: Taskmaster Returns, a Very Clever Sailor Moon Spoof, and an Anniversary Remembered

Welcome to the latest issue of Stream On, the weekly newsletter from Consequence that answers the eternally confounding question: What films and TV shows should you be watching? (Subscribe here!) We’re looking at all the new and recent releases from Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Prime Video, Paramount+, Peacock, HBO Max, and more for ideas — not to mention a Blast From the Past and streaming recommendations from this week’s special guest: The Paper star Chelsea Frei!This Week’s PicksTaskmaster Season 22 (YouTube)Taskmaster, sreenshot via YouTubeCreated by: Alex Horne Cast: Alex Horne, Greg Davies, Chloe Petts, Isy Suttie, Matt Lucas, Nina Conti, and Richard Ayoade Streaming on: YouTubeIf you’re not familiar with Taskmaster, despite past mentions of it in this newsletter: Do you enjoy funny British people having a grand ol’ time being messed with and also messing with each other? Ideally while performing a series of deliberately bizarre and ridiculous tasks? Well chin chin, bob’s your uncle, there are over 20 seasons of this very silly show available for you to watch on YouTube now!If you are familiar with Taskmaster, because you pay attention to this newsletter: New season, y’all! It started last week, even, so there are now two new episodes to enjoy if you hadn’t already watched! And this time they’ve got Matt Lucas and Richard Ayoade! Good times!The History of Sound (Film)The History of Sound (Mubi)Directed by: Oliver Hermanus Cast: Paul Mescal, Josh O’Connor, Chris Cooper Streaming on: HuluJosh O’Connor had a pretty busy 2025, between playing a hot priest in Wake Up Dead Man and a less-hot art thief in The Mastermind. But my favorite performance of his from last year was in this small period drama set in the early 20th century, about two men (played by O’Connor and Paul Mescal) who hike into the wilds of America to record folk music on wax cylinders. There’s a melancholy queer love story here, as you might have guessed from that set-up, but it’s also a really beautiful exploration of the impact music had on daily life over a hundred years ago, and how these things endure.Crew Girl (TV)Crew Girl (Netflix)Developed by: Vivian Lin, Morwyn Brebner Cast: Miku Martineau, Sam Braun, Kyle Clark, Thomas Cadrot, Jessica Paré, Connor Paton Streaming on: NetflixThere’s something soothing about watching a young adult series like Crew Girl, where the vast majority of plot developments, even lines of dialogue, can be predicted a split second before they happen — with just enough clever twists on the format to keep things interesting. Teagan plays a teenager who’s just been pulled from her old life and forced to attend a new snooty prep school in a small town; unfortunately, Teagan’s a skilled rower whose new school doesn’t have a girls program, meaning that she has to find a place for herself on the boys’ team if she wants to get back out on the water. Would you believe that there are at least two hot boys who Teagan is sparring with but also may be kissing before season’s end? And a bitchy mean girl determined to ruin Teagan’s reputation? With shows like this, the pleasure is found in both the familiar and the unfamiliar tweaks to the formula. For one thing, get read to learn a lot about crew! Also, Megan Draper from Mad Men is the mom!Mother Mary (Film)Mother Mary (A24)Directed by: David Lowery Cast: Anne Hathaway, Michaela Coel Streaming on: HBO MaxDavid Lowery’s odd little musical drama was the official kickoff of the Year of Anne Hathaway, starring this year’s busiest movie star as a Lady Gaga-esque diva in desperate need of a new dress from her former best friend (Michaela Coel), a brilliant designer responsible for Mother Mary’s signature looks. The whole movie is basically just Hathaway and Coel sparring with each other over their ruined collaboration, interspersed with some performance scenes that offer some pretty solid proof that if Hathaway wanted a pop career, she could pull it off. (Honestly, the original songs do slap.) I did find parts of it a little frustrating, I confess (when I want a new dress I just go to a store) but the acting is incredible, with a bit of a fascinating ghost story to boot.Blast From the PastThe home screens of streaming services are always packed with the latest new releases, but we don’t spend enough time appreciating how much good library content is streaming across all of these platforms. Each week, Stream On will spotlight one less-than-new favorite (must pre-date the founding of Consequence, so 15 years or older) that deserves attention from modern-day eyes.Zoolander (Film)Zoolander (Paramount)Directed by: Ben Stiller Cast: Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Will Ferrell, Christine Taylor, Milla Jovovich, Jerry Stiller, Jon Voight Streaming on: Paramount+, KanopyThis newsletter is being published on the 25th anniversary of a pretty crappy day for America, a day those over a certain age will always have stamped into their minds. The weeks following that day, in my memory, are a little foggier, except for the grey misery of news reports attempting to understand not only what had happened, but what the aftermath would be for the whole world. For a while, it felt like nothing would ever be funny again. Then, on Sept. 28th, I sat in a movie theater and watched Derek Zoolander and his fellow models go out for orange mocha Frappuccinos, and I laughed harder than I’d ever laughed in my life.Zoolander still holds up really well, its unapologetic silliness enduring despite an unfortunate cameo from a certain president, a few instances of humor that haven’t aged great, and a sequel that’s best not discussed. It’s a movie that didn’t just showcase the comedic talents of nascent stars like Owen Wilson and Will Ferrell, but gave folks like Milla Jovovich, Jon Voight, David Bowie, and David Duchovny the opportunity to prove their own comedy skills. And yes, it’s delightful to see baby Alexander Skarsgård as one of Derek’s model besties. It’s not a perfect movie, but it’s a movie I can always trust to make me smile, no matter how bleak the world may seem. Which sometimes feels like the whole dang point of all of this.A Special Guest Recommends!Liz isn’t the only person in the world capable of suggesting stuff for people to watch… So each week, Stream On will now feature picks from a special guest! Said special guest could be literally anyone from the world of entertainment — actors, writers, directors, musicians, or anyone else Liz thinks might be watching something interesting.This Week: Chelsea Frei!The Paper (Peacock) and Breakdown (Paramount)Who Are They? Peacock’s don’t-call-it-a-spinoff-of-The Office comedy series The Paper has just returned with its second season, which amongst other storylines continues to advance the sweet little romance between Ned (Domhnall Gleeson) and Mare, played by our very special guest! Prior to The Paper, Chelsea Frei had a variety of roles in shows like The Last O.G., Shrill, The Cleaning Lady, Dollface, and Poker Face; on her new show, she brings a really compelling grounded energy as a military vet who becomes genuinely inspired by Ned’s leadership.What Do They Recommend? Chelsea came up with two fantastic movie recommendations for this week..Breakdown (1997, MGM+) starring Kurt Russell. This has been a winning suggestion I’ve given to everyone from my sister who exclusively watches TikToks to my parents who can never agree on what to watch — a thriller with infinite twists and turns. It’ll keep everyone engaged! And Kurt Russell is heaven.Birth/Rebirth (2023, AMC+, Kanopy, Shudder): A psychological thriller where I genuinely had NO idea what was going to happen next. And a fantastic, daring, at times hilarious performance from Marin Ireland. I feel like this movie didn’t get the love it deserved, and I’d say if you are ever looking for something filled with tension, blood, and wild twists, pop it on. Not for those who are squeamish.Thank you so much to Chelsea for these picks! The Paper Season 2 is streaming now on Peacock.One Last One Before BedFinally, let’s spotlight a movie or TV show that’s not only great, but won’t take up too much of your time: Think of this section as the answer to the question “What’s something I can watch before hitting the hay, that won’t keep me up too late?” The only rule is that it has to be less than 95 minutes if it’s a movie, or less than 30 minutes an episode if it’s a TV show. Otherwise, sky’s the limit!Pretty Pretty Please I Don’t Want to be a Magical Girl (TV)Pretty Pretty Please I Don’t Want to be a Magical Girl, screenshot via YouTubeCreated by: Kiana Khansmith Cast: Anairis Quiñones, Bennett Abara, Christine Marie Cabanos, Aleks Le, Shara Kirby, Michele Knotz, Marieve Herington Streaming on: YouTubeThis 10-minute animated pilot parodies Sailor Moon and other shows of its genre in a really cute and loving way, the kind of spoof that works because it’s so full of affection for the subject matter. Created by indie artist/Disney animation alum Kiana Khansmith, the first episode was originally released in 2025 as an animatic, but has since been fully animated by the studios Mercury Filmworks and Nani Moco — it looks fantastic in its final form, and if there’s any justice in this world, a full series will evolve from this.We’ll be back next week with more picks — in the meantime, stay safe out there, or better yet stay inside, where it’s definitely safe, and there’s so much film and TV to watch. Be sure to subscribe to the newsletter!