By Ruth Young

My favourite part about writing this watch list is getting a look ahead at what this month’s streaming services have on offer and April certainly does not disappoint. It looks like its going to be a great month for new documentaries, unscripted series that hit you in the feels and some exciting new thrillers to keep you guessing. On the list: the new Apple TV+ documentary Girls State, the fourth season of We’re Here on Crave, CBC Gem’s newest original series Get Up, Aisha and Disney+’s new spy thriller The Veil. Read on for the full list of what we’re recommending on Apple TV+, CBC Gem, Crave, Disney+, Hayu, Netflix Canada and Prime Video in April 2024.

Apple TV+

Loot, Season 2 (Premieres April 3)

It's been a year since Molly Wells (Maya Rudolph) has settled her messy divorce from billionare John Novak (Adam Scott). But she isn't sitting on her laurels. Wells enjoys life as a newly single woman by focusing on herself and what makes her tick as she explores new relationships and thrives as the head of her charitable organization, the Wells Foundation. She doesn't need anyone but assistant Nicholas (Joel Kim Booster) by her side, at least for the moment — as long as he keeps bringing her drinks and green smoothies, of course. Meanwhile, she still has to figure out a way to give away the vast amount of cash she has. 

Sugar (Premieres April 5)

John Sugar (Colin Farrell) is a private investigator who's hot on the trail of a missing girl named Olivia, the granddaughter of a legendary Hollywood producer. While Sugar is on the case, however, he ends up unraveling more than just the secrets behind Olivia's whereabouts. He also has to grapple with the Siegel family's deepest darkest secrets. And as it turns out, the Siegel family doesn't just want Olivia back, but it wants to keep all its dirty laundry buried, right where it belongs. In this noir detective series, nothing is quite what it seems. 

Girls State (Premieres April 5)

The future is female, and we're seeing it with all the girls who are coming of age during one of the most politically charged times in the history of American democracy. This documentary follows a set of aspiring young female leaders from different walks of life in Missouri as they work on their own unique experiment to build a government from scratch using what they know and believe — hopefully, better than the one already in place.

Franklin (Premieres April 12)

We all know Benjamin Franklin and what he did for our country in December 1776. The man helped to bring us one of the most important conveniences in our modern world: electricity. But in this historical drama, the Founding Father's passion for bringing the commodity to Americans everywhere is put to the test with a clandestine mission he must undertake in France. 

The Big Door Prize, Season 2 (Premieres April 24)

The bizarre mystery continues in "The Big Door Prize," with the second season promising to bring some much-needed answers. The dramedy is set in a small town where a strange machine appears one day that can magically show everyone their true potential in life. When the townsfolk see what they're capable of, it upends relationships, changes their careers, and forces them to challenge what they've long held dear, all in the name of a better life for each of them — but at what cost?

CBC Gem

Crime Scene Kitchen, Season 2 (Premieres April 3)

Joel McHale returns to the scene of the tasty crime with baking competition series Crime Scene Kitchen, a culinary guessing game in which bakers are tasked with decoding what type of dessert was made, when all that’s left are the crumbs, flour trails and a few elusive clues. They must then recreate the recipe for celebrity judges, chef Curtis Stone and cake artist Yolanda Gampp, who will determine how closely their sweet treat matches the missing dessert – and how good it tastes! New this season, the bakers are divided into two groups – self-taught and classically trained – and the rivalries are fierce!

Aline (Premieres April 5)

Quebec, the 60s. Sylvette and Anglomard welcome their 14th child, Aline. In this modest family, music is king. When a producer discovers Aline and her golden voice, he has only one idea in mind: to make her the greatest singer in the world. Supported by her family, guided by Guy Claude’s experience and budding love for her, Aline will create an extraordinary destiny for herself. Official Selection at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival where it had its world premiere, and winner of Best Actress (Valérie Lemercier) and nominated for nine awards at the 2022 César Awards.

Younger, Season 7 (Premieres April 7)

In the final season, Liza's (Sutton Foster, Bunheads) personal life is on shaky ground as she tries to stay true to herself. After a setback at work, Kelsey (Hilary Duff, How I Met Your Father) doubts her career decisions and discovers a new creative outlet, and Maggie (Debi Mazar, Entourage) gets cancelled.

Get Up, Aisha (Premieres April 10)

From show creators Rabiya Mansoor, Nisha Khan and Marushka Jessica Almeida comes a new compelling dramedy series following the intricate life of Aisha Rehman (Sana Asad, The Boys, Montreal Girls), a Pakistani-Canadian student who grapples with her compulsive need for control as she deals with depression. Get Up, Aisha follows Aisha’s story as she is diagnosed with depression after living through a suicide attempt and applies a checklist approach to curing the incurable.

The Biggest Little Farm (Premieres April 10)

The successes and failures of a couple determined to live in harmony with nature on a farm outside of LA are lovingly chronicled by filmmaking farmer John Chester, in this inspiring documentary. Winner of Best Documentary Feature at the 2019 Palm Springs International Film Festival and Best Feature Documentary and Feature Length Film at the Boulder International Film Festival.

Jamie’s Comfort Food (Premieres April 12)

Jamie's brand new six-part Comfort Food series is all about those simple, delightful guilty pleasures we all love. It celebrates nostalgic memories, traditions, and childhood favourites. It embraces the ritual of cooking and dishes that will pick you up and raise your spirits.

Masters of Sex, Season 4 (Premieres April 19)

As the late ’60s become the early ’70s, the world and our characters are all about revolution. Bras are burning, sex is everywhere, and William Masters (Michael Sheen, The Queen, Midnight in Paris) and Virginia Johnson (Lizzy Caplan, Fleishman is in Trouble, Party Down) reap the benefits and the pressures of the revolution they’ve let loose in the world. Personally, they begin the season at odds and burdened by lies, only to slowly switch roles in both their work and the bedroom, as they slowly, painstakingly, and surprisingly find their way back to one another.

After (Après) (Premieres March 13)

After recounts the aftermath of a tragic event that hit hard the villagers of Lac Sabin, a small town in the Upper Laurentians. Our story begins within seconds of the fatal event and depicts the physical, psychological and social consequences of this tragedy that no one could have foreseen or avoided. Nothing will ever be the same in this quiet village anymore. Everyone now has to face fear, mourning, incomprehension. We follow the victims, the survivors and the rest of the community in their first year following this event as they try to understand what really happened and why. Starring Karine Vanasse (Polytechnique, Plan B) David Boutin (Riders, The Broken Line) and Madeleine Péloquin (True North, Pour l’amour de Dieu).

A Small Fortune (Premieres April 26)

When a desperate man finds a bag of lost money off the shores of Prince Edward Island, his decision to keep it from authorities is complicated after a mysterious body washes ashore. Starring Stephen Oates (Under the Weather, A Fire in the Cold Season), Liane Balaban (Definitely, Maybe, One Week) and Andrea Bang (Kim’s Convenience, A Million Little Things).

Race Against the Tide, Season 4 (Premieres April 28)

Race Against the Tide season 4 brings 10 world-class sand sculpting teams to the shores of the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick to test their skills in the toughest outdoor art competition on the planet. They’ll dig, pound, carve and sculpt to create extraordinary works of art – entirely made from sand! But here, they must battle each other and Mother Nature. Each week, the artists will have just six hours to create their epic sand sculptures, before the highest tide in the world rips them back out to sea. Ultimately, only one team will reign supreme and walk away with the grand prize of $10,000. Canadian music icon Maestro Fresh Wes returns to host, alongside expert judges, five-time World Champion Karen Fralich and Master Sculptor Rusty Croft.

Canada’s Ultimate Challenge, Season 2 (Premieres April 28)

The original reality competition format that transforms Canada into a giant obstacle course returns for a second season. Hosted by Canadian broadcaster Brandon Gonez, season two features 20 fierce competitors divided into five teams of four taking on spectacular challenges that put their physical and mental skills to the test. Plenty of unpredictable twists and turns stun the Players and will keep audiences on the edge of their seats. Beginning in St. John’s, NL and stopping in Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC, Ottawa, ON, Hamilton, ON, Canmore, AB, Revelstoke, BC and Vancouver Island, each episode takes place at an awe-inspiring location that showcases the beauty and grandeur of Canada.

Crave Canada

The Synanon Fix (Premieres April 1)

From Rory Kennedy and Mark Bailey, this four-part documentary series explores the rise and fall of a groundbreaking rehabilitation program that over the decades transformed into a cult-like movement.

Mary & George (Premieres April 5)

Starring Academy Award winner Jullianne Moore, and based on the extraordinary true story of the Countess of Buckingham, Mary Villiers, Mary & George reveals how Villiers moulded her son to seduce King James I and become his all-powerful lover.

Alex Edelman: Just For Us (Premieres April 6)

After an acclaimed, extended run on Broadway, comedian Alex Edelman brings his solo show Just For Us to the screen. In the wake of a string of anti-Semitic threats pointed in his direction online, Edelman decides to go straight to the source, specifically Queens, where he covertly attends a meeting of white nationalists, and comes face-to-face with the people behind the keyboards. What happens next forms the backbone of the shockingly relevant, uttlery hilarious, timely, and only moderately perspirant stories that comprise Just For Us.

Brandy Hellville & The Cult of Fast Fashion (Premieres April 9)

Brandy Melville has developed a cult-like following despite its controversial “one size fits most” tagline and some unsavory practices. But hiding behind the shiny Instagram façade is a shockingly toxic world, and a broader reflection of the global fast fashion industry, an exploitative business that pollutes the planet for the sake of fashion.

The Sympathizer (Premieres April 14)

The espionage thriller and cross-culture satire follows the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War, and his new life as a refugee in Los Angeles, where he learns that his spying days aren’t over.

Conan O’Brien Must Go (Premieres April 18)

The new four-part Max Original travel series, Conan O’Brien Must Go, features the Emmy-winning host visiting new friends he’s met through his podcast, “Conan O’Brien Needs a Fan,” where he dives deep with listeners from around the world. Making stops in Norway, Thailand, Argentina, and Ireland, O’Brien surprises some of his most memorable fans while also taking in local culture, cuisine, and sights.

We’re All Gonna Die (Even Jay Baruchel), Season 2 (Premieres April 19)

Canadian actor, director, and author Jay Baruchel is once again joined by top scientists, activists, and experts to explore the global crises that could cause civilization’s demise, all while trying to find the solutions and technological innovations to potentially save the world. This season Baruchel continues his journey, exploring artificial intelligence, coronal mass ejections, insect die-offs, nanotechnology, the simulation theory, and his own personal fear of death.

The Jinx - Part Two (Premieres April 21)

In The Jinx - Part Two, the filmmakers continue their investigation for the next eight years, uncovering hidden material, Durst’s prison calls, and interviews with witnesses who had not come forward until now.

We’re Here, Season 2 (Premieres April 26)

The Emmy, Peabody, and GLAAD award-winning unscripted series We’re Here returns for its six-episode fourth season, starring renowned drag queens, Sasha Velour, Priyanka, Jaida Essence Hall, and Latrice Royale, as they continue the show’s mission of spreading love and connection through the art of drag across small-town America. This season, the queens work with participants in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and Tulsa, Oklahoma, as well as in surrounding towns, taking an in-depth, immersive look at recent anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the United States, and the effect it has had on the community.

Anyone But You (Premieres April 26)

In the edgy comedy Anyone But You, Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell) look like the perfect couple, but after an amazing first date something happens that turns their fiery hot attraction ice cold — until they find themselves unexpectedly thrust together at a destination wedding in Australia. So they do what any two mature adults would do: pretend to be a couple.

Disney+ Canada

Vanderpump Villa (Premieres April 1)

At a French château, staff members strive to provide luxurious, Vanderpump-curated experiences for guests while dealing with rivalries, romances and misadventures that come from living and working together 24/7.

Wish (Premieres April 3)

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Wish is a captivating, animated musical-comedy about the magical kingdom of Rosas, where Asha, a sharp-witted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force—a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, Asha and Star confront a most formidable foe—the ruler of Rosas, King Magnifico—to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects

UFO Factory (Premieres April 3)

When the government threatens to strip them of their land, a group of desperate elders contact a forty-year-old man who proposes to attract tourists to save the town by making the world believe that a UFO has crashed into their village.

Blood Free (Premieres April 10)

It is year 2025. Instead of slaughtering animals for their meat, BF, a biotechnology company, uses their technology to provide the world with cultured meat. Yun Jayu is a businesswoman who has successfully transformed BF into a global company. However, those who are after her and her company continue to grow in number, and she is repeatedly subjected to death threats and terrorism. As a result, BF hires Woo Chaewoon, a former commissioned officer, to protect her. Suspiciously enough, Chaewoon does everything Jayu needs with perfect timing. Could he truly be just a bodyguard? Secrets and suspicions grow within BF and among those involved. What kinds of secrets do they have, and what are their motives?

The Greatest Hits (Premieres April 12)

Harriet (Lucy Boynton) finds art imitating life when she discovers certain songs can transport her back in time – literally. While she relives the past through romantic memories of her former boyfriend (David Corenswet), her time travelling collides with a burgeoning new love interest in the present (Justin H. Min). As she takes her journey through the hypnotic connection between music and memory, she wonders – even if she could change the past, should she?

We Were the Lucky Ones (Premieres April 17)

A Jewish family is determined to survive and reunite after being separated in World War II.

Tigers (Premieres April 22)

Disneynature’s Tiger will launch on Disney+ this Earth Day—exactly 15 years after the label’s first release, Earth. Priyanka Chopra Jonas will narrate the compelling story, which lifts the veil on our planet’s most revered and charismatic animal, inviting viewers to journey alongside Ambar, a young tigress raising her cubs in the fabled forests of India.

Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story (Premieres April 26)

 Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story is a four-part, all access docuseries chronicling the epic past and uncertain future of one of the most recognizable bands in the world and its front-man Jon Bon Jovi. A 40-year odyssey of rock and roll idolatry on the precipice as a vocal injury threatens to bring everything to a screeching halt. 

The Veil (Premieres April 30)

The Veil is an international spy thriller series that explores the surprising and fraught relationship between two women who play a deadly game of truth and lies on the road from Istanbul to Paris and London. One woman has a secret, the other a mission to reveal it before thousands of lives are lost. In the shadows, mission controllers at the U.S. CIA and French DGSE must put differences aside, as difficult as it may seem to be, and work together to avert potential disaster before it’s too late.

Netflix Canada

The Magic Prank Show with Justin Willman (Premieres April 1)

Famed magician and comedian Justin Willman uses his extraordinary skills to pull off ambitious and hilarious pranks like you've never seen before. With his team of twisted professionals, Justin executes brain-bending experiences to help everyday folks blow people's minds and settle old scores.

Demetri Martin: Demetri Deconstructed (Premieres April 2)

From his thoughts on aggressively scented trash bags to desk jobs in hell, comedian Demetri Martin delivers a one-of-a-kind stand-up special.

Files of the Unexplained (Premieres April 3)

Eerie encounters, bizarre disappearances, haunting events and more perplexing phenomena are explored in this chilling investigative docuseries.

Ripley (Premieres March 4)

Tom Ripley, a grifter scraping by in early 1960s New York, is hired by a wealthy man to travel to Italy and convince his vagabond son to return home. Tom's acceptance of the job is the first step into a complex life of deceit, fraud and murder. The limited series drama is based on Patricia Highsmith’s bestselling Tom Ripley novels.

The Antisocial Network: Memes to Mayhem (Premieres April 5)

From Rickrolling to viral conspiracy theories, explore how an anonymous website evolved into a hub for real-world chaos in this documentary.

Scoop (Premieres April 5)

Inspired by real events, this fictional dramatization gives an insider account of how the women of Newsnight secured Prince Andrew’s infamous interview.

Neal Brennan: Crazy Good (Premieres April 9)

In his third Netflix original comedy special, Neal Brennan is feeling pretty great and he’s ready to let you know why. True to form, Neals brings his fresh point of view to hilarious topics ranging from crypto and millionaire mindsets, to his ever-evolving views on mental health and relationships.

Unlocked: A Jail Experiment (Premieres April 10)

At an Arkansas detention facility, a sheriff implements a radical social experiment to grant men who are incarcerated more agency in this reality series.

What Jennifer Did (Premieres April 10)

It was a violent crime that shook a quiet Canadian town: Mysterious intruders break into the home of Vietnamese immigrants, terrorize the family, and leave a traumatized daughter as the only witness. Neighbors and friends describe the family as hospitable, generous, and hard-working – how could they be targets? This feature-length documentary from director Jenny Popplewell (American Murder: The Family Next Door) uses police interrogation footage and testimony from those involved to unravel a web of complexities that no one saw coming.

A Journey (Premieres April 12)

Refusing treatment for her cancer, a woman goes on a road trip across Tasmania to check off items on her bucket list with her husband and best friend.

Jimmy Carr: Natural Born Killer (Premieres April 16)

Jimmy Carr refutes the idea that you can't joke about anything these days with his edgy takes on gun control, religion, cancel culture and consent.

The Circle, Season 6 (Premieres April 17)

Status and strategy collide in this social experiment and competition show where online players flirt, befriend and catfish their way toward the ultimate cash prize as top influencer.

Our Living World (Premieres April 17)

This stunning nature series narrated by Cate Blanchett explores the intelligence, resourcefulness and interconnectedness of life on our planet.

The Upshaws: Part 5 (Premieres April 18)

A new season of ups, downs and life changes has the Upshaws blessed — and stressed. But no matter what, it's still family first, last and always.

Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver (Premieres April 19)

The rebel warriors gear up for battle against the ruthless forces of the Motherworld as unbreakable bonds are forged, heroes emerge — and legends are made. A Zack Snyder film.

Fern Brady: Autistic Bikini Queen (Premieres April 22)

The irreverent Scottish comedian tackles big themes like death, decline and the disappointments of middle age in her stand-up special filmed in Bristol.

Hack Your Health: The Secrets of your Gut (Premieres April 26)

Delve into the digestive system with this lighthearted and informative documentary that demystifies the role gut health plays in our overall well-being.

Fiasco (Premieres April 30)

When disaster strikes the set of a first-time film director, a behind-the-scenes crew captures everything as mishaps, blackmail and sabotage ensue.

Prime Video

Musica (Premieres April 4)

A coming-of-age love story that follows an aspiring creator with synesthesia, who must come to terms with an uncertain future, while navigating the pressures of love, family, and his Brazilian culture in Newark, New Jersey.

How to Date Billy Walsh (Premieres April 5)

Follows a pair of childhood friends: Amelia and Archie. Archie has always kept his love for her a secret, but just as he builds up the courage to declare his feelings, Amelia falls for Billy Walsh, the new transfer student.

Fallout (Premieres April 11)

In a future, post-apocalyptic Los Angeles brought about by nuclear decimation, citizens must live in underground bunkers to protect themselves from radiation, mutants and bandits.

Going Home with Tyler Cameron (Premieres April 18)

Reality TV Star Tyler Cameron follows his dream of starting his own construction and home renovation company.

Puppy Love (Premieres April 18)

After a disastrous first date, Nicole and Max vow to lose each other's numbers until their dogs find a love match. Hilariously mismatched Nicole and Max are forced to become responsible co-parents, but end up finding love themselves.

THEM: The Scare, Season 2 (Premieres April 25)

Anthology horror series with varying characters and locations by season, featuring different aspects of the horror genre.

Luxe Listings Toronto (Premieres April 26)

One of the world's most competitive real estate markets. showcasing the city's multimillion-dollar listings and some of the best real estate professionals in the nation who influence and disrupt the market.

Sayen: Desert Road (Premieres April 26)

Sayen arrives in the Atacama Desert in search of a clue in his mission against Actaeon, the multinational organization responsible for the tragic loss of his family and the destruction of ecosystems throughout Chile.