By Ishani Nath

Every month, Ishani Nath, pop culture expert, journalist and the most avid tv-watcher I have ever met, is sharing her top picks for new shows, movies and documentaries to stream on Apple TV, Netflix Canada, Amazon Prime Video, Crave and CBC Gem, plus the one older release she thinks you should check out. Here’s what she’s recommending this month.

Hi, hello, excuse me, but where the heck did January go? I don’t know about you but getting back into the swing of things this year has been more of the struggle than I anticipated. Sure, I bought a new 2021 agenda, and against my better judgement, I even made a few goals for the year. That was, it turns out, misguided considering I can’t even bring myself to take down our Christmas tree because she’s pretty and sparkly and time has no meaning. While my little and lofty aspirations came and went, the one thing that stayed consistent was my obsession with TV and movies—and oh boy, is there a lot to choose from right now.

The show I can't shut up about: Over the past year, I have watched more TV and movies than ever before—and that is saying a lot. But while my various streaming queues are filled with new titles, I've also been revisiting some of my favourites. There's a particular kind of comfort that comes with watching characters and stories that you already know, and love deeply (science says so too). For me, that meant rewatching both seasons of Michaela Coel's hilarious comedy series Chewing Gum, which is currently available on CBC Gem. Coel wrote and stars in the completely unique coming-of-age series based on her real-life experiences. The series won multiple awards, including a Royal Television Society Award for Breakthrough Artist where it was described as "a breakthrough in every direction." Each time I rewatch Chewing Gum, I notice new ways Coel defied convention with her characters, storylines and humour. It always makes me smile.

Honourable mention: Love Life on Crave. Think Someone Great meets Definitely, Maybe with some trademark Anna Kendrick quirk thrown in.

And here are some of the other titles I’m looking forward to.

Apple TV

Billie Eilish: The World's A Little Blurry (Premieres February 19)

Billie Eilish: The World's A Little Blurry tells the true coming-of-age story of the singer-songwriter and her rise to global superstardom. From award-winning filmmaker R.J. Cutler, the documentary offers a deeply intimate look at this extraordinary teenager's journey, at just 17 years old, navigating life on the road, on stage, and at home with her family, while writing, recording and releasing her debut album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?.

Netflix Canada

Tiffany Haddish Presents: They Ready: Season 2 (Premieres February 2)

Once again, Tiffany Haddish will introduce six of her favorite comedians to Netflix members around the world with a second season of the Emmy-nominated stand-up comedy series They Ready. This second season features Dean Edwards (Saturday Night Live), Kimberly Clark (Last Comic Standing), Tony Woods (Comedy Central Presents), Barbara Carlyle (Def Comedy Jam 25), Godfrey (Our Cartoon President) and Erin Jackson (Late Night with Seth Meyers).

Little Big Women (Premieres February 5)

A family grapples with the passing of their estranged father and the remnants of the life he led during his absence.

Malcolm & Marie (Premieres February 5)

As a filmmaker and his girlfriend return home from his movie premiere, smoldering tensions and painful revelations push them toward a romantic reckoning.

Strip Down, Rise Up (Premieres February 5)

In an effort to reclaim their bodies and lives, a group of women explore the intersections of movement and meaning in a powerful pole dancing program.

Nadiya Bakes (Premieres February 12)

Delightful cakes and heavenly breads pop from the oven as Nadiya Hussain returns to baking, her happy place, and spotlights creative kindred spirits.

To All The Boys: Always And Forever (Premieres February 12)

It started with an old love letter—and turned into a new romance. What does the future hold for Lara Jean and Peter?

Amazon Prime Video

I Care A Lot (Premieres February 19)

Poised with sharklike self-assurance, Marla Grayson (Academy Award® nominee Rosamund Pike) is a professional, court-appointed guardian for dozens of elderly wards whose assets she seizes and cunningly bilks through dubious but legal means. It’s a well-oiled racket that Marla and her business-partner and lover Fran (Eiza González) use with brutal efficiency on their latest “cherry,” Jennifer Peterson (two-time Academy Award® winner Dianne Wiest) — a wealthy retiree with no living heirs or family. But when their mark turns out to have an equally shady secret of her own and connections to a volatile gangster (Golden Globe winner Peter Dinklage), Marla is forced to level up in a game only predators can play — one that’s neither fair, nor square.

It’s A Sin, Season 1 (Premieres February 19)

Based in 1980s London England, the series follows a group of friends across a decade as they experience the joys and heartbreaks of young adulthood during the AIDS pandemic.

Crave

Fake Famous (Premieres February 2)

From first-time director and veteran journalist Nick Bilton, the new HBO documentary Fake Famous explores the industry of social media influencers through an innovative social experiment. The film’s journey into this world is driven by the casting of three people in Los Angeles who all have relatively small social followings and the attempt to grow them into famous influencers. By purchasing fake followers and an army of bots to “engage” with their social media, the newly made “influencers” discover both the wonders and costs of this unlikely, immersive lifestyle.

Black Art: In The Absence Of Light (Premieres February 9)

Firmly rooted in the history of the Black American experience, the HBO documentary Black Art: In The Absence Of Light is directed and produced by award-winning documentarian Sam Pollard (HBO’s Atlanta Missing And Murdered: The Lost Children). A vital and illuminating introduction to the work of some of the foremost African American visual artists working today, including Theaster Gates, Kerry James Marshall, Faith Ringgold, Amy Sherald, and Carrie Mae Weems, the film is a testament to the indelible contributions of Black American artists in today’s contemporary art world. Black Art: In The Absence Of Light is executive produced by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Thelma Golden serves as consulting producer.

Miss Juneteenth (Premieres February 17)

Miss Juneteeth follows a former beauty queen and single mother as she prepares her rebellious teenage daughter for the “Miss Juneteenth” pageant. The critically acclaimed film, written and directed by Channing Godfrey Peoples (Queen Sugar), stars Nicole Beharie (42), Kendrick Sampson (How To Get Away With Murder) and introduces Alexis Chikaeze.

Beartown (Premieres February 22)

Based on Fredrik Backman’s bestselling novel of the same name, Beartown explores the hopes that bring a small community together, the secrets that tear it apart, the courage it takes for an individual to go against the group, and the consequences of how we raise our children. With a small-town Swedish junior ice-hockey team having a shot at winning the national semi-finals, all of the dreams of the locals now rest on the shoulders of a handful of teenage boys. The drama series stars Ulf Stenberg (Love Me), Miriam Ingrid (Get Ready With Me) and Oliver Dufåker.

CBC Gem

Hip Hop: The Songs That Shook America (Premieres February 1)

From executive producers Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter, Shawn Gee and Alex Gibney, each episode of this new documentary series focuses on a groundbreaking song pivotal to the evolution of American music and culture.

How It Feels To Be Free (Premieres February 1)

How It Feels To Be Free tells the inspiring story of how six iconic African American female entertainers—Lena Horne, Abbey Lincoln, Nina Simone, Diahann Carroll, Cicely Tyson and Pam Grier—challenged an entertainment industry deeply complicit in perpetuating racist stereotypes, and transformed themselves and their audiences in the process.

Giants Of Africa (Premieres February 1)

A behind-the-scenes look at a basketball youth program set up in Africa by the General Manager of the NBA's Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri.

Pretty Hard Cases (Premieres February 3)

The action-packed series follows Guns and Gangs detective Sam Wazowski (Meredith MacNeill) and Drug Squad detective Kelly Duff (Adrienne C. Moore). By day, they are heroes in their particular way: skilled, tough, determined, and entertaining, fighting to do good in a broken system. But by night, they’re both grappling with loneliness, dysfunctional families, screwed-up love lives, and a sense that their professional ambitions may not be totally in line with their personal needs. Their friendship could help to balance each other out if only they didn’t drive one another utterly insane.

Love Me As I Am (Premieres February 12)

Relationship counselor Liz Dore works with neurologically diverse young people and people with developmental disabilities as they navigate the world of dating.

Belgravia, Season 1 (Premieres February 14)

When a long-buried secret is unearthed it threatens the reputation and inheritance of many, sending shockwaves through the sophisticated society of London’s Belgravia. Pride and loyalty will be tested, as lives hang in the balance. Named in The New York Times’ Best TV Shows of 2020 list.

Nancy’s Pro Tips (Premieres February 19)

Once a month Nancy Falaise closes the doors to her Montreal salon to lead a workshop for young Black girls eager to learn how to care for their natural hair. Falaise was featured in Nancy’s Workshop from CBC Short Docs, and this new four-part series shares haircare tips from her workshops that didn’t make the final cut.  

Video On Demand

Minari (Premieres February 26)

A Korean American family moves to an Arkansas farm in search of its own American dream. Amidst the challenges of this new life in the strange and rugged Ozarks, they discover the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home.