It’s always sad to say goodbye to summer, but we all get through it, year after year, in part because it means we’re shifting into such a satisfying season. The autumn equinox, coming on Monday, will announce the true arrival of fall, and already the sensory gifts of this time of year are starting to creep into our every day: the sound of crunching leaves underfoot, the feel of a soft sweater amid a cool breeze, and, of course, the familiar tastes of pumpkin and cinnamon, back again at last.
Go ahead and let your weekend viewing be suffused with sweet autumnal vibes, too. Queue up a pair of movies based on classic characters that embody the lightly spooky magic in the air (before it gets turned all the way up next month), get sporty with a gridiron-set stream, or devote yourself to a cherished dramedy that has become synonymous with the season. Savor the moment now, because winter is already waiting in the wings.
But first, what’s new on Netflix?
New York City’s hottest club. That would be Black Rabbit, a restaurant and VIP lounge run by a mismatched pair of brothers (Jude Law and Jason Bateman) in the new crime drama series from creators Zach Baylin and Kate Susman. Not on the list? Try visiting Haunted Hotel. The new adult animated series — a horror comedy created by Rick and Morty writer Matt Roller — follows a woman running a haunted hotel with some help from her brother, who is also one of its ghosts. Don’t want to make that booking? Pull up a seat at the table of Next Gen Chef. Hosted by Olivia Culpo, the new reality competition series features 21 talented young chefs competing at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America for a substantial cash prize. The first seven episodes are now streaming, and the finale will be served on Wednesday.
If you have just a night …
Take the case — in fact, take two. Timeless though he is, Sherlock Holmes is perhaps best suited for this particular time of year, exemplifying the sense of mystery that characterizes the season and evoking images of warm woolen capes and rainy London streets. So let Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic creation solve your streaming dilemmas by calling up Guy Ritchie’s 2009 action mystery Sherlock Holmes, in which the famed detective is played by Robert Downey Jr. opposite Jude Law as Dr. Watson. For a different spin on the Holmesian mythology, pair it with Harry Bradbeer’s Enola Holmes (2020), based on Nancy Springer’s novel series imagining the adventures of Holmes’ little sister Enola, played by Millie Bobby Brown (with Henry Cavill as Sherlock).
