This week we’ve got the return of one of Marvel’s most beloved antiheroes, a trip back to a familiar ranching family and, of course, one of storytellers’ favorite settings for wild crime stories: Miami, Florida.
First up is MIA on Peacock, the newest crime thriller from Bill Dubuque, one of the creators behind Ozark, the Netflix hit starring Jason Bateman.
The series lives in a morally gray world filled with cartel violence, politics, family trauma and revenge, all set against the neon backdrop of Miami. At the center is Etta Tiger Jonesy, played by Shannon Gisela, a young woman from the Florida Keys whose family’s drug-running operation is destroyed in a cartel attack. She heads into Miami’s criminal underworld looking for the people responsible.
MIA balances style and substance with a little soap opera energy mixed into the crime thriller formula. Think Ozark meets Miami Vice. It streams now on Peacock.
Streaming this Friday on Paramount+ is Dutton Ranch, starring Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser, Jai Courtney and Natalie Alyn Lind. Based on characters created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson, the series serves as both a sequel and spinoff to Yellowstone, with Reilly and Hauser reprising their roles as Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler.
Even though Sheridan did not create or write this installment, it still carries the tone of his universe. The series continues the story of the Dutton family and their ranch legacy after the original Yellowstone finale, which many felt ended prematurely following the fallout involving Kevin Costner’s John Dutton.
What continues to make these shows work is the balance between rugged ranch life and complicated family dynamics, especially through strong female characters. That’s why Kelly Reilly and Natalie Alyn Lind stand out as performances to watch.
And finally, Marvel Studios continues leaning into more grounded storytelling with The Punisher: One Last Kill on Disney+. Following Daredevil: Born Again and ahead of projects like Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday, Marvel appears focused on more mature and character-driven stories.
The special follows Frank Castle trying to move beyond revenge before violence pulls him back in. Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, the project also helps bridge the gap between Daredevil: Born Again and Marvel’s next phase of street-level stories.
And at this point, Jon Bernthal feels like the definitive Punisher. No disrespect to Dolph Lundgren or Thomas Jane, but Bernthal brings a realism and intensity to Frank Castle that fits perfectly with this darker corner of the MCU.
