BLACK WATCH: (8.14.26) ‘Diarra From Detroit,’ & More

The summer is absolutely sprinting by, but such is life. Besides being outside, thoroughly enjoying your time inside, while watching your television, is essential, too.

CassiusLife’s latest Black Watch includes another cold mystery in the D, a sleeper flick that turns the spotlight on representation in Hollywood, and more…

Whether it’s documentaries, cult classic shows, or movies newly introduced to your favorite streaming platform, we’re making sure your watch list features some of the brightest talents the culture has to offer.

Diarra From Detroit – Paramount+

Everything you’ve heard about Diarra From Detroit is true. The dark comedy was written by and stars Diarra Kilpatrick is set in Detroit and is guaranteed one of the most entertaining mystery crime shows you can ever watch. The Black excellence is dripping with stars like Phylicia Rashad and Morris Chestnut.

Although season 2 recently premiered, we highly suggest you binge-watch the first season. The plot is almost absurd  — Diarra seemingly gets ghosted, then proceeds to track down a child kidnapping victim through the Detroit underworld along with some close friends, including a gangster named “Danger” — but the superb writing, awesome casting and wild plot twists make for an incredible ride. This is very much a show for us, by us, if you get our drift.

The re-up is more of the same sauce with the added dopeness the great Glynn Turman (aka Dr. War from A Different World), Cliff “Method Man” Smith, Bookeem Woodbine and more. Did we mention that Kenya Barris is also an executive produder, as is Kilpatrick herself?

Watch Diarra From Detroit on Paramount+ —Alvin aqua Blanco

American Fiction – Tubi

American Fiction, the 2023 directorial debut of Cord Jefferson, zeroes in on Thelonious “Monk” Ellison, played by Jeffrey Wright, a college professor and writer living in Los Angeles. Ellison struggles as a writer financially despite his works receiving accolades among his fellow academics. After issues at the teaching helm blow over, Ellison heads back home to Boston to speak at a poorly attended seminar for his book, in stark contrast to writer Sintara Golden, played by Issa Rae, and her shamelessly stereotypical work echoing racist Black tropes, which proves more successful.

Ellison, out of frustration, hatches a fake character by the name of Stagg R. Leigh, and crafts a book that mocks all the Black stereotypes he’s railed against his whole life. Things turn for the left when Ellison’s real life clashes wildly with that of the character, and subsequent success, of Stagg R. Leigh.

The film stars Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, Sterling K. Brown, Leslie Uggams, Erika Alexander, and Leslie Uggams.

Watch American Fiction for free on Tubi, YouTube, and Pluto TV – D.L. Chandler

Friends from College – Netflix

Series and movies often depict kids in college or narrowly adjusting to post-grad, young adulthood as they navigate the real world. But Friends from College takes it a step further by chronicling how they stay close with folks after graduating… two decades later.

The Netflix original followed a group of New York City-based friends—all Harvard alums—in their 40s, still flailing through some of the messy decisions 20-somethings make. That includes sleeping with people close in proximity that they definitely shouldn’t and letting secrets simmer far too long. (That love affair within the group may or may not involve Ethan Turner, played by Keegan-Michael Key.) The show also stars Fred Savage, Cobie Smulders, and Annie Parisse.

It was canceled after two seasons, so the 16 half-hour episodes will fly by.

Stream Friends from College on Netflix. —Bruce Goodwin II