This month’s “F**k The Algorithm” column might be called the “MAGAt Tears” edition. That’s because some of the shows highlighted this month feature such right-wing bêtes noires as strong Black men, inhabitants of India starring in Bollywood films, scientific discovery, and lesbians. For those of us enjoying the recent Blue Tsunami, these films or shows plus a couple of restored punk films and the new film from the director of “Burning” makes this month’s offerings better than enduring a MAGAt relative ranting at Thanksgiving dinner.

And for those who hate the colonialist aspects of Thanksgiving, how about a nice anti-colonialist actioner championed by Quentin Tarantino?

20th Century Women (Tubi)--In 1979 Santa Barbara, 15-year-old Jamie Fields lives with his single mother Dorothea (Annette Bening), and their tenants photographer Abbie Porter (Greta Gerwig) and carpenter William (Billy Crudup). Jamie’s best friend is slightly older Julie Hamlin (Elle Fanning).  Dorothea wants Abbie and Julie to help her raise Jamie as she feels she’s disconnected to her son. Jamie resists at first, but circumstances will bring him much closer to these three women.  

The Banshees Of Inisherin (Hulu)--Martin McDonagh wrote and directed this acclaimed dark comedy set on a fictional Irish island in 1923. Why does fiddler Colm Doherty (Brendan Gleeson) suddenly choose to ignore his best friend and drinking buddy Padraic Suilleabhain (Colin Farrell)?  Colm claims he now finds his friend too dull and wants to do things he’ll be remembered for. Padraic’s attempts to make amends to end the feud only leads to unsavory secrets being revealed, punches being thrown, and self-mutilation.

Bass X Machina Season 1 (Netflix)--In a post-Civil War steampunk America, bounty hunter Bass Reeves (Brian Tyree Henry) heads out to track down a MIA inventor. Accompanying Reeves is ingenious aspiring inventor Dana Starr, the niece of the missing man. Yet the bounty hunter is ambivalent about technology thanks to being the subject of a horrifying experiment that gifted him the finger gun and the double-barreled cannon. And will such weaponry be enough against elemental benders and menacing automatons?  

The Body (Netflix)--In the new drama created by Quinn Shephard (“Under The Bridge”), homage is paid to such teen dramas as “Carrie” and “ Heavenly Creatures.” Trouble brews after a Catholic high school girl dance troupe’s initiation ceremony goes spectacularly sideways.  The badly behaved members of that troupe start getting prophetic visions, which sets off mass hysteria in their town.

The Devil’s Plan Season 3: Dead Again (Netflix)--In this Korean game show, the contestants live together and compete for a cash prize by playing brain games ranging from board games to deduction and strategy puzzles. Intelligence alone is not enough, as the players must also develop alliances and even bluff well. This year’s contestants include the winners from the show’s previous two seasons, rappers, survival show veterans, poker players, and first-time competitors.

Gail Daughtry And The Celebrity Sex Pass (Netflix)--If you were in a relationship, which celebrity would it be acceptable to sleep with without endangering the relationship?  In David Wain’s (“Wet Hot American Summer”) new comedy, Kansas hairdresser Gail Daughtry discovers her fiancé Tom abused the pass by sleeping with Jennifer Aniston.  So she heads to Los Angeles to have revenge sex with Jon Hamm. But doing so means first facing a villainess determined to destroy the world financial system and pitching a movie to Hamm.

Ghostlight (Kanopy)--Construction worker Dan Mueller’s stress level is through the roof.  His teenage daughter Daisy’s a walking discipline problem.  His son Brian committed suicide.  And he’s filing a wrongful death lawsuit against Christine, the late Brian’s ex-girlfriend.  Community theater actor Rita offers him an outlet for his stress: participation in her theater’s production of “Romeo And Juliet.” Dan’s decision to get involved in the play winds up being life-changing.

Green Fish (Netflix)--Lee Chang-Dong’s (“Burning”) debut film focuses on Mak-dong, whose return home to Seoul after finishing his military service becomes a bittersweet experience.  Economic hardship has split his family apart, and the only job the former military man can find is working for gang boss Bae Tae-gon.  Mak-dong finds a kindred spirit in nightclub singer Mi-ae. But she’s also the boss’ girlfriend, which is an instant recipe for big trouble. 

No Picnic (Criterion Channel)--Philip Hartman’s neo-noir comedy is set in New York City’s East Village around 1985 (read: when the area was still cool).  Central character Macabee Cohn used to be lead singer of Three-Legged Dog, but he’s now reduced to being a jukebox repairman.  When he falls for a mysterious woman in a striped dress, his quest to find her results in encounters with street poets, punkabillies, and other reminders of his unsavory past.  Features appearances by Richard Hell, Steve Buscemi, and Luis Guzman.

Possible Love (Netflix)--Two years after the cops violently crushed a strike by Ho-seok’s union, the former welder is attending the funeral of a union brother who committed suicide.  There, he and wife Mi-ok meet ambitious documentarian Ye-ji and wealthy husband Sang-woo.  The filmmaker is there to work on a new project about the “invisible laborer,” and her attention is soon drawn to Mi-ok and Ho-seok.  Ye-ji’s desire to interview the reluctant Ho-seok about the strike slowly leads to the lives of both couples being intertwined.  Directed by Lee Chang-Dong (“Burning”). 

Raanjhanaa (Netflix)--When the Brahmin Kundan (Dhanush) falls in love with the Muslim Zoya, he hopes to eventually marry her.  But when Zoya returns from university, she’s in a relationship with student leader Akram Zaidi.  Kundan promises to convince Zoya’s family to let her marry Akram and to marry someone else and forget about her.  However, what the Brahmin does with his discovery of Akram’s dark secret winds up destroying several lives. Songs by the legendary A.R. Rahman. 

Rectify (Complete Series) (Netflix)--Since he was a teen, Daniel Holden has been imprisoned for the rape and strangulation murder of his girlfriend Hanna Dean.  But when an analysis of the trial’s DNA evidence contradicts the prosecution’s case, the falsely accused murderer is allowed to return to his hometown of Paulie, Georgia.  But adjusting to this new status quo winds up being a process for the whole town’s inhabitants.

The Remarried Empress (Hulu)--Empress Navier of the Eastern Empire has her world rocked by husband and childhood friend Emperor Sovieshu’s demand for a divorce…so he can marry his mistress, former slave Rashta. The divorce results in Navier losing the throne. Could an alliance with the Western Kingdom’s Prince Heinrey (who can secretly transform into a bird) be the key to Navier regaining the throne and even showing up her ex-husband?

Robinson’s Garden (Ovid)--In economic-bubble era Japan, bohemian drug dealer Kumi accidentally discovers an abandoned building on the Tokyo outskirts. The place is vast and filled with luxuriant vegetation. So she sells all her belongings and establishes an island in the midst of this building, one where she can grow cabbages (badly) and express herself in any way she pleases, generally without having to interact with people. Your Japanese anti-capitalist punk movie of the month.

Rockstar (Netflix)--Imtiaz Ali both wrote and directed this cult Bollywood classic. Hindu College student Janardhan Jhakar aka JJ aspires to be a rockstar like his idol Jim Morrison. JJ’s path to his goal gets marked by unexpected turns such as false theft accusations, a fateful European tour, and (most importantly) his tumultuous relationship with the beautiful Heer Kaul. 

Under Siege (Netflix)--In 1985 Colombia, tensions between the country’s government and the guerrilla group M-19 had reached the breaking point. On November 6, M-19 guerrillas would seize control of Bogota’s Palace of Justice and make demands of the Colombian government. This drama recounts the incident, which ended with a military raid that would kill over 100 people including several Supreme Court justices. Yet the crisis would have repercussions years later. 

Utu Redux (Director’s Cut) (Criterion Channel)--This historic New Zealand actioner has been  championed by Quentin Tarantino. It’s 1870, and Maori warrior Te Wheke has been helping the white New Zealand colonists put down Maoris and Maori-sympathetic settlers. The Maori collaborator gets his “leopards won’t eat my face” moment when he discovers the colonists have wiped out his village birthplace. Now Te Wheke becomes an anti-colonist insurgent.

Blue Lights Season 4 (Britbox)--It’s the final season (for now at least) of this acclaimed police series. The good news is Belfast Constables Grace Ellis, Tommy Foster, and Annie Conlon are no longer inexperienced recruits. The bad news is policing Belfast has taken an emotional toll on them. Escalating violence, a growing illicit drug operation, and increasing locals vs. immigrants clashes have sparked thoughts of leaving the force. 

Eternal Beauty (Netflix)--Jane (Sally Hawkins) has been left with depression and paranoid schizophrenia after getting stood up at the altar. Having an unsympathetic mother and sister certainly doesn’t help Jane build up self-esteem. Things start looking up after the troubled woman meets fellow patient Mike (David Thewlis). But their burgeoning relationship alarms Jane’s family. 

Ethos Season 2 (Netflix)--After a six-year wait, it’s the return of Berkun Oya’s drama set in modern-day Istanbul. At and around a therapist’s office, the lives of a group of people divided by class, religious faith, and habit cross and re-cross resulting in intriguing meetings and unexpected clashes.

The Space Architect (Ovid)--Rebecca “Beck” Carpenter’s documentary looks at the life and legacy of late NASA architect Constance Adams. This Yale and Harvard graduate developed a successful career designing skyscrapers.  But her innovation, empathy, and curiosity would cause her to leave that career behind to tackle the challenge of designing spacecraft and habitats for the Moon and Mars.

The Three Kings Of 1936 (Britbox)--Jonathan Mayo’s documentary takes viewers back 90 years to the year 1936, and shows why that year would be a particularly turbulent year for the British monarchy.  It would begin with George V’s death.  Then successor Edward VIII’s reign would be truncated thanks to a controversial love affair. Finally, George VI would rise to the throne out of duty, but was he the man the historical moment needed? 

The Baltimorons (Hulu)--Jay Duplass directs this Baltimore-set comedy taking place during a disaster-ridden Christmas Eve. Ex-comedian Cliff gets a tooth knocked out and finds his car towed. Dentist Didi’s plans get derailed by her ex-husband’s surprise courthouse wedding. The duo wind up spending more time together thanks to such developments as an unexpected dinner date, a comedy club trip that brings up old ghosts, and a crabbing boat joyride. 

The Bigamist (Ovid)--Ida Lupino directed and starred in this noir drama about marital infidelity.  When adoption agency investigator Mr. Jordan discovers potential adoptive father Harry Graham is married to both the infertile Eve (Joan Fontaine) in San Francisco and Phyllis (Lupino) in Los Angeles, the titular bigamist tells the story of how he got into this situation. It involves a marriage which had become a business arrangement plus a desire to do the right thing for a woman Graham got pregnant. 

I’m Still Here (Hulu)--Walter Salles directs this political biopic.  After former Brazilian Congressman Rubens Paiva is disappeared by the country’s military in January 1971, his wife Eunice fights to learn the fate of her husband.  Her efforts will result in her arrest and torture as well as her learning about her husband’s secret work helping Brazilian political exiles. How long will it take for Brazil’s former military dictatorship to face accountability for their crimes against their own citizens?

Obsession (Netflix)--Curry Barker’s horror blockbuster is a variation on the “be careful what you wish for” story. Baron “Bear” Bailey has romantic feelings for his co-worker Nikki Freeman. But when he blows his chance to admit his feelings to her, he uses a magical One Wish Willow to wish Nikki loved him more than anyone in the world. The granting of the wish, though, leads to Nikki displaying increasingly terrifying behavior. 

Gentle Monster (Netflix)--The lives of former concert pianist Lucy Weiss (Lea Seydoux) and special police investigator Elsa Kuhn have more in common than they realize thanks to the men in their lives. Lucy’s husband Philip possesses and distributes child sexual abuse material. Elsa learns her elderly father regularly attempts to sexually assault his live-in nurse.

How Deep Is Your Love (Ovid)--Filmmaker Eleanor Mortimer’s documentary follows a group of marine biologists whose robot probe descends 5000 meters below the ocean’s surface to the Clarion-Clipperton Zone. There, they find never before seen creatures living on the ocean floor and gift them such temporary names such as the Headless Chicken Monster and the Psychedelic Elvis Worm. However, these life forms’ futures are threatened by deep sea mining interests. 

The Law Of Beasts (Netflix)--In 2014, the news that Mariusz Trynkiewicz is about to be released from prison affects public official Anna Bersz and renowned psychiatric expert Agnieszka Grabska in different ways.  Back in 1988, Trynkiewicz was the prime suspect in the high profile murder of four boys.  Bersz, who was then a cop, led the investigation of the murder cases. Grabska was Bersz’ friend and tasked with assessing Trynkiewicz’ sanity. The case would destroy the two women’s friendship. Trynkiewicz’ release forces them to reassess their acts. 

Vienna Game (Hulu)--It’s 1814 and the big question on the minds of the crowned heads of Europe and their foreign ministers is what will happen to their war-torn continent?  At the Congress of Vienna, power games and love affairs occur behind the official pomp.  French Foreign Minister Talleyrand plays the victorious countries off against each other.  Royalist schemer Wilhelmine von Sagan has a fateful encounter with Bonapartist Baron Amor Laski. But it is minor bureaucrat Seidl’s forged letter that will truly set off political tensions.

The Altruists (Netflix)--This true-crime dramatic miniseries recounts how hyper-smart ambitious young idealists and lovers Sam Bankman-Fried (Anthony Boyle) and Caroline Ellison (Julia Garner)’s dream of remaking the global financial system ultimately devolved into accusations of their having scammed upwards of $10 billion from unsuspecting investors and customers involved with either the FTX cryptocurrency exchange or crypto trading firm Alameda Research.

What’s Up Connection (Ovid)--Masashi Yamamoto’s (“Robinson’s Garden”) film may begin (sort of) with Chinese fishing village teenager Chi Gau Shin winning a trip to Japan.  However, this “bats**t crazy” teen’s tour of Japan turns out to be anything but ordinary. Further craziness occurs when Gau Shin’s family faces off against a group of Japanese industrialists who want to raze the village and build a business park. Despite these familiar plot bones, this film turns out to be one of those madcap movies where anything can and does happen.

Primetime Preacher$ (Netflix)--Joe Berlinger’s new documentary recounts how televangelists Jim Bakker, Jerry Falwell, and Jimmy Swaggart harnessed the power of television to build vast 1980s international media empires purportedly in the name of God.  They would also turn evangelical Christianity into an unfortunately powerful force in American politics.  But the eruption of a very public sex scandal would ignite a holy war among these three evangelical kingpins.

One Last Order (Netflix)--Lauren DeFilippo and Sam Soko’s documentary short follows the final work shift of Sighle Williams.  She’s been the cashier of Gainesville, Florida’s Mac’s Drive-Thru for 37 years, and expects this last shift to be a quiet one. Instead, customers travel from near and far to say goodbye to Williams.

The Hunting Wives Season 2 (Netflix)--It’s time to return to the East Texas town of Maple Brook, where one can find both socialite Margo (Malin Akerman)’s elite clique The Hunting Wives and murder. Newcomer Sophie (Brittany Snow) may have broken off her extramarital lesbian affair with Margo, but circumstances will again put them in each others’ arms and sharing a bathtub. Somebody will die, somebody’s political ambitions will get kindled, and Angel Reese becomes a series regular.

The First Omen (Hulu)--In this prequel to the classic horror film “The Omen,” novice American nun Margaret Daino accidentally walks into the middle of a conspiracy by Catholic radicals to bring about the birth of the Antichrist to drive disbelievers to the Church. Key to the radicals’ plans is the mistreated orphan Carlita, whom Margaret has already bonded with.