NetflixFreaks, geeks, superheroes and Savile - the weekend's must-see TV
Best of the bunch
What we watched: Luke Cage, Netflix
What happened: Hot on the heels of Jessica Jones comes this Netflix-Marvel combo. Luke cage is a New Yorker with a set of morals that even the biggest of goody-goodies would be in awe of. Unfortunately, this means he's inadvertently attracted the attention of criminal gangs - and not because they are impressed by his style.
Why was it so good? The soundtrack for a start. Hip-hop heads will love it. Every episode has the title of a Gang Starr tune - and that's just for starters. The score is truly atmospheric. Besides that, the storyline and acting's pretty good. Subtlety is the name of the game here. Luke's not throwing his weight around - more just trying to be a polite and law-abiding citizen - but then again he does have the ability to ruin lives with one simple punch...
3rd party content may contain ads - see our FAQs for more info.
Thursday
What we watched: The Fall, Series 3, Episode 1, BBC Two
What happened? It's back! The third series of the psychological thriller has returned to our screens. Like all programmes that have been away for a while, you'll probably want a quick catch-up with how everything was left. So here goes: Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan), the dashing but deadly serial murderer who was shot at the end of series two, is now in police custody, albeit in rather precarious state in hospital. Likewise, DSI Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson) isn't feeling too hot either. After her escapades in the woods that also saw her colleague shot, she's now waiting around the hospital to see if the evil Spector will pull through.
Why was it so good? Given the episode saw neither Spector on the loose nor Gibson intensely tracking him down, you might think the tension would have diminished but no, there it was in all its harrowing glory. By the end of the episode we felt thoroughly exhausted. That's a good thing, right?
3rd party content may contain ads - see our FAQs for more info.
Friday
What we watched: Unreported World, Channel 4
What happened: Bit of a warning here: this probably isn't the kind of programme you'd expect to tune into on a Friday night. It was a traumatic documentary presented by Krishnan Guru-Murthy. He was in Yemen to see what the impact of the country's war is having on the nation's children.
Why was it so good? In just half an hour, you were not only fully educated on the forgotten conflict, but just how dangerous this crisis has become for the country's residents. Ninety percent of food is imported, many food factories have been bombed and we were shown how machinery at one port has been completely destroyed - so food cannot get into the country. A father with a gravely ill toddler explained how they survived on a diet of flour. Another family who were living in a camp in a windy and desolate desert showed how they received a bag of grain every three months but then had to immediately sell half of it so the remaining half could be ground. The father in this household took Guru-Murthy aside and took him to the camp's makeshift children's graveyard - the result of the widespread malnutrition. Depressing beyond words.
Saturday
What we watched: Freaks and Geeks, Netflix
What happened? Ah, Saturdays. Whether you are feeling fragile due to an excessive Friday night or just making the most of a day off, the sixth day of the week requires a certain type of programme to ease your weary mind. Thankfully, Freaks And Geeks is now on Netflix. Perfect.
Why was it so good? There are a few programmes that inexplicably were cancelled before their time - My So Called Life, for example. Freaks And Geeks is officially part of this unfortunate club. It's set in a 1980 American high school and focuses on two sets of students: 'the freaks', a bunch of seniors who are trying to navigate the world of relationships (including the heartbreak that goes with it) and what they're going to do with the rest of their lives; and 'the geeks', a younger bunch who are far more likely to be playing Dungeons and Dragons than be going to a party with their peers. Connecting the two groups is Lindsay (a freak) and her younger brother and geek, Sam. All sound a bit samey-samey? Well, it's not. It wraps up teen angst in gloriously comforting nostalgia. It also had a stellar line-up - including James Franco, Seth Rogan and Jason Segel.
Sunday
What we watched: Louis Theroux - Savile, BBC Two
What happened: Back in 2000, Louis Theroux interviewed and profiled Jimmy Savile. At this time, the documentary was merely an insight into an eccentric figure who was certainly a little odd. But the doc failed to tackle or even recognise his sexual preferences head on. Fast forward to 2016, with the truth about Savile's endemic abuse now something that horrifies all, and Louis Theroux has re-examined his former meetings with him, interviewing his victims and also those who were close to him that still deny his violent crimes.
Why was it so good? This wasn't comfortable viewing. Interviews with Savile's victims reinforced just how sinister, violent and controlling the man really was. Archive from Louis’s previous documentary shows how he managed to hoodwink so many - Louis included. It was hard for the documentary to answer just how Louis and so many others could not see Savile for the dark and dangerous predator he was, yet it is always so much easier to see the truth in the plain light of day, when all his horrific crimes have been revealed. This was a definitive and personal inquiry into how a man managed to abuse his position of power so sophisticatedly – even grooming one of our most questioning and probing documentarians into a naïve state of semi-adulation with the man.
BBC Three Must-watch
What we watched: Being Black, Going Crazy?
What happened? A few years ago, blogger and radio host Keith Dube was diagnosed with depression. After years of struggling in silence, he decided to ‘out' himself online, and was amazed by the response his new honesty evoked in his followers. After researching the subject, Keith quickly realised there were some shocking mental health statistics in the UK black community – and he set out to figure out what exactly was causing the crisis.
Why was it so good? As with any intensely sensitive topic, it takes real skill to explore it with a combination of journalistic integrity and humanity – and in this respect, Keith is a pretty incredible guide to a complex subject. Getting behind some of the figures quoted involves meeting a range of vulnerable guests - from talking to Twitter followers to entering a secure mental health unit – and Keith raises some startling conclusions about the role of racism, religion, social deprivation and stigma within the community. Overall it’s a fascinating watch.
