Amazon
Good Wife creators Robert and Michelle King return with a show that, on paper, is about as far from that legal drama as you could imagine: BrainDead is a comedy thriller/political satire/gross-out sci-fi about alien bugs infecting the brains of US politicians, causing their behaviour to be even more savage than usual. Full of eye-openingly icky moments of creepy crawlies entering ears, it also offers up some neat commentary on bipartisan cooperation, or the lack of it, in Washington.
Available now
All Or Nothing: A Season With The Arizona Cardinals
Narrated by Jon Hamm, this series promises an immersive look into the 2015-16 season of American football side the Arizona Cardinals, following players on- and off-field, from the locker room to the sidelines. Amazon have certainly chosen their subject wisely: the Cardinals’ season was hardly lacking in drama, beginning with a season-ending injury to star quarterback Carson Palmer and ending – spoiler alert! - with an against-the-odds run to the playoffs and, ultimately, a defeat in the NFC Championship game.
Available from Friday
BBC3
The Insider: Reggie Yates In A Texan Jail
After encountering teen gangs and the Russian far right, this week’s Guide cover star clearly had no intention of taking the easy option for his latest BBC3 doc. The Insider sees Yates spend a full week in a Texas detention centre cell, encountering inmates and learning about the mental health issues affecting many incarcerated there. A further episode, in which Yates spends a week with the Mexican army, will be added next week.
Available from Tuesday
Netflix
Marco Polo
The first season of Netflix’s expensive-looking historical saga was greeted with a frosty response from critics, who lamented its hoary dialogue and lack of surprises. Might this second season, in which Marco and Kublai Khan deal with populist unrest in south China, finally put the series on the (silk) road to greatness?
Available from Friday
All4
Channel 4’s international drama strand Walter Presents has given foreign fare a leg up in recent months, from Afghan comedy to Danish thrillers. Its latest import is a six-part Polish drama by HBO’s European arm. A unit protecting the border with Ukraine from people-traffickers falls victim to a bomb attack. When it transpires that the sole survivor received a phone call moments before the blast he finds himself under suspicion. The Scandi-noir vibes are strong, but there’s an eastern European feel too, with the desolate Bieszczady Mountains taking centre stage.
The full series is available now
Podcast
Another brainy podcast to add to your regular rotation, this series sees scientists and comedians, including Holly Walsh and Robin Ince, consider how humans can be improved, suggesting potential and sometimes preposterous upgrades to our frail forms. Perfect for fans of Ince’s other show, The Infinite Monkey Cage.
Available now
