Netflix
Orphan Black
So unloved by BBC3 that its most recent season aired in the channel’s prestigious 2am slot, this twisty sci-fi series has now been picked up by Netflix, which is releasing episodes of its fourth season 24 hours after their US air dates. Newcomers would be advised not to dip straight into the new season, though: with its plot centred on an ever-swelling cohort of clones (mostly played by one actor, Tatiana Maslany), Orphan Black has developed into a fiendishly complex conspiracy thriller. Best go straight back to the start: series one to three are also on Netflix.
New episodes released every Friday
BBC iPlayer
Witless
So far, BBC3’s online offerings have erred on the side of bleakness. Despite a premise involving a gangland murder and the witness protection programme, there doesn’t seem to be much danger of that with Witless. This is a traditional odd-couple sitcom as a pair of twentysomething frenemies get stuck with each other in a new town. The presence of Him & Her’s Kerry Howard, manifesting another of her brilliantly infuriating grotesques, should keep it watchable.
All 4
Mafiosa
A mafia funeral is always a promising place to start a drama. This latest French import from All4’s subtitled wing Walter Presents begins in the aftermath of the murder of mafia don François Paoli. His killing sparks issues of succession: the most obvious candidate is, by his own admission, more follower than leader so Paoli’s will contentiously favours his charismatic lawyer niece Sandra (Hélène Fillières). How will this petite but ruthless woman fare in a man’s world? Based on early impressions, adversaries will underestimate her at their peril.
Series one is available in full on All4
All 4
Podcast
TV Talk Machine
With so much TV to choose from, trusted guides are more important than ever. This podcast, which features Hollywood Reporter’s TV critic Tim Goodman, does a good job of sorting the wheat from the chaff. The last few episodes have included a touching Garry Shandling tribute and a heartfelt appreciation of the BBC’s Happy Valley, which proves that TV’s cross-Atlantic traffic isn’t all one way. There’s also a discussion about when to give up on a show, a skill we’re all going to have to start learning.
BBC Store
Storyville: Decadence And Downfall – The Shah Of Iran’s Ultimate Party
The standout of the most recent series of BBC4’s documentary strand, this gobsmacking film tells the story of a 1971 party thrown by the Shah Of Iran. Ostensibly planned as a celebration of the Persian empire, the shindig soon took on a life of its own, involving a vast tent city for foreign dignitaries, chefs from Paris and even 50,000 imported birds, which soon died in the desert heat. The party was the last straw for the Iranian people and is often thought to have paved the way for the theocracies that now dominate the region.
Sky Box Sets
Veep
Let’s enjoy Veep while it still feels like a comedy rather than a cautionary tale. Sarah Palin - who may step into the vice presidential role should Donald Trump wangle his way into the White House - makes Selina Meyer look competent. The fifth season, and first without creator Armando Iannucci, arrives on 24 April so why not remind yourself of what a treat the show has become.
Seasons 1-4 available from Thursday
