House Of Cards
Netflix
The premature leak of season three might have looked like the mother of all cock-ups. But it probably ended up adding yet more hype-value to an already eagerly anticipated launch on Friday. But what of the show itself? The Underwoods’ power-lust is a terrifying prospect for the fictional world. So expect high-stakes treachery and trauma, and look out for a cameo from Pussy Riot, too.
Moone Boy
Sky On Demand
Chris O’Dowd’s quirky comedy returns on 2 March for a third series, but you can catch episode one from Tuesday on Sky On Demand. The opener sees Liam and Debra’s romantic retreat interrupted by the former’s amorous ex – the imaginatively named yoga enthusiast Sharon Morgan (Sharon Horgan) – while Chris O’Dowd’s Sean is left behind as Martin spends the weekend in Dublin helping his uncle sell encyclopedias in the hope of winning a speedboat.
Invisibilia
NPR
NPR’s Invisibilia is a podcast delving into the intangible forces that shape behaviour. Hard science is its core, but human stories have made its first few episodes truly gripping, from the blind man who taught himself to “see” by emitting mouth-clicks to the woman who can physically feel the sensations of others.
Spiral
BBC iPlayer
So adieu, series five of the Parisian police drama. This one has been all about the kids, with Laure’s pregnancy and the case of the murdered mother and daughter the threads binding together another complex tale of the thin bleu line. Caroline Proust’s performance as Laure, surprised by her own emotions as she deals with (maybe) having a baby, was an obvious highlight. Episodes seven to 12 are available on iPlayer.
Ukip: The First 100 Days
4oD
Another chance to see C4’s docudrama imagining what might transpire if Farage and co romp it in the general election. While the believability of its premise is questionable, slick production values make the sense of a hideous dystopia cardiac-inducing in its intensity.
Fortitude
Sky Atlantic
We’re still not wholly convinced by this Arctic-set murder mystery, which so far has failed to create a character nearly as compelling as its stark setting. That said, there’s still a decent whodunnit at the show’s core, as DCI Morton (Stanley Tucci) seeks to both figure out who killed Professor Stoddart, and what the deal is with this odd little town. Subscribers can catch the series in full on Sky On Demand.
