TV: Show Me A Hero
The subject of David Simon’s latest drama – housing redistricting in the city of Yonkers, New York in the 1980s – might sound a little dry on paper, but in practice it’s proved fascinating from the off. It tackles some weighty issues – desegregation, local government – with sympathy and style, anchored by a wonderful performance by Oscar Isaac as Nick Wasicsko, the wet-behind-the-ears mayor, carried into office on a wave of populism, who finds he has fewer friends once in the hotseat. The series concludes on Monday on Sky Atlantic, while Sky viewers can catch up on Sky Go.
Sky Go
TV: This Is England ’86, ’88
After a break of two years, Shane Meadows’s remarkable coming-of-age saga returns for what’s likely to be its final series this week. Of course, trying to recall the many travails of Shaun, Woody, Lol, Milky et al after all that time might prove taxing. Fortunately, both full series to date are available on 4OD for you to get reaquainted. Warning: contains deep gloom (though also a fair bit of levity, too).
TV: Hand Of God
Plenty of people have predicted the demise of the antihero drama, but the genre continues to smoulder on our screens. Perhaps this effort might be the one to kill it off for good. Ron Perlman plays a judge who begins receiving “visions” from God, instructing him to wreak revenge on the people who caused his son to attempt suicide. God himself as the antihero? Where else can the genre go after that? Anyway, if you’re looking for extreme violence and gruff dialogue, this should fit the bill nicely.
TV: Fear The Walking Dead
Far from reaching Peak Zombie, the premiere of this Walking Dead spin-off smashed ratings records in the US, proving the public still has a ferocious appetitite for the shambling exploits of the respirationally challenged. Only shown in the UK on BT’s AMC channel, you can catch up with the series on its on-demand service.
TV: Country Strife: Abz On The Farm
The mere prospect of watching former Five member Abz decamp to the countryside to run a farm has us chuckling, and this reality series did prove extremely funny at times, none more so than when Abz fed his cockerel croissants “because he’s French”. But you quickly found yourself rooting for Abz and his likable partner Vicky as they got stuck into the challenging task of building and maintaining their own smallholding in west Wales. Lovely stuff. Catch the lot on the iPlayer.
