Pick of the week
Simon Cowell: The Next Act
With his stubble, his shades and his belief in the eternal power of the choreographed quintet, Simon Cowell is resolutely unchanging. But has the world changed around him? As an assistant bravely points out, there may be teenagers auditioning for his latest project who have barely heard of One Direction. Appropriately, there’s something old school about this series in which Cowell assembles a new boyband – but, possibly for that reason, as the familiar process of auditions, boot camps and eliminations begins, it’s easy to settle in for the duration. Depending on your feelings about the man himself, of course; inevitably, it stakes everything on the viewer being able to root for Simon Cowell.
Netflix, from Wednesday 10 December
***
Taylor Swift: The End of an Era
As Taylor Swift reaches the end of her preposterously proportioned Eras tour, she explains its guiding principle: “I wanted to over-serve the fans.” This six-part documentary feels like part of the same process – it delves into each aspect of Swift’s travelling circus, eavesdropping on everyone from the dancers to the set designers as the logistics of this epic undertaking are laid bare. Guests including Ed Sheeran and Sabrina Carpenter also wander in and out – as does Swift’s fiance Travis Kelce. Running parallel to the release of the documentary is the final show of the tour in Vancouver. Consider us over-served, Taylor.
Disney+, from Friday 12 December
***
Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures
Lucasfilm continues to nurture the next generation of Young Jedis. This is the third season of this bright, hyperactive animation but the premise remains the same: eager Younglings Kai Brightstar, Lys Solay and Nubs explore the galaxy, help citizens in need and utilise the Force on a regular basis. This time, they’re pitted against Rek Minuu, a villain who, in age-appropriate fashion, is mischievous rather than sinister. And they also encourage some new recruits to join them: Dotti and an accompanying trio of rather cute droids. Start them young …
Disney+, from Monday 8 December
***
Untold: Undercover Working Holidays – Stranded in Paradise
This series exposing various modern iniquities continues with a look at the dark side of Ayia Napa. With youngsters flocking to the so-called Cypriot “party island”, it’s a buyers’ market in labour terms. And, as Tir Dhondy discovers, there’s no shortage of people who are more than willing to exploit naive incomers. Dhondy goes undercover and finds evidence of sexual harassment, dirty and unsafe accommodation offered by employers, and packages that trap young workers in illegal practices.
Channel 4, from Monday 8 December
***
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
This fantasy series based on the YA novels of Rick Riordan is essentially Harry Potter by way of Greek mythology. Percy (Walker Scobell) is an awkward but charismatic New York teen – who also happens to be a demigod. As season two arrives, there’s trouble at Camp Half-Blood that, inevitably, only Percy can fix. Accordingly, he sets off on an odyssey across America (in a battered yellow taxi) in search of his best friend Grover and, more importantly, the Golden Fleece. It’s nicely done, with humour gently undercutting the absurdity of the premise at every turn.
Disney+, from Wednesday 10 December
***
Man vs Baby
More cutesy catastrophe as Rowan Atkinson returns as Trevor Bingley, clearly Mr Bean’s second cousin and touting a similar strain of hapless pratfalling. As we rejoin Trevor, he’s in a tight spot: his daughter is off to the expensive Sorbonne and he’s about to lose his job as a school caretaker. A lucrative housesitting gig falls in his lap but, unfortunately, so does an anonymous baby, which has arrived, nativity-style, on the steps of the school. The scenarios are ridiculously contrived but Atkinson remains such a prodigiously gifted physical comedian that it’s easy to go with the festive flow.
Netflix, from Thursday 11 December
***
The Revenge Club
Healing is all very well. But isn’t revenge a bit more fun? This dark comedy (based on JD Pennington’s novel The Othello Club) sees six divorcees pivot away from the platitudinous word salad of their group therapy sessions, deciding instead to lean into the malice they all feel towards their ex-partners. It’s utterly daft but the inventive spite of their revenge strategies – which range from rendering a dream home uninhabitable to arranging a public humiliation – draws you in. The impressive cast includes Martin Compston, Aimee-Ffion Edwards and Meera Syal.
Paramount+, from Friday 12 December
