Westworld
The furious sci-fi drama returns and there’s a hell of a lot of cleaning up to do after the carnage that closed season one. With Delos in disarray, it’s far from clear who might be capable of this task. Instead, the “hosts” appear to be faced with a brutal dilemma: conform or die. The likes of Thandie Newton’s fierce Maeve seem unlikely to accept either option.
Monday 23 April, 9pm, Sky Atlantic
Girls Trip
Riotous, Bechdel-friendly romp starring Queen Latifah, Tiffany Haddish, Regina Hall and Jada Pinkett Smith as a quartet of pals getting more than they bargained for on a friendship-reaffirming road trip. Cheerfully filthy but big-hearted with it.
Available from Friday, Sky Cinema Premiere
Late Night Whenever with Michelle Buteau
Chatty and likable podcast from frequent 2 Dope Queens guest Buteau. She describes herself as a “no-budget Oprah” and that just about sums up the mixture of fun stories, aspirational monologues and hard-won life lessons on offer here.
Podcast
The Woman in White
On the face of it, this feels like classic Sunday night, BBC One, frock coat and bodice-ripping territory. But this Wilkie Collins adaptation, with its themes of manipulation and male control of female agency, seems freshly relevant in a post #MeToo world. Of course, it’s sure to look great and contain lashings of blustery romance, too.
Sunday, 9pm, BBC One
The Split
Hot on the heels of Come Home, the BBC offers up another emotionally involving divorce drama, this time courtesy of the excellent Abi Morgan. The busiest woman on the small screen, Nicola Walker, stars as lawyer Hannah Stern. She’s the undisputed queen of the high-profile divorce circuit – and that’s just as well because she might be experiencing life at the sharp end some time soon.
Tuesday, 9pm, BBC One
The New Legends of Monkey
The dearth of Asian actors in this reboot has led to accusations of whitewashing. But the original Monkey was a much-loved fantasy staple so there will certainly be a market for this return to the world of Tripitaka and co.
Available from Friday 27 April, Netflix
The Assassination of Gianni Versace
Versace’s killer Andrew Cunanan has arrived at the endgame, and so has this vivid and eventually shattering drama. As the manhunt closes in, Cunanan (the brilliant Darren Criss) is holed up, relishing his own infamy and watching TV reports of his crimes as he finally runs out of road.
Wednesday 25 April, 9pm, BBC Two
Genius: Picasso
The latest genius to get the National Geographic biopic treatment is Pablo Picasso, captured in middle age by Antonio Banderas. The Pablo we meet here is busy reflecting on his youthful artistry and trying to warn the world against the dangers of fascism. While still finding time for plenty of shagging, of course.
Monday 23 April, 8pm, National Geographic
Grave of the Fireflies
This harrowing drama from master of animation Isao Takahata, who died earlier this month, follows two orphaned children surviving on the streets of a devastated Japan towards the end of the second world war. It’s a film of great humanity and full of haunting images, from the fireflies of the title to the firebombs that rain down on the city.
Saturday 21 April, 1am, Film4
Barry
The reformed hitman trope gets a fresh twist in this new dark comedy starring Bill Hader of Saturday Night Live fame. Hader is Barry, a jaded assassin who is toying with giving up his dark day job when a talent for drama becomes apparent. Look out for Henry “Fonzie” Winkler as Barry’s acting mentor Gene Cousineau.
Thursday 26 April, 10.45pm, Sky Atlantic
