Pick of the week
Wednesday
It’s a new term at Nevermore, and for the first time in her life, Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) is dying to go back to school. After all, she’s a minor celebrity now and dealing with autograph hunters (“I only ever sign my name in blood. I never said it was my own blood”). However, things are about to get much worse for Wednesday. Like every kid, she dreads the arrival of her family at school, but not only are her parents around more – her troublesome brother Pugsley and formidable grandmother Hester also soon become fixtures. Once again, it’s stylish, smart and witty. However you feel about Tim Burton, it’s hard to argue that his maximalist gothic style isn’t absolutely perfect for this material.
Netflix, from Wednesday 6 August
***
Hunting the Yorkshire Ripper
The crimes of Peter Sutcliffe (and the flawed police investigation) have proved irresistible to documentary-makers, with the BBC and Netflix recently offering up versions of events. In truth, this latest series doesn’t add much to our understanding of Sutcliffe’s crimes, though it does broaden to examine the infamous “Wearside Jack” tape that was sent to police by a man claiming to be the killer. Former DCS Chris Gregg – who assembled a team to catch the hoaxer – is interviewed about his career-long involvement with the case.
Prime Video, from Sunday 3 August
***
Naming the Dead
As represented in TV dramas, cold cases are often glamorous and mysterious. This documentary series shows the reality is sadder, if frequently no less intriguing. It focuses on the work of the DNA Doe Project, a US organisation that, in partnership with law enforcement agencies, uses detective work and genetic investigation to offer the relatives of some of the estimated 50,000 unidentified bodies lying in American morgues a measure of closure. It’s a necessarily melancholy affair but also somewhat stirring in its depiction of tireless, valuable service.
Disney+, from Wednesday 6 August
***
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder
A third series for this accomplished animation that follows the exploits of the Prouds, an upwardly mobile African American family who mix cartoonish hijinks with strong, slightly earnest moral messaging about identity and hot-button social justice issues. Trudy is worried about screentime and it isn’t just her kids who can’t put down their phones – her husband Oscar is hardly setting a good example. Cue a decision to live more consciously and to take a family holiday to London, Paris and Nairobi that becomes life-changing for everyone involved.
Apple TV+, from Wednesday 6 August
***
Platonic
The chemistry between Seth Rogen’s Will and Rose Byrne’s Sylvia continues to underwrite this profound comedy. The series doesn’t just tell us that deep, platonic friendships between men and women are possible – it shows us. It’s hard to avoid the feeling that Will and Sylvia have more fun together than with anyone else. And that’s the whole point: shouldn’t that be enough? As we return, Will is preparing to marry Jenna but admits to Sylvia that he has a crush on someone else. The fear that it might turn out to be Sylvia herself soon passes but, even so, is this another symptom of Will’s inability to commit to adult life?
Apple TV+, from Wednesday 6 August
***
House of Cats
Most people would probably agree that the absence of a gameshow for cats and their owners is a glaring omission from the TV schedules. So thank goodness, finally, for House of Cats, a three-parter of snappy episodes which is hosted by comic Ivo Graham and social media personality, and qualified veterinary surgeon, Cat the Vet. Fittingly, there’s no hint of a cash prize here; instead the winning partnership will take home a golden litter tray. Given that cats are notoriously much harder to organise than dogs, they will have certainly earned it.
Channel 4, from Thursday 7 August
***
Promethea
From Walter Presents, this daft but moderately creepy mystery drama from France stars Fantine Harduin as the titular teenager. When Promethea is hit by a car, she eventually wakes from a coma with no recollection of anything but her unusual name. Gradually, her memory starts to return but that proves to be a mixed blessing as a series of disturbing revelations about an unsolved recent murder start to spill out. At first, it seems that Promethea might have witnessed this killing – but could her involvement have been even more hands-on?
Channel 4, from Friday 8 August
