HD Heads-Up: October 3 – 9

➢➢ The Walking Dead returns for a mid-season final on October 5 (TVNZ 2, 10.10) nearly six months after the penultimate episode. Episode 16 of this season was meant to be the final when it was scheduled for April – but that was before Covid-19 concerns stopped its postproduction. In the interim, AMC ordered six more S10 episodes that will screen early next year — ahead of the 11th and final season’s premiere. Meanwhile, TWD fans who want to see spin-off The Walking Dead: World Beyond will have to subscribe to Amazon Prime Video. It will stream the series from October 5 while S6a of sister show Fear the Walking Dead will stream on Neon from October 13 …

➢➢ In the hoof prints of TVNZ 1’s popular Inside Taronga Zoo comes Three’s Melbourne Zoo variation, Mega Zoo (7.30 Saturdays from October 3). The 10-part series used innovative camera technology, such as body/harness cameras worn by zookeepers, to go behind the gates of the largest and oldest zoo in the Southern Hemisphere even when it was closed during lockdown. The series follows the challenges and daily activities of a zoo spread across three campuses from its busy summer season to the impact of Covid-19 restrictions …

➢➢ TVNZ 1 will screen two specials in the first week of October: Billionaire Babies (8.25 Tuesday), which explores the exclusive world of super-rich babies and youngsters; and Madeleine McCann: Hunt for the Prime Suspect (8.00 Thursday), in which ITV journalist Julie Etchingham investigates why it’s taken a decade to link as convicted sex offender to the disappearance of the three-year-old. One UK critic said the “brisk documentary sacrifices clarity for criss-crossing drama” but thought it showed “just how little authorities have learnt from the bungled police operation” …

➢➢ Patrick Gower will host Newshub Decision 2020: The Cannabis Question (Three, 8.30 Wednesday). It’s the first of two one-hour specials about this general election’s referenda and precedes 1 News Your Vote 2020 Multi Party Debate (TVNZ 1, 7.00 Thursday), which political editor Jessica Mutch McKay will moderate …

➢➢ The election’s second referendum, on euthanasia, will make an otherwise dated Louis Theroux documentary topical. Altered States: Choosing Death (Prime, 9.30 Tuesday) explores the US’ 2016 Aid in Dying legislation that allows a terminally ill person to medically end their life and the complex questions this raises. The Independent hailed it as “flawless, empathetic documentary-making, but disturbing viewing” and The Telegraph, “a respectful observation of two very different deaths” …

➢➢ Back for new seasons in the week starting October 3 will be The Repair Shop (TVNZ 1, 7.30 Fridays) and The Twilight Zone (TVNZ 2, 11.55 Wednesdays) while ending their runs will be House Rules: High Stakes and Tough as Nails …

➢➢ The documentary The Land of the Enlightened (Maori TV, 8.30 Monday) will be the only network movie premiere in the first week of October. Other HD coming attractions will include:

• Cool Runnings (TVNZ 2, 7.00 Saturday)
• The Swan Princess III: The Mystery of the Enchanted Treasure (Maori TV, 7.00 Saturday)
• Zookeeper (Three, 8.30 Saturday)
• Underworld (Duke, 8.30 Saturday)
• Antwone Fisher (Maori TV, 8.30 Saturday)
• The Revenant (TVNZ 2, 8.50 Saturday)
• Gone (Three, 10.30 Saturday)
• Wild Card (TVNZ 2, 10.35 Saturday)
• Sing (Three, 7.00 Sunday)
• Song for Marion (Maori TV, 8.30 Sunday)
• The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (TVNZ 2, 9.00 Sunday)
• Wanted (Three, 9.00 Sunday)
• Anacondas 2: Blood Orchid (Duke, 9.30 Sunday)
• Big Sky (TVNZ 2, 11.35 Sunday)
• Z For Zachariah (TVNZ 2, 1.20am Monday)
• Universal Soldier (Prime, 10.05 Monday)
• Men of Honor (Duke, 8.30 Tuesday)
• The Island (Three, 8.30 Friday)
• Eight Legged Freaks (Duke, 8.30 Friday)
• Infinitely Polar Bear (Maori TV, 8.30 Friday).