New to View: April 26 – May 2

A weekly guide to what’s new of note on air and online

SUNDAY

The Last Kingdom (S4) | Netflix

“Season four of The Last Kingdom is widely expected to cover books seven and eight of Bernard Cornwell’s saga, The Pagan Lord and The Empty Throne. Alfred the Great is dead, as is his ever-conniving nephew Aethelwold; Alfred’s son Edward the Elder sits on the throne of Wessex; his daughter Aethelflaedis wed to the ruler of Mercia; and the Danes, led by Haesten and Cnut (not Cnut the Great – he won’t be born for another hundred years), sense opportunity. Uhtred, meanwhile, realises now might be the time to challenge his uncle Aelfric for his birthright, the lordship of Bebbanburg in Northumbria.” — HistoryExtra.

Cobra | SoHo, 8.30

“Ironically, scheming politicians are the saviours of Cobra, an environmental disaster thriller that might otherwise have been a spectacular yawn. Written by Ben Richards (Spooks, Party Animals), the six-part drama is set amid the public and domestic mayhem that ensues when Britain is struck by a solar storm that plunges the nation into blackout and blind panic. Civilisation starts to disintegrate and, before long, the only life forms that thrive are creatures of the night: scavengers and looters, conniving ministers and their spin doctors.” — The Times.

Prime Rocks: Chuck Berry | Prime, 8.30

“Chuck Berry, who died in 2017, is often hailed as one of the founders of rock’n’roll, and he was still playing up to 100 shows per year well into his 70s. This documentary focuses on his musical legacy through interviews with the likes of Keith Richards and Alice Cooper and footage from Berry’s estate. However, it veers well clear of his controversies – such as allegations of domestic abuse in the 1980s – making it more of a hagiography than an objective analysis.” — The Guardian.

The Case Against Adnan Syed | TVNZ 1, 12.10am (Monday)

“HBO’s four-part docuseries from Amy Berg serves as an informative appendix to Sarah Koenig’s hit podcast … less stylish than Serial but offers more answers.” — Vanity Fair.

MONDAY

Never Have I Ever | Netflix

“Mindy Kaling does teen comedy right … High school hijinks meet a tenderly-told story in the writer’s sweet new Netflix comedy … It’s a very kind, warm, smart show to visit, and each half-hour episode breezed right by. ” — Rolling Stone.

Penny Dreadful: City of Angels | Neon

“An engaging and finely-tuned story set in Hollywood in 1938, its so-called Golden Age. The presence of the supernatural, bleeding into the lives of the hapless mortal Angelenos we meet, feels from the start fairly natural — what’s Hollywood if not haunted? In setting, tone, and several fine and evocative performances, City of Angels cements itself as a fine entrant in the horror-on-TV genre.” — Variety.

TUESDAY

Eat Well for Less NZ | TVNZ 1, 7.30

“Viewers are in for some jaw dropping reality when household shopping goes under the microscope. The show, based on a UK series, is hosted by chefs Mike van de Elzen (TVNZ’s The Food Truck, and Kiwi Living) and restaurateur Ganesh Raj (owner of The Tasting Shed, co-owner of The Māori Kitchen). In each episode, the pair will meet a Kiwi family, and share their knowledge on how to save money, sort food facts from food fiction and eat well for less.” — NZ Herald.

Unbreakable | TVNZ 1, 8.30

“A seven-part documentary series following a group of New Zealanders with physical or intellectual disabilities as they set out to achieve their dreams. It’s somewhat ironic that those ‘dreams’ – things like looking for love, finding a job, playing sport, going flatting or to university – are things most of us take for granted.” — Stuff.

My Life is Murder | TVNZ 1, 8.30

Lucy Lawless plays Melbourne’s answer to Columbo. “There’s nothing about My Life Is Murder that’s going to make you think you’re watching something revolutionary. It’s a traditional case-of-the-week mystery that only reveals details about its main characters when it needs to … a show that’s fun and light entertainment, enhanced by well-written mysteries and performances that don’t take themselves seriously.” — Decider.

SATURDAY

Britain’s Got Talent | TVNZ 1, 7.00

“While Cowell’s singing contests are in decline, BGT remains buoyant. It’s more wholesome, heartwarming and less beholden to pop trends, while the eclectic nature of the acts prevents it becoming too stale. Sure, it’s formulaic – there’s an over-reliance on children, pets and Walliams’s camp teasing of Cowell – but it’s watchable in a way that The X Factor hasn’t been for years.” — The Telegraph.

The Victim | TVNZ 1, 9.45 Saturday

“This is a nuanced and well-crafted legal drama by writer Rob Williams, who has previously worked on Killing Eve and The Man in the High Castle. It opens at the Edinburgh High Court, where a woman has been accused of outing, in a Facebook post, the man who murdered her child 15 years ago. Alternating mainly between courtroom scenes and interviews, the script mainly stays the right side of bombast, while the city provides a suitably weighty backdrop.” — Independent.