New to View: October 17 – 23

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

Monday

➢ Barkley Manor TVNZ 1, 8.00

“Goes behind the gates of one of Auckland’s most prestigious doggy daycare facilities to meet the pampered pooches within and the human in charge of training them, grooming them and apparently pushing some off them around in prams. Hosted by Doc Martin himself, Martin Clunes, it’s exactly the kind of heartwarming thing we need right now.” — Herald on Sunday.

➢ Succession SoHo, 9.30/Neon

“After a two-year break, the new escapades of the über-rich, ultra-entitled but brilliantly funny bellends at Waystar Royco make for even more extraordinarily entertaining and incisive TV drama than ever.” — Empire.

➢ The Pact TVNZ OnDemand

“The six-part series is based on actor-writer Natalie Medlock’s 2017 short film of the same name about an elderly couple (played by Kate Harcourt and Desmond Kelly) who, when one is faced with a terminal diagnosis, make a suicide pact.” — The TV Guide.

➢ Fear the Walking Dead Neon/Sky Go

“After missile-based armageddon dominated last season’s finale, the return of Fear The Walking Dead provides the perfect opportunity to mix things up. A fresh threat and some new faces are just what the show needs – lurching along as it has been, like a groaning walker waiting to be put out of its misery. But on the basis of the first two episodes provided to critics, the writers think differently. Season seven, sadly, is more of the vacuous same.” — NME.

➢ A Mild Touch of Cancer Prime, 8.30

How David Downs triumphed over terminal cancer. “A story of generosity, family connections and courage, A Mild Touch of Cancer explores the science and history of immunotherapy, providing an exciting glimpse into what may very well be the cure for cancer.” — NZ International Film Festival.

➢ Queen of Meth Three, 9.25

“Queen Of Meth is a three-part docuseries where Lori Arnold, the younger sister of Tom Arnold, tries to explain how her twisted childhood led her to becoming the biggest meth dealer in Iowa, culminating in her 1991 arrest, leading to a eight-year term in federal prison … Even though director Julian P. Hobbs treats Queen Of Meth in kind of a rock-n-roll, in-your-face fashion, the story behind it is full of sadness, and that sadness is no more evident in Lori Arnold herself … Will give you a great picture of how circumstances led to an unassuming but tough twentysomething becoming the biggest drug dealer in Iowa.” — Decider.

➢ New Amsterdam SoHo, 9.30

S4 of the lightweight medical drama that doesn’t warrant SoHo branding. “The world’s most popular medical drama is back with a bang. Actually, more than one, as not only does an arsonist threaten the safety of staff and patients at New York’s New Amsterdam, but the narrative tension that built up nicely over the last few episodes of last season explodes in a series of revelations that may just make your head spin.” — Stuff.

Thursday

➢ The Voice Australia TVNZ 2, 8.00

Premiering a month after the winner was announced in Australia is a new-look version of the singing contest that proved a huge hit for Channel Seven, beating even The Block. Of local interest will be the progress of Samoan singer Evile Laloata. “He travelled from New Zealand to Sydney just to compete, he stunned the audience and all four judges’ attention.” — ABC News.

➢ The Graham Norton Show Three, 9.00

The chat show titan returns for his 29th season, at a slightly later time and several weeks rather than just one after the BBC broadcasts. Hence, episode one already seeming dated, with Daniel Craig taking centerstage to hype No Time to Die. Also on the show are co-stars Lea Seydoux, Lashana Lynch and Rami Malek.

➢ The Girl in the Woods TVNZ OnDemand

All eight episodes can be streamed virtually the same time as in the US. “If you find a mysterious door in the woods, it’s probably best to keep it closed. You never know what’s going to come out from the other side. The Peacock original series The Girl in the Woods expands upon the Crypt TV short film The Door in the Woods. The supernatural drama tells the story of a door in the woods that leads to a terrifying monster dimension.” — ThatHashtagShow.

Friday

➢ Good With Wood TVNZ 1, 8.30

TVNZ 1 programme’s must think this carpentry take on The Great British Bake Off is seriously good: it’s airing here within hours of its Channel 4 broadcast (where it will screen as Handmade: Britain’s Best Woodworker). “It would be very easy to roll one’s eyes and reach for the remote to find something else but (a) you’d probably just flip over to a different competitive format and (b) this one is absolutely out of this world.” — Saga.

➢ Invasion Apple TV+

“Sam Neill stars as an Oklahoma sheriff on the cusp of retirement in this moody sci-fi drama about the impact of an alien invasion on people across the world. While there are close encounters of the familiar kind to be found here — in the eerie opening episode, unearthly activity is heralded by children with nosebleeds, flattened crops and underground vibrations — Invasion is hugely atmospheric, often because nobody seems to feel the need to switch on any lights. It’s as lyrically dour as recent space dramas Missions and Away, but there is a real menace in the air as the characters slowly start to realise there’s something nasty in the ether.” — The Times.

➢ Locke & Key Netflix

“A new, second season for Netflix’s finest fantasy drama. It’s the emotionally grounded tale of three siblings who find magical keys hidden inside their dead father’s huge house inn Massachusetts.” — Daily Mail Weekend.

➢ Inside Job Netflix

Animated workplace comedy about a crazy group of people who work for the Deep State. Creator Shion Takeuchi told Forbes: “It’s a classic idiots-empowered story. Co-workers are struggling (with) the kinds of struggles that you or I would have, but they are controlling the apparatus that controls the world.”

Saturday

➢ Gordon Ramsay’s Bank Balance TVNZ 1, 8.35

“Truth be told, I went into this braced for a decent game show ruined by a bad host. In fact, it was the other way around. Ramsay was entirely competent and actually quite charming when dealing with the contestants … A fun game show made needlessly complicated.” — The Telegraph.