Tonight in HD: April 11

Season Premiere: Castle (TV One, 8.30) Detective Beckett fights for her life as Castle, plagued by guilt over his role in the events, struggles to uncover who’s behind Beckett’s brutal shooting. According to US critic Alan Sepinwall, “The normally breezy crime dramedy picks up in a dark place in the aftermath of last spring’s fairly shocking finale. Ruben Santiago-Hudson’s Captain Montgomery? Dead. Stana Katic’s Beckett? Shot and seemingly barely clinging to life (not that anybody anywhere thinks Katic is done on the show). This upheaval results in a brooding and introspective Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion), a side of the normally witty and charming write-turned-police-groupie that viewers normally haven’t experienced.” Even so, don’t expect the darker tone to last. Says Entertainment Weekly of fourth-season prospects: “While the heavy storylines of late last season were compelling, it’s a relief to see that this show can still get back to lighter fare.” ✮✮✮

Sky Movies Greats Premiere: The Score (Sky 22, 8.30, 5.1) Efficient, entertaining heist thriller that regrettably doesn’t deliver on its dynamite casting of Robert De Niro, Edward Norton and Marlon Brando. They play conspirators in an elaborate raid on Montreal’s answer to Fort Knox: De Niro is the aging ace thief who reluctantly agrees to steal a priceless sceptre for his old pal (Brando) — even if it means working with Norton’s arrogant upstart. The creaky premise is far from fresh but Frank Oz directs with sleek precision. ✮✮✮

Home & Away (TV3, 5.30) Bianca warns Heath he won’t be involved with the baby; Henri resumes as Casey’s tutor, and they can’t resist temptation; Roo and Marilyn meddle in John and Gina’s situation. ✮✮

Friends (TV2, 6.30, R) Chandler agrees to spend Thanksgiving in a shipping crate as penance for kissing Kathy;  Monica visits Richard’s son, who is as attracted to Monica as his father was. ✮✮✮✮

Shortland Street (TV2, 7.00) Callum walks into trouble with Daniel, Wendy squashes Murray’s dream, and Lana and Nicole are led astray. ✮✮✮

Two and a Half Men (TV2, 7.30) Walden hits it off with a British babe, but neither of them is sure he’s ready to re-enter the dating world. ✮✮

SPCA Rescue (TV One, 8.00, F) The SPCA is called in to save a puppy shot three times; an inspector fears he is too late to save a duck found tethered in a backyard; five baby goats are nailed shut in a wooden box. ✮✮✮

2 Broke Girls (TV2, 8.00) It’s Caroline’s first broke holiday season and to earn extra money, she and Max apply to work as elves at a department store’s “Santaland.” ✮✮✮

Road Madness (TV3, 8.00) The Road Madness truck cameras catch cyclists with a serious death wish. Median barriers usually protect oncoming vehicles, but not in this crash. And a crazy case of undertaking. ✮✮

The Big Bang Theory (TV2, 8.30) Sheldon becomes jealous and considers taking his relationship with Amy to the next level when Stuart from the comic book store asks her out on a date. ✮✮✮✮

The Almighty Johnsons (TV3, 8.30) Axl learns the path to being a benevolent God, one who commands respect, is strewn with idiots and half-wits. ✮✮✮

Happy Endings (TV2, 9.00) Max agrees to be Santa for Penny’s charity; Jane accidentally gives away the Christmas vacation money Brad had saved. ✮✮

Harry’s Law (TV One, 9.30) Tommy and Oliver defend twins who are married to the same man and accused of his murder. ✮✮

The Walking Dead (TV2, 9.30) The situation between Shane and Rick comes to a head while Maggie grows concerned for Glen’s feelings due to the fact he froze during a fire fight. ✮✮✮✮

Sons of Anarchy (TV3, 9.30, 5.1) SAMCRO gets word that the Niners have made a new alliance that directly impacts their own agenda. ✮✮✮✮

Nikita (TV2, 10.30) Michael shows up in Nikita’s lair and tells her that he knows Alex is the mole. Nikita must find Kasim, the man who killed Michael’s family, in the next 24 hours or he will expose the secret. ✮✮✮

CSI: New York (TV3, 11.20, 5.1, R) In the culmination of a multi-episode mystery, Mac and his team uncover the dark lair of a murderous madman, the Compass Killer. ✮✮

This Is Not My LIfe (TV One, 11.55, R) Alec and Jessica uncover startling information about Waimoana. ✮✮

Sky Movies Premiere: Justin Bieber – Never Say Never (Sky 20, 8.30, 5.1) Said the New York Daily News of this filmed concert tour: “Bieber’s world – at least as edited for mass consumption – is a refreshingly wholesome universe, where a young superstar is good-natured and grateful, says grace before every meal, and spends all his free time on the tour bus tweeting. He also likes to hug, a lot.” (2011) ✮✮