Tonight in HD: December 21

SoHo Highlight: The Killing (Sky 10, 8.30, 5.1) Stan offers Bennet a ride home from Rosie’s funeral, knowing he’s the main suspect in his daughter’s murder; Darren struggles with his campaign after the debacle at the debate. “Like Councilman Darren Richmond’s floundering political fortunes, The Killing is taking a hit in the public opinion polls (and ratings) as the AMC murder mystery struggles to find dramatic traction in the middle episodes of its rookie season,” Entertainment Weekly noted at this stage of the 13-part mystery’s run in the US. “Perhaps this was inevitable; serial dramas that mount year-long campaigns of story often spin their wheels right about now. But that doesn’t make the dawdle any less disappointing.” Concurred the AV Club: “Halfway through the series, The Killing is taking an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach to storytelling, and now it’s morphing into a show about Muslim-American relations. Chances are this phase, too, will be short-lived. As one commenter observed last week, The Killing is desperately struggling to define itself.” Or, as Nancy Franklin wrote in The New Yorker: “The Killing is both one shock after another to the system and painfully protracted. Watching the show, I felt as though I were in an abusive relationship.” ✭✭✭

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (TV3, 7.30)

Modern Family (TV3, 7.00, 5.1, R) When an earthquake strikes, Cameron and Mitchell see a way out of a costume brunch thrown by their friend Pepper. Nathan Lane guest stars. ✭✭✭✭

Movie: Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (TV3, 7.30, R) The setting for this kitset sequel shifts to a Big Apple brownstone but otherwise it might as well been called Home Alone Again (naturally). However, what passes for humour this time is mean-spirited and sometimes downright cruel. Home Alone 2 isn’t knockabout fun — it’s knockabout mayhem. ✭✭

Winners and Losers (TV One, 8.30) Frances is dating Zach’s dad but still has no clue as to how Zach feels about it; Sophie is worried that Doug is distancing himself from her; Jenny is falling hard for Rhys. ✭✭

Comedy Christmas Cracker: A Feast of Funny (TV2, 8.30) British comedian Jason Cook brings together the best in local and international comedy acts. ✭✭✭✭

Harry’s Law (TV One, 9.30) Harry represents an old friend in a murder case; and Adam is caught between two women: Rachel and Chunhua. ✭✭

V (TV2, 10.30, F) Double-episode series finale: Anna is about to power up the first Blue Energy reactor – but is it good or bad for humans? Diana tells Lisa to fulfill her destiny and save humans from annihilation. ✭✭✭✭

CSI (TV3, 11.45, 5.1, R) Catherine and Detective Vartann are thrown together in a hotel room for 24 hours as they stake out a duo making drugs in the room next door. ✭✭

Sky Movies: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of Dawn Treader (Sky 20, 8.30, 5.1) CS Lewis purists will think the latest Narnia chronicle a video game retread but kids who love action, adventure and spectacle won’t complain, especially if they see it in HD. While the plot’s little more than an island-hopping roller-coaster ride, the special effects are the stuff of which dreams – and nightmares – are made. ✭✭✭✭