John Byrne’s TV choices for the week ahead (Dates covered: Saturday May 16-Friday May 22)
It's the end of the line for Mad Men and Revenge, Republic of Telly is off on its summer holliers, while new shows include US drama Tyrant and Australian miniseries Gallipoli.
Pick of the week
Mad Men, Thursday, Sky Atlantic
I've often called this 'the greatest TV show no one watches' - but not any longer. After seven seasons and an amazing trip through 1960s' America as seen from Madison Avenue, Matthew Weiner’s multi-award-winning drama comes to an end.
Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Vincent Kartheriser, Christina Hendricks and co have brought viewers on some journey. The multi-layered Don Draper, his family and the gang at Sterling Cooper & Partners offered a stylish, thoughtful, layered and mature show that is impossible to replace. My money's on Don committing suicide, by the way. There. I said it.
Here's a trailer for the final seven episodes:
Star of the week
Emily VanCamp
Revenge, Tuesday, RTÉ2
Bonkers doesn't even come close to describing Revenge. Okay, daft is probably a more apt description, as the show lurched from one ridiculous situation to the next. With Victoria Grayson committing suicide and framing Amanda Clarke, the set-up is there for a finale that will either see the latter rot in jail or end up in Jack's arms.
It's been some journey for Emily VanCamp, who played the vengeful Amanda, whose profile previous to this was highest on Brothers & Sisters, where she played Rebecca Harper. Last year she appeared as a potential love interest for Captain America in that Marvel franchise's second feature, The Winter Soldier.
In Revenge she was up against Madeline Stowe (who played Victoria Grayson), and there was always only going to be one winner there, especially with Stowe's mastery of the withery stare and jutting lower lip.
Still, Revenge was a fun distraction while it lasted, especially the impressive wardrobes of Gabriel Mann and Karine Vanasse, who played Nolan Ross and Margaux LeMarchal.
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Starting this week
Tyrant, Wednesday, RTÉ2
This new US drama has had mixed reviews but might be worth a look as it was created by the man behind the Israeli series Prisoners of War (Gideon Raff) and its US remake Homeland (Howard Gordon). Barry Al-Fayeed is a California paediatrician who also happens to be the second son of a Middle Eastern dictator. He reluctantly agrees to return home with his American family for a nephew’s wedding but events overtake him as his homeland erupts in turmoil.
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Castle, Wednesday, Alibi
Season seven opens with Nathan Fillion's Rick Castle fighting for his life in this largely fluffy-but-fun procedural about a crime writer who helps the NYPD solve murders.
Gallipoli, Thursday, RTÉ One
Had enough of WWI yet? Here's a seven-parter that follows two young Australian brothers as they head off to fight in Turkey.
Neven Maguire: Home Chef, Wednesday, RTÉ One
Google's European offices in Dublin is the venue as Neven Maguire serves up lamb kebab with flat bread, and Vietnamese Pho with chicken dumplings.
Ending this Week
Republic of Telly, Monday, RTÉ2
Jen of the Week for the final show of the season is Una Foden, who is appearing in two sketches. First up, Bernard and Kevin need some way to make money to last the summer and Bernard suggests that they set-up a fake charity and release a single to make a few quid. They settle on a charity that supports the cause of bringing back toys in cereal boxes. Kevin reckons they need the help of a celeb to really cash in on the 'charity', and ask Una Foden to help.
The later sketch is set in 1988. Una Foden has just written a draft script of the first ever episode of Fair City. The Terminator is sent back in time on a very specific mission, to destroy the script and ensure that Fair City never happens but Kevin has other ideas, and will stop at nothing to save both Una and her script.
Here's a Gone Jen sketch featuring Laura Whitmore:
Forever, Thursday, Sky 1
In this last-ever episode, Henry and Jo investigate the murder of a museum employee in possession of an ancient dagger that sliced through Roman emperor Julius Caesar.
The Enfield Haunting, Sunday, Sky Living
Ever since Scary Movie made scary movies irony-only zones, it's quite a brave move to make a straight-faced horror story, but this one's been pretty impressive so far. In this third and final episode, events take an unexpected turn when Janet and Margaret go to a national newspaper and claim they’ve made the whole thing up. Fake-gate, though, is merely a ruse. The girls have had enough and want Guy and Maurice back on the case.
Critical, Tuesday, Sky 1
Devastated by the news that Fiona is set to marry Tom, Glen bundles his belongings into a bag and tears off in his car. Fiona chases after her ex and, over the phone, begs him to stay because she wants to be with him. But just as the trauma surgeon is considering turning around, another car collides with his vehicle.
The Delivery Man, Wednesday, UTV Ireland
A face from his past shows up at the hospital where cop-turned-midwife Matthew Bunting works after the drugs' cupboard is raided and the police are called.
Peter Kay's Car Share, Wednesday & Friday, BBC 1
The company car share comedy comes to a close with this week's two episodes, beginning with Peter Kay's John forgetting to post a card for his granny's birthday. Will he be able to put things right on the journey to work?
Drama of the week
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Sunday, BBC One
Based on the best-selling novel by Susanna Clarke, this new seven-part period drama starts Eddie Marsan and Bertie Carvel. The reclusive Mr Norrell comes to London to offer the government his services as a magician, but makes a dangerous pact with a mysterious Gentleman to restore a politician's fiancé. Meanwhile, the charming and dissolute Jonathan Strange, more interested in drinking wine and winning the hand of the beautiful Arabella than reading dusty magical books, discovers that he too has magical powers.
Here's a preview:
Comedy of the week
Silicon Valley, Monday, Sky Atlantic
Until Veep returns, this is the best comedy on TV. When Gavin meddles in the guys’ affairs it leaves Pied Piper struggling to find office space, which annoys a nosy neighbour in the process. Meanwhile, Gilfoyle takes on the task of building servers and a stressed-out Richard reluctantly takes Jared on as a roommate. Elsewhere, Big Head’s management style is questioned and Pied Piper's competitor Nucleus zeroes in on a big event.
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On Demand
True Detective
Sky Atlantic, from Thursday
True Detective returns this summer for a second run with Colin Farrell, Vince Vaughn and Rachel McAdams heading up a brand new cast. In the meantime, fans can enjoy Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey's performances as Louisiana homicide investigators in the Emmy Award-winning first season.
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Documentary of the week
Ireland and the Eurovision – the Good, the Bad and the Mad, Monday, RTÉ One
I would watch this anyway, but with the awesome Angela Scanlon on hosting duties it's guaranteed to be good craic.
This year marks the 50th anniversary since Ireland first entered the Eurovision. Since then, Ireland has won the contest more times than any other country, but things have gone a little flat in recent years.
In this documentary, Angela Scanlon skips through some of the most memorable moments of the past fifty years. She explores how the event has changed since Butch Moore first stepped onto the Eurovision stage to sing for Ireland back in 1965.
And don't forget - this year's competition kicks off with the semi-finals on Tuesday and Thursday, with Ireland's Molly Sterling performing in the latter. Both legs are live on RTÉ2.
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Film of the Week
Bonnie and Clyde, Friday, Sky Movies Greats
A landmark film, this 1967 drama was directed by Arthur Penn and stars Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway as the notorious Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker, a couple of crooks who led a gang that became cult heroes during the Great Depression in the US. The film won a couple of Oscars, but is most notable for its - at the time - graphic depiction of sex and violence, especially the final scene when - well, just in case you haven't seen it, we'll leave it at that.
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