John Byrne’s TV choices for the week ahead (Dates covered: Saturday Aug 22-Friday 28)
It's hello to Marvel's Agent Carter, The Strain and Resistance, and goodbye to The Gleneagle, Witnesses and Melissa & Joey as the summer season continues to wind down.
Pick of the week
Ray Donovan, Wednesday, Sky Atlantic
This hard-boiled drama has really taken on a life of its own in this dizzying third season. What started out as the latest Sopranos wannabe has developed its own unique tale and at times it's as good as anything else on that wonderful box we call the telly.
Liev Schreiber stars as the tough Hollywood Mr Fixit, whose real problems revolve around his largely dysfunctional family, with Jon Voight in career-redefining form as Ray's dad, Mikey. Life's rarely dull or any fun for Ray Donovan and this week he tries to ensure Verona's Election Day victory in order to protect his NFL interests. And the past comes back to cause problems, yet again.
Star of the week
Hayley Atwell
Marvel's Agent Carter, Saturday, RTÉ2
Despite coming across as a very English lady, Hayley Atwell is half-American and even has an Irish granny. She had roles in films such as Cassandra's Dream (2007), The Duchess (2008), The Pillars of the Earth (2010), before entering the franchise-tastic world of Marvel by landing the part of Agent Peggy Carter in the 2011 film Captain America: The First Avenger.
In more recent years Marvel has muscled in on TV, and the latest offering is Peggy Carter's own show, with Atwell continuing in the key role. Dislikers of comic books should note that this isn't a superhero kind of show: if anything's it's more like a post-WWII spy series. Actually, that's what it is.
The story kicks off when old acquaintance Howard Stark finds himself being framed for unleashing his deadliest weapons to anyone willing to pony up the cash. He contacts Peggy to track down those responsible and clear his name.
It's worth watching just for the great clothes, but the cast is impressive and includes Shea Whigham (Eli Thompson on Boardwalk Empire), Kyle Bornheimer and Lyndsy Fonseca. All that and Haywell Atwell kicks ass.
Starting this week
Resistance, Friday, More4
This acclaimed French drama is set during the Second World War and based on true events, telling the story of a group of young folk opposing the Nazis.
On Armistice Day 1940 in Paris, teenager Lili is caught by the police laying flowers at the foot of a French hero's statue. This begins a string of events that sees her thrown together with other like-minded students against German occupation.
Meanwhile, a small group of committed rebels have secretly joined forces to produce a newspaper called Resistance.
World's Busiest Railways 2015, Monday, BBC Two
As part of the BBC India Season, Dan Snow, Anita Rani and Robert Llewellyn are in Mumbai exploring the world's busiest railway.
Pretty Little Liars, Saturday, 3e
The American teen drama mystery–thriller returns for a second season. After a long night involving sleeping off the shame of being called liars by the entire town, the girls' parents gather to send the girls to group therapy.
Celebrity Big Brother: Live Launch, Thursday, TV3 & 5
Seriously?
Duck Quacks Don't Echo, Friday, Sky1
Lee Mack returns for a third season of panel show where celebrity guests offer up statements and then some boffins test their validity.
Time Crashers, Sunday, Channel 4
Tony Robinson presents what's described as an 'immersive' history series that sees Kirstie Alley, Fern Britton, and eight other B-listers crash-land into different moments in British history. The first show plunges them into 1588. The Spanish Armada, anyone?
Fried, Tuesday, BBC Three
This new comedy follows the staff in the struggling brand of Seriously Fried Chicken. The team is led by their eternally optimistic but desperately ineffectual branch manager Mary (Not Going Out's Katy Wix).
Ending this Week
The Gleneagle, Sunday, RTÉ One
This entertaining fly-on-the-wall series set behind the scenes at The Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney comes to a close. It's Christmas and the busiest time of year with a packed schedule of special festive events and of course a visit from Santa.
Witnesses, Wednesday, Channel 4
Loving this atmospheric French crime drama – it's like a Gallic Broadchurch. With Kaz Gorbier now in custody, Paul and Sandra continue their quest to discover the truth about who has been digging up bodies and placing them in show homes.
1864, Sunday, RTÉ2
The Danish war drama concludes with a double bill. Intoxicated and obsessed with the thought of hurting Peter and Laust, Didrich reveals to Peter that Laust and Inge harbor a secret. Peter decides to find Laust to make peace with him.
The Brink, Monday, Sky Atlantic
HBO’s unimpressive political satire ends its first season and it’s the moment of reckoning for Larson, Talbot and Tilson. Here's hoping season two's a bit better.
Yonderland, Monday, Sky1
The discovery of a special fruit tree that grants wishes appears to be a miracle for Yonderland as its people prepare to fight for their survival against the evil Imperatrix. No, I don't watch it either.
Drama of the week
The Strain, Wednesday, Watch
This delightfully bonkers drama is a mix of vampire and zombie horror, starring Corey Stoll as Dr Ephraim Goodweather, who's leading a disparate band of survivors in a post-apocalyptic New York City.
David Bradley – who played the tainted shopkeeper in the first season of Broadchurch – is unrecognisable here as Professor Abraham Setrakian, a sword-waving Holocaust survivor who's also a New York pawn-shop owner.
Jim Watson portrays a young Setrakian in flashbacks, and this season two opener goes back to 1932, when Abraham Setrakian's grandmother tells him the legend of Jusef Sardu, a kind-hearted nobleman who runs into a vampire.
You can still catch up with season one on Sky, so it's not too late to join in the fun.
Comedy of the week
Melissa & Joey, Tuesday, E4
Yet another one of those shows that inexplicably go under the radar. Okay, it's not Veep or Silicon Valley, but it's in the same sphere as Brooklyn Nine-Nine, in that it's a very solid sitcom with guaranteed laughs.
In this season four finale - the show's last-ever episode – Mel, played by former Sabrina the Teenage Witch star Melissa Joan Hart, receives some shocking news about her pregnancy, and she announces her run for Congress.
On Demand
Narcos, Netflix, from Friday
The latest newcomer to Netflix is the true story of the US and Colombian efforts to battle the Medellin cartel during the cocaine-fuelled drug wars of the 1980s.
It's a brutal world where the notorious cartel of the piece were the most violent, ruthless and wealthy criminal organisation in the history of modern crime. And one man lorded over them all, the notorious Pablo Escobar.
Brazilian actor Wagner Moura (Elysium) plays Escobar, while Boyd Holbrook (Gone Girl) and Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones) co-star as real-life DEA agents Steve Murphy and Javier Peña.
Documentary of the week
Where I Am, Thursday, RTÉ One
The story of gay US author Robert Drake's return to Ireland more than a decade after he was left for dead following a vicious attack at his Sligo home should prove fascinating. The documentary follows his journey back to the town where his life was changed forever.
"Everything got put on hold with the assault," Drake recalls. "It really changed my life in a really dramatic way. I felt I had a choice to make. Either I could get better or get bitter. I chose the former, and that has made all the difference."
Film of the Week
Skyfall, Wednesday, RTÉ One
This most recent James Bond flick is also one of the finest in the long-running spy franchise, and it grabs viewers by the lapels from the start and never lets go.
The story centres on Daniel Craig's Bond investigating an attack on MI6 in London. The attack is part of a plot by former agent Raoul Silva (superbly hammed by Javier Bardem) who wants to humiliate, discredit and kill M as revenge against her for a previous betrayal.
Ben Whishaw and Naomie Harris are both back as Q and Eve Moneypenny, while Adele's theme song is as sharp as any James Bond suit. Enjoy!
John Byrne
