‘Star Trek’ Sings, ‘Heartstopper’ Soars, ‘Lincoln Lawyer’ Returns, NFL Hall of Fame Game

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

“Why are we singing?” wonders Capt. Pike (Anson Mount) for good reason, when everyone on the Enterprise begins bursting into song after an unfortunate encounter with a subspace fold (or some such anomaly). The real issue, though, is what they’re singing, with inner feelings and conflicts continually being exposed. As Number One/Una (Rebecca Romijn) explains, they’re simply following the rules of musicals in which “emotions are so heightened that words won’t suffice.” And not just because she says, “I have a theory” will genre fans be reminded of Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s immortal “Once More with Feeling” episode from 2001. This doesn’t quite rise to that level of brilliance, but it’s great fun watching everyone (including the pre-Capt. Kirk played by Paul Wesley) sing and dance against their will. Even Spock (Ethan Peck) isn’t immune, though he finds it “most unusual, so peculiar.” He left out entertaining.

Heartstopper

Animated sparks and butterflies fly whenever the teen romantics get close in this charming British high-school dramedy about the burgeoning relationship between openly gay Charlie (Joe Locke) and closeted rugby star Nick (Kit Connor). The euphoric second season picks up shortly after Nick comes out to his supportive mother (Olivia Colman, shining in brief appearances)—but he’s still not ready to open up to anyone outside their colorful friendship group, especially his often-boorish rugby mates. A school trip to Paris could change everything for Charlie and Nick, as well as for so-far-platonic iconoclast Tao (William Gao) and his trans BFF Elle (Yasmin Finney), and the free-spirited lesbian couple Darcy (Kizzy Edgell) and Tara (Corinna Brown). Heartstopper is so endearingly sweet the heart can’t help but soar.

The Lincoln Lawyer

Last seen taking a beating in a parking garage, raffish defense lawyer Mickey Haller (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) returns for the final five episodes of the legal drama’s second season (based on Michael Connelly’s The Fifth Witness). As he recovers and heads to trial, one question lingers: Did his femme fatale client Lisa Trammell (Lana Parilla) actually murder the shady real-estate developer?

NFL Hall of Fame Game

Don’t look for the New York Jets’ new star player Aaron Rodgers to suit up when the team faces the Cleveland Browns for the annual pre-season exhibition game from Canton, Ohio. (The match kicks off the weekend of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s induction ceremonies.) Neither team is leading with their official starters, with the Jets turning to backup QB Zach Wilson and the Browns using third-stringer Kellen Mond. Nevertheless, for those who are ready for some football, it’s a beginning.

What We Do in the Shadows

We’ve always had to accept as a given (despite alternative vampire lore) that these madcap Staten Island vampires show up on camera, as this terrific supernatural comedy’s mock-documentary format dictates. But the fallout is much more extreme when local-TV news cameras invade the neighborhood following a water-main break, and Nandor the Relentless (chyroned as “Nandor De Laurentiis”) overshares on live TV to a reporter. Have they been accidentally outed? While the vamps go into damage-control mode, sidekick Guillermo (Harvey Guillén) is otherwise engaged, trying to say goodbye to his family of long-time vampire hunters before he irrevocably turns.

And Just Like That…

Those left wanting more after last week’s romantic reunion of Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) and her former beau Aidan Shaw (John Corbett) are in luck. This episode is all about their sexy snuggling and reintegrating Aidan back into her group—though Seema (Sarita Choudhury) seems less than enchanted about having to share her friend. In other developments, neurotic Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) starts a new internship and fussy Charlotte (Kristin Davis) returns to gallery work, getting a life lesson in body positivity along the way. If I were Carrie, I’d flee to Aidan’s Virginia farmhouse while the getting’s good.

INSIDE THURSDAY TV:

• ESPN8: The Ocho (7 pm/ET, ESPN2): Through Saturday, the sports channel devotes 43 consecutive hours to offbeat sports, starting with the debut of “Banana Ball” as the Savannah Bananas take on the Party Animals. Followed by the American Cornhole League Shootout Championships (9 pm/ET) and the Table Hockey World Championships (10/9c).
• Jersey Shore Family Vacation (8/7c, MTV): Sammi “Sweetheart” Giancola reunites with her housemates after 11 years when the raucous reality show resumes.
• Doomsday: The Trial of Lori Vallow Daybell (9/8c, Investigation Discovery): A two-hour special provides updates on the woman sentenced earlier this week to life in prison for the murders of each of her two children and of conspiracy to murder her husband’s first wife.
• More true-crime TV in Sundance Now’s Wrongly Accused, in which investigative reporter Louise Shorter revisits miscarriages of justice in the British legal system; and from ABC News Studios, Hulu’s Demons and Saviors, a three-part docuseries about so-called “poltergeist girl” Christina Boyer, whose conviction for murdering her 3-year-old daughter is being challenged by a team of amateur sleuths.
• Lollapalooza (streaming on Hulu): The music festival, continuing through Sunday, exclusively streams on two live feeds. Headliners on opening night include Billie Eilish, Diplo, Lainey Wilson and Karol G.
• The Super Mario Bros. Movie (streaming on Peacock): The hit animated movie begins streaming with bonus content. Also on Peacock: the Season 3 finale of Hart to Heart, with Dwayne Johnson and Will Smith as Kevin Hart’s final guests.