Jason Momoa Is a ‘Chief of War,’ Marc Maron’s ‘Panicked’ Stand-Up, Legends of ‘Wakanda,’ Tom Brady’s Soccer Drama

Chief of War

Epic in scope, and admirable in its authenticity as it reveals a history with which too few are familiar, this sprawling drama of pre-unified and pre-colonial Hawaii (spoken largely in Hawaiian with English subtitles) is a passion project for native son Jason Momoa (an early Apple TV+ star in See), who serves as executive producer, co-writer (with fellow Hawaiian native Thomas Pa’a Sibbett) and star. Momoa brings grave authority to the role of Ka’aina, a former war chief during the late 18^th century, when the islands were separated into four kingdoms, often at war with each other. Disillusioned by the needless carnage, Ka’iana flees to protect his family, becoming exposed to the outside world and returning to a very changed land. Launches with two episodes.

Marc Maron: Panicked

The acclaimed comedian and podcaster, who’s also no slouch as an actor in shows like GLOW and the recent Stick, walks a tightrope of high anxiety in his second HBO comedy special, describing his creative process as “mining for gold in a river of panic.” Whether it’s the current political climate or the recent L.A. wildfires, when he’s trying to evacuate three cats with only one carrier (“This is who I am at the end of the world”), Maron commands the BAM Harvey Theater stage in Brooklyn with mordant wit, often aimed at himself. “I didn’t think I’d make it to 61, and I’m not thrilled that I did.” Speak for yourself, Marc. Which he does, brilliantly.

Eyes of Wakanda

Weaving the universe made famous by Black Panther into the wider world of legend and myth, this ambitious four-part series from Marvel Animation focuses on lesser-known heroes who are part of a secret society of “war dogs,” warriors who venture into the world beyond Wakanda to retrieve lost Vibranium artifacts. Bet you didn’t know Wakanda’s connection to Achilles and the Trojan War.

Built in Birmingham: Brady and the Blues

We’ve all heard of the “British invasion” in music back in the days of The Beatles, but now there seems to be an “American invasion” of celebrities buying or buying into legendary European soccer teams. Having made his mark in American football, NFL great Tom Brady’s excursion into minority ownership of the downtrodden Birmingham City Blues is the subject of a five-part docuseries. “We’re trying to make Birmingham City a world-class team,” Brady says. And much like the success story of FX‘s Welcome to Wrexham, things have begun looking up for the Blues. And for its celebrity owner, who boasts, “I have no fear in anything I do.”

Summer Under the Stars

With August comes a late-summer treat for connoisseurs of vintage movies, with TCM’s annual monthlong stunt of 24-hour tributes to a different film legend each day. First up is the glamorous Lana Turner, whose marathon kicks into high gear with the 1946 film noir classic The Postman Always Rings Twice (6/5c), the 1959 tearjerker Imitation of Life (8/7c) and 1952’s blistering Hollywood exposé The Bad and the Beautiful (11/10c).

Deadliest Catch

The 21^st season of the pioneering docuseries finds the Bering Sea fishermen venturing farther west than they’re accustomed to, when monster red king crab are discovered near the abandoned Adak Island, sparking a race to these dangerous waters. Now co-captains of the Time Bandit, Sig and Johnathan lead the pack, with an ammonia leak aboard the Titan Explorer forcing Jake Anderson‘s crew to abandon ship.

INSIDE FRIDAY TV:

• ESPN8: The Ocho (7 pm/ET, ESPN): Highlights include the Savannah Bananas taking on the Texas Tailgators at Baltimore’s Camden Yards. (Another game airs Saturday on ESPN2.) Elsewhere, ESPN2 airs the Extreme Archery Championship, the National Dodgeball League Championship Games and the Pop-A-Shot 2025 National Championship starting at 7/6c, and ESPNU broadcasts the ACL World Cup cornhole tournament from Rock Hill, South Carolina.
• Life After Lockup (8/7c, We TV): The Love During (and After) Lockup spinoff follows seven former inmates and their partners as they try to move on with their lives and relationships and not return to prison.
• Ready to Love (8/7c, OWN): The dating series returns with six bachelors and seven bachelorettes looking for commitment in Philadelphia.

ON THE STREAM:

• Dexter: Resurrection (streaming on Paramount+ With Showtime): Now that Dexter (Michael C. Hall) has revealed to his son Harrison (Jack Alcott) that he’s not dead after all, will theirs be a happy reunion? Dex is also getting closer to Mia aka “Lady Vengeance” (Krysten Ritter), while their fanboy benefactor Leon Prater (Peter Dinklage) sits for an interview with 60 Minutes’ Lesley Stahl. The episode airs Sunday on Showtime.
• The Chi (streaming on Paramount+ With Showtime): In the urban drama’s Season 7 finale, Alicia (Lynn Whitfield) puts her vengeance plan in motion. The episode airs Sunday on Showtime.
• My Oxford Year (streaming on Netflix): Sofia Carson stars in a romantic drama as an American poetry grad student whose study year at Oxford is complicated when she falls for her handsome professor (Corey Mylchreest).
• Perfect Match (streaming on Netflix): The incestuous world of reality-TV celebs takes it up a notch when alums of Netflix dating shows are joined by stars of Love Island, Bachelor Nation and their ilk to form new love connections.
• Smoke (streaming on Apple TV+): In a pivotal episode of the crime drama, arson investigator and secret arsonist Dave (Taron Egerton) basks in hero worship after his recent triumph, but coming face to face with Freddie (Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine) during interrogation unsettles him—and so does his suspicion that his colleagues are onto him.
• Final Destination Bloodlines (streaming on Max): The latest installment of the horror franchise makes its streaming debut. All six Final Destination movies air on HBO Saturday in a marathon starting at 12:10 pm/11:10c.