Worth Watching: ‘Years and Years,’ Final Season of ‘Legion,’ ‘Beyond Stonewall’
A selective critical checklist of notable Monday TV:
Years and Years (9/8c, HBO): Just when you think today’s news couldn’t get stranger or scarier, Russell T Davies (Doctor Who, A Very English Scandal) delivers a wrenching drama of near-future shock and anxiety. Spanning the next 15 years, the series depicts a diverse yet typical British family who endure personal challenges amid global crises that many would consider the end of the world. And yet the world, and life, keep going. For now. The cast (featuring Rory Kinnear, Russell Tovey and Anne Reid) is excellent. See the full review here.
Legion (10/9c, FX): TV doesn’t get trippier than this psychedelic psychodrama from the Marvel Comics universe, now in its final season of eight episodes. As the end begins, mutant David Haller (Dan Stevens) — who could be the cause of the world’s future destruction, though he insists he’s a good (if troubled) person — gains a following. But will the show?
Smithsonian Time Capsule: Beyond Stonewall (8/7c, Smithsonian Channel): As World Pride gets underway in New York this week, commemorating 50 years of the gay-rights movement in the wake of the Stonewall Inn uprising, this special sifts through artifacts from the Smithsonian collections (primarily the National Museum of American History) that help tell the history of gay life in America over the last 150 years. Among the objects of interest: a first-edition copy of Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass, love letters among World War II soldiers and a panel from the AIDS Memorial Quilt.
2019 NBA Awards (9/8c, TNT): Shaquille O’Neal hosts the annual ceremony rewarding the MVPs of the recently-concluded NBA season. Getting special honors: ABC’s Good Morning America anchor and former ESPN broadcaster Robin Roberts, receiving the Sager Strong Award for her advocacy for bone-marrow registry after being diagnosed with breast cancer and MDS; and former NBA rivals Magic Johnson and Larry Bird will jointly accept a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Inside Monday TV: The Women’s World Cup is now in the knockout stage, and the front-running U.S. Women’s National Team will take on Spain in a match from Reims, France (noon/11c, FS1)… An iconic reality show returns with MTV’s launch of The Hills: New Beginnings (10/9c), featuring a cast of exhibitionists who probably can’t believe that those Jersey Shore creeps stole their spotlight… The animated sci-fi comedy Final Space moves from TBS to Adult Swim (11:30/10:30c) for its second season, with Gary (voiced by series creator Olan Rogers) starting over with a new ship and a new AI (Jane Lynch)… Acorn TV typically focuses on all things British, but in the four-part docuseries Martin Clunes’ Islands of America, the star of Doc Martin and Manhunt travels to the islands in and around North America (from Hawaii and Alaska to Puerto Rico, the Outer Banks and Manhattan) in an epic travelogue… Also streaming, via Spectrum On Demand: Curfew, a race-car thriller starring Sean Bean, Adam Brody, Billy Zane, Adrian Lester and Miranda Richardson. Set in a near-future London, the series follows a treacherous street race that takes place in the shadow of a mysterious virus that has infected much of the country.
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R
So who's the guy in the photo at the top of this article? Way to caption, guys.
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C
Dan Stevens
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R
Wow. He doesn't look anything like he did on Downton Abbey. Actually, I would have assumed the photo related to the FIRST show mentioned, Years and Years. Why would they A) not caption the photo at all, and then B) not have the blurb that corresponds to the photo immediately below it. To borrow an old phrase, "Is this any way to run a webpage?"
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R
Quite DELIGHTED that Legion has returned!!!
Beautiful cinematography...Provocative story lines...what more could one desire???
[The first two Seasons were each, essentially, "self-contained"...so one should have little problem jumping into Season #3...(even if they have not seen it before.)]
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C
I watched much (most?) of the 1st season and didn't understand it.
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R
Well Don...I watched ALL the episodes of the 1st season...and ALL the episodes of the 2nd season...and...didn't understand it...
It's the watching of the Episode, itself, that I, personally, find so enthralling...(I'll think to myself..."Imagine how really fascinated I'd be if I understood anything of what's going on!!??!!")...
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Yeah. I do wish the narrative in Season 2, particularly, were a little clearer since I think we are supposed to understand and care about it to an extent, but overall I surrender myself to the style over substance because it's just so weird in a captivating way.
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TVLine has a pretty informative "Legion Season 3 Premiere Recap"...
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G
Grand Hotel!!
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R
What did you think of Burden of Truth?
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G
Terrific as usual. I like the new mystery.
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R
As I mentioned in my other post, I bet the fact that Billy's brother was supposed to have that motel room is going to be important. Probably some shady dealings of his are going to come to light.
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G
Billy's loser bro is the worst part of the show. The less of him the better.
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R
Agreed. When they showed him being interviewed by the cops, I sat there wondering "who is this guy??" It finally dawned on me who he was, but I wonder why they brought him in for questioning... as far as we know, he never had any interaction with Joanna's father whatsoever, so why bring him in?
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G
I was thinking about that too! Meanwhile that racist, inept white cop handled the entire case like a moron.
I think I recall Billy's brother having something to do with the motel room. Wasn't paying attention though.
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R
Might watch the Smithsonian Time Capsule thing, or continue watching Yellowstone Live (which was good last night, although there was one unhappy scene right at the end).
Burden of Truth last night was pretty riveting. Loved the quick succession of police interviews. Not sure why they interviewed lawyer Billy's brother... I didn't know who he was at first, they're still trying to force this guy on us one way or another. However, having said that, I think he may end up being a key in this mystery. Everyone seems to be glossing over the fact that he was "supposed" to be in the room of the dead man. Could it be a case of mistaken identity, and Hanley wasn't the intended victim?
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C
I'm just going to watch shows I recorded last night this evening.
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