Worth Watching: Finales (‘Barkskins,’ ‘Roswell,’ ‘Songland’), Spotlight on ‘Jeopardy Champions
A selective critical checklist of notable Monday TV:
Barkskins (9/8c, National Geographic Channel): The body count rivals the end of Hamlet in the grim finale of the historical drama, airing back-to-back episodes. Not the most festive setting for Trepangy’s (David Thewlis) impending marriage to the calculating Melissande (Tallulah Haddon), who hasn’t considered what a formidable rival she has in Mari (Kaniehtiio Horn). With the Iroquois still seeking a cache of weapons, war is brewing that could prove fateful to the settlement of Wobik in what is now the territory of Quebec.
Roswell, New Mexico (9/8c, The CW): CrashCon, the biggest tourist event of the year in the UFO-obsessed town, provides the backdrop for the second-season cliffhanger, in which a deadly threat clouds the festivities, and Liz (Jeanine Mason) soon realizes she can’t save all of her loved ones. Including her alien love interest Max (Nathan Parsons), who may be in the most immediate danger.
Songland (10/9c, NBC): Saving one of its biggest names for last, the season finale of the terrific musical competition series welcomes Usher, who knows his way around an NBC reality show, having served several terms as a Voice coach and adviser. He’ll hear pitches from up-and-coming songwriters, whose submissions will go through a creative process with writer-producers Ryan Tedder, Ester Dean and Shane MaAnally until one is ultimately chosen for Usher to record and release to his audience.
Jeopardy! (syndicated, check local listings): The summer hiatus came earlier than usual for TV’s best quiz show, when filming on this and every other production shut down this spring in reaction to the coronavirus. So to fill the void, Jeopardy! is spotlighting all 15 of the players who made it to last year’s Tournament of Champions, including (naturally) record-setting instant legend James Holzhauer — and the contestant who ended his run, Emma Boettcher. For the next three weeks, each episode will feature what the producers consider the “best win” of each player, leading to an encore of 2019’s tournament, starting July 6. It may not make up for the lack of new episodes, but as stunts go, it’s a solid idea.
Inside Monday TV: Having made headlines with its overdue announcement of the first black Bachelor, the franchise continues with its summer stunt The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons—Ever! (8/7c), featuring controversial Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe, who reconnect with host Chris Harrison to look back at that time in her life… Norah Jones delivers an hour-long acoustic session of signature songs, plus some new material, on AXS TV’s At Home and Social (8/7c)… Streaming on Acorn TV: a six-episode second season of the acclaimed Welsh psychological thriller Hidden, and the season finale of Dead Still, in which memorial photographer Brock Blennerhasset (Michael Smiley) and his associates are in danger after another murder.
