today’s television

sunday, June 25

Master-Chef Australia WIN, 7.30pm The Mystery Box: it’s the stuff of nightmares and the stuff of redemption. Just what will be hiding inside that ominous box? Tonight, esteemed chef Peter Gilmore, from Sydney fine-dining restaurants Quay and Bennelong, has chosen ingredients that are designed to have the contestants in a flutter and get judges Matt, George and Gary excited about food all over again. The hot-under-the-collar contestants have just an hour to create some of the best dishes of their life. Later, the makers of the three best dishes have the chance to cook for immunity. The Putin Interviews SBS, 8.30pm In an odd move to some, Oscarwinning director Oliver Stone spent two years producing this four-part documentary on Russian President Vladamir Putin. Filming began before Donald Trump became US President and his ties to Russia were called into question, but by a stroke of luck, Stone’s doco is suddenly very topical. While the first two instalments have drawn criticism for showing the Russian dictator in an almost positive light, tonight we start to see Oliver ask Putin some hard questions: whether his answers are illuminating is another story. It’s a fascinating portrait. MOVIE: Guardians Of The Galaxy 7MATE, 8.30pm, M (2014) Featuring a colourful cast of characters played by a talented ensemble, this superhero flick centres around American pilot Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), who becomes the uncomfortable ally to a bunch of extraterrestrial oddballs after he steals a coveted orb from wicked radical Ronan (Lee Pace). But when he finds out just how powerful the orb is and the threat it could pose if it fell into the wrong hands, Quill quickly realises it’s up to him and his new alliance to protect it – with the fate of the galaxy in their hands. Doctor Who ABC, 7.40pm Whovians better strap themselves in to bid farewell to the 12th incarnation of Doctor Who, played with gumption by Peter Capladi (pictured) for the past three seasons. In the first part of season 10’s highly anticipated finale, titled “World Enough and Time”, we seem to be preparing for the worst, as friendship drives the Doctor into “the rashest decision of his life”. The plot involves a spaceship, a black hole and the “death of someone” our Timelord has pledged to protect. While it may seem too soon for fans to even think about who will be filling the big shoes of Capaldi once he has made his exit, so far no names have been thrown in the ring.