WORTH WATCHING Counterpart
Russian Doll Netflix
Don’t even think you’re going to watch this the old fashioned way, one episode at a time — it was designed, like most Netflix shows these days, to be binged. And at under four hours in total, it’s kind of more like a long movie than a TV series anyway. It’s also one of those shows where the less you know about it going in the better. So if you haven’t had the chance to be surprised and engrossed and to laugh and feel unexpected feelings and Shazam most of the soundtrack already then just know this: you’re in for a treat.
SoHo, 8:30pm Thursday
It’s hard enough just trying to keep track of what’s happening in one dimension most of the time. Last year’s first season of spy drama Counterpart had to go and introduce a whole second, parallel dimension for us to deal with as well. Trying to keep track of the two J K Simmons’ comings and goings between them was a total nightmare, but a worthwhile nightmare — it was easily one of the best new shows of 2018. Whereas season one focused mostly on Simmons’ Howards, season two sees the introduction of several new characters as things get even more John Le Carre.
Jamie Cooks Italy TVNZ 1, 8:30pm Thursday
Do you think Jamie Oliver has ever eaten a Barbecue Shape? Wild to think that one of the world’s most famous chefs has probably never tried one of the world’s best foods, but we all have our blind spots. The Naked Chef (remember when he used to call himself that) is back this week with the kind of show he does best: hanging around the markets and kitchens of Italy with his old mate Gennaro Contaldo, glugging some extra virgin here, chucking bits of mozzarella and basil there, and charming all the local nonnas into revealing their best culinary secrets.