Jon Snow’s other intrigue
MONDAY
Murdoch Mysteries Watch this if: Your holiday tradition includes one of Toronto’s favourite TV detectives. This period drama’s annual Christmas specials started in 2015 and continue this year in “Home for the Holidays,” with Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) and Dr. Ogden (Hélène Joy) visiting Murdoch’s RCMP officer brother in Victoria. They become embroiled in a murder at an Indigenous archeological dig presided over by a character played by Megan Follows ( Reign, Anne of Green Gables), while back in Toronto the Brackenreids (Thomas Craig, Arwen Humphreys) get mixed up with a fellow named Ponzi (Jake Epstein, Degrassi). (CBC at 8 p.m.) —Debra Yeo
Gunpowder Watch this if: You want to know what Kit Harington gets up to when he’s not being Jon Snow. The Game of Thrones star not only co-created this historical miniseries, he stars as Robert Catesby, a real-life distant ancestor of his and the leader of a group of English Catholics who conspired to blow up King James I and the Houses of Parliament in the so-called “Gunpowder Plot” of 1605. While it doesn’t zip along at the pace of a Thrones episode, it boasts some serious acting from the likes of Mark Gatiss ( Sherlock), Liv Tyler ( The Leftovers) and Tom Cullen ( Knightfall), who plays the man with the match, Guy Fawkes. (HBO at 10 p.m.) —D.Y.
TUESDAY
Hey Rosetta! Watch this if: You have a hard time keeping a straight face when a pop band declares last call. These Newfoundlanders have had a good run of over a decade but dropped a surprise announcement in the fall that they’d be saying their farewells as a band with shows here in Toronto, ending Tuesday, and in their native St. John’s Friday and Saturday. Well, maybe it’s not for good: The “foreseeable future” is as final as they go. If that doesn’t set up a raucous enough Tuesday-night finale to the three-night stand, one-man party Rich Aucoin figures to warm things up well. (Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne St., doors 7:30 p.m.) —Chris Young
WEDNESDAY
New Constellations Watch this if: You want a Toronto tradition with a new twist. The Basement Revue is a beloved music and literary performance series, now routinely selling out intimate venues with typically all-star lineups (thanks to programmers Jason Collett and Damian Rogers). This year, the Revue is using its popularity to partner with Indigenous record label Revolutions Per Minute and cofounder Jarrett Martineau for a new, one-night only program. Coming to the Opera House, New Constellations will feature Lido Pimienta, Feist, Elisapie, Desmond Cole and more. (The Opera House, 735 Queen St. E., 8:30 p.m.) —Carly Maga
THURSDAY
Home Alone and Die Hard Watch this if: You want some Hans Gruber in your holiday. While there are many opportunities to see seasonally themed movie classics on big screens this week, this double bill at the Revue Cinema may be the most fun. It may also be the most charitably minded; admission for both screenings is PWYC with proceeds supporting the Women’s College Hospital Foundation. So whether you prefer to mark the holidays by watching little Kevin McCallister defend his home or John McClane mess up Gruber’s welllaid plans, you’ve got a warm place to be. (Revue Cinema, 400 Roncesvalles Ave., 6:45 and 9:30 p.m.) —Jason Anderson
Jennifer Castle winter solstice Festival Watch this if: You want to celebrate the darkest day with some light. Dec. 21 is the shortest day of the year and, while we hope Torontonians are dealing with seasonal affective disorder in any way that works for them, may we recommend spending the night with Polaris Prize-nominated musician Jennifer Castle. She has held a concert on the winter solstice for the past three years; this time she’s teaming up with acclaimed poet Aisha Sasha John. It may be the shortest day of the year, but it could also be your 2017 highlight. (The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W., 8:30 p.m.) —C.M.
Serena Ryder Watch this if: You want one last gig before Christmas . . . with the kids. With local stages about to dim the lights for the holidays, Ryder has the sort of belting voice and multi-octave range to ring it out with gusto, although she’s also of late been mixing the quieter acoustic folk fare of her early days in sets built around glittering spring release Utopia. Add a recent cover of holiday chestnut “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” to cover another base of what should be a well-rounded homecoming over two all-ages shows that finish Friday. (Danforth Music Hall, 147 Danforth, doors 7 p.m.) —C.Y.
SATURDAY
Lawrence of Arabia Watch this if: You believe movies are better when they’re bigger. TIFF Bell Lightbox’s popular annual program of widescreen spectaculars, Magnificent 70 mm, launches this weekend with a brand-new print of a film that never fails to astonish when it’s seen at the size it demands. Shot by the great cinematographer Freddie Young and starring Peter O’Toole as T.E. Lawrence, director David Lean’s 1962 Oscar winner plays a holiday engagement at the Lightbox alongside fellow XXL faves like 2001: A Space Odyssey, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Vertigo and Dunkirk. (TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W., 1 p.m.) —J.A.
The Nutcracker Watch this if: You’re trying to beat a yuletide record. The Nutcracker isn’t exactly elusive at this time of year: there’s the annual production by the National Ballet of Canada, as well as one from the Pia Bouman School for Ballet. There’s also this short appearance of the classic by the Toronto International Ballet Theatre, running for two performances on Saturday at the Sony Centre and featuring two principal dancers from Moscow’s Bolshoi Ballet, Anastasia Stashkevich and Vyacheslav Lopatin. See them all and officially win at the holidays. (Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, 1 Front St. E., 2 and 7 p.m.) —C.M.