What to watch this week
Monarch
(Tomorrow, TVNZ+)
Susan Sarandon gets top-billing for this eight-part drama about a country music dynasty. However, when their royal reign is put in jeopardy, the family’s current star Nicolette (Anna Friel) will stop at nothing to protect their legacy. Martina McBride, Tanya Tucker and Shania Twain are among the real-life singing stars scheduled to play themselves.
The Handmaid’s Tale (Thursday, Neon) The 10-episode, season five of this critically acclaimed dystopian drama sees Elisabeth Moss’ June facing consequences for the killing she carried out, while attempting to redefine her identity and purpose. Meanwhile, Serena (Yvonne Strahovski) is trying to raise her profile and Gilead’s influence is making its way to Canada, although change could be on its way south of the border, as Commander Lawrence (Bradley Whitford) attempts to gain power.
Gaslit
Julia Roberts plays Martha Mitchell in this eightpart drama on the lesser-known stories surrounding the early 1970s Watergate Scandal that brought down President Richard Nixon’s administration. Inspired by the first season of Slate’s podcast Slow Burn, it details how Mitchell, a celebrated socialite and the wife of Attorney General John N Mitchell, was one of the first people to sound the alarm about the Nixon’s involvement in the coverup. Sean Penn, Dan Stevens and Betty Gilpin also star. ‘‘Roberts is magnetic as the gossipmonger turned voice of dissent,’’ wrote Financial Times’ Dan Einav.