What to watch on Sky and free-to-air TV this week
A BBC doco series follows 12 months in the life of Greta Thunberg, and a five-movie anthology looks at West Indian immigration in the United Kingdom. Alex Behan reports.
‘‘I know that people listen to me, but I don’t want them to listen to me, I want them to listen to the science.’’
Greta Thunberg: A Year to Change The World (from Saturday, TVNZ OnDemand) is a three-part BBC documentary that follows the teenager for a year as she goes about her activism, from chatting with David Attenborough, to visiting sites of deadly Californian fires and interviews with scientists.
It’s heavy on science, but with a focus on humans. The impact we’re having on the climate and the impact the climate crisis is having on us.
From Sir Steve McQueen, the director of 12 Years a Slave, Hunger and Shame, comes Small Axe (debuting Monday, June 28, 9.35pm, UKTV) an anthology film series about West Indian immigrants in London. The five standalone films take place between 1969 and 1982 and tell different stories, with themes that celebrate courage and community. Nominated for 15 Baftas between them and winning six, this ambitious, personal project from the acclaimed director promises a collection of powerful, important stories.
Stanley Tucci has been famous most of his life, but it wasn’t until lockdown that he became ‘‘Insta-Famous’’ by casually making cocktails at home in short sleeves. The world was suddenly thirsty for Tucci. Off-script Tucci. Twodrinks-down Tucci. Slightly slurring Tucci. Tucci tasting things and then describing them in his slow, thoughtful manner. Hence the popularity of Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy (new episodes debut Sundays, 11pm, CNN), where he cavorts about his ancestral land, tasting and describing. He’s no culinary slouch. Not only does he make a negroni to die for, he has written his own cookbooks and despite his svelte, slim figure, he loves to pack away the pasta, or rip into a risotto.
The best current affairs series in Aotearoa this year is Te Ao with Moana (Mondays, 8pm, Ma¯ ori TV). It deservedly picked up a Voyager Award this year for its consistent, high-quality public-interest journalism and host Moana Maniapoto’s outstanding skills as an interviewer. She’s hard to lie to. Tough, yet deeply empathetic. Serious, but also light on her feet and quick with a laugh when a guest needs loosening up. Her interview with Dame Hinewehi Mohi was exceptional, but this show brings the goods week after week. During her interview with Jemaine Clement, he wasn’t the only one brought to tears.
If you’ve seen Ozark, you’ve been blown away by Julia Garner, who plays Ruth, the steely hillbilly with a head for business and a fearsome reputation. As Sage in this 2015 dramedy, she is the total opposite, a meek, mild millennial who falls pregnant and reluctantly seeks help from her Grandma (Saturday, 8.40pm, Ma¯ ori TV). Enter the real star of the movie, Lily Tomlin, who is on fire with acerbic wit, quick quips and a tough-love temperament.
Co-written by Tomlin, along with director Paul Weitz (American Pie) this is in the vein of irreverent, yet heartfelt films like Little Miss Sunshine.
Funny, feel-good stuff.
The Commons (from Friday, TVNZ OnDemand) is an eight-part Australian thriller set in the near future, as the climate crisis wreaks havoc on the planet. Rain forecasts incorporate acidity levels, storms ravage the earth and drones dutifully perform regular facial recognition reconnaissance on Sydney streets.
Overlapping storylines revolve around neuropsychologist Eadie (Joanne Froggatt from Downton Abbey) who is pregnant, but facing complications, emotional and technological. Having a baby in the future, it seems, is not as straightforward (or as affordable) as it used to be.
French Top 14 Highlights Show 10:16 Greed 16L 2020 9:30 First XV Rugby Comedy. Caroline Flack, Palmerston North Boys’ v Steve Coogan. Hamilton Boys’. Lost Transmissions 10am Super Rugby TransTasman 16C 2019 Drama. Simon Pegg, Grudge 2 MC 2006 Drama. (RPL) Final – Blues v Alexandra Daddario. Sarah Michelle Gellar, Highlanders. Brahms – The Rhys Darby, Sally Hawkins. Amber Tamblyn. 3:05
The Breakdown Boy 2 MVLC 2020 The Birdcage Water Diviner MV 2014 French Top 14 Horror. Katie Holmes, Robin Williams, Drama. Russell Crowe, Semi-final One – La Owain Yeoman. Gene Hackman, Olga Kurylenko. Rochelle v Racing 92. Nathan Lane. 3:38 Terminator PG Justine
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David Witts. Bill Cruelty French Top 14 MV 2003 Comedy.
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Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter. Billy Bob Thornton. Palmerston North Boys’ v
David Role Models Traffic MVLC 2000 Hamilton Boys’. Crosby shares his often 2008 Comedy. Crime. A conservative 7pm The Breakdown challenging journey, and judge, appointed to 8:30 Aotearoa Rugby Pod his unshakable belief in spearhead America’s 9pm All Access Anton the transformative nature war against drugs, Lienert-Brown. of music. David Crosby, discovers his teenaged 9:30 Major League Rugby Stephen Barncard. daughter is a heroin (HLS) New York v Utah 10:10 Unhinged 16VLC addict. Michael Douglas, Warriors. 2020 Thriller. Russell Crowe, Catherine Zeta-Jones, From Cochrane Field, New Caren Pistorius. So I Married An Axe Benicio Del Toro. Jersey. 11:45 The Last Full Murderer PGL 1993 Comedy. 11pm Secretary 10pm Rugby Heaven Measure 16VLC 2019 Mike Myers, Brenda Fricker, Drama. James Spader, 11pm Aotearoa Rugby Pod Drama. Sebastian Stan, Nancy Travis. Maggie Gyllenhaal, 11:30 Guinness Pro14 Christopher Plummer. 13 Going On Lesley Ann Warren. Rainbow (RPL) Final – WEDNESDAY 1:40 PGS 2004 Comedy. WEDNESDAY 12:48 Benetton v Bulls. Photograph MLS 2020 Drama. Jennifer Garner, Grudge 2 MC 2006 Drama. WEDNESDAY Issa Rae, LaKeith Stanfield. Mark Ruffalo, Judy Greer. Sarah Michelle Gellar, 2am Gallagher Premiership 3:25 Treehouse 16VLSC WEDNESDAY 1:20 The Amber Tamblyn. 2:28 The (RPL) Semi-final One – 2018 Horror. Jimmi Simpson, Guardian M 2020 Comedy. Water Diviner MV 2014 Bristol Bears v Harlequins. Amanda Walsh. Bill And Ted’s Drama. Russell Crowe, 4am Gallagher Danger Close 16VL 2019 Excellent Adventure PGS Olga Kurylenko. Premiership 1989 Comedy. 4:32 Role Terminator Salvation
16LS 2008 Comedy.
Ian McKellen, Helen Mirren. Downhill
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Will Ferrell.
Danger Close
Travis Fimmel, Richard Roxburgh. 2008 Drama.