Alison Rowat’s TV week

Hang on, one wondered, I know the Swedes are famous for their liberal ways, but surely even they would draw the line at allowing killers to play up for the cameras. All was not as it seemed, though. (Spoiler alert: If you have not seen it yet, skip the next few pars and come back later; I’ll wait.)

Thomas Quick, real name Sture Bergwall, had not killed anyone. Sent to a secure psychiatric hospital for an earlier incident, he confessed to the murders to get attention, better treatment, and lots and lots of drugs. One talking head said the key to understanding him was loneliness – all those therapy sessions were just about having someone to talk to.

There was more to it as this fascinating film showed. Despite growing doubts and a consistent lack of evidence, Bergwall convinced his therapists, and the courts, that he had carried out the killings. In reality, he was merely regurgitating details he had read in the papers or in novels.

The Confessions took its time – two hours – to tell its story but it was so gripping it never dragged. As was pointed out at the end, the real victims here were the relatives who thought the killer of their loved ones had been caught, when in reality the murderers were still out there.

An unforgettable lesson in the dangers of group-think and hearing what you want to hear.

With the drama cupboard becoming increasingly bare there was a warm welcome waiting for

It seems to be the law that Andrew Davies gets to adapt anything shown on a Sunday night (War and Peace, Sanditon), and he was on duty again with Vikram Seth’s novel. That meant we got a lot of larking and flirting, interrupted now and then by something racier.

Opening in India in 1951, four years after Partition, student

Lata (Tanya Maniktala) believes she has done her mother’s job for her and found a suitable boy to fall in love with. Alas for them, he is Muslim and she is Hindu and their relationship will cause a scandal if discovered. Elsewhere in the family, and in the country at large, tensions are building and more unsuitable alliances are being forged.

Director Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding, Queen of Katwe) certainly knows how to put on a spectacular show, and the central pairing are convincing as star-crossed lovers.

But despite the odd attempt to liven things up it was a long hour filled with too much sighing and longing. May call again but might not stay.

Anelka: Misunderstood (Netflix, from Wed)

A troubled genius or a man who wasted his career? Whatever you think about Nicolas Anelka, you can’t deny he had the skills to pay the bills.

The French international striker scored goals across the globe during a 20-year career that saw him play for such teams as Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Paris St Germain and Real Madrid before hanging his boots up following a stint with Mumbai FC. On his day, Anelka could be a world beater, but his discipline had a habit of getting him into trouble.

This documentary aims to tell the truth about this extraordinary figure. Seven years in the making, it examines not only his career but also his personal life, and much of the information comes from Anelka himself, who discusses many of the events featured here for the first time.

Ramy (StarzPlay, from Thu)

If you didn’t catch the first season of this muchadmired, Golden Globewinning comedy, then make sure you check it out so that you can enjoy all the fun of the second run. It’s made a star of comedian Ramy Youssef, who also co-created the programme. He plays Ramy Hassan, an American Muslim trying to juggle his faith with his lifestyle as a millennial living in New Jersey.

This time he’s continuing his spiritual journey by finding a new community and opting for a greater commitment to his religion. Double Oscar-winning star Mahershala Ali joins the cast, which also includes Mohammed Amer, Hiam Abbass and Steve Way. Gentle, entertaining and offering a unique insight into a particular way of life, Ramy is not to be missed.

The Rain (Netflix, from Thu)

The Danish post-apocalyptic drama is back for its third series which, sadly, will also be its last. It’s now years since the rain wiped out much of the population of Scandinavia, and now surviving siblings Simone and Rasmus, who have relied on each other for so long, may be torn apart by their differing views on their next step.

While she insists they should continue searching for a cure for a virus that has already killed so many people, he is convinced everyone must be infected with a beta version of the illness that turned him into a superhuman. But which of them is right, and who will win their fight if they cannot come to some form of agreement on which course of action to take? Alba August and Lucas Lynggaard Tonnesen star.

Work It (Netflix, from Fri)

Directed by Laura Terruso and produced by Alicia Keys, this coming-of-age comedy movie certainly has a decent pedigree.

Rising star Sabrina Carpenter, a singer and actress whose Broadway debut in Mean Girls was recently cut short by the coronavirus pandemic, takes the lead role of Quinn Ackerman, a teenage student who is dreaming of landing a place at a top college. Joining her high school’s dance team would boost her chances of success, but there’s just one problem - Quinn has two left feet.

As a result, she isn’t allowed into the snobby group, so decides to set up her own, featuring a variety of misfits. You can probably guess what happens next, and although it’s all rather cliched, it’s a whole lot of fun.

Nicolas Anelka