The Week’s guide to what’s worth watching
His Dark Materials
Orphans and witches and polar bears, oh my! This lavish adaptation of Philip Pullman’s classic fantasy trilogy begins its second season with Lyra, its young protagonist, mourning the death of a friend as she crosses into a parallel universe. Soon she’ll meet a new young friend there who is on a quest of his own. Talented young actors Dafne Keen and Amir Wilson co-star. Monday, Nov. 16, at 9 p.m., HBO
Big Sky
Producer David E. Kelley seems to be on a stateby-state tour of suspense. The creator of Big Little Lies and The Undoing now turns to the wide expanses of Montana for his latest series, in which two teenage sisters are abducted by a truck driver on a dark road and a trio of investigators must put differences aside as the scope of the case expands. Kylie Bunbury, Ryan Phillippe, and Katheryn Winnick co-star. Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 10 p.m., ABC
I Hate Suzie
Billie Piper is an absolute force. In this smart, funny half-hour series, the former teen pop star plays Suzie Pickles, a British tabloid fixture whose loosely similar career arc veers into fictional chaos when hacked nude photos unleash an embarrassing sex scandal. Piper, who cocreated the series with Succession writer Lucy Prebble, makes Suzie both hateable and relatable. Available for streaming Thursday, Nov. 19, HBO Max
Run
Sarah Paulson keeps finding new ways to invade our nightmares. The American Horror Story and Ratched star plays an apparently loving mother who turns out to be the reason her invalid daughter can’t walk or enjoy a normal life. When the teenager discovers she’s trapped, her mother turns quickly from mild to menacing. Available for streaming Friday, Nov. 20, Hulu
Between the World and Me
Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me was one of the books readers turned to again this year when George Floyd’s death sparked widespread revolt against the violence that America visits upon its black citizens. Coates’ extended essay, written five years ago as a letter to his young son about living in a body that’s in constant threat, has now been adapted for the screen, with Mahershala Ali, Angela Davis, Jharrel Jerome, and other actors and artists delivering an emotional reading of Coates’ words. Saturday, Nov. 21, at 8 p.m., HBO
The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special
An animated special featuring wisecracking Lego characters spoofs the Star Wars Holiday Special, a cheesy 1978 TV movie. Available for streaming Tuesday, Nov. 17, Disney+
We Are the Champions
Rainn Wilson serves as narrator for a new series that spotlights bizarre competitions around the world, such as cheese rolling, frog jumping, and dog dancing. Available for streaming Tuesday, Nov. 17, Netflix
2020 American Music Awards
Dua Lipa will be among the performers on one of pop music’s glitziest nights, and more nominees will be added as the live event approaches. The Weeknd, Roddy Ricch, Megan Thee Stallion, and Taylor Swift will arrive as favorites to take home trophies. Sunday, Nov. 22, at 8 p.m., ABC