TV Watchlist: A Bounty of New Docs Hit Netflix, HBO and Disney+

Plus the end of "Shogun" and "Dead Boy Detectives" finally lives Week of April 20 – 26 Some weeks are defined by a certain kind of programming and this week we’re all about the docs. That’s right, this week features the return of “The Jinx,” Earth Day documentaries from Disney+ (“Tiger” and “Tigers on the Rise”), National Geographic (“Secrets of the Octopus”), Hulu (“Hip Hop and the White House”) and FX (“The New York Times Presents: Broken Horses”). And if real life isn’t your bag, don’t worry, we also have a “Sonic the Hedgehog” spinoff (“Knuckles”) and a “Sandman”/”Doom Patrol” spinoff (“Dead Boy Detectives”), along with the finale of “Shōgun.” On with the television! The Jinx: Part Two Sunday, April 21 at 10 p.m., HBO Source: HBO Remember “The Jinx,” HBO’s super compelling true-crime documentary about Robert Durst, a the real estate agent accused of several murders who seemingly confessed to the crimes in the final moments of the show? Well, that moment led to him being convicted in 2021 of first-degree murder. He died in 2022 of cardiac arrest in California. But apparently the story still lives on. “The Jinx: Part Two” is a six-episode continuation of the original, gripping story. Original director Andrew Jarecki returns, with the filmmakers continuing “their investigation, sharing previously hidden material, Robert Durst's prison calls, and interviews with witnesses who had not come forward until now” (according to the official release). Many are wondering how you could even make a part two after his seeming confession and following his conviction and death. But these are ace filmmakers who certainly know what they’re doing. These new episodes will undoubtedly be just as enthralling as the first six. Durst, as a character, is so odd and engrossing, even if he is a scheming, cold blooded murderer. Spending some more time in his bizarre orbit will make for some skin-crawling must-see TV. [[TRAILER](] Shōgun Tuesday, April 23, Hulu Source: Hulu Since premiering in late February, “Shōgun” has become a sensation, regularly hailed as the best show on television and following gamely in the footsteps of the original 1980 miniseries (that starred Richard Chamberlain and Toshiro Mifune and won the Emmy for Outstanding Limited Series). If you’ve been waiting for the miniseries to end before watching, now is your chance. And if you’ve been on the edge of your seat, week in, week out, then you’ll already be there, watching how the final moments of “Shōgun” unfold. [[TRAILER](] Tiger Monday, April 22, Disney+ Source: Disney+ A new Disneynature movie for Earth Day has become a tradition, first when they would be released theatrically (and a portion of the ticket sales would go towards conservation) and now on Disney+. Quite frankly it’s a miracle they still exist; when Disney purchased the 21st Century assets from Fox, the National Geographic brand came along with them. But thankfully, they remain. And this year’s movie, “Tiger,” sounds wonderful. The documentary “lifts the veil on our planet’s most revered and charismatic animal, inviting viewers to journey alongside Ambar, a young tigress raising her cubs in the fabled forests of India” (according to the official release). Priyanka Chopra Jonas narrates the film, which was directed by Mark Linfield, co-directed by Vanessa Berlowitz and Rob Sullivan, and produced by Linfield, Berlowitz and Roy Conli. If you’ve seen any of the other Disneynature movies, you know how adorable and emotional they can be, filled with gorgeous photography and lessons about our earth and how to save it. And “Tiger,” the first Disneynature documentary in two years, promises to follow well in the earlier film’s footsteps, er, pawprints. What’s more, there is a companion film to “Tiger” being released on the same day. “Tigers on the Rise,” narrated by Blair Underwood, “celebrates the remarkable comeback of one of the world’s most iconic animals.” How great is that? [[TRAILER](] Rather Wednesday, May 1, Netflix Source: Netflix But wait, doesn’t this newsletter end on April 26? It does. “Rather” was initially announced for April 24, but between us plotting this newsletter and now, Netflix has bumped the movie back a week. It’s now hitting May 1. But there aren’t any other new noteworthy movies this week, so we’re going ahead and talking about “Rather.” (It does sound really good.) Directed by Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy’s husband and one of the more powerful film producers of all time, “Rather” takes a look at Dan Rather, the fabled American journalist and broadcaster – “his rise to prominence, sudden and dramatic public downfall, and redemption and re-emergence as a voice of reason to a new generation.” The documentary, which premiered last year at the Tribeca Film Festival and mixes new talking head interviews with archival footage, will undoubtedly conjure up memories when newscasters were trusted figured, beloved by the public (on either side of the political divide). Rather’s story is a sad and cautionary one, and his return to prominence, thanks to social media, is genuinely inspiring. The Little Drummer Girl Apple TV (for sale) Source: BBC/AMC If you are grooving on “The Sympathizer,” the new HBO series co-created and co-written by Park Chan-wook, well, have we got the limited series for you. “The Little Drummer Girl,” based on the acclaimed novel by John le Carré (it was previously adapted into a film in 1984 by George Roy Hill), stars Florence Pugh as an actress who, in the late 1970s, gets sucked into an espionage plot. She is recruited by Mossad (Israel’s CIA) to infiltrate a Palestinian group plotting terrorist activities in Europe. Michael Shannon and Alexander Skarsgård play the intelligence officers who bring her in. It’s insane that this show, based on a best-selling novel and featuring an all-star cast (that also includes Charles Dance, Clare Holman and Daniel Litman), is rarely talked about. Bonus points should be awarded, too, for Park directing all six episodes (instead of “The Sympathizer’s” three). What a show! [[WATCH](] Source: Netflix “Secrets of the Octopus” Sunday, April 21 at 8 p.m., Nat Geo From the producers of “Secrets of the Elephants” and “Secrets of the Whales,” comes a new documentary about those slippery, ink-squirting freaks of the ocean – the octopus. The official description of the documentary series describes them as “like aliens on Earth,” and an entire episode of “Ancient Aliens” suggest that they might actually be aliens. This seems implausible. But not impossible. They are pretty weird – they can camouflage to an almost unbelievable degree, have three hearts, blue blood and, according to the official synopsis “can squeeze through a space the size of their eyeballs.” Something tells us this new documentary series, narrated by Paul Rudd, will give us even more to marvel at. (See what we did there?) [[TRAILER](] “Hip Hop and the White House” Monday, April 22, Hulu Andscape, the Black multimedia platform from Disney and ESPN, announced & 360, a new documentary anthology intended to explore “the influence of Black culture on American society, expanding perspectives, telling previously untold stories, and revealing truths about some of the biggest sports and cultural moments of our time.” “Hip Hop and the White House” is the first & 360 documentary. Narrated by Jeezy, who released “My President” shortly before the election of Barack Obama, and explores the most powerful cultural movement of the past 50 years with the most powerful position on the planet. Sounds great to us! [[TRAILER](] “Dead Boy Detectives” Thursday, April 25, Netflix The “Dead Boy Detectives” have had a journey! The series was original ordered from HBO Max in 2022 as a spinoff of their popular, DC Comics-based “Doom Patrol.” It was later sold to Netflix, which already has “Sandman” (where the comics the show was based on originated) and which will stream “Dead Boy Detectives” now as a spinoff of that show. (Kirby’s Death from “Sandman” appears in the new show … but also Ruth Connell from “Doom Patrol” also shows up. Confusing!) The series, starring George Rexstrew and Jayden Revri, follows two deceased chaps who decide not to cross over to the other side, and instead remain on earth and solve supernatural-related crimes. The show hails from “The Flight Attendant” creator Steve Yockey and “Sweet Tooth” alum Beth Schwartz. [[TRAILER](] “Knuckles” Friday, April 26, Paramount+ “Knuckles” is a six-episode spin off of the live-action “Sonic the Hedgehog” movie franchise, featuring the red echidna (voiced once again by Idris Elba) from the second movie. Adam Pally, a minor character in the movies, is the main character here. Need we say more? [[TRAILER](] “The New York Times Presents: Broken Horses” Friday, April 26 at 10 p.m., FX Two things you always know about these “New York Times Presents” documentaries: they’re going to be fascinating and they’re probably going to bum you out. This installment is devoted to horse racing, specifically, the “systemic issues, questionable practices and urgent calls for change that have shaken horse racing to its core.” See what we mean? [[TRAILER](] 2034 Armacost Ave. | Los Angeles, CA 90025 [Unsubscribe](