Somebody Somewhere season three review – remarkable TV that burrows into your heart
Bridget Everett’s gorgeous comedy bows out as it began: as a beautiful look at family, found family and, above all, friendship. If only HBO hadn’t cancelled it … - Rebecca Nicholson
starstarstarstarstarTsunami: Race Against Time review – a gripping, moving look at the worst natural disaster of our lifetimes
This documentary about the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami is horrifying, heart-rending and essential. It’s a privilege to hear some of these survivors speak about the experience - Jack Seale
starstarstarstarstarMy Brilliant Friend season four review – every episode of this stunning drama is like a mini movie
One of TV’s finest series in years reaches its end with a gorgeous finale. This Elena Ferrante adaptation is rich, sumptuous and deliciously overwrought – it truly is a wonder - Rebecca Nicholson
starstarstarstarstarWolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light review – six hours of utter TV magic
The final instalment of Hilary Mantel’s masterpiece is the most intricate television you are ever likely to see. It is so beautifully made it’s breathtaking - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarUntil I Kill You review – Anna Maxwell Martin delivers the best performance of her career
This extraordinary portrait of Delia Balmer, who survived a relationship with the murderer John Sweeney, is that rarest of things – fearless TV that values viewers’ intelligence - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarThe Diplomat season two review – effortlessly joins the list of 2024’s best TV
The first series of this political thriller ended with one of the finest television moments ever created – and now it’s back. It’s so good it’s like watching several great shows all at once - Jack Seale
starstarstarstarstarDoctor Odyssey review – Joshua Jackson’s bananas cruise-ship melodrama is so bad it’s genius
This bonkers show about on-board doctors who have to fix penile fractures and outbreaks of venereal disease is hilariously bad – and yet somehow, Joshua Jackson pulls it off. What a miracle worker - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarUndercover: Exposing the Far Right review – the bravest documentary of the year so far
Nail-biting and terrifying, this film shows us the essential work of Hope Not Hate, a group who use hidden cameras and incredibly treacherous fieldwork to expose the threat of extremism around the world - Leila Latif
starstarstarstarstarRivals review – even the naked tennis scene is a triumph
Packed with sex, excess and fabulous awfulness, this adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s 80s bonkbuster starts as gloriously as it means to go on. Champagne all round! - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarAlma’s Not Normal series two review – pretty much the perfect comedy
Sophie Willan’s fabulous Boltonian is back – but her life has taken a heartbreaking turn. Even with added devastation, this is TV at its most beautiful, furious and hilarious - Rachel Aroesti
starstarstarstarstarIndustry season three review – TV’s wildest drama is more thrilling than ever
The hit finance drama returns with the pedal to the metal. The opening episode is bedlam, burning through big events you’d expect of a season finale – and it ends with everything on fire - Jack Seale
starstarstarstarstarSwiped: The School That Banned Smartphones review – makes you long to lock your own device in a box
This three-week experiment to study the horrifying effects of the grim content that children can access 24/7 has predictable results – which are nonetheless horrifying - Rachel Aroesti
starstarstarstarstarDream Productions review – this joyous TV version of Inside Out is a Christmas miracle
Packed as full of wit, wisdom and jokes as the movies, these four episodes about now 12-year-old Riley’s inner workings are an absolute delight - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarA Nonsense Christmas With Sabrina Carpenter review – an exceptionally good gift
She promises us the ‘ho-ho-ho-iest’ hour of all … and she delivers! The gloriously droll star brings the festive special bang up to date - Rebecca Nicholson
starstarstarstarstarStar Wars: Skeleton Crew review – Jude Law’s romp through a galaxy far, far away is excellent fun
With four kids on an epic quest and Jude Law as an irresistible space pirate, Disney+’s new Star Wars show will take you to a happy place – six-eyed barmen and all - Jack Seale
starstarstarstarstarBlack Doves review – Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw’s gleefully pulpy Christmas gift
The starriest spy show of the year is here! And it’s got guns and gore galore – not to mention Sarah Lancashire as an ice queen. Fill your festive boots - Rebecca Nicholson
starstarstarstarstarRenaissance: The Blood and the Beauty review – Charles Dance is gloriously game as Michelangelo
This astonishing docu-drama delves into the blazing rivalry between Michelangelo, Raphael and Leonardo – and Dance somehow resists the urge to ham it up to the max. Whatever you do, just don’t make a Ninja Turtles joke - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarGame of Throws: Inside Darts review – captures all the jubilant anarchy of one of the world’s greatest sports
Every tiny moment of darts’ ascendance to an even higher level – and the birth of a superstar – is captured in this retrospective of last year’s world championship. Also there are men in fancy dress as chickens - Jack Seale
starstarstarstarstarRen Faire review – the hilarious, heartbreaking tale of a furious power struggle … fuelled by jousting
This brilliant fever-dream of a docuseries opens up the world of an ageing historical festival founder as he prepares to hand over his crown – and finds vanity, sexual insecurity and kirtle-clad ugliness - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarThe Madness review – Colman Domingo’s slick, smart conspiracy thriller gets better and better
Colman Domingo is a charismatic presence in this expertly crafted cat-and-mouse story about a TV host caught up in far-right machinations – which really gains heft as it goes on - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarRage Against the Regime: Iran review – these stories of resistance are utterly astonishing
From the woman who risked her freedom by disguising herself as a man to watch football, to the separatist who had to abandon his family after urging a crowd to throw off the Islamic Republic – this is essential viewing - Chitra Ramaswamy
starstarstarstarstarMatlock review – Kathy Bates has spent years waiting for a role like this
An actor of the Oscar-winner’s calibre has deserved better for a long time – and is now front and centre of this legal drama. It’s far more than a spinoff of the 1980s US series … it’s a mystery fuelled by corporate greed - Rebecca Nicholson
starstarstarstarstarA Man on the Inside review – Ted Danson is comedy perfection in this unbelievably sweet show
This reunion between the star and The Good Place creator Michael Schur is adorable. Its tale of a widower’s undercover investigation in a retirement home will obliterate you - Stuart Heritage
starstarstarstarstarYoung, British and Anti-Abortion review – surely gen Z are too smart to devalue women’s lives like this?
This documentary meets the young people trying to fight against reproductive rights – and exposes the problems in their world view - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarBritain’s Nuclear Bomb Scandal: Our Story review – how the UK’s atomic testing programme devastated lives
Trauma, terror and potential medical effects that last for generations – those who experienced the fallout of nukes in Australia and the Pacific tell their horrifying tale - Jack Seale
starstarstarstarstarOur Oceans review – Barack Obama’s nature show might be the most beautiful thing you see all year
Yes, the ex-president’s soothing voice was made to narrate this gorgeous wildlife programme. But the absolutely majestic visuals are the real star - Stuart Heritage
starstarstarstarstarCheaters season two review – this romcom is so convincing it’ll worm its way into your heart
It’s the difficult second series for the comedy filled with graphic sex and kink exploration. Luckily, it breezes through it by being as impeccably well-observed as ever - Rachel Aroesti
starstarstarstarstarThe Listeners review – Rebecca Hall’s hauntingly delicate drama will paralyse you with dread
What if no one believed what you knew to be true? Jordan Tannahill’s nuanced thriller about a woman who starts hearing a mysterious noise keeps you constantly off balance - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarBoybands Forever review – behind the scenes of Take That’s topless, muscled kingdom
Full of gossip, confessions and revelations, this documentary is packed with all you ever wanted to know about the peaks – and troughs – of British boyband culture. Yes, even that infamous jelly video - Rebecca Nicholson
starstarstarstarstarSilo season two review – this dystopian thriller is bigger and better than before
Smarter, more inventive – and with added Harriet Walter. The second outing of this riveting sci-fi drama gives its talented supporting cast room to breathe - Leila Latif
starstarstarstarstarImmigration: How British Politics Failed review – every one of these politicians is unbearable
From Nigel Farage to Suella Braverman and Tony Blair, the bloviating talking heads in this documentary give a good sense of how immigration policy became polluted by racism - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarShoot to Kill: Terror on the Tube review – an extraordinary look at how Jean Charles de Menezes was killed
This mesmerising docuseries is full of astonishing interviews as it examines the Metropolitan police shooting of an innocent man – two weeks after the London bombings and terrorist threats of July 2005 - Rebecca Nicholson
starstarstarstarstarJunior Taskmaster review – they’ve messed with perfection … and it’s a triumph
This child-based spinoff of the entertainment behemoth is hilarious, charming and hugely fun. Rose Matafeo and Mike Wozniak’s chemistry as hosts is spot on and the children so delightful the casting directors deserve awards - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarThe Day of the Jackal review – Eddie Redmayne’s remake is hold-your-breath exciting
Impressive, chilling and just a little bit silly: this update of Frederick Forsyth’s classic about a ruthless killing machine makes for highly enjoyable, trigger-happy viewing - Rebecca Nicholson
starstarstarstarstarLucan review – stick with this wild documentary to the end and you will be astonished
Fifty years ago, Lord Lucan murdered Sandra Rivett then disappeared. This surreal series follows the victim’s son as he hunts down the fugitive peer – and ends up somewhere totally unexpected - Rebecca Nicholson
starstarstarstarstarPublic Enemies: Kendrick vs Drake review – inside the beef that sent the world’s two greatest rap stars to war
Clearly neither rapper had anything to do with this deep dive into their famous feud – and it makes for a refreshing alternative to hip-hop hagiography - Ellen E Jones
starstarstarstarstarTrump: A Second Chance? review – why his rise, and his return, make total sense
From Front Row Joes wanting control to the leader of the Proud Boys wanting to ‘make America hate again’, this documentary interviews Trump fans – and takes more time than most films to show why his popularity runs so deep - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarBefore review – Billy Crystal’s move into horror is brilliant
The actor excels as a grieving child psychiatrist drawn to the spine-tingling case of a troubled boy – which is full of haunting visions, blood and supernatural menace - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarTrump: The Criminal Conspiracy Case review – outstanding but blood-chilling
This gripping documentary about the case of a former president challenging votes plays out like a wild legal drama. But if you’re anxious about the November election, it is also a pre-Halloween horror story - Rebecca Nicholson
starstarstarstarstarDogs of War review – this gobsmacking look at a mercenary (‘legal and illegal’) is must-see TV
From safe-cracking to arms-dealing and coup-causing, David Tomkins has spent 40 wild years fighting other people’s wars for money – and thrills. You honestly couldn’t make it up - Rebecca Nicholson
starstarstarstarstarAbsolutely Fabulous: Inside Out review – when Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley cackle, it’s sheer joy
This retrospective on how Jennifer Saunders’s sitcom went from shambles to all-time great has a national treasure gravitas to it – and the juicy anecdotes make the show sing - Rebecca Nicholson
starstarstarstarstarEveryone Else Burns series two review – this brilliant doomsday show might just save the sitcom
The script is thick with jokes, Simon Bird and co are a joy to behold and scenes just zip along. This take on an ultra-conservative church is reinvigorating old-school comedy - Rachel Aroesti
starstarstarstarstarShrinking season two review – Harrison Ford’s lovable comedy is beautifully untaxing TV
We get yet more quality time with the Hollywood legend in the return of this warm, funny sitcom. Some scenes will make you spit out your tea in shocked delight - Jack Seale
starstarstarstarstarI Cut Off His Penis: The Truth Behind the Headlines review – shocking cases
This documentary on the phenomenon of penicide paints a terrible picture – but it could have been far bolder - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarMr Loverman review – magnificent TV that will tear your heart open
Lennie James and Sharon D Clarke are exquisite in this bold, spiky tale of a gay man who starts to regret living a lie. The awards are sure to flood in - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarMichael Mosley: Just One Thing review – a wonderful tribute to the man who made us change for the better
Mosley was working on this TV version of his hit podcast packed with easy ways to boost your health when he died – and the results could not be more moving - Rebecca Nicholson
starstarstarstarstarBombing Brighton: The Plot to Kill Thatcher review – her shaky post-blast interview says it all
This careful, intelligent documentary about the 1984 IRA attack on the Conservative party conference is largely a study of its target – and her failure to understand the issues that led to it - Jack Seale
starstarstarstarstarRivals first-look review – an eye-popping explosion of sex, more sex and bad wigs
Like a perfect cross between Carry On and Eurotrash, the Jilly Cooper classic starts with a couple bonking on a Concorde – and only ramps up from there. Brace yourself for a supremely fun time - Stuart Heritage
starstarstarstarstarCharlie Cooper’s Myth Country review – proof that the co-creator of This Country is a genius
This joyful travelogue based on British folklore sees the writer/comic best known for playing Kurtan on hilarious form – even if it does blur the lines between artist and character - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarHeartstopper season three review – the sex scenes are handled as delicately as fine china
The stars of this wholesome teen drama are growing up – and hormones are running riot. But the show’s sensitive approach means it’s as beautiful and comforting as ever - Rebecca Nicholson
starstarstarstarstarLiving Every Second: The Kris Hallenga Story review – an astonishing tale of hope
From attending her own Dawn French-hosted funeral to saving women’s lives, the inspirational cancer campaigner’s incredible life is movingly captured in this documentary - Daisy Jones
starstarstarstarstarState of Rage review – every minute of this documentary has a quote to stop the heart
This urgent, illuminating film follows a Palestinian and Israeli family in the West Bank to create a bold and vivid picture of how fierce conflict affects people’s psyches - Jack Seale
starstarstarstarstarFour Kings review – boxing should be banned
This horrifying, tear-inducing documentary about Chris Eubank, Nigel Benn, Frank Bruno and Lennox Lewis has awful details of detached retinas, brain damage and racism. It’s a real indictment - Stuart Jeffries
starstarstarstarstarOne Hundred Years of Solitude review – Gabriel García Márquez’s classic makes for startling TV beauty
This 16-part series does justice to Gabriel García Márquez’s magical-realist masterwork – although the novel’s sexual politics have aged badly - Jack Seale
starstarstarstarstarSirius: An Apocalyptic Order review – the disturbing details pile up in this French cult exposé
A jeweller and a homeopath set up a murder-suicide sect, and this chilling series meets the relatives of the deceased plus the crack team of journalists who worked the case. But why the pumping electro soundtrack? - Hannah J Davies
starstarstarstarstarMeet the Rees-Moggs review – my obsession with Jacob’s wife runs deep
There are surprisingly appealing domestic scenes as Jacob learns slang and poo jokes from his six children … but there’s no denying who the real star is here - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarSmoggie Queens review – an adorably sweet drag sitcom
This series about a tight-knit queer community joyfully celebrates British camp culture – from deadpan humour to loving Lorraine Kelly. What a shame it’s not more funny - Rachel Aroesti
starstarstarstarstarSurveilled review – throw away your phone right now!
In a terrifying documentary that will leave you a gibbering wreck, Ronan Farrow delves into cyber surveillance – and lifts the lid on how easy it is for governments to know your every move. Time to hide out in the hills - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarLoaded: Lads, Mags and Mayhem review – how a drug-fuelled publishing bender went very wrong
From dropping LSD at award shows to coughing up blood on the office carpet – the rise and fall of James Brown’s oft-sexist lads magazine empire goes under the microscope - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarOnly Child review – this bittersweet comedy is absolutely packed with laughs
There’s nothing hugely original about this sitcom about a son and father reconnecting. But it’s laugh-out-loud funny thanks to the gag-dense script and a stellar performance from Rab C Nesbitt’s Gregor Fisher - Rachel Aroesti
starstarstarstarstarCruel Intentions review – this generic remake of the 90s classic is utterly mindless
Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan Phillippe’s movie gets a melodramatic YA remake – with a pair of actors who aren’t a patch on the originals. Just dig out the original instead - Hannah J Davies
starstarstarstarstarInterior Chinatown review – ambitious, yet tiring, adaptation of Charles Yu’s novel
There's a lot going in this entertaining, yet overstuffed, new series based on the award-winning meta mystery book - Adrian Horton
starstarstarstarstarDune: Prophecy review – a bracingly different sci-fi dominated by women at every level
The origins of the mysterious Bene Gesserit sisterhood are uncovered in this starry and intense prequel to the fantasy saga that would have been unthinkable even 10 years ago - Jack Seale
starstarstarstarstarLandman review – Billy Bob Thornton lets rip with the one-liners in this gritty oil industry drama
This new series from Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan is absolutely packed with zingers. If only its attitude to women wasn’t so repellent - Jack Seale
starstarstarstarstarMartin Scorsese Presents: The Saints review – curio docudrama series
The director has made an unusual historical TV series for Fox Nation, the conservative news channel’s streaming service, that provides limited insight - Jesse Hassenger
starstarstarstarstarSay Nothing review – a compelling but fatally flawed account of the Troubles
This gripping adaptation of Patrick Radden Keefe’s bestselling book tells the shocking story of the IRA’s Price sisters, but makes little attempt to hide its sympathies - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarSecrets of the Spy Whale review – the bizarre tale of how Russia used a cetacean as a secret agent
The alleged operative surfaced in 2019 wearing a camera harness labelled ‘equipment of St Petersburg’ – but sadly this documentary is thin on other details - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarHer Majesty the Queen: Behind Closed Doors review – an unroyally frank look at the horrors of domestic violence
This chilling documentary follows Queen Camilla as she raises awareness of shocking cases of violence against women - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarMoney Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery review – this frustrating documentary feels like a digital Agatha Christie tale
There are so many deep questions to tackle about the crypto-currency, yet this programme launches into a wild goose chase after its founder. It’s impressively rigorous – but feels like a waste of time - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarPrince William: We Can End Homelessness review – is a royal really the right person for this job?
His desire to tackle this issue is impressive, but his plan to eradicate rough sleeping is worryingly hard to understand. Let’s hope it works - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarGeneration Z review – this fun zombie Brexit satire is like The Walking Dead’s oddest spin-off yet
Ben Wheatley’s series about an aged undead army is an entertaining drama packed full of fine British actors – even if it’s far from subtle - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarThe Franchise review – Armando Iannucci’s superhero satire is saved only by a standout star
This spoof from a team of comedy greats ends up a bit of a mess – largely due to the lack of great jokes. But one actor comes up with the goods - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarCurfew review – are we expected to believe that violence against women only happens at night?
This crime drama about a world in which men are electronically tagged and have to stay indoors after 7pm is decent thriller fare. But there are far too many unanswered questions - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarShowtrial season two review – this outrageous legal drama sucks you straight back in
It’s full of holes, lacks nuance and feels flabby – but the excellent performances, as well as the tense and twisty plotting, make this frothy tale a compelling watch - Rebecca Nicholson
starstarstarstarstarMr McMahon review – this wrestling tale has more political intrigue than the House of Commons
There are remarkable details aplenty in this glitzy docuseries about scandal-hit wrestling entrepreneur Vince McMahon – shame it’s hard to tell truth from fiction - Alex Reid
starstarstarstarstarAnna Richardson: Love, Loss & Dementia review – a terrifying look at the killer disease that will affect us all
Dementia is the highest cause of death in the UK, says the Naked Attraction host – whose father has been diagnosed. This is a moving, scary look at the condition - Leila Latif
starstarstarstarstarWhere’s Wanda? review – this knotty crime thriller has all the dark humour of Bad Sisters
Farce-heavy humour and dark crime caper fuse in this German series’ chronicle of a couple’s desperate search for their 17-year-old daughter. It’s thrilling, poignant and funny – if not revolutionary - Rachel Aroesti
starstarstarstarstarHow to Survive a Dictator: North Korea review – can ‘28 years in hell’ really be a laughing matter?
Munya Chawawa pits his trademark raps and skits against interviews with a man denounced as ‘human scum’ – and a defector who ended up in a detention centre for decades. What emerges, against the odds, is witty and very well done - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarJoan review – Sophie Turner sparkles in this wild true story of a rags-to-riches jewel thief
The former Game of Thrones star is so glam in this tale of the 80s criminal known as the Godmother that she wears more furs than even Sansa Stark. It’s a hefty slice of fun - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarElizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar review – are we really expected to believe she was a feminist?
This hagiographic documentary from Kim Kardashian is light on negatives and full of praise in a way that is sometimes hard to stomach. Thank God for Joan Collins’ acid tongue - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarPolo review – Prince Harry’s unintentionally hilarious profile of the world’s stupidest sport
Fixtures are chosen by popping confetti-filled balloons, obnoxiously privileged players weep in darkened rooms when they lose … this documentary about the royal’s hobby is like a spoof - Stuart Heritage
starstarstarstarstarThe Sticky review – Amazon’s grating maple syrup heist caper is a bust
Reliable character actor Margo Martindale gets the chance to lead her own show, an unfunny take on a real story - Jesse Hassenger
starstarstarstarstarThe Agency review – even Michael Fassbender can’t save this utterly tedious spy story
Paramount+ might herald this ludicrously starry show like the second coming of Christ, but it’s a self-important mess that moves with the urgency of the recently tranquillised - Stuart Heritage
starstarstarstarstarSenna review – turns everyone in the Formula One driver’s life into a flat cartoon
This dramatisation of the sportsperson’s life seems to be on a quest to follow every single trope of racing dramas. The car sequences are thrilling, but it’s a bland eulogy whose characters are woefully underexplored - Jack Seale
starstarstarstarstarQueen Camilla: The Wicked Stepmother review – what is the point of this dull rubbish?
Does anyone really care about a documentary charting Camilla’s rise from jolly schoolgirl to Diana’s nemesis, then queen? Channel 4 does, judging by this tedious, flimsy show - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarBad Sisters season two review – any trace of joy has been obliterated
Sharon Horgan’s follow-up to her stunning revenge comedy is darker – and far less charming for it. The plots are a rambling mess and, despite stellar performances, it all feels morose - Rachel Aroesti
starstarstarstarstarThe Old Man season two review – Jeff Bridges’ CIA saga is so silly it’s basically unwatchable
Almost every character in every scene has no idea what’s going on … and the viewer knows even less. It’s awkward, arrogant – and reeks of desperation - Rachel Aroesti
starstarstarstarstarThe Palace review – this burlesque thriller about secret twins could really do with Lindsay Lohan
It’s got so much potential – identical twins split up as babies before the fall of the Berlin Wall – and yet this German drama is hokey and lame. In fact, Lohan managed a better dual performance in The Parent Trap … aged 12 - Leila Latif
starstarstarstarstarBeyond Chelsea review – this bland attempt to make reality TV grow up needs some backstabbing
Where are the fights? Where’s the escapism of gawping at deluded toffs having ludicrously overblown life crises? This catch-up with three Made in Chelsea stars is far too anodyne - Rebecca Nicholson
starstarstarstarstarNautilus review – you can see why Disney gave up on this series
Prime Video's resurrection of Jules Verne’s prequel for Captain Nemo is deeply half-baked. The acting’s so bad that the best supporting performance is given by a dog - Jack Seale
starstarstarstarstarLove Cheats review – these depressing scam tales make you long for the apocalypse
What is the point of giving us documentaries about yet more manipulative, vile and greedy predators exploiting good people? Their creators seem to have no idea - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarBeyond Black Beauty review – this reboot of a classic is clumsy, insipid … and hard to hate
This modern twist on the 1877 novel is an inspirational look at African American horse culture. Shame it’s also saccharine, shallow and full of flat dialogue - Leila Latif
starstarstarstarstarDisclaimer review – only Cate Blanchett could deal with a script this abominable
Alfonso Cuarón’s new drama about a wife whose secrets are exposed looks beautiful. Sadly, it’s also slow, turgid and – despite stars like Kevin Kline – so bad it needs to be pureed into mush - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarSweetpea review – Ella Purnell’s deathly dull serial killer show reeks of cowardly decision-making
This insipid, humourless adaptation of CJ Skuse’s blackly comic Sweetpea books has been stripped of everything good. It seems to drag on forever - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarLa Máquina review – Gael García Bernal’s boxing drama feels like it was written by bashing random keys
This comedy thriller unites Bernal and Diego Luna in a riotous first episode – only to run out of steam. It becomes a groan-inducingly obvious mess of storylines that are just tiring - Jack Seale
starstarstarstarstarChimp Crazy review – like Tiger King for apes … but way more bleak
Did Tonia Haddix really cremate an animal that PETA wanted to seize? Or does he secretly live on? This wild tale about Missouri primate facilities is highly twisted – and ethicially dubious - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarCast Away review – Phillip Schofield is an incredibly bitter man (but he sure knows how to entertain)
He licks his wounds. He mocks Holly Willoughby. And he seems to view himself as a folk hero. But when the disgraced presenter actually gets down to the business of survival, it makes for tremendous TV - Stuart Heritage
starstarstarstarstarMariah Meets Rylan review – absolutely exhausting viewing
Rylan sits down with the star for a festive fireside chat and gets … nothing in return. He is a trouper and deserves a medal for this - Lucy Mangan
starstarstarstarstarBeauty in Black review – Tyler Perry’s Netflix series is another lurid mess
The wildly successful mogul’s first drama series for the streamer is a disaster with one-dimensional characters and haphazard plotting - Andrew Lawrence
starstarstarstarstarHauntings review – there is not a single spark of wit to this meaningless nonsense
This docuseries about supposed paranormal activity is dreary, devoid of creativity and picks an atrocious topic for its opening episode. Could they really not have applied some common sense to the Enfield Poltergeist? - Lucy Mangan
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