The Collider Weekly TV Guide is a rundown of notable episodes, premieres, returns, finales, and opportunities to catch up on great shows (or cast an eye to the occasional train wreck). Check out our picks for the week beginning with Monday, December 14th:
Monday, 12/14
Childhood’s EndSeries Premiere, “Night One – The Overlords” (Syfy, 8 p.m.) – In this long-awaited, not-half-bad adaptation of this sci-fi classic, the arrival of aliens on Earth comes with the promise of everlasting peace on our planet, as well as technological advances beyond our wildest dreams. Some people, however, are skeptical about these promises. There’s always somebody who can’t have fun.
Supergirl, “Hostile Takeover” (CBS, 8 p.m.) - Things get heated on the latest episode of CBS’s beloved mediocrity as Kara (Melissa Benoist) goes head to head with Astra (Laura Benanti) after she talks some major smack about her late mother, just as Cat (Calista Flockhart) finds herself on the verge of getting ousted when a hacker releases a pile of private e-mails.
FargoSeason 2 Finale, “Palindrome” (FX, 10 p.m.) – The exemplary second season of FX’sFargocomes to crashing, thrilling conclusion as Peggy and Ed (Kirsten DunstandJesse Plemons) attempt to make a final escape from the Gerhardt family and a number of other people on their tail. Don’t expect a happy or predictable ending fromNoah Hawleyand company.
Wednesday, 12/16
American Horror Story: Hotel, “She Gets Revenge” (FX, 10 p.m.) - Liz and Iris (Denis O’HareandKathy Bates) plan their final escape from the hotel in the latest episode ofRyan Murphy’s consistently atonal horror-comedy series, just as Donovan (Matt Bomer) comes to learn the true intentions of The Countess (Lady Gaga). Expect a barrage of fascinating, empty imagery to go along with all of this too.
The MagiciansSpecial Preview (Syfy, 10 p.m.) - Syfy offers a preview look at the pilot for their hotly anticipated adaptation of Lev Grossman’s popular fantasy series, which focuses on a cadre of twenty-something magicians who begin studying together.
Thursday, 12/17
LutherSeason 4 Premiere (BBC, 9 p.m.) - Everyone’s favorite moody detective, played with infinite charm and intensity by the greatIdris Elba, returns from a leave of absence from the London police force when a cannibalistic serial killer begins dining on the populace. What’s the chances the serial killer is played byMads Mikkelsen? Probably pretty low, right?
Friday, 12/18
F is for Family(Netflix) –Bill Burrmakes his animated debut in this curse-laden, less-than-ambitious but largely enjoyable Netflix series, which follows a lower-middle-class nuclear family in the 1970s. Based on Burr’s own childhood, the series sports a similarity withKing of the HillandMarried with Children, but Burr finds and explores a series of personal nuances that give the series its own distinct narrative flavor. Check back for Chris’s review.
The KnickSeason 2 Finale, “This is All We Are” (Cinemax, 10 p.m.) – The best season of television this year, and one of the crowning achievements ofSteven Soderbergh’s unparalleled career, comes to a thunderous close as Thackery (Clive Owen) finds his dangerous experiments catching up to him, while Algernon (Andre Holland) and Bertie (Michael Angarano) must face their own issues that have been building all season long.
Z NationSeason 2 Finale, “All Good Things Must Come to an End” (Syfy, 10 p.m.) – The Zeros are hot on Murphy (Keith Allen) and the gang’s heels as they make their way through a ravaged Los Angeles, in anticipation with meeting up with Dr. Merch (Lisa Coronado) in the mobile CDC lab on the season 2 finale of Syfy’s shallow but fun take-off ofThe Walking Dead.
Saturday, 12/19
Ash vs. Evil Dead, “Ashes to Ashes” (Starz, 9 p.m.) – Starz’s excellent horror-comedy series continues on as Ash (Bruce Campbell) confronts some of the more immediate, physical issues that come from his encounters with the Deadites, and Fisher (Jill Marie Jones) becomes aware of these changes and is instantly concerned.
Sunday, 12/20
HomelandSeason 5 Finale, “A False Glimmer” (Showtime, 9 p.m.) – The best season thus far of Showtime’s tense, terrific spy drama brings Carrie (Claire Danes) doings in Berlin to a close. No fair spoiling even the smaller portions of this finale.
Into the BadlandsSeason 1 Finale, “Hand of Five Poisons” (AMC, 10 p.m.) - Sunny and M.K. (Daniel WuandAramis Knight) put all their might into escaping from Quinn’s (Marton Csokas) grip once and for all, just as the Baron’s enemies conspire to destroy him for good, and reconfigure the very nature of the Badlands.
The AffairSeason 2 Finale, “12” (Showtime, 10 p.m.) – As season 2 concludes, an unexpected admission drives Noah (Dominic West) to withdraw from the world he’s shaped for himself over this season, while Alison (Ruth Wilson) is bares everything about her identity to him. A fight between Cole and Scotty (Joshua JacksonandColin Donnell) ends badly, as does the final turns of Noah’s trial.
