Too Much TV: Some Weekend Viewing Tips

I'd like to recommend some new shows that aren't "Andor" or "Étoile"

Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Friday, April 25th 2025:

SOME WEEKEND VIEWING SUGGESTIONS
There is a lot of new stuff worth watching this weekend, and rather than suggesting Andor or Étoile, I'd like to highlight a few less mainstream choices that I think you'll enjoy.

WondLa (Apple TV+)
The animated series WondLa centers around Eva, voiced by Jeanine Mason (Roswell, New Mexico), a curious, enthusiastic and spirited teenager being raised in a state-of-the-art underground bunker by Muthr, a robot caretaker (voiced by Teri Hatcher).

Eva has been raised to believe that she will someday return to the surface to reunite with the rest of humanity. But when she gets to the surface, she discovers dangers she's not prepared for and a world filled with people who are not human.

Season one ended with a big cliffhanger and luckily for fans of season one, a new season premiered today. I spoke with Mason ahead of the series premiere last year if you'd like to learn more. But I really enjoyed the series, although I am obviously very much out of its targeted demo.

Bullet Train Explosion (Netflix)
I am a massive fan of action films, even mediocre ones. So it was a given that I would watch this Japanese film as quickly as I could. It's a reboot of the original movie The Bullet Train, from 50 years ago, which inspired the Hollywood blockbuster Speed. Directed by Shinji Higuchi, the action is tautly edited and surprisingly nerve-wracking, especially during the inevitable rescue scenes.

The plot is fairly straight forward. Bombs have been placed on a Japanese bullet train and they are set to explode if the train's speed drops below 100 kilometers an hour. As the events unfold and the passengers learn about the bomb, they take to social media to spread the word in hopes of saving their lives and it's fascinating to see how integrated technology is into the storyline.

One thing that might take a little get used to are some of the cultural aspects of the storytelling. Some of the character's behaviors are very Japanese in a way that might feel stilted or theatrical to American audiences. That is especially an issue early on, before the non-stop thrillfest kicks in. Still, if you are in the mood for an action movie that is a bit out of your comfort zone, I think you'll enjoy this film. And if you're still not sure, take a look at the trailer.

I, Jack Wright (Britbox)
ITV’s cold-case crime drama Unforgotten has been running for six seasons and apparently he was ready for something new. Because while this new show is about murder, it has a quirky style that is part-Agatha Christie and part Succession.

British brick-making tycoon Jack Wright (played by the wonderful Trevor Eve) is dead, apparently of a suicide. Then his widowed third wife, Sally (Nikki Amuka-Bird) discovers he had secretly changed his will and demands the new version be unveiled in front of its beneficiaries. And as the police quickly realize, it appears Mr. Wright has been murdered.

Much of the legal wrangling takes place between two sons, the dutiful John (Daniel Rigby), who has worked at the family firm his entire life and Graham (John Simm), a record producer with more addictions and personal failings than he has fingers and toes. But everyone from widowed wife Sally to various other family members have a stake in the proceedings and a lot of reasons to wants Jack Wright dead.

Part of the fun of the series is the ensemble cast of guest stars, including Gemma Jones and James Fleet. And DCI Hector Morgan is played by veteran actor Harry Lloyd who at one point gets to do a nod to the iconic Columbo moment where he starts to leave the room, stops, turns and asks "Just one more thing."

The show is a lot of fun to watch and it has a genuine murder mystery at its core. The cast seems to have a good time making the series, because that comes across in nearly every scene. It's not a traditional English murder-mystery series. But haven't we seen enough of those already?

SHOULD THE WGA FOCUS ON THE QUANTITY OF WRITING JOBS, OR THE QUALITY?
Marc Guggenheim's Substack Legal Dispatch is one of the television industry-centric newsletters that should be on your "must read" list. While he writes about a wide range of topics, he has a lot of experience in the television industry (he's the creator of Eli Stone, Arrow & Legends Of Tomorrow) as well as movies (he wrote Green Lantern and Percy Jackson: Sea Of Monsters). He was also a producer on Jack & Bobby, a show which really should be streaming somewhere.

His newsletters are typically a mix of what he's working on, along with other thoughts about the industry. And I thought this was a really salient point from his latest edition:

What’s really come to a head for the WGA is the question of what its perceived job is. Is it to improve the quantity of jobs out there? Or is it to improve the quality of those jobs that already exist?

The mini-rooms issue referenced above is a perfect example of this dichotomy.

I’d point out, as a member of the DGA, that the DGA focuses on quality of jobs for directors, not quantity of jobs for them. I often hear from DGA staff and leadership, “It’s not our job to get you work. It’s our job to make sure that the work you get is the best possible experience, financially and otherwise.”

As a result, the DGA list of Creative Rights is long and extensive.

The WGA list of Creative Rights is non-existent.

You should the entire piece. This was part of a discussion about the industry that was sparked by a survey sent to him by The Ankler's Lesley Goldberg, who was attempting to determine the current state of the industry for a recent article. He provides a really enlightening perspective.

TWEET OF THE DAY

ODDS AND SODS
* Audience members attending the final regular episode of Maine’s long-running The Nite Show with Danny Cashman—the last local late-night show in the U.S.—got quite the shock Wednesday night when host Dan Cashman introduced his special guest: David Letterman.

* Honestly, I am a bit tired of "high prestige dramas" about wealthy people who are potentially dangerous psychopaths. But since I do not make these creative decisions, there is a new drama entitled Sirens which seems to fall into this over-stuffed category. Here is the official logline: "Devon (played by Meghann Fahy) thinks her sister Simone (Milly Alcock) has a really creepy relationship with her new boss, the enigmatic socialite Michaela Kell (Julianne Moore). Michaela’s cult-ish life of luxury is like a drug to Simone, and Devon has decided it’s time for an intervention. But she has no idea what a formidable opponent Michaela will be. Told over the course of one explosive weekend at The Kells’ lavish beach estate, Sirens is an incisive, sexy, and darkly funny exploration of women, power, and class." Here is a first look at the trailer.

* Prime Video has struck a deal with creator Vivienne Medrano to both bring her Hazbin spinoff Helluva Boss to the streamer. As part of a first-look deal, the first two seasons of Helluva Boss will premiere on Prime Video this fall after streaming on YouTube. Prime Video has also ordered two additional seasons of the show, which will premiere on the streamer before being available on YouTube.

WHAT'S NEW TONIGHT AND THIS WEEKEND

FRIDAY, APRIL 25TH:
Dope Thief Season One Finale (Apple TV+)
Fréwaka (Shudder)
Gold Rush: White Water Season Premiere (Discovery)
Havoc (Netflix)
Jessica Kirson: I'm the Man (Hulu)
Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins (Netflix)
Memento Mori (Prime Video)
Morimoto's Sushi Master Season Premiere (The Roku Channel)
Pokemon Horizons (Netflix)
Weak Hero (Netflix)
WondLa Season Two Premiere (Apple TV+)

SATURDAY, APRIL 26TH:
Brett Goldstein: The Second Best Night Of Your Life (HBO)
Fame: A Temptations Story (Lifetime)

SUNDAY, APRIL 27TH:
Bravo's Love Hotel Series Premiere (Bravo)
Dark Winds Season Three Finale (AMC)
Eva Longoria: Searching For Spain Series Premiere (CNN)
Evil Lives Here: The Killer Speaks Season Premiere (Investigation Discovery)
Murder At The Derby (Lifetime)
My Happy Place Series Premiere (CNN)
Southern Fried Lies (Oxygen)
24 In 24: Last Chef Standing Season Two Premiere (Food)

MONDAY, APRIL 28TH:
Chef's Table: Legends (Netflix)
Hollywood Demons Season One Finale (Investigation Discovery)
The One That Got Away Series Premiere (Acorn TV)
Yes, Chef! Series Premiere (NBC)

SEE YOU ON MONDAY!