Welcome to What’s On, our weekly picks of must-watch shows. Here’s what you need to watch from Sunday, December 17 to Thursday, December 21. All times are Eastern. [Note: The weekend edition of What’s On drops on Fridays.]
The biggies
Archer: Into The Cold (FXX, Sunday, 10 p.m.)
Oh, you thought Archer wrapped up its run in August with season 14? Not so fast. Adam Reed’s animated sitcom closes instead with a three-part finale event called Into The Cold. The supersized episodes will conclude this story of the world’s best spy as Archer and his crew figure out their next steps now that the U.N. has made private spy agencies illegal. And hopefully, there’s a satisfying conclusion to Archer (H. Jon Benjamin) and Lana’s (Aisha Tyler) romance. Read our interview with the cast on the end of the show.
Percy Jackson & The Olympians (Disney+, Wednesday, 3:01 a.m.)
Rick Riordan and Jonathan E. Steinberg bring the Percy Jackson novels to the small screen with this Disney+ drama, which centers on Poseidon’s titular teen (Walker Scobell), who is accused by the Greek god Zeus (Lance Reddick) of stealing his thunderbolt. Percy may still be learning how to use his powers, but he has no choice but to team up with his friends to save the world. The cast includes Leah Sava Jeffries, Aryan Simhardri, Glynn Turman, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jason Mantzoukas, Suzanne Cryer, and Megan Mullaly. Look for The A.V. Club’s review this week.
Dr. Death (Peacock, Thursday, 3:01 a.m.)
After a pretty good first outing, the true-crime anthology Dr. Death is back to cover a different case based on a Wondery podcast. In its second round, Peacock’s series tackles the chilling story of Dr. Paolo Macchiarini (Edgar Ramirez). The thoracic surgeon, nicknamed Miracle Man, became known for innovative techniques and transplants. When a journalist, Benita Alexander (Mandy Moore), starts prodding, the two form a complicated relationship that leads to Dr. Paulo’s potential downfall. All eight episodes drop on the same day, and The A.V. Club’s review publishes this week.
Hidden gems
Gwyneth Vs. Terry: The Ski Crash Trial (Max, Monday, 3:01 a.m.)
First of all, this two-parter should’ve been titled “Gwynnocent.” Second of all, do we really need to revisit one of this year’s wildest court cases? Gwyneth Vs. Terry examines the civil trial in which a retired optometrist sued the actor after a 2016 ski-slope collision. The Goop founder counter-sued, and the rest is (pretty funny) history.
Trevor Noah: Where Was I (Netflix, Tuesday, 3:01 a.m.)
Trevor Noah left The Daily Show less than a year ago and has already toured several countries with his stand-up act. Now, in a special filmed earlier this year called Where Was I, he recalls his time onstage across the globe and his experiences interacting with different cultures.
More good stuff
Maestro (Netflix, Wednesday, 3:01 a.m.)
Bradley Cooper directs and stars in the Oscar contender Maestro. The film explores the relationship between renowned composer Leonard Bernstein (Cooper) and his wife, Felicia Montealegre (Carey Mulligan). Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke, Gideon Glick, Michael Urie, and Miriam Shor co-star. Here’s an excerpt from The A.V. Club’s review:
Ambitious in scope and featuring two powerhouse performances at its center, the Netflix release makes good on the promise shown in Cooper’s debut, A Star Is Born, another behind-the-scenes musical romance two-hander that explores the promise and price of ambition.
BTS Monuments: Behind The Star (Disney+, Wednesday, 3:01 a.m.)
The globally acclaimed K-pop band BTS gets their very own eight-episode docuseries thanks to Disney+. BTS Monuments: Beyond The Star follows the group’s journey from forming to selling out stadiums.
Can’t miss recaps
The Gilded Age (HBO, Sunday, 9 p.m., season two finale)
A Murder At The End Of The World (FX on Hulu, Tuesday, 12:01 a.m., season one finale)
Fargo (FX, Tuesday, 10 p.m.)
The Curse (Paramount+, Friday, 3:01 a.m.)
Ending soon
Lawmen: Bass Reeves (Paramount+, Sunday, 3:01 a.m., season one finale)
Fellow Travelers (Showtime, Sunday, 9 p.m., season one finale)
Beacon 23 (MGM+, Sunday, 10 p.m., season one finale)
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver (HBO, Sunday, 11 p.m., season 10 finale)
Rick & Morty (Adult Swim, Sunday, 11 p.m., season seven finale)
Aqua Teen Hunger Force (Adult Swim, Sunday, 11:30 p.m., season 12 finale)
American Dad (TBS, Monday, 10 p.m., season 18 finale)
Bookie (Max, Thursday, 3:01 a.m., season one finale)
Julia (Max, Thursday, 3:01 a.m., season two finale)
Rap Sh!t (Max, Thursday, 3:01 a.m., season two finale)