5 things you have to watch on TV this weekend
Masters Of The Air takes flight, Nicole Kidman leads a tear-jerking new series, Dakota Johnson hosts SNL, and more
Welcome to the weekend edition of What’s On. Here are the big things happening on TV from Friday, January 26 to Sunday, January 28. All times are Eastern. [Note: The weekly edition of What’s On publishes on Sundays.]
1. Nicole Kidman brings on all the feels in Expats
Prime Video, Friday, 12:01 a.m.: The Farewell’s Lulu Wang helms her first TV show, Expats, an emotional thriller that will definitely move you. The six-part drama follows a community of American expats in Hong Kong as they try to move forward after an unfathomable tragedy. The ensemble cast boasts Nicole Kidman, Brian Tee, Sarayu Blue, Ji-young Yoo, and Ruby Ruiz. Here’s a bit from The A.V. Club’s review:
Kidman is gut-wrenching as a grieving mom, communicating her ache in every way, most crucially through her eyes and expressions. It’s simply impossible to look away from her.
2. Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks present Masters Of The Air
Apple TV+, Friday, 12:01 a.m.: Masters Of The Air is a World War II drama in the vein of HBO’s Band Of Brothers and The Pacific. Like those projects, this one is also executive produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, and it features an impressive cast, including Austin Butler, Callum Turner, Barry Keoghan, Anthony Boyle, Nate Mann, and Ncuti Gatwa. New episodes drop every Friday. Here’s an excerpt from The A.V. Club’s review:
In allowing itself to get personal, to delve deep into their lives away from their aircraft, to explore their individual traumas, and to explore who they really were and where they came from, the series ensures that they don’t become collateral damage in yet another expensive screen project that glorifies military action.
3. Dakota Johnson hits Saturday Night Live
NBC, Saturday, 11:30 p.m.: Madame Web star Dakota Johnson is all set to take over Studio 8H as the SNL host. (Will her beloved limes be in attendance? TBD!) She’s joined by musical guest Justin Timberlake. Look out for The A.V. Club’s recap on Sunday.
4. Hightown kicks off its final season
Starz, Friday, 9 p.m.: Crime drama Hightown launches its third and final season this weekend. Set against the background of an opioid epidemic, the show follows Jackie Quiñones (Monica Raymund), a National Marine Fisheries Service agent (yes, really), who finds herself under investigation for a murder. Riley Voelkel and Garret Dillahunt co-star.
5. CNN explores The Many Lives Of Martha Stewart
CNN, Sunday, 9 p.m.: The docuseries The Many Lives Of Martha Stewart charts her roller-coaster journey to fame, from her increasing success to becoming a media empress to her time in prison and her return to the limelight. The series features exclusive interviews with her family members, friends, colleagues, former employees, and even her former inmates.