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 TV train wreck). Prepare thyselves for another round of summer premieres, and check out the list for the week beginning Monday, June 8th:
Monday 6/8
UnReal, “Relapse” (Lifetime, 10 p.m.) — Lifetime’s new scripted series about the behind-the-scenes of a competition dating reality show had a great premiere and an excellent performance from star Shiri Appleby. With guarded optimism, we approach the second episode, which finds family tragedy striking one of the girls, and a new competition among the crew to find “Everlasting’s” villain.
Texas Rising, “Vengeance Is Mine” (History, 9 p.m.) — General Houston and his Rangers finally face Santa Anna’s Mexican Army in a surprise attack. The miniseries has proved to be good and terrible all at once, yet it still exerts a strange pull for fans of Westerns (myself included).
Thursday 6/11
The Seventies Series Premiere, “United States vs. Nixon” (CNN, 9 p.m.) — The natural follow-up to CNN’s successful 60s docudrama is also produced by Tom Hanks, and will run for eight episodes.
Friday 6/12
Defiance Season 3 Premiere, “The World We Seize; The Last Unicorns” (Syfy 8 p.m.) — The 2-hour premiere has Nolan and Irisa mysterious rescued from their underground confinement, only to find enemy forces marching on Defiance. Elsewhere, Datak, Stahma and Rafe, along with Alak, run into some difficult family matters.
Dark Matter Series Premiere, “Episode One” (Syfy 10 p.m.) — Based on the graphic novel series; a spaceship crew awakens from statis with no memory of who they are or where they are going. (Review forthcoming)
Orange Is the New Black Season 3 (Netflix) — Not much is known about the new season, but the trailers seem to suggest that Season 3 promises to be lighter than last year. Regardless, it’s good to have the ladies of Litchfield back! (Check back on Collider for recaps starting next Monday)
Saturday 6/13
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell Season Premiere, “The Friends of English Magic” (BBC America, 10 p.m.) — Based on Susanna Clarke’s best-selling novel, the seven-part series (starring Eddie Marsan and Bertie Carvel) is set during the Napoleonic Wars in England, but in an alternate reality where magic comes back into existence. (Review forthcoming)
Sunday 6/14
Game of Thrones Season 5 Finale, “Mother’s Mercy” (HBO, 9 p.m.) — Stannis marches towards Winterfull, Cersei seeks forgiveness, Jon faces new challenges at the Wall, and we find out where Dany ended up. But no matter these vague teases, it’s going to be intense, I have little doubt.
Penny Dreadful, “Little Scorpion” (Showtime 10 p.m.) — Vanessa and Ethan flee together to the Cut-Wife’s cottage where they bond even closer together. Back in London, Lyle and Victor find a disturbing revelation in the Verbs Diablo relics, and Lily’s “reborn” nature is revealed.
Silicon Valley Season 2 Finale, “Two Days of the Condor” (HBO, 10 p.m.) — An exceptional season comes to a close, but will it be as amazing as Season 1’s finale? Pied Piper’s fate is decided as real-life drama suddenly makes their livestream incredibly popular, and the gang must scramble to keep the company together.
Veep Season 4 Finale, “Election Night” (HBO, 10:32 p.m.) — Season 4 has gotten better and better, building to a fever pitch; and just as the episode title says, the state results come in, testing the nerves of Selina and her staff.
