Plus: the VMAs, the American debut of a Neil Gaiman mini-series and a new Eli Craig movie.
This week starts off with the high stakes of the Game of Thrones Season 7 finale and closes with the new season of Narcos exploring new beginnings after the death of Pablo Escobar. It dips into the eerie with the American debut of a British Neil Gaiman-based miniseries, and the grim fun return of Dale and Tucker vs Evil director Eli Craig. It also offers variety: one of the biggest nights in music honors and cinema vérité approaches of life in rural North Carolina, all within seven days.
To help you keep track of the most important programs over the next seven days, here’s our guide to everything worth watching, whether it’s on broadcast, cable, or streaming for August 27th – September 2nd (all times Eastern):
Game of Thrones (HBO, Sunday 9pm)
The seventh season of Game of Thrones comes to an end already!. After Jon Snow and his band of unlikely heroes ventured beyond the wall for a very important mission in the past episode, everyone is now finally meeting at a crossroads in an epic, high-stakes 85-minute episode — the longest ever. Who will die? What can we expect from a wight dragon? What will we do with our lives until the next season? Read our many pieces about this season and listen to the Storm of Spoilers podcast, of course. We’ll have a lot to say for a while. It’s over, but it’s not really over, if you’re with us.
Narcos (Netflix, Friday)
Part of the allure of Narcos has been the portrayal and the pursuit of Pablo Escobar. After two seasons, the chase is finally over and agent Javier Peña and the DEA now start a new hunt against the Cali cartel, which is run by four godfathers: brothers and masterminds Gilberto (Damian Alcazar) and Miguel Rodríguez Orejuela (Francisco Denis), hitman and main distributor Pacho Herrera (Alberto Ammann), and Chepe Santacruz (Pepe Rapazote), their connection in NYC. The third season will also feature new faces like Kerry Bishe, Michael Stahl-David, and Matt Whelan. Will the Cali cartel be a worthy successor to Escobar? The only way to find out is by binge-watching when it all drops at once.
Neil Gaiman’s Likely Stories (Shudder, Thursday)
This seems to be the year of Neil Gaiman-related TV: Starz’s adaptation of American Gods blew minds in April, part of the cast for the Amazon/BBC produced Good Omens was announced a few weeks ago, and now Likely Stories makes its American debut. The miniseries consists of four 30-minute episodes based on four short tales penned by the author, directed by Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard (20,000 Days on Earth) and scored by Pulp’s Jarvis Cocker. Expect the dark strangeness and reality-bending fantasy that are typical of Gaiman.
Little Evil (Netflix, Friday)
While we patiently wait for the Tucker and Dale vs Evil sequel that Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine hinted about in 2014, director Eli Craig makes a return to the comedy horror genre with the Netflix-produced Little Evil. The film stars Adam Scott as Gary, a man who just married Samantha (played by Evangeline Lily) and is trying to bond with his new step-son Lucas (Owen Atlas). However, there is a good chance that the kid is actually the Antichrist.
2017 MTV Video Music Awards (MTV, Sunday 8pm)
MTV’s Video Music Awards seem a little bit more concerned about social issues this year. A new category, “Best Fight Against the System,” makes its debut, the iconic trophy formerly known as the “Moon Man” will now be referred to as the gender-neutral “Moon Person,” and all previously gendered categories have been dropped. The musical spectacle remains as strong as ever, with acts like Kendrick Lamar, Fifth Harmony, Miley Cyrus, Lorde, The Weeknd, Ed Sheeran, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Shawn Mendes, and a special collaboration between DNCE and Rod Stewart, set to perform.
Raising Bertie (PBS, Monday)
This week’s installment of PBS’s POV series features Bertie County, North Carolina, a rural area that struggles with economic hardship, declining population, and low high school graduation rates. Directed by Margaret Byrne, the documentary follows three African American boys — Reginald “Junior” Askew, David “Bud” Perry, and Davonte “Dada” Harrell — throughout the span of six years as they approach adulthood, and their dealings with violence, generational poverty, educational inequity, institutional racism, and personal relationships along the way.
SUNDAY
2017 MTV Video Music Awards (MTV, 8pm)
Twin Peaks: The Return “Part 16” (Showtime, 8pm)
Game of Thrones S7E7: “The Dragon and the Wolf” – Season 7 finale (HBO, 9pm)
Ray Donovan S5E4: “Sold” (Showtime, 9pm)
Get Shorty S1E4: “From Stamos With Love” (Epix, 10pm)
The Strain S4E7: “Ouroboros” (FX, 10pm)
Ballers S3E6: “I Hate New York” (HBO, 10:25pm)
Insecure S2E6: “Hella Blows” (HBO, 10:55pm)
Rick & Morty S3E6: “Rest and Ricklaxation” (Cartoon Network, 11:30pm)
Top Gear America S1E5: “Humble Beginnings” (BBC America, 8pm)
Diana: The Day We Said Goodbye — documentary premiere (Smithsonian, 9pm)
Dice S2E2: “Big Fan” (Showtime, 10:30pm)
Episodes S5E2 (Showtime, 10pm)
MONDAY
Raising Bertie — documentary debut (PBS)
Bachelor in Paradise S4E5 (ABC, 8pm)
Hooten & The Lady S1E8: “The Caribbean” (The CW, 9pm)
Preacher S2E11: “Backdoors” (AMC, 9pm)
Will S1E9: “Play the Devil” (TNT, 9pm)
TUESDAY
Difficult People S3E6: “Fuzz Buddies”
Ryan Hamilton: Happy Face — Stand up comedy special debut (Netflix)
Bachelor in Paradise S4E6 (ABC, 8pm)
Animal Kingdom S2E13 — Season 2 finale (TNT, 9pm)
The Bold Type S1E9: “Before Tequila Sunrise” (Freeform, 9pm)
American Ripper S1E8: “The Grave” (History, 10pm) – Season Finale
Manhunt: Unabomber S1E6 (Discovery, 10pm)
Dare to Live S1E1 and S1E2 – series premiere (MTV, 11pm)
Bring It On: Worldwide #Cheersmack – movie debut (Netflix)
WEDNESDAY
Vixen: The Movie – movie debut (The CW, 8pm)
Swedish Dicks S1E6 (Pop, 8pm)
Suits S7E8: “100” – 100th episode (USA, 9pm)
Catfish: The TV Show (MTV, 10pm)
Snowfall S1E9: “Story of a Scar” (FX, 10pm)
I’m Sorry S1E9 “Weekend Alone” (truTV, 10pm)
The Sinner S1E5 :“Part V” (USA, 10pm)
Baroness von Sketch Show S1E5: “Stay for a Drink” (IFC, 10pm)
THURSDAY
Neil Gaiman’s Likely Stories – mini-series US debut (Shudder)
Project Runway S16E3 (Lifetime, 8pm)
Mysteries of the Abandoned: Chernobyl’s Deadly Secrets – documentary debut (Science, 9pm)
Queen of the South S2E13: “La Última Hora Mata” – Season 2 finale (USA, 10pm)
Zoo S3E10: “Once Upon a Time in the Nest” (CBS, 10pm)
The Guest Book S1E6: “Story Six” (TBS, 10:30pm)
FRIDAY
Narcos – Season 3 in full (Netflix)
Little Evil – movie debut (Netflix)
Final Fantasy XIV Dad of Light – Season 1 in full (Netflix)
Resurface – documentary debut (Netflix)
Room 104 S1E6: “Voyeurs” (HBO, 11:30pm)
SATURDAY
Wild West: America’s Great Frontier E3 – season finale (BBC America, 9pm)
A Monster Calls – cable debut (HBO, 8pm)
