TV

Marvel’s ‘Runaways,’ ‘She’s Gotta Have It’ and More TV You Must See This Week

Plus ‘Search Party’ Season 2, a new western series, and an abundance of documentaries
Marvels Runaways
By  · Published on November 19th, 2017

Plus ‘Search Party’ Season 2, a new western series, and an abundance of documentaries.

This week offers not only Thanksgiving-themed episodes and family movies but also a varied sample of new shows and seasons: Marvel’s shared universe expands to Hulu with a new show, a Spike Lee joint gets the web series treatment, Alia Shawkat and her search party return, and Netflix gets back in the saddle with a new Western. There is also a bunch of interesting documentaries that explore everything from Cuban history and social and economic unrest to the controversial legacy of an infamous Simpsons character.

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 November 19th –25th (all times Eastern):

Search Party (TBS, Sunday 10pm)

The first season of Search Party was all about the thrill of pursuit and unraveling a mystery, while the second turns the tables: after a horrible misunderstanding, our seekers are now the ones being pursued. It’s not long before the police start asking questions that send our unlikely Scooby Gang — on-and-off couple Dory (Shawkat) and Drew (John Reynolds), bubbly Portia (Meredith Hagner), and hip narcissist Elliott (John Early) — into a paranoid downward spiral. As the show takes a dark turn, it will also keep up with its characteristic wry humor. Jay Duplass, Judy Reyes, Phoebe Robinson, Tymberlee Hill, and Jessica Chaffin also join the party (pun intended) in guest appearances.

The Problem with Apu (truTV, Sunday 10pm)

Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, the Indian owner of Springfield’s Kwik-E-Mart, has been a part of The Simpsons for almost 28 years, and comedian Hari Kondabolu can’t take it anymore. This intense spite for the character fuels The Problem with Apu, but the documentary revolves around a more serious matter: cultural representation. Following the cue set by late night news satire, this comedic exposé digs into the history and legacy of a character who, voiced by a white man and always aligned with reductive stereotypes, has remained beloved and unquestioned. Actors Kal Penn, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Aasif Mandvi, Maulike Pancholy, Sakina Jaffrey, and Whoopi Goldberg also join the conversation.

Baltimore Rising (HBO, Monday 8pm)

Detective Kima Greggs has been up to a lot after The Wire. Or, at least actress Sonja Sohn has. She never really left B’more and now returns to HBO with her directorial debut: Baltimore Rising. The documentary follows activists, police officers, community leaders, and gang affiliates in the aftermath of Freddie Gray’s death. The film also explores the social unrest, ranging from peaceful protest to destructive riots, that still stirs the city. After its run at this year’s DOC NYC film festival, this communal testimony now has its premiere on cable TV.

Marvel’s Runaways (Hulu, Tuesday)

All teenagers agree: parents are evil. However, few of them are as justifiably entitled to that opinion as Alex Wilder (Rhenzy Feliz) and his offbeat group of friends, who discover that their parents hold secret meetings involving human sacrifice and run an underground criminal operation. Marvel’s shared universe keeps expanding as steadily in TV and streaming services as it does in film, and Hulu hosts this adaptation of the beloved comics, which fuses teen drama with superhero-level stakes — think Riverdale meets Legion. Created by Gossip Girl’s Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, the show also stars Lyrica Okano, Virginia Gardner, Ariela Barer, Gregg Sulkin, Allegra Acosta, and a velociraptor (yes, really).

Saving Capitalism (Netflix, Tuesday)

If you have a great tolerance for bleakness and you don’t get easily depressed by the news — or you would simply like to be more informed about the current state of the national economy —you should add Saving Capitalism to your Netflix watchlist. Originally a Kickstarter project inspired by the homonymous book, this documentary follows former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich in his journey throughout the country, as he explores the challenges and tensions created by economic inequality. Oscar nominated filmmaker Sari Gilman (King’s Point) co-directs with Jacob Kornbluth, who previously helmed the Reich-focused Inequality for All.

Godless (Netflix, Wednesday)

After misfiring with The Ridiculous Six, Netflix gets back in the saddle and gives Westerns another shot in their original content catalog. Written and directed by Scott Frank (Logan) and produced by Steven Soderbergh, Godless is a limited series set in La Belle, a remote mining town in New Mexico that is governed by women. There, Roy Goode (Jack O’Connell) seeks refuge from his former partner in crime, the notorious Frank Griffin (Jeff Daniels) and his gang of outlaws. Also featuring Michelle Dockery, Merritt Wever, Scoot McNairy, and Sam Waterston, Godless is an affair that can only end with hot lead.

She’s Gotta Have It (Netflix, Thursday)

Movie remakes are, more often than not, unnecessary. But there are a few rare instances that are worthy of being revisited or could benefit from a new, more contemporary take. Such is the case of Spike Lee’s first joint: She’s Gotta Have It. The 1986 film was as subversive as Lee himself: it centered on Nola Darling (now played by DeWanda Wise), an independent, self-assured Brooklynite, and her relationships with three widely different men: Mars (Anthony Ramos), Greer (Cleo Anthony), and Jamie (Lyriq Bent). She’s Gotta Have It finds new life as a 10-episode series, completely directed by Lee, and gets a present-day update that definitely suits the sex-positive, polyamorous, pansexual protagonist.

Cuba and the Cameraman (Netflix, Friday)

Veteran documentary filmmaker Jon Alpert has been to many places (Vietnam, Cambodia, Iran, China, Afghanistan, just to name a few) and has met many different people (he was one of the few Western journalist who got to interview Saddam Hussein), but he has been constantly returning to the same country throughout the last 45 years. Cuba and the Cameraman portrays five decades of Cuban history, including the early ’70s revolution and some of the several interviews the director did with Fidel Castro, and captures in Alpert’s signature cinema vérité style the changes both big and small that have marked the country.

SUNDAY

Bob’s Burgers S8E5 “Thanks-Hoarding” (FOX, 7:30pm)

2017 American Music Awards (ABC, 8pm) – live event

Outlander S3E10 “Heaven and Earth” (Starz, 8pm)

The Simpsons S29E7 “Singin’ in the Lane” (FOX, 8pm)

Ghosted S1E7 “Ghost Studz” (FOX, 8:30pm)

Cold Blooded: The Clutter Family Murders (Sundance, 9pm) – mini documentary series finale

Family Guy S16E7 “Petey IV” (FOX, 9pm)

The Girlfriend Experience S2E5&6 “Solicitation” & “Negotiation” (Starz, 9pm)

The Walking Dead S8E5 “The Big Scary U” (AMC, 9pm)

The Last Man on Earth S4E7 “Gender Friender” (FOX, 9:30pm)

Curb Your Enthusiasm S9E8 “Never Wait for Seconds!” (HBO, 10pm)

Search Party S2E1&2 “Murder!” & “Conspiracy” (TBS, 10pm) – season premiere

SMILF S1E3 “Half a Sheet Cake & A Blue-Raspberry Slushie” (Showtime, 10pm)

The Problem with Apu (truTV, 10pm) – documentary premiere

White Famous S1E7 “Duality” (Showtime, 10pm)

MONDAY

Baltimore Rising (HBO, 8pm) – documentary premiere

Baymax Returns (Disney XD, 8pm) – movie premiere

David Letterman: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize (PBS, 8pm) – live event

Lucifer S3E8 “Chloe Does Lucifer” (FOX, 8pm)

Supergirl S3E7 “Wake Up” (The CW, 8pm)

The Gifted S1E8 “threat of eXtinction” (FOX, 9pm)

Scorpion S4E9 “It’s Raining Men (of War)” (CBS, 10pm)

The Good Doctor S1E8 “Apple” (ABC, 10pm)

Ill Behaviour S1E2 (Showtime, 10:30pm)

TUESDAY

Brian Regan: Nunchucks and Flamethrowers (Netflix) – standup comedy special

Marvel’s Runaways (Hulu) – series premiere

Saving Capitalism (Netflix) – documentary premiere

The Flash S4E7 “Therefore I Am” (The CW, 8pm)

Lethal Weapon S2E7 “Birdwatching” (FOX, 8pm)

NCIS S15E9 “Ready or Not” (CBS, 8pm)

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow S3E7 “Welcome to the Jungle” (The CW, 9pm)

This Is Us S2E9 “Number Two” (NBC, 9pm)

Who Killed Tupac? S1E1 “Murder in Vegas/Crips vs Bloods” (A&E, 9pm) – mini documentary series premiere

Brooklyn Nine-Nine S5E7 “Two Turkeys” (FOX, 9:30pm)

WEDNESDAY

Barbra: The Music… The Mem’ries… The Magic! (Netflix) – documentary premiere

Godless S1 (Netflix) – miniseries premiere

Criminal Minds S13E8 “Neon Terror” (CBS, 10pm)

Mr. Robot S3E7 “eps3.6_fredrick&tanya.chk” (USA, 10pm)

The A-Word S2E3 “Are We Still Here?” (Sundance, 10pm)

THURSDAY

She’s Gotta Have It S1 (Netflix) – series premiere

Supernatural S13E7 “War of the Worlds” (The CW, 8pm)

Arrow S6E7 “Thanksgiving” (The CW, 9pm)

Van Helsing S2E8 “Big Mama” (Syfy, 9pm)

S.W.A.T S1E4 “Radical” (CBS, 10pm)

FRIDAY

Cuba and the Cameraman (Netflix) – documentary premiere

Frontier S2 (Netflix) – season premiere

Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie (Nickelodeon, 7pm) – movie premiere

Z Nation S4E9 “We Interrupt This Program” (Syfy, 9pm)

SATURDAY

Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency S2E7 “This Is Not Miami” (BBC America, 9pm)

Pocket-sized cinephile analyzing things as a hobby.