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Free as a Byrde … or are they?

MURTZ JAFFER

With so many different streaming platforms and cable offerings to navigate, choosing What To Watch has never been harder. To make things easier, here are our best tune-in tips for the week ahead.

WEDNESDAY The Puppet Master: Hunting The Ultimate Conman

Netflix has been beefing up its true crime offerings in recent months. The streaming service’s latest docuseries follows the international chase of one of the world’s most notorious con artists, Robert Hendy-Freegard. In the early ’90s, Hendy-Freegard claimed to be an undercover MI5 agent, tricking numerous people into giving him more than $1 million over the course of two decades. It’s a short commitment, as the series is only three episodes.

Netflix

Too Hot to Handle

The third season of this salacious series sees stunning singles continue to mix and mingle. As fans of the show know, however, there is a twist. To win the $100,000 grand prize, the islanders must give up sex. Any type of sexual intimacy results in money being withdrawn from the ultimate prize. The show itself is an acquired taste.

Netflix

THURSDAY Women Of The Movement

It’s the finale of this six-episode limited series that is based on the true story of Emmett Till. The historical drama tells the story of the 14-year-old African American who was murdered after being accused of offending someone in a grocery store in 1955. The historical drama tells the story of Emmet’s mother, Mamie Till-Mobley (played by Adrienne Warren) and what she will do to make sure justice is served.

Global & StackTV, 8 p.m.

FRIDAY Ozark

The wait is finally over. If you haven’t caught the adventures of Marty and Wendy Byrde (played by Jason Bateman and Laura Linney), this critically-acclaimed series centres a couple who begin to engage in criminal activity after moving to the Ozarks. Although it appears the Byrdes are finally free from the cartel after the shocking end of Season 3, it appears the family’s past sins will finally come back to catch them. One of more interesting parts of the new season’s trailer is its depiction of the Byrdes’ children and how their interest in the family business of money laundering might lead to the entire family’s ultimate downfall.

Netflix

Servant

The third season of M. Night Shyamalan’s thriller follows a Philadelphia

couple in mourning after a tragedy creates a rift in their marriage. This results in a mysterious force entering their home. The series was recently renewed for a fourth and final season that will follow this one.

Apple TV Plus

As We See It

This new series follows 20-something roommates who are all on the autism spectrum as they navigate everyday life. The series documents the successes and setbacks Jack (Rick Glassman), Harrison (Albert Rutecki), and Violet (Sue Ann Pien) face as they complete their journey toward independence and acceptance.

Prime Video

In Your Face

This must-see new documentary from Montreal-based filmmaker Josh Freed analyzes a superpower that some of us have and that some of us don’t. Namely, the ability to recognize and remember faces. Did you know that the average person can remember about 5,000 faces? Or that some of us are “super recognizers” who can never forget someone they meet? On the opposite end, there are those that suffer from “face blindness.” These are people who can’t remember any faces at all … even their own children. Those who suffer from this ailment include naturist Jane Goodall, Apple’s Steve Wozniak and actor Brad Pitt. This doc delves further into the issue.

CBC & CBC Gem, 9 p.m.

A Hero

Last year, Amazon Studios acquired the exclusive U.S. rights to this project from two-time Oscarwinning filmmaker Asghar Farhadi. This film, shot in Iran, tells the story of Rahim (played by Amir Jadidi) who is imprisoned because of his failure to repay a debt. During a two-day leave, he tries to convince his creditor to withdraw the complaint against him but things don’t go according to plan. The movie is expected to contend for an Academy Award.

Prime Video

SUNDAY Billions

After the shocking fifth-season finale, which saw the departure of Damian Lewis, it will be interesting to see if one of the best shows on television can recover from the loss of its lead. For those unfamiliar, the Showtime series follows a hedge fund manager as he invests and skirts laws to accumulate as much money as possible. Currently the plan is for Corey Stoll’s Michael Prince to assume Bobby Axelrod’s role as the chief antagonist to Paul Giamatti’s Chuck Rhoades. Fans of the show shouldn’t be too concerned. The stunning performances delivered by Maggie Siff and Asia Kate Dillon are enough to give the writers the benefit of the doubt in a post-Axelrod world.

Crave

CULTURE | ENTERTAINMENT

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2022-01-17T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-01-17T08:00:00.0000000Z

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