What to Watch: Severance season two, SNL 50, Home And Away, Until I Kill You and Miriam Margolyes In NZ

Severance

Friday, streaming on Apple TV Plus

It was one of the biggest shows of 2022. And in the years since it’s only gained more fans, as people discover the twisted genius of Apple TV’s brilliant workplace psychodrama, Severance.

The Ben Stiller-directed series returns this week for a second season, but don’t expect answers to all your questions — yet.

“Season two answers some questions, but then brings up a whole lot more questions . . . I don’t have the answers to them,” Tramell Tillman, who plays the quietly menacing Mr Milchick, said in a recent interview.

Rather than being upset by this, we’re relieved. Because it’s the NOT knowing that makes this suspenseful series so fun, as we all madly try to figure out what’s afoot at Lumon Industries, the workplace that has “severed” the memories and identities of employees who dwell in its mysterious basement.

Not since the early seasons of Lost has a series so captivated — and confounded — its audience, and we’re obsessed.

There’s a real sense the mystery is only deepening as season two unfolds, mere moments after we left things last time. If you can’t remember what happened, don’t attempt to dive back in without a refresher — it’s difficult enough to keep up with everything at the best of times (what’s with those goats?), never mind after a two-year hiatus.

It’s great to be back checking in with the “innie” versions of Mark (Adam Scott), Irving (John Turturro), Helly (Britt Lower) and Dylan (Zach Cherry), who we last saw gaming their way back to consciousness in the real world. The infraction has very real, very terrifying ramifications for them all, and the race is on for “innie” and “outie” versions of them to join the dots.

This is truly a masterful piece of television, with season two only building the momentum.

Can’t wait to see where this goes.

Miriam Margolyes In New Zealand

Sunday, 7.30pm, ABC

Miriam Margolyes must certainly be Australia’s favourite adopted emigre — we’ve all loved hitching a ride with her as she’s criss-crossed the country discovering what it means to be Australian via her terrific TV specials. This time she’s packing the camper and heading off across the ditch, having a snuffle around New Zealand to “dig under the skin of what it means to be a Kiwi today”. Needless to say, it’s a delight.

Until I Kill You

Sunday, 8.30pm, ABC

Steel yourself for this one — it mines some truly dark territory. Based on a true story, it draws from the book Living With A Serial Killer, which is Delia Balmer’s account of surviving horrific abuse at the hands of her boyfriend, John Sweeney, who confessed to her that he murdered one of his exes. Shaun Evans stars as Sweeney and Anna Maxwell Martin is Delia, and she’s devastatingly good. This has been getting five-star reviews in the UK — proceed with caution.

Home And Away

Monday, 7pm, Seven

Is a Summer Bay favourite guilty of a brutal attack? That’s the big question being asked as everyone’s favourite soap returns for another blockbuster year. We pick up with Cash (Nicholas Cartwright) covered in blood and looming over Tim’s (George Pullar) body — it’s not looking good for either of them. Is Cash to blame for his lifeless state? Meanwhile Harper (Jessica Redmayne) is fighting to save the life of her unborn baby by undergoing surgery. Phew! Strap in.

SNL 50: Behind Saturday Night Live

Thursday, streaming on Binge

The stranglehold this show has on popular culture! Surely it’s unparalleled? This docuseries celebrates 50 years of the iconic late-night comedy program, taking a look at just what makes it such an enduring hit with viewers. More than 60 contributors and SNL alumni take part over four episodes, with never-before-seen footage and interviews with some of the show’s biggest breakout stars also getting a run. One for fans.