This week we have a medical drama with a difference and the incredible story of a Swedish criminal. There’s also a comedy drama about a troubled intelligence officer, an underrated science fiction classic and an American comedy with Danny McBride and Walton Goggins.
The Knick
Available to watch on HBO Max in the UK and the US
Starring Clive Owen as Dr John W Thackery, this engrossing historical medical drama follows the staff at a fictionalised version of the Knickerbocker Hospital in New York at the beginning of the 20th century. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, the dark series focuses on a flawed and conflicted protagonist fighting his own demons while working with doctors and nurses to push the frontiers of treatment and medical science.
Clark
Available to watch on Netflix in the UK and the US
A stylish series telling the outrageous life story of the Swedish criminal Clark Olofsson, this show stars Bill Skarsgard at the top of his game as we learn about the man who would become famous for his role in the Norrmalmstorg robbery, which led to the term “Stockholm syndrome” being coined. It’s fast-paced and filled with tonal shifts that will keep you guessing, but at the heart of it is an outstanding lead performance from Skarsgard.
The Patriot
Available to watch on Prime Video in the UK and the US
A dark, quirky and funny series that passed most viewers by when it arrived more than a decade ago, Patriot stars Michael Dorman as John Tavner, a troubled CIA intelligence officer and folk singer. In an attempt to prevent Iran from going nuclear, Tavner must go undercover and forgo all normal safety nets to impersonate a mid-level employee at a Milwaukee industrial piping company.
Raised by Wolves
Available in the UK and the US to rent/ buy
While the big-budget HBO series received some initial attention for the involvement of Ridley Scott as the director of the first two episodes, not enough people managed to see the two-series show in its entirety. A science fiction story about two androids, Father and Mother, who are charged with raising human children on the planet Kepler-22b after the destruction of Earth, it takes viewers on an intriguing journey as we learn more about the differences that threaten to tear the colony apart.
Vice Principals
Available to watch in the UK on Prime Video, HBO Max and Now, and on HBO Max in the US
A dark comedy co-created by Danny McBride (the creator of The Righteous Gemstones), this hyper-real and chaotic series stars McBride as Neal Gamby, a divorced and self-important vice-principal on the warpath as he vies for the top job at North Jackson High with Lee Russell (Walton Goggins), a sociopathic vice-principal. While the humour might not quite gel with everybody, the show has won an offbeat cult comedy fanbase across the years.
Love TV? Discover the best shows on Netflix, the best Prime Video TV shows and the best Apple TV+ shows. Don’t forget to check our critics’ choices to watch and our comprehensive TV guide, plus our look at the finest films and TV shows this month