What to watch on TV and streaming today: Mrs Brown's Boys, The Notebook and Chief of War

Irish Independent

2 days ago

Mrs Brown's Boys BBC One, 9.30pm & RTÉ One, 9.35pm
It might not be everybody's cup of tea, but there's no denying the popularity of Agnes Brown. What Anjelica Huston — the first person to play her on screen, in the 1999 movie Agnes Browne (the extra 'e' was later dropped) — thinks about her alter ego now remains unknown, but for Brendan O'Carroll, she has been a godsend, transforming him into a household name.
The sitcom is, of course, a family affair, not just because it features the Brown clan, but also due to the fact that various O'Carroll relatives appear in it. They're all set to appear again as the show's fifth mini-season begins. Despite previous runs (not to mention the 2014 big-screen spin-off) being lambasted by critics, the programme is a huge hit both here and in Britain.
In fact, Jon Petrie, the BBC's head of comedy, is thrilled it's returning: 'Brendan has created an iconic comedy character in Agnes Brown. Mrs Brown's Boys is a Bafta-winning comedy show and one of the BBC's most-watched comedies ever... I'm proud to have it in the BBC comedy stable.' Over the next few weeks we'll see Foley's bar prep for its annual talent show, and Agnes help Winnie pass her driving test. But the new run begins on Friday as Mrs Brown becomes a podcast sensation, with Cathy discovering her mother has hijacked her new project. Simon Delaney is among the guest stars.
Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage RTÉ2, 7pm
New US sitcom which is a sequel to Young Sheldon. It charts the marriage of Georgie Cooper and Mandy McAllister, who is 12 years his senior. Montana Jordan and Emily Osment play the lovebirds.
Tradfest: The Fingal Sessions RTÉ One, 8pm
Fiachna Ó Braonáin celebrates the contribution that the Traveller community have made to Irish music with Sharyn Ward, below, Steo Wall and Thomas McCarthy.
Chief of War AppleTV+, streaming now
Led by Jason Momoa and a largely Polynesian cast, this movie recounts the sweeping story of Hawaii's unification and colonisation in the late 1700s. Said cast includes Luciane Buchanan, Temuera Morrison, Te Ao o Hinepehinga, and Cliff Curtis, while showcasing newcomer Kaina Makua.
The Notebook RTÉ2, 9.25pm
Hankies at the ready for this tearjerking romance in which an elderly man reads a love story to a nursing home resident in the present, while we see the affair, played out by a young couple in the 1940s. Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, Gena Rowlands and James Garner star.
Ride the High Country TG4, 9.35pm
Director Sam Peckinpah's underrated western focuses on a marshal and his former partner who reunite to supposedly protect a shipment of gold bullion — but one of them has different plans for it... Randolph Scott and Joel McCrea star.
Miley Cyrus: Something Beautiful Disney+, streaming now
Are you over all the shark stuff (if you're not, Sharks Gone Viral is Disney+'s latest shark offering)? Then consider watching Miley as she dives back into her Disney roots with this fantastical pop opera featuring 13 original songs and a purportedly dazzling visual album. It's the closest you'll get to seeing her live given her well-documented dislike of touring.
Shiny Happy People: The Teenage Holy War Prime Video, streaming now
'How do you know you're in a cult if it's your normal?' For most under the power of leader Ron Luce, believing you were meant to die a teen martyr for Christ was normal... It would appear there was so much for the Teen Mania Ministries escapees to unpack of their time at the church that Emmy-winning filmmakers Nicole Newnham and Cori Shepherd are back with a second season. They continue to focus on America's largest youth ministry, which attracted millions through wildly popular stadium shows known as 'Acquire the Fire'. Packed with Millennial-era energy and copious levels of cringe, the series captures massive crowds of teens swept up in fervent religious concerts, purity pledges, and missionary zeal — when all most of them needed was a decent regular rave to attend. Beneath the polished youth group image, it reveals rigid spiritual training, theatrical indoctrination, and emotional manipulation orchestrated by Luce.
My Melody & Kuromi Netflix, streaming now
Fellow Sanrio fans, rejoice! In this charming stop-motion series, celebrating their respective birthdays, (cooler) younger sister Kuromi hunts for My Melody's cake secret, triggering sweet chaos in Mariland. If you can't handle the kawaii burblings, consider watching on mute; it's worth it for the animation. A Normal Woman Netflix, streaming now
A socialite's life unravels when a mysterious illness — and her family's disbelief (and latent misogyny) — push her to sabotage her perfect facade and uncover a darker, truer self.
Happy Gilmore 2 Netflix, streaming now
Yay, 1990s nostalgia! Can you believe it took only three decades for a sequel to this Adam Sandler vehicle? That's either an exceedingly good or a not-so-good sign. It was also released straight to Netflix. Take from that what you will. Hitmakers Netflix, streaming now
Twelve top songwriters and producers come together at high-stakes music camps to create hits for stars like John Legend, Shaboozey, and Lisa of Blackpink — revealing the creative tension and breakthroughs behind the music-making process (for humans).
Trigger Netflix, streaming now
This week's K-drama features the rising threat of illegal firearms and shootings; an unsettling shift in South Korea's typically gun-free landscape. The Facebook Honeytrap: Catching a Killer Prime Video, streaming now
A woman grappling with chronic illness helps track down her aunt's murderer from 6,000 miles away. How? By using fake profiles, unseen messages, and sheer determination, all from her couch in the UK. For yet more true crime on Prime, there's A Killer's Confession (Christopher Halliwell's, to be precise).