Outlander (STACKTV)
Caitríona Balfe and Jamie Fraser star in Outlander.Robert Wilson/Supplied
After eight seasons of time travelling, war and romance, the televised adaptation of Diana Gabaldon’s popular book series comes to a close. The final season brings the journey of Sam (Jamie Fraser) and Claire (Caitríona Balfe) to an end, although no one on the cast knows what that ending will be. Production filmed several possibilities to avoid spoilers, and only essential creatives know which one they’ll go with. For now, the eighth season also includes an array of new characters and enemies, plus storylines for the series’ other essential couple, Brianna (Sophie Skelton) and Roger (Richard Rankin).
Over the years, there have been plenty of creative ups and downs, with some seasons stronger than others. One thing we know for sure is that strong emotional performances will continue to ground this swan song, which takes place against the backdrop of the American Revolution.
One Piece (Netflix)
One Piece captures the heart of Eiichiro Oda’s manga on which it’s based.Supplied
Successful live-action anime adaptations are rare (Cowboy Bebop and Ghost in the Shell are just two recent, disastrous examples), but One Piece seems to have cracked the code. The series captures the heart of Eiichiro Oda’s manga on which it’s based by embracing the world’s cartoonish tone and exaggerated humour. As a result, it’s amassed a pretty loyal fanbase.
The second season kicks off this week with bigger adventures, new characters and high expectations from those who have been waiting almost three years for new episodes. Monkey D. Luffy (Iñaki Godoy) and his Straw Hat Pirates will continue their search for the legendary treasure known as the One Piece.
Netflix’s Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere shows the entertainment value of extremism
Scarpetta (Prime Video)
Nicole Kidman stars as the titular forensic psychologist in the crime thriller Scarpetta, based on a popular book series.Connie Chornuk/Supplied
Nicole Kidman has participated in a notable number of book-to-screen adaptations over the past decade, from Big Little Lies and The Perfect Couple to Nine Perfect Strangers and The Undoing. This week, she continues that trend with the role of Dr. Kay Scarpetta, inspired by the Patricia Cornwell heroine of the same name.
The crime thriller follows the forensic pathologist as she uses advanced technology to solve cases, proving there’s still an audience for basic CSI-inspired TV series. This version features an Amazon budget and notable actors, however, including Jamie Lee Curtis, Ariana DeBose and Bobby Cannavale.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (Disney+)
The new season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives takes a deeper look at #MomTok, religion, online versus real personalities and the pressure of maintaining a social presence.Fred Hayes/Supplied
Whether you’re a fan of these types of series or not, there’s something fascinating about the intersection of influencer culture and reality TV that anchors The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. The show features traditional drama, gossip and shifting alliances that franchises such as The Real Housewives have popularized. But it also takes a deeper look at #MomTok, religion, online versus real personalities and the pressure of maintaining a social presence.
Heading into its fourth season this week, the show blends that line more than ever as Taylor Frankie Paul prepares for The Bachelorette, Layla Taylor navigates a crumbling relationship with Mason McWhorter and Jen Affleck’s marriage inspires divorce rumours.
For North of North’s breakout star Anna Lambe, acting is political
No Other Land (CBC Gem)
No Other Land won the award for best documentary feature at the 2025 Academy Awards.Antipode Films
The Canadian streamer has secured the national premiere of this documentary, which made its debut at the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival. The 95-minute offering was made by a Palestinian-Israeli collective and won the award for best documentary feature at the 2025 Academy Awards.
It traces the destruction of the occupied West Bank’s Masafer Yatta by Israeli soldiers and the subsequent alliance between a Palestinian activist named Basel Adra and Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham. The film approaches the continuing conflict with a different lens and reminds us of the human costs, which makes this doc a difficult but essential watch.