What you should be watching on streaming platforms and TV this week

From an outstanding multiverse drama starring Australia’s Joel Edgerton to the return of one of our most extreme reality TV series, these are the shows worth watching this week.

We’ve sifted through the latest offerings from TV and streaming platforms to find the best shows you should be watching this week.

Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly star in Dark Matter. Picture: Apple TV+

DARK MATTER

WEDNESDAY, APPLETV+

Just when you thought we were done with the multiverse comes this nine-part sci-fi gem, based on Blake Crouch’s acclaimed novel of the same name.

Aussie Joel Edgerton plays Jason Desson, who is living happily as a family man in Chicago teaching university physics.

But walking home one night, Jason is abducted by what turns out to be a version of himself from an alternative universe, who wants to hijack his idyllic existence to correct regrets and choices in his own life as a workaholic trailblazing scientist.

Having switched worlds, the original Jason has to figure out how to get back to his wife and son, travelling through countless realities and always wondering what could have been. Edgerton, who is also executive producer, likens the quest to Harrison Ford’s in The Fugitive, saying “something terrible happens to an intelligent, innocent individual which then drives them to frantically prove their innocence or get members of their family back. In Dark Matter, we have something similar — a physics professor, a normal guy who is responsible and reliable, is put in an unconscionable predicament of necessity and determination to get his family back.”

Michael Ross and Zaachariaha Fielding, members of band Electric Fields, will represent Australia at Eurovision this year. Picture: Jessica Gow/TT / TT News Agency / AFP

EUROVISION SONG CONTEST

WEDNESDAY, 5AM, SBS

This year will be the country’s ninth entry into the world’s largest live music event, which attracts around 160 million views every year.

But South Australian duo Electric Fields will be showcasing another side of Australia in Sweden, with their song One Mikali (One Blood) featuring Yankunytjatjara, an Aboriginal language of the Anangu peoples and one of the oldest living cultures on Earth.

Seasoned hosts Myf Warhurst and Joel Creasey will be joined by Courtney Act this year for live coverage, including of the Grand Final at 5am Sunday.

There will also be prime time broadcasts of both semi-finals and the grand final at 7.30pm from Friday to Sunday.

Swedish pop group Abba with its members (L-R) Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Faltskog and Bjorn Ulvaeus. Picture: Olle Lindeborg / TT News Agency / AFP

ABBA AND THE SECRETS OF SWEDISH POP

THURSDAY, 7.30PM, SBS

It was 50 years last month that four Swedes – Benny Anderson, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad – burst onto the world stage as ABBA, winning the Eurovision Song Contest with Waterloo and changing the face of pop music.

The foursome became Sweden’s first superstar band – nowhere more so than Australia – and doing so, both influenced and helped open the door for many of their compatriots.

Ever since, as this fun documentary shows, the Scandinavian country has punched above its weight on the world music stage with acts such as Roxette, Ace of Base, Robyn, Avicii and the mighty hit maker, Max Martin.

Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds with fans. Picture: FX

WELCOME TO WREXHAM

DISNEY+, FRIDAYS

After the fairytale finish of last season, which saw Wrexham AFC return to the football league for the first time in 15 years, the third season of the Emmy-winning docuseries begins with a reality check for the Welsh club.

The initial highs of the post-season trip to Las Vegas and tour of America, including matches against Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester United, are followed by the realities of a big step-up in class, losing their main strike weapon, a leaky defence and the fact that their opponents might not all like their celebrity owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

But it’s never just been about the results on the field and the uplifting doco continues to showcase the town’s connection to the team and its sometimes oddball fans.

It’s all tremendous, swashbuckling fun in Shardlake. Picture: Disney+

SHARDLAKE

DISNEY+

CJ Sansom, the author who wrote Matthew Shardlake series of historical fiction books died just last month, but hopefully he got to see this fine new series based on his most famous creation.

The title character of the mystery-drama set in Tudor England is a lawyer-detective with a twisted body but a razor sharp mind, whose rejection from entering the priesthood because “he was not made in God’s image” has made him driven, just and somewhat prickly.

In the early years of the Church of England and with religious tension rife, he’s sent by Henry VIII’s right hand man Thomas Cromwell (Sean Bean) to investigate a murder in a monastery and, ideally to close it down and strip it of its wealth.

It’s all tremendous, swashbuckling fun – shadowy figures in cloaks and bloody swordplay – and lavishly produced.

Jean Smart in popular series Hacks. Picture: Stan

HACKS

STAN, FRIDAYS

One of the best shows of recent years could easily have ended at the end of its second season, when Jean Smart’s imperious comedy diva Deborah Vance served up some tough love by firing her sometimes dangerously co-dependent protégé Ava (Hannah Einbender).

Thank the comedy gods they didn’t. Season three hits the ground running with Deborah on a high thanks to her hit stand-up special, walking red carpets, handing out awards and taking selfies.

But she’s also bored and unfulfilled by docile audiences and being surrounded with sycophants.

So after reconnecting with the initially miffed Ava, now working on a respectable news comedy show, the spark is lit once again.

But while a reforged bond – and a possible late-night show – might be good for both their careers, it might also cost Ava her relationship as she struggles to be seen as a peer, and not just a flunky.

British singer and songwriter George Michael, performing on stage at Rock In Rio, January 1991. Picture: Kevin Cummins/Getty Images

GEORGE MICHAEL: PORTRAIT OF AN ARTIST

SATURDAY, BINGE

This movie length documentary is something of a companion piece or sequel to last year’s excellent two-part Wham! special on Netflix.

Directed by former Wham! manager and record producer Simon Napier-Bell, it traces the rise of the singer born Georgios Panayiotou through his boy band days with Andrew Ridgeley to becoming one of the most successful solo artists in history, right through to his sad death in 2016.

There’s plenty of fascinating archival footage of the man himself (the interview with 60 Minutes’ Jeff McMullen hasn’t aged well) as well as psychologists, journalists, cultural commentators and collaborators detailing Michael’s creative process, career highlights and lowlights, love-hate relationship with fame, candid views on sex and drugs and a towering creative talent.

The Summit is back for another nailbiting season. Picture: Channel 9

THE SUMMIT

SUNDAY, 8.45PM, CHANNEL 9

The extreme reality TV show is back with another 14 crazy-brave hopefuls looking to test their limits and line their pockets.

Once again they will have equal shares of $1 million cash in backpacks as they set out on a challenging and chilly 180km journey through steep ascents and cliffs, raging rivers and icy waterfalls – and that’s BEFORE they reach the snow line – to scale an 8000m peak on the South Island of New Zealand, all in less than 15 days.

Joining host Jai Courtney this season are celebs including former dual international Mat Rogers, former McLeod’s Daughters actor Simmone Jane Mackinnon and ex-Bardot singer Tiffani Wood, as well as an eclectic group of everyday Joes ranging from a wharfie to a dairy farmer, who will slowly be whittled down as they quit or get voted off.

Sam Pang, Tom Gleisner and Ed Kavalee are as funny as ever in this award-winning panel show. Picture: Channel 10

HAVE YOU BEEN PAYING ATTENTION

MONDAY, 8.40PM, CHANNEL 10

Now in its 12th season – and after winning awards at the last six Logies – it’s always a joy to ease into the working week with the comedy-news-game-show powerhouse.

Veteran host Tom Gleisner deserves a special award for the televisual equivalent of herding cats as he tries to wrangle regulars Ed Kavalee and Sam Pang and the rotating roster of top-notch guest comedic talent, who are usually more focused on taking the mickey out of the quizmaster than actually getting the questions right.

Taking a seat to dish out the insults in the season opener will be Emma Holland, Aaron Chen and Anne Edmonds, and in a year that features the Paris Olympics and the US presidential election, there’s going to be no shortage of material to work with.

Barbie was the highest-grossing film of 2023.

BARBIE

BINGE

The brighter, breezier and much better looking half of the Barbenheimer phenomenon has finally come to streaming (the other half is also available on BINGE and Netflix).

And pleasingly, with its feminist message and rapid-fire pop culture references, it’s even better viewing the second time around.

Even though they largely came away empty-handed for the major awards, there’s so much to like about Margot Robbie’s performance as the title character, and Ryan Gosling cemented his MVP status with that killer performance of I’m Just Ken at this year’s Oscars.

You can also spot all those cameos you missed the first time around, from Dua Lipa to Saltburn director Emerald Fennell and John Cena to new Doctor Who Ncuti Gatwa.

Originally published as What you should be watching on streaming platforms and TV this week