This weekend I have… 20 minutes, and I’m tired of the same shows.
Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal
When to watch?: Now, on HBO Max or the Adult Swim website.
This cartoon about a caveman and a dinosaur and their episodic adventures has the breathless violence of a pulpy sci-fi anthology, the haunting mystique of an extended fantasy epic, the rhythms of a strange couple comedy and the emotional depth of a modern lyrical mini-series. It’s all told without dialogue and with an animation style so simple it almost feels like storyboarding. No show does more with less.
Season 2 of “Primal” premiered at midnight Thursday, and it picks up the exact cliffhanger where Season 1 left off; start at the beginning and hold on tight. If you’re still thinking about the prehistoric flashback opening of “The Leftovers” season 2, check this out. While some of the photos have an angry “Jungle Book” look, the show is far too scary and sad for young viewers.
… a few hours, and I like British comedies.
‘The other’
When to watch: Now, on Acorn.
In Season 1 of this feisty Britcom, half-sisters Cat and Cathy (Lauren Socha and Ellie White) learn of each other’s existence only after their father’s death, and then they and their mothers form an ad hoc eccentric family unit. In Season 2, which arrived Monday, they learn about their precious father’s secrets and possible further ramifications in the family tree. What might be the set-up for a dark relationship drama, instead becomes a bright and engaging comedy, lively yet light-hearted and fun. If you enjoy hearing different people pronounce the name Callum, check here.
… five o’clock, and I like to sweat.
‘blown away’
When to watch: Season 3 arrives on Netflix on Friday.
Fans of serious skill-based reality competition shows like “The Great British Baking Show” will have plenty to enjoy with this glass blowing competition, which is practically bursting with fun and earns bonus points for the half-hour episodes. It’s painfully low-budget — winners receive a measly $60,000 as prize, while on Amazon “Making the Cut” winners win $1 million — but it’s also the only show where you’ll hear a guest judge complain that the contestants’ work. is ‘too didactic’. I’m not sure why “Blown Away” insists on keeping its patter segments so forced and awkward, but the contestants and their techniques remain fascinating.
