What to watch on TV this week

The Last Thing He Wanted, Netflix

Based on the final novel by journalist Joan Didion, The Last Thing He Wanted is a sweaty political thriller set against the scandalous Iran-Contra Affair. In the 80s, President Reagan was intent on throttling communism in Central America, and so offered aid to various militia groups (‘Contras’) who wanted to destroy the far-left in their respective countries.

Anne Hathaway stars as Elena, a journalist whose passion to understand her father (Willem Defoe) leads her to a weapons shipment in a Central American jungle. She uncovers the deep dark web cast by Reagan in a time of Cold War paranoia.

Hunters, Amazon Prime

Sounding like a premise ripped straight from Quentin Tarantino and his WWII epic Inglourious Basterds, Hunters propels as a pulpy, action-filled tale of vigilante Nazi-killing. But whereas Tarantino moulded history to suit his own ends, series writer/creator David Weil dived into real-life tales of American Nazi-hunters as research.

Al Pacino stars as the leader of this particular group, prepared to kill any Nazis operating in the United States. He recruits Jonah Heidelbaum (Logan Lerman), whose Holocaust-surviving grandmother was suddenly murdered by a burglar, and he learns the ways of the Hunters.

Intelligence, Sky One

David Schwimmer’s been busy since his ten-year run on Friends, directing his own movies (Trust, Run Fatboy Run) as well as taking more dramatic roles (American Crime Story). But he’s always been close to comedy, and maybe this new workplace sitcom will re-claim his former glory.

Penned by comedian Nick Mohammed, Intelligence plunges into the offices of GCHQ (specifically the Cyber Security department). When the cuddly American NSA agent Jerry Bernstein (Schwimmer) comes in to shake things up, he’s met with cold opposition by Christine (Sylvestra Le Touzel), director of Cyber Security. As he adjusts to his new environment, he befriends the starstruck computer analyst Joseph (Mohammed).

This Country series 3, BBC One / Three

Sibling writers Daisy May and Charlie Cooper worked as cleaners before their mockumentary comedy This Country soared in popularity. From struggling to pay for food to winning two BAFTAs, they have the ultimate success story. Now, This Country enters its third and final series, starting with a tribute to the recently deceased cast member Michael Sleggs.

Set in the Cotswolds, the series follows Kerry (Daisy May Cooper) and Kurtan (Charlie Cooper) navigating their working-class community in the Cotswolds. But their friend Slugs (formerly Michael Sleggs) has suddenly died, leaving behind a letter for Kurtan.

Last Tango in Halifax series 5, BBC One

Not too long after her international success with Gentleman Jack, writer Sally Wainwright returns to Last Tango in Halifax – loosely based on her mother’s second marriage. Following the story of an elderly couple who married in their seventies, this comedy-drama series challenges ageist stereotypes about older people.

In the upcoming fifth series, Alan (Derek Jacobi) and Celia (Anne Reid) are now seven years into their marriage and they’ve moved to a lovely bungalow in the Calder Valley. Alan decides to take a job at the local supermarket, baffling Celia. Meanwhile, the latter’s daughter Caroline (Sarah Lanchashire) struggles in her new headship.