Flowers are blooming, and the grass is turning green. You know what that means — April is here! And with the beginning of Spring upon us, it’s now time to clean out your DVR of those HGTV and Food Network shows to make room for the upcoming influx of prestige television. As you are well aware, we are in the Golden Age of TV, and April has traditionally been the time that networks bring out the big guns, and premiere shows that will no doubt be the topic of conversation for the months to come. So, let’s take a quick look at everything April has to offer on TV.
“Legion”
Synopsis: Based on the Marvel Comics by Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz, “Legion” is the story of David Haller (Dan Stevens), a man who believed himself to be schizophrenic only to discover that he may actually be the most powerful mutant the world has ever seen.
What You Need To Know: Season one of FX’s superhero drama “Legion”, what with its psychedelic dance sequences, psychological warfare, and odes to silent films by way of body horror, earned the moniker of being like nothing else of television. It was a badge that they wore with pride, deeply satisfied in championing style over substance, something that works magically with a show that utilizes its style so well. After season one’s slightly anti-climatic finale, David and the rest of his ragtag group of mutants is back and when we last saw him, David was stuck in some sort of floating orb prison while the Shadow King was residing in the body of Jemaine Clement’s Oliver. In its visuals, musical cues and off-kilter performances, “Legion” makes a distinguished and eclectic mark.
Release Date: April 3rd
“The Last O.G.”
Synopsis: An ex-felon must adjust to how much his Brooklyn neighborhood, and the world, has changed when he is released from prison after a fifteen-year stint.
What You Need To Know: Tracy Morgan’s (“30 Rock”) makes a welcome return in his new TBS comedy, created by Jordan Peele (“Get Out”) and John Carcieri (“Eastbound & Down”). After getting out of the clink for good behavior, Brooklyn gangster Tray (Morgan) makes the shocking discovery that his beloved neighborhood has been gentrified, with all the organic coffee shops, selfie sticks and low-fat fro-yo that come with the territory. Further icing on the cake is his ex-girlfriend Shay (the supernova Tiffany Haddish) having remarried and raising their twins with a white dude named Josh (Ryan Gaul). Despite being thrown for a loop, Tray decides to become a better man and father with the aid of his cousin Bobby (Allen Maldonado) and Mullins (Cedric the Entertainer!!!!!), the owner of his halfway house. I have no doubt that the comedic powerhouses of Morgan and Peele will mine the conceit of “the only thing harder than prison is the real world” for 24-karat gold.
Release Date: April 3rd
“Howards End”
Synopsis: The social and class divisions of early 20th century England are examined and critiqued through the intersecting interactions of three families.
What You Need To Know:
Kenneth Lonergan’s (“Manchester by the Sea”) adaptation of British author E.M. Forster’s seminal novel as a miniseries for Starz proves to be engrossing and thought-provoking. In the halcyon days of the early 20th century, the lives of the wealthy upper-class Wilcoxes (Matthew Macfadyen, Julia Ormond, Joe Bannister, Jonah Hauer-King, Bessie Barter), idealistic middle-class Schlegals (Hayley Atwell, Philippa Coulthard, Alex Lawther) and lower-class Basts (Joseph Quinn) are intertwined, as secrets are made and uncovered, tensions boil over and endings become beginnings. With an exemplary cast and Hettie MacDonald’s (“Hit & Miss,” “Fortitude”) direction, this adaptation gives the 1992 Merchant Ivory film version starring Anthony Hopkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Helena Bonham Carter and Emma Thompson a genuine run for its money.
Release Date: April 8th
