Here’s what’s happening in the world of television for Friday, January 1, and Saturday, January 2. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
Cobra Kai (Netflix, Friday, 3:01 a.m.): The third season of this YouTube Premium-turned-Netflix series picks up from the pretty dark place it left off in season two, according to Alex McLevy’s review. Johnny (William Zabka) feels guilty for the horrific school fight that put his protégé, Miguel (Xolo Maridueña), in the hospital, but it looks like he’s survived the fall—Cobra Kai really never dies. Meanwhile, Robby (Tanner Buchanan) is facing the consequences of pushing Miguel by going to juvie. Daniel (Ralph Macchio) travels to Okinawa, paving the way for the return of The Karate Kid’s Chozen (Yuji Okumoto) and Kumiko (Tamlyn Tomita). Yeah, get ready for those teary Mr. Miyagi mentions and memories.
Regular coverage
RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1, Friday, 8 p.m.): We deserve to start 2021 with a brand new RuPaul’s Drag Race. The cast of season 13 was announced via Twitter last month. Kate Kulzick will recap.
Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina (Netflix, Friday, 3:01 a.m.): Follow along with Lisa Weidenfeld’s binge recaps of the final episodes of this Kiernan Shipka-led witchy series.
Doctor Who: Revolution Of The Daleks (BBC America, Friday, 8 p.m.): The third annual Doctor Who New Year episode will bring back cast members Jodie Whittaker, Bradley Walsh, Mandip Gill, Tosin Cole but also returning faces like John Barrowman and Chris Noth. In Revolution Of The Daleks, The Doctor is locked away in a high-security alien prison far away from Earth. It leaves her best friends, Yaz, Ryan, and Graham, to pick up their lives without her when they discover a disturbing plan forming that involves a Dalek, you know, the notorious Nazi-like extraterrestrial race. Caroline Siede will review the festive special.
Vikings (Amazon Prime Video): Dennis Perkins continues to recap the sixth and final season of this historical drama.
Wild cards
Headspace Guide to Meditation (Netflix, Friday, 3:01 a.m.): If your resolution for the new year is to meditate more and find that inner peace—after 2020, who can blame you?—this eight-episode animated series is here to help out. It will feature Andy Puddicombe, former Buddhist monk and co-founder of the globally beloved Headspace meditation app, talking about the benefits and science behind meditation. Each 20-minute outing will showcase different mindfulness techniques that focus on subjects like anger, stress, letting go.
The Minimalists: Less Is Now (Netflix, Friday, 3:01 a.m.): Done with meditation and looking for more inspiration for resolutions? Say hello to this hour-long documentary featuring popular podcasters and longtime friends, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, known to their audience as The Minimalists. They’ve built a whole movement around how lives can be better with less. The film follows various people as they try to make progress getting rid of things in their life and discuss the power in doing that.
19 Comments
Just a few years ago the anticipation of the holiday Doctor Who special would have been causing a huge buzz, but now it is on a par with the announcement of an interview with Gordon Brown to talk about his appointment to a bank capitalization review board.I would hope someone at the BBC is awake enough to see what Chibnall has done. But it’s possible they’re all in a state of torpor after so much dull, unimaginative TV.
I definitely agree that I’m not terribly excited for tonight’s episode the way I would have been a few years ago. I so dislike Chibnall’s run on this show that I don’t even want to rewatch most of his episodes. (There are a few from the most recent season I’d consider, but not with enthusiasm.)
It’s refreshing to see someone blame Chibnall. I’ve read too many comments blaming Jodie Whitaker.
Anyone with a brain can easily tell Jodie isn’t the problem. She does her best with the material. The problem is clearly the writing, Chibnall isn’t much better then Stephen Moffat.
I think Chris is way worse than Stephen. Stephen’s problem was having one big idea and writing a season’s worth of story to justify it. Chris is just, I don’t know. He created cool characters and expected that to carry the rest of the show. Then he, what, just decided to retroactively ad more doctor regenerations because it was cool that one time? Basically I guess what I’m saying is they both suck and they should let me write the show.
Lets not act like the previous showrunner didn’t also run it into the ground. The series keeps getting great actors but shit writers.
I was catching Season 3 of Cobra Kai in Youtube-dribbles and loving what I’ve seen so far.
I really like the development of Chozen and also some of the backstory for Kreese.
I didn’t think Cobra Kai: Season 3 could top the previous seasons but it did! That was incredible!
jeeez spoilers, dude
That the season was incredible is a spoiler? It’s my opinion not a spoiler.
in my opinion its the spoileriest spoiler of the spill.
What got spoiled for you? That the season was good? Oh no! What are you gonna do now? Bury your head in the sand? Aww! MERCY IS FOR THE WEAK!
what i’m going to do begins and ends with your mom. I’m spoiling Poldark
My mom kicked your ass. Because you’re a fucking weak pussy.
ha, did you flag my post? Your mom kicked my ass because i groove on that and to that end i paid her $20.
CANADIAN DOLLARS
happy 2021 Gizmodo. this is going to be my year of calm and focus, which is what I do and say every year.
y’know in Australia there’s an old tradition of drinking beer and fist-fighting in the streets, but i’m going to go to the gym and take up boxing instead. more cardio, less screentime. also, I might get a tatuaje, just for kicks.
The Mandalorian & Cobra Kai prove that what the public wants is continuations and not a reimaging! Learn Hollywood!
SPOILERS for Cobra Kai
—-—–——–
Did anyone cry when Kumiko read Mr. Miyagi’s final letter to Daniel? I balled. It’s a special moment for Daniel. The moment that reveals the true feelings a friend has for you. Because the letter was never written to Daniel. People are at their most honest when they’re talking about you but not to you. Mr. Miyagi expresses his true feeling about Daniel and what Daniel meant to him. It was so touching and emotional. When Mr. Miyagi talks about Samantha and that he considered himself her Grandfather. I lost it lol. Give credit to the writers. I was never a big Karate Kid fan. I was fond of the movies but never really thought about them after I saw them in the 80’s but here they make me care about these characters. Also the way the writers used the Daniel saving Sato scene from Karate Kid II and linked it to the present story in Cobra Kai was just genius. Kumiko says something along the lines of, give good in the world and get good in return. Something along those lines. Give the writers an Emmy! Bravo! 👏
As an aside… How is Hawk not in juvvie right next to Robbie for breaking Dimitri’s arm? Robbie lost control in a moment on anger… Hawk committed an act of pre-meditated sadistic aggravated assault. He really needs to earn his redemption arc. He only quit Cobra Kai because he was no longer the top dog with the new cool kids joining up. He’s still a sadistic little fucker.