What To Watch This Week 17.06.24

After a long wait, the second season of House of the Dragon – the prequel to Game of Thrones – lands on Sky TV and Now this week. After King Viserys’s death (Paddy Considine), battle lines have been drawn between Rhaena Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) and Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), who as throne-related aspirations for her son Aegon.

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To mark Pride month, Netflix has released a feature-length documentary about the history of queer stand-up comedy. Performers have always been a powerful force of change, and this series illustrates how queer comedians have challenged and reshaped cultural norms. It features interviews, performances and archival footage with top LGBTQ+ comedians, including Lily Tomlin, Sandra Bernhard, Wanda Sykes, Eddie Izzard, Hannah Gadsby, Tig Notaro, Rosie O'Donnell, Margaret Cho, Bob The Drag Queen and Trixie Mattel.

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Last year, Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster started a Barbie renaissance. This new documentary reminds us how long the road was to the first non-white doll in the 1980s. Black Barbie tells the story of three Black women at Mattel and the role they played in the evolution of the Barbie brand. Asking, ‘Why don’t we make a doll that looks like me?’, these women led the charge in terms of improved representation and the role dolls play in shaping identity and imagination.

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Joey King (The Act) and Logan Lerman (The Perks Of Being A Wallflower) star as siblings in this historical drama based in late 1930s Poland. Based on Georgia Hunter’s novel, it starts off with the Kurc family toasting ‘to future adventures’ unaware of the upcoming decade of trauma. It then depicts the rise of antisemitism and fascism, and follows the Jewish family's struggle to evade the Nazis. 

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With a general election now in sight, Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak are facing off for a two-hour long debate for a special BBC Question Time. Alongside Ed Davey and John Swinney, and headed up by Fiona Bruce, the two will battle it out live. 

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Highly anticipated American crime drama The Bikeriders is written and directed by Jeff Nichols (Mud, Take Shelter). It documents the trials and tribulations of the Vandals MC, a Chicago outlaw motorcycle club, over the course of the 1960s. Landing in cinemas this Friday, it has a star-studded cast including Jodie Comer (Killing Eve), Austin Butler (Elvis, Dune), Tom Hardy (Mad Max, Legend, Peaky Blinders), Michael Shannon (Nocturnal Animals, Knives Out), Mike Faist (Challengers) and Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead). Definitely one to watch. 

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Since the epic fallout of 2021, culminating in Taylor Swift re-recording her discography, ‘Taylor’s version’ has become part of the public lexicon. Launching this week on Discovery Plus is a two-parter that dives into the tumultuous relationship between mogul Scooter Braun and the pop sensation. This squabble is more than just about money – it shines a light on the innate misogyny of the music industry, and the sheer power that a loyal fanbase can wield. 

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New on Netflix this week is The End We Start From. Released earlier this year, starring Jodie Comer, with Benedict Cumberbatch, Katherine Waterston and Mark Strong, the film is based on the book of the same name. It follows an unnamed woman who, after catastrophic floods submerge London, embarks on a dangerous journey of survival to find safe refuge while trying to protect her baby. 

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