What to Watch This Week: January 24 to 29

From supernatural sisters to aliens among us, we round up our top 10 shows to watch this week

1. Servant – Apple TV+

In the psychological thriller from Tony Basgallop and M. Night Shyamalan, Dorothy (Lauren Ambrose) and Sean Turner (Toby Kebbell) deal with the indescribable pain of losing their baby boy Jericho by replacing him with a lifelike doll that’s meant to pull Dorothy out of her catatonic state. This unusual method of grief management could be a show in itself, but when the couple’s new—and let’s just say it: super-creepy—babysitter Leanne (Nell Tiger Free) moves in, and the doll periodically seems to come to life, reality blurs.

2. The Netflix Afterparty – Sunday, January 24, Netflix

It’s no secret that the purpose of most talk shows—from the guests’ perspective, at least—is to provide a platform to promote their latest showbiz projects, typically smuggled within a recollection of that hilarious prank they pulled on the set or a similar Hollywood anecdote.

Netflix has streamlined the whole concept with its new weekly talk show, The Netflix Afterparty, which is essentially a show on Netflix featuring the stars of other shows on Netflix, who stop by to discuss those shows. New episodes debut each Sunday.

Yet what prevents the whole thing from becoming a synergistic infomercial is the trio of hosts: comedians David Spade, Fortune Feimster and London Hughes (each of whom, it should be pointed out, have their own respective series and comedy specials on Netflix). Fast on their feet and very funny, they keep the show moving as they chat with guests, some in-studio, others remotely. Each episode focuses on one particular Netflix offering, with a different guest comic joining the panel each week to mix things up.

3. Charmed – Sunday, January 24, 9 p.m., W Network & The CW | Season Premiere

People everywhere may be looking forward to the year ahead after the year we’ve all finally left behind, but the future doesn’t look all that enchanting for the Vera-Vaughn sisters.

As the season-three trailer warns, even the Charmed Ones will struggle to survive the death of all magic. What’s more, in order to give reality a little mystical reboot, they’ll have to seek out the world’s greatest power… and make the greatest of sacrifices. Last year, the show shut down early as a result of the pandemic, meaning some of the payoffs the writers had been building towards didn’t come to pass. But as producers told TVLine, scripts for the last few episodes were already written before the stoppage, and they intend to pick up exactly where they left off. “We will have a chance to wrap up all of these stories as we intended,” promised showrunner Craig Shapiro.

4. To Tell the Truth – Tuesday, January 26, 8 p.m., ABC | Season Premiere

Not everyone gets to work with their mother—even fewer as publicly as Anthony Anderson.

The star of hit sitcom black-ish has a second ABC series, the revival of classic game show To Tell the Truth. It debuts season six on Tuesday, as a changing-weekly panel of celebrities (three instead of four this time, to adhere to social distancing) joins Anderson and his “Mama” Doris Hancox to guess which of three contestants (two liars, one truth-teller) matches up with the kooky life story presented at the start of the show.

5. Bonding – Wednesday, January 27, Netflix | Season Premiere

It’s been the better part of two years since we last saw grad student/dominatrix Tiff (Zoe Levin) and her cash-strapped gay best friend Pete (Brendan Scannell), who—despite their differing sexualities—managed to successfully mix business with pleasure through the leather-clad fun of S&M. No, this isn’t a sitcom for all ages, and with a premise as adult in nature as this one, you won’t be surprised to learn that it was more of a cult hit than a phenomenon… which is perhaps why it took so very long for a second season to arrive.

As the trailer for the new instalment helpfully reminds us, Tiff and Pete had more than a few struggles in their quest to find success in the S&M world, but now they’re settled in and learning the ropes… and that’s no pun intended (although it’s still pretty funny). Their biggest problem: Tiff is taking their little venture seriously, whereas Pete can’t help but see the humour in it. By the end, hopefully they’ll find a healthy, sexy middle ground.

6. Resident Alien – Wednesday, January 27, 7 p.m. & 10 p.m., CTV Sci-fi | Series Premiere

Based on the cultishly adored Dark Horse comic from Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse, this quirky little sci-fi series revolves around a hostile extraterrestrial named Harry (Firefly alum Alan Tudyk) who, after crash-landing, tries to lay low in a small Colorado town, posing as a local human doctor. But when Harry begrudgingly gets involved in solving a local murder and develops connections with the very people he travelled across the galaxy to obliterate, things get complicated. Meanwhile, our protagonist will also find himself ducking the pursuit of a government agency eager to pick his brain—literally.

The show, which has been adapted by longtime Family Guy writer/producer Chris Sheridan, also stars Sneaky Pete‘s Sara Tomko as Harry’s new co-worker; The Closer‘s Corey Reynolds as the no-nonsense sheriff; comedian Alice Wetterlund as the charismatic local bartender; and The Fosters alum Levi Fiehler as the naïve young mayor.

Also popping by as a recurring guest star? Terminator icon Linda Hamilton!

7. Bell Let’s Talk Day Special – Thursday, January 28, 7 p.m., CTV & CTV2

The past year has taken a toll on everyone’s mental health, which makes Let’s Talk Day more important than ever. Tune in as experts, celebs and average folks discuss their own struggles and offer advice, spreading the message that no matter how hard it gets, you’re not alone. 

8. Burden of Truth – Thursday, January 28, 8 p.m., CBC | Season Premiere

Joanna Chang (B.C.’s own Kristin Kreuk) is back for a fourth season of courtroom dramatics—and this time she’s got a baby in tow. In her latest underdog crusade, the former corporate lawyer steps in to keep a woman’s home from being destroyed after a big mining company reopens a dormant site.

9. Palmer – Friday, January 29, Apple TV+

Justin Timberlake stars in this new movie, playing former high school football star Eddie Palmer, who returns to his hometown after spending 12 years in prison. As he tries to put the shattered pieces of his life back together, he forms an unlikely bond with a 12-year-old boy named Sam, an outcast with a troubled home life. As Eddie struggles to rebuild, the mistakes of his past threaten to destroy his future. Also starring Juno Temple, June Squibb, Dean Winters and Alisha Wainwright.

10. We Are the Brooklyn Saints – Friday, January 29, Netflix

This four-part documentary series follows a football program for Brooklyn youth, aged seven to 13, chronicling the personal stories of the driven young athletes, as well as the support system of coaches and parents rallying behind them over the course of one dramatic season.