'Lupin,' 'Dickinson' and other shows our TV critic is watching this week
Despite its title, "Lupin" isn't really about the crafty burglar from French literature. He's merely the inspiration for vigilante Assane Diop (Omar Sy), who uses the classic tales as a blueprint to get back at a wealthy family who framed his father for theft. You'll enjoy the capers more if you watch the French version with subtitles; the dubbing in the English version is terrible.
Now streaming on Netflix
Transformer
Hailee Steinfeld's campaign to turn poet Emily Dickinson into a modern-day hipster continues in a second season of "Dickinson." The series may technically be set in the mid-19th century, but you'd barely know it from the use of an alt-rock soundtrack and terms like "super chill." Purists will freak out. Three new episodes debut this weekend with further installments dropping on a weekly basis.
Now streaming on Apple TV
Message received
"American Experience" is at its best when it showcases underappreciated patriots. That's certainly the case with "The Codebreaker," a one-hour film about Elizabeth Friedman, whose way with words helped bring down gangsters and the Nazis. J. Edgar Hoover ended up taking credit for much of her work. This fascinating documentary should help rewrite history.
9 p.m. Monday, TPT, Ch. 2
No place like home
"A Little Late With Lilly Singh" passed its anniversary without making much of a splash. Maybe a change of venue will do the trick. The YouTube star always seemed a bit out of place doing comedy in front of a live audience. For the second season, she'll tape shows from a house instead of a studio with guidance from a new showrunner. Here's hoping the engaging personality finally finds her footing.
12:35 a.m. weeknights, KARE, Ch. 11
Mamma mia!
It's terrific to have Kyra Sedgwick back on television, even in a by-the-books sitcom like "Call Your Mother." The actor, best known for "The Closer," plays a needy widow moving from Iowa to Los Angeles to serve as mediator between her bickering adult kids. The sexual innuendos and laugh track in the first episode are a crime, but the Emmy winner's performance makes a compelling case for further investigation.
8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, KSTP, Ch. 5
The season for cardamom bread, comfort food and a dish as bright as Bentleyville’s holiday lights.