Today's Entertainment

18 • August 2 - 8, 2020 • Brainerd Dispatch By Jessica Gosse TV Media WHAT'S NEW ON NETFLIX "Sam Jay: 3 in the Morning" The Emmy-nominated comedy writer Sam Jay ("Saturday Night Live") gets her own Netflix origi- nal stand-up comedy special pre- miering Tuesday, Aug. 4, on the streamer. Jay has had small roles in a variety of television series but gained acknowledgment as a stand-up comedian when she was featured in an episode of Netflix's "The Comedy Lineup." The Boston native had previously released an album of her stand-up perfor- mances called "Donna's Daugh- ter," and she has garnered ac- claim for her candid, satirical com- mentary on issues ranging from Donald Trump and the #MeToo movement to her personal experi- ences as a gay woman. "The Rain" Season 3 On Thursday, Aug. 6, this Danish post-apocalyptic series returns to Netflix for its third and final season. Back in Season 1, view- ers were introduced to siblings Simone (Alba August, "Becoming Astrid," 2018) and Rasmus (Lucas Lynggaard Tonnesen, "Tidsre- jsen"), who managed to escape a deadly virus that wiped out the majority of Scandanavia by hiding out in a bunker. After six years, the siblings finally emerged from the bunker in order to search for their father, a scientist who could possibly hold the cure to the virus, but they quickly discovered that all forms of civilization are long gone. Against all odds, the two set out on a cross-country journey to find their father, teaming up with a group of fellow teenage survivors — Martin (Mikkel Boe Folsgaard, "The Legacy"), Patrick (Lukas Lokken, "One-Two-Three Now!," 2016), Lea (Jessica Dinnage, "Ninna," 2019), Sten (Johannes Kuhnke, "The Birdcatcher," 2019) and Jean (Sonny Lindberg, "Anti," 2016). Throughout their journey, the teens have learned time and again that, even in a post-apoca- lyptic world, you can't avoid the struggles of adolescence. Be sure to catch the thrilling final season of this drama when it premieres on the streamer this Thursday. "Selling Sunset" Season 3 Jason and Brett Oppenheim take the lead as the owners of the Los Angeles real estate brokerage firm the Oppenheim Group in the third season of this reality series pre- miering Friday, Aug. 7, on Netflix. Between their clientele (which ranges from billionaires to celebri- ties), the egos of the on-staff real- tors and all the excitement of their personal lives, this series delivers plenty of binge-worthy drama. While Jason and Brett may run the company, the real drama revolves around their team — Chrishell Stause, Christine Quinn, Maya Vander, Mary Fitzgerald, Heather Young and Amanza Smith. The girls all walk a fine line between being the best of friends and stab- bing each other in the back to get ahead. Previous seasons have seen lots of intense situations, from relationships to multimillion- dollar deals. This season is sure to see the stakes get even higher as Christine's wedding comes to- gether, despite mounting tension between her and her supposed best friend, Mary, and Chrishell divorces "This Is Us" star Justin Hartley after only two years of marriage. "Tales of Arcadia: Wizards" Guillermo del Toro's ("The Shape of Water," 2017) epic animated trilogy comes to a close with the premiere of this series on Friday, Aug. 7, on Netflix. This installment features the voice of Colin O'Donoghue ("Once Upon A Time") as Douxie, a wizard- in-training who travels back to the medieval ages and the realm of Camelot. As the final chapter in the saga, "Wizards" melds wizardry with the magical worlds of trolls and aliens established in the first two series ("TrollHunt- ers" and "3Below"). The fate of the now-converged magical realms rests in Douxie's hands as he serves under Merlin (voiced by David Bradley of the Harry Potter films), and an epic battle for con- trol of all magic begins. Returning to lend their voices to their original roles are Emile Hirsch ("The Girl Next Door," 2004), Diego Luna ("Narcos: Mexico"), Lena Headey ("Game of Thrones"), Mark Hamill ("Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope," 1977) and Emmy winner Kelsey Grammer ("Frasier"). WHAT'S ON HULU "Whitechapel" The Whitechapel district of Lon- don is perhaps best known for be- ing the killing ground of infamous serial killer Jack the Ripper. Now, roughly 120 years after the disap- pearance of the famed killer, Lon- don's nightmare has started again as a series of copycat murders ravages the Whitchapel district in this BBC series available now on Hulu. The show follows up- and-coming Det. Joseph Chandler (Rupert Penry-Jones, "MI-5") as he joins the Whitechapel squad, partnering with veteran Det. Ray Miles (Phil Davis, "Poldark") on his first murder investigation. The pair quickly realizes that this isn't just an open-and-shut case, and they find themselves bringing in Edward Buchan (Steve Pemberton, "Inside No. 9"), a historical crime expert and self-proclaimed Rip- perologist, to consult on the case. "Whitechapel" combines the intrigue of the original case and Victorian style with modernism and dark humor to create a rivet- ing series that will have you at the edge of your seat. Binge all four seasons of this dramatic series now, on Hulu. WHAT'S ON PRIME "The Middle" With the filming and production of many series currently delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, now is a perfect time to rewatch classic sitcoms. All nine seasons of the family comedy "The Middle" are available now on Prime and are sure to keep you laughing through whatever 2020 throws at us next. The series follows the hilarious misadventures of the somewhat dysfunctional Heck family as they go through life in a small town in Indiana. Comedians Neil Flynn (most famous for his iconic role as Janitor in "Scrubs") and Patricia Heaton ("Everybody Love's Ray- mond") lead the series as Mike and Frankie Heck, the parents of three extremely different children — Axl (Charlie McDermott, "In- stant Family," 2018), their oldest son, who is popular and athletic; Sue (Eden Sher, "Veronica Mars: The Movie," 2014), their en- thusiastic yet horribly awkward daughter; and Brick (Atticus Shaf- fer, "The Unborn," 2009), their youngest, who is incredibly intel- ligent but also has some rather peculiar habits. Together, the family faces a wide range of prob- lems from Mike and Frankie trying to manage the family budget and Sue's constant attempts to fit in, to first loves, holiday chaos and forgotten birthdays and anniver- saries. With episodes lasting only a half-hour each, and nine seasons worth of content, this deeply relat- able sitcom is perfect for binge- watching. Sam Jay as seen in "Sam Jay: 3 in the Morning" Alba August and Mikkel Folsgaard in "The Rain" The cast of "The Middle"

• Cover