The Bletchley Circle revives a bygone era (like a few months ago) when British spies still existed on TV
Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Sunday, April 21. All times are Eastern.
TOP PICK
The Bletchley Circle (PBS, 10 p.m.): British-made period dramas still abound every Sunday night on your local PBS affiliate—did you know that there’s a second series of Call The Midwife? Or that it’s already been airing for three weeks?—but some TV Anglophiles are likely still stinging from the fairly recent loss of The Hour. Never fear, for British espionage set in the past survives in the form of The Bletchley Circle, a murder mystery set among code breakers in the 1950s. For code breakers in the 2010s, Sonia Saraiya has the following message: It’s a cold day for pontooning.
REGULAR COVERAGE
Once Upon A Time (ABC, 8 p.m.): The TV Guide synopsis for tonight’s episode mentions Belle by name three times, so we’re going to guess it’s a highly Belle-centric hour. Either that or the magazine is trying to conjure the character Beetlejuice style—a trick that actually works if you call out Oliver Sava’s name thrice.
Bob’s Burgers (Fox, 8:30 p.m.): This week marks Rowan Kaiser’s swan song in this space, an occasion the Belcher children mark by throwing him a casino-themed party in the basement of their parents’ restaurant. At least that’s what they told Rowan as he dragged a slot machine down two flights of stairs.
The Good Wife (CBS, 9 p.m.): Everything wants Alicia to do something for them this week—Peter wants her participate in a vow renewal, her mom wants her to take on a specific case—but why can’t she just be The Good Wife for herself? David Sims knows the feeling all to well.
Game Of Thrones (HBO, 9 p.m.): If a “watch” was something the Westerosi wore on their wrist and not something that protected them from invaders, thieves, and other enemies, then “And Now His Watch Has Ended” would be a deliciously macabre joke on the conclusion of “Walk Of Punishment.” David Sims and Todd VanDerWerff really have to hand it to us for that bit of wordplay.
American Dad (Fox, 9:30 p.m.): On the hunt for a terrorist, Stan suffers a bout of amnesia. Don’t worry show: Kevin McFarland knows how to fix this. Where do you keep your largest novelty-sized sledgehammer?