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Your Weekly Watch List

The Changeling Traps LaKeith Stanfield in a Nightmarish Fairy Tale

Plus: Virgin River returns, RHOSLC moves on without Jen Shah, and more.
  • Clark Backo and LaKeith Stanfield in The Changeling (Photo: Apple TV+)
    Clark Backo and LaKeith Stanfield in The Changeling (Photo: Apple TV+)

    Looking for your next binge-watch, or just need to fill an hour? Welcome to Your Weekly Watch List, our curated collection of the best shows on television. Here's what to watch from Sunday, September 3 through Saturday, September 9.

    Fall TV gets underway this week as Apple brings bestselling novel The Changeling to the screen and Virgin River delivers more soapy drama in its fifth season. Plus, the ladies of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City attempt to move forward without Jen Shah, Netflix investigates the epidemic of sexual abuse in the Boy Scouts of America, and more.

    The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 4 Premiere

    Tuesday, 9:00 PM ET on Bravo

    Old rivalries die hard in The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City's fourth season. For the past two years, the show has revolved around Jen Shah's involvement in a telemarketing scheme, but now that she's in federal prison (where she's serving a 66-month sentence for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering), her co-stars are doing their level best to move on. Interestingly, that process seems to involve relitigating minor slights about Meredith Marks' couples bath and the sins committed on previous trips, including Lisa Barlow's infamous hot mic moment.

    These antics began to wear last season, but an injection of fresh blood gives them renewed vibrancy in Season 4. Mary Cosby — who abruptly quit the show and declined to attend the Season 2 reunion — is back as a "friend of," while Angie Katsanevas and Monica Garcia join as Housewives. Viewers will remember Angie K. as the victim of Jen's champagne shower in San Diego (she threw Jen's shoes off the yacht in retaliation); Monica is more of a mystery, but her outspoken nature immediately rubs some of the women the wrong way. Between Monica, an excommunicated former Mormon, Mary's precarious place in her church, and the drama surrounding Jack Barlow's mission trip, RHOSLC appears to be returning to its roots as a show uniquely concerned with matters of religion, a perspective that got lost in the frenzy surrounding Jen's arrest.

    Scouts Honor: The Secret Files of the Boy Scouts of America

    Wednesday, Netflix

    Netflix's recent string of documentary successes continues with Scouts Honor, an in-depth look at the Boy Scouts of America's efforts to cover up decades of child sexual abuse. Director Brian Knappenberger (The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez) takes both an individualized and big-picture approach to the scandal — which has resulted in more than 82,000 victims coming forward with allegations of assault — speaking with survivors who recall their experiences in horrific detail, as well as whistleblowers, former employees, and journalists who explain how the BSA's structure and institution-wide biases created a breeding ground for exploitation. He specifically dives into the BSA's confidential files, also known as the "Perversion Files," which reveal that the organization not only knew about the rapists in their midst, but chose not to report them to authorities, leading to the abuse of even more children.

    Given the subject matter and the astounding number of victims in this case, Scouts Honor is equal parts sickening and infuriating, especially when the particulars of the BSA's bankruptcy case are explained. But that's what makes the film such a necessary watch: It may be the closest these survivors get to justice. If that proves to be the case, at least Knappenberger has done right by their story.

    Virgin River Season 5, Part 1

    Thursday, Netflix (Full Season)

    The townspeople of Virgin River have faced surprise pregnancies, murder attempts, and a small-town drug ring, but in Season 5, they'll be tested like never before when a devastating wildfire destroys much of the community. As if this group doesn't have enough to worry about: While the pregnant Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) makes the difficult decision to walk away from the clinic, Jack (Martin Henderson) confronts his demons as he prepares for marriage and fatherhood. Across town, Charmaine (Lauren Hammersley) deals with parenting issues of her own after revealing Jack isn't the father of her twins — though the man's identity remains a mystery for now — and Doc (Tim Matheson) and Hope (Annette O'Toole) come to terms with their new realities as they navigate various health issues.

    Of course, Season 5 isn't all doom and gloom. Amid the tragedy, a surprising new relationship develops between Muriel (Teryl Rothery) and Cameron (Mark Ghanimé). Preacher (Colin Lawrence) also finds himself in somewhat of a love triangle, though his history with Paige (Lexa Doig) proves difficult to shake. Even when they take unexpected turns, these cozy romances make Virgin River the ideal autumnal watch — and with two holiday episodes premiering November 30, Netflix finally giving the show's fall vibes the spotlight they deserve.

    The Changeling

    Friday, Apple TV+
    *Our must-watch pick of the week*

    If Virgin River offers a soapy take on the anxieties of parenthood, The Changeling employs a much darker approach to similar subject matter. Apple's adaptation of Victor LaVelle's bestselling novel stars LaKeith Stanfield and Clark Backo as Apollo and Emma, new parents who end up trapped in a nightmarish fairy tale. Their love story begins like any other (with a meet-cute in a library), but when Apollo cuts off a string bracelet with the power to grant Emma three wishes — or so she was told by a mysterious woman sitting on the banks of a lagoon in Brazil — their lives are forever altered. Shortly after giving birth to their son, Emma goes missing, but in order to find her, "the god Apollo" must traverse an alternate version of New York City filled with unnatural horrors.

    The Changeling's fantastical elements and trippy visuals are likely enough to keep viewers hooked — Melina Matsoukas, who directed Beyoncé's "Formation" video and Queen & Slim, directs the premiere — but top-notch performances from Stanfield, Backo, and the talented supporting cast (including Adina Porter and Alexis Louder) really drive home the show's themes. Three episodes of the horror-fantasy drop Friday, followed by one every week through October 13. Consider it an early Halloween treat.

    If You Have...

    An Hour

    Special Ops: Lioness Finale: Sunday, Paramount+
    Dark Winds Season 2 Finale: Sunday, 9:00 PM ET on AMC
    The Afterparty Season 2 Finale: Wednesday, Apple TV+
    Minx Season 2 Finale: Friday, 9:00 PM ET on Starz

    An Evening

    The Little Mermaid Streaming Premiere: Wednesday, Disney+
    How to Date Billy Walsh: Friday, Prime Video
    Dreaming Whilst Black: Friday, Paramount+ with Showtime

    A Full Day

    Never Let Him Go: Wednesday, Hulu
    Predators: Wednesday, Netflix
    Dear Child: Thursday, Netflix
    Top Boy Season 3 (Series Finale): Thursday, Netflix

    Up Next

    The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon: Sunday, September 10 on AMC
    The Morning Show Season 3: Wednesday, September 13 on Apple TV+
    The Other Black Girl: Wednesday, September 13 on Hulu
    Wilderness: Friday, September 15 on Prime Video

    Claire Spellberg Lustig is the Senior Editor at Primetimer and a scholar of The View. Follow her on Twitter at @c_spellberg.

    TOPICS: The Changeling, Apple TV+, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, Scouts Honor: The Secret Files of the Boy Scouts of America, Virgin River