What to Watch the Week of April 21: Zendaya’s Challengers Will Make You Take Sides

Disney/ABC; Amazon MGM Studios; National Geographic; Sony Pictures

Let's talk about Zendaya's Challengers, or rather director Luca Guadagnino's Challengers, which stars Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O'Connor and opens in theaters this Friday. I've seen it, as have several colleagues, and while everyone agrees that they were very much looking forward to Zendaya's “tennis love triangle movie,” half of those I polled hated it while others loved it. One thing is for sure: You'll have strong opinions.

Zendaya stars as Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy turned coach who is married to a champion on a losing streak (Mike Faist of West Side Story fame). However, Tashi’s strategy for her husband’s redemption takes a surprising turn when he faces off against the washed-up Patrick (Emmy winner Josh O’Connor of The Crown), who is his former best friend and Tashi’s former boyfriend. It's messy and wild, and whatever camp you fall in (loved it or hated it), you'll be saying, “Wait, what?!” numerous times along the way.

The soundtrack will make you feel like you're in a techno club (up to you whether that's a good thing), and the script feels like an intense tennis match, going back and forth in different time periods to establish each character's past. It's also over two hours, which will pass superfast for some and feel ridiculously slow for others. All of this is to say, I'll be very curious to hear what you all think. One thing I know for sure: There's no denying that Zendaya has once again won the fashion game on the court red carpet.

In other news, Earth Day 2024 is here, and National Geographic and Disney+ will have plenty of new programming, including Secrets of the Octopus and Tiger. Netflix has an entire hub dedicated to Earth Month programming, while Apple TV+ lists its shows here and Discovery+ has its here.

ABC is also devoting plenty of necessary programming to Earth Week, spearheaded by chief meteorologist Ginger Zee. Good Morning America will take a look at life in an Earthship—homes made entirely of recyclable materials—and how viewers can adapt sustainable living practices in their own homes. GMA will also provide easy ways to make grocery shopping more sustainable, and help with tips for reducing plastic consumption and minimizing food waste.

Meanwhile, World News Tonight With David Muir travels to the Southwest to investigate Navajo and Hopi Nations that lack access to electricity and profile Navajo-led companies working to provide off-grid independence with solar energy. And Nightline will feature a piece that investigates the environmental impact of the fast-fashion industry, examining its contribution to clothing waste and climate change.

On Saturday night, Colin Jost hosts the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, which is always an entertaining evening, especially if you're a political news junkie like me. Also this week: new episodes of Young Sheldon, Not Dead Yet (it's the second-season finale), Palm Royale, and Under the Bridge. Check it all out below, and I'll see you back here next Sunday for Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine in the best rom-com of the year (so far), The Idea of You.

Sunday, April 21

Secrets of the Octopus (National Geographic/next day on Disney+ and Hulu): Following the success of Secrets of the Whales and Secrets of the Elephants comes Secrets of the Octopus, which sheds light on these stunning creatures. (By the way, did you know an octopus has three hearts, blue blood, and the ability to squeeze through a space the size of their eyeballs?) They are also extremely intelligent and can use their body to mimic other animals and communicate with many species. Take a look below. 8 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. CT, and streaming the next day on Disney+ and Hulu

Diarra From Detroit (BET+): Episode 108 airs today, in which Diarra orchestrates a meeting with all the parties involved in Deonte’s kidnapping. That leads to a violent showdown. We have an exclusive clip, which you can see below. And in case you need a refresher, Diarra Kilpatrick stars as Diarra in the dramedy, alongside Morris Chestnut, Phylicia Rashad, DomiNque Perry, Claudia Logan, Bryan Terrell Clark, Shannon Wallace, and Jon Chaffin. The series follows an overworked schoolteacher who is drawn into a cold case after a dating app matches her with a man she suspects is the adult version of a boy abducted in the ’90s. Streaming

Monday, April 22

Disneynature’s Tiger (Disney+): Priyanka Chopra Jonas narrates this moving special about a young tigress raising her rambunctious cubs in the fabled forests of India. Major points to whoever nabbed the rights to “Eye of the Tiger” for the trailer, below. Streaming

Ugliest House in America (HGTV/Max): Retta hosts the fifth season of this home design show, which premieres today. In the new six-episode season, Retta will visit 15 horrendous homes across the country to share her hilarious hot takes of the stunningly bad designs, cringe-worthy layouts, and outdated styles. (Don't worry, the owners of these homes have actually nominated their house for consideration.) The “winner” will receive a $150,000 renovation completed by Alison Victoria, one of its top stars, during a special one-hour finale episode. 9 p.m. ET/PT, 8 p.m. CT, and streaming on Max

Tuesday, April 23

Downtown Owl (Sony): Following her addictive turn as Betty Gore in Max's true-crime limited series Love & Death, Lily Rabe makes her directorial debut alongside partner Hamish Linklater in Downtown Owl (Linklater adapted the screenplay, and Rabe stars in the film). Based on Chuck Klosterman’s novel of the same name, the story is set in the fictional town of Owl, North Dakota, in 1983 where you won’t find cable or pop culture, but you will find a first-rate car dealership, three bars, and a new high school English teacher who gets the entire community talking. The film also stars Ed Harris, Henry Golding, Vanessa Hudgens, Finn Wittrock, Jack Dylan Grazer, and August Blanco Rosenstein.

Rabe and Linklater tell Glamour that they first worked together doing Shakespeare, so considering that “Downtown Owl is kind of like a Reagan Era/North Dakota/Shakespeare comedy,” they were drawn to the material. “[It's] hilarious but full of pathos, featuring sexy/exuberant characters, with huge hearts pounding loud,” they say. “Chuck Klosterman's world was so undeniably entertaining, charming, and true that we just ran at it. And our collective sensibility was so pulled toward the novel’s razor’s edge of laughter and loss; it was a world we not only wanted to live in but also wanted to share.” Check out the trailer below. In theaters and on digital

Wednesday, April 24

Not Dead Yet (ABC): The one-hour second-season finale is titled “Not the End Yet/Not a Ghost Yet,” and sees Nell discovering that Duncan is selling the SoCal Independent. As a result, she tries to save her job when Lexi doesn't seem to want to lend a hand.

Lauren Ash, who plays Lexi, Nell's boss, tells Glamour that “the season-two finale centers around my character's journey with her father—played by the incredible Brad Garrett—that we've seen unfold all season.” Ash says that even though she's primarily known for her comedic roles, this season has been “profoundly fulfilling…to get to tackle the heartfelt and dramatic scenes, [so] I'm excited for everyone to get to see the next part of Lexi's story.” 8:30 p.m. ET/PT, 7:30 p.m. CT, and streaming the next day on Hulu

Under the Bridge (Hulu): Episode three—titled “Blood Oath”—sees Rebecca and Cam reconnect when upsetting news hits Victoria, British Columbia. Meanwhile, in the past, Reena enters Josephine’s mafia fantasy world. Lily Gladstone previews the episode here. Streaming

Palm Royale (Apple TV+): In episode eight, titled “Maxine Saves the Whale,” a beached whale appears on the Beach Ball site, throwing the event into doubt with days to spare. Linda and Evelyn adjust to their new normals. Streaming

Thursday, April 25

Young Sheldon (CBS/Paramount+): The eighth episode of the seventh and final season is titled “A Fancy Article and a Scholarship for a Baby.” George tries to speak more properly in front of Missy, while Sheldon’s published paper leads to an onslaught of grad-school recruiting. 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT, and streaming on Paramount+

Them: The Scare (Prime Video): The second installment of the anthology series is set in 1990s Los Angeles and centers on LAPD Detective Dawn Reeve (Deborah Ayorinde), who is assigned to investigate a gruesome murder. As Dawn draws closer to the truth, something malevolent grips her and her family. Pam Grier stars as Dawn’s mother, Athena. Streaming

Dead Boy Detectives (Netflix): Steve Yockey (The Flight Attendant, Supernatural) and Beth Schwartz (Sweet Tooth, Arrow) bring the series—based on the beloved comics by Neil Gaiman—to life on Netflix. Edwin Payne (George Rexstrew) and Charles Rowland (Jayden Revri) are “the brains” and “the brawn” behind the Dead Boy Detectives agency. They are also ghosts. Check out the full trailer below. Streaming

Friday, April 26

Challengers (Amazon MGM Studios): Today's the day! Zendaya's highly anticipated film finally premieres. In theaters

Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story (Hulu): This four-part documentary shines a light on Bon Jovi's life on and off the stage. Per Hulu, “Forty years of personal videos, unreleased early demos, original lyrics, and never-before-seen photos chronicle the journey from Jersey Shore clubs to the biggest stages on the planet. The series relives the triumphs and setbacks, greatest hits, biggest disappointments, and most public moments of friction.” Streaming

Breathe (Warner Bros.): Jennifer Hudson, Milla Jovovich, Quvenzhané Wallis, Raúl Castillo, Common, and Sam Worthington star in this sci-fi thriller. Here's what we know, per the official synopsis: “After Earth is left uninhabitable due to lack of oxygen, a mother Maya (Hudson) and her daughter Zora (Wallis) are forced to live underground, with short trips to the surface only made possible by a coveted state-of-the-art oxygen suit made by Maya’s husband, Darius, whom she presumes to be dead. When a mysterious couple arrives claiming to know Darius and his fate, Maya tentatively agrees to let them into their bunker but these visitors are not who they claim to be ensuing in mother and daughter fighting for survival.” In theaters and on digital

Saturday, April 27

White House Correspondents' Dinner (CNN, MSNBC): Nerd Prom 2024 is here! SNL “Weekend Update” host Colin Jost will be the headline entertainer for this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner, which will also see President Biden (seen below at the 2023 dinner) offer jabs and jokes, and a plethora of Hollywood notables descend on Washington, DC. 8 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. CT, 5 p.m. PT live

Branching Out (Hallmark Channel): Grey's Anatomy alum Sarah Drew and Fuller House actor Juan Pablo Di Pace star in this new original movie. Here's the full synopsis from Hallmark Channel: “Ten years ago, Amelia Weber had a baby on her own through IVF. Today, Amelia’s charming daughter Ruby is her everything. When Ruby gets a school assignment exploring heritage and creating family trees, she notices hers is small and sparse. With the help of a DNA test, Amelia learns that Ruby’s father T.J. Cruz lives nearby. Meanwhile, the endearing T.J. is a professional guitarist who hasn’t found success the way he always dreamed. Amelia makes contact, and to her surprise, T.J. wants to meet Ruby. T.J. has a huge family, and suddenly Ruby’s family tree has sprouted leaves! Romance takes flight as Amelia gets to know T.J. and is invited to take part in his family’s Mexican traditions. Along the way, Amelia’s protective instincts—both for herself and her daughter—are challenged, especially when T.J. gets the chance of a lifetime to join a major musical tour. With the help of an adorable little girl who has a big heart and a thousand questions, Amelia and T.J. discover that family trees can be complicated and wonderfully unique, especially when love is what ties everyone together.” 8 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. CT

Jessica Radloff is the Glamour senior West Coast editor and author of the NYT best-selling book The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series.

Originally Appeared on Glamour