Happy Friday, Polygon readers!
21.08.2023 - 18:35 / polygon.com / Rosario Dawson / New
This week we say goodbye to one of our own, a myth, a legend: Riverdale is finally ending its legendary run after seven seasons. Riverdale went out like it lived: as a show few could comprehend while always being true to itself to the very end.
Of course, that’s not all that’s coming to TV this week. Premiering this week is Disney Plus’ latest Star Wars show, Ahsoka, following Rosario Dawson’s live-action take on the beloved Clone Wars character as she sniffs out some trouble in the galaxy (most likely from the Dark Side of the Force, but it’s post-Rebellion, so we’ll see!).
And, of course, there’s plenty of other big shows coming your way, like Invasion season 2 premiering alongside plenty of series in the middle of great runs, like What We Do in the Shadows, Only Murders in the Building, Reservation Dogs, The Afterparty, and so many more. Here are the most significant TV premieres and finales this week.
Genre: Thriller
Release date: Aug. 24, with all episodes
Showrunner/creator: Jack Lothian
Cast: Evin Ahmad, Sean Teale, Indica Watson, Pep Ambròs, Douglas Henshall, Denise Gough, and Jamie Bamber
Jack Lothian (who created Doc Martin) is back with a new thriller, following a British expat teacher after she gets caught up in a supermarket robbery. But — as the title might imply — who exactly Erin Carter (Evin Ahmad) is might be a little up for debate. And after she’s revealed to be a total badass, her true identity is something she’s desperate to keep under wraps.
Genre: Star Wars
Release date: Aug. 23, with two episodes
Showrunner/creator: Dave Filoni
Cast: Rosario Dawson, Eman Esfandi, Ivanna Sakhno, Ray Stevenson, Genevieve O’Reilly, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, and more
The last time we saw Ahsoka (Rosario Dawson), she was popping up in The Mandalorian season 2. Now, she’s helming her own show, hunting down big Star Wars names (at least, to Clone Wars and Rebels watchers) like Thrawn and Ezra. The plot of the show is still fairly mysterious, but Ahsoka will be investigating an emerging threat to the galaxy after the events of Mandalorian season 3 — and possibly knocking heads with Andor’s Mon Mothma.
Genre: Frothy drama
Release date: Aug. 24
Showrunner/creator: Darren Star
Cast: Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, Nicole Ari Parker, Sarita Choudhury, Karen Pittman, and Sara Ramirez
This season of Sex and the City spinoff And Just Like That… promised three big things: the (limited) return of Kim Cattrall, the return of Aiden (John Corbett) to the love life of Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), and more soapy relationship drama in loud outfits. So far, the season has delivered plenty, and with at least one big couple already felled by the season, the finale is likely to pack quite a punch.
Genre: Sc
Happy Friday, Polygon readers!
As another week draws to a close, we're back with some more streaming recommendations. From brand new releases to opportunities to catch up on cinema releases at home, there's something for everyone here.
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Microsoft is set to launch its abusive-voice reporting feature for Xbox consoles. Announced in July, it lets gamers submit inappropriate remarks heard while playing multiplayer titles. The system captures a 60-second clip saved to the console; you then have 24 hours to complete the report. The feature arrives this week in the September update for Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One. However, it’s initially limited to the “select English-language markets” of the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
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Good news, vampire fans – we finally have (another) release window for Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2 and a new development studio has taken the helm: indie darling The Chinese Room.
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This Week in Business is our weekly recap column, a collection of stats and quotes from recent stories presented with a dash of opinion (sometimes more than a dash) and intended to shed light on various trends. Check back every Friday for a new entry.
AI Roundup: Zomato launched its own AI chatbot today that will assist users in placing orders, while Google DeepMind co-founder emphasized that the US should only allow those buyers access to Nvidia's AI chips who agree to use this technology ethically. In a separate development, the Israeli Defense Ministry unveiled a surveillance plane equipped with AI-powered sensors.
Nintendo will broadcast a special Nintendo Direct presentation this week focusing entirely on Super Mario Bros. Wonder, its upcoming trippy side-scroller.