Justina Machado's Horror of Dolores Roach Brings Sweeney Todd Into the 21st Century

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, July 2 through Saturday, July 8.

This week, Prime Video and Justina Machado hop on the murder-comedy train with The Horror of Dolores Roach, a Sweeney Todd-inspired series based on the 2018 Spotify podcast of the same name. Elsewhere in the streaming-verse, Netflix's The Lincoln Lawyer returns for Season 2, The Idol comes to an end after just five episodes, and WHAM! charts the pop music duo's journey.

The Idol Season 1 Finale

Sunday, 9:00 PM ET on HBO

The show that has the internet abuzz — though not in a good way — makes an early exit this weekend after five controversial episodes. In The Idol finale, pop star Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) takes the stage for her first performance since falling for svengali club owner Tedros (Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye), but as concerns about their relationship and creative partnership mount, Jocelyn's team must determine the best way to disentangle the two.

The Idol was initially conceived as a six-episode season, leading many to suspect HBO chopped down the show due to widespread backlash and negative reviews. However, sources have since clarified that the season was reduced to five episodes after co-creator Sam Levinson assumed control from director Amy Seimetz, who left due to creative differences last year. While HBO has not yet made a determination about The Idol's future, Season 2 seems unlikely given flagging ratings and the baggage surrounding the show and its embattled co-creator, so Episode 5, "Jocelyn Forever," may be viewers' last chance to see the fictional pop star in action. Considering Tesfaye's subpar acting skills, that's probably for the best.

WHAM!

Wednesday, Netflix

Netflix digs into the personal archive of best friends turned pop superstars George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley in a new documentary about their rise to the top of the charts. Beginning in 1982, Michael and Ridgeley released hit after hit — including "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go" and "Last Christmas" — but after just four years in the spotlight, WHAM! played its final gig at Wembley Stadium, and Michael went on to pursue a successful solo career as a singer and songwriter. Armed with unprecedented access to never-before-seen footage and previously unheard interviews, director Chris Smith (FYRE) pulls back the curtain on the duo's breakup and everything that came before it as he attempts to distill their incredible journey into a 92-minute doc.

The Lincoln Lawyer Season 2, Part 1

Thursday, Netflix (Full Season)

Mickey Haller (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) is back in the second season of David E. Kelley's adaptation of Michael Conenlly's bestselling novels. After helping exonerate his former client Jesus Menendez (Saul Huezo), Mickey is riding a wave of positive press — he's just been dubbed Los Angeles' "hottest defense attorney" — but a new murder case involving a popular local chef, Lisa Trammell (Lana Parrilla), threatens to put a damper on his mood. In order to prove Lisa's innocence, Mickey must again rely on his ex-wives, Deputy District Attorney Maggie McPherson (Neve Campbell, who's been downgraded to a recurring guest star), and legal aid Lorna Crane (Becki Newton), who will split her time between Mickey's office and law school in Season 2.

Netflix has divided Season 2 into two parts — with the second batch of episodes dropping August 3 — so viewers can expect The Lincoln Lawyer to serve up justice and sexy banter all summer long. And if the month-long wait between the two parts proves too difficult, fans can get ahead on the show by reading the fourth book in Connelly's series, "The Fifth Witness," which serves as inspiration for Season 2.

The Horror of Dolores Roach

Friday, Amazon Prime Video (Full Season)
*Our must-watch pick of the week*

Three years after the untimely cancellation of One Day at a Time, Justina Machado returns to the small screen with a much darker story. Based on Aaron Mark's fictional podcast of the same name, The Horror of Dolores Roach stars Machado as Dolores, who returns from a 16-year prison sentence to discover that her Washington Heights neighborhood has been gentrified. Dolores is lost in this strange new world, but after reuniting with her stoner friend Luis (Alejandro Hernandez, New Amsterdam), she finds her footing as a masseuse and sets up shop in the basement below his empanada shop. Those "magic hands" are Dolores' ticket to stability, but when her future is threatened, they become weapons, and she and Luis soon find themselves in a Sweeney Todd-like tale of cannibalism and betrayal.

The Horror of Dolores Roach walks a fine line between horror and comedy, with major players from both arenas lending a hand (in this case, pun intended). The show is produced by Blumhouse (M3GAN), while comedian and actor Marc Maron makes an early appearance that forever alters the course of Dolores' life. K. Todd Freeman (A Series of Unfortunate Events) and Kita Updike, who also voiced empanada shop employee Nellie in the podcast, bring even more color to this already-vibrant show that gives new meaning to the phrase "mystery meat."

If You Have...

An Hour

The Price Is Right at Night: Fourth of July Tribute: Monday, 8:00 PM ET on CBS
Moonshine: Friday, 9:00 PM ET on The CW

An Evening

Essence Fest (Live): Sunday, 8:00 PM ET on Hulu
Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular: Tuesday, 8:00 PM ET on NBC
The Ashley Madison Affair: Friday, Hulu

A Full Day

Hart to Heart Season 3 Premiere and Kevin Hart: Reality Check: Thursday, Peacock
Shaun White: The Last Run: Thursday, Max
Hack My Home: Friday, Netflix

Up Next

The Afterparty Season 2: Wednesday, July 12 on Apple TV+
Quarterback: Wednesday, July 12 on Netflix
Full Circle: Thursday, July 13 on Max
Survival of the Thickest: Thursday, July 13 on Netflix
Foundation Season 2: Friday, July 14 on Apple TV+

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