Netflix ups the discomfort factor in its collection of bingeable docuseries. Produced by British-American journalist Louis Theroux, the U.K. limited series “Tell Them You Love Me” explores the story of esteemed professor Anna Stubblefield and raises a basketful of troubling questions.
Using her long background as an educator and disability rights activist, Anna took on the case of 30-year-old Derrick Johnson, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and completely noncommunicative. He had also been diagnosed as a child as having an extremely limited intellectual capacity.
Anna disagreed with that diagnosis and raised the hopes of Derrick’s family by personally intervening. She taught Derrick how to use a keyboard and other devices and, over the course of several years, helped him show the world that rather than being a “vegetable,” he was capable of complex thoughts and expressing the hopes, dreams and fears that he had hitherto kept to himself. He even embarked on college courses.
The uncomplicated “feel good” aspects of this story fade to the background when Anna initiates an intimate physical relationship with her patient, much to the shock and horror of his protective parents, who would go on to seek her prosecution.
“Tell Them” raises any number of issues about the relationship between therapist and patient and the very nature of consent. It also explores the notion of the “white savior” complex that Anna, who is white, may have brought into her dealings with Derrick and his family, who are Black.
It would take another esteemed therapist to plumb the depths of Anna’s motivations, but my main question is just why anybody would find this “entertaining.” About that impulse, Netflix appears to know better than I do.
Operating on an entirely different entertainment spectrum, Netflix also introduces the movie-length animated adventure “Ultraman Rising.” Nearly 70 years of Godzilla movies have taught us that Tokyo is under near constant siege from monster attacks. This inspires baseball star Ken Sato to put down his bat and glove and return home to reassume the role of the hero Ultraman.
Circumstances of the comic book sort require him to adopt a 35-foot baby monster, and he soon learns that monster fighting is nothing compared to monster fathering (or “parenting,” in the more current patois).
While set in Tokyo and steeped in the tropes of Japanese animation, “Rising” is a U.S. production, a collaboration between Netflix, Tsuburaya Productions, and Industrial Light & Magic. Gee, I wonder if Ultraman’s going to take the giant tyke out in the backyard for a game of catch?
— School’s out for the Peanuts gang as Apple TV+ launches its summer series “Camp Snoopy” starting today.
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
— The Dallas Mavericks host the Boston Celtics in the 2024 NBA Finals (8:30 p.m., ABC).
— “Great Performances” (9 p.m., PBS, TV-G, check local listings) presents a performance of Bizet’s “Carmen,” featuring mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina and tenor Piotr Beczala.
— Letters from lawyers and doctors loom large as “Mama June: From Not to Hot” (9 p.m., WE, TV-14) returns.
— Erin leads federal investigators to the racetrack on “Blue Bloods” (10 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14).
— Rappers learn to play by their host’s rules in the new reality music competition series “Deb’s House” (10 p.m., WE, TV-14).
CULT CHOICE
Employees make the most of a low-paying, low-status job with the help of a disco-fueled soundtrack in the 1976 comedy “Car Wash” (8 p.m., Bounce), featuring an ensemble cast that included Ricard Pryor, George Carlin, Garrett Morris, the Pointer Sisters and Antonio Fargas, among others. Directed by Michael Schultz and based on a screenplay by Joel Schumacher, who would go on to direct “St. Elmo’s Fire,” a pivotal part of Andrew McCarthy’s Brat Pack documentary “Brats,” now streaming on Hulu.
SERIES NOTES
Cedrick the Entertainer hosts ” Greatest @Home Videos: Father’s Day Edition” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) … “America’s Got Talent” (8 p.m., NBC, r, TV-PG) … “WWE Friday Night SmackDown” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-PG) … “NBA Countdown” (8 p.m., ABC) … A fugitive witness’s escort goes south on “S.W.A.T.”(9 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14) …”Dateline” (9 p.m., NBC).
LATE NIGHT
Viggo Mortensen and Olivia Cooke appear on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (11:35 p.m., CBS, r) … Jimmy Fallon welcomes Jeremy Renner, Jay Pharoah and the Avett Brothers on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC, r) … Lupita Nyong’o, Draymond Green and Lucky Daye appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (11:35 p.m., ABC).
Amy Poehler and Stephen Merchant visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC, r) … Taylor Tomlinson hosts Caitlin Reilly, Gillian Jacobs and Pete Holmes on “After Midnight” (12:35 a.m., CBS, r).
