Day: November 15, 2019

Best-bets for Nov. 17: “Poldark” ends, “Crown” and “Donovan” start

1) “Masterpiece: Poldark” finale, 9 p.m., PBS. For five seasons we’ve seen Ross Poldark (Aidan Turner, shown here) try to pierce layers of corruption in England’s ruling class. Last week (rerunning at 8 p.m.), he found his ore had been stolen and traded for weapons, stockpiled for a French invasion. Officials still did nothing, so now he tries a makeshift effort as a double agent. The result is wildly unbelievable; villains here seem incapable of finishing off anyone. Still, it’s an emotional end to a lush and epic story. Read more…

It’s a story of war, love, death and birth

A decade ago, Waad Al-Kateab stepped into a new life.
She was 18 and idealistic (“headstrong,” her parents said), a freshman at the massive University of Aleppo, in Syria. Then war changed everything.
That’s part of the story of “For Sama,” which reaches PBS Tuesday (Nov. 19). The award-winning documentary focuses partly on her decision to stay, even after having baby Sama.
“We stayed with these people in Aleppo for five years …. We just felt we belong to this place, to these people as our family,” Al-Kateab (shown here, away from the war zone). “We can’t just … leave.” Read more…