Macdonald often radiates strength from a deep stillness, and when she breaks that stillness – boy! – that’s some real telly. Meanwhile, back at AC-12, Arnott and the Gaffer (Martin Compston and Adrian Dunbar) think they might have a way in via their old colleague DI Fleming (Vicky McClure), who is now DCI Davidson’s 2IC. Fleming, of course, wants nothing to do with them after the events of last season, and it looks as though everything is going to hinge on her. Fans will find the combination of old friends and cracking new story unbeatable.

The Nevers ★★★½
Binge, from April 12

“She’s not killing whores, Your Grace. These are respectable men!” If you want to illustrate the double standards of self-serving political patriarchies, flipping the old Jack the Ripper script on the streets of Victorian London is certainly one way of doing it.

This new period fantasy series from Joss Whedon (!) doesn’t look like being overly subtle in making its points, but it does look likely to provide a bit of catharsis and a good deal of fun.

In any case, some strange supernatural event has given certain people – most of them women – various preternatural powers. It has also put them in grave danger because baddies want to kidnap them.

The Nevers explodes into wondrous life with spectacular set pieces as heroic brawler Amalia True (Laura Donnelly) and genius inventor Penance Adair (Ann Skelly) set about taking the fight to the bad guys.

It’s all quite richly imagined and handsomely realised with a colourful cast that includes Olivia Williams as a rich spinster who provides a home for those touched by the supernatural, and Nick Frost as an unusual underworld figure.

No Activity
Stan*

Now rendered in reasonably priced CGI, the American version of No Activity is suddenly quite a different beast. But with series creators Patrick Brammall and Trent O’Donnell still running the show, fans should adjust quickly.

The largely improvised humour remains in the same vein, though detectives Cullen and Tolbeck (Brammall and Tim Meadows) have split up.

Cullen has joined the FBI, where he is highly unpopular and about to be assigned to investigate a cult. New additions this season include rising Australian star Samara Weaving, Kevin Bacon and Jillian Bell.

Persona: The Dark Truth Behind Personality Tests
Binge

Have you ever suspected that the Myers-Briggs and other personality tests might be a tad unscientific and not the best way for HR to decide who does and doesn’t get a job?

This eye-opening documentary provides startling insights into the megabucks personality-testing industry, from how the Myers-Briggs test was developed by a self-taught mother-and-daughter team who got into Jung in the 1920s, to how American companies that use such tests today might be creating a permanent underclass of people unfairly deemed unemployable.

Everything’s Gonna Be Okay
Stan, new episodes from April 9

Josh Thomas’ gorgeously crafted comedy-drama is a thing of rare beauty, thanks in great part to the extraordinary performances by Maeve Press and Kayla Cromer as teenage American sisters Genevieve and Matilda, who have come under the guardianship of their Australian brother, Nicholas (Thomas), after the death of their father.

The second season is immediately affecting, finding the three of them back in Los Angeles with the autistic Matilda depressed about bailing on Julliard – and about a certain extra-familial relationship. With new characters adding new dimensions, it’s a tender treat.

The Lost Pirate Kingdom
Netflix

This wildly popular new documentary series features top-drawer reenactments starring serious British actors, as well as insights from serious historians – who also look like pirates, some of them – and the perfectly judged narration of period stalwart Derek Jacobi. Turns out that England blundered in chucking thousands of state-sanctioned pirates out of work in 1715 – men such as Benjamin Hornigold (The Bill’s Sam Callis) wouldn’t stay idle for long. Just the thing to watch before or after a binge of the fearlessly epic Black Sails (Stan).

* Stan is owned by Nine, the owner of this masthead.