Slow Horses Returns, South Park Renames Itself South America, and Neagley Takes Over Reacher

Slow Horses is back for a sixth season, South Park has rebranded itself South America, and Reacher is handing the reins to his ex-military partner Frances Neagley in a spinoff. Here is what to watch this week.

Slow Horses Returns

The Emmy-winning spy drama returns fresh off winning its second consecutive directing Emmy. The sixth season adapts Mick Herron’s Joe Country and Slough House novels. The plot finds the “slow horse” agents of Slough House wiped from the MI5 database, including payroll, after the death of their former boss David Cartwright (Jonathan Pryce).

Cartwright can only be acknowledged as an employee of the Department of Transport. His grandson River (Jack Lowden) joins the unit as it faces an existential crisis. Good news: Apple TV has renewed the show through its eighth season.

South Park Renames Itself

South Park is back for its 29th season as South America, a name change satirizing the trend of renaming places like the Gulf of Mexico/America and Lake Ontario/America. The show recently won its sixth Emmy as Outstanding Animated Program.

The official description of this week’s premiere reads: “When e-bikes arrive in South America, the boys take over the streets, and the parents of South America can hardly recognize South America.” The show announced its name change by thanking “our parent company Paramount — a Skydance Capitulation,” referring to last year’s controversial merger.

Reacher’s Finale

The action-adventure’s Season 4 finale reaches a bloody climax as Reacher (Alan Ritchson) faces down villainesses determined to launch a chemical weapon at Philadelphia. The finale follows last week’s sacrifice, and viewers might wonder if any of his current sidekicks — mousy cop Jacob (Christopher Marquette), Philly detective Tamara (Sydelle Noel), and investigative reporter Russell Plum (Kevin Weisman) — will survive.

Neagley Gets Her Own Show

Neagley, played by Maria Sten, was conspicuously absent from Reacher this season. She is now getting her own spinoff, which harks back to the Reacher formula of maverick crime-fighting against a diabolical foe. Reacher drops by Chicago to launch the eight-episode inaugural season, all available for binge-watching.

Neagley, a private investigator with little regard for protocol, investigates why a cherished friend stepped in front of an elevated subway train. The mystery might involve a rural cult and a top-secret medical project on the property. She joins forces with local detective Greyston Holt and streetwise goofball Jasper Jones.

Dancing With the Stars Goes Female

The competition’s second night features the ladies taking the stage. The pairings include:

• Tatyana Ali with Jan Ravnik (“Knock on Wood”)
• Giada De Laurentiis with Alan Bersten (“Venus”)
• Jenna Dewan with Val Chmerkovskiy (“Call Me”)
• Amber Glenn with Pasha Pashkov (“Smooth”)
• Maura Higgins with Mark Ballas (“Black Velvet”)
• Ciara Miller with Brandon Armstrong (“Exhale (Shoop Shoop)”)
• Sarah Jane Nader with Hailey Bills (“Sk8er Boi”) — the show’s second-ever same-sex pairing
• Julia Stiles with Ezra Sosa (“9 to 5”) — a Dolly Parton tribute

The couples dance in jive, tango, cha-cha, foxtrot and quickstep styles. After the live vote, one couple will be eliminated.

Inside Wednesday TV

The full schedule for Wednesday includes:

What It Means

South Park’s rebrand is pure satire, according to the show’s description. The show is mocking the trend of renaming things.

The Reacher spinoff gives Neagley her own eight episodes, continuing the maverick crime-fighting formula.

Dancing With the Stars follows the same format as past seasons, with the couples dancing standard competition styles.

The week covers spy drama, animated satire, action and dance, per the source’s own summary.

Dancing With the Stars · Reacher · Slow Horses · South Park · TV Review