Pick of the weekThe BearIt begins with the sound of a thunderstorm breaking. And, as the final season of this furiously intense Chicago restaurant drama begins, the waters are rising all around the gang, metaphorically and literally. They’ve run out of money and the building is up for sale. But also, a catastrophic flood has inundated the kitchen. Sydney is now in charge but her leadership seems to be collapsing before it really starts. As ever, The Bear is chaotic and claustrophobic yet finds tiny moments of beauty and revelation in the things that really matter – food, friendship and families both physical and chosen. Ultimately, a show that often feels like an extended panic attack is actually about love.
Disney+, from Friday 26 JuneThe Root of the GameLife goals … várzea action in The Root of the Game. Photograph: NetflixSão Paolo’s “várzea” tournaments are intense, working-class Brazilian football at its grittiest. Yet for many youngsters, the games offer a potential route out of favela life. The ferocity of the competition and the high stakes for everyone involved mean that it has become a production line for talent – Raphinha and Neymar are two high-profile graduates. This documentary gets up close and personal with this unique representation of the beautiful game, following next-generation talents to explain why it has become so fundamental. Netflix, out nowThe AgencyGunning for it … Michael Fassbender as Martian in The Agency. Photograph: Luke Varley/Paramount+As this sturdy espionage drama returns for a second season, Martian (Michael Fassbender in compellingly jaded form) has committed the ultimate spying sin. He’s fallen in love with Samia and, as a result, is riddled with exploitable vulnerabilities. When an attempt to free Samia is bungled, Martian fears that saving her will be impossible now her captors understand her value. Worse still, London Station faces chaos as a mole is suspected. It’s never quite essential viewing but turns from Richard Gere and Jeffrey Wright keep things bubbling away.
