What to watch on TV this weekend?
FRIDAY APRIL 17
LCP / Documentary collection – 1:30 p.m.
Heritage of France
The episode Myths of the Southwest begins by focusing on d’Artagan whose bones, since filming, could have been discovered under the paving of a church in Maastricht (Netherlands), the place of his death in 1673… Here, it is only a question of the youth of Charles de Batz de Castelmore in his native Gers, and of the imprint that the famous Gascon musketeer left there, in particular since the birth of his legend under the pen of Alexandre Dumas. The second part focuses further south, in the Pyrenees, where the remains of the Cathar fortresses (photo) still bear witness to these women and men who dared to challenge the pope and the king with their extreme faith. Their hypothetical treasure is at the origin of the intriguing story of Abbé Saunière in Rennes-le-Château (Aude).
Our opinion: PPP
Arte / Magazine – 5:20 p.m.
Invitation to travel
In Vietnam, Invitation au voyage, presented by Linda Lorin, highlights memory and identity. The portrait of Anna Moï constitutes a vibrant testimony: returning to the places of her childhood, the writer brings to the surface the memories of the war. Her visit to the Marie-Curie high school in Saigon, where she learned “the meaning of freedom and rebellion”, evokes nostalgia as much as emancipation. His comments, as well as the reading of extracts from his book Black Rice (Ed. Gallimard), allow viewers to immerse themselves in embodied images, such as the penal colony of Poulo Condor or, lighter, the smells of the Ben Thanh market. The episode then consists of three other reports, forming a rich picture of the country, mixing history, language and everyday gestures. The astonishing adoption of the Latin alphabet, inherited from Jesuit missionaries, underlines a unique cultural particularity in continental Asia. In Hanoi, the preparation of duck soup also embodies a living memory, transmitted through flavors. Through this common thread, the show conveys the image of a resilient country where the past fuels a current history resolutely turned towards the future.
Our opinion: PP
SATURDAY APRIL 18
LCP / Documentary – 9 p.m.
Itinerary of an apprentice doctor
Besançon, 2009. Angel, high school graduate, embarks on medical studies. Thirteen years older than him, Antoine, his brother, decides to film his journey. Without any certainty about the outcome of this project, the completion of which will ultimately take twelve years. It follows him from the laborious first months of teaching to the choice of specialization, from an Erasmus break in Bulgaria to internships in the Doubs and the south of France up to a sabbatical leave as a shepherd. Through learning to manage one’s emotions and those of patients, permanent doubts and the weight of empathy, this dynamic documentary takes us on board! Seeing Angel interact with his colleagues and his patients proves to be a chance as it is rare to witness a transition to adulthood in this way.
Our opinion: PPP
Arte / Documentary – 10:25 p.m.
Sulawesi, the island of first images
It has long been thought that our species, Homo sapiens, began to paint upon arriving in Western Europe, 40,000 years ago, with the dating of cave paintings noted at Altamira in Spain (20,000 years), then in France in the caves of Lascaux (18,000 years), Cosquer (33,000 years) and Chauvet (36,000 years). However, in 2019, the discovery of the representation of a wild boar, dated at least 45,500 years ago in a cavity on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, called this postulate into question. A vast international research program was then deployed on site to find other sites and answer the question: when did we start painting? This fascinating documentary followed behind the scenes of the surveys over the last four years, which have revolutionized knowledge about the emergence of the first figurative paintings by revealing, at the beginning of 2026, negative hands dating back at least 67,800 years. (see photo at the top of the article) ! It explains in an educational manner the new dating methods, the possible migratory routes taken by our ancestors in the region and the probable mastery of the production of images even before the exit from Africa, estimated 70,000 years ago.
Our opinion: PPP
SUNDAY APRIL 19
TF1 / Magazine – 1:40 p.m.
Great reports
Today, the report When zoos get a makeover immerses us in the daily life of two animal parks. First, at the La-Boissièredu-Doré zoo (Loire-Atlantique) where the teams welcome Katia, an Amur panther. The young carnivore, whose breed is classified as critically endangered, will share her enclosure with Akeno, a male of her species, in the hope that a baby will be born from this cohabitation. Then, head to the zoological and botanical park of Mulhouse (Alsace). There, the structure reintroduces hamsters into the wild and opens a new 11,000 m2 space dedicated to African animals. Rhythmic and pleasant to follow, this story presents us with caring and passionate professionals.
Our opinion: PP
France 5 / Documentary – 9:05 p.m.
Palestine, a history
If the Palestinian issue seems relegated to the background of the news in recent weeks, it nonetheless remains a hot topic at the heart of international dissension, and has been since the second half of the 19th century, as shown in this three-episode documentary series based on research and archive work (photo). It offers an illuminating historical perspective, centered on the Palestinian point of view. And begins in 1840, in a region then under Ottoman domination. The population, predominantly Arabic-speaking, does not yet define itself as Palestinian in the modern national sense. Jews, Christians and Muslims coexist, in a balance made of exchanges, but also of tensions. At the end of the 19th century, pogroms targeting Jews increased in Europe, while the Ottoman Empire faltered. A turning point occurred during the First World War: the Allies supported the idea of a Jewish national home in Palestine in a context of diplomatic strategy. A long period of conflict then begins, marked by aborted attempts at peace and open wars, where violence against populations intensifies.
Our opinion: PP
France 3 / Series – 9:10 p.m.
Mysteries in paradise
End clap for season 3 of Mysteries in paradise. The evening begins with an investigation into the heart of the farm of the Ellis family, father and daughter. They suffer attacks from a frightening “corn man”, which causes them to lose money and incur costs while George and Stella are already struggling to keep their business afloat. Inspector Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall, photo, left) and Sergeant Esther Williams (Zahra Ahmadi, photo, right) investigate the farming community and neighborhood. On the private side, Humphrey and his partner try to find the right balance with Rose, a little girl they take in temporarily. Investigation and comedy work wonderfully here. Last episode at 10:25 p.m., Meeting the Devil, while waiting for season 4 to air.
Our opinion: PP
Live mass
- 10 a.m. – on the radio / France Culture
From the Notre-Dame-de-la-Médaille-miraculeuse chapel (Paris). Preacher: Father Brice de Malherbe. - 11 a.m. – on television / France 2
From the Prado chapel in Lyon (Rhône). Preacher: Mgr Loïc Lagadec, auxiliary bishop of Lyon. - 6 p.m. – on radio and television / KTO – Radio Notre Dame
From Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.
