Our Prehistoric Planet, ‘Saul’ Midseason finale and Animated ‘Slippin’ Jimmy,’ ‘NCIS’ and More Season Finales

Prehistoric Planet

With the same attention to detail and storytelling he brings to his natural history series, Sir David Attenborough takes viewers back some 66 million years to a time when dinosaurs ruled the Earth. With dazzling visuals and amazingly realistic CGI imaging technology, this five-part series (dropping new episodes through Friday) lulls you into believing your eyes as monstrous reptiles and flying giants fight for survival. The opening episode is set on Earth’s primitive “Coasts,” with a T-Rex father and his tiny offspring paddling to an offshore island with predators lurking underwater. Whether on land, sea or in the air, no creature is safe. Future episodes explore prehistoric life in deserts, fresh water, ice worlds and forests.

Better Call Saul

It’s D-Day for Jimmy/Saul (Bob Odenkirk) and Kim (Rhea Seehorn) in their elaborate scheme to humiliate and ruin the reputation of power lawyer Howard Hamlin (Patrick Fabian), providing a perfect opportunity for the Breaking Bad prequel’s midseason cliffhanger. (The final episodes will resume July 11.) While the con-artist couple scrambles to reshoot incriminating fake photos, the dreaded drug boss Lalo Salamanca (Tony Dalton), still thought dead by some, is lurking in the shadows, up to no good. Odenkirk, Seehorn and Fabian are joined by executive producer Peter Gould for the Talking Saul after-show (10/9c).To ease the sting of Saul’s two-month hiatus, AMC+ presents a six-part animated miniseries, Slippin’ Jimmy (new episodes drop through Saturday) with fanciful misadventures from Jimmy McGill’s childhood presented in the style of 1970s cartoons. Each vignette is an homage to a movie genre, including spaghetti westerns, Buster Keaton slapstick and even The Exorcist.

 

NCIS

Is this any way to treat the new guy? The long-running crime drama wraps its 19th season with the timeworn plot twist of framing team leader Alden Parker (Gary Cole) for murder. Senior field agent McGee (Sean Murray) steps up with the rest of the team, putting their jobs on the line to clear their colleague’s name. They also get help from Parker’s ex-wife, Vivian Kolchak (Teri Polo), an FBI agent turned paranormal investigator for the Department of Defense. (Are you hearing the X-Files theme right about now?) Followed by the season finale of NCIS: Hawai’i (10/9c), where Tennant (Vanessa Lachey) races to save Captain Milius (Enver Gjokaj) in the aftermath of the prisoner exchange.

The Neighborhood

The sitcom’s fourth season ends on a celebratory note, as Marty (Marcel Spears) preps for his marriage proposal to his tough boxer girlfriend, Necie (Chelsea Harris). Followed by the Season 3 finale of Bob Hearts Abishola (8:30/7:30c), where the dynamic new pastor (Jonathan Adams) at Abishola’s (Folake Olowofoyeku) church creates a buzz, while Bob (Billy Gardell) does damage control at work when Dottie (Christine Ebersole) stiffs star employee Goodwin (Bayo Akinfemi) during bonus time.

Inside Monday TV:

• All American (8/7c, The CW): Spencer (Daniel Ezra) focuses on the big Homecoming game in the sports drama’s Season 4 finale, followed by spinoff All American: Homecoming (9/8c) wrapping its first year with Homecoming week at Bringston University. Both shows will be coming back home to Monday nights in the fall.
• Don’t Forget the Lyrics! and Beat Shazam (8/7c and 9/8c, Fox): Niecy Nash and Jamie Foxx return to host new summer seasons of the musical game shows.
• Celebrity IOU (9/8c, HGTV): John C. Reilly, earning raves as Lakers team owner Jerry Buss in HBO’s Winning Time, works with Drew and Jonathan Scott to renovate an old log cabin for Johnny, his driver and close friend of 20 years.
• 227 (streaming on Hulu): Nostalgia alert: All five seasons of the D.C.-set sitcom (1985-1990) starring Marla Gibbs, Jackée Harry and then-newcomer Regina King are available for streaming.