Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry
Since 2008, conceptual artist Ai Weiwei has given the Chinese government fits with performances, installations, and Twitter posts that have challenged the regime’s totalitarian ways. Authorities have responded to his irreverence with intimidation, including arrests and a police beating. First-time director Alison Klayman’s galvanizing documentary, which appeared in theaters last summer, shines a light from the West on Ai’s artistic activism. Monday, Feb. 25, at 10 p.m., PBS; check local listings
Makers: Women Who Make America
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Across the past half century, women have achieved a revolution in the role they play in American society. From Betty Friedan’s cri de coeur in The Feminine Mystique to the daily challenges of today’s CEO supermoms, this sweeping three-hour special tells the story of revolution through interviews with leaders and opponents of the women’s movement, as well as with familiar groundbreakers from Oprah Winfrey to Hillary Clinton. Meryl Streep narrates. Tuesday, Feb. 26, at 8 p.m., PBS; check local listings
Boston’s Finest
Boston’s cops have long been a favorite subject of crime novelists, filmmakers, and TV producers. Now actor Donnie Wahlberg is taking his shot at the subject by executive producing this series about the lives of real officers in his native city, from armed standoffs in the streets to trying to sleep off a midnight shift while the kids are home from school. Wednesday, Feb. 27, at 9 p.m, TNT
The Bible
It’s a lofty goal: to tell the story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelations in five two-hour episodes. This epic miniseries does it by skipping the minor “begats” and focusing on the big tales, all staged with the swooping cameras and relish for violence that have become typical of History channel dramatizations. Touched by an Angel’s Roma Downey plays the Virgin Mary. Sunday, March 3, at 8 p.m., History
Vikings
TheHistory channel’sfirst-ever scripted series, written by Michael Hirst (The Tudors), draws from Scandinavian history and legend to dramatize the exploits of 9th-century Viking raider Ragnar Lothbrok, a nightmare figure to France and England. Former Calvin Klein model Travis Fimmel stars, but Gabriel Byrne provides the marquee name, playing a rival chieftain. Sunday, March 3, at 10 p.m., History
Other highlights
Golden Boy
Theo James stars in this promising new series as a cop who ruthlessly crosses ethical lines on the way to becoming New York’s youngest-ever commissioner. Tuesday, Feb. 26, at 10 p.m., CBS
Psych
This comedy-drama about a police consultant pretending to have psychic crime-solving powers remains consistently beguiling as it enters its seventh season. James Roday stars. Wednesday, Feb. 27, at 10 p.m., USA
Welcome to Myrtle Manor
From the network that brought you Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, this latest redneck reality series focuses on the residents of a Myrtle Beach, S.C., trailer park. Sunday, March 3, at 10 p.m., TLC
