Chimerica – Channel 4’s gritty new drama returns TONIGHT, but is it worth watching, what is it about and who’s in the cast?

CHANNEL 4’s latest drama series Chimerica has already proved to be a massive hit with viewers.

As the show progresses with episode three TONIGHT (May 1), here is what you need to know about what’s happening tonight and whether the programme is worth watching. Let’s find out…

Why is it worth watching Chimerica and what is it about?

Chimerica follows the challenging events of fictional character Lee Berger, who plans to alter a Syrian photo in the hopes of gaining attention.

In the drama, Berger is the person who took the 1989 Tank Man photo, which saw an unidentified male stand in front of a column of tanks in retaliation to the senseless killings during the Tiananmen Square protests.

Ashamed and disgraced of his wrongdoings Berger finds out that the Tank Man he photographed 30 years ago is still alive, and through the help of his Chinese friend Zhang Lin, he makes his way on a journey to track the man down.

The show blends fiction with real-life events and tries to tackle subjects concerning politics, such as fake news, which is wildly explored throughout the series, which is mostly set during the 2016 presidential elections.

This is a must-see show if the idea of blending true events with fiction doesn’t necessarily bother you.

And most of all, it’s action-packed and politically motivated, so it’s bound to make for a great watch.

Who’s in the cast?

American Hustle star Alessandro Nivola leads the impressive line-up, as he takes on the character of Lee Berger, a photographer who has more or less lost his career path, having failed to replicate anything near as monumental as his earlier work.

Cherry Jones, known for her role in Transparent and The Perfect Storm, is Mel Kincaid, a troubled friend of Berger who has been dealing with a severe case of alcoholism.

Other notable names in the upcoming series include Terry Chen (Almost Famous, House of Cards), Sophie Okonedo (After Earth, Hellboy), F. Murray Abraham (The Grand Budapest Hotel, Mighty Aphrodite), and Katie Leung, most known for her part as Cho Chang in the Harry Potter series.

What’s going to happen in episode 2?

Tonight’s episode will see Lee follow the trail for the Tank Man through Manhattan’s Chinatown.

Viewers will go on to find out that Zhang Lin discovers Joys missing in Beijing.

And it doesn’t help to then find out that Ming Xiaoli’s health has continued to deteriorate.

The episode will air at 9 pm on Channel 4.

When is it on?

Chimerica kicked off its premiere on April 17.

And continues with its third episode TONIGHT (May 1) at 9pm.

The show consists of four episodes and airs on Channel 4 every week.

The Channel 4 drama is based on Lucy Kirkwood’s Olivier Award-winning play of the same name.