IFC via AMC
Documentary Now! ought to be one of the most niche shows on television. Who has seen My Octopus Teacher and the works of Werner Herzog, but still finds time to worship comedic legends like Fred Armisen and Seth Meyers? There are dozens of us!
And yet, the popularity of Documentary Now! still skyrockets with each new season, as will likely be the case with “Season 53” (the fourth season of the show). Beginning Wednesday night, the IFC channel will air new episodes weekly, tapping into the oeuvre of Herzog, Agnès Varda, and other prestigious documentary filmmakers, who will all be spoofed—and yet, still admired.
The ideal Documentary Now! viewer has put in the work before watching the new season. They have seen The Beaches of Agnès, still voice their opinions on My Octopus Teacher’s controversial Oscar win, and can discern the milieu of different documentary styles. They will chuckle at the sight of Cate Blanchett beaming on the cover of a magazine, recalling the miniature salon of The September Issue. They will see Herzog behind the eyes of Alexander Skarsgård.