Emma’s Must-Sees for April 2026

With iconic series like Nature, public media has long been a destination for beautiful, informative environmental documentaries. This Earth month is no different. I’m really excited about a new KQED Presents program: Life Unearthed with Ariel Waldman — a show guaranteed to get you invested in microscopic organisms like never before. There’s also Wilding: a stunning documentary about re-introducing wildlife into an English farm. April is also Arab American heritage month, and I’ve highlighted some lovely programs that showcase Arab American culture. We also have premieres of some of our most popular detective shows to round out the month.

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I’m so excited for this new KQED Presents program, hosted by a local first time filmmaker Ariel Waldman. In the first episode, Ariel takes viewers on a mindblowing journey to Antarctica where we get unprecedented footage of its seemingly barren landscape. Ariel goes under the surface to showcase unbelievable tiny living organisms. As someone who’s known to scream at the sight of a bee, it’s a testament to Ariel’s humanizing curiosity that I started to find these microscopic creatures pretty cute and cuddly. The first three episodes delve deep into Antarctic ecosystems before travelling to the prairies, exploring life hiding in plain sight. This is a perfect show to watch with the whole family: a great way to spark excitement and interest in nature for Earth month. 

Airs weekly on KQED 9 starting Wednesday April 1 at 7:30pm. Stream for free on the PBS App the same day.

Not only do I love Lucy Lawless, I also spent a semester of college in New Zealand, so the Auckland based My Life is Murder has always had a special place in my heart. Lawless stars as Alexa Crowe, an “ex” homicide detective who keeps getting sucked back into solving crimes alongside assistant Madison Feliciano and Detective Harry Henare. I also love cafe owner Reuben who pops up in most episodes. Settling in to an episode of My Life Is Murder reminds me of being in high school watching shows like Psych, White Collar and Monk on repeat over summer break: the perfect combination of lovable characters and lighthearted, entertaining mysteries. I highly recommend it as a fun way to relax and escape the world’s troubles.

Double episodes air weekly on KQED 9 starting Thursday April 16 at 9:30pm. Binge the whole season or catch up on old episodes with Passport now.

Recently I’ve been reading Scorched Grace by Margot Douaihy about a nun who becomes an amateur detective when an arsonist attacks her school. I’ve been enjoying the book so far but of course couldn’t help but be reminded of another favorite sleuth from the clergy: Reverend Alphy from Grantchester, oh wait I mean Father Brown! We have to wait a little longer for the return of Alphy, but luckily in the meantime we can catch up with the new season of Father Brown. I find Mark Williams’ portrayal of the titular Father to be an immediate comfort as soon as he comes on screen. The season premiere sees him investigating a murder at a battle re-enactment, with similarly delightful whodunits coming in the following weeks.

Airs weekly on KQED PLUS starting Monday April 20 at 8pm.

The opening sequence of this film took my breath away: it portrays the grounds of this former English farm turned wildland as such a magical, otherworldly place. Based on a book of the same name, Wilding tells the story of Isabella Tree (what an apt name!) and Charlie Burrell as they work to re-introduce biodiversity back into their Sussex estate. They follow advice of oak tree expert Ted Green who says that intensive farming has been harming their lands. I’m so inspired by the work they did on the Knepp rewilding project, the first major undertaking of its kind in lowland England, and the film showcases the absolutely beautiful results of their labor. You’ll immediately see what makes this place incredibly special.

Airs on KQED 9 Wednesday April 22 at 10pm. Stream for free on the PBS App the same day.

It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating the 20th anniversary of this Bay Area culinary institution, but Check, Please! Bay Area is back for its 21st season! In the season premiere I was particularly excited to learn about The Bywater in Los Gatos, with its New Orleans style cuisine and powdered-sugar-dusted beignets. Beignets are one of my favorite desserts (tied with maybe all other fried dough concoctions) and I used to get them every year for my birthday as a kid. Now I have a new place to go get my fix! I love the way Check, Please! makes the Bay Area feel like such a vibrant foodie family, giving us all an excellent excuse to go out and try somewhere new for dinner.

Airs weekly on KQED 9 starting Thursday April 23 at 7:30pm. Stream for free on the PBS App the same day.

I have really been appreciating the curated collections POV has been releasing on the PBS App each month. They have such a wonderful library of programs, and these collections have helped remind me of old favorites and discover documentaries I may have missed the first time around. This month’s Arab American Heritage collection highlights two programs: An Act of Worship and the short film “Coming Home” in the POV Shorts episode This Sacred Space. Both are lovely, insightful documentaries about the Arab American experience: An Act of Worship chronicling the collective memory of the past 30 years of Muslim life in America, and “Coming Home” about the traditional Palestinian dance of Dabka. These are great viewing options if you were looking for a way to observe Arab American Heritage month.

POV Shorts: This Sacred Space airs on KQED 9 on April 6 at 11:30pm and POV: An Act of Worship airs on KQED PLUS on Thursday April 23. Both can also be streamed for free on the PBS App.

This quirky New Zealand mystery follows DI Mike Shepherd, who arrives to the seemingly peaceful town of Brokenwood. He soon discovers that Brokenwood is full of secrets and suspicions.

Airs weekly on KQED PLUS starting Friday April 4 at 7:58pm. Binge the whole season or catch up with old episodes with Passport now.

If you’ve watched the Ken Burns’ American Revolution series and are eager for more, Lucy Worsley is taking a deep dive into the war from a British perspective.

Airs weekly on KQED 9 starting Tuesday April 7 at 9pm. Stream each episode for free on the PBS App the night of its broadcast premiere.

The Inside Scholars speaks directly to currently and formerly incarcerated people: exploring the opportunities that are available for them to invest in their education, future economic mobility and success.

Airs on KQED 9 on Friday April 10 at 8pm. Stream early for free on the PBS App starting April 1.

Discover the king of ragtime, Scott Joplin, with host Scott Yoo as he uncovers his lasting impact on today’s orchestras and witnesses a restaging of “Treemonisha,” for the 21st century.

Airs on KQED 9 on Friday April 17 at 8:30pm. Stream for free on the PBS App the same night.

Devastated by her father’s sudden death, a young woman seeks solace in five timeless stories of love and loss from the Islamic tradition.

Airs on KQED 9 on Friday April 24 at 10pm. Stream for free on the PBS App now.

With stunning cinematography, this series reveals the stories of people and wildlife thriving together. Celebrating the benefits of making room for nature, it offers a vision of a hopeful future.

Airs weekly on KQED 9 starting on Wednesday April 29 at 10pm. Stream each episode for free on the PBS App the night of its broadcast premiere.

Looking for more programs to watch? Find our past recommendations:

March 2026
February 2026
January 2026
December 2025
November 2025
October 2025
September 2025
August 2025
July 2025
June 2025
May 2025
April 2025
March 2025