TAGGED AS: ABC, cartoon, CBS, HBO, Hulu, Netflix, Peacock, streaming, Sundance
Featuring a freshman hit’s highly anticipated second season (His Dark Materials), an Oscar winner’s swan song on a beloved streaming series (The Crown), two U.K. transplants vying for our American adoration (Save Me and The A Word), and a reboot of an animated cult classic from producer Steven Spielberg (Animaniacs), our small screens are offering enough to be thankful all November long.
89%
The A Word
(Sundance)
What it is: When five-year-old Joe Hughes is diagnosed with autism after showing signs of social blocks, encyclopaedic memory, and more, it turns his parents, Alison and Paul, and the rest of the Hughes family upside down. The A Word tells their story — warts, laughs, tears and all.
Why you should watch it: The “A” of The A Word is less scarlet of Hester Prynne lore and more a source of light, strength, and, sure, stress and confusion — but what child doesn’t come with all of the above? That’s what makes this acclaimed U.K. hit so great: Its heartwarming, too-little-seen portrayal of a family navigating life with a young autistic child and the challenges and joys along the way. It’s now making its way back overseas to air its third season stateside Nov. 4 on Sundance.
Where to watch: Amazon, SundanceTV
Commitment: Approx. 12 hours (for the two seasons)
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Young Sheldon
(CBS)
What it is: We all know that The Big Bang Theory’s Sheldon (as played by Emmy winner Jim Parsons) has a one-of-a-kind genius mind, but did you ever wonder just what he was like as a kid? Young Sheldon answers that question and then some while charting the boy-genius’s life.
Why you should watch it: Young Sheldon provides something that we haven’t seen before: a reinterpretation of a beloved multi-camera sitcom character as a heartwarming, single-camera, family-friendly dramedy. Better yet, because this is a prologue series to Parson’s Sheldon, our protagonist’s mother, Mary, is played by Zoe Perry, the real-life daughter of Laurie Metcalf, who, in a small-screen first, stars as the same character on The Big Bang Theory. Season 4 premieres Nov. 4 on CBS.
Where to watch: Amazon, CBS All Access, FandangoNOW, Google Play, Microsoft, Vudu
Commitment: Approx. 25 hours (for the first three seasons)
100%
Save Me
(Peacock)
What it is: A long-estranged father throws himself full throttle into finding his missing daughter after he’s arrested as a suspect in the kidnapping. Never giving up, the truths his slow-boiling revelations uncover (both about the case and himself) make for a television series as absorbing as it is trying.
Why you should watch it: Between Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Michaela Coel, we sure do love British talent who can create and star in their own series. With Save Me and its second season (coined Save Me Too), we can now add Lennie James (The Walking Dead) to that growing list. So dedicated and lived-in is his performance on the series, which he also created and produced, that it’s a wonder how he didn’t lose himself to the harrowing material presented onscreen. But falling in love with James and his Nelly just makes all the ensuing reveals in this propulsive mystery that much more of a gut punch. Season 2 makes its stateside debut Nov. 5 on Peacock.
Where to watch it: Peacock
Commitment: Approx. 4.5 hours (for the first season)
81%
The Crown
(Netflix)
What it is: While The Crown will ultimately chart Queen Elizabeth II’s life from her 1947 wedding to Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, to the present day, seasons 1 and 2 of this sprawling royal drama cover the first half of that period through the early days of her reign. Golden Globe winner Claire Foy starred as the titular monarch before Oscar winner Olivia Colman took the reins for seasons 3 and now 4.
Why you should watch it: Oh, how we’ve missed The Crown! As one of Netflix’s most decorated series, this period drama should be mandatory viewing for anyone with not just an interest in world history and the British monarchy, but an interest in first-rate prestige TV. Exquisitely acted, written, directed, and designed, The Crown was, upon its premiere, Netflix’s most expensive series to date – and year after year it proves well worth the investment. Season 4 promises fireworks from Colman and Helena Bonham Carter’s final outing before the series moves on to the Queen’s later years, embodied by Imelda Staunton; plus, the introduction of another iconic royal this year, Princess Diana (Emma Corrin), is all the more reason to catch up with a binge. Season 4 premieres Nov. 15 on Netflix.
Where to watch: Netflix
Commitment: Approx. 30 hours (for the first three seasons)
84%
His Dark Materials
(HBO)
What it is: This complex fantasy adventure follows Lyra Belacqua (Dafne Keen) as she fulfills her quest to liberate her world from a domineering theocracy called the Magisterium, which restricts its citizens from using magic and tears children apart from their soul-like animal spirits called daemons. Adventures with other worlds and dimensions, witches, armored bears, and more abound.
Why you should watch it: With Jack Thorne and HBO’s His Dark Materials adaptation, Philip Pullman’s much-beloved fantasy trilogy finally gets the screen treatment it deserves. (The less said about the Nicole Kidman-starring 2007 film, The Golden Compass, the better.) Larger-than-life set pieces, transporting CGI and special effects (Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hot air balloon adventures as Lee Scoresby are as fearsomely impressive as Iorek Byrnison the talking bear), and heart-wrenching performances to match (particularly from its young star Keen and Golden Globe winner Ruth Wilson as Mrs. Coulter) all come together to become the exact escape we need during these trying times. Season 2 premieres Nov. 16 on HBO.
Where to watch: Amazon, FandangoNow, Google Play, HBO Max, Microsoft, Vudu
Commitment: Approx. 8 hours (for the first season)
86%
For Life
(ABC)
What it is: Loosely based on the true story of Isaac Wright Jr., Hank Steinberg’s timely ABC drama follows Aaron Wallace, a fictional club owner who gets a life sentence after being wrongfully convicted for drug trafficking. In an attempt to flip the system from the inside, he then earns his law degree and fights to turn over his and others’ sentences.
Why you should watch it: While For Life’s at-times weighty material risks feeling unfit for a network procedural, its truthful and empathetic scripts, its talented ensemble that can carry its weight, and its sterling performance from leading man Nicholas Pinnock as Aaron help it to avoid any pitfalls and keep us ready and waiting for another round. Season 2 premieres Nov. 18 on ABC.
Where to watch: Amazon, FandangoNow, Google Play, Hulu, Vudu
Commitment: Approx. 9 hours (for the first season)
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Animaniacs
(Hulu)
What it is: The water tower–dwelling Warner kids Yakko, Wakko, and Dot are back and, well, even more animaniacal than before! This years-in-the-making reboot brings our favorite characters back together as they wreak havoc on the famed Warner Bros. studio lot and the talented folks that work it. Throw in scheming mastermind mice Pinky and the Brain — all voiced by the original voice actors — and it’s sure to scratch our itch for nostalgia (and a new favorite ’toon for the kids).
Why you should watch it: Produced originally in the 1990s by Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment as part of the WB’s kids lineup, Animaniacs earned a cult following thanks to its wacky characters, its fast-and-loose premise, its celebrity elbow-rubbing, and its humor geared as much to adults as children. The rebooted series drops 13 episodes Nov. 20 on Hulu.
Where to watch: Amazon, Google Play, Hulu, Microsoft
Commitment: Approx. 35 hours (for the first five seasons)
Thumbnail images by Alex Bailey/HBO, ©Warner Brothers courtesy Everett Collection, Liam Daniel/Netflix
