(Photo by Macall B. Polay/HBO)
Eager for warm weather already? Here’s an early look at spring/summer TV that might argue for you to stay indoors.
March | April | May | June | July | August | NEW! Fall 2017
Wednesday, Mar. 1
National Treasure: Season 1 (2016) 100% Hulu
Chicago Justice: Season 1 (2017) 73% 10 p.m., NBC (preview)
Thursday, Mar. 2
60 Days In: Atlanta (2017) 9 p.m., A&E
Friday, Mar. 3
Annedroids: Season 4 (2016) Amazon
Sunday, Mar. 5
Once Upon a Time: Season 6 (2016) 89% 8 p.m., ABC (returning)
Making History: Season 1 (2017) 92% 8:30 p.m., FOX
Chicago Justice: Season 1 (2017) 73% 9 p.m., NBC
The Last Man on Earth: Season 3 (2016) 78% 9:30 p.m., FOX (returning)
The Arrangement: Season 1 (2010) 62% 10 p.m., E!
Feud: Bette and Joan (2017) 90% 10 p.m., FX
Shades of Blue: Season 2 (2017) 10 p.m., NBC
Time After Time: Season 1 (2017) 67% 10 pm., ABC
Breaking Free (2015) 11 p.m., WGN
Trial & Error
Tuesday, Mar. 7
The Americans: Season 5 (2017) 94% 10 p.m., FX
Wednesday, Mar. 8
Designated Survivor: Season 1 (2016) 87% 10 p.m., ABC (returning)
Underground: Season 2 (2017) 100% 10 p.m., WGN
Ripper Street: Season 5 (2016) 100% 11 p.m., BBC America
Thursday, Mar. 9
Kicking & Screaming: Season 1 (2017) 9 p.m., FOX
The Catch: Season 2 (2017) 10 p.m., ABC
Friday, Mar. 10
Buddy Thunderstruck: Season 1 (2017) , Netflix
Hand of God: Season 2 (2017) Amazon
Love: Season 2 (2017) 96% Netflix
Saturday, Mar. 11
Samurai Jack: Season 5 (2017) 100% 11:30 p.m., Cartoon Network
Sunday, Mar. 12
Top Gear: Season 24 (2017) 86% 8 p.m., BBC America
American Crime: Season 3 (2017) 100% 10 p.m., ABC
Monday, Mar. 13
Young & Hungry: Season 5 (2017) 8 p.m., Freeform
Baby Daddy: Season 6 (2017) 8:30 p.m., Freeform
Tuesday, Mar. 14
Trial & Error: Season 1 (2017) 86% 9:30 p.m., NBC
Wednesday, Mar. 15
Greenleaf: Season 2 (2017) 10 p.m., OWN
Hap and Leonard: Mucho Mojo (2017) 10 p.m., Sundance
Thursday, Mar. 16
Shrink: Season 1 (2017) Seeso
Snatch: Season 1 (2017) 39% Crackle
Review: Season 3 (2017) 100% 10 p.m., Comedy Central
Marvel’s Iron Fist
Friday, Mar. 17
The Originals: Season 4 (2017) 100% 8 p.m., The CW
Marvel's Iron Fist: Season 1 (2017) 20% 8 p.m., Netflix
Animals.: Season 2 (2017) 100% 11:30 p.m., HBO
Sunday, Mar. 19
The Circus: Inside the Biggest Story on Earth: Season 2 (2017) 8 p.m., Showtime
Into the Badlands: Season 2 (2017) 100% 10 p.m., AMC
Tuesday, Mar. 21
Cosplay Melee: Season 1 (2017) 10 p.m., SyFy
Upscale With Prentice Penny: Season 1 (2017) 10 p.m., TruTV
Wednesday, Mar. 22
Shots Fired: Season 1 (2017) 84% 8 p.m., FOX
Empire: Season 3 (2016) 87% 9 p.m., FOX (returning)
Rogue: Season 3 (2015) 9 p.m., DirecTV
Ingobernable
Friday, Mar. 24
Grace and Frankie: Season 3 (2017) 100% Netflix
Ingobernable: Season 1 (2017) Netflix (US premiere)
() % 7:30 p.m., DIS
Tuesday, Mar. 28
Rebel: Season 1 (2017) 38% 10 p.m., BET
Wednesday, Mar. 29
Harlots: Season 1 (2017) 92% Hulu
Imaginary Mary: Season 1 (2017) 27% 8:30 p.m., ABC (sneak preview)
Nobodies: Season 1 () 73% 10 p.m., TV Land
Lopez: Season 2 (2017) 10:30 p.m., TV Land
Friday, Mar. 31
13 Reasons Why: Season 1 (2017) 77% Netflix
Five Came Back: Miniseries (2017) 98% Netflix
Robert Klein Still Can't Stop His Leg (2016) 100% 10 p.m., Starz
Sunday, Apr. 2
Call the Midwife: Season 6 (2017) 8 p.m., PBS
Home Fires: Season 2 (2016) 9 p.m., PBS
Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell: Season 3 (2016) 11:30 p.m., Cartoon Network (returning)
Tuesday, Apr. 4
Dimension 404: Season 1 (2017) 80% Hulu
iZombie: Season 3 (2017) 100% 8 p.m., CW
Prison Break: Season 5 (2017) 56% 9 p.m., FOX
Imaginary Mary: Season 1 (2017) 27% 9:30 p.m., ABC
Wednesday, Apr. 5
Archer: Dreamland (2017) 86% 10 p.m., FXX
Brockmire: Season 1 (2017) 94% 10 p.m., IFC
Thursday, Apr, 6
Dark Net: Season 2 (2017) 10 p.m., Showtime
Friday, Apr. 7
American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story: Season 1 (2017) 53% Amazon
The Get Down: Season 1 (2016) 77% Netflix (returning)
The Son
Saturday, Apr. 8
The Son: Season 1 (2017) 52% 9 p.m., AMC
Monday, Apr. 10
Better Call Saul: Season 3 (2017) 98% 10 p.m., AMC
Angie Tribeca: Season 3 (2017) 100% 10:30 p.m., TBS
Tuesday, Apr. 11
Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Season 4 (2016) 100% 8 p.m., FOX (returning)
Wednesday, Apr. 12
Hollywood Darlings: Season 1 () 8 p.m., POP
Return of the Mac: Season 1 (2017) 8:30 p.m., POP
Friday, Apr. 14
Chelsea: Season 2 (2017) Netflix
Fortitude: Season 2 (2017) 91% Amazon
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return: Season 1 (2017) 100% Netflix
Saturday, Apr. 15
Doctor Who: Season 10 (2017) 88% 9 p.m., BBC America
Class: Season 1 (2016) 84% 10 p.m., BBC America
Sunday, Apr. 16
The White Princess: Season 1 (2017) 76% 8 p.m., Starz
Guerrilla: Miniseries (2017) 75% 9 p.m., Showtime
The Leftovers: Season 3 (2017) 99% 9 p.m., HBO
Veep: Season 6 (2017) 94% 10:30 p.m., HBO
Famous in Love
Tuesday, Apr. 18
Pretty Little Liars: Season 7 (2016) 78% 8 p.m., Freeform (returning)
Famous in Love: Season 1 (2017) 60% 9 p.m., Freeform
Wednesday, Apr. 19
Fargo: Season 3 (2017) 93% 10 p.m., FX
Friday, Apr. 21
Bill Nye Saves the World: Season 1 (2017) 75% Netflix
Bosch: Season 3 (2017) 100% Amazon
Girlboss: Season 1 (2017) 35% Netflix
Thunderbirds Are Go: Season 3 (2017) Amazon
Sunday, Apr. 23
El Chapo: Season 1 (2017) 8 p.m., Univision
Silicon Valley: Season 4 (2017) 94% 10 p.m., HBO
Mary Kills People: Season 1 (2017) 100% 10 p.m., Lifetime
Monday, Apr. 24
Gotham: Season 3 (2016) 74% 8 p.m., Fox (returning)
Genius
Tuesday, Apr. 25
Genius: Einstein (2017) 84% 9 p.m., National Geographic
Great News: Season 1 (2017) 76% 9 p.m., NBC
Wednesday, Apr. 26
The Handmaid's Tale: Season 1 (2017) 94% Hulu
Gomorrah: Season 2 (2016) 80% 10 p.m., Sundance
Thursday, Apr. 27
The President Show: Season 1 (2017) 67% 11:30 p.m., Comedy Central
Friday, Apr. 28
Casting JonBenét (2017) 82% Netflix
Dear White People: Season 1 (2017) 95% Netflix
Catastrophe: Season 3 (2017) 100% Amazon
Let It Fall: Los Angeles 1982-1992 (2017) 100% 9 p.m., ABC
American Gods
Sunday, Apr. 30
American Gods: Season 1 (2017) 92% 9 p.m., Starz
Monday, May 1
Lucifer: Season 2 (2016) 100% 9 p.m., Fox (returning)
Friday, May 5
Sense8: Season 2 (2017) 93% Netflix
Monday, May 8
Southern Charm Savannah: Season 1 (2017) 10 p.m., Bravo
Friday, May 12
Anne With an E: Season 1 (2017) 83% Netflix
I Love Dick: Season 1 (2016) 87% Amazon
Master of None: Season 2 (2017) 100% Netflix
Sunday, May 14
Mike Tyson Mysteries: Season 3 (2017) 11:30 p.m., Cartoon Network
Monday, May 15
Decline and Fall: Season 1 (2017) 91% Acorn
Year Million: Season 1 (2017) 9 p.m., Nat Geo
Tuesday, May 16
Born This Way: Season 3 (2017) 9 p.m., A&E
Wednesday, May 17
I Am Heath Ledger (2017) 86% Netflix
Downward Dog: Season 1 (2017) 85% 9:30 ABC
Friday, May 19
The Keepers: Miniseries (2017) 97% Netflix
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Season 3 (2017) 97% Netflix
12 Monkeys: Season 3 (2017) 100% 8 p.m., SyFY
Sunday, May 21
Dark Angel (2017) 9 p.m., PBS
The Return: The Return () 94% 9 p.m., Showtime
Casual
Tuesday, May 23
Casual: Season 3 (2017) 100% Hulu
Wednesday, May 24
Dirty Dancing (2017) 19% 8 p.m., ABC
Love Connection
Thursday, May 25
Love Connection: Season 1 (2017) 8 p.m., FOX
Beat Shazam: Season 1 (2017) 9 p.m., FOX
Friday, May 26
Gap Year: Season 1 (2017) Hulu
Bloodline: Season 3 (2017) 53% Netflix
Monday, May 29
Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath: Season 2 (2017) 9 p.m., A&E
Whose Line is it Anyway?: Season 5 (2017) 9 p.m., CW
Still Star-Crossed: Season 1 (2017) 52% 10 p.m., ABC
Tuesday, May 30
F Is for Family: Season 2 (2017) 89% Netflix
House of Cards: Season 5 (2017) 72% Netflix
Animal Kingdom: Season 2 (2017) 80% 9 p.m., TNT
Fear Factor: Season 1 (2017) 10 p.m., MTV
World of Dance: Season 1 (2017) 10 p.m., NBC
Wednesday, May 31
() % 8 p.m., DirecTV
MasterChef: Season 8 (2017) 8 p.m., FOX
The Carmichael Show: Season 3 (2017) 89% 9 p.m., NBC
The F Word With Gordon Ramsay: Season 1 (2017) 9 p.m., FOX
Thursday, June 1
Nashville: Season 5 (2017) 86% 9 p.m., CMT (returning)
Friday, June 2
Flaked: Season 2 (2017) Netflix
Long Strange Trip: Season 1 (2017) Amazon
Sunday, June 4
Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly: Season 1 (2017) 7 p.m., NBC
Fear the Walking Dead: Season 3 (2017) 84% 9 p.m., AMC
I'm Dying Up Here: Season 1 (2017) 51% 10 p.m., Showtime
Monday, June 5
Shadowhunters: Season 2 (2017) 86% 8 p.m., Freeform (returning)
Stitchers: Season 3 (2017) 9 p.m., Freeform
Wednesday, June 7
Nightcap: Season 2 (2017) 8 p.m., POP
Thursday, June 8
Queen of the South: Season 2 (2017) 10 p.m., USA
Friday, June 9
Orange Is the New Black: Season 5 (2017) 71% Netflix
Dark Matter: Season 3 (2017) 100% 8 p.m., SyFy
Wynonna Earp: Season 2 (2017) 100% 10 p.m., SyFy
Orphan Black
Saturday, June 10
Idiotsitter: Season 2 (2017) 8 p.m., Comedy Central
Orphan Black: Season 5 (2017) 95% 10 p.m., BBC America
Sunday, June 11
American Grit: Season 1 (2016) 63% 9 p.m., FOX
Claws: Season 1 (2017) 82% 9 p.m., TNT
Monday, June 12
So You Think You Can Dance: Season 14 (2017) 8 p.m., FOX
Superhuman: Season 1 (2017) 9 p.m., FOX
Tuesday, June 13
Face Off: Season 12 (2017) 9 p.m., SyFy
Wednesday, June 14
Blood Drive: Season 1 (2017) 76% 10 p.m., SyFy
Thursday, June 15
The Tunnel: Season 2 (2017) 9 p.m., PBS
Friday, June 16
The Ranch: Season 2 (2016) 67% Netflix
Cardinal: Season 1 (2017) 89% Hulu
Sunday, June 18
Grantchester: Season 3 (2017) 9 p.m., PBS
Tuesday, June 20
Queen Sugar: Season 2 (2017) 100% 10 p.m., OWN
Wrecked: Season 2 (2017) 10 p.m., TBS
Thursday, June 22
The Mist: Season 1 (2017) 60% 10 p.m., Spike
The Night Shift: Season 4 (2017) 10 p.m., NBC
Glow
Friday, June 23
Free Reign: Season 1 (2017) Netflix
GLOW: Season 1 (2017) 94% Netflix
Playing House: Season 3 (2017) 100% 11 p.m., USA
Sunday, June 25
Power: Season 4 (2017) Starz
Preacher: Season 2 (2017) 91% 9 p.m., AMC
Prime Suspect: Tennison: Season 1 (2017) 10 p.m., PBS
Wednesday, June 28
Okja (2017) 86% Netflix
Cleverman: Season 2 (2017) 10 p.m., Sundance
Younger: Season 3 (2016) 100% 10 p.m., TV Land
Thursday, June 29
Big Brother Season 19 (2017) 9 p.m., CBS
Zoo: Season 3 (2017) 100% 10 p.m., CBS
Friday, June 30
Gypsy: Season 1 (2017) 40% Netflix
Killjoys: Season 3 (2017) 8 p.m., SyFy
Masters of Illusion: Season 4 (2017) 8 p.m., CW
Wednesday, Jul. 5
Snowfall: Season 1 (2017) 62% FX 10 p.m., FX
Friday, Jul. 7
Degrassi: Next Class: Season 4 (2017) Netflix
Sunday, Jul. 9
Candy Crush: Season 1 (2017) 9 p.m., CBS
The Defiant Ones: Miniseries (2017) 100% 9 p.m., HBO
() 10 p.m., Spike
Monday, Jul. 10
Penn & Teller: Fool Us: Season 4 (2017) 8 p.m., CW
() % 9 p.m., TNT
Tuesday, Jul. 11
The Fosters: Season 5 (2017) 100% 8 p.m., Freeform
The Bold Type: Season 1 (2017) 93%, 9 p.m., Freeform
Still The King: Season 2 (2017) , 10 p.m., CMT
() %, 10:30 p.m., Fuse
Wednesday, Jul. 12
Salvation: Season 1 (2017) 45% 9 p.m., CBS
Suits: Season 7 (2017) 93%, 9 p.m., USA
I'm Sorry: Season 1 (2017) 75% 10 p.m., TruTV
Odd Mom Out: Season 3 (2017) 10 p.m., Bravo
Thursday, Jul. 13
Hooten and the Lady: Miniseries (2016) 75% 9 p.m., CW
, Season , Episode : "" % 8 p.m., ESPN
Friday, Jul. 14
Friends From College: Season 1 (2017) 26% Netflix
Sunday, Jul. 16
Game of Thrones: Season 7 (2017) 93% HBO
The Strain: Season 4 (2017) 100% 10 p.m., FX
Monday, Jul. 17
Loaded: Season 1 (2017) 60% 10 p.m., AMC
Tuesday, Jul. 18
Shooter: Season 2 (2017) 10 p.m., USA
Being Mary Jane: Season 4 (2017) 100% 10 p.m., BET
Friday, Jul. 21
() 8 p.m., ABC, Disney, DXD, Freeform, Lifetime
Last Chance U: EMCC: Part 2 (2017) 100% Netflix
Ozark: Season 1 (2017) 70% Netflix
Raven’s Home (2017) 10 p.m., Disney Channel
Saturday, Jul. 22
Cold Justice: Season 4 (2017) 8 p.m., Oxygen
() % 11 p.m., SyFy
Sunday, Jul. 23
Ballers: Season 3 (2017) 67% 10 p.m., HBO
Insecure: Season 2 (2017) 98% 10:30 p.m., HBO
Phelps vs. Shark: Great Gold vs. Great White (2017) 8 p.m., Discovery
Midnight, Texas
Monday, Jul. 24
Midnight, Texas: Season 1 (2017) 61% 10 p.m., NBC
Somewhere Between: Season 1 (2017) 10 p.m., ABC
People of Earth: Season 2 (2017) 10:30 p.m., TBS
Friday, Jul. 28
The Last Tycoon: Season 1 (2016) 45% Amazon
Room 104: Season 1 (2017) 87% 11:30 p.m., HBO
Sunday, Jul. 30
Top Gear America: Season 1 (2017) 8 p.m., BBC America
Teen Wolf: Season 6 (2016) 83% 8 p.m., MTV
Rick and Morty: Season 3 (2017) 96% Cartoon Network
Tuesday, Aug. 1
Manhunt: Unabomber (2017) 9 p.m., Discovery
Wednesday, Aug. 2
The Lowe Files (2017) 10 p.m., A&E
The Sinner: Season 1 (2017) 90% 10 p.m., USA
Thursday, Aug. 3
The Guest Book: Season 1 (2017) 64% 10 p.m., TBS
What Would Diplo Do? (2017) 10 p.m., Viceland
Sunday, Aug. 6
Sharknado 5: Global Swarming (2017) 30% 8 p.m., Syfy
Ray Donovan: Season 5 (2017) 100% 9 p.m., Showtime
Life of Kylie (2017) 9 p.m., E!
Tuesday, Aug. 8
Difficult People: Season 3 (2017) 100% Hulu
Wednesday, Aug. 9
Mr. Mercedes (2017) 8 p.m., Audience Network
Thursday, Aug. 10
Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update: Season 1 (2017) 9 p.m., NBC
Friday, Aug. 11
Atypical: Season 1 (2017) 74% Netflix
Sunday, Aug. 13
Get Shorty: Season 1 (2017) 78% 10 p.m., Epix
Monday, Aug. 14
Bachelor in Paradise: Season 4 (2017) 33% 8 p.m., ABC
Tuesday, Aug. 15
Greenleaf: Season 2 (2017) 10 p.m., OWN
Wednesday, Aug. 16
Marlon: Season 1 (2017) 50% 9 p.m., NBC
Friday, Aug. 18
Marvel - The Defenders: Season 1 (2017) 78% Netflix
Saturday, Aug. 19
Halt and Catch Fire: Season 4 (2017) 100% 9 p.m., AMC
Sunday, Aug. 20
Endeavour: Season 4 (2017) 9 p.m., PBS
The Last Ship: Season 4 (2017) 9 p.m., TNT
Episodes: Season 5 (2017) 100% 10 p.m., Showtime
Survivor's Remorse: Season 4 (2017) 10 p.m., Starz
Dice: Season 2 (2017) 10:30 p.m., Showtime
Thursday, Aug. 24
Party Boat (2017) Crackle
Friday, Aug. 25
Disjointed: Season 1 (2017) 19% Netflix
The Tick: Season 1 (2016) 90% Amazon
Death Note (2017) 37% Netflix
Sunday, Aug. 27
() 8 p.m., Smithsonian
() 9 p.m., Smithsonian
It’s time again for our weekly countdown of the Fall TV premieres! Here are the best new shows for the week of Friday, November 4, 2016. See how this week’s shows, The Crown, Stan Against Evil, and People of Earth stack up against each other on the Tomatometer!
November’s not only turkey time, but it also marks the start of the holiday shopping season — which means some exciting new titles will be heading to DVD and Blu-ray this month. Check out Rotten Tomatoes picks’ for what to binge-watch in November, whether you’re trying to catch up on a show in time for the next season, looking for a new series to stream over a long weekend, or giving something a try before you re-gift it as a stocking stuffer next month!
What it is: Before he was Saul Goodman, Albuquerque’s shadiest (and funniest) lawyer was Jimmy McGill aka “Slipping Jimmy” (Bob Odenkirk) in AMC’s Breaking Bad prequel.
Why you should watch it: Essential viewing for Breaking Bad fans, Better Call Saul is also a stand-alone drama, engrossing and darkly comic, with knock-out performances by Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks. The complete first season hits DVD on Nov. 10, so you better binge Saul!
Where to watch: All ten episodes of season one are also available on Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, PlayStation Video, Vudu, and Xbox Video.
Commitment: About nine hours.
What it is: Based on a Philip K. Dick novel, this show of the same name tells an alternate history of the Axis Powers winning World War II and the resistance movement growing throughout America in the early 1960s.
Why you should watch it: By executive producer Ridley Scott, The Man in the High Castle is unlike anything else on TV, with an immediately engrossing plot driven by quickly developed characters. Part of Amazon’s fourth “pilot season,” this fully realized post-war dystopia was the best-reviewed show of the lot in 2014.
Where to watch: The complete first season will be available on Amazon Prime on Friday, Nov. 20.
Commitment: 10 hours.
What it is: Comedy Central’s half-hour sketch show features a series of vignettes — many of which feature the comic’s biting feminist commentary — strung together by Schumer’s hilarious woman-on-the-street interviews.
Why you should watch it: Three seasons in, Trainwreck star Schumer is finally a household name, thanks in large part to a handful of sketches that went viral this year, including her parody of 12 Angry Men starring Paul Giamatti and the show’s musical spoof of One Direction’s “You Don’t Know You’re Beautiful.”
Where to watch: All three season are available on Amazon, Google Play, Hulu, iTunes, PlayStation Video, and Vudu. The DVD of season three hits the streets on Nov. 24.
Commitment: 15 hours.
What it is: Based on the award-winning novels by Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall recounts the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn, as observed by Thomas Cromwell during his own ascension within the court of Henry VIII.
Why you should watch it: Mark Rylance‘s performance as Cromwell is enough reason to watch, but Damian Lewis and Claire Foy are also not to be missed. An exceptional supporting cast brings this cutthroat Tudor world to vivid life.
Where to watch: Season one is currently available on Amazon, Google Play, Vudu, and Xbox Video, as well as DVD and Blu-ray. It will also arrive on Amazon Prime on Nov. 11.
Commitment: Six hours.
What it is: Aziz Ansari is the creator of Master of None, a new show on Netflix that is loosely based on his life. We follow Dev as he makes his way in NYC as an actor who, along with his friends, discovers what 30-something means today.
Why you should watch it: For all those that fell in love with Tom Haverford on Parks and Recreation, you will see a more nuanced, intimate kind of Ansari love here. Master of None’s cultural commentary is on-point, the weirdness of today’s romantic struggles are highlighted in all their awkward glory, and the cast is a talented bunch. Binge your hearts out; it’s a funny, sweet, neurotic ride.
Where to watch: Season one will be available on Nov. 6 exclusively on Netflix.
Commitment: Five hours.
What it is: Before Bob Odenkirk and David Cross broke through with Breaking Bad and Arrested Development, respectively, they were the oddball duo behind Mr. Show, an anarchic sketch comedy that blended goofiness and edginess in a way that resembles Chappelle’s Show for the indie rock set.
Why you should watch it: Since W/ Bob & David is premiering on Netflix on Nov. 13, now’s as good a time as any to dive into one of the weirdest programs of the mid to late 1990s. For inspired randomness, absurdist satire, and some of the best segues in television history, you can’t beat Mr. Show. In addition to its leading men, the show served as an incubator for a number of the brightest lights of alt-comedy, including Jack Black, Sarah Silverman, Paul F. Tompkins, and Scott Aukerman.
Where to watch: Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, PlayStation, Vudu, and DVD.
Commitment: 15 hours.
What it is: Starz’s Black Sails is a period drama that follows the trials and triumphs of the most notorious men to sail the seven seas during piracy’s golden age.
Why you should watch it: This prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island offers a grittier take on the usual swashbuckling fare we’ve come to expect from our famous pirates. So you can count on the action to build as the intrigue deepens. With two seasons under its belt, there is already plenty of adventure to be had before Black Sails comes back for a third season in January 2016.
Where to watch: Both seasons are on Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, PlayStation Video, Starz Play (with cable subscription), Vudu, Xbox Video, and Xfinity (with cable subscription), and season two hits DVD and Blu-ray on Nov. 3.
Commitment: 18 hours.
What it is: The adaptation of the UK BBC comedy series of the same name showcases the careers and personal lives of doctors and nurses in a Long Beach hospital extended-care wing.
Why you should watch it: Folks who like their brilliant slapstick comedy to suddenly jolt you with empathy and smash your heart against the wall — and watch it slither to the floor where it gets rolled over by a squeaky, old wheelchair occupied by a vibrant but terminally-ill senior citizen who screams something naughty as she begins to dance naked in the hallways of the hospital wing, bringing you to tears of laughter once again — will love Getting On.
Where to watch: Season three premieres Nov. 8 at 10 p.m. on HBO. The first two seasons are streaming on Amazon, Google Play, HBO Go (with subscription), iTunes, Playstation Video, Vudu, and Xfinity (with cable subscription).
Commitment: Six hours.
What it is: In this animated series, Mike Tyson (voiced by Tyson himself) embarks on a series of hilarious investigations with his adopted Korean daughter, an irritable ghost, and a vulgar talking pigeon in tow. Their shenanigans take them everywhere from Cormac McCarthy’s ranch to outer space.
Why you should watch it: Mike Tyson appears to have embraced his newly reformed public persona as a big, unpredictable teddy bear with a knack for self-parody and just a touch of insanity. Mike Tyson Mysteries takes full advantage of this, and the result is an absurd comedy that alternates between high concept Scooby-Doo-esque hijinks and upended sitcom tropes. In other words, if you’re an Adult Swim fan, this will fit right into your schedule, and since the second season premieres on Sunday, it’s the perfect time to catch up.
Where to watch: The Adult Swim website has the first four episodes and the season finale of season one available to watch, and you can get the rest on Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, or Vudu. You can also purchase the first season (uncensored) on DVD.
Commitment: Each episode is only 11 or 12 minutes long, so you should be able to finish the whole season in two hours.
What it is: In this touching British comedy-drama, Derek Jacobi and Anne Reid play school-day sweethearts who fall in love 60 years later, after the spouses of each have passed.
Why you should watch it: It’s a series about maturation, relationships, mistakes, forgiveness, and the metamorphoses that accompany such change, for those directly involved and for their often dysfunctional families. Influenced by writer Sally Wainwright’s mother’s second marriage, the life-changing events play out fervidly with understated realism. In a time when sensationalism and special effects can dominate the airwaves, Halifax brings an invigorating genuineness to relationships with subtle profundity.
Where to watch: Seasons one through three two are available on Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, and Vudu. Seasons one and two are also on Netflix.
Commitment: 18 hours.
