Internationally recognised art and literary critic, writer and cultural producer. Published in ELLE, Glamour, Esquire and Cosmopolitan; member of the Union of Writers.
The holiday season is upon us, and what better way to spend it than curled up on the couch with some hot chocolate and a good TV show? Whether you’re looking for action, romance, comedy, or drama, there’s something for everyone on the small screen this December. Here are 10 of the best TV shows to watch this month, and why you should tune in.
Reacher (Prime Video) Fans of Jack Reacher, the iconic hero of Lee Child’s best-selling novels, will be thrilled to see him come to life on Prime Video in a new series starring Alan Ritchson. The show follows Reacher as he travels across America, using his skills and instincts to solve crimes and fight injustice. Ritchson, who is 6’4″ and 235 pounds, fits the physical description of Reacher better than Tom Cruise, who played him in two movies. The first season adapts the first book in the series, Killing Floor, which introduces Reacher as a drifter who gets involved in a murder mystery in a small Georgia town.
The Crown (Netflix) The Crown, the critically acclaimed Netflix series that chronicles the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, returns for its sixth and final season. The show covers the period from 1990 to 2003, a turbulent time for the monarchy and the country, marked by scandals, tragedies, and political changes. Imelda Staunton takes over the role of the Queen from Olivia Colman, while Jonathan Pryce plays Prince Philip, Lesley Manville plays Princess Margaret, and Elizabeth Debicki plays Princess Diana. The season will also introduce Dominic West as Prince Charles, Jonny Lee Miller as Prime Minister John Major, and Claudia Harrison as Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Disney+) Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the popular book series by Rick Riordan, gets a fresh adaptation on Disney+, with the author’s involvement and approval. The series follows Percy Jackson, a 12-year-old boy who discovers he is a demigod, the son of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. Along with his friends Annabeth and Grover, he embarks on a quest to find Zeus’ lightning bolt, which has been stolen, and prevent a war among the gods. The series promises to be faithful to the books, unlike the previous movies, and to appeal to both young and old fans of the fantasy genre.
The Witcher: Blood Origin (Netflix) The Witcher: Blood Origin is a prequel to the hit fantasy series The Witcher, which stars Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter in a medieval world. The prequel, set 1,200 years before Geralt’s story, explores the origins of the witchers, the elves, and the conjunction of the spheres, the event that brought magic and monsters to the world. The show stars Michelle Yeoh as Scían, a warrior elf who is the last of her nomadic tribe, and Laurence O’Fuarain as Fjall, a human warrior who bears a deep scar. The show will also feature the first witcher, a mysterious character who will be revealed later.
The Gilded Age (HBO) The Gilded Age is a lavish period drama from the creator of Downton Abbey, Julian Fellowes, set in 1880s New York, where a young woman named Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) tries to navigate the high society of the newly rich. Marian, who was raised by her aunt in Pennsylvania, inherits a fortune from her father and moves to New York with her free-spirited sister. There, she meets the Astors, the Vanderbilts, and other powerful families, who are eager to welcome or snub her, depending on their interests. The show features an ensemble cast that includes Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector, and Denée Benton.
The Wheel of Time (Prime Video) The Wheel of Time is an epic fantasy series based on the books by Robert Jordan, which span 14 volumes and over 4,000 pages. The series follows Moiraine (Rosamund Pike), a member of the Aes Sedai, a powerful organization of women who can channel magic. She leads a group of five young people, one of whom is prophesied to be the Dragon Reborn, the savior or destroyer of the world. The series features a rich and diverse world, with different cultures, races, and religions, and a complex magic system.
Succession (HBO) Succession, the Emmy-winning drama series that satirizes the media and business world, returns for its third season. The show follows the Roy family, the owners of Waystar Royco, a global media and entertainment conglomerate. The season picks up after the explosive finale of season two, where Kendall Roy (Jeremy Strong) betrayed his father Logan Roy (Brian Cox), the patriarch and CEO of the company, by exposing his involvement in a cover-up of a cruise ship scandal. The season will explore the aftermath of Kendall’s move, and the power struggle among the Roy siblings and their allies.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video) The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, the comedy series that won multiple Golden Globes and Emmys, returns for its fourth season. The show follows Miriam “Midge” Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan), a Jewish housewife in 1950s New York, who discovers her talent for stand-up comedy after her husband leaves her. The season will continue Midge’s journey as a rising star in the comedy scene, as well as her complicated relationship with her manager Susie (Alex Borstein), her ex-husband Joel (Michael Zegen), and her new love interest Shy Baldwin (Leroy McClain).
The Book of Boba Fett (Disney+) The Book of Boba Fett is a spin-off series from The Mandalorian, the Star Wars live-action series that introduced the world to Baby Yoda. The show focuses on Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison), the legendary bounty hunter who was last seen escaping from the Sarlacc pit in Return of the Jedi. The show will explore his adventures in the galaxy, along with his partner Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen), as they take over the throne of Jabba the Hutt on Tatooine. The show will also feature appearances from other Star Wars characters, such as Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), the Mandalorian himself.
Station Eleven (HBO Max) Station Eleven is a post-apocalyptic drama series based on the novel by Emily St. John Mandel, which won the Arthur C. Clarke Award. The show follows a group of survivors of a global pandemic that wipes out most of the human population. The show alternates between the present, where the survivors form a traveling symphony and theater troupe, and the past, where they witness the collapse of civilization. The show stars Mackenzie
