So many options, so little time. With a slew of returning TV series, including Abbott Elementary, The White Lotus, and The Crown, and Yellowstone coming back in November, we know your allotted watching time is precious. Here’s a synopsis of what to watch this fall (or binge, should that be your preferred method).
American Gigolo
With his mother’s encouragement, Julian “Johnny” Kaye, played by Jon Bernthal, became an escort at a young age. However, his career was put on pause when one of his clients was murdered, and he was wrongfully accused of the crime. A death-bed confession from the real murderer clears his name, and he is released from prison, only to return to life as an escort. Kaye’s sexcapades, tension with his true love (played by Gretchen Mol), flashbacks to life before prison, and the question of who framed him thread through each episode. And… we have another flawed hero to root for.
Watch: Fridays on Showtime
Fakes
Fakes follows the story — or rather stories, depending on whose version we’re getting — of two teens in Vancouver, Canada, who made and sold fake IDs until they were caught and imprisoned. The two leads, Jennifer Tong and Emilija Baranac, play off each other well, and the show’s fast pace means you won’t spend too much time digging deeper into the plot than you need to.
Watch: Streaming now on Netflix
A Friend of the Family
You might find yourself shouting at the screen to urge the Broberg parents to wake up before their daughter is kidnapped (twice!) by a creepy family friend. The music, the ‘70s-era costumes and sets, and kidnapper Robert Berchtold’s eyes (played by Jake Lacy) will all make you feel uneasy. But this limited, nine-episode series, based on the Broberg’s actual hellish experience, is worth the discomfort, if just to give the story a fresh look through the parents’ eyes.
Watch: Streaming now on Peacock
Gutsy
Watch the trailer, and you’ll hear Hillary Clinton’s recognizable voice narrate: “We’re hitting the road to shine a light on women who inspire us to be bolder and braver.” Clinton and her daughter, Chelsea, introduce us to a cornucopia of famous faces, including Amy Schumer, Goldie Hawn, Mariska Hargitay, Megan Thee Stallion, Kim Kardashian, and Gloria Steinem. Does Gutsy dive deep into the issues that these women strongly believe in? Not really, but we enjoy seeing these women on screen who have pushed upstream to make their voices heard.
Watch: Streaming now on AppleTV
Interview with the Vampire
Unlike the 1994 movie, there’s no Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, or Kirsten Dunst. But what this series does offer is plenty: Set in 1910 New Orleans, it has a big-budget feel with elaborate sets and beautiful costumes; sharp acting from leads Sam Reid, Jacob Anderson, and Bailey Bass (Lestat, Louis, and Claudia, respectively), who play a vampire family of sorts; and a more in-depth look at the story of Lestat and the whole of Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles series.
Watch: Streaming now on AMC
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
If you’re a JRR Tolkien fan and can’t get enough of all things The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, then you’ve likely already tuned in to this fall frontrunner. But, for those who haven’t yet indulged, give it a try. There’s plenty to take away from the most expensive TV show ever made — magnificent sets (it was filmed in New Zealand, following the footsteps of the Rings and Hobbit movies); a beautiful musical score; and, of course, a fantasy-filled story about the rise of the dark lord Sauron, how the rings were forged and the friendship that existed between elves and humanity, with a bevy of mythical creatures thrown in for good measure.
Watch: Streaming now on Prime Video
Magpie Murders
Spirited book editor, Susan Ryeland (Lesley Manville), is on the hunt for the missing last chapter of the whodunnit novel that will save the publishing company she works for (and may run). But while she goes hunting down the chapter, she ends up also hunting down a murderer. There are flashbacks to the 1950s, when the whodunnit is placed, but don’t worry, it’s not confusing—it only serves to elucidate the mystery.
Watch: Sundays on PBS
The Midnight Club
Based on the Christopher Pike novel of the same name, this story follows a group of youngsters with terminal illnesses living together. They make a pact that whoever among them dies will try to contact them from the beyond. After the first one dies, sure enough, strange things start to happen. If you have a Stranger Things void in your life, this may be the show to fill it.
Watch: Streaming now on Netflix
Monarch
Come for the cast — Susan Sarandon, Anna Friel, Beth Ditto, Trace Adkins — and stay for the drama. The Roman family is the reigning first family of country music, and when it looks like it’s the end of the road for its matriarch, the fight for who will be the heir ensues. The singing, riches, and costumes play enjoyable supporting roles. Is it the most original, cliche-free series? Nope. Is it entertaining? Yes.
Watch: Sundays on Fox.
Reasonable Doubt
It’s hard to talk about this new drama without mentioning Kerry Washington, who serves as executive producer, because its lead, Jax Stewart (powerfully played by Emayatzy Corinealdi), is another sassy-meets-sexy power player in the vein of Olivia Pope, but here she’s a high-powered defense attorney. And if watching this fierce female juggle marriage, children, and career aren’t enough, tune in for the wardrobe courtesy of costume designer Derica Cole Washington.
Watch: Streaming now on Hulu
Reboot
Definitely, the strongest comedy series debuting this fall, Reboot brings in some comedy powerhouses from the past, including Paul Reiser (Mad About You), Keegan-Michael Key (Key and Peele), and Johnny Knoxville (Jackass), and pairs them with some fresher faces like Krista Marie Yu and Rachel Bloom. The story follows the revival of a fictional early-2000s sitcom, Step Right Up, giving it a 2020s makeover, poking fun at society in the best ways.
Watch: Streaming now on Hulu
Star Wars: Andor
This latest title in the vast Star Wars franchise focuses on Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), who was introduced as a rebel leader in the movie Rogue One. However, Andor takes place four years before, so it’s a prequel of sorts, giving us the backstory of what drove Andor to funnel his anger into fighting the Galactic Empire. In each of the 12 episodes, expect epic fight scenes, questionable loyalties, and familiar faces from Star Wars’ past.
Watch: Streaming on Disney+ with new episodes added weekly through Nov. 23.
Wednesday
The iconic daughter of the Addams family is getting the spotlight in this new series, directed by quirky maestro Tim Burton. Jenna Ortega takes on the titular role with her signature long black braids. We see Wednesday get expelled from traditional schools until her parents (played by Catherine Zeta-Jones and Luis Guzman) enroll her at Nevermore Academy, where she will encounter a more like-minded student body. A murder case and the burgeoning of Wednesday’s psychic ability also fill the 12-episode series.
Watch: Streaming on Netflix beginning Nov. 23
Willow
This series picks up 20 years after the 1988 movie of the same name, with Warwick Davis returning in the title role. (You can see the original film on Disney+.) Like in the first film, Willow is asked to step away from life as a farmer to defeat evil again in this fantasy adventure. If you enjoy escaping into a mythical realm with a bit of romance and humor, you’ll enjoy what Willow has to offer.
Watch: Streaming on Disney+ beginning Nov. 30.
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