David Farnor | On 03, Jan 2021

Netflix. Amazon Prime Video. BBC iPlayer. NOW. Walter Presents. Apple TV+. There’s so much TV to watch these days in so many places that it can be hard to keep up. Every month, we boil down what’s on the box to the essentials you need in your streaming queue.

With the month ahead mostly unfolding indoors for many, the TV is not only useful for breaking up the days and nights but also for escaping from reality for a few hours at a time. January brings some highly bingeable options, including the return of Cobra Kai and Staged, plus the debut of Stephen King’s new thriller and Apple TV+ hits Servant and Dickinson.

We’ve sorted through All The TV to bring you your November watchlist – what’s worth watching and where you can find it online in the UK:

Cobra Kai: Season 3

The unlikely hit sequel to The Karate Kid returns, taking place 30 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament with the continuation of the inescapable conflict between Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka). Season 3 sees everyone reeling in the aftermath of the violent high school brawl between their dojos, which has left Miguel in a precarious condition. While Daniel searches for answers in his past and Johnny seeks redemption, Kreese further manipulates his vulnerable students with his own vision of dominance. The soul of the Valley is at stake, and the fate of every student and sensei hangs in the balance.

The Serpent

Inspired by real events, The Serpent tells the remarkable story of how the conman and murderer Charles Sobhraj (Tahar Rahim) was brought to justice. Posing as a gem dealer, Sobhraj and his girlfriend Marie-Andrée Leclerc (Jenna Coleman) travelled across Thailand, Nepal and India in 1975 and 1976, carrying out a spree of crimes on the Asian ‘Hippie Trail’ and becoming the chief suspects in a series of murders of young Western travellers.

Doctor Who: Revolution of the Daleks

The seasonal special will see the return of one of the Doctor’s biggest and most feared enemies, as The Doctor is locked away in a high-security alien prison. Isolated, alone, with no hope of escape, she is far from her best friends, Yaz, Ryan and Graham, who have to pick up their lives on Earth without her. But it’s not easy. Old habits die hard. Especially when they discover a disturbing plan forming. A plan which involves a Dalek. How can you fight a Dalek, without the Doctor?Enter John Barrowman, who reprises his role of Captain Jack after appearing in Fugitive of the Judoon in Season 12.

A Perfect Planet

Presented by David Attenborough, this five-part series will show how the forces of nature drive, shape and support Earth’s great diversity of wildlife.

A Teacher

English teacher Claire Wilson arrives for her first term at Westerbrook High quietly but full of enthusiasm. Dissatisfied in her marriage and seemingly unable to discuss it with husband Matt, she finds herself attracted to Eric Walker, one of her students, and considers an inappropriate relationship that could have crushing consequences for them both.

The Stand

The Stand is Stephen King’s apocalyptic vision of a world decimated by plague and embroiled in an elemental struggle between good and evil. The fate of mankind rests on the frail shoulders of the 108-year-old Mother Abagail (Whoopi Goldberg) and a handful of survivors. Their worst nightmares are embodied in a man with a lethal smile and unspeakable powers: Randall Flagg (Alexander Skarsgård), the Dark Man.

The Great New Year Bake Off

The second Bake Off special for the festive season is hosted by Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas, with Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood judging. Competing to impress them will be Helena Garcia and Henry Bird from the 2019 season, alongside 2014 winner Nancy Birtwhistle and 2018 winner Rahul Mandal.

The Great: Season 1

The Favourite writer Tony McNamara creates another satirical royal gem with this comedy about the rise of Catherine the Great – from outsider to the longest reigning female ruler in Russia’s history. With a cast that includes Elle Fanning, Nicholas Hoult, Phoebe Fox, Adam Godley and Sacha Dhawan, who needs historical facts?

Staged: Season 2

The lockdown comedy returns as Michael Sheen and David Tennant play semi-fictional versions of themselves as they tried to adjust to life following the coronavirus outbreak. Season 2 sees the pair attempt to navigate their new normal at home with their increasingly exasperated families while simultaneously trying to tackle the world of virtual Hollywood and their ever more fragile egos.

Traces: Season 1

The six-part series, set in Dundee, stars Molly Windsor, Laura Fraser, Jennifer Spence and Martin Compston. It follows Emma Hedges (Molly Windsor), who returns to Dundee to start her new job as a lab technician and is encouraged to take part in an online course teaching the principles of forensic science. Given a fictitious murder case, her task is to identify the victim and establish how they died. But having completed the first module, Emma knows exactly who the victim is: her mum. Marie Monroe (Carly Anderson) was murdered when Emma was seven, her body discovered on Law Hill and no-one has ever been convicted. But why are Sarah Gordon (Laura Fraser), professor of chemistry, and Kathy Torrence (Jennifer Spence), professor of forensic anthropology, using her mother’s case for their course?

History of Swear Words: Season 1

This six-part series will feature Nic Cage alongside linguists and cognitive scientists, plus celebrity guests including London Hughes, Jim Jefferies, Nick Offerman, Sarah Silverman and Isiah Whitlock Jr. Produced by Funny or Die and Industrial Media’s B17 Entertainment, with Bellamie Blackstone on board as showrunner, it aims to explain the history and impact of some of the most notorious bad words in the English language.

A Discovery of Witches: Season 2

Dark times are coming in the second season of the hit supernatural Sky Original drama. Adapted from Deborah Harkness’ bestselling All Souls trilogy and set in a world where witches, vampires and daemons secretly live and work alongside humans, we join the second series as reluctant witch Diana Bishop and vampire Matthew Clairmont seek refuge in the fascinating and treacherous world of Elizabethan London. There, they must find a powerful witch to help Diana control her magic and search for the elusive Book of Life. Matthew Goode and Teresa Palmer are joined in the new season by Tom Hughes, Steven Cree, Sheila Hancock, James Purefoy and Paul Rhys.

Lupin: Part 1

Inspired by the adventures of Arsène Lupin, gentleman thief Assane Diop sets out to avenge his father for an injustice inflicted by a wealthy family.

Dickinson: Season 2

Created and written by Alena Smith who executive produces with star Hailee Steinfeld, this half-hour comedy series explores the constraints of society, gender, and family from the perspective of rebellious young poet Emily Dickinson. Steinfeld plays Dickinson, alongside returning co-stars Jane Krakowski, Toby Huss, Anna Baryshnikov, Ella Hunt and Adrian Blake Enscoe, plus Wiz Khalifa guest starring as Death. The second season will also introduce brand new guest stars, including Nick Kroll as Edgar Allan Poe. The first three episodes land at once, followed by new episodes weekly.

The Pembrokeshire Murders

Luke Evans stars in this new three-part true crime drama, which tracks the Dyfed Powys police force as they work to solve two unsolved double murders from the 1980s. In 2006, newly promoted Detective Superintendent Steve Wilkins decided to reopen both cases. Employing pioneering forensic methods, Wilkins and his handpicked team found microscopic DNA and fibres that potentially linked the murders to a string of burglaries. Adapted from the true crime book Catching the Bullseye Killer, it’s directed by directed by Marc Evans (Manhunt, Safe House). Episodes air nightly.

American Gods: Season 3

American Gods is the epic story of an inevitable war building between the Old Gods of mythology and our New Gods of technology. Ricky Whittle stars as ex-con Shadow Moon, a man pulled into the service of the mysterious Mr. Wednesday, played by Ian McShane — only to discover that not only is his charismatic but un-trustable boss actually the Norse All-Father god Odin, he’s also… Shadow’s father. In Season 3, Shadow angrily pushes this apparent destiny away, and settles in the idyllic snowy town of Lakeside, Wisconsin — to make his own path, guided by the gods of his black ancestors, the Orishas. However, he’ll soon discover that this town’s still waters run deep, and dark, and bloody, and that you don’t get to simply reject being a god. The only choice — and a choice you have to make — is what kind of god you’re going to be.

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK: Season 2

Over the course of 10 weeks, 12 of the country’s most fabulous drag queens will once again compete to be crowned the UK’s next Drag Race Superstar. Actress and fashion icon Elizabeth Hurley joins Michelle Visage and Graham Norton on the judging panel for Episode 1.

Disenchantment: Part 3

Matt Groening’s animated comedy fantasy series, set in the crumbling medieval kingdom of Dreamland, follows the misadventures of the hard-drinking young princess, her feisty elf companion, Elfo, and her personal demon, Luci. Along the way, the oddball trio encounter ogres, sprites, harpies, imps, trolls, walruses, and lots of human fools.

WandaVision

Starring Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany, WandaVision marks the first series from Marvel Studios streaming exclusively on Disney+. The series is a blend of classic television and the Marvel Cinematic Universe in which Wanda Maximoff and Vision – two super-powered beings living idealised suburban lives – begin to suspect that everything is not as it seems…

Servant: Season 2

Written and created by Tony Basgallop and exec-produced and directed by M Night Shyamalan, this psychological thriller follows a Philadelphia couple in mourning after an unspeakable tragedy creates a rift in their marriage and opens the door for a mysterious force to enter their home. Lauren Ambrose stars as Dorothy, a mother who hires a young nanny to help care for their newborn child. Toby Kebbell co-stars as her husband, Sean, and Nell Tiger Free stars as Leanne, the nanny. Rupert Grint also stars as Dorothy’s younger brother, Julian. Season 2 immerses us back in a family divided by belief, by loss, by suspicion and by where they draw the line of how far is too far. Episodes arrive weekly.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion

30 years later, we’re bringing the Banks family back together. Join Will Smith and his former co-stars for a funny and heartfelt night full of music and dancing in honour of the show that ran for six seasons and 148 episodes. All those episodes will also be available on-demand as a box set from 1st January 2021.

Finding Alice

Keeley Hawes stars in this six-part blackly comic drama, which follows Alice as she struggles with the loss of her husband Harry. His accidental sudden death kicks up a storm of secrets and mess, debt, suspicion and criminality which Alice is forced to confront in order to survive. Written by Roger Goldby and Simon Nye (The Durrells).

Bulletproof: South Africa

Noel Clarke and Ashley Walters return as Bishop and Pike for a special three-part outing for the wisecracking London cops. Having spent two seasons bringing the series’ trademark cinematic action to the streets of London, this time the boys are heading overseas to dive deep undercover in a brand new case.

The Bay: Season 2

Morven Christie returns to Morecambe Bay for Season 2 of ITV’s hit crime drama. It begins with Lisa Armstrong at a low ebb: forced to do menial police work whilst she watches Med go from strength to strength. But a new case involving a shocking murder within a loving family brings Lisa unexpectedly back into the front line. She must get under the skin of a new family and prove her worth; to her colleagues, to her family and to herself.

Riverdale: Season 5

The CW’s teen drama returns for a fifth outing, which begin with its characters’ final days as students at Riverdale High.

Back: Season 2

The sitcom from Simon Blackwell (Veep, In The Loop, Peep Show), starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb, finally returns for a second season. The comedy follows Stephen (Mitchell) as he tries to follow in his recently deceased father’s footsteps and take over the family business, but his plans are foiled by the unexpected return of his estranged foster brother, Andrew (Webb). Expect things to get funnier – and much darker. Catch up with our review of Season 1 here

Call My Agent! Season 4

This French comedy about a talent agency is uproariously funny, thanks to its amusing array of characters, sharply written dialogue and rapid pacing. Celebrity cameos by everyone from Juliette Binoche to Isabelle Huppert are a bonus.

Fate: The Winx Saga: Season 1

Fate: The Winx Saga follows the coming-of-age journey of five fairies attending Alfea, a magical boarding school in the Otherworld where they must learn to master their magical powers while navigating love, rivalries, and the monsters that threaten their very existence.

It’s a Sin

Russell T Davies’ new series follows the story of the 1980s, the story of AIDS, and charts the joy and heartbreak of a group of friends across a decade in which everything changed. Olly Alexander leads a cast which also features Keeley Hawes, Stephen Fry, Neil Patrick Harris, Tracy Ann Oberman, Shaun Dooley, Omari Douglas, Callum Scott Howells, Nathaniel Curtis and Lydia West.

Star Trek: Lower Decks

Developed by Emmy Award-winner Mike McMahan (Rick and Morty, Solar Opposites), Star Trek: Lower Decks focuses on the support crew serving on one of Starfleet’s least important ships, the U.S.S. Cerritos, in 2380. Ensigns Mariner, Boimler, Rutherford and Tendi have to keep up with their duties and their social lives, often while the ship is being rocked by a multitude of sci-fi anomalies.

Jurassic Park: Camp Cretaceous: Season 2

Set within the same timeline as the Jurassic World film franchise, the animated series follows a group of six teenagers chosen for a once-in-a-lifetime experience at a new adventure camp on the opposite side of the familiar island. But when dinosaurs wreak havoc across the island, the campers are stranded. Unable to reach the outside world, they’ll need to go from strangers to friends to family if they’re going to survive. Season 2 picks up as the stranded campers struggle to survive on Isla Nublar, with the stakes getting higher and higher.

Losing Alice

This psychological thriller follows Alice (played by Ayelet Zurer), a 48-year-old female film director, who feels irrelevant since raising her family. After a brief encounter on the train, she becomes obsessed with a 24-year-old screenwriter femme fatale, Sophie (played by Lihi Kornowski), and eventually surrenders her moral integrity in order to achieve power, relevance and success. An Israeli co-production, it uses flashbacks and flash-forwards to take the viewer through Alice’s conscious and subconscious.

The Investigation

From A Hijacking and Mindhunter director Tobias Lindholm, this six-part drama follows the complex investigation carried out by Jens Møller, the Head of Homicide for the Copenhagen Police, surrounding the murder of Swedish journalist Kim Wall in 2017. The series follows the methodical, unusual and technical work that enabled them to solve the murder. It is being made in close cooperation with Jens Møller and Kim Wall’s parents, Ingrid and Joachim Wall. All episodes arrive at once.

Euphoria: Special Episode 2

In the aftermath of being left by Jules at the train station and relapsing, the first special episode of Euphoria followed Rue (Zendaya) as she celebrated Christmas. This second special episode, directed by Sam Levinson, follows Jules over the Christmas holiday as she reflects on the year.

Snowpiercer: Season 2

This sci-fi series, based on the 2013 movie by Bong Joon-ho, takes place seven years after the world has become a frozen wasteland, with all remaining life lives aboard the massive titular train. 1,001 cars long, the Snowpiercer circles the globe endlessly, divided into classes, with the rich elites up front and impoverished “tailies” in the back. Snowpiercer tells the story of what happens when those who have been oppressed their whole lives decide to resist, rise up and revolt.

Dead Pixels: Season 2

E4’s gaming comedy boots up once again, as Meg, Nicky and Usman await a new instalment of Kingdom Scrolls. But their excitement is quickly quashed when they discover that the game they love so much has been commercialised and overrun by a younger generation of players. Meg starts to wonder whether it’s time for her to grow up and move on, Usman goes to increasing extremes to hide his gaming from his wife and Nicky falls for a girl online who he invites to come and stay – which definitely doesn’t cause any issues between him and Meg, because they definitely don’t have feelings for each other. All episodes are released at once on All 4.

Marcella: Season 3

The crime drama, starring Anna Friel, returns for a third run. The eight new episodes focus upon Marcella’s new life in Belfast as an undercover detective. She has taken on the identity of Keira and has infiltrated the infamous Maguire family, but as she investigates their activities, questions come to the fore about how much she has embraced Keira’s persona and personality and left Marcella behind. Will her old life eventually catch up with her? Amanda Burton, Hugo Speer and Ray Panthaki co-star. All episodes will be released on ITV Hub alongside Episode 1.

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