Want to know what to watch tonight and the rest of the week? Before the big feast, a buffet of new shows arrives on Netflix, Hulu and other major streaming services, as well as broadcast and cable TV.
This week’s new TV shows include the Fargo season 5 premiere, reality game show Squid Game: The Challenge (based on the hit Korean drama) and holiday adaptation The Velveteen Rabbit. Plus, Doctor Who: The Star Beast brings back David Tennant as the Time Lord – but with a twist.
Here’s our guide to the new TV shows to watch this week.
Fargo Season 5 (FX)
After a very long hiatus of three years, the crime anthology is finally back. And as always, creator Noah Hawley has brought together a stellar cast: Jon Hamm, Juno Temple, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Joe Keery and Lamorne Morris, among others. The latest installment is set in Minnesota and North Dakota in 2019. An unexpected series of events lands Dot (Temple) in hot water with the authorities, leading the seemingly typical Midwestern housewife back to the life she thought she left behind.
Premieres Tuesday, November 21 at 10PM ET/PT on FX (via). sling Or fubo,
Episodes will stream the next day Hulu
Mike Birbiglia: The Old Man and the Pool (Netflix)
Talk about long breaks – it’s been four years since comedian Mike Birbiglia’s last special, The New One. Not so new anymore, because he finally presents a New New guy, old guy and the pool. Tight 85 sees Birbiglia as top story teller as he tackles life’s big questions: Why are we here? What will happen next? And how much chlorine are they putting in the YMCA pool?
Premieres Tuesday, November 21 at 3:01am ET on Netflix
Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas (Apple TV Plus)
Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham got a brief opportunity to use her beautiful voice on that show. Now, she’s got a whole showcase where she can perform favorite Christmas classics to tie into the season. Waddingham was joined by co-stars Phil Dunster (Jamie), Leslie Odom Jr. and Luke Evans, among others, for the special, recorded live at The Coliseum in London. Oh, and Juno Temple is also able to leave the criminal underworld of the Midwest to make an appearance.
Premieres Wednesday, November 22 at 12:01am ET apple tv plus
The Velveteen Rabbit (Apple TV Plus)
Margery Williams’ beloved classic children’s book comes back to life in this new screen adaptation, which is part live-action and part animation. When 7-year-old William (Phoenix LaRoche) gets a new favorite toy for Christmas, he gains a lifelong friend and a world of magic opens up. The voice cast includes Alex Lawther (Andor) as the Velveteen Rabbit, Helena Bonham Carter (The Crown) as the Wise Horse, and Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton) as the Playroom Fairy.
Premieres Wednesday, November 22 at 12:01am ET apple tv plus
Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix)
While we wait for Squid Game Season 2, Netflix is competing in real life — all the games seen in the hit Korean drama and a big cash prize, but no death (wow). A game show version of the Squid Game pitted 456 players against each other and won $4.56 million. Like the fantasy series, they will encounter a series of childhood games, including Red Light, Green Light, overseen by the famous animatronic doll, Young-hee. Alliances will be formed and betrayals will occur along the way.
Premieres Wednesday, November 22 at 3:01am ET Netflix
Doctor Who: The Star Beast
To celebrate its 60th anniversary, Doctor Who is bringing back one of its most iconic Doctors: David Tennant. He will star in three special films as the 14th incarnation of the Doctor (not his previous 10th Doctor), with Catherine Tate returning as companion Donna Noble. The first special, Star Beast, finds the Doctor trapped in a battle to the death after a spaceship crashes in London and the ensuing battle wreaks havoc.
Premieres Saturday, November 25 at 3:01am ET disney plus
far ascent
Baz Luhrmann was assigned to direct his 2008 film Australia, which flopped at the box office. The director revisited his footage and came up with a six-chapter miniseries. The sweeping romance follows English aristocrat Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman) as she travels to the Australian outback to force her stubborn husband to sell their struggling million-acre cattle farm. But when he is killed, she enlists the help of a rough cattle driver (Hugh Jackman) to protect the farm. The story is told from the perspective of a young indigenous child named Nullah (Brandon Walters), whom Sarah takes under her wing.
Premieres Sunday, November 26 at 12:01am ET Hulu