Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
To ‘Valhalla’: Netflix’s ‘Vikings’ sequel returns
WHAT’S NEW ON NETFLIX
“Vikings: Valhalla” - Season 2
Set sail for another adventure when the hit historical drama “Vikings: Valhalla” returns to Netflix with its second season Thursday, Jan. 12. A spinoff of History Channel’s flagship series, “Vikings,” “Valhalla” continues the story 100 years after “Vikings” concluded. Set in the early 11th century, the series chronicles the heroic adventures of some of the most famous Vikings who ever lived — including the legendary explorer Leif Eriksson (Sam Corlett. “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina”), his fiery and headstrong sister Freydis Eriksdotter (Frida Gustavsson, “The Witcher”), and the ambitious Nordic prince Harald Sigurdsson (Leo Suter, “Sanditon”). Season 2 finds the heroes shortly after the tragic fall of Kattegat, an event that has shattered their dreams and altered their destinies. They are forced to test their ambitions and courage in worlds beyond the ones they know when they suddenly find themselves living as fugitives in Scandinavia. Based on the original “Vikings” series created by Michael Hirst, “Valhalla” is created by Jeb Stuart (“Die Hard,” 1988), co-written by Vanessa Alexander (“The Great”), Declan Croghan (“The Body Farm”) and Eoin McNamee (“The Gift,” 2014) and directed by David Frazee (“Flashpoint”). Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson (“Alpha,” 2018) also returns to star.
WHAT’S NEW ON PRIME
“Hunters” - Season 2
The story of New York’s intrepid hunters comes to a close with the saga’s second and final season, premiering Friday, Jan. 13, on Prime. Al Pacino (“The Irishman,” 2019) stars as Meyer Offerman, a Jewish man living in New York City in the 1970s. After spending years in Nazi concentration camps during World War II, a now-free Offerman discovers a group of Nazis in America who are looking to create the Fourth Reich in New York. Seeking justice and revenge, Offerman creates a team of Nazi hunters, including Jonah (Logan Lerman, “Indignation,” 2016), the grandson of his murdered friend; ace lock-picker Roxy (Tiffany Boone, “The Following”); a spy known as Sister Harriet (Kate Mulvany, “Secret City”); a master of disguise named Lonny (Josh Radnor, “How I Met Your Mother”); a soldier named Joe (Louis Ozawa, “Bosch”); and weapons experts Murray (Saul Rubinek, “Warehouse 13”) and Mindy (Carol Kane, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”). The story picks back up with the hunters in Europe, where an accident derails their exploits. Now the team must band together to hunt down the world’s most infamous nazi — Adolf Hitler (portrayed by Udo Kier, “The Kingdom”) — who is hiding in South America. Created and written by David Weil (“Invasion”), “Hunters” Season 2 is directed by Phil Abraham (“Most Dangerous Game”). Jennifer Jason Leigh (“Atypical”), Emily Rudd (“Fear Street: Part Two - 1978,” 2021) and Tommy Martinez (“Good Trouble”) join the cast as series regulars, alongside returning cast members Jerrika Hinton (“Servant”), Lena Olin (“Riviera”), Greg Austin (“Mr. Selfridge”) and Dylan Baker (“Homeland”).
WHAT’S NEW ON APPLE TV+
“Servant” - Season 4
The chilling thriller series “Servant” airs the first of 10 episodes from its fourth and final season Friday, Jan. 13, on Apple TV+. The remaining episodes air weekly on Fridays thereafter. The series began as 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. Now, following the suspenseful ending of Season 3, the series bring its story to a close with “an epic and emotional conclusion” (per Apple TV+). As Leanne’s (Nell Tiger Free, “Game of Thrones”) war with the Church of Lesser Saints heightens, becoming a threat to the entire city and beyond, the Turners must confront the increasing threat that Leanne poses, as well as the certainty that Dorothy (Lauren Ambrose, “Six Feet Under”) is waking up. At the end of it all, all they really want to know is: who is Leanne Grayson and who is the child in their house? Created by Tony Basgallop (“Hotel Babylon”) and directed and executive produced by M. Night Shyamalan (“Lady in the Water,” 2006), this season is directed by new talent Ishana Night Shyamalan, Carlo Mirabella-Davis (“Swallow,” 2019), Dylan Holmes Williams (“Stilts,” 2019), Celine Held (“Topside,” 2020), Logan George (“Topside,” 2020), Kitty Green (“The Assistant,” 2019), Nimród Antal (“Stranger Things”) and Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala (both of “Goodnight Mommy,” 2014). Toby Kebbell (“Becoming,” 2020) and Rupert Grint (“Snatch”) also star.
WHAT’S NEW ON DISNEY+
“Chasing Waves” (2022)
In the wake of surfing’s debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the new eight-episode docuseries “Chasing Waves,” premiering Wednesday, Jan. 11, shines a spotlight on the people and places that are defining Japan’s reach in the global surf culture. The series examines the diverse regions, unique characters and endless surf along the more than 18,000 miles of coastline that makes Japan a one-of-akind environment for surfing to grow in. Following athletes from various cultural backgrounds as they pursue their dreams, this character-driven series paints a picture of Japanese life and showcases what it takes to succeed in the international surf industry. Featuring professional surfers Mahina Maeda, Yuma Takanuki, Sara Kohrogi, 2021 Olympic silver medalist Kanoa Igarashi and Australian-Japanese surfer Connor O’Leary, “Chasing Waves” comes from executive producers Andrew Fried (“Chef’s Table”) and Christopher G. Cowen (“The Sixties”), the latter of whom co-directs with Jason Baffa (“Loopers: The Caddie’s Long,” 2019).
WHAT’S NEW ON HULU
“The Drop” (2022)
Making an entrance with a (somewhat awkward) bang, the new Hulu Original cringe comedy film “The Drop” premieres Friday, Jan. 13, on the streamer. Happily married young couple Lex (Anna Konkle, “PEN15”) and Mani (Jermaine Fowler, “Tab Time”) are running their dream artisanal bakery in Los Angeles and are excited about starting a family together. But when Lex accidentally drops her friend’s (Aparna Nancherla, “Search Party”) baby in front of all of their friends shortly after their arrival on the island, paradise becomes purgatory for the couple as old wounds reopen and their future is thrown into uncertainty. Written by director Sarah Adina Smith (“Birds of Paradise,” 201) and Joshua Leonard (“Fully Realized Humans,” 2020), “The Drop” also stars writer Leonard, Utkarsh Ambudkar (“Ghosts”), Jillian Bell (“22 Jump Street,” 2014), Gene Farber (“Captain America: Civil War,” 2016), Elisha Henig (“Mythic Quest”), Jennifer Lafleur (“The Beautiful Liar”), Monnae Michaell (“42,” 2013), Bryan Ross (“Fully Realized Humans,” 2020), Susan Sullivan (“Castle”), Mariah Tavares (“Abbott Elementary”) and Robin Thede (“A Black Lady Sketch Show”).