To look for in 2022
The line between what constitutes a movie and a TV show was already blurry before the pandemic nearly erased it. ● As COVID-19 restrictions have eased some of the delineation has returned. Look, sorry, but Steven Spielberg wasn’t going to premiere “West Side Story” on your iphone. ● But straight up made-for-tv series have been proliferating for a while now. Call it Peak TV, call it Another Golden Age, call it whatever you want. ● As long as you call it a lot. Too much, really, for one person to sift through. ● With unmanageable volume in mind, here’s a short list of shows we’re looking forward to in 2022, both new and returning. Complete? Hardly. Just intriguing.
(Note: Premiere dates aren’t available for all series, so be sure to check listings.)
‘House of the Dragon’
Sure, you might have hated the last season of “Game of Thrones.” But if you stuck with it that long, chances are you’re down for this prequel. It’s based on George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood” and is set 200 years before “Game of Thrones,” telling the story of House Targaryen.
How to watch: No premiere date set. On HBO and HBO Max.
‘Ozark’
Admittedly this show has often felt like a JV version of prestige dramas like “The Sopranos” or “Breaking Bad” (especially “Breaking Bad”). But it’s plenty dark in its own right, and Jason Bateman (who sometimes directs) and Laura Linney get more interesting the more they lose of their souls. And Julia Garner is the secret weapon. Season 4 will be its last, though it’s broken into two parts.
How to watch: Jan. 21 on Netflix.
‘Pam & Tommy’
Oh come on, you know you want to watch this eight-episode limited series. Not just because of the infamous tape, though that’s part of the story. But also to see how Lily James and Sebastian Stan transform themselves into Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee. Nick Offerman and Seth Rogan are also in the cast, and Craig Gillespie (“I, Tonya”) directs.
How to watch: Feb. 2 on Hulu.
‘Dark Winds’
Zahn Mcclarnon stars as Joe Leaphorn and Kiowa Gordon as Jim Chee in a series based on Tony Hillerman’s Leaphorn & Chee novels. The two work to solve a double murder in the Southwest in the 1970s. (Many of the books are set on the Navajo Reservation.) Hillerman’s books are fun, and the cast, which also includes Rainn Wilson, is strong. And at one point Hillerman was a cop reporter.
How to watch: No premiere date set. On AMC and AMC+.
‘The Dropout’
The Theranos saga is ripe for dramatization. In this version, based on the ABC News podcast, Amanda Seyfried plays the disgraced Elizabeth Holmes, who created the company after dropping out of Stanford. In addition to this project and the 2019 documentary, “The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley,” a film version with Jennifer Lawrence as Holmes is in the works.
How to watch: No premiere date set. On Hulu.
‘She-hulk’
Just what the world needs, another Marvel show. Actually, it might need this one, because it stars Tatiana Maslany. If you haven’t seen her in “Orphan Black,” you’ve got some catching up to do. In this, she plays Jennifer Walters, a lawyer who may have some familiarsounding anger issues. This should be fun.
How to watch: No premiere date set. On Disney+.
‘Obi-wan Kenobi’
“Star Wars.” Isn’t that all you have to say to melt the internet and the hearts of fans? If that’s not enough, Ewan Mcgregor reprises his role as the title character, and Hayden Christensen is back as Darth Vader. What it’s about is all a big secret at this point, but have no fear, some fans somewhere are preparing to be disappointed already.
How to watch: No premiere date set. On Disney+.
‘Atlanta’
Yay! Donald Glover’s brilliant show is scheduled to return for season 3 – about time, since it last aired in 2018. During that time Glover’s co-stars Lakeith Stanfield and Brian Tyree Henry have been killing it in feature films. Let’s hope the chemistry is still there for the small screen.
How to watch: No premiere date set. On FX.
‘Ted Lasso’
Trent Crimm, the Independent. Well, not anymore. Sorry, but it’s too much fun to say.
Some people hated Season 2. I was not one of them. Some people hate cookies and rainbows, too. But there was definitely a shift, and not just in Nate’s descent into villainy. Jason Sudeikis successfully portrayed Ted finally trying to deal with the pain in his life. There’s always the danger of (more) overexposure. But it’s worth the risk.
How to watch: No premiere date set. On Apple TV+.
‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’
A live-action Netflix series based on the animated series, which if you have never seen, you should. It tells the story of Aang, the latest Avatar (someone who can bend all four elements to their will). He was frozen for 100 years so is old, but looks and acts like the kid he was before being thawed out. It’s funny and poignant and sometimes moving. Don’t confuse it with 2010 movie version, which was terrible. Hopes are much higher for the series, which stars Gordon Cormier, Dallas Liu and Daniel Dae Kim.
How to watch: No premiere date set. On Netflix.