New TV shows you won’t want to miss this season
Series about a teen doctor, invading aliens and culinary fun among our 10 must-sees.
TV unequivocally is back. The onslaught of new and returning TV shows on broadcast, cable and streaming services paused in 2020 and early 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic as Hollywood productions were forced to shut down. Even after filming resumed, health and safety protocols made shows take much longer to produce (and at greater cost). For the first time in several years, it felt as if there wasn’t too much TV out there.
That all changes this fall as the TV industry comes roaring back with a tidal wave of new and returning shows, all fighting for your attention. From ambitious sci-fi adaptations on Apple TV+ (“Foundation”) to another singing competition on Fox (“Alter Ego”) to adult animation on Netflix (“Chicago Party Aunt”), there is no shortage of choices for what to watch this fall.
But while the quantity is back, the quality doesn’t always follow. Among the dozens of series premiering from now until the end of the year, we picked 10 that are worth watching. From a teen-doctor show to an alien invasion drama and a documentary about the most celebrated boxer, some of our choices may surprise you.
‘Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.’ Disney+ (Wednesdays)
What may seem on the surface like another soulless extension of intellectual property is one of Disney+’s most thoughtful and engaging shows, possibly including Marvel series and “Star Wars.” The connection to the ABC’s 1989-93 medical drama starring Neil Patrick Harris as a wunderkind teen doctor is slim, but the Hawaii-set medical dramedy doesn’t need the nostalgia. Dr. Lahela Kamealoha (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) is a genius, a doctor and a teenage girl trying to make her way in the world and care for her patients. Wholesome without crossing into cloying, the series feels like a more mature version of a Disney Channel show as Lahela encounters death and suffering but grows (and grows up) in the process.
‘Y: The Last Man’ FX on Hulu (Sept 13; weekly on Mondays)
This long-awaited adaptation of the beloved comic book series by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra is set in a postapocalyptic world where a mysterious event killed all the mammals with a Y chromosome – except for one man and one monkey. The brave new world takes shape without cisgendered men, a take on the apocalypse that viewers likely haven’t seen before. The new
series, created by Eliza Clark (“Animal Kingdom”), updates the nearly 20-yearold story for 2021, with a nuanced look at gender roles and the gender binary and a sharp cast that includes Diane Lane and Amber Tamblyn.
‘Muhammad Ali’ PBS (Sept. 19-22; 8 EDT/PDT)
Legendary documentarian Ken Burns turns his lens on legendary boxer Muhammad Ali for his next PBS documentary, co-directed by Sarah Burns and David McMahon. The four-part series employs Burns’ usual explanatory and expansive style, digging into the heart of the three-time heavyweight boxing champion, formerly known as Cassius Clay, and his commitment to his faith and fighting racism. The documentary features interviews with Ali’s family, including his daughters Hana Ali and Rasheda Ali, as well as figures such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Don King.
‘Ordinary Joe’ NBC (Sept. 20; Mondays, 10 EDT/ PDT)
This high-concept drama follows Joe (James Wolk), a young man at a crossroads in his life, with a choice that might take him down three paths. Like Gwyneth Paltrow’s 1998 film “Sliding Doors,” “Joe” follows its protagonist in different versions of his life: In one he becomes a rock star, in another he’s a nurse, and in a third he becomes a police officer. His romantic partner and the fate of his family and friends changes in each scenario. It’s a deeply ambitious project, especially for network TV, and while sustaining the conceit might be hard, “Ordinary” shows a lot of promise and has a charming star to anchor the many alternate realities.
‘The Wonder Years’ ABC (Sept. 22; Wednesdays, 8:30 EDT/PDT)
Dulé Hill (“Psych,” “The West Wing”) stars as the patriarch of the Williams family in this new version of ABC’s nostalgic classic that starred a young Fred Savage. Narrated by Don Cheadle, this “Wonder Years” follows a Black middleclass family in Montgomery, Alabama, in the late 1960s. Produced by Lee Daniels (“Empire”), the remake is both evocative of the original (Savage is a producer) and uniquely its own series, showcasing a thriving Black family in the South, a contrast to the usual pop-culture portrayal of Black strife and pain in this era. With Hill and a delightful assortment of young talent as the kids, “Wonder” is a wonder of its own.
‘Maid’ Netflix (October 1)
Margaret Qualley (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”) and her real-life mom Andie MacDowell star in this adaptation of Stephanie Land’s memoir (“Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay and a Mother’s Will to Survive”) about her life as a single mother who escapes an abusive relationship only to wind up homeless and desperate, and eventually makes ends meet as a housekeeper. Not really the feel-good show of the year, the 10-episode series offers a blistering portrayal of Alex (Qualley), who suffers a series of angering and unjust events as she tries to protect herself and her young daughter.
‘Dopesick’ Hulu (October 13; weekly on Wednesdays)
Adapted from the book by Beth Macy (“Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors and the Drug Company That Addicted America”), Michael Keaton stars in and produces this limited series that tracks the opioid epidemic through the rise of Purdue Pharma’s painkiller OxyContin. From its heavily marketed rollout to its harrowing effects on one small Appalachian community to the federal investigators trying to take down the company, “Dopesick” frames the larger story around the devastation wrought by a single drug. Equal parts infuriating and engrossing, “Dopesick” has the urgency and pace of a true-crime documentary while fictionalizing the story. Created by Danny Strong (“Game Change,” “Empire”) the rich series also stars Kaitlyn Dever and Rosario Dawson.
‘The Next Thing You Eat’ Hulu (Oct. 21)
Chef David Chang hosts this comedic and scientific culinary series that examines why we eat what we do, and what might serve a better food future. Examining different meals and foods in each episode, Chang challenges viewers to ask more questions about our food, the marketing and corporate money behind it and what really gives us nourishment and tastes delicious. Augmented by pithy commentary exploring the history of food, cartoon interludes and appearances from Chang’s famous friends such as Danny Trejo, the series hits the sweet spot of being fascinating, educational and a lot of fun.
‘Invasion’ Apple TV+ (Oct. 22; weekly on Fridays)
A globe-trotting drama about an alien invasion of Earth, “Invasion” is a familiar take on this subsection of science fiction without being boring or derivative. Sam Neill anchors a large ensemble cast of everyday people, astronauts and their families whose lives are turned upside down by strange events from beyond the stars in a multicultural “War of the Worlds.” By focusing on character over spectacle, “Invasion” sets the stage for a gripping ride.
‘The Wheel of Time’ Amazon (Nov. 19; weekly on Fridays)
Amazon is making fantasy fans wait another year to see its ambitious new series based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings,” but the streamer is unveiling an equally epic swords-andsorcery drama this year. Based on the 14-book series by author Robert Jordan (and, after his death, Brandon Sanderson), “Wheel” takes place in a fantasy world in which certain women and men are able to perform magic, although men who can “channel” are dangerous and eventually go insane. War and chaos loom when a messiah known as the “Dragon” is reincarnated into one of a handful of young adults from a tiny village who must go on the run from dark forces. Starring Rosamund Pike and a group of diverse and talented young stars, “Wheel” seems able to satisfy new viewers and superfans alike, creating an inviting and rich world that isn’t too confusing to understand.
Other shows we’re excited about
● “Back to Life” (Showtime, Monday). This quiet, contemplative Showtime series about a woman (Daisy Haggard) who returns to her British hometown after years in prison returns for an equally smart second season.
● “The Problem With Jon Stewart” (Apple TV+, Sept. 30). The former “Daily Show” host returns to TV with this series that will tackle one big story each biweekly episode.
● “Legends of the Hidden Temple” (CW, Oct. 10). The beloved Nickelodeon game show returns with adult contestants, and, of course, the large, animatronic talking head Olmec.
● “Cowboy Bebop” (Netflix, Nov. 19). John Cho stars in the highly anticipated live-action remake of this classic anime.
● “Hawkeye” (Disney+, Nov. 24).
The next live-action Marvel series stars Jeremy Renner as the bow-wielding Avenger and a new generation of heroes including Hailee Steinfeld.
● “The Beatles: Get Back” (Disney+, Nov. 25-27). Peter Jackson sifts through hours of footage of the legendary rock band for this three-part documentary series.
● “The Witcher” (Netflix, Dec.17).
Henry Cavill’s stoic fantasy hero returns for a COVID-19-delayed second season, nearly two years after the first became a Netflix hit.