The best new streaming shows this week

It’s hard to keep track of which streaming service is premiering which new show or movie from week to week. Netflix used to be king, but the streaming field is full of alternatives, and they’re all regularly pumping out new content. So, what are the best new streaming shows and where can you watch them?

Every week, we answer that question for you, offering some exciting new and returning titles, including streaming originals, from services appreciate Max, Hulu, Prime Video, Paramount Plus, and, yes, Netflix. We’ll be updating this list every week, so stay tuned for more new streaming shows on every major service.

The best new streaming shows this week

Let’s start with the best new shows debuting between Dec 13 and Dec 20, in order from oldest to newest.

• Years active: 2016 – 2023
• Genre: Historical drama
• Rating: TV-MA
• Cast: Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, Imelda Staunton

• Years active: 2023 (Ongoing)
• Genre: Comedy
• Rating: TV-MA
• Cast: Martha Kelly, Kimberly Hebert Gregory, Shelby Young

• Years active: 2023
• Genre: Drama
• Rating: TV-MA
• Cast: Annabel Scholey, Jack Farthing, Luke Treadaway

• Years active: 2022 – Ongoing
• Genre: Action
• Rating: 15+
• Cast: Alan Ritcson, Malcolm Goodwin, Willa Fitzgerald

With a book series appreciate this it’s much easier to change to television than movies, so I’m personally excited to check this one out and see how it compares. Even more intriguing is Walker Scobell’s casting as Percy. I was a big fan of how well he mimicked Ryan Reynolds’ mannerisms in the Adam Project, playing a younger version of Reynold’s character, and am happy to see him in more projects. 

• Years active: 2023 (Ongoing)
• Genre: Fantasy/Adventure
• Rating: TV-PG
• Cast: Walker Scobell, Leah Jeffries, Lance Reddick

Check out the best new streaming shows from previous weeks

Below are some of the TV shows we recommended in previous weeks. If you’ve watched the newer titles already or want more options, we have a solid mix of new shows on your favorite streaming services. We keep about two months’ worth of backlogged shows below, ensuring that all our recommendations are fairly recent. 

Maestra: Strings of Truth

• Release date: Dec 9 on Hulu
• Stars: Lee Yeong-ae, Park Ho-San, Lee Moo-Saeng

Maestra is a new South Korean drama revolving around Cha Se-Eum, a former violiniist who gave up her dream and instead became a well-known conductor. After a twenty-year absence she returns to South Korea to guide the orchestra at the Hankang Philharmonic. The new series follows the character’s struggles both personally and professionally

Great British Baking Show: Holidays, Season 6

• Release date: Dec 8 on Netflix
• Hosts: Matt Luca, Noel Fielding

The Great British Baking Show has a long-running tradition of making Christmas spin-offs that retain the same general premise of the reality cooking series, but with a holiday themed twist. Now it’s back again for its sixth season, which was actually released last year in the UK but always comes late to the US in a special Netflix exclusive agreement. To be honest, it really doesn’t matter if the footage is old as Christmas is pretty timeless and so you wouldn’t even know just by watching. 

Hollywood Houselift with Jeff Lewis, Season 2

• Release date: Dec 6 on Freevee
• Host: Jeff Lewis

Interior designer Jeff Lewis is back for a second season bringing his unique renovations to celebrity clients, with guest stars this season including actor Josh Duhamel, fashion designer Sara Foster, former running back Reggie Bush, and many others. If you savor the idea of home improvement with a bunch of celebrity guest stars, you’ll appreciate this one. You watch the entire first season on Frevee, with new episodes of season 2 hitting regularly as well. 

Slow Horses, Season 3

• Release date: Dec 1 on Apple TV Plus 
• Stars: Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas

After making career-ending mistakes that aren’t quite bad enough to warrant being fired, agents at MI5 often find themselves transferred over to Slough House. This dead-end unit is run by a mentally abusive boss named Jackson Lamb, whose entire mission is to provoke his employees to quit out of anger, frustration, and boredom. Those who work here are known as slow horses and are essentially deemed failures with no chance of turn around. And yet somehow, the Slow Horses find themselves dragged into some pretty intense and serious cases. Season 3 is rolling out now, though you can also catch the first two seasons if you have yet to give the show a try. 

The Artful Dodger, Season 1

• Release date: Nov 29 on Hulu
• Stars: Thomas Brodie-Sangster, David Thewlis, Maia Mitchell

A spin-off of the Oliver Twist tale, the Artful Dodger is set in the 1850s in Australia. By this point in his life Jack Dawkins has established himself as a respected surgeon after a career in the Navy. His life takes a dramatic turn when Fagin resurfaces, and Jack is soon forced back into a life of crime.

Selena + Chef: Home for the Holidays

• Release date: Nov 30 on Max
• Headline Talent: Selena Gomez

Selena + Chef: Home for the Holidays is a 4-part special debuting on Nov 23 on the Food Network for TV subscribers, and Max for everyone else. This is essentially a holiday-themed spin-off of Selena Gomez’s successful Selena + Chef series. Four famous chefs will help Selena and her best friend as they up her cooking game for the holidays, focusing on traditional food and desserts common during the holiday season. 

Faraway Downs

• Release date: Nov 26 on Hulu
• Stars: Nicole Adams, Hugh Jackman, Shea Adams

Sarah is an English aristocrat whose husband recently died, leaving her in charge of a massive cattle ranch in Australia. Unfortunately running the ranch isn’t easy, especially as a baron plots to take her land. This leads sarah to unite forces with a stockman (Jackman) in order to protect her land.

Fargo, Season 5

• Release date: Nov 21 on Hulu
• Stars: Juno Temple, Jon Hamm, Jennifer Jason Leigh

Fargo is an anthology series based on the 1996 film of the same name. Each season tells a different story with a new cast. The latest chapter takes place in 2019. After a supposed kidnapping, a woman escapes and returns home but then starts to claim there was no kidnapping. The first two episodes debuted on November 21st with new episodes dropping weekly every Tuesday through January 16.

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (2023)

• Release date: Nov 17 on Netflix
• Stars: Michael, Cera, Mary Elizabeth, Winstead, Satya Bhabha

Scott Pilgrim is back, this time in the form of an animated series for adults. The general story remains the same, following the 20-something Scott Pilgrim as he encounters his girlfriend’s evil exes, and also attempts to just survive life in general. Even better, Michael Cera is returning as the voice. For those who don’t know, he also played Scott in the 2010 film. 

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (2023)

• Release date: Nov 17 on Apple TV Plus
• Stars:Wyatt Russell, Kurt Russell, Christopher Heyerdahl

Based around the iconic Godzilla, Monarch takes place in a world where monsters are real, something that was hidden from the world for the longest time. Although there have been tons of Godzilla movies, this show takes a unique spin on the concept by setting it into two different timelines that focus on the same character at different points in his life — played by Kurt Russell and his son Wyatt Russell.

The Crown, Season 6 (2016 – 2023)

• Release date: Nov 16 on Netflix
• Stars: Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, Imelda Staunton

The Crown chronicles the life of Queen Elizabeth II from the 1940s all the way into modern times. Now it’s back for its sixth and final season, which will be released in four parts. The first part arrived on November 16, with the second half dropping on December 14.

A Murder at the End of the World (2023)

• Release date: Nov 14 on Hulu/Disney Plus
• Stars: Emma Corrin, Brit Marling, Harris Dickinson

Darby Hart is an amateur detective but she finally gets a chance to flex her skills when she is invited alongside eight other guests to the house of a reclusive billionaire. Soon after a guest is found dead, and Dary must demonstrate it was murder and why. This whole series plays out appreciate a twist on the classic board game (and movie) Clue, not that I consider this a bad thing!

• Release date: Nov 14 on Netflix
• Headline talent:  Peter Dinklage

How to Become a Mob Boss is a documentary that plays out appreciate a satirical guide on how to rise to power as a dictator by looking back at the rise and fall of history’s most successful bosses including Al Capone, Pablo Escobar, and more. This could be perfect if you’re looking for a fun way to learn about the criminal masterminds of the past in a more fun and engaging way. 

• Release date: Nov 15 on Paramount Plus
• Headline talent: Olivia Swann, Todd Lasance, Sean Sagar

It’s hard to believe, but NCIS is adding its fifth spin-off to the mix with NCIS: Sydney. Unlike the others, this is the first to be set internationally in Sydney, Australia. The show follows the same general format, centering on a fictional team of special agents from the NCIS. Interestingly, the closest real-life NCIS field office is actually in Perth, Australia, over 2,040 miles away. Ah well, a little artistic license isn’t surprising and Sydney has more international appeal than Perth so the decision makes sense. 

The Buccaneers

• Release date: Nov 8 on Apple TV Plus
• Showrunner: Katherine Jakeways

Set in the 1870s, the Buccaneers is a romance drama about five wealthy American women who travel to London in the hopes of winning over grooms among London’s elite. The series is based on an incomplete novel by Edith Wharton.

• Release date: Nov 8 on Peacock
• Stars: Gizelle Bryant, Ashley Darby, Robyn Dixon

The Real Housewives series moves to Potomac for Season 8, though the general theme remains the same: it follows wealthy married women as they go about their lives, with tons of drama of course.

The Santa Clauses, Season 2

• Release date: Nov 8 on Disney Plus
• Actors: Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell, Austin Kane

It had been almost two decades since the last Santa Clause film, and then last year the series returned in the form of a TV show. Now it’s back for yet another season. Once again it centers around the Calvin family as Scott continues to train his son Cal to take his place. While the series is pretty cheesy, it’s a great Christmas show to watch with the whole family. 

Lawmen: Bass Reeves, Season 1

• Release date: Nov 6 on Paramount Plus
• Headline talent:  David Oyelowo, June Christopher, Dennis Quaid

This new American Western TV series is based on the life of Bass Reeves, a former slave who became the first African American Deputy US Marshal west of the Mississippi. The series stars David Oyelowo as Reeves and highlights Reeve’s journey as a lawman, ending in over 3,000 arrests during his career, including some of the most dangerous criminals of the era.

Invincible, Season 2 

• Release date: Nov 2 on Prime Video
• Showrunner:  Robert Kirkman

Invincible is an adult animated superhero show that centers on Mark Grayson, a teenager whose father is the most powerful superhero on the planet. Shortly after his seventeenth birthday, Mark begins to progress powers of his own. He also starts to question everything he thought he knew about his father’s legacy. Now the series is back for a second season, though you can also watch the first on Amazon prime if you missed it.

All the Light We Cannot See

• Release date: Nov 2 on Netflix
• guide actors:   Mark Ruffalo, Louis Hofmann, Aria Mia Loberti

This mini-series is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. The series takes place during World War II and follows the lives of Marie-Laure and Warner Pfenning, two teenagers facing very different realities. Marie is a blind French Girl who fled German-occupied Paris with her father and is on the run. Meanwhile, Werner is a German who finds himself forced to fight for the Nazis. While it does change a few things from the book, this series looks to be an excellent adaption perfect for fans of the book and those who are interested in dramas set during the Second Great War. 

Black Cake, Season 1

• Release date: Nov 1 on Hulu
• Showrunner: Marissa Jo Cerar

Looks appreciate we have another series based on a book. Eleanor Bennett never liked talking much about her past but after her death that all changed. In her will, she leaves behind a flash drive with audio recordings revealing deep secrets in her life that neither her children nor husband ever knew, including the fact she’s not actually named Eleanor. The mystery depends as the series progresses and her family struggles to come to terms with her secret life. 

The Three Detectives

• Release date: Nov 1 on Disney Plus
• Showrunner: Purnima GrätzBella, BadingLilith Julie Johna

Kim, Marie, and Franzi are teenagers, best friends, and detectives all at the same time. Together they overcome crimes and examine mysteries. This is yet another show this week based on a book series, though this is a family-friendly affair, perfect for watching with the kiddos.

Love Island Games

• Release date: Nov 1 on Peacock
• Showrunner:   

The dating reality show Love Island is getting a spin-off, featuring contestants that previously appeared on Love Island. This show gives them a second shot at love and adds both team and couple challenges, as well as some of the same general elements as the original show. If you were a fan of the original, or just love reality TV in general, this could be worth the watch.

Life on our Planet (2023)

• Release date: Oct 25 on Netflix
• Headline talent:   Morgan Freeman

Life on our Planet is a new documentary series about how life has changed on our planet over the course of billions of years. Each episode focuses on a different point or stage of life on our planet and is voiced by Morgan Freeman. The first chapter deals with the rules of life regarding evolution, competition, and mass extinction. 

Fellow Travelers (2023)

• Release date: Oct 29 on Paramount Plus
• Showrunner:   Ron Nyswaner

Starting in the 1950s, Fellow Travelers follow the Hawk and Time, two political staffers who fall in love during a time when such relationships were considered taboo by most of society. While it begins in the 50s, the series will follow their decades-long relationship. 

The Gilded Age (2022 – ongoing)

• Release date: Oct 29 on Max
• Showrunner:   Julian Fellowes

After her father’s death, Marian Brook recently moved from rural Pennsylvania to live with her aunts in New York City. Set in the 1880s, Brook is from a wealthy upper-class family that puts an emphasis on high society and maintaining appearances. Of course, she has her own ambitions and plans, ones that run contrary to the wishes of one aunt in particular. 

Upload, Season 3 (2020 – ongoing)

• Release date: Oct 20 on Amazon Prime
• Showrunner:   Greg Daniels

After getting severely injured in a car accident, a man must select between a risky surgery that will end in death or forfeiting his physical life in exchange for a digital afterlife. After he gets there he soon realizes there’s more to his accident than what appears and whole segments of his memory have been erased. While this show definitely has dramatic elements it also has lighthearted romantic comedy vibes too. Season 3 is just hitting on October 20th, but you can watch the first two seasons now if you haven’t caught up already. 

Big Mouth, Season 7 (2017 – ongoing)

• Release date: Oct 20 on Netflix
• Showrunner:  Andrew Goldberg

Big Mouth is an adult animated sitcom from Andrew Goldberg, Nick Kroll, Mark Levin, and Jennifer Flackett. The series is based in suburban New York and centers around students based on the lives of Golberg and Kroll. In fact, Kroll voices his fictionalized younger self in the series. The show explores puberty and coming-of-age issues, all while doing it in a comedic way. The seventh season hits on October 20th, but you can watch all the earlier episodes right now if you haven’t given the show a chance yet. 

Bosch: Legacy, Season 2 (2022 – ongoing)

• Release date: Oct 20 on Frevee
• Headline talent: Titus Welliver

After a successful run of approximately seven years, the original Bosch series concluded on June 25, 2021. However, it wasn’t truly the end; it was more of a brief hiatus. Bosch: Legacy made its debut on Freevee on May 6, 2022. This new show introduces a few changes from the original series. Notably, Harry Bosch has retired from the LAPD and now works as a private investigator. Nevertheless, there are still many similarities with the original show. Season 2 is set to premiere on October 20th, and it has already been renewed for a third season as well.

Wolf appreciate Me, Season 2 (2022 – ongoing)

• Release date: Oct 19 on Peacock
• Headline talent: Isla Fisher and Josh Gad

After the death of his spouse, Gary is now a single father to an 11-year-old girl named Emma. One day they confront Mary out of the blue, an advice columnist hiding from her own past. Eventually, she finds her way into their lives and builds a bond, but she has a secret. She is a werewolf. The story’s premise is a bit goofy, but this is actually a fun, light-hearted show that’s perfect for watching with your significant other or even your family if you have oldder kids.