While the age of Peak TV and the massive barrage of content due to the rising demand for streaming services means that our typical schedule for television isn’t quite as traditional as it used to be. Regardless, fall does often signify the return of plenty of favorites and this September doesn’t stray from the norm.
While there are a few network-friendly returns, streaming is still dominating with new content on Netflix seemingly every week. The Emmys will air September 14 as a nice reminder of (some of) the best work on television last year and hopefully won’t just be a needless celebration of the final, less than stellar, season of “Game of Thrones,” elsewhere and not as award-focused will be plenty of new and returning series to get lost in.
“Mayans MC”
What You Need to Know: For anyone who had been mourning the loss of the FX drama “Sons of Anarchy,” we can only imagine that season of “Mayans MC” offered a nice enough reprieve. A continuation of the story but without the leadership of Charlie Hunnam’s Jax, “Mayans MC” first had the job to justify its existence without all of the familiar faces, just as its characters too had to carve out a new place for themselves in the world. Edward James Olmos, JD Pardo and Sarah Bolger star in this spinoff, the Mayans themselves having made periodic appearances in the original series. The series was created by Kurt Sutter, the creator of ‘Sons’ and Elgin James.
Release Date: Season 2 premieres on FX on September 4
“This Is Us”
What You Need to Know: There was a period of time where it seemed there was no escaping talk over the tremendously popular “This Is Us,” a familial melodrama with some fabulous acting, but a storyline that seemed primed to run out of steam quickly. This problem has only grown more apparent following the reveal of the mystery behind Jack’s (Milo Ventimiglia) tragic death. However, showrunner Dan Fogelman has pressed on, allowing actors Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, and Sterling K. Brown to continue on with their great work and giving actress Susan Kelechi Watson more to work with as Beth. Kate (Chriss Metz) and Kevin (Justin Hartley) continue to draw the short sticks when it comes to narrative importance but with no end in sight, it would seem each member of the Pearson clan will get a moment to shine.
Release Date: Season 4 premieres on NBC on September 24
“The Spy”
What You Need to Know: It would seem that since his initial worldwide breakout in “Borat,” actor Sascha Baron Cohen has faced difficulty in just where and how to utilize his brand of comedy. While he’s delivered strong work as character actor bits in films such as “Hugo” and “Les Miserables,” his strictly comedic fare such as “The Dictator” and “The Brothers Grimsby” have been less than well-received. It’s what makes his upcoming foray into more dramatic material all the more fascinating. Written and created by Gideon Raff, best known for his episodes of “Homeland” and largely panned script for “The Red Sea Diving Resort,” the series follows the life of the Israeli spy Eli Cohen.
Release Date: Season 1 premieres on Netflix on September 6
“The Deuce”
What You Need to Know: The third season of the HBO series “The Deuce” will also, unfortunately for fans, be the last. James Franco and Maggie Gyllenhaal return to the series to close out the chapters of these characters’ lives as they face a shifting landscape in New York and, especially, the Times Square sex trade business. We’ve watched as the characters of “The Deuce” charged against trying and changing times in the past, but Season 3 will further that ideology as they’re faced with increasing hurdles such as the draw of the California sun, VHS taking over the porn industry, and the devastating AIDS epidemic. It’s the end of an era, befitting of a show that knew when to end a series that focuses on a very specific era of time.
Release Date: Season 3 premieres on HBO on September 9
“Unbelievable”
What You Need To Know: In an intense new series, a young girl is accused and charged for lying about rape but not everything is what it seems. “Unbelievable” is created by Susanna Grant who’s helmed quite a few notable films including the Anita Hill story “Confirmation,” beloved 1995 Disney animated feature “Pocahontas” as well as the Oscar-winning film “Erin Brockovich” in 2000, a film that earned Julia Roberts her first award for Best Actress. The series stars the consistently brilliant Toni Collette, who comes off an electrifying turn in the well-reviewed horror film “Hereditary.” Collette appears alongside television staple Merritt Wever (“The Walking Dead,” Netflix’s “Godless”) and relative newcomer Kaitlyn Dever who most recently appeared in the coming of age comedy “Booksmart.”
Release Date: Season 1 premieres on Netflix on September 13
“Room 104”
What You Need to Know: Even with how popular anthology series have become in television as a means to continue a series past its natural ending point, there still isn’t anything quite like HBO’s “Room 104.” Created by The Duplass Brothers, “Room 104” their greatest, most off-kilter creations to date, especially considering some of their more mumblecore roots. Just as the titular room seasons a colorful array of characters and stories, the show similarly dances with themes and genres, bouncing from thriller and horror to flat-out comedy to interpretive dance, fearless in tackling any and all storytelling functions. Season 3 has one of their most impressive cast lists to date with actors such as Luke Wilson, Paul F. Tompkins, and June Squibb making appearances.
Release Date: Season 3 premieres on HBO on September 13