In terms of television, the new year already looks to be off to a strong start. From shows such as the much-talked-about “Yellowjackets” readying itself for its final two episodes of Season 1 to the long-awaited return of HBO’s “Euphoria,” there’s a little something for everyone being released in January. What may have in the past been a wasteland of a month for new releases, the shear amount of content this year means buzzier shows are getting the release in dead of winter. If there’s any trend it would seem that HBO Max is making an enormous push to be the most talked-about streaming service this month, with four-season premieres.
READ MORE: The 25 Best TV Shows & Mini-Series Of 2021
“Euphoria”
As Zendaya’s star has only continued to rise since Season 1 of HBO’s “Euphoria”—which she won a Best Actress Emmy for—the anticipation for Season 2 has only grown. Aside from two specials, due to COVID, there hasn’t been a new episode of the show in two years. Created by Sam Levinson, the series will continue the story after Season 1’s cliffhanger as Rue once again succumbed to her addictions. Season 2 will deal with ongoing addictions, friendship, love, and sexuality. Alongside Zendaya, Maude Apatow, Angus Cloud, Eric Dane, Alexa Demie, Jacob Elordi, Barbie Ferreira, Nika King, Storm Reid, Hunter Schafer, Algee Smith, and Sydney Sweeney stars.
Release Date: Season 2 premieres January 9 on HBO
“The Righteous Gemstones”
Danny McBride, John Goodman, and Adam Devine return for Season 2 of HBO’s “The Righteous Gemstones.” Co-created by McBride and filmmaker David Gordon Green, the satirical series tells the story of a world-famous televangelist family with a long tradition of greed and charitable work. Season 2 will follow the family as they face outsider threats from both their past and present who wish to destroy the empire they’ve built. New recurring cast members will include Jason Schwartzman and Eric Andre.
Release Date: Season 2 premieres January 9 on HBO
“Peacemaker”
Created, written, and mostly directed by James Gunn (“The Suicide Squad,” “Guardians of the Galaxy”) “Peacemaker” focuses on the violent, wanna-be vigilante Peacemaker, played by John Cena. A spin-off from last year’s “The Suicide Squad,” the series will dive into the character’s origin story which follows the events of the film. Steve Agee, Danielle Brooks, and Robert Patrick will also star alongside Cena who made a mark as the merciless killer who seeks his ideal of “peace” no matter the means.
Release Date: Season 1 premieres January 13 on HBO Max
“How I Met Your Father”
Eight years following the wildly divisive ending of the sitcom “How I Met Your Mother,” the franchise returns with the spinoff, “How I Met Your Father,” starring Hilary Duff. Following the original attempt at “How I Met Your Dad” starring Greta Gerwig failed to move forward in production, the new iteration was reworked by creators Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger with Duff in the starring role as Sophie with Kim Catrall playing the older version of the character. The sitcom which frames itself around Sophie telling her son the story of how she met his father also stars Chris Lowell, Francia Raisa, and Suraj Sharma with Josh Peck in a recurring role.
Release Date: Season 1 premieres January 18 on Hulu
“Ozark”
The Emmy award-winning “Ozark” returns for its fourth and final season. Jason Bateman and Laura Linney return as the troubled married couple Marty and Wendy Byrde along with Julia Garner. Bruno Bichir, Katrina Lenk, CC Castillo, Eric Ladin, Bruce Davidson, Veronica Falcón, and Ali Stroker join the cast as new members. This family crime-drama will seek to find a resolution for the characters as their past crimes threaten any chance of escaping the Ozarks. It’s been nearly two years since the shocking Season 3 finale and Season 4 will consist of two parts of seven episodes each.
Release Date: Season 4 (Part 1) premieres January 21 on Netflix
“The Gilded Age”
A historical drama set in, you guessed it, the Gilded Age of the United States, the HBO series teams up with “Downton Abbey’s” creator Julian Fellowes for a 19th century period piece. Starting in 1882, the series follows Marian Brook as she moves from rural Pennsylvania to New York City after the death of her father to live with her aunts who come from old money. An outside story, the series will follow Marion as she tries to forge her path in a rigid society. The cast stars Carrie Coon, Taissa Farmiga, Cynthia Nixson, and Christina Baranski.
Release Date: Season 1 premieres January 24 on HBO
“The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window”
Kristen Bell has carved out a place for herself in television over the last decade-plus in some of the more iconic series. From “Veronica Mars” to “The Good Place,” she’s jumped from drama to comedy and in her latest, the Netflix dark comedy “The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window,” she’s getting the chance to play in the gray area. Created by Rachel Ramras, Hugh Davidson, and Larry Dorf, the show follows Bell’s heartbroken Anna whose monotonous life of watching the lives around her day in and day out leads her to believe she’s witnessed a gruesome murder. The show also stars Tom Riley, Mary Holland, and Shelley Hennig.
Release Date: Season 1 premieres January 28 on Netflix
“The Afterparty”
Apple TV+’s most recent original series is packed to the brim with incredible comedic performers. Created by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (“Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse”) the murder mystery series is set at a high school reunion afterparty. Each of the eight episodes will feature a retelling of the same night told through the eyes of a different character with differing visual formats and styles to compliment the personality of the character. The series stars Tiffany Haddish, Sam Richardson, Zoë Chao, Ben Schwartz, Ike Barinholtz, Ilana Glazer, and many more.
Release Date: Season 1 premieres January 28 on Apple TV+
