“Game of Thrones”
What You Need To Know: The season premiere you have all been waiting for is finally upon us. “Game of Thrones” returns for its final season this month and needless to say if you are anything like us, then you can hardly contain your excitement. As Cersei Lannister so eloquently says in the first season, “when you play the game of thrones, either you win or you die.” Who wins? Who dies? Who will finally sit upon the Iron Throne? Don’t forget the undead! All these questions and more will be answered when the final season of “Game of Thrones” returns this month for the epic series conclusion eight years in the making. The haunting teaser trailer offered a glimpse into what has to be the single most anticipated premiere this spring. Cast includes series staples Kit Harington, Emilia Clarke, Lena Headey, Peter Dinklage, Sophie Turner, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau all reprising their roles for the show’s last season.
Release Date: The 8th and final season premieres on April 14 on HBO
“Cobra Kai”
What You Need To Know: The YouTube series (yes, the streaming site still does original content) based on the classic film “The Karate Kid” kicks into its second season. The popular series revisits the title characters of the original film some thirty years after Daniel LaRusso’s (played by Ralph Macchio) stunning victory over his rival Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka). The first season ended with a surprise visit from an old friend and the teaser trailer for the second season seems to reflect a search for identity for both Johnny and Daniel. What this newest season will bring is anyone’s guess, but it’s safe to say the series cultivates a new crop of fans that might be inclined to revisit and enjoy the original film as well as the series.
Release Date: Season 2 starts streaming on April 24 on YouTube Premium
“The Red Line”
What You Need to Know: The latest procedural for CBS is an unfortunately timely story that follows the trauma and fallout after a Black man is shot by a white police officer. Eliminating the blanket, episodic nature of procedurals with a conceptualized origin that’s basing the season on one event, hopefully, the subject matter will be handled with delicacy and care. Created by relative newcomers Caitlin Parrish (who has some TV writing credits) and Erica Weiss, the most exciting aspect is some of the names in front of the camera involved, especially actress Emayatzy Corinealdi. Corinealdi stunned years back in Ava DuVernay’s “Middle of Nowhere” and hopefully with a leading role on a network series her profile will continue to grow.
Release Date: Season 1 premieres on April 29 on CBS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyI5i4hGZ70
“The 100”
What You Need to Know: Forever suffering from a premise that felt all too familiar, source material that flew under the tired and redundant post-apocalyptic YA, and a first few episodes that were, well, rough around the edges, to say the least, The CW’s “The 100” has always been much better than it has any right to be. A few stumbles aside, “The 100” is terrific, often devastating, science fiction, that places its female heroes at the center as often the most interesting leaders, villains, and all shades of gray that lay in between. Following a heartbreaking revelation and total status quo upheaval at the end of Season 5, we’ll be reintroduced to our characters this time around on an entirely different setting (a new planet) and with plenty more hurdles to overcome.
Release Date: Season 6 premieres on April 30 on The CW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4GiE-8-LWo
