March sees us facing another small group of new television series to pick from after February delivered a similar slate. For the past year of lockdown, it’s seemed as if many of us have returned to old favorites – comfort television – opposed to diving into newer territory, barring some obvious selections. It looks like things might need to be the time being as we grapple with the continuing necessity for social distance, so queue up your rewatch of “New Girl” and settle in.
That being said, even with the slim selection, there’s a likelihood one of the following shows will be enough to grab your interest. At the very least, though Marvel hardly needs any more promotion, “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” will likely dominate the conversation if the discussions following “Wandavision” are any indication. And, as has been the case for a while now, most of the shows will be readily available through streaming services. Hopefully, one will be the next “The Queen’s Gambit” or, to an extent, “Bridgerton,” as the show that gets us all collectively talking around the hypothetical water cooler.
“Generation”
What You Need to Know: In what seems like a natural progression following series such as the immensely popular “Euphoria,” “Generation” is another series that focuses on the lives of teenagers as they grapple with and explore their sexuality. Adding a layer of authenticity to the project is that it was co-created by a teenager, with Zelda Barnz and her dad, Daniel Barnz, listed as creators of the series. Time will tell if that added element will allow a series more in turn with modern teenagers and troubles they face. Marketed as a “dark but playful” half-hour series, it will be interesting to see the dynamics they can explore with such diverse storytelling on their plate. The show stars Nathanya Alexander, Chloe East, Nava Mau, Lukita Maxwell, Haley Sanchez, Uly Schlesinger, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, and more.
Release Date: Season one premieres March 11 on HBO Max.
“The One”
What You Need to Know: In Netflix’s “The One,” a DNA researcher helps discover a way to find the perfect partner by creating a new matchmaking service. Honestly, aside from a few on the fringe series over the years, this narrative hasn’t been explored as much as one might expect. Based on the novel of the same name by author John Marrs, the series stars Hannah Ware as the brain behind the new matchmaking program along with Dimitri Leonidas, Amir El-Masry, and Wilf Scolding. A fun take on romance and science fiction, the series will hopefully be a surprise watch this month, especially with positive reactions stemming from its source material.
Release Date: Season one premieres March 12 on Netflix.
“Country Comfort”
What You Need to Know: Perhaps this is being unfairly judgemental, but the name “Country Comfort” doesn’t exactly inspire a lot of initial confidence. That said, hopefully, it will be more than the name suggested. Created by Caryn Lucas, best known for shows such as “Young and Hungry” and “The Nanny,” the show follows a young aspiring country singer played by Katharine McPhee who stumbles upon the band she’s been missing when she takes the job as a nanny for a musically talented family. So, not a total stretch from work Lucas has produced before. Along with McPhee, the series stars Eddie Cibrian, Eric Balfour, and Janet Varney.
Release Date: Season one premieres March 19 on Netflix.
“The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”
What You Need to Know: Little surprise here, but Disney+/Marvel have an undeniable hit on their hands with “Wandavision” which will air its final episode this week. Love it, hate it, or fall somewhere in between where you can’t help loving Elizabeth Olsen and Kathryn Hahn; it’s been a return to form for the studio after their longest absence due to the delays in their release scheduling caused by the pandemic. While surely guaranteed to be just as buzzed about by fans, it’s difficult to sense whether or not “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” will amount to the same level of intrigue as “Wandavision” has regularly stirred up. Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan reprise their roles as the two team up for a global adventure taking place after the events of “Avengers: Endgame.” The series is directed by Kari Skogland (“The Punisher,” “The Handmaid’s Tale”) and created by Malcolm Spellman. So far, the trailers have hinted at a more familiar tone to past Marvel properties, but hopefully, with “Wandavision” attempting to break free of some of those tonal restraints, “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” will be able to explore new territory.
Release Date: The series premieres March 19 on Disney+.
“Genius: Aretha”
You Need to Know: The “Genius” series running on Nat Geo has already explored Einstein and Picasso’s lives and now moves to singer and icon Aretha Franklin. “Genius: Aretha” stars Cynthia Erivo (“Widows,” “Harriet”) as the titular character, with the show exploring Franklin’s immense career and the immeasurable impact she had on the industry. Following her Oscar nomination for “Harriet,” the series will further allow Erivo to showcase her considerable talents in a role tailor-made to start a conversation. The series also stars David Cross, Courtney B. Vance, and Malcolm Barrett. Biopics can so often diminish the overall appeal of the person whose story they’re trying to tell due to the mechanics and tell-tale cliches of those stories – as well as the want to explore everything that made the person who there are without the length to do so gracefully – so hopefully as a television series, Franklin’s legacy will be explored with the depth and nuance it deserves.
Release Date: Season three premieres March 21 on Nat Geo.