“The End of the F***ing World”
Cast: Jessica Barden, Naomi Ackie
What You Need to Know: As is the case with plenty of series in the age of Peak TV, showrunners are pushing their shows story further than perhaps the natural ending point. Case in point, Netflix’s excellent and highly praised “It’s End of the F***ing World” is back and following up with Alyssa (Jessica Barden) after the fallout of the events that happened in the Season 1 finale. By shifting focus to Alyssa and introducing a new character Bonnie (Naomi Ackie) the show, written by Charlie Covell and based on the comic books by Charles Forsman, is able to reinvent itself while still playing with the tone that made the show so popular to begin with.
Release Date: Season 2 premieres November 5 on Netflix
“Rick and Morty”
Cast: Justin Roiland, Chris Parnell, Sarah Chalke
What You Need to Know: One of the most popular animated shows airing (with one of the more obnoxious subsections of fans ever), “Rick & Morty” returns for an abbreviated Season 4 this month. Created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon, the series touts some of the best, busiest animation in the medium, but fans will need to settle for only five episodes this time around – half their usual output. Following the excellent Season 3 and two years since the finale, there will be much to explore in just a limited period of time with the Mad Scientist Rick and his anxious grandson Morty.
Release Date: Season 4 premieres November 10 on Adult Swim
“The Mandalorian”
Cast: Pedro Pascal, Gina Carano, Nick Nolte, Giancarlo Esposito
What You Need to Know: Disney already rules the entertainment industry, and with Disney+, the company is solidifying the fact. One of its first new, original streaming shows, “The Mandalorian” is an enticing draw to the service, especially for “Star Wars” fans who can’t wait until the third in the recent trilogy “The Rise of Skywalker” arrives in theaters. The pedigree of the cast is enough to draw people in, with Pedro Pascal taking the leading role as the morally gray bounty hunter and everyone from Nick Nolte, Taika Waititi, and Werner Herzog filling in the supporting characters. Created by Disney go-to Jon Favreau, the new series takes place five years after the fall of the Empire and 25 years prior to the events of “The Force Awakens,” filling us in what happened in that gap of time.
Release Date: Season 1 premieres November 12 on Disney+
“Dollface”
Cast: Kat Dennings, Brenda Song, Shay Mitchell
What You Need to Know: Kat Dennings has always been an energetic and charismatic performer but has consistently been saddled with roles or television series beneath her skill sets (think her thankless role in “Thor” or the CBS hellfire of “Two Broke Girls“) making her leading turn in Hulu’s “Dollface” all the more exciting. Even greater is the logline, which is friendship based as the lead character looks to reconnect with friends she fell out of touch with while in a serious relationship. Created by Jordan Weiss in her first series, the film co-stars Brenda Song and Shay Mitchell.
Release Date: Season 1 premieres November 15 on Hulu
“The Crown”
Cast: Olivia Colman, Helena Bonham Carter, Charles Dance
What You Need to Know: Maybe you’re not drawn to period drama, and maybe the British monarchy doesn’t scream “must watch” to you, and if that’s true, you’re not alone, as I too was reluctant to be sucked into the Claire Foy and Matt Smith drama “The Crown.” However, what about if Season 3 ages up the characters and now stars Olivia Colman, Helena Bonham Carter, Charles Dance and the terrific “God’s Own Country” star Josh O’Connor? Maybe that will change your tune? Set in the decade after the 1963 scandal, the new season will explore the evolving problems for the Queen and her now-adult children.
Release Date: Season 3 premieres November 17 on Netflix
“Servant”
Cast: Toby Kebbell, Lauren Ambrose, Rupert Grint, Nell Tiger Free
What You Need to Know: Dependent on your tolerance for miserable stories, “Servant” may be intriguing based on the fact that M. Night Shyamalan is listed as an executive producer. Following a family who is trying to replace their newborn who died from health complications with a creepy, lifelike doll, the show will follow in the Shyamalan style of psychological drama. Created by Tony Basgallop (“Inside Men,” “What Remains“) the show will be yet another addition to the Apple TV+ line up and one of the first major projects for “Harry Potter” star Rupert Grint since the end of that franchise.
Release Date: Season 1 premieres November 28 on Apple TV+