January TV Preview: 17 New Shows to Watch

1. January 4: “The Brothers Sun” (Netflix)

After his father is killed by an unknown enemy, Charles (Justin Chien) is tasked with protecting his mother and brother from vicious forces vying for their family’s power. It’s hard enough for Charles, Eileen (Michelle Yeoh), and Bruce (Sam Song Li) to mend their relationships and get along, but they’ll also have to fight for each other and stay alive. Brad Falchuk, Byron Wu, Kevin Tancharoen, and Mikkel Bondesen produce the series (co-created by Falchuk and Wu), also starring Highdee Kuan, Joon Lee, Johnny Kou, and more.*

2. January 4: “Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale” (AMC)

In a world where witches are real and live openly in society, one leader will rise up during a town’s most trying period. Sarah (Elaine Cassidy) is an English witch in the town of Sanctuary, but a sudden death brings suspicion upon her household and er powers, leading to a literal modern-day witch-hunt. Debbie Horsfield adapts the series from V.V. James’ novel.

3. January 7: “Grimsburg” (FOX)

Jon Hamm plays detective Marvin Flute, whose work brings him home to the town of Grimsburg and also reunites him with the ghosts of his past. Not only does Martin have to solve a crime gripping the entire Grimsburg population, but he has to win over his ex-wife and estranged son while he’s at it.

4. January 10: “Echo” (Disney+)

Alaqua Cox reprises her role as Maya Lopez a.k.a. Echo in multiple firsts for Marvel and Disney. “Echo” is the first series with an indigenous star and showrunners, as well as multiple cast members, and also the first Marvel streaming series on Disney+ to release all its episodes at once. As Maya heads home to lay low and reconnect with her roots, Kingpin’s (Vincent D’Onofrio) followers are never far behind.

5. January 10: “Criminal Record” (Apple TV+)

Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo star in this series from BAFTA nominee Paul Rutman, in which two London detectives find themselves once again entangled in an old murder case. Their odd-couple pairing creates a prickly dynamic that threatens progress on the case while hinting at wider issues relatable to the British (and American) population.

6. January 11: “Ted” (Peacock)

If you had a “Ted” prequel on your 2024 Bingo card, congratulations. Seth MacFarlane reprises his role as the voice of the foulmouthed teddy bear, living at home in Massachusetts in 1993. How does Ted and John’s (Max Burkholder) dynamic translate with a 16-year-old kid, his cousin, and parents? Tune in to find out. MacFarlane serves as director and co-showruns with Paul Corrigan and Brad Walsh.

7. January 14: “True Detective: Night Country” (HBO)

“True Detective” is back! For many, that alone merits “big deal” status, but Season 4 of HBO’s anthology crime series also features more of a reset than usual. Nic Pizzolatto, who wrote the first three seasons and created the franchise, is no longer involved in the series (though he does maintain an executive producer credit), and writer/director/executive producer Issa López has taken the reins for “Night Country,” an Alaskan set season focused on a group of missing scientists and the unsolved, years-old case of a murdered woman. Jodie Foster and Kali Reis are your lead detectives, so settle in, stay warm, and let’s see if HBO can keep this franchise cookin’ with new creatives in the kitchen. —BT*

8. January 16: “Death and Other Details” (Hulu)

It’s “White Lotus” meets “Knives Out” at sea when Imogene (Violett Beane) finds herself in the wrong room on a luxurious ship where a wealthy guest is found murdered. Proving her innocence means teaming up with the lead investigator, detective Rufus Cotesworth (Mandy Patinkin), but they’ve got a past of their own to unravel. Mike Weiss and Heidi Cole McAdams serves as writers, showrunners, and executive producers. The series also stars Lauren Patten, Rahul Kohli, Angela Zhou, and more.

9. January 19: “Zorro”

It’s 19th-century California, full of proud Europeans and disputed colonies as the U.S. grows in reach. As the power-hungry grapple to retain control, someone has to stand up for the exploited migrants and Natives bearing the cost — someone with a mask, a sword, and a cool name.

10. January 19: “The Woman in the Wall” (Showtime)

After being locked up against her will, Lorna (Ruth Wilson) starts to experience trauma-induced sleepwalking, and one thing leads to another as she unravels a chilling mystery right under her nose. The series is based on the real-life Magdalene Laundries, and creator Joe Murtagh spoke with actual survivors as well as consultants and researchers to gain a deeper understanding of the institutions.

11. January 19: “Hazbin Hotel” (Prime Video)

Charlie Morningstar is the princess of Hell, tasked with the enormous job of rehabilitating demons. The mission leads her to opening the Hazbin Hotel, a place for condemned souls to work on themselves and eventually “check out” into Heaven. Old friends and unlikely new allies help Charlie inch her dream toward reality, and maybe even success.

The series comes from A24 after creator Vivienne Madrano independently made the pilot and put it on YouTube. Voice talent includes Erika Henningsen, Stephanie Beatriz, Alex Brightman, Keith David, Kimiko Glenn, Blake Roman, Amir Talai, Christian Borle, and guest stars like Darren Criss, Jeremy Jordan, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Patina Miller, and Jessica Vosk.

12. January 25: “In the Know” (Peacock)

Peacock’s first adult animated series dives into the famliar world of podcasting, where Lauren Caspian (Zach Woods) interviews “real world human guests.” Woods himself co-created the series with Brandon Gardner and Mike Judge, who serve as executive producers. The cast includes Caitlin Reilly, Charlie Bushnell, J. Smith Cameron, Carl Tart, and more.

13. January 25: “Sexy Beast” (Paramount+)

Not to be confused with the 2000 film, except that it’s a direct prequel; Gal Dove (James McArdle) and Don Logan (Emun Elliot) don’t have the easiest relationship, but they’ll need to keep each other in check amid the 1990s London underworld. Michael Caleo serves as showrunner and executive producer, as do the original film writers David Scinto and Louis Mellis.

14. January 25: “Griselda” (Netflix)

Sofia Vergara stars as Griselda Blanco, known as “the Godmother” for her successful drug cartel. The series takes place at the height of her reign in Miami in the 1970s and ’80s, with Blanco doubling as a businesswoman and matriarch in charge of everyone around her. Vergara also executive produces the series co-created by Doug Miro, Ingrid Escajeda, and Carlo Bernard, with Eric Newman of “Narcos” showrunnin (“Narcos” director Andrés Baiz directed all the episodes). Costarring Alberto Guerra, Christian Tappan, Martín Rodriguez, and more.*

15. January 26: “Masters of the Air” (Apple TV+)

Based on the novel by Donald L. Miller, the series gets its title from the flying men of the Air Force, the 100th Bomb Group as they survive combat in (and over) Nazi Germany. The men of the “Bloody Hundredth” faced extreme conditions and the perils of air combat in addition to being caught, captured, injured, and killed like other soldiers. John Orloff and John Shibhan co-created the series starring Austin Butler, Callum Turner, Barry Keoghan, Ncuti Gatwa, and more.

16. January 26: “Expats” (Prime Video)

After a pivotal tragedy brings them together, various women in Hong Kong find their lives suddenly intertwined for better and worse. Based on Janice Y.K. Lee’s “The Expatriates,” the series stars Nicole Kidman, Sarayu Blue, and Ji-young Yoo, weaving various cultures and classes into the story of three women and what it means to be an expat.

17. January 31: “Choir” (Disney+)

This docuseries centers on the Detroit Youth Choir, a group of young performers gearing up for a major opportunity. It’s been a long time since there was anything close to real-life “Glee,” and “Choir” spotlights real teenagers balancing the various commitments of the time, as well as a spotlight on experiencing that adolescence in Detroit specifically.