Image via Eddy Chen/HBO
Many of us didn’t think we’d be sitting at home early Jan. 2022, pondering how our quarantine weekend would be going. There’s So Much Television, but that doesn’t mean you haven’t binged all of the things. It’s been dry out here lately, but fear not, viewers: 2022 has it all figured out.
This time of the year, we normally look at TV shows that are new to all of us, but one of the by-products of COVID-19 is that many shows were forced to take a hiatus, with many of these series only just now returning to the small screen. Euphoria’s second season is joined by like likes of Atlanta, Better Call Saul, and The Boys in new seasons that folks can’t wait to dive into. They are also joined by some long-awaited TV series entries, as well as some awesome new shows from some of your favorite creators.
Since we’re going to be on the couch for a little while longer, you might as well plot out your new TV watching accordingly. Here are the most anticipated TV shows of 2022; mark your calendars and order your popcorn!
'Euphoria' (Season 2)
Network: HBO
Premiere date: Jan. 9
Where to Watch: HBO Max
During the summer of 2019, HBO caused a storm in the form of Euphoria, a series they collaborated on with A24 and Sam Levinson, who has written every episode of the series while directing a number of them. With a show—focused on teen life through the lenses of addiction, gender, sexuality, and more—so intense and so spoiler-heavy, it’s hard to say much about what we’ve seen on this side of the game. [Ed Note: We’ve seen a lot.] Just be prepared for more from Rue, Jules, and the crew. And watch out for Sam Levinson; the vision is real. You won’t be bored soaking this reality in. —khal
'The Righteous Gemstones' (Season 2)
Network: HBO
Premiere date: Jan. 9
Where to Watch: HBO Max
With HBO already kicking off 2022 with Euphoria after winning 2021 with the third season of Succession and the final season of Insecure, it’s easy to forget that Danny McBride’s The Righteous Gemstones was due a Season 2. [Ed Note: The series has already received its Season 3 renewal.] The twisting tale in this ultra-black comedy (which sounds weird for a show based in the church) came to a head by Season 1’s end, but Season 2 sees new beginnings for the Gemstone clan. Right? At the very least, the kids will need to find a way back into the family’s good graces, or stake their claim on their own. It’s truthfully better to go into this one cold; the more shocked you are by the turns in The Righteous Gemstones, the better. —khal
'Naomi'
Network: The CW
Premiere date: Jan. 11
Where to Watch: The CW
Anything Ava DuVernay does needs to be seen. Her latest is Naomi, a CW superhero series based on a DC comic co-written by Brian Michael Bendis, who created Miles Morales, aka the Spider-Man everyone loves from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Anyways, Naomi (Kaci Walfall), aka Powerhouse, debuted in 2019, and her surname (McDuffie) is in tribute to the late Dwayne McDuffie, who you may know best for co-creating the character behind (and later working on) Static Shock. In the series (which features DuVernay co-writing the series pilot), the teenage Naomi survives a “supernatural event” that helps her discover her true identity. It sounds like with Naomi, the joy will be having Ava guide us in figuring out who Naomi truly is. —khal
'Ozark' (Season 4, Part One)
Network: Netflix
Premiere date: Jan. 21
Where to Watch: Netflix
The final season of Ozark is hitting Netflix this year and after four seasons, fans will finally get to see how it all ends for the Byrde family. The streaming service is splitting up the final season of the hit series into two parts and the first seven episodes will be dropping on Jan. 21, while Part 2 will be dropping later in the year. Fans have been awaiting the return of the three-time Emmy winning show and its stellar cast including Laura Linney, Sofia Hublitz, Skylar Gaertner and Emmy winners Jason Bateman and Julia Garner. The trailer for Part 1 was released on Thursday, Jan. 6 and it’s as chaotic as expected. In the action-packed preview, tension seems like it is at an all-time high within the family as the Byrdes are working to facilitate a deal between the FBI and drug lord Omar Navarro (Felix Solis). Will Marty and the clan finally free themselves from the cartel or reach their demise? Tune into Netflix later this month to find out. —Karla Rodriguez
'The Woman In the House Across the Street From the Girl in the Window'
Network: Netflix
Premiere date: Jan. 28
Where to Watch: Netflix
Netflix is back with another story of a neighbor who refuses to mind her own business. After Amy Adam’s 2021 flick The Woman in the Window, the streamer is getting ready to release a satire thriller series titled The Woman in the House Across the Street From the Girl in the Window starring Kristen Bell. The actress plays Anna, a woman who is heartbroken and spending her time at home with a glass full of wine and mixing it with pills, and staring out the window as she watches her life pass her by. Things take a mysterious turn for Anna when she believes that she has witnessed a murder on her street as she was swooning and spying on her new neighbor. While she is certain of what she saw, it’s unclear if the booze or the pills are to blame or if her mind is playing tricks on her. When no one believes her, she launches her own investigation and takes matters into her own hands. The dark comedy premieres Jan. 28, on Netflix. —Karla Rodriguez
'Bel-Air'
Network: Peacock
Premiere date: Feb. 13
Where to Watch: Peacock
In March of 2019, a fan-made trailer for a dramatic reimagining of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air went viral, even catching the eye of Will Smith. Less than two years later, the pilot episode of Bel-Air will premiere on Super Bowl Sunday. If you know the theme song of the iconic sitcom, you know the premise of the series, but instead of a bright and vibrant comedy, we’re given a wealthy Banks family taking in their distant relative after a life-threatening altercation. It’s a modern spin on the revival/reboot culture Hollywood is wandering through, one that looks to ask serious questions in our very scary times. —khal
'Snowfall' (Season 5)
Network: FX
Premiere date: Feb. 23
Where to Watch: Hulu
With each year, the Damson Idris-led Snowfall seems to gain more eyeballs. It’s for good reason; the series has grown from strength to strength with each new season, evolving into a much deeper story than its initial premise of being a look at how the crack cocaine epidemic hit Los Angeles. Idris’ Franklin Saint leads a massive crime syndicate, working numerous angles to maintain his power while minimizing the violence in his own home. Season 4 saw Saint take care of his enemies, but one of his biggest allies turned out to be his biggest threat. It’s hard to see how he will work himself out of this situation, but if Snowfall keeps growing the way it’s grown, we know that it will be well worth the watch. —khal
'Better Things' (Season 5)
Network: FX
Premiere date: Feb. 28
Where to Watch: Hulu
Pamela Adlon’s unique family drama Better Things is set to release its fifth and final season on FX. Giving Adlon the keys to create television her way opened the floodgates for some of the best use of the small screen as an artform. With a family framework similar to her own (right down to her English mother and three daughters), Adlon found ways to bring in some of my favorites (Cree Summer, who’s been on everything from Inspector Gadget to A Different World) while making me laugh, loud (like during this foul-mouthed exchange between two siblings), and with two years removed since she blew our minds with Season 4, it’s going to be amazing to see how Adlon bids a series farewell. —khal
'Atlanta' (Season 3)
Network: FX
Premiere date: Mar. 24
Where to Watch: Hulu
We haven’t received a new episode of Atlanta since May of 2018. That’s mostly due to Donald Glover being in a few big things (Solo: A Star Wars Story, The Lion King) and then going on tour before the world stopped moving. At the very least, it gave Glover time to conceptualize the next chapter in the career of Paper Boi, which (checks notes) takes us to Europe. The teasers for the new season highlight extravagance and how isolating that can be, but this is also Atlanta—there is a lot that can happen. You know you want to hear what Paper Boi’s spittin’. —khal
'Barry' (Season 3)
Network: HBO
Premiere date: March
Where to Watch: HBO Max
If you tapped in to Season 1 and 2 of Barry as they aired, congratulations, you’re far superior than the rest of us. Others most likely discovered the HBO show about a hit-man turned actor during the pandemic, and even if you could binge all the episodes at once, it still didn’t feel like enough. The Season 2 finale aired in May 2019 but the good news is that after many COVID delays, the hit comedy is said to be arriving later this year.
Barry Berkman, played by Bill Hader, struggles to shake his criminal past while devoting his time to his newly found passion for acting. He may have left the midwest for a new life in Los Angeles but his handler refuses to let him walk away from the life of crime they’ve built. Maher does a stellar job at portraying the consternation the titular role is feeling about letting go of his old life, and his performance is only made better by the top-notch actors he is working alongside. The cast includes Stephen Root as Fuches, Henry Winkler as Gene Cousineau, Sarah Goldberg as Sally Reed and Anthony Carrigan as Noho Hank. Noho Hank is by far one of my favorite TV characters in a long time, and he provides some of the best laughs the show has to offer. As much as I enjoy Maher’s acting and the storyline, I especially can’t wait to see Carrigan’s character back on my screen again. —Karla Rodriguez
'Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty'
Network: HBO
Premiere date: March
Where to Watch: HBO Max
Adam McKay’s had an interesting run in Hollywood. The former head writer over at Saturday Night Live has helped bring everything from Anchorman to The Big Short to Succession to Don’t Look Up to the masses. His latest is an adaptation of Jeff Pearlman’s Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s, giving folks the inside scoop behind one of the NBA’s greatest eras, the Lakers of the 1980s. The cast features an interesting mix, with John C. Reilly, Adrien Brody, Sally Field, The Wire legend Wood Harris, and more, this is set to be a wild look at how you create a dynasty, warts and all. Weird, funny, and real, McKay may be the best person to tackle this massive tale. —khal
'The Boys' (Season 3)
Network: Amazon Prime Video
Premiere date: June 3
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
The superhero genre is so large that even the shows that poke fun at the malarky of the genre are dope. Amazon’s The Boys just recently got its Season 3 premiere date, giving us a tease of Homelander and Stargirl uncomfortably occupying space. Homelander’s evolution has been a sight to see, and his unrelenting violence is one of the many reasons fans are hype for The Boys’ return. Your summer plans just got better. —khal
'The Lord of the Rings'
Network: Amazon Prime Video
Premiere date: Sept. 2
Where to Watch: Prime Video
Fan of the Middle-earth series of films spawned from the works of J. R. R. Tolkien? The Lord of the Rings, an eight-episode season serving as a prequel of The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings films and books. Evil somehow returns to Middle-earth, and some band of misfits hs to solve it. The series features a huge ensemble cast, but the draw is really Jeff Bezos opening up the wallet and doing Middle-earth justice...you hope! —khal
'House of the Dragon'
Network: HBO
Premiere date: TBD
Where to Watch: HBO Max
After devoted Game of Thrones fans followed the popular series for eight seasons, some of them were left feeling unsatisfied by the show’s final season. While the finale received a lukewarm reaction from fans in 2019, others might still be looking for a way to jump right back into the George R.R. Martin world. Now they can through a new prequel titled House of the Dragon that is coming to HBO and HBO Max later this year. The prequel was co-created by Martin and Ryan Condal, and it will tell the story of the House Targaryen. It’s based on Martin’s book Fire & Blood, which is set 200 years before the time when Game of Thrones took place. Paddy Considine will play King Viserys Targaryen, Olivia Cooke will play Alicent Hightower, Emma D’Arcy will star as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, and Matt Smith will play Prince Daemon Targaryen. Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, Rhys Ifans and Sonoya Mizuno have also signed on for the series. No premiere date has been shared yet but it’s coming soon. —Karla Rodriguez
'Stranger Things (Season 4)
Network: Netflix
Premiere date: TBD
Where to Watch: Netflix
Stranger Things 3 left Eleven and her squad divided. They won the battle, but it splintered their faction. Many assumed that the next chapter would find the crew re-aligning, and with word of someone showing up far away (I hate being so vague but why be SO spoiler-y?), there’s only one crew that’s built for this job. The WHY and HOW of it is why we tune in, but one has to imagine that this journey may be on its way to ending. —khal
'Better Call Saul' (Season 6)
Network: AMC
Premiere date: TBD
Where to Watch: AMC
After Breaking Bad ended, many didn’t think Vince Gilligan and crew were wise for doing a prequel of the series based on the slimy lawyer Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk). What became an exercise in setting a scene in the recent past ended up becoming a sandbox for Odenkirk and company to shine within. Using the series as a foundation and a finished product, all they had to do was weave their tapestry backward. It’s not easy, but it lead to beautiful stories, including learning about Saul’s past as Jimmy McGill, a man slowly unraveling, leaving nothing but Saul Goodman in the ashes. With Season 6 being the final in the series, we’ve come to the true beginning of the end of the beginning. It’d be best to use this time wisely and run through Better Call Saul now so you’re ready for Season 6. —khal
'Russian Doll' (Season 2)
Network: Netflix
Premiere date: TBD
Where to Watch: Netflix
The hilarious Natasha Lyonne shocked many with her Groundhog Day-esque time loop Netflix series Russian Doll (2019), which found her character Nadia trying to understand why she is living in an eternal loop where she dies and comes back to life to relive it all over again. It was a great binge, especially when new variables were introduced, and by the season’s end, the idea of a second season of Russian Doll is both confusing and intriguing. After a number of AWARDS SZN nominations (and a few wins), we have high hopes of Lyonne’s return to Nadia and this world that we’re still trying to understand. —khal
'Ms. Marvel'
Network: Disney+
Premiere date: TBD
Where to Watch: Disney+
One of the beautiful things about Disney+ for true MCU stans is that series like Ms. Marvel will actually matter. You know ahead of time that it will introduce a character that will be featured in 2023’s The Marvels alongside Captain Marvel (Brie Larson). You even know that the lead character is Kamala Khan, the first Muslim character to headline a Marvel comic series that also happens to be Jersey-based, and the six-episode series will find us learning about both Kamala the person and how she adapts to her new-found powers. Expect teasers to the upcoming film, and more. We are very much into Phase Four, and this series has direct implications for the MCU film it interacts with. There’s no way you can miss this. —khal