Here’s my Christmas watch list of must-see TV, NONE of which involve Santa, going home for the holidays or unlikely Christmas romances with a gal from the big smoke.
Suffice to say, this is a very subjective list. My taste is usually quirky and dark, but not always. There are some shows here that are very naughty (ahem, Rivals) and some that are just plain nice (Man on the Inside). Please note that I don’t go for big franchise shows.
Oh, and although this is a what to watch in December 2024, these are shows that are about to be or were released in the last couple of months–in case you’re planning on catching up on your viewing (and spending some quality time with the streaming service of your choice) over the holidays.
NETFLIX
Man on the Inside (November 2024)
A brand-new comedy and cosy mystery with Ted Danson set in a retirement home. This gentle, feel-good show is noteworthy for its cast of people aged mostly 75 plus, not a demographic we usually see represented on the box. Tonally it feels somewhere between Murder, She Wrote (without the murders) and Golden Girls (without the edgy jokes).
No Good Deed (December 12, 2024)
To say I’m excited about this show is an understatement. It comes from the makers of Dead to Me and seems to have the same irreverent, off-kilter vibe. The set up revolves around three different families vying to buy a 1920s style villa they think will be the home of their dreams. It will most probably turn into the home of their nightmares judging by the house sellers (played by Lisa Kudrow and Ray Romano) who seem to be hiding something…
Black Doves (December 5, 2024)
Nothing like an espionage thriller to cosy up to on a cold, winter’s night. Kiera Knightly, a member of a dodgy organization that trades in information, has been busy. She's married to a high-profile politician, having an affair and stealing state secrets (Santa won’t be leaving anything under the tree for her). No wonder she’s in a spot of bother as a result. Sam the assassin is sent to sort things out. Lots of shooting and dead bodies follow. Quite a few plotholes and questions of plausibility linger, but it's all done with such flair and good humour. Obviously, this isn't meant to be taken too seriously.
APPLE
Bad Sisters, S2 (November 2024)
Two years on from the murder of The Prick, an unresolved loose end causes the investigation to be reopened. The brilliant Fiona Shaw co-stars this time round and, although season two doesn’t quite hit the brilliance and novelty of season one, just being in the presence of the Garvey sisters (and Sharon Horgan in particular) is reason enough to hang around.
DISNEY+
Rivals (October 2024)
Well. It’s on Disney+ but of course there’s nothing PG about this. It’s an unapologetic bonk-fest with oodles of 80s over-the-top style and good humour. The hair. The shoulder pads. The soundtrack. It’s all here, together with plotlines that only Jilly Cooper could pull off. It’s a hugely enjoyable romp through the Cotswolds that is guaranteed to take your mind off reality for a few hours. Season 2 has already been greenlit!
Interior Chinatown (November 2024)
Willis Wu (delightfully played by Jimmy O. Yang), a background character stuck in a police procedural, hankers after something more. He’s bored of his tedious existence working at his uncle’s restaurant where nothing ever happens. Cue: something very exciting happens. With some big character action hero energy thrust upon him (whether he likes it or not), Willis uncovers some family secrets and underground criminal activity. A visually stunning piece of television depicting a stereotypical Chinatown of the 1970s, the show is directed and produced by Taika Waititi and based on a novel of the same name by Charles Yu.
AMAZON
The Sticky (December 6, 2024)
A comedy involving a maple syrup heist, Margo Martindale and Jamie Lee Curtis? Sounds like the perfect Christmas-time watch to me. The show is based on a true story (of course it is) which saw more than $18 million worth of maple syrup stolen from Quebec’s national reserves.
Peacock
Laid (December 19, 2024)
Based on an Australian dark comedy from 2011 with an insanely hooky concept: when a woman (Ruby, played by Stephanie Hsu) realises that her ex-lovers are dying in strange ways, she must figure out the cause and warn others who might be at risk. Zosia Mamet plays AJ, Ruby’s best friend, whose obsession with true crime makes her valuable asset in solving the mystery.
Merry Christmas, happy NY and happy watching!
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