In the era of streaming, there are always new series to check out for viewers of all tastes, and the best TV shows to stream this week highlight that fact. With Netflix, Hulu, Max, and the other big-name streamers constantly putting out content, there are new shows and new episodes of hit series becoming available each week. With so much out there, it can be hard to keep track of everything that should be on the watchlist, but there are some notable titles worth pointing out.
This week continues with the recent string of shows that have been returning following a holiday for the first episodes of the new year. However, there are also some other big returning shows that fans have been waiting a long time for. This includes Mystic Quest, back for its fourth season, and The Recruit, back for its second season. There are some docuseries, looking at some profound moments in American history. There is even a new Marvel series that sees everyone’s favorite wall-crawler stepping into the animation world.
10
FBI – Midseason Premiere
Available January 29 On Paramount+
FBI
- Release Date
-
September 25, 2018
- Directors
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Dick Wolf
- Writers
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Dick Wolf
Along with some of the new series and new seasons that have premiered on streaming this week, there are also a number of shows making their return for a midseason premiere. This includes the entire FBI franchise. Beginning with FBI, the crime procedural followed agents as they took on the biggest cases in the country. The popularity of the series has led to two spinoffs thus far. FBI: Most Wanted deals with the fugitive task force tracking down notorious criminals while FBI: International deals with the FBI “Fly Team” dealing with threats against American citizens with missions abroad.
All three shows have returned to their CBS weekly airing schedule but will also be returning to Paramount+. FBI is in the middle of its seventh season, while FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International have resumed their sixth and fourth seasons, respectively.
9
Poppa’s House – Midseason Premiere
Available January 27 On Paramount+
Poppa’s House
- Release Date
-
October 21, 2024
- Directors
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Andy Ackerman
One of the biggest new sitcoms of the 2024/2025 television season is among the other shows making their midseason return. Poppa’s House is the much-hyped collaboration between the real-life father-son duo of Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr. The series follows the elder Wayans as a talk-radio host attempting to adjust to new aspects of his job while his adult son (Wayans Jr.) juggles being a family man and pursuing his career passions.
The two comedians have proven themselves on separate sitcoms, with Damon Wayans leading My Wife and Kids in the 2000s and Damon Wayans Jr. stealing the show as Coach on New Girl as well as his time on the underrated Happy Endings. However, it is a thrill to see them working together with their easy and funny chemistry being the thing that elevates this series.
8
Mo – Season 2
Available January 30 On Netflix
Mo
- Release Date
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2022 – 2024
- Network
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Netflix
- Directors
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Slick Naim
- Writers
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Sophia Lear, Adel Kamal, Azhar Usman, Iturri Sosa
One of the most underrated comedies on Netflix returns for a new season. Mo stars Mo Amer as a Palestinian refugee living in the United States and seeking asylum while constantly being unsure of his future in this country. He also has to make time for his romance, his eccentric family, and find any way to make money that he can without documentation.
The series has a sharp sense of humor, willing to even be very goofy at times. Amer is a skilled comedic actor and the series lets him shine in that regard. However, it is also a show that is not afraid to address the more dramatic elements of its story. Obviously, the release of season 2 happens to come at a time when a story like this is very timely and it is interesting to see how the show and its tone can speak to some of these real-world elements.
7
School Spirits – Season 2 Premiere
Available January 30 On Paramount+
School Spirits
- Release Date
-
March 9, 2023
- Writers
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Nate Trinrud, Megan Trinrud, Oliver Goldstick
The return of a supernatural teen series for a new season could see the underrated show reach more viewers. School Spirits is a Paramount+ original series that stars Peyton List as Maddie, a young high school student who suddenly finds herself living among the spirits who inhabit her school and unable to interact with the living. Assuming she has been murdered, she begins investigating what has happened to her while also trying to adjust to high school life in the afterlife.
There are some dark comedic moments mixed in with the murder mystery and supernatural fun.
The series balances a lot of interesting elements and fun tonal shifts. There are some dark comedic moments mixed in with the murder mystery and supernatural fun. The world-building of this community in the afterlife is also a lot of fun and it will be exciting to see how this is explored further in the second season.
6
Vietnam: The War That Changed America – Docuseries Premiere
Available January 31 On AppleTV+
2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon and the end of America’s involvement in the Vietnam War. To help mark the anniversary, Apple TV+ debuts an extensive and impactful docuseries that delves into one of the most defining elements of American history. Vietnam: The War That Changed America is an examination of the conflict as told by soldiers who fought in it. The docuseries takes a look at real and incredible footage while also locating people who are featured in the footage to discuss their experiences.
Undoubtedly, Vietnam: The War That Changed America is a harrowing look at a time of violence and tragedy as told by people who lost, suffered, and survived the conflict with lasting pain. However, there are also uplifting aspects with the docuseries featuring reunions between fellow soldiers. The six-part docuseries is narrated by Oscar-nominee Ethan Hawke.
5
American Manhunt: OJ Simpson – Docuseries
Available January 29 On Netflix
30 years after the OJ Simpson trial ended with its shocking verdict, it still remains a subject of fascination for the public at large. This can be further seen with yet another docuseries dedicated to the case. American Manhunt: OJ Simpson takes a look at the events leading up to the crime, the investigation, the trial itself, and the cultural impact it had in the aftermath of the verdict.
While there are not a lot of new elements to the case that can be revealed to the public at this point, American Manhunt: OJ Simpson dives a little deeper into the trial that gripped the country for months.
Along with revisiting some of these infamous moments that have become etched in history, the documentary speaks to several of the key players who were involved in the case, from lawyers to witnesses to police officers. While there are not a lot of new elements to the case that can be revealed to the public at this point, American Manhunt: OJ Simpson dives a little deeper into the trial that gripped the country for months.
4
The Bachelor – Season 29 Premiere
Available January 28 On Hulu
The Bachelor
- Release Date
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March 25, 2002
- Network
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Channel 5, BBC Three
One of the most popular and long-running reality dating series returns for a new season. The Bachelor helped to establish the premise of television shows examining love blooming between two real-life people. It centers on one eligible bachelor and a group of women who each think that they could be the ideal match for him. As they go on fun dates and share intimate conversations, the bachelor gradually narrows down the group until he is left with the one woman who he thinks could be his true love.
While other reality shows have added more extravagant aspects to the formula, many of them owe a lot to The Bachelor. The simple approach has worked well enough to bring the series to its 29th season now arriving featuring all-new bachelor, Grant Ellis, who was a fan-favorite contestant on season 21 of The Bachelorette.
3
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man – New Series
Available January 29 On Disney+
Following the success of X-Men ’97, fans are now treated to the next new Marvel animated series with Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. The show takes place in an alternate timeline within the multiverse and explores the early days of Peter Parker as he becomes the wall-crawling hero, Spider-Man. Of course, while doing that, he must also deal with his responsibilities as a high school student.
There are some connections to the MCU, such as the inclusion of Charlie Cox as Daredevil and Vincent D’Onofrio as Kingpin.
The series is a fun new Spider-Man adventure that takes some interesting new approaches to the mythology of the iconic hero. There will be characters from the comics, both allies and villains who appear, along with some original characters. There are some connections to the MCU, such as the inclusion of Charlie Cox as Daredevil and Vincent D’Onofrio as Kingpin. However, there are also some interesting changes, such as Colman Domingo’s take on Norman Osborne serving as the mentor figure to Spider-Man.
2
Mythic Quest – Season 4 Premiere
Available January 29 On Apple TV+
Mythic Quest
- Release Date
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February 7, 2020
- Network
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Apple TV+
- Showrunner
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Charlie Day
- Directors
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Todd Biermann, Pete Chatmon, Megan Ganz, Angela Barnes, Steve Welch, Catriona McKenzie, LP, Danny Pudi, Heath Cullens
One of Apple TV+’s best shows is back for a new season and plenty of new laughs. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia creator Rob McElhenney created and stars in Mythic Quest as Ian Grimm, the loudmouth and oblivious creator of a popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game. As the game prepares to add an expansion pack, Ian deals with his team of colorful characters who help to make that possible, often butting heads with them thanks to his massive ego.
Taking a look inside the world of video game creators is a fun and inventive approach to the typical workplace comedy, drawing similarities to the dysfunctional tech world seen in Silicon Valley. Season 4 of the show continues to cement it as one of the most underrated comedies on television, filled with clever writing and wonderful characters.
1
The Recruit – Season 2
Available January 30 On Netflix
The Recruit
- Release Date
-
December 16, 2022
- Network
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Netflix
- Directors
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Doug Liman
- Writers
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Alexi Hawley, George Ghanem, Amelia Roper, Hadi Deeb, Niceole R. Levy, Maya Goldsmith
Following the explosive and popular first season of The Recruit, the Netflix series returns to continue its exciting story. Noah Centineo stars in the series as Owen Hendricks, a young lawyer hired by the CIA who finds himself in the middle of an international conspiracy in his first week on the job after receiving a letter from a former asset. This puts him in the middle of the action, which is very much the last place he wants to be.
The second season of the show continues to find Owen out of his element yet still willing to be the hero as his globe-trotting attempts to save the world get bigger and more dangerous. It is an exciting thriller with a fun sense of humor. Centineo makes for a very entertaining lead while there are some fun additions to season 2, including Nathan Fillion.
