From fresh seasons of favorite old shows to entirely new series, here’s our roundup of what you should be checking out on the box and the ‘flix in 2016. From Presidents to zombies and 70s disco to 80s Cold War, there’s a wonderful range of programming to get you through a miserable time of year.
House of Cards Season 4
Netflix
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright
You’ll like this if you liked: The Newsroom
After three seasons of watching psychopathic Frank Underwood manipulate and dodge his way to being President of the United States, we rejoin in season four to find him in pole position in the White House. And remember, we were left on the cliffhanger of the awesome Claire leaving him. The new Claire and Frank dynamic will keep us muttering the “just one more episode” Netflix refrain into the early hours once again.
Deutschland 83
Channel 4
Starring: Jonas Nay, Maria Schrader
You’ll like this if you liked: London Spy
Eight-parter Deutschland 83 sees Germany joining France and Scandinavia as deliverer of great TV. Telling the tale of Martin, a spy who is sent to steal NATO’s military secrets at the height of the Cold War, it goes far beyond a gripping thriller. As well made as Mad Men and packed with joyously nostalgic 80s pop culture references.
Chelsea Does
Netflix
Starring: Chelsea Handler
You’ll like this if you liked: Inside Amy Schumer
A four-part documentary series from Chelsea Handler looking into marriage, racism, Silicon Valley and drugs. Features Handler speaking to something which appears to be that doll’s head you used to practice make-up on when you were seven, having an orgasm. It’s intriguing, but as with anything Handler does, is also LOL funny.
Girls Season 6
Starring: Lena Dunham, Allison Williams
You’ll like this if you liked: Broad City
Hannah is still dating the disturbingly non-unhinged Fran, Shoshanna has disproved the theory that you can’t run away from your problems by doing exactly that in Japan, and Marnie is getting married. In other words, Girls is still the most sharply-observed and honest shows about being a 20-something and it will take about 30 seconds of season five to transport you right back into their world.
Blue Eyes
More4
Starring: Louise Peterhoff, Sven Nordin
You’ll like this if you liked: Borgen
A political conspiracy drama set in Sweden. The words “written by the people behind The Killing” should be enough to have you canceling on friends with a weak pretense of flu to watch this. There have been comparisons made to Borgen, but dare we say it, this is faster-paced, juicier and far more gripping, dealing with Neo Nazis and extremism.
Vinyl
HBO
Starring: Bobby Cannavale, Olivia Wilde, Ray Romano
You’ll like this if you liked: Empire
Telling the fictional story of music executive Richie Finestra trying to hustle a career at the dawn of 70s punk, disco and hip-hop, this show is a riotous, sexy behemoth made by Martin Scorsese, Mick Jagger and Wolf Of Wall Street writer Terence Winter. Conceived back in 2006, it’s subject to a lot of expectations, and with an unstoppable frenzy of gangsters and sex all set to a 70s soundtrack, it more than lives up to it. “So this is my story, clouded by lost brain cells and maybe a little bullshit,” says Richie in the trailer.
Better Call Saul Season 2
Netflix
Starring: Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks
You’ll like this if you liked: Breaking Bad
Season one delved into the back-story of Breaking Bad‘s Saul AKA Jimmy McGill, and by the finale, potentially provided the catalyst for why he went rogue when he was betrayed by his brother. Season two promises more insight and thanks to Bob Odenkirk as Saul, this is Netflix at its sharpest. Perfect for winter binge viewing.
Lucifer
Amazon Prime
Starring: Tom Ellis, Lesley-Ann Brandt
You’ll like this if you liked: Gotham
The latest DC Comics adaptation, following in the footsteps of Gotham and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Lucifer is the story of the eponymous anti-hero who ditches his day job in hell to move to LA, where he helps the LAPD solve crimes. It has its tongue firmly in its cheek.
Heartless, Walter Presents
Starring: Sebastian Jessen, Julie Zangenberg
You’ll like this if you liked: True Blood
Scandi alert again: this time with the kudos of both the writer of The Bridge and the director of The Killing, which sounds like it could be a case of two beautiful parents creating an unfortunate-looking child. In Heartless, the magic works though. It’s beautiful, sexy and there is a certain amount of Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go to this tale of a brother and sister at boarding school, cursed so that everyone they kiss burns to death.
The Walking Dead Season 6, Part 2
Fox
Starring: Andrew Lincoln, Chandler Riggs
You’ll like this if you liked: The Leftovers
The Walking Dead returns for the final part of season six, where Daryl, Sasha and Abraham are confronted by Negan, the leader of machine-gun carrying biker gang The Saviors. There may have been momentary dips in the quality of this beast of a show over the last season but part two will more than satisfy fans with its fast-paced plot, strong acting and just the right amount of the obligatory zombie cliché.
Credits
Text Caroline Corcoran