November is a huge month for blockbuster shows, crime dramas, and a little bit of sex and romance, too…Jenna Guillaume chooses the fresh new titles you should try out for yourself this month.
The Unlikely Murderer (Nov 5)
Coming to NetflixIf you’re into Nordic crime shows, this limited series is for you. Based on real events, it explores the assassination of the Swedish prime minister Olof Palme in 1986, and the mysterious man Stig Engström who for a long time was believed to be nothing more than a witness but later became a prime suspect. This dramatisation of events makes for a compelling thriller.
Dexter: New Blood (Nov 9)
Coming to Paramount+Dexter returns in an all-new series, as we find the character in hiding in small town New York, grappling with the reappearance of his son in his life. To say the end of the series was a disappointment would be an understatement—you’d be hard pressed to find even one fan who enjoyed it—and this new iteration seemingly seeks to correct some of the damage.
Showrunner Clyde Phillips is back in the role he performed for the first four—and best—seasons of the original show, which is promising, and the focus on the dynamic between Dexter and his son offers new layers to both the character and plot.
Dopesick (Nov 12)
Coming to Disney+There are a lot of “big pharma” conspiracy theories, but this series focuses on the very real and awful consequences of one American company’s dealings—Purdue Pharma and their drug Oxycontin, a painkiller that is believed to have driven the opioid epidemic in the US that has killed hundreds of thousands of people.
It’s a heavy show, but managed with sincerity and a seeming determination to right wrongs, with brilliant performances from a cast that includes Michael Keaton, Will Poulter, Kaitlyn Dever, and Peter Sarsgaard.
Christmas Flow (Nov 17)
Coming to Netflix‘Tis the season to enjoy Christmas entertainment! Yes, already. And the most wonderful kind of Christmas entertainment is, of course, the cheesy romances. In this French series, Netflix leans into the always-popular enemies-to-lovers trope as a feminist journalist and an apparently misogynistic rapper go head to head (and heart to heart).
It has all the glorious fun bits of holiday romances with the added bonus of making you feel more cultured: you know, coz it’s French.
The Sex Lives of College Girls (Nov 18)
Coming to BINGEMindy Kaling follows up her hit teen comedy Never Have I Ever with a take on college girls. As the name suggests, it’s a raunchy comedy about the lives and friendships of four 18-year-olds who live together in a college dorm.
It’s the kind of humour we often see explored in college movies and shows centred around boys, and so rarely explored for girls, so it’s exciting to see that tackled here with Kaling’s trademark wit.
Hellbound (Nov 19)
Coming to NetflixHellbound is a new South Korean series directed by Train to Busan’s Yeon Sang-ho, who also created the webtoon the show is based on. It’s a horror fantasy about supernatural ‘angels’ that tell people when they’re going to die, and then show up at that time to literally drag them to hell.
With audiences hungry for more dark Korean content after Squid Game, Hellbound is sure to be a hit—but perhaps one to watch with the lights on if you plan on sleeping afterwards.
Cowboy Bebop (Nov 19)
Coming to NetflixThe long-awaited live action adaptation of the cult anime series is here. Starring John Cho, Mustafa Shakir, Daniella Pineda, Elena Satine, and Alex Hassell, the 10-episode series is set in the year 2071 and follows a rag-tag group of bounty hunters aboard the spaceship Bebop.
It’s colourful, quirky, and over-the-top, and looks good enough to satisfy existing fans as well as reeling in new ones.
The Wheel of Time (Nov 19)
Coming to Prime VideoBased on Robert Jordan’s iconic book series, this show focuses on Moraine, a member of Aes Sedai—an organisation of women who use magic—who takes five young people on a journey around the world as she tries to figure out which of them is the reincarnation of the Dragon, who is prophesied to either save the world or destroy it.
There have been a few fantasy shows since Game of Thrones ended, but none have managed to fill the gap it left. While The Wheel of Time might not quite reach its heights (will anything ever again?), it stands a good chance of satisfying the cravings of many fans.
Hawkeye (Nov 24)
Coming to Disney+Hawkeye is the latest TV offering in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, focused on Jeremy Renner’s Clint Barton. He’s quite a divisive character in the MCU fandom, but what makes this show really exciting is the introduction of Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld), a popular comic character who Barton trains to take over the mantle of Hawkeye.
Vera Farmiga also stars, taking on the role of Kate Bishop’s mother Eleanor, while Florence Pugh reprises her Black Widow role of Yelena Belova, and Linda Cardanelli returns as Barton’s wife Laura. It’s obviously a must-watch for any Marvel fans.
