December brings good cheer and good television as we enter the busy holiday season. There is much to look forward to on this month’s Anticipation Report with six of the new and returning shows belonging to the streaming behemoth, Netflix. However, basic cable network SyFy takes the No. 1 position with its highly anticipated series, Nightflyers. Based on George R. R. Martin’s novella, the show follows a team of scientists in 2093 as they embark on a journey to make contact with alien life. Although very different from Martin’s other fantasy epic, Game of Thrones, Nightflyers promises to deliver on its share of violence and adventure.
Next up is the Netflix original, The Protector (No. 2), on December 14th. The Turkish series tracks a young shopkeep, named Hakan, who sets off on a quest to solve mysteries from his past while protecting his hometown from mystic immortals. Also, making a splash on the same date is Tidelands (No. 3). This is Australia's first Netflix original and it tells the story of a former criminal who returns home only to uncover the secrets of Orphelin Bay, and the dangerous half-sirens, half-humans known as “Tidelanders.”
Continuing our trip around the globe, the South Korean series, Memories of the Alhambra, debuts on both tvN and Netflix. In Memories of the Alhambra, Yoo Jin-woo visits Granada, Spain, on business and becomes entangled in an incident at a hostel run by a Korean woman that results in suspense and romance. And finally, we’re going out of this world for 3Below: Tales of Arcadia (No. 5). Created by director Guillermo del Toro and Dreamworks Animation, this Netflix original visits two royal aliens and their bodyguard who escape from their home planet and crash to Earth. The computer-animated series features several familiar voices such as Diego Luna, Tatiana Maslany, Nick Offerman, Glenn Close, and Kelsey Grammer.
Many fan favorites return next month including Marvel’s Runaways (No. 1). In Season 2, the Runaways have left their homes and evil parents behind and now must come together for better or worse to take down super villain team, PRIDE. However, one member of the group might not be who they claim to be …
After winning both the Emmy and Golden Globe for ‘Best Comedy Series,’ The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (No. 2) Season 2 finally arrives on December 5th to Prime Video. The second season focuses on Midge hitting the road towards stand-up stardom as she tries to balance life as a mother, daughter and “wife-ish.” Netflix’s teen dramedy, Alexa & Katie (No. 3), enters its second season and second year of high school. On top of the teen drama and schoolwork, the pair of friends will also deal with Alexa’s health and how cancer affects her and those around her. At the No. 4 position is the Canadian sci-fi series Travelers. On December 14th, special agent Grant MacLaren (Eric McCormack) and his team of “travelers” are pushed to the limit as their existence is now known to the world. And yet, the group must remain under the watchful eye of the FBI.
Steven Universe (Cartoon Network) takes the No. 5 spot and premieres on December 17th. While not much is known about the next installment, aside from its name “Diamond Days,” fans are excited for the return of Steven and the Crystal Gems.
What will 2019 bring? With so many shows to look forward to in the new year like Brooklyn Nine-Nine debuting on NBC, the return of True Detective, and the premieres of Showtime’s Black Monday and Syfy’s Deadly Class - only time will tell! Stay tuned for our next Anticipation Report closer to the new year.
DID YOU KNOW? Currently network, basic, and premium cable are set to wrest control away from streaming providers on our January Anticipation Report. 8 out of 10 of our top anticipated new and returning shows are on linear television. Any guess who the likely contenders would be?
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