2017 is here and should prove to be another huge year for TV fans, with hundreds of returning shows and dozens of exciting new series which could become favorites. It’ll be some time before we know exactly what the fall TV season will look like, but there are plenty of fantastic-looking midseason TV shows headed our way very soon. Here’s a look at some of those and everything else that fans should be looking forward to on TV in 2017 (so far).
2017: THE NEW SHOWS
Emerald City
NBC is following the yellow brick road to Oz in Emerald City, a brand new series based on the L. Frank Baum classic. In this version, debuting January 6, 20-year-old Dorothy Gale and her police dog are swept into the mystical land of Oz in a way that will be familiar to fans of the original. But this Oz has been completely reimagined – it’s a place where familiar characters show up in unexpected ways, and where an unsuspecting young woman holds the fate of kingdoms in her hands.
Taboo
Tom Hardy stars in this FX drama miniseries about an early 1800s adventurer who returns to Britain from Africa along with fourteen stolen diamonds to seek vengeance after the death of his father. Created from a story co-written by Hardy and his father, Taboo premieres Tuesday, January 10 on FX.
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Based on the children’s novel series of the same name, A Series of Unfortunate Events is coming to Netflix on January 13. The series stars Neil Patrick Harris as Count Olaf and Patrick Warburton as narrator Lemony Snicket, along with Malina Weissman, Louis Hynes and Presley Smith. For those unfamiliar with the story, it follows the three Baudelaire children who, after the loss of their parents in a mysterious fire, face trials and tribulations attempting to uncover dark family secrets. Fans of the original novels will be happy to hear that the Netflix series is expected to be darker in tone than the film adaptation, which many considered to be too humor-focused.
Victoria
An ITV production coming to PBS’ Masterpiece on January 15, Victoria stars Doctor Who alum Jenna Coleman as the young British monarch, from her accession to the throne at the age of 18 through to her courtship and marriage to Prince Albert. The first season of the anticipated period drama, which runs a total of eight episodes, has already run in the UK to positive audience reception.
The Young Pope
Coming soon to HBO, The Young Pope stars Jude Law in the controversial story of the beginning of Pius XIII’s pontificate. Born Lenny Belardo, he is a complex and conflicted character, so conservative in his choices as to border on obscurantism, yet full of compassion towards the weak and poor. The first American pope, Pius XIII is a man of great power who is stubbornly resistant to the Vatican courtiers, unconcerned with the implications to his authority.
Riverdale
All you need to know about Riverdale is that it’s a teen drama on The CW based on classic Archie Comics characters, but with a little bit of Twin Peaks-style mystery and weirdness mixed in. And, frankly, if that’s not enough to pique your interest, I’m not sure what will. Set in the present-day, the series is a subversive take on Archie, Betty, Veronica and their friends (like Josie and the Pussycats), exploring the surreality of small-town life — the darkness bubbling beneath Riverdale’s wholesome facade. Riverdale premieres Friday, January 26 on The CW.
Powerless
“It’s a superhero’s world. We just live in it.” That’s the tagline for NBC’s new DC Comics-based comedy, Powerless, which is exactly what it sounds like: a show about regular people in a world populated by super-powered heroes and villains. Vanessa Hudgens stars as Emily Locke, a woman who lands her dream job at Wayne Security (yes, Bruce Wayne). She quickly learns that her aspirations far exceed those of her new boss (played by Alan Tudyk) and officemates, so it will be up to her to lead the team toward their full potential and the realization that you don’t need superpowers to be a hero. Powerless premieres February 2.
24: Legacy
24: Legacy has the men and women of America’s CTU dealing with new threats, but Jack Bauer is nowhere in sight this time around. The spin-off’s new hero is Eric Carter, played by Corey Hawkins, who works under the direction of CTU head Rebecca Ingram (Miranda Otto). Carter, a former Army Ranger, returns to the U.S. and must deal with the trouble that follows him home while trying to stop the largest terrorist attacks on American soil. The story, just like the original series, is told in real time. 24: Legacy premieres Sunday, February 5 on FOX right after the Super Bowl.
Legion
FX’s Legion stars David Haller (Dan Stevens) as the mutant son of Charles Xaiver who is diagnosed with schizophrenia at a young age and has bene a patient in various mental hospitals ever since. His world is changed when he has a fateful encounter with another patient who reveals that there may be more to him than mental illness. Rachel Keller, Jean Smart, Aubrey Plaza, Jeremie Harris, Amber Midthunder, Katie Aselton, and Bill Irwin also star. The show’s shared universe connection status is murky, and while it could ultimately link up with the X-Men films (or even the MCU if a deal was reached), that seems unlikely.
Marvel’s Iron Fist
Premiering March 11 on Netflix, Marvel’s Iron Fist is the latest installment in the gritty side of the MCU following the street-level heroes of Hell’s Kitchen. But Danny Rand’s story beings elsewhere. While on an expedition in China, Danny’s family meets a tragic fate and he’s adopted by the people of the mystical lost city of K’un-Lun, where he’s taught a magical fighting style. Returning to New York City after being missing for years, Rand fights against the criminal element corrupting his neighborhood with kung-fu mastery and the ability to summon the awesome power of the fiery Iron Fist.
2017: RETURNING TV FAVORITES
Sherlock
Sherlock is #221Back. The fourth series of the sleuth-y drama, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, has begun airing on the BBC One in the UK and PBS Masterpiece in the US. While Sherlock writers Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss have been mostly mum on the subject, it’s possible that we’re down to the final three episodes of the fan-favorite series. The season 4 finale, “The Final Problem,” airs on January 15.
Voltron Legendary Defender
Team Voltron has been scattered throughout the universe in the aftermath of a perilous battle with Zarkon, Haggar and the evil Galra Empire. Working to bring the lions back together to form Voltron again, the Paladins’ plan to defeat the Galra once and for all takes them across the universe in search of new worlds and unexpected allies. Find out if their plot to take down Zarkon succeeds when Season 2 of DreamWorks Voltron Legendary Defender premieres on Netflix January 20, 2017.
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones won’t be back on HBO until the summer — rather than the usual spring premiere — but fans are already feverishly anticipating the show’s penultimate season. Will we see a Stark reunion this season? Seems likely, but story details are being kept tightly under wraps. That said, all signs point to an epic showdown between Cersei and Dany this season.
The Flash
Barry Allen just can’t stop messing around with the timeline. And as The Flash returns for the second half of the season, we’ll see Barry doing everything in his power to change the future in order to save Iris from Savitar. Can he do it without screwing things up even worse? That remains to be seen. The Flash returns in January along with the other CW DC favorites Arrow, Supergirl, and Legends of Tomorrow.
The Walking Dead
As The Walking Dead delves into “All Out War” territory from the comic, we’ll see Rick’s group and the other survivor factions take the fight to Negan. Who will survive? After the shocking premiere, it seems unlikely that another member of the main cast will die this season, but this is The Walking Dead, so…
LATER THIS YEAR
Doctor Who
Coming in April, Doctor Who is back for its tenth season with 12 new episodes and a brand new co-star for Peter Capaldi’s Doctor. Bill, played by Pearl Mackie, is the Doctor’s newest traveling companion. This season marks the final outing of Steven Moffat as series showrunner.
Prison Break
This May, FOX’s Prison Break returns with original series starts Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell, who are ready to make their biggest escape yet. Yes, they’re bringing Michael back from the dead. And, yes, we’re totally here for it.
Fargo
The third season of FX’s Fargo stars Ewan McGregor as two brothers, Emmit and Ray Stussy. Yes, you read that right. Emmit is the “Parking Lot King of Minnesota,” and Ray is his pot-bellied littler brother. We aren’t sure where the violence and mayhem comes in, but expect plenty of it. Carrie Coon and Mary Elizabeth Winstead also star.
Star Trek Discovery
Star Trek Discovery is coming to the CBS All Access streaming service in May. Set approximately a decade before the events of the original Star Trek TV series, Discovery follows Rainsford (Sonequa Martin-Green) and her fellow starship crewmates. Not much is known about the season-long storyline except that it revolves around a previously mentioned, but unexplored incident in Trek lore. Doug Jones will play Saru, a science officer, Anthony Rapp is Stamets, and Michelle Yeoh is Captain Georgiou.
Twin Peaks
There’s no premiere date yet, but Twin Peaks is returning later this year in the form of a limited-run series on Showtime. The long-awaited David Lynch and Mark Frost-penned reprise stars many original cast members as well as a slew of other big names who’ve signed on for what’s super to be a weird, wild ride.
Marvel’s Inhumans
We don’t know what Marvel has planned for their ABC Inhumans series, but fans of the comics are hoping to see a small-screen Game of Thrones-style series about Black Bolt and his Royal Family. And while it’s on the same network, don’t expect this series to have anything to do with the Inhuman storyline on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Inhumans premieres with a movie event in August, before premiering on ABC in September.
Marvel’s The Defenders and The Punisher
Marvel will team-up the street level heroes on Netflix later this year in The Defenders, which pits Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist against an as-yet-unknown adversary played by Sigourney Weaver. It’s possible that the Punisher will make an appearance on The Defenders, but he’s also set to get his own Netflix series later in 2017.
