Bring on The Binge! | A Sneak Peek of the Most Anticipated TV Seasons of 2017
By KARL R. De MESA
Raise your hands, those who found solace in 2016’s Stranger Things, Westworld, Daredevil and other breakthrough series that prove we are truly living in the golden age of TV.
Though you may feel a pang of cold pain from the fact that HBO’s Westworld won’t be back until 2018, you must be of good cheer, since 2017 still holds a fruit basket of goodies for the binge-watcher. Three words, baby: Winter is here.
Here’s a slew of awesome new and continuing series and what we can expect or want to expect from the stories of some of the best entertainment on the small screen.
8. MIDNIGHT, TEXAS
Miss True Blood? Then you must try a taste of this one from author Charlaine Harris, the same woman who penned the adventures of Sookie Stakchouse and her vampire loves. Directed by Niels Arden Oplev (same guy who directed the Golden Globe winner Mr. Robot) this show is set to run through 2017 starting middle of next year on NBC, albeit it won’t have the nudity and graphic violence viewers have gotten used to in the HBO series.
The show follows the story of renegade psychic and occultist Manfred BernardoIn (François Arnaud, Cesare Borgia in, well, The Borgias) when he seeks a new home in a remote part of Texas. Said idyllic town is jam-packed with witches, vampires, more supernatural beings than you can shake a stick at making their haven there. Looks awesome from the trailer alone and we do know how Ms. Harris delivers on the supernatural spooks and drama front.
7. POWERLESS
What would it be like for ordinary people, living in a world full of superheroes? Let Vanessa Hudgens, Danny Pudi, and Alan Tudyk illustrate it for you as common joes living in the DC world of demi-gods and metahumans in a series that should air on January 2017.
I have high hopes for the comedic tone and storytelling range of this one, airing on NBC, not only to see the likes of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and, as seen in the trailer, Crimson Fox, but also as a commentary on how disenfranchising and mind-wrecking it must be to experience daily suffering during super people battles. The fact that the main characters are all employees of an insurance company tasked with figuring out the damages caused by battles between super-heroes and super-villains should be double the laughs.
6. MARVEL’S IRON FIST
Next year, Netflix will also release The Defenders, The Punisher, and Stranger Things’ second season, among other shows. But this 13-episode first season of Iron Fist is truly one of the more exciting ones on the release plate not only for fans of the character, but also for martial arts and action movie aficionados everywhere.
The series follows Danny Rand, an orphan who has been missing for 15 years who returns to New York City to claim his family business but runs into quite a bit of resistance. Thing is, these thugee hoohas have no idea that Danny was raised by Buddhist monks and trained in “the way of the iron fist.” It’s set to premiere on Netflix on March 17, 2017. Haiii yaaa!
5. TWIN PEAKS, SEASON 3
If you didn’t see the masterful mindfuck that was David Lynch’s 1990s TV show, then do yourself a favor and see it now.
What The Wire was for the pioneering development of crime TV, Twin Peaks was to the supernatural and surreal mystery set. The story followed the inhabitants of a northwestern US town who were stunned after their homecoming queen, Laura Palmer, was shockingly murdered. The town’s sheriff welcomed the help of FBI agent Dale Cooper, who came to aid in investigating the case. As Cooper conducted his search for Laura’s killer, the town’s secrets were gradually exposed and many dark revelations ensued.
With original co-creators David Lynch (the whole thing is entirely directed by him, too)and Mark Frost on board and in control, this new third season is set to run as a limited series on SHOWTIME with an airing release of “first-half to midyear, the early side of mid-year 2017” (according to Showtime execs).
Expect many familiar faces in familiar roles , including Kyle MacLachlan as FBI Agent Dale Cooper.
