The barrage of TV – and great TV – continues apace in 2024, with many intriguing new and returning shows launching their seasons this week.
The headline: Ncuti Gatwa’s tenure as the Fifteenth Doctor begins in earnest this week, with two new episodes following up on the late 2023 winter specials. But that’s not all: Netflix has a new murder mystery set in Ireland starring Will Forte, Interview with a vampire returns for its long-awaited second season on AMC, and Apple TV has their seemingly contractually obligated new sci-fi series of the month.
These are the best new TV premieres and finales hitting TV this week.
New shows on Netflix
Bodkin
Genre: Murder journalistic research mystery
Date of publication: May 9, with all episodes
Showrunner/creator: Jez Scharf
Form: Will Forte, Siobhán Cullen, Robyn Cara and more
An American podcaster (Will Forte) hoping to reconnect with his Irish heritage heads to a coastal town in Ireland, where he teams up with an investigative journalist (Siobhán Cullen) to investigate the sudden disappearance of three residents.
New shows on Disney Plus
Doctor who
Genre: Proven science fiction about time travel
Date of publication: May 11, with two episodes
Showrunner/creator: Russell T Davies
Form: Ncuti Gatwa, Millie Gibson and more
Doctor who is back! After a trio of 60th anniversary specials (and a Christmas special) saw the return of showrunner Russell T. Davies to the show and the introduction of Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor, their time together begins in earnest with two new episodes.
New shows on Hulu
Black Twitter: The History of a People
Genre: Docuseries
Date of publication: The 9th of May
This three-part docuseries based on a WIRED article tells the story of how Black users on Twitter helped make the platform the powerhouse it was.
New programs on Max
Pretty Little Liars: Summer School
Genre: Teenage cats (and murder)
Date of publication: May 9 with two episodes
Showrunner/creator: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa & Lindsay Calhoon perform
Form: Bailee Madison, Chandler Kinney, Zaria, Malia Pyles, Maia Reficco and Mallory Bechtel
The second season of the fourth series in the Pretty Little Liars franchise is here. After the tragic events of the first season lead to understandably poor grades, the girls have to go to summer school to move on to freshman year. But another mystery – and possibly another killer – lurks around the corner.
New programs on Prime Video
The goat
Genre: Reality Stars reality show competition
Date of publication: The 9th of May
Host: Daniel Tosh
Form: Reality show stars
14 reality stars compete in various challenges in what appears to be Prime Video’s answer The traitors.
New programs on AMC Plus
Interview with a vampire season 2
Genre: Horror romance (ish)
Date of publication: May 12, with one episode
Showrunner/creator: Rolin Jones
Form: Jacob Anderson, Sam Reid, Bailey Bass and more
The long wait is over. AMC is excellent interview with the vampire adaptation finally returns for a delightful second season.
New shows on Apple TV Plus
Dark matter
Genre: Science Fiction
Date of publication: May 8 with two episodes
Created and based on the book by: Blake Crouch
Form: Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Connelly and more
Apple TV Plus’s latest sci-fi series has a number of things going for it: Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly as the leads; alternate dimension hijinks; Jimmi Simpson. But perhaps most intriguing is the fact that Dark matter author Blake Crouch is also writing the television adaptation and serving as an executive producer on the project.