It’s that time of year when the world is falling in love and every song you hear seems to say: Not much new on TV! Don’t let that get you down; after all, this is just a list of premieres (and a curated one at that). There is a lot of to watch, whether from our list of the year’s best movies and television shows, or ongoing shows like Skeleton crewor even just pulling out a few of the holiday season (or holiday season) staples.
But don’t let that distract you from the week’s big headlines (non-holiday related): We’re going back in the Squid game! The doctor is back in over his head just in time for Christmas! Bad sisters is coming to an end!
Here are the best new TV premieres and finales this holiday week.
Genre: Dystopian competition
Release date: December 26, with all seven episodes
Showrunner/creator: Hwang Dong Hyuk
Form: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon, Lee Byung-hun and more
At the end of Squid game Season 1, Gi-hun was about to step out and leave his time in the competitions behind him. And then… he stopped. Season 2 picks up what happens next: He wants to get back into the game.
Doctor Who Christmas special
Genre: Sci-fi Christmas adventure
Release date: December 25 at 9:10am PST/12:10pm EST
Writer: Steven Moffat
Form: Ncuti Gatwa, Nicola Coughlan
You know the drill: it’s Christmas Day in our world, and in the Doctor’s (Ncuti Gatwa) – only his has some time-consuming silliness and we get to watch. “Joy to the World” is from 2024 WHO Christmas episode, and that’s what it entails Derry girls‘ Nicola Coughlan, a series of very strange events (as the trailer can attest), and what appears to be a lot of different worlds. Merry Christmas everyone indeed!
New shows on Apple TV Plus
Genre: Irish black comedy
Release date: December 25
Showrunner/creator: Sharon Horgan, Dave Finkel and Brett Baer
Form: Sharon Horgan, Eve Hewson, Fiona Shaw and more
After another season full of setbacks and (unfortunately) murders, the ‘evil’ sisters of Bad sisters roll into the season 2 finale. With bodies in their wake and betrayals still to be dealt with, what will this final episode bring for the sisters?