Winter in Northwest Indiana is enough to make anyone want to crawl under the covers until May. Binge-watching is a must for those unbelievably cold, dark days, so here’s a line-up of all of the awesome series hitting T.V. and streaming this spring.
January 3rd
The X-Files: Season 11 8 p.m. - FOX
We all can remember this awesome sci-fi series from years past, and the redux from last year did not disappoint with Scully and Mulder continuing their search through the unknown. These newer seasons have touched on a more serious tone, making commentary on the current state of the world and tying in compelling, real-life conspiracy theories that make you wonder. “The truth is out there.”
Chicago P.D.: Season 5 10 p.m. - NBC
This Chicago Fire spin-off follows the Chicago Police Department, and the men and women who serve in the Windy City. Many of the stories as well as the city-scape background are sure to touch any Regioner and ring familiar about the good and bad of their neighboring metropolis.
The grown-ish: Season 1 8 p.m. - NBC
Following “Black-ish,” this spin-off follows Zoey Johnson as she heads off to college. It’s sure to diversely depict the growing pains of young adults entering into the next stages of their lives, while also trying to figure out who they are, and where their futures will lead.
January 4th
The Big Bang Theory: Season 11 8 p.m. - CBS
Penny, Howard, Leonard, Rajesh, Sheldon and Bernadette all return in a fresh season of Big Bang Theory as the scientific misfits we all know and quote. After 10 seasons, these characters have held onto their charm, but have also grown in to who they are and in their relationships with each other.
January 5th
Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Season 5 9 p.m. - ABC
Created by the ever-creative Joss Whedon who championed The Avengers and more, this series follows Marvel Comic’s Agent Phil Coulson and his team of agents. The wild situations and out-of-this-world characters the agents must deal with also equals out to action-packed fun, much like all of Marvel’s productions.
January 7th
The Chi: Season 1 10 p.m - Showtime
Another Chicago-based series, this new show follows a group of characters and their intertwining lives in the South Side of Chicago. This show looks at the residents of the South Side and seeks to show the personal, real side of timely political issues.
January 9th
This Is Us: Season 2 9 p.m. - NBC
This Is Us captivated many with its relatability and raw honesty when it premiered. It’s comedic, yet at times dramatic tones flow through the stories of three siblings growing up and facing struggles, showing their flaws and triumphs while breaking stereotypes.
January 14th
Bob's Burgers: Season 8 7:30 p.m. - Fox
After seven seasons, this quirky animated show looks into the strange lives of a burger restaurant-owning family.
JJanuary 18th
Grey's Anatomy: Season 14 8 p.m. - ABC
The long-standing medical drama has weathered the years, following five surgical interns and the host of medical staff around them, as well as the patients whose lives they seek to save daily. This season is said to be even more raw and dynamic, with a big opener to the new season.
Portlandia: Season 8 10 p.m. - IFC
The hilarious Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein return in another parody parade poking fun at the hipster culture of Portland, Oregon. Steve Buscemi, Kirsten Dunst, Jeff Goldblum, Jack White and more have guest starred in various skits, and this next season is sure to deliver just as many awesome cameos and hilarious characters.
January 23rd
Drunk History: Season 5 10 p.m. - Comedy Central
Polish off those pint glasses and crack open the history book, the 5th season of drunk history is finally here. Once again, we can enjoy a menagerie of historic tails told by inebriated comedians and reenacted with a surprisingly well-made production starring pretty big names. I’m excited to see what events and people from the past are dredged up in drunken and ever-clever fashion this season.
February 12th
DC's Legends of Tomorrow: Season 3 8 p.m. - The CW
Another superhero-centered, action-packed series for comic book lovers. After battling with the Legion of Doom in their past conquests, this new season throws a whole other wicked menace The Legends’ way.
February 23rd
The Tick: Season 1 - Amazon
Some of you may remember this odd-ball cartoon from back in the day, I know I do. Filling in the shoes of the beloved Tick, Peter Serafinowicz takes the part of the blue, clueless hero with the young Arthur at his side. With the continuation of season 1, this live-action take will prove as fun and quirky as the cartoon.
February 25th
Ash vs. Evil Dead: Season 3 9 p.m. - Starz
Ash, of the infamous Evil Dead movies, rises again in this series chronicling his brushes with the powerful and gruesome creatures he battled in his youth. Set in Elk Grove, Michigan, Ash finds a whole other hoard of evil to fight, but along with it a set of friends to help him.
March 2nd
Once Upon a Time: Season 7 8 p.m. - ABC
This whimsical series captured audiences with its modern and unique take on fairy tales, clashing real-life characters with fantasy.
March 8th
Marvel's Jessica Jones: Season 2 - Netflix
This interesting take on the superhero genre earns major credit. Jessica Jones is not the average wall-busting, power-hitting heroine. After a brief time as a super hero that ended in tragedy and resulted in PTSD, Jones works as a private investigator, helping those who, like her, have special abilities.
March 27th
Roseanne: Season 10 8 p.m. - ABC
The long-awaited revival of this beloved sitcom is finally here. Roseanne returns in all of her glory two decades later, with original stars in tow such as John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Sara Gilbert, Michael Fishman, Lecy Goranson and Sarah Chalke.
March 30th
A Series of Unfortunate Events: Season 2 - Netflix
Any Lemony Snicket fan will tell you, the Baudelaire orphans’ troubles never end. In this continuation of this wonderfully brought to life series, Neil Patrick Harris as Count Olaph plans a whole new slew of heinous schemes that go to a new level this season.
April, Date TBA
The Handmaid's Tale - Hulu
Finally, we get to see the continuation of Margaret Atwood’s dystopian masterpiece. Not giving away too many spoilers for those who haven’t finished previous seasons, the story centers on Offred, in the totalitarian Gilead, formerly the Unites States. As the enslaved female inhabitants begin to unite under the oppression of the patriarchal dictatorship, we begin to see hope among the grotesque practices of the society. Last we left off on a cliff-hangar, that escape may be possible, yet unknown to our leading heroine.
Staff Picks
Our show-saavy staff have compiled their favorite watch-worthy picks for spring 2018 and beyond, some of which have been announced for their premiere date, and some of which we are awaiting with anticipation.
“I am very excited about Once Upon a Time and The Venture Brothers. The Venture Brothers is said to not be premiering until November, but I am super excited. Love all the characters in the show and cannot wait to see what happens next! Once Upon a Time I am very behind with, so I am catching up to the last season going into the new one.” - Stephanie Swearington, Business and Client Development Specialist
Once Upon a Time: March 2nd
The Venture Brothers: November 11th
"I’m looking forward to so many shows, but I have to say the one I want to see the most is the fifth season of Joaquim Dos Santos’ Voltron: Legendary Defender. Dos Santos is known for another favorite show of mine, Avatar: The Last Airbender and its sequel The Legend of Korra. As a child of the 80s, one of the cheesy shows that I enjoyed was Voltron, a sci fi story that centered around 5 humans that become the paladins, or pilots, of five individual, near invincible spacecraft that are shaped like lions and can combine to form a super robot named Voltron (complete with huge butt-kicking sword!)."
"The animation is excellent, but it is the writing in the show’s story arcs that really draw you in. Well thought out, and avoiding most of the go-to tropes that litter most sci fi epics, Voltron is not just another animated kids show. While children (around 10+ years old) can watch it and appreciate it, it is clearly made for, and by those of us who grew up with the original show in the 80s. 10/10 will watch again…and again…and again…"- Jonathan Eddy, Contributing Editor
Voltron: Legendary Defender: Spring 2018, TBA
"I don’t want people getting the wrong idea that I’m not going to binge watch Orange is the New Black and Stranger Things when their next seasons premiere, but I’m going to have to go with Glow for this one. When I originally tried to watch it the first time, I fell asleep and thought maybe it was because it didn’t keep my focus, but when I gave it a second chance, I watched five episodes straight through, so we can just go ahead and blame the first time on me trying out a new show at midnight instead of just going to sleep." - Angela Abina, Coverage Team
Orange is the New Black: June 2018, Date TBA
Stranger Things: TBA
"We live in the golden age of television, but I am probably most excited about the return of Rick and Morty, assuming it DOES come out this year. It is such an amazing show that combines hilarity and sci-fi absurdity to make for a very entertaining, humorous, and thought-provoking show. They can take something as ridiculous as someone turning themselves into a pickle and turn it into a very interesting and hilarious concept of using intelligence to essentially engineer your way out of such an absurd predicament. David Deutsch, a British physicist at Oxford famous for pioneering quantum computation, even commented on the episode. The show creators have created a very interesting world and the show has infinite rewatchability, but I want new episodes!" – Peter Krivas, Contributing Editor
Rick and Morty: TBA
"I’m most excited for Season 2 of American Gods! It’s a STARZ show, so I’ll probably get a channel subscription through Amazon Prime to watch. I’m really excited because I was a huge fan of the book – I love Neil Gaiman’s work, so to see it on screen, and see how they explore each of the characters more in depth has been a lot of fun." - Jennifer Bissonnette, Contributing Editor
American Gods- Spring 2018 TBA
"One show I can’t wait to start watching again is Brooklyn Nine-Nine. I’ve watched it since the show began back in 2013 and it is one that I always laugh at and genuinely enjoy watching. The acting, especially from Andre Braugher, Stephanie Beatriz, and Chelsea Peretti, is fun, entertaining, and so different from a lot of other comedy shows. The writing is also always fun, witty, and goofy, but offers some great arcs and development for all of the characters, which gives the show a feeling that it is evolving and growing up, something a lot of shows fail to do in later seasons."
"And most importantly I believe, it offers some great representation for everyone- people of color, LGBTQ+ people, women, and men. It’s refreshing to watch a show that I think is inclusive and welcoming of everyone, while also keeping it’s goofy charm intake for almost five years! It’s a show that I really enjoy watching every week and I can’t wait for it to come back! It’s on Fox, but I usually watch it on Hulu." – Allison Tunstall, Contributing Editor
Brooklyn Nine-Nine: January 4, 2018
