The Crown, Series Six, Netflix
Whether your relationship with The Crown is patchy or passionate, it would be a shame to miss the final series. Plus, Elizabeth Debicki really is exquisite as Diana, Princess of Wales. The FT says: ‘The Crown [remains] a burnished, headily perfumed soap full of sumptuous settings, meticulous details and faithful performances.’ Watch it.
Percy Jackson And The Olympians, Disney +
At last, there is a good TV series to watch with your children. Fans of Rick Riordan’s fantasy books, which draw on Greek mythology and have sold over 20 million copies worldwide, are in for a treat. Quality is assured, because Riordan is a co-writer and executive producer on the show, which premieres on December 20. Watch it.
The Winter King, ITVX
This take on the Arthurian legend is based on Bernard Cornwell’s Warlord Chronicles. Filmed in Wales and the west country, the series is beautifully shot. The Winter King is the sort of sweeping epic that is perfect for frosty nights. Watch it.
A Nearly Normal Family, Netflix
It is high time we had a good bit of Scandi-noir to get our teeth into. In this Netflix original series, based on a novel of the same name by M.T. Edvardsson, the life of an apparently perfect family is shattered when its teenaged daughter is accused of murder. The story asks: how far will you go to protect the people you love? Watch it.
Lessons In Chemistry, Apple TV
The novel on which this series is based has rarely been out of the bestseller lists since it was published in March 2022. Set in pastel-coloured 1950s America, it depicts the triumph of a gutsy female scientist over the exasperating patriarchal society in which she lives. Brie Larson, playing the heroine, is brilliant. Watch it.
All The Light We Cannot See, Netflix
The inspiration for this series was Anthony Doerr’s Pulitzer Prize-winning war novel of the same name. Prepare to weep as the lives of a blind French girl and a German soldier collide in occupied France in WWII. Hugh Laurie and Mark Ruffalo star in Steven Knight’s adaptation. The Guardian says: ‘It’s beautifully lit, lovingly shot – it looks gorgeous.’ Watch it.
Doctor Who, iPlayer
If none of the above tickles your fancy, head to BBC iPlayer. They have released every episode there has ever been of Doctor Who, as the series celebrates its 60th birthday with great fanfare. Watch it.
Becky Ladenburg
December 2023
