Best winter TV shows: True Detective, Star Trek: Discovery, more

1 of 17

True Detective

Warrick Page/HBO

The second season of True Detective may have turned off some early fanatics of this anthology series, but season 3 has an ace up its sleeve: Mahershala Ali. The Oscar winner plays Vietnam-vet-turned-state-detective Wayne Hays, who’s investigating the disappearance of two children in the Ozarks in the 1980s.

Premieres Jan. 13 on HBO.

2 of 17

Star Trek: Discovery

Ben Mark Holzberg/CBS

Spock and Captain Pike are back in season 2, which feels like a return to the original series.

Premieres Jan. 17 on CBS All Access.

3 of 17

I Am the Night

Clay Enos/TNT

Wonder Woman dream team Patty Jenkins and Chris Pine reunite for a noir miniseries about a woman who discovers her birth family has a troubling connection to the notorious Black Dahlia murder.

Premieres Jan. 28 on TNT.

Continued on next slide.

4 of 17

Whiskey Cavalier

Larry D. Horricks/ABC

Scandal and The Walking Dead finally have something in common. Scott Foley and Lauren Cohan star in a spy drama with a love/hate relationship twist.

Premieres Feb. 27 on ABC.

5 of 17

Wayne

The writers of Deadpool made a YouTube show, so definitely don’t watch this at work. It follows Wayne (duh), a kid from a rough area of Massachusetts who goes on a road trip with his crush after the death of his father.

Premieres Jan. 16 on YouTube Premium.

6 of 17

Deadly Class

Katie Yu/SYFY

Lana Condor goes comic book in this action series about students at an elite school for assassins.

Premieres Jan. 16 on Syfy.

Continued on next slide.

7 of 17

I'm Sorry

truTV/WarnerMedia

Season 2 of the comedy starring Andrea Savage promises even more awkwardness based on her own life.

Premieres Jan. 9 on TruTV.

8 of 17

Flack

Ollie Upton/PopTV

If you’ve ever wondered what the celebrity crisis management and PR industry is really about, this show (from True Blood’s Anna Paquin) is for you.

Premieres Feb. 21 on Pop.

9 of 17

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Vivian Zink/NBC

The show that needs no explanation is back on network television — and yes, they’re going to resolve that season 5 cliffhanger.

Premieres Jan. 10 on NBC.

Continued on next slide.

10 of 17

Roswell, New Mexico

Ursula Coyote/The CW

This not-a-reboot reboot picks up 10 years after the Roswell High gang graduates, and brings politics into the fold for the first time.

Premieres Jan. 15 on the CW.

11 of 17

Black Monday

Erin Simkin/Showtime

Imagine Moneyball, but in the ’80’s, and on illicit drugs. David Caspe, creator of Happy Endings, brings together Don Cheadle, Regina King, Andrew Rannells, and Casey Wilson to rehash the infamous stock market crash.

Premieres Jan. 20 on Showtime.

12 of 17

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Eric Liebowitz/Netflix

It’s Kimmy’s final episodes ever, and they promise a #MeToo revelation, a romance between Jacqueline and guest star Zachary Quinto, and plenty of Ellie Kemper.

Premieres Jan. 25 on Netflix.

Continued on next slide.

13 of 17

The Other Two

Jon Pack/Amazon Studios

This half-hour comedy (starring Molly Shannon) explores what it’s like for the family members of instant stars. So, not Justin Bieber’s brother, but kind of Justin Bieber’s brother.

Premieres Jan. 24 on Comedy Central.

14 of 17

Broad City

Cara Howe/Comedy Central

The wonky comedy is going out on a high — literally and figuratively. The guest stars alone — Mark Consuelos, Amy Sedaris, and Alan Cumming among them — are reason to tune in to the swan song.

Premieres Jan. 24 on Comedy Central.

15 of 17

Boomerang

Annette Brown/BET

Lena Waithe reimagines the classic movie of the same name, following the children of original stars Halle Berry, Eddie Murphy, and Robin Givens as they explore careers in advertising.

Premieres Febr. 12 on BET.

Continued on next slide.

16 of 17

Pen15

ALEX LOMBARDI/Hulu

Do not adjust your screens: That’s the real name of this show, which explores all the terrible and beautiful awkwardness of middle school.

Premieres Feb. 8 on Hulu.

Replay gallery

Account

The 16 shows you need to watch this winter

1 of 17

True Detective

1 of 17

2 of 17

Star Trek: Discovery

2 of 17

3 of 17

I Am the Night

3 of 17

4 of 17

Whiskey Cavalier

4 of 17

5 of 17

Wayne

5 of 17

6 of 17

Deadly Class

6 of 17

7 of 17

I'm Sorry

7 of 17

8 of 17

Flack

8 of 17

9 of 17

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

9 of 17

10 of 17

Roswell, New Mexico

10 of 17

11 of 17

Black Monday

11 of 17

12 of 17

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

12 of 17

13 of 17

The Other Two

13 of 17

14 of 17

Broad City

14 of 17

15 of 17

Boomerang

15 of 17

16 of 17

Pen15

16 of 17

Share the Gallery

Up Next

Share the Gallery