Shows To Watch: Early 2018 Edition

Ahh, television. One way or another, we all have access to it and enjoy it in some capacity or another. For me, I enjoy checking into new television, whether it be returning series I haven't gotten involved in yet or the first season of a brand new show. So, with different article formats becoming more pronounced on my website, I wanted to do something else different. Many people don't have the time to scour the internet for new shows, so I wanted to introduce you all to some shows that I feel should be checked into. Granted though, many of these I haven't seen, so my thoughts are purely speculative. Regardless, this is my 5 shows to check into for January and February! 

Electric Dreams

Premiere Date: January 12th, 2018 at 3:01 AM on Amazon Prime.

I've always been a fan of science fiction. Whether it be through vast worlds like Star Trek and Star Wars, or softer stories such as Black Mirror, science fiction is a rich genre to explore. Amazon Prime's Electric Dreams is an anthology series on the works of Philip K. Dick. I'll be completely honest, I had no idea he was behind many of my favorite works up until this point (Blade Runner). But after doing some research into his stories and the early discussions on this show, I feel this is a great opportunity for people who haven't truly tapped into anthologies to get their turn. Electric Dreams looks into the future of humanity, and other strange phenomena that could come in the future. Some of these include multiple realities, fractured minds, and where humanity is going. Truth be told, I don't have much to really say about the series at this point, having not seen it, but this seems to be a truly intriguing series to at least check into one episode of.

Black Lightning

Premiere Date: January 16th, 2018 at 9 PM on The CW

We all know the Arrowverse. Growing over the years, it's no surprise to see this world starting to grow. Black Lightning though, according to all accounts, is a unique story for this universe. Not only does it have an almost entirely black cast, but it tackles more of the human issues in this world. Black Lightning is a hero who wants to help his city and create a better life for his family, he isn't interested as much in a crusade of pain like some other shows have shown. Also being on a shorter episode count, that is something of note. Sometimes the CW shows are criticized for overextending their stories due to their exorbitant episode counts, but Black Lightning has an opportunity to start strong with a shorter and more focused story. Long story short, this show could be a gamechanger for superhero television in the way Black Panther could change the game for the superhero film world. Check it out.

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

Premiere Date: January 17th, 2018 at 10 PM on FX

I'll admit it straight away: I haven't seen The People vs. OJ Simpson. I recognize this straight away as an awful crime for someone who calls themselves a TV critic. It is on my list and with this new season starting, I believe it has come time for me to finally dive into it. But, we aren't here to talk about that story, we're talking about Gianni Versace. Being of the younger group of people, I only know the true brand of Versace. The strength in this is that the story of Gianni allows for me to go in fresh and without a shade over my eyes when looking into the story. It's no secret that the first season of this show came off beautifully on screen, so that alone should be enough to have someone check into this new story. Along with this, if you're invested in the Versace family now, or were at some point in the past, this is sure to be a powerful retelling of one of the most popularized murders in recent history.

Counterpart

Premiere Date: January 21st, 2018 at 8 PM on Starz

Are you starting to realize a pattern with the shows that I'm recommending? Yes, I'm a science fiction fan as I stated previously. Counterpart follows the story of a lowly UN agent who is living a life filled with regret. But, he makes a fascinating discovery that could change his life: cross-dimensional travel. He meets his other-dimensional counterpart, and their story becomes intertwined. For me as a common TV fan, this premise looks me in immediately. Being told as a thriller with science-fiction pieces, I simply can't put into words how excited I am to check into this show. Along with this, having a fantastic actor of the quality of JK Simmons starring, I can't help but be giddy. For those of you who enjoy science-fiction television that avoids the cornier and out-there ideas, this may be the perfect show in the genre for you.

Altered Carbon

Premiere Date: February 2nd, 2018 at 12:01 AM on Netflix

Looking back on this list, there's one thing I have to say: all of those shows come second to this. Altered Carbon is a huge gamble for Netflix as a company. This show is their largest budgeted show to date, having some of the best visuals for any television show. In a world where human consciousness can be transferred from one body to the next, for those who can afford it, a man is challenged with a case involving the high-stakes murder of one of the world's wealthiest people. Taking queues from multiple different science-fiction franchises and the overall genre, Altered Carbon could be something incredible. Personally, I see a lot of Blade Runner in the little bits we have seen so far, and that is for the better of the show. I also know people have their doubts about Joel Kinnaman, but perhaps he is better on television than film screens. If there is only one new show you could check into early this year, make it Altered Carbon.

Conclusion

I know there is a lot of returning television that I didn't include in my list, but that doesn't mean I won't be looking into it. If you have shows you want to recommend to others, please feel free to put them in the comments below. Otherwise, keep a lookout for my reviews of these shows as they release, and any other returning shows whose first seasons I haven't discussed yet. Keep watching everybody!