Premiering TV Shows in February 2024
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live
Season 1 Starts 25th February // AMC // Horror
Official Synopsis: "The love story of Rick Grimes and Michonne is changed by a changed world. Kept apart by distance. By an unstoppable power. Can they find each other and who they were in a situation unlike any they've ever known?"
Why you should watch it: The ultimate love story involving leaving your young daughter behind to fend for herself in a world of bad people and, you know, zombies - returns! The worlds worst parenting couple get their own spin off series, in order to try and justify their actions and presumably use in the inevitable social services case. It's been a minute since we've seen OG Walking Dead Rick Grimes, after he got on a mysterious helicopter, which if you haven't watched the World Beyond spin off, is a group known as the CRM. They are brutal, sure, but it's Rick Grimes! He can escape anything, but may have chosen not to. Sometime later Michonne found out that he was still alive, and set out to find him, alone, without telling their daughter. Nice. This is now the third spin-off focusing on original cast members, after Dead City and Daryl Dixon Holiday Travels. Both of those shows have been renewed for a second season, but all indications are that Rick and Michonne will wrap up their story line, and FINALLY return to poor Judith in just six episodes.
Shogun
Season 1 Starts 27th February // FX // Period
Official Synopsis: "Set in Japan in the year 1600, at the dawn of a century-defining civil war, Lord Yoshii Toranaga is fighting for his life as his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him, when a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village. Its English pilot, John Blackthorne, comes bearing secrets that could help Toranaga tip the scales of power and devastate the formidable influence of Blackthorne's own enemies - the Jesuit priests and Portuguese merchants. Toranaga's and Blackthorne's fates become inextricably tied to their translator, Toda Mariko, a mysterious Christian noblewoman and the last of a disgraced line. While serving her lord amidst this fraught political landscape, Mariko must reconcile her newfound companionship with Blackthorne, her commitment to the faith that saved her and her duty to her late father."
Why you should watch it: Based on the widely acclaimed and loved 1975 novel of the same name, Shogun is a true-ish version of events and history. The amazing Hiroyuki Sanada (who has an MBE, by the way, and was seen recently in John Wick 4) headlines a quality line up of actors, including flavour of the moment Anna Sawai, recently seen in both Pachinko and Godzilla hunting in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. There have been a couple of worrying signs, such as delaying filming in 2019, as FX didn't feel production was as good as they wanted at the time. Hopefully the pandemic didn't stop them from putting in more effort, and the trailer looks great; with a fantastic cast, and lavish set pieces, this tale of one of Japan's most pivitol eras should be one to watch for history and action buffs alike.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Season 1 Starts 2nd February // Amazon Prime Video // Action
Official Synopsis: "Two lonely strangers land a job working for a mysterious spy agency that offers them a glorious life of espionage, wealth, world travels and a dream brownstone in Manhattan. The catch: new identities in an arranged marriage as Mr. & Mrs. John and Jane Smith. Now hitched, John and Jane navigate a high risk mission every week while also facing a new relationship milestone. Their complex cover story becomes even more complicated when they catch real feelings for each other. What's riskier, espionage or marriage?"
Why you should watch it: In 2005, Mr & Mrs Smith was released, an action film that you may never have heard of. The film starred Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie at the height of their acting fame, but both actors and the film would be overshadowed for the next decade and more by the relationship (with Jolie) and divorce (of Jennifer Aniston, who filed for irreconcilable differences) that happened during the filming. And Amazons new TV series based on the film draws weird parallels. Initially starring Donald Glover (Community and Atlanta) and Phoebe Waller-Bridge (who have worked together on the solo Solo Star Wars film), she dropped out citing irrec... er creative differences. Maya Erskine has taken her place, who you may know from PEN15, but who also had a recent part in a Star Wars property, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Glover is co-producer of the show, so stuck around, but while the trailer looks action packed enough, it's yet to be seen if the lead couple can bring the same energy to the part that will keep people talking for years to come...
Constellation
Season 1 Starts 21st February // Apple TV+ // Science Fiction
Official Synopsis: "Jo returns to Earth after a disaster in space - only to discover that key pieces of her life seem to be missing. The action-packed space adventure is an exploration of the dark edges of human psychology, following one woman's desperate quest to expose the truth about the hidden history of space travel and recover all that she has lost."
Why you should watch it: A mind bending, wibbly wobbly, timey wimey conspiracy thriller, Constellation sees Noomi Rapace (Prometheus) and the Outstanding (literally, he has 13 award nominations) Jonathan Banks (from, well, lots of things, but Mike in Breaking Bad stands out) trying to unravel the secrets of the Universe (maybe) while revealing a few secrets of their own (probably). Apples push into sci-fi has mostly been very watchable, and this looks to be no different. Prepare to go down all the rabbit holes.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Season 1 Starts 22nd February // Netflix // Fantasy
Official Synopsis: "Set in a war-torn world inspired by various Asian and Indigenous American cultures where certain people can "bend" one of the first four classical elements - Water, Earth, Fire or Air. Aang, the new Avatar, and the last living airbender, is the bridge between the mortal and spirit worlds, and the only one capable of bending all four of the elements instead of just one. The Avatar maintains the balance of the world and nature to bring peace, and Avatar Aang is now faced with the responsibility of ending the ambitions of the militaristic Fire Nation to conquer the world. With his new companions Katara and Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe, Avatar Aang sets out to master the other three elements while pursued by Zuko, the exiled crown prince of the Fire Nation, who seeks to regain his honor by capturing him."
Why you should watch it: A live action 're-imaginging' of the insanely popular fantasy action series, this is not Netflix's first run at updating a much loved animated series. While Cowboy Bebop left much to be desired, One Piece aired more recently and was well recieved by fans and critics. The Airbender's story and rich world building has crossed the generation gap and is watched by the young and old alike, with different people able to find different meaning in a complex narative filled with likeable or at least understandable characters. The producers hope that the live action effects will make the action more visceral than ever. Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (Kim's Convenience, The Mandalorian) is perfect for the role of Iroh, while Daniel Dae Kim (LOST, Hawaii Five-0) plays Fire Lord Ozai, after having voiced Fong in the original cartoon, and Hiroshi Sato in the sequel series The Legend of Korra.
Elsbeth
Season 1 Starts 29th February // CBS // Legal
Official Synopsis: "Elsbeth Tascioni, an astute but unconventional attorney who utilizes her singular point of view to make unique observations and corner brilliant criminals alongside the NYPD. After leaving her successful legal career in Chicago to tackle a new investigative role in New York City, Elsbeth finds herself jockeying with the toast of the NYPD, Captain C.W. Wagner, a charismatic and revered leader. Working alongside Elsbeth is Officer Kaya Blanke, a stoic and ethical officer who quickly develops an appreciation for Elsbeth's insightful and offbeat ways."
Why you should watch it: The second spin-off from The Good Wife, the massively acclaimed legal show, Elsbeth follows Elsbeth Tascioni, played by Carrie Preston, who was nominated for Best Supporting Performer pretty much any time she appeared on screen. While the previous spin-off, The Good Fight, followed a major character from the original show and kept up the naming convention, Elsbeth seeks to disrupt the status quo, with its quirky outlook and central character. Wendell Pierce (Suits, and recently Jack Ryan) also stars as Police Captain Wagner, and with guest stars including Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family), Jane Krakowski (30 Rock) and Blair Underwood (Agents of SHIELD), the range of episodes could vary massively from one to the next.
Tracker
Season 1 Starts 11th February // CBS // Action
Official Synopsis: "Lone-wolf survivalist Colter Shaw roams the country as a 'reward seeker', using his expert tracking skills to help private citizens and law enforcement solve all manner of mysteries while contending with his own fractured family."
Why you should watch it: Justin Hartley (from critically acclaimed This Is Us) stars as a survivalist turned reward seeker, using a variety of tracking skills to find missing peoples, criminals and victims. Based on the book series, The Never Game, the show was originally named the same. Like the Littlest Hobo, each week will find him in a different city or location, helping individuals or law enforcement solve mysteries. Here's the twist, his own family is as dysfunctional as everyone else's. Shocking.
The first episode airs right after Super Bowl LVIII, so about a billion people will see it when they can't be bothered to turn the station over at the end.
Returning TV Shows in February 2024
Halo
Season 2 Returns 8th February // Network: Paramount+ // Science Fiction
Official Synopsis: "Depicting an epic 26th-century conflict between humanity and an alien threat known as the Covenant, the series weaves deeply drawn personal stories with action, adventure and a richly imagined vision of the future."
The Rookie
Season 6 Returns 20th February // Network: ABC // Crime
Official Synopsis: "Starting over isn't easy, especially for small-town guy John Nolan who, after a life-altering incident, is pursuing his dream of being a Los Angeles police officer. As the force's oldest rookie, he's met with scepticism from some higher-ups who see him as just a walking midlife crisis. If he can't keep up with the young cops and the criminals, he'll be risking lives including his own. But if he can use his life experience, determination and sense of humour to give him an edge, he may just become a success in this new chapter of his life."
CSI: Vegas
Season 3 Returns 18th February // Network: CBS // Crime
Official Synopsis: "Facing an existential threat that could bring down the Crime Lab, a brilliant team of forensic investigators must welcome back old friends and deploy new techniques to preserve and serve justice in Sin City."
Fire Country
Season 2 Returns 16th February // Network: CBS // Action
Official Synopsis: "Bad choices don't make a bad man. At least that's what Bode Donavan's been told. Midway through a five-year prison stretch, he's been trying to convince himself of it, too. He gets the chance to prove it, signing on to an unconventional prison-release program: in exchange for reduced sentences, convicts are paired with firefighters battling Northern California wildfires. The heat is turned up when Bode's assigned to the program in his rural hometown, the place where all his troubles began."
Resident Alien
Season 3 Returns 14th February // Network: Syfy // Science Fiction
Official Synopsis: "Harry, an alien, crash lands on Earth and passes himself off as a small-town human doctor. Arriving with a secret mission, Harry starts off living a simple life - but things get a bit rocky when he's roped into solving a local murder and realizes he needs to assimilate into his new world. As he does so, he begins to wrestle with the moral dilemma of his mission and asking the big life questions like: Are human beings worth saving? and Why do they fold their pizza before eating it?"
FBI
Season 6 Returns 13th February // Network: CBS // Crime
Official Synopsis: "A fast-paced drama about the inner workings of the New York office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. These first-class agents bring all their talents, intellect and technical expertise to tenaciously investigate cases of tremendous magnitude, including terrorism, organized crime and counter intelligence, in order to keep New York and the country safe."
FBI: International
Season 3 Returns 13th February // Network: CBS // Crime
Official Synopsis: "Follow the elite operatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's International Fly Team. Headquartered in Budapest, they travel the world with the mission of tracking and neutralizing threats against American citizens wherever they may be, putting their lives on the line to protect the U.S. and its people. The Fly Team's Special Agent Scott Forrester, their accomplished and dedicated leader, puts his missions ahead of his personal life and is rarely seen without the team's secret weapon - their trusty Schutzhund dog, Tank. Second in command is Special Agent Jamie Kellett, not afraid to tussle - in an alley or courtroom - and her extensive network of informants is a powerful resource. Special Agent Andre Raines shines in the field and makes good use of his accounting background in tracking criminal enterprises' moving money; and the group's newest member is Special Agent Cameron Vo, a competitive West Point grad who excels at interrogation and strategy. A key part of the mix is the unflappable Europol Agent Katrin Jaeger, a multilinguistic liaison between the FBI Fly Team and each host country they inhabit."
FBI: Most Wanted
Season 5 Returns 13th February // Network: CBS // Crime
Official Synopsis: "Seasoned FBI agent Jess LaCroix oversees the Fugitive Task Force, which relentlessly tracks and captures the notorious criminals on the Bureau's Most Wanted list. The highly skilled team functions as a mobile undercover unit that is always out in the field, pursuing those who are most desperate to elude justice."
NCIS
Season 21 Returns 12th February // Network: CBS // Crime
Official Synopsis: "Leading this team that operates outside of the military chain of command is NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, a skilled investigator and interrogator who is smart, tough and willing to bend the rules to get the job done. Working under Gibbs is Agent Anthony Dinozzo, a former homicide detective who joined NCIS just a few years ago, but who has instincts that can come only from working on the streets. Joining them is Agent Abby Sciuto, a gifted forensic scientist whose dark wit matches her goth-style hair and clothes, and Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard, a medical examiner. From murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines, these special agents traverse the globe to investigate all crimes with Navy or Marine Corps ties."
NCIS: Hawaii
Season 3 Returns 12th February // Network: CBS // Action
Official Synopsis: "Set in the Aloha State, follow Jane Tennant and her team as they balance duty to family and country, investigating high-stakes crimes involving military personnel, national security and the mysteries of the island itself."
TV Shows Starting Final Season in February 2024
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Season 12 (Final) Returns 4th February // Network: HBO // Comedy
Official Synopsis: "The series stars Larry David as a fictionalized version of himself. Like the real-life David, the character is well known as the co-creator and main co-writer of the highly successful sitcom Seinfeld. Although Larry maintains an office, he is rarely shown working. Episodes frequently center on Larry's ignorance of or disregard for well-established social conventions and expectations, and his insistence that others adhere to rules of which only he seems to be aware. This social ineptitude, combined with his inability to let even the most minor grievance or annoyance go unexpressed, often leads him into awkward social situations and draws the ire of his friends, family, and total strangers."
Blue Bloods
Season 14 (Final) Returns 16th February // Network: CBS // Crime
Official Synopsis: "Frank Reagan is the New York Chief of Police and patriarch of the Reagan brood, which he heads as diplomatically as he does the force, even when dealing with the politics that plagued his unapologetically bold father, Henry, during his stint as Chief. A source of pride and concern for Frank is his eldest son Danny, a seasoned detective, family man and Iraqi War vet who on occasion uses dubious tactics to solve cases. The sole Reagan woman in the family, Erin, is a N.Y. Assistant D.A. and newly single parent, who also serves as the legal compass for her siblings and father. Jamie is the youngest Reagan, fresh out of Harvard Law and the family's golden boy. "
Young Sheldon
Season 7 (Final) Returns 15th February // Network: CBS // Comedy
Official Synopsis: "As a nine-year-old boy, Sheldon Cooper attends high school while living with his family in the fictional town of Medford, East Texas. He tries to fit into a world full of more socially normal people, including his own family and friends, who do not quite understand how to deal with his unique intellectual capabilities and social ineptitude. At age 11, Sheldon skips fourth grade and graduates high school to begin attending the fictional university East Texas Tech full time, much to his siblings' chagrin."
S.W.A.T.
Season 7 (Final) Returns 16th February // Network: CBS // Crime
Official Synopsis: "Los Angeles S.W.A.T. lieutenant Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson is assigned to lead a highly skilled unit in the community where he grew up. Torn between loyalty to the streets where the cops are sometimes the enemy, and allegiance to his brothers in blue, he strategically straddles these two worlds. Hondo encourages his team to rely on communication and respect over force and aggression, but when a crisis erupts, these unflinching men and women are prepared to put their tactical training to the test."
The Good Doctor
Season 7 (Final) Returns 20th February // Network: ABC // Medical
Official Synopsis: "Shaun Murphy, a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, relocates from a quiet country life to join a prestigious hospital's surgical unit. Alone in the world and unable to personally connect with those around him, Shaun uses his extraordinary medical gifts to save lives and challenge the scepticism of his colleagues."
