Fists, replicants and rings of power: five TV series not to be missed in November
As you browse through the full range of streaming, satellite and digital terrestrial services, here is a selection of programmes you won’t want to miss
October left us with a few certainties and the usual bitter disappointments, proving once again that the line between a television hit and a flop is a very fine one. The 13th season of *American Horror Story*, aptly titled *American Horror Story: 13* (Disney+), is an anthology of past series – a perfect watch only for those who haven’t missed a single episode. As for *Below* (Netflix) – the series set in the remote fishing village of Snooks Arm, in Newfoundland (Canada), which centres on a giant squid – it’s a different story. You start off thinking the series is written by an algorithm, and in the end it will let you down. After the first three episodes, it seems perfect, but the further you get, the more you realise you’ve fallen into a trap. You end up being more disappointed by the fact that it’s going to continue than by the series itself. With the first cold snaps of November, the small screen fortunately raises the bar by bringing in sporting icons, cyberpunk universes and colossal mythologies. There’ll be plenty to enjoy, or at least plenty to discuss. Enjoy the show.
The Greatest – Miniseries – 4 November
Sports drama always has an underlying problem: it risks being too readily glorified. Here, however, we are not just talking about boxing, but about a cultural earthquake that reshaped the twentieth century. Cassius Clay has just won Olympic gold and is set on the heavyweight crown, but the real challenge begins outside the ring, against a segregationist and hypocritical America that has no intention of accepting a proud, defiant and free Black man. Plenty of adrenaline, no gym-talk and a political focus that promises to set the screen alight.
The Body – Series 1 – 11 November
The mystery-tinged teen drama has now become a genre in its own right, often riddled with clichés, but this premise promises genuine thrills. A group of devout dancers praying fervently, an initiation ritual that went horribly wrong, and an entire community waking up to a collective nightmare: what has become of Grace? A murky atmosphere, sins swept under the carpet and that sense of provincial claustrophobia which, when handled just right, keeps you glued to the screen right up to the very last frame.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power – Season 3 – 11 November
Let’s be honest: the first two series split the audience right down the middle between horrified Tolkien purists and fans of special effects. But now things are getting serious. Five years after the fall of Eregion, Middle-earth lies in ruins and Sauron has taken up residence in the tower of Barad-dûr, ready to forge the One Ring. If Elves, Dwarves, Men and Wizards don’t reach an agreement soon, there’s very little left to save. The most expensive series in television history must prove it has a soul too: this third instalment is the ultimate test.
The Chosen – Series 6 – 15 November
A grassroots phenomenon, funded through crowdfunding, which has managed to turn the conventions of biblical drama on their head, resonating with millions of viewers around the world. This sixth series reaches the point of no return: the final day of Jesus of Nazareth before the cross. The narrative unfolds through the contrasting perspectives of those who love him and those who condemn him to death — peace for the Romans, justice for the Pharisees, tragedy for his disciples. (Premiering on Prime Video)
