Best New TV Shows Of Winter 2017
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24: Legacy (Fox)
Premieres Sunday, Feb. 5, after the Super Bowl (then Mondays at 8/7c)
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?: When Eric Carter (played by Corey Hawkins) realizes that the Army Rangers with whom he once raided a terrorist cell are being assassinated, the only person he can turn to is the recently resigned CTU chief (Homeland's Miranda Otto), as the clock starts ticking....
WHY WE LIKE IT: No, Jack isn't back — and yet therein lies the excitement of seeing a new hero come into his own. That said, there are plenty enough 24 tropes — sketchy friends, MacGuffin thumb drives, bullheaded bosses that must be Tasered — to keep things feeling satisfyingly familiar.
The Arrangement - Season Pilot
The Arrangement (E!)
Premieres March 2017
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?: A struggling actress (Chicago Fire's Christine Evangelista) auditions for a blockbuster movie and hits it off with the hunky leading man (Dallas' Josh Henderson) — so much so that he offers her a contract to be his wife.
WHY WE LIKE IT: Our initial assessment that the trailer resembled the lovechild of The L.A. Complex and UnREAL was happily spot-on. In this twisted Hollywood fairytale, it's never quite clear what's real and who's manipulating whom.
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Beyond (Freeform)
Premieres Monday, Jan. 2 at 9/8c
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?: A young man named Holden Matthews awakens from a 12-year coma with mysterious new abilities. In addition to adjusting to a changed world, Holden must also piece together what happened to him while in the coma — and why he's now being hunted by a dangerous, shadowy organization.
WHY WE LIKE IT: Don't let the familiar-sounding tropes fool you — Beyond is a wholly original sci-fi drama that will keep you guessing (often incorrectly), bolstered by a superb cast, led by charming newcomer Burkely Duffield.
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Big Little Lies (HBO)
Premieres Sunday, Feb. 19 at 9/8c
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?: Based on Liane Moriarity's darkly comedic novel, the seven-episode limited series centers on three mothers — played by Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon and Shailene Woodley (The Descendants) — whose seemingly perfect lives unravel to the point of murder.
WHY WE LIKE IT: The central mystery had us hooked right out of the gate, and the performances from the A-list trio are spot-on (particularly Witherspoon, in her most riotous turn since 2001's Legally Blonde).
Emerald City - Season 1
Emerald City (NBC)
Premieres Friday, Jan. 6 at 9/8c
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?: Dorothy Gale (Adria Arjona) gets swept away from Kansas by a twister — and accidentally kills a witch upon arriving in the strange, steampunk land of Oz. Soon, Dorothy is following a yellowed, brick road to Emerald City, where the Wizard (Vincent D'Onofrio) struggles to rein in the remaining witches (Joely Richardson, Ana Ularu).
WHY WE LIKE IT: As familiar as the above sounds, director Tarsem Singh brings a distinct, vivid flair, from a creepy prison to one super-freaky funeral. Oz purists meanwhile should enjoy how the old gets a new spin (e.g. monkey-shaped espionage drones, "Toto" is the Oz word for "dog"). It's all just enough to overcome some slow plotting.
Imposters - Season 1
Imposters (fka My So-Called Wife, Bravo)
Premieres Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 10/9c
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?: A charming con artist (The Last Ship's Inbar Lavi) makes men – and women – fall in love with her... and then leaves them destitute.
WHY WE LIKE IT: The series features a surprisingly nimble mix of intrigue and comedy (courtesy of Parker Young and Rob Heaps as two scammed exes who team up to track down their "wife"). And Lavi is so appealing as Maddie, it's easy to see why the grifter is so successful at getting her targets to marry her.
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Premieres Wednesday, Feb. 8
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?: Based on the Marvel comic book, Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey) stars as David Haller, a troubled young man stuck in a mental hospital who finds love in a new patient named Syd (Rachel Keller) — and who might have supernatural powers.
WHY WE LIKE IT: Fargo creator Noah Hawley totally reinvents the superhero genre with a sharp wit (Aubrey Plaza is a highlight) and gee-whiz visual effects. The pilot is gorgeously shot and thrillingly paced, and we can't wait to start unraveling the show's dense mythology.
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Premieres Sunday, Jan. 1 at 8/7c (then airs Tuesdays at 8:30)
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?: When her sister and husband flee the country to avoid a federal indictment, the hard-partying, irresponsible Mackenzie "Mickey" Murphy (played by It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's Kaitlin Olson) finds herself playing the unlikely role of parental guardian to her niece and nephews.
WHY WE LIKE IT: The sitcom doesn't exactly break new ground, but we were too busy being charmed by Olson to even notice. The actress is a comedic force of nature.
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One Day at a Time (Netflix)
Premieres Friday, Jan. 6
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?: Six Feet Under's Justina Machado and EGOT winner Rita Moreno lead this reimagining of the beloved Norman Lear sitcom, which now focuses on a Cuban-American family.
WHY WE LIKE IT: Don't you worry none: The writing is solid, the casting is top-notch (Moreno may be a national treasure, but it's Machado whose praises you'll be singing) and it has its own unique charm that comes fully realized in Episode 1.
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Powerless (NBC)
Premieres Thursday, Feb. 2 at 8:30/7:30c
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?: Set in the DC Comics universe, this single-camera comedy follows the employees at Wayne Security, dedicated to cleaning up superhero squabbles' collateral damage. Through their efforts, the motley crew discovers that "you don't need superpowers to be a hero."
WHY WE LIKE IT: We haven't technically seen this one yet (hello, NBC!), but with its stellar cast — Danny Pudi (Community), Vanessa Hudgens (Grease: Live) and Alan Tudyk (Suburgatory), to name just a few — and potentially hilarious premise, how can you not give it a shot?
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Riverdale (The CW)
Premieres Thursday, Jan. 26 at 9/8c
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?: A subversive take on the world of Archie Comics, Riverdale puts Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge and more at the center of a twisted murder mystery.
WHY WE LIKE IT: With a Gossip Girl-meets-Twin Peaks vibe and a ridiculously good-looking cast — including familiar faces like 90210's Luke Perry, along with refreshingly talented unknowns — Riverdale is easily the smartest, most addictive teen drama to come along in years, while also being pleasingly faithful (in its own way) to the source material.
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SIX (History)
Premieres Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 10/9c
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?: Walton Goggins (Justified) plays "Rip" Taggart, a SEAL Team leader who "checks out" in the wake of a traumatic op — and months later winds up captured by the Boko Haram extremist group. Can Rip's former team set aside past differences, while simultaneously breaking in a newbie, and successfully extract him?
WHY WE LIKE IT: First of all, well, Goggins. If you by chance need more reasons to watch, the ensemble-at-large (including Barry Sloane, Kyle Schmid, Juan Pablo Raba and Edwin Hodge) is quite solid. Advisory: This is a show about manly men, so it may put hair on your chest!
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Sneaky Pete (Amazon)
Premieres Friday, Jan. 13
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?: A con man (played by Giovanni Ribisi) assumes the identity of his former cellmate and begins working in the bail-bond business, all while his real brother is held hostage by a gangster (series co-creator/Breaking Bad Emmy winner Bryan Cranston).
WHY WE LIKE IT: The series finds a nice balance between case of the week and serialized storytelling. Character actor Ribisi finally gets the lead role he deserves, and Cranston, who recurs, once again gets the chance to break bad.
Taken - Season Pilot
Taken (NBC)
Premieres Monday, Feb. 27 at 10/9c
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?: Ever wonder how Liam Neeson's Bryan Mills came to acquire and hone his "very particular set of skills"? This set-in-the-present "prequel" series chronicles the Green Beret's trauma-induced transition to CIA operative.
WHY WE LIKE IT: For his voice alone, Clive Standen (Vikings' Rollo) is a damn fine "predecessor" as Bryan Mills. The cold open that sets his story in motion quickly establishes the foundation for his fated-to-be-famous skill set, though there is certainly room for improvement under the tutelage of CIA boss Jennifer Beals.