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Television shows you need to watch this semester
► OMAR SANCHEZ
@OhMySanchez
Jude Law stars in new HBO series "The Young Pope."
Contributed Photo
of television in 2016 were a meme, the young guns in Netflix's "Stranger Things," FX's "Atlanta" and "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story" would find their way between the summer classic "Damn Daniel" vine and — dare I say it — near "Crying Jordan"-esque levels.
Where will 2017 land us?
It's tough to say. The year's slate seems more diverse in content than ever before, but there isn't necessarily a new HBO's "Westworld" or USA Network's "Mr. Robot" that one can pick out now that can pack a punch heavy enough to pull it close to the top of the 2010s television era.
But time will tell. 2017 Golden Globe nominees "The Americans" and "Better Call Saul" were never surefire hits, yet they have become adored over time. Below is a short list of new and established TV series that have the potential for peak binge-worthiness heading into this new year.
HBO's "The Young Pope" (Premieres Jan. 15)
Speaking of memes, it has to be a good sign that your show that hasn't even premiered yet has trended on Twitter, right?
If you've scrolled through your feed and found references to the "young pope," chances are they're talking
about actor Jude Law's new series, which takes a look at the complex and sometimes controversial nature of powerful religious figures. Law plays the fictional Lenny Belardo, the newly-elected Pope Pius XIII, who assumes the role of the first American Pope.
Pius XIII, in the ten episodes, brings a new, off-kilter approach to a traditional church role. Almost as if someone asked Kanye West to assume the role of President of the United States.
bizarre and absurd. Not unlike the topsy-turvy political climate we have become subject to.
The show has intricate cinematography, and it has already received praise from outlets such as The Hollywood Reporter and The Guardian for its use of the
HBO's "Girls"
(Premieres Feb. 12)
Soon it'll be the end of an era for HBO. Flagship shows like "Girls" and "Game of Thrones" that have given the network life, despite faltering seasons, will come to an end within the next two years. It almost feels like the rest of the world has started to move on to newer, fresher commitments, but there's still a couple reasons to stick around and see the end.
For "Girls," what was once an astute look into the zeitgeist has at times shifted
too much into the pretentious and meandering, but last year's season five steadied the ship, particularly with the lauded "Panic at Central Park" that joyfully reflected what made the show so successful in the first place.
Soon thereafter, momentum built toward the final season, which might be a season to catch if anyone 40 to 50 years from now asks you to describe how it felt to live in the 2010s.
FX's "The Americans" (Premieres March 7)
Recently, there's been no shortage of news involving connections between Russia and the U.S. On the television screen, the Golden Globe nominated series "The Americans" has grown into a bridge between both cultures and been everything between a political thriller and a family introspective as under the radar as a Donald Trump presidency two or three years ago.
Going into season five, the Jennings have just about stepped on every land mine on their way to tracing intel for the Russian government. Their daughter Paige developed into a pivotal chess piece in season four, and now with their son Henry due for a major plot point, it will surely be a slow burn until either the family or the life around them flames out by series end in 2018.
Showtime's "Twin Peaks" (Premieres May
21)
The 2017 Golden Globe-winning and Donald Glover-created series "Atlanta" has drawn recognition for its surreal connection to its environment and relaxed nature of its storylines. Glover, hyping the series before its premiere early last year, often cited the early 1990s television series "Twin Peaks" as its inspiration — "A "Twin Peaks' with rappers."
So why is a television series that lasted two seasons and is floating somewhere the bottomless pit of Netflix a key style guide for current shows? The secret is in the sauce.
While we don't know much on the content of the revival just yet (other than it will be 18 hours of "pure heroin"), many of the original cast members from the show based in the eery fictional town of Twin Peaks, Washington have signed on to return. The original followed an FBI investigation into the death of the town's homecoming queen, but its fluidity and ability to own elements of horror, drama and comedy has pushed it to be a "what if" in TV shows cancelled too early to gather anything more than cult status.
With the fandom pushing widely-acclaimed director David Lynch on board to helm the revival, it might quickly become this summer's "Stranger Things."
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