2023 might be winding down with its falling leaves and chilly temperatures, but television certainly isn’t. Put away your winter coats and stay inside forBlack Cake, a story about mystery, murder, and family secrets produced byOprah Winfrey. Netflix brings us their adaptation of the World War II Pulitzer Prize winning novelAll the Light We Cannot See, as well as the original adult animationBlue Eye Samurai, and an animated version of the Scott Pilgrim graphic novels,Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. On Paramount+,David OyelowoandTaylor Sheridanteam up for a historical Western about the real-life U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves,Lawmen: Bass Reeves.Emma StoneandNathan Fielderflip houses for HGTV in Showtime and A24’sThe Curse. Period romance and female friendship dominateThe Buccaneerson Apple TV+, whileEmma Corrinputs her detective hat on forA Murder at the End of the World.Meanwhile, a famousCharles Dickenscharacter gets a new life,The Crownreturns, and Godzilla interrupts father-son bonding time betweenKurtandWyatt Russell. Grab your remotes and your favorite holiday foods! Here’s all the new television hitting the small screen this month.
Black Cake
Release Date: November 1 on Hulu
From executive producerOprah Winfrey comesBlack Cake, a miniseries based on theNew York Timesbestselling novel byCharmaine Wilkerson. When Eleanor Bennett (Chipo Chung) passes away, her estranged children Byron (Ashley Thomas) and Benny (Adrienne Warren) make peace long enough to receive a flash drive filled with revelations about Eleanor’s secret past — starting with her name. Born in Jamaica as Covey, their 16-year-old mother fled her home country after an unwanted arranged marriage and a murder charge. Eleanor/Covey chronicles her life story posthumously to her children, a revealing mystery that informs Byron and Benny’s futures and ruminates on familial legacy.
All the Light We Cannot See
Release Date: November 2 on Netflix
Spanning a decade and set against the backdrop of Nazi occupied Europe,All the Light We Cannot Seechroniclesthe separate fictional stories of Marie-Laure LeBlanc (Aria Mia Loberti), a French girl who is blind, and Werner Pfennig (Louis Hofmann), a German boy recruited into the Nazi military for his technological skills. When Werner hears Marie-Laure’s radio broadcasts during the Battle of Saint-Malo, a pivotal incursion that helped change the course of World War II, the two’s lives become briefly but irrevocably entwined. Also starringMark Ruffalo,Hugh Laurie, andLars Eidinger, Netflix’s highly anticipated adaptation brings authorAnthony Doerr’sNew York Timesand Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name to life withShawn Levyas director andPeaky Blinders’Steven Knightas screenwriter.
Blue Eye Samurai
Release Date: November 3 on Netflix
Maya Erskinestars inBlue Eye Samuraias mixed-race samurai Mizu, an angry warrior seeking vengeance for a lifetime of pain and her mother’s death at the hands of corrupt white men in 17th century Japan. Since women can’t be samurais (let alone assassins), Mizu disguises her gender and conceals the blue eyes that reveal her ethnicity. CreatorsAmber NoizumiandMichael Green, the latter a co-writer onLoganandBlade Runner 2049,describeBlue Eye Samuraias “Kill Bill meets Yentl.” Supervised by directorJane Wu, whose numerous industry credits includeSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, this adult animated series mixes 2D and 3D styles into a fluid, brutal, bloody feast for the eyes.HeroeslegendMasi Okacostars alongsideDarren Barnet,Brenda Song,George Takei,Randall Park,Kenneth Branagh,Stephanie Hsu,Ming-Na Wen, andHarry Shum Jr.
Lawmen: Bass Reeves
Release Date: November 3 on Paramount+
A real-life legend comes to life inLawmen: Bass Reeves. Oscar nominee David Oyelowo leads and executive producers this Taylor Sheridan-produced Western based on the true story of Bass Reeves, a formerly enslaved Black man who became one of America’s first Black U.S. Marshals. Reeves spent his law enforcement career west of the Mississippi Riverdetaining approximately 3,000 deadly criminals, allegedly without personal injury.Chad Feehanserves as showrunner for this eight-episode drama withDonald Sutherland,Dennis Quaid,Lauren E. Banks, andGarrett Hedlundrounding out the cast.
The Buccaneers
Release Date: November 8 on Apple TV+
A 1870s period piece based on authorEdith Wharton’s unfinished novel,The Buccaneersfollows the exploitsof a group of New York high society ladies during their first visit to London. Their open ways and independent, forward-thinking minds views irritate the refined, traditional English, but that doesn’t rule out sexy escapades or love triangles with lords and dukes. Through it all, the Buccaneers' friendships remains the most important relationship of their lives. The ensemble cast includesKristine Froseth,Alisha Boe,Josie Totah,Aubri Ibrag,Imogen Waterhouse, andChristina Hendricks, with an all-women production team behind the camera.
Colin From Accounts
Release Date: November 9 on Paramount+
The world needs more adult romantic comedies,and the Australian seriesColin From Accountslooks like it will deliver. Husband and wife creative teamHarriet DyerandPatrick BrammallcreatedColin From Accountsand star as Ashley and Gordon, two professionals in Sydney, Australia who meet cute when Harriet accidentally flashes Patrick as she crosses the street. In response, Patrick accidentally hits a dog with his car. Don’t worry, the dog (the eponymous Colin) survives. Patrick’s bank account might not after the massive medical bills.Colin From Accountsruns for eight episodes.
Release Date: November 12 on MGM+
If you’re in the mood for more science fiction in the vein of Apple TV+‘sSilo, you’re in luck.Beacon 23, MGM+’s new psychological mystery-thriller set in deep space, takes inspiration from the short story written byHugh Howey, who also wrote theSilobook series.Lena HeadeyandStephan Jamesplay Aster and Halan, respectively, two strangers trapped on a “lighthouse” in space. Neither know if they can trust the other, but if they want to survive, they might not have a choice.
Release Date: November 12 on Showtime
Showtime and independent movie studio A24 join forces for this dark comedy. Married coupleWhitney (Emma Stone) and Asher (Nathan Fielder)flip houses in their neighborhood as the stars and hosts of an HGTV series. They claim to be helping their community withFlipanthropy, but they’re yet another white couple taking advantage of people of color. And they might have been cursed for it, but no one knows for sure.Benny Safdieexecutive produces and co-stars inThe CurseasFlipanthropy’s producer.
A Murder at the End of the World
Release Date: November 14 on Hulu
Invitations from strangers to stay in a remote place never end well. Creative partnersBrit MarlingandZal Batmanglij, the creators of theunfairly canceled Netflix seriesThe OA, return withA Murder at the End of the World, a psychological thriller-mystery led by amateur Gen Z detective Darby Hart (The Crown’s Emma Corrin). A mysterious host (Clive Owen) invites Darby and eight other individuals to a “retreat” in an isolated, snowy location. To no one’s shock if you’ve read anAgatha Christienovel, one of the guests dies, likely via murder, and more are at risk — unless Darby can uncover the truth.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters
Release Date: November 17 on Apple TV+
If you can’t wait until April 2024 forGodzilla x Kong: The New Empire, you’re in luck. Kurt Russell leads an all-star cast in the newest addition to the MonsterVerse franchise,Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. After a Godzilla battle decimates San Francisco, two young survivors and siblings investigate the mysterious Monarch organization and its ties to ancient creatures like Godzilla. As the siblings uncover the truth, they learn about their families’ own decades-long connection to Monarch’s “monstrous” legacy.Wyatt Russell co-stars alongside his fatheras well asAnna Sawai,Kiersey Clemons,Ren Watabe,Mari Yamamoto, andJohn Goodman.
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
Release Date: November 17 on Netflix
No, you’re not experiencing déjà vu.Scott Pilgrimis back in Netflix’sScott Pilgrim Takes Off, and so is the entire cast ofEdgar Wright’s 2010 live-action filmScott Pilgrimvs. the World. That meansMichael Cera,Mary Elizabeth Winstead,Chris Evans,Brie Larson, and morereprise their roles in this animated adaptationofBryan Lee O’Malley’s beloved graphic novels. O’Malley co-creates and co-writes the series, which revisits the same premise that Wright’s film adapted: in order to date the girl of his literal dreams (Winstead), 20-something amateur-musician Scott Pilgrim (Cera) must defeat her seven evil exes.
The Artful Dodger
Release Date: November 29 on Hulu
If you like Charles Dickens or charming antiheroes, this one’s for you. Hulu’sThe Artful DodgerfromJames McNamaracontinues the story of “Artful Dodger” Jack Dawkins (Thomas Brodie-Sangster), a youthful pickpocket from Dickens' novelOliver Twist. An older Dawkins has renounced his criminal life to become a surgeon. He tries to navigate high society life and keep his past indiscretions secret. The return of his former boss Fagin (David Thewlis), a semi-villainous figure, threatens to upend Dawkins' plans. Jack’s also busy falling for Lady Belle Fox (Maia Mitchell), an ahead-of-her-time woman who intends to become Australia’s first female surgeon.
Obliterated
Release Date: November 30 on Netflix
What happens when you’re hung over but still have to save the world?Obliterated, a new comedy fromCobra KaicreatorsJon Hurwitz,Hayden Schlossberg, andJosh Heald, answers that hot mess of a question with people who are a hot mess. After an extensive night of partying to celebrate another successful mission, a group comprised of the world’s best armed forces experts have to immediately save the day again. That’s gotta be one heck of a headache.ObliteratedstarsNick Zano,Shelley Hennig,Terrence Terrell,Alyson Gorske,C. Thomas Howell,Eugene Kim, andPaola Lázaro.
New Seasons
November 3
Invincible(Season 2 Part 1, Prime Video)
November 8
The Santa Clauses(Season 2, Disney+)
November 9
Rap Sh!t(Season 2, Max)
November 10
For All Mankind(Season 4, Apple TV+)
November 16
The Crown(Season 6 Part 1, Netflix)
GhostsUK (Season 1, CBS)
