Fall is here, but how the hell are you supposed to enjoy it when there are so many great new shows to watch?
That’s the conundrum Watch With Us is facing this breezy September weekend, as streamers like Netflix, Hulu and more drop some of their most tantalizing new and returning series in the fall season.
American Horror Story is back for season 13, with Jessica Lange, Evan Peters and Sarah Paulson once again making Ryan Murphy’s outrageous plot somehow make sense.
Netflix is whipping up another season of The Great British Baking Show, while HBO Max is steaming things up with its sexy new thriller show, Paolo.
Finally, Peacock is launching a new series, Line of Fire, featuring Peter Krause as a veteran Secret Service agent who holds off retiring to investigate a political conspiracy.
‘American Horror Story’ Season 13 — Hulu
Avengers: Endgame returns to theaters this weekend, but that’s not the only franchise reuniting its best and brightest to take down a shared enemy. In American Horror Story season 13, several fan-favorite characters return to the franchise, including the woman at the center of the first season, Constance Langdon (Lange), and my personal favorite, the bitchy witch Madison Montgomery (Emma Roberts).
Why are they back? Well, it’s not really clear just yet, and who cares? American Horror Story was never that great with coherent plots — anyone who has survived the Roanoke, Cult and Apocalypse seasons knows that. It’s the characters that matter, and with Sarah Paulson reprising five of her past characters and Lange and Peters also playing multiple roles, this season promises to deliver what the AHS does best — giving talented actors the time and room to fully cook.
‘The Great British Baking Show’ Season 14 — Netflix
It’s hard to say goodbye, and it’s even harder when you have to say it to Prue Leith. The beloved TV personality is no longer a permanent judge on The Great British Baking Show, but she pops up just long enough to bid adieu to fellow judge Paul Hollywood and hosts Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond and pass the spatula — er, baton — to new judge Nigella Lawson, who knows a thing or two about baking.
In season 14 of the long-running competitive reality show, 12 new contestants enter the big tent to whip up all sorts of culinary confections. From cake hats to pastry handbags, this new crop of ambitious bakers might be the best the show has ever seen.
‘Paolo’ — HBO Max
Just who is Paolo (Jérôme Niel), anyway? The titular character of HBO Max’s intriguing new series is hard to define. Is he friend or foe? At first, it seems like the former, especially to Téophane (Yoann Gasiorowski), who is campaigning to be the mayor of his small provincial town. Téophane needs all the help he can get, and Paolo is more than willing to give it. But as Paolo’s sinister motives come to light, does Téophane want to be around someone who will do anything — including possibly murder — to make him happy?
With none-too-subtle nods to Patricia Highsmith’s classic novel The Talented Mr. Ripley, Paolo is a mesmerizing thriller about how one man’s obsession destroys everyone around him — including himself. The seven-part series doesn’t shy away from showing what Paolo is willing to do for his friend, so if you’re offended by the sight of oozing blood or bare asses, you should probably watch Crew Girl on Netflix or something. But if you’re game for a sexy thriller with a gripping story, check out Paolo — just don’t get too close, or he might want to be your friend.
‘Line of Fire’ Season 1 — Peacock
The Hollingsworths like to keep things all in the family. Dad Mike (Peter Krause) is a Secret Service agent, while mom Jane (Hope Davis) is a U.S. Marshal. Their kids also work for the government, with Clare (Kat Cunning) currently an FBI Special Agent, Micah (Tommy O’Brien) is a Secret Service agent like his pops and Russ (Taylor Bloom) is an analyst for the Department of Justice. Their careers keep them busy, but when a U.S. Marshal is killed in the line of duty while investigating a drug cartel, the family’s personal and professional lives collide as they work together to find the killer.
Created by Joshua Safran and loosely inspired by executive producer Jenna Bush Hager‘s real-life experiences with the Secret Service, Line of Fire is like Blue Bloods, only classier and a little better. The show skillfully blends political intrigue with family melodrama, and Krause and Davis shine in lead roles that really showcase their talents.
