Best new streaming shows this week: Black Sails, The Circle, and more

It’s hard to keep track of which streaming service is premiering which new show or movie from week to week. Netflix used to be king, but the streaming field is full of alternatives, and they’re all regularly pumping out new content. So, what are the best new streaming shows and where can you watch them? Every week, we answer that question for you, offering some exciting new and returning titles, including streaming originals, from services like Max, Hulu, Prime Video, Paramount Plus, and, yes, Netflix. 

We’ll be updating this list every week, so stay tuned for more new streaming shows on every major service. Looking for even more? We keep an archive of our recommendations going back at least 30 days. 

The best new streaming shows this week

Let’s jump right in and take a closer look at the best new shows debuting this week. It was a bit slower than the week before, but there were still a few notable entries. Let’s jump right in. 

The Circle, Season 6 – April 17, Netflix

The Circle has seen many adaptations, but this American version first aired on Netflix back in 2020. The show’s premise is fairly unique, as it takes a number of players and moves them into separate apartments in the same building. While in the building, players are kept isolated from the outside world and can’t even see each other in person, though they are allowed to communicate with other players through a special app that lets them see photographs and biographies, and engage in text chats. Every few days, each contestant must secretly rate all the others from first to last, but there’s a catch: the players are allowed to catfish if they so choose. In other words, the players may or may not be what they seem.

• Years active: 2020 – Ongoing
• Genre: Reality competition
• Rating: TV-MA
• Creator: Tim Harcourt

Our Living World – April 17, Netflix

Cate Blanchett narrates the new Netflix docuseries, “Our Living World,” which takes a closer look at how delicate our ecosystem is and how connected many of the creatures on our planet are. Climate change is a major topic throughout the docuseries, making it not only a fascinating look at how our ecosystems work but also an exploration of the very real dangers they now face.

• Years active: 2024 (Ongoing)
• Genre: docuseries
• Rating: TV-PG
• Creator: Ben Roy
• Host: Cate Blanchett

Black Sails – April 17, Netflix

Black Sails isn’t a new series; it first arrived on Starz back in 2014 and ended in 2017. However, the series is now making its way over to Netflix for the first time, giving it access to a whole new audience. “Black Sails” takes place two decades before the events of the classic book “Treasure Island,” during the golden age of piracy. If you’re a fan of “Shogun,” “Game of Thrones,” or other similar gory yet great adventures, you’ll want to check this one out on Netflix, where you can watch all three seasons.

• Years active: 2014 – 2017
• Genre: Action/Adventure
• Rating: TV-MA
• Creator: Jonathan E. Steinberg
• Cast: Toby Stephens, Hannah New, Luke Arnold

High Hopes: Complete Season 1 – April 20, Hulu

Executive produced by Jimmy Kimmel, High Hopes is a brand new docuseries centered around two brothers who run a cannabis shop in Los Angeles and everything that goes on behind the scenes. The dispensary is aptly named MMD, which stands for Medical Marijuana Dispensary, and it is located up the street from Hollywood Boulevard, seeing over 25 million tourists a year. The new docuseries not only showcases the day-to-day life of the dispensary business but also takes a closer look at their plans for expanding the business and more. If you’ve ever been curious about the cannabis business, this new series provides a great look that’s both accurate, compelling, and still portrayed in a light enough way to make this show a fun watch.

• Years active: 2024 (Ongoing)
• Genre: Reality/docuseries
• Rating: NR
• Talent:  Jimmy Kimmel

The Big Door Prize, Season 2 – April 24, Apple TV Plus

The Big Door Prize is back for a second season! As a recap, the series is set in a small, sleepy town that is rocked to its core when the general store suddenly gets a mysterious new machine called Morphos, which supposedly can analyze your potential and help set you on the right path. No one knows exactly where it came from, but soon it begins to change the town in ways no one could have expected. Season 2 picks up where the last one left off, this time telling the town’s residents that they are ready for the next step. What exactly is that step? That’s the million-dollar question. If you’ve never watched this Apple TV Plus original, you can check out Season 1 in full with the first three episodes dropping on April 21st.

• Years active: 2023 – Ongoing
• Genre: Comedy
• Rating: TV-MA 
• Creator:  David West Read
• Cast: Josh Segarra, Gabrielle Dennis, Djouliet Amara

Dead Boy Detectives – April 25, Netflix

The Dead Boy Detective Agency isn’t your typical detective group, as it’s run by two teenage ghosts who were born decades apart and have dedicated their afterlives to solving the mysteries of other ghosts. Along the way, they help a variety of spirits that are having trouble letting go, many of whom have walked the Earth for centuries. Of course, it’s a little hard to investigate the living world when you’re dead, which leads the boys to team up with a psychic. If you’re looking for something dark but with a comedic vibe, “Dead Boy Detectives” arrives April 25th on Netflix.

• Years active: 2024 (Ongoing)
• Genre: horror/comedy/drama
• Rating: TV-MA
• Creators:  Steve Yockey, Beth Schwartz
• Cast: George Rexstrew, Jayden Revri, Lukas Gage

Check out the best new streaming shows from previous weeks

Below are some of the TV shows we recommended in previous weeks. If you’ve watched the newer titles already or want more options, we have a solid mix of new shows on your favorite streaming services. We keep about two months’ worth of backlogged shows below, ensuring that all our recommendations are fairly recent. 

Bluey, The Sign – April 14, Disney Plus

After returning last week for a special penultimate episode of Bluey, everyone’s favorite preschool series returns this time in the longest episode in the show’s history at just a tad over thirty minutes. This episode acts as the end of the season and the beginning of what’s expected to be a sizable break for the kid’s series. In addition to their uncle’s wedding, the show will also resolve a few other storylines from earlier in the series. 

• Years active: 2024 (Ongoing)
• Genre: Animation
• Rating: TV-MA
• Creator: Negi Haruba
  
• Cast: Yusuke Kobayashi, Daishi Kajita, Yumika Yano

Dora – April 12, Paramount Plus

Dora has seen a few spin-off and reboot attempts since the debut of the original cartoon back in 2000, including a live-action movie released in 2019. Now the preschool show is getting a new reboot series simply called “Dora.” Unlike her spin-off in the city, this one has Boots and all the original characters, set in a jungle setting. The show is now in full 3D and brings plenty of changes to the formula, designed to appeal to today’s generation of youths.

• Years active: 2024 (Ongoing)
• Genre: Crime, mystery, thriller
• Rating: TV-14
• Creator: Mark Protosevich
  
• Cast: Colin Farrell, Kirby, Amy Ryan, Dennis Boutsikaris

Fallout – April 11, Amazon  Prime

Fallout has finally made its debut on the silver screen with pretty impressive results, staying true to what makes the games so great. You have the naive vault dweller, the presence of old-school music from the 40s and 50s, and plenty of cheesy, over-the-top violence that somehow just works. Just be aware that this series moves the action to the West Coast and makes some significant changes to the lore that Fallout 1/2/New Vegas fans might not be so keen on, including revelations about how the NCR has changed since New Vegas.

• Years active: 2024 (Ongoing)
• Genre: Novel, Mystery
• Rating: R
• Creator: Stephen Zaillian
  
• Cast: Andrew Scott, Dakota Fanning, Johnny Flynn

Go! Go! Loser Ranger! – April 7, Hulu

Go! Go! Loser Ranger is a dark anime series inspired by the Power Rangers (also known as the Super Sentai in Japan), though it is a much more mature take. The story takes place thirteen years after an evil army of demons attempted to invade the earth. The army was defeated by a Super Sentai squadron known as the Dragon Keepers but the remaining nearly immortal foot soldiers were captured and forced to react their defeat indefinitely for a crowd of spectators each week. One of these soldiers is sick of the entire thing and decides to escape, with plans to infiltrate and take down the Dragon Keepers. 

• Years active: 2024 (Ongoing)
• Genre: Animation
• Rating: TV-MA
• Creator: Negi Haruba
  
• Cast: Yusuke Kobayashi, Daishi Kajita, Yumika Yano

Sugar – April 5, Apple TV Plus

Sugar is a new drama starring and executive produced by Colin Farrell. Described as a “genre-bending contemporary take on the private detective story set in Los Angeles”, though there’s a lot more going on beneath the surface than that, including some major twists that work pretty well. Without giving too much away here, Collin plays a private detective who is struggling with his own personal demons as he investigates several major cases, including the disappearance of a Hollywood producer’s granddaughter. 

• Years active: 2024 (Ongoing)
• Genre: Crime, mystery, thriller
• Rating: TV-14
• Creator: Mark Protosevich
  
• Cast: Colin Farrell, Kirby, Amy Ryan, Dennis Boutsikaris

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 – April 4, Paramount Plus

Star Trek: Discovery debuted in 2017 giving us a look back just ten years before the events of the first Star Trek, a time marked by a major war between the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire. From there the show goes off in completely unpredictable directions, but I don’t want to say much for fear of spoiling it. Let’s just say a lot goes down between season 1 in 2017 and the start of this newest season in 2024. If you’ve yet to check out the previous episodes you can check out the last four seasons right now, with Season 5 debuting on April 4. 

• Years active: 2017 – Ongoing
• Genre: Sci-fi, action
• Rating: TV-MA
• Creators: Bryan Fuller, Alex Kurtzman
  
• Cast: Doug Jones, Sonequa Martin-Green, Anthony Rapp, Emily Coutts

Ripley – April 4, Netflix

Ripley is a new limited eight-episode thriller based on the crime novel The Talented Mr. Ripley. Set in the 1960s, Tom Ripley is hired by a wealthy man to convince his son to return home from Italy, but soon he finds that he’s bitten off more than he can chew trying to keep up with Greeleaf’s dangerous life abroad. This one looks pretty compelling if you’re a fan of thrillers or the source material, but it’s made even better by a compelling cast that includes Andrew Scott, Johnny Flynn, and Dakota Fanning. 

• Years active: 2024 (Ongoing)
• Genre: Thriller, Drama
• Rating: TV-MA
• Creator: Steven Zaillian
  
• Cast: Andrew Scott, Dakota Fanning, Johnny Flynn

Lopez vs Lopez – April 3, Netflix

George Lopez is no stranger to sitcoms fictionalizing his life but in 2022 he returned with his latest, Lopez vs Lopez. The show features his real-life daughter as both actors play fictionalized versions of themselves alongside a great supporting cast that includes Selensi Leyva, Brice Gonzalez, and many others. As with most sitcoms, there’s no major overarching story here, though the events of season 1 do obviously have lasting effects. You can check out the first season now right now, with the second season starting on April 3rd. 

• Years active: 2022 – Ongoing
• Genre: Sitcom
• Rating: TV-PG
• Creator: George Lopez
  
• Cast: Mayan Lopez, George Lopez, Selensi Leyva, Brice Gonzalez

A Gentleman in Moscow – March 29, Paramount Plus

The popular Chinese sci-fi novel is getting the small-screen treatment with a brand-new series from showrunners David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, of Game of Thrones fame. 3 Body Problem centers on an imminent alien threat. Someone or something is targeting the world’s top scientists. We are at war, but with who and why? That’s a very short and simplified take on the story, but it’s the best way to put it without giving too much away. I am honestly very excited for this one though I am also nervous as this is a very hard sci-fi book and seems like a hard one to adapt. The good news is that early press reviews suggest that this one mostly sticks to the spirit of the book while making necessary improvements and little changes to better fit the medium. 

• Release date: 2024 (Ongoing)
• Genre: Historical fiction
• Rating: NR
• Creator: Ben Vanstone
  
• Cast: Ewan McGregor, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Alexa Goodall

Physical: 100 Season 2 – March 19, Netflix

South Korean TV has become extremely popular here in the US, largely thanks to Netflix, and Physical: 100 is no exception. In season 1, the reality series pitted 100 participants against one another and had them compete in a hanging challenge, death match challenge, and several other “quests”. The various quests were all designed to challenge the contestant’s strength, endurance, agility, and even strategy skills. Now the show is back for a second season with all new challenges like pushing heavy carts around an actual mine race, putting the players into a giant maze, caged matches, and so much more. As you’d expect, there’s also a whole new group of competitors to cheer on to victory. 

Photographer – March 19, Hulu

National Geographic’s Photographer is a new documentary series that explores the works and life of famous photographers across the globe, emphasizing the vast differences in types of photographers, the process, and even the motivations behind the art. The first episode centers around the photographers Cristina Mittermeier and Paul Nicklen but each episode explores a different renowned photographer including Anand Varma, Dan Winters, Campbell Addy, Krystel Wright, and Muhammed Muheisen. 

• Years active: 2024 (Ongoing)
• Genre: Docuseries

X-Men 97 – March 20, Disney Plus

Just imagine it: The year is 1997 and the X-Men animated series season 3 finale has aired. Professor X is gone and it’s up to the next generation to continue on his legacy. Now what? After all these years, we’ll finally find out! X-Men 97 is a new series that continues the timeline from the original, with the remaining X-Men attempting to continue on without the Professor’s guidance. While the show is a spiritual successor to the original and attempts to keep its general vibe and energy, it also is hoping to make its own mark and so its vibe and energy might not be completely identical, though part of that is also because the original was made in the 90s. 

• Years active: 2024 (Ongoing)
• Genre: Family, Animation
• Rating: TV-14
• Creator: Beau DeMayo
  
• Cast: Ray Chase, Jennifer Hale, Alison Sealy-Smith

3 Body Problem – March 21, Netflix

The popular Chinese sci-fi novel is getting the small-screen treatment with a brand-new series from showrunners David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, of Game of Thrones fame. 3 Body Problem centers on an imminent alien threat. Someone or something is targeting the world’s top scientists. We are at war, but with who and why? That’s a very short and simplified take on the story, but it’s the best way to put it without giving too much away. I am honestly very excited for this one though I am also nervous as this is a very hard sci-fi book and seems like a hard one to adapt. The good news is that early press reviews suggest that this one mostly sticks to the spirit of the book while making necessary improvements and little changes to better fit the medium. 

• Release date: March 21, 2024
• Genre: Sci-fi
• Rating: TV-14
• Creator: David Benioff, D.B. Weis
  
• Cast: Luyi Zhang, Hewei Yu, Yongjian Lin, Xiaoran LI

Palm Royale – March 20, Apple TV Plus

Based on the novel “Mr. and Mrs. American Pie”, this new Apple TV Plus series is set in 1969 in the wealthy Palm Beach area and stars Kristen Wig as Maxine Simmons, a woman who craves acceptance into high society and dreams of membership in the exclusive Palm Royale club. The ambitious woman believes she has what it takes to fit in and thrive, despite her much more humble background. She’ll stop at nothing until her big dreams are made a reality, even if that means ruffling some feathers along the way. If you’re into period comedies, this one has a lot of talent and seems like a lot of fun. 

• Years active: 2024 (Ongoing) 
• Genre: Drama/Comedy
• Rating: TV-14
• Creator: Abe Sylvia
  
• Cast: Kristen Wiig, Ricky Martin, Josh Lucas, Leslie Bibb

Girls5eva Season 1 to 3 – March 14, Netflix

Girls5Eva centers around a fictional 1990s girl group by the same name that is best known as a one-hit wonder. When a young rapper samples some of their work, the band is reunited with one more shot at fame. While this show originally premiered on Peacock in 2021 it was cancelled after the second season, but thankfully that didn’t stop the show as Netflix swooped in and bought the rights. The show has tons of talent here, including Busy Phillips of ER, Dawson’s Creek, and Cougartown fame. You can now watch the first two seasons and the brand-new third season on Netflix. 

• Years active: 2021 – Ongoing
• Genre: Comedy
• Rating: TV-MA
• Creator: Meredith Scardino
  
• Cast: Busy Philipps, Paula Pell, Renne Elise Goldsberry

Apples Never Fall, Season 1 – March 14, Netflix

Based on the book of the same name, a married couple named Joy and Stan Delaney retire from running a tennis academy. Shortly into their newly retired lives Joy suddenly goes missing. This leaves her husband and four children as prime suspects. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear the family isn’t as put together or united as you might think, but who is really behind the disappearance? This drama stars Sam Neil, Alison Brie, and plenty of other talent and is easily one of the most anticipated Peacock originals of 2024 so far. 

• Years active: 2024 (Ongoing)
• Genre: Thriller, Suspense
• Rating: 12+
• Creator: Melanie Marnich
  
• Cast: Annette Bening, Jake Lacy, Alison Brie, Sam Neil

The Girls on the Bus – March 14, Max

The Girls on the Bus is a new American political drama series around four female journalists following a series of equally flawed presidential candidates all while facing new challenges and political enemies. While politics are at the center here, the series is also about finding love and success in the cutthroat world of politics. For those that don’t know, this is actually loosely based on the 2018 book Chasing Hilary, though it has been heavily adapted and fictionalized in the process. 

• Release date: March 14, 2024
• Genre: Comedy/drama
• Rating: NR
• Creator: Amy Chozick
  
• Cast: Melissa Benoist, Carla Gugino, Christina Elmore

Mant Hunt – March 15, Apple TV Plus

Based on a 2006 book by the same name, Manhunt is a new miniseries about one of the most infamous men in history, John Wilkes Booth. The actor turned assassin is known for his role in killing President Lincoln, but the new film takes a closer look at the aftermath and the twelve-day search to hunt down Booth and other conspirators. This not only shows Booths’ attempts to escape but also centers on the men attempting to  bring him to justice. 

• Years active: 2024 (Ongoing) 
• Genre: Conspiracy, thriller
• Rating: TV-MA
• Creator: Monica Beletsky
  
• Cast: Claudie Blakley, Matthew Gravelle, Martin Clunes

Grey’s Anatomy, Season 20 – March 15, Hulu

Gray’s Anatomy is back for its twentieth season. I’m not going to beat around the bush here, there’s twenty seasons of storyline to unpack in this one and I haven’t been following it since at least 2008, and even then it was only a passing interest at best. For those who have ever watched it, Gray’s Anatomy is a hospital drama that has seen major changes to its cast in its long history, similar to the series ER. If you’re returning after a long absence, be aware there are only a few original members of the cast still around including Dr. Mirand Bailey and Dr. Richard Webber. You can catch all seasons on Hulu now. 

• Years active: 2005 – 2024 (Ongoing) 
• Genre: Drama
• Rating: TV-14
• Creator: Shonda Rhimes
  
• Cast: Chandra Wilson, James Pickens Jr., Ellen Pompeo

Queen of Tears – March 9, Netflix

This romantic comedy series centers around a married couple that seems like a perfect match on paper. Baek Hyun-woo is a successful legal director at the Queens Group, while his wife Hong Hae-In is the daughter of the family that owns and operates the group. The perfect power couple on the outside, but reality is often much messier than what we see on paper. When things look their darkest, the couple must confront deep-seated issues in their marriage and learn to rediscover their love for each other once again. It’s worth mentioning this drama is spoken in Korean as it was produced in South Korea, so be prepared for subtitles. If that’s not a deal breaker for you (which it shouldn’t be!) then this series may be worth a watch if you like romantic dramas. 

• Years active: 2024 (Ongoing) 
• Genre: Romance, Drama
• Rating: 15+
• Creator: Park Ji-eun
  
• Cast: Kim Ji-Won, Kim Soo-hyun, Kwak Dong-yeon

Animal Control, Season 2 – March 7, Hulu

I’ve been a big fan of Joel McHale since the days of Community and while it took me most of season 1 to warm up to this show, it was worth giving it a watch. The show sees Joe McHale in the role of an Animal Control officer named Frank. In the first episode, he’s given a new partner, much to the loner’s dismay. In many ways, you can think of this show as sort of like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, but instead of centering on the police and dispatchers, the show focuses on animal control agents and, once again, dispatchers. Personally, I prefer this show because of the animal-themed hijinks. As you might imagine, they encounter all sorts of creatures from ostriches to a mountain lion and more. If you haven’t watched the first season, you can catch up now on Hulu before you jump into Season 2 starting on March 7th.

• Years active: 2023 – Ongoing
• Genre: Comedy
• Rating: TV-PG
• Creator: Bob Fisher, Rob Greenberg
  
• Cast: Joel McHale, Grace Palmer, Vella Lovell

Extraordinary, Season 2 – March 6, Hulu

Extraordinary isn’t your average superhero show. For starters, it takes place in a version of the world where everyone has superpowers by the age of eighteen, except for 25-year-old Jen. Eventually, Jen does figure out her real power but it comes with its own complications. The new season continues where the story left off with a particular focus on Jizzlord and his shape-shifting. If you haven’t watched the first season yet you can catch it now on Hulu, with Season 2 starting March 6. 

• Years active: 2023 – Ongoing
• Genre: Superhero Comedy
• Rating: TV-MA
• Creator: Emma Moran
  
• Cast: Máiréad Tyers, Luke Rollason, Sofia Oxenham

Full Swing, Season 2 – March 6, Netflix

Full Swing is a new docudrama centering around professional golfing. While golf is a relatively mellow sport, this series takes a closer look at the more dramatic side of things behind the scenes. This new season follows the unexpected proposed agreement between the PGA Tour, , the DP World Tour, and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, the backers of LIV Golf. You’ll see interviews with all sorts of different perspectives on the issue, and plenty of drama as well. 

• Years active: 2023 – Ongoing
• Genre: Docudrama
• Rating: TV-MA
• Creator: Chad Mumm
  
• Cast: Amanda Renner, Dylan Dethier, Sean Foley

The Regime – March 3, Max

The Regime is set in a fictional, unnamed country ruled by the authoritarian dictator, Chancellor Elena Vernham. As she abuses and consolidates her power, Elena’s behavior becomes increasingly erratic and paranoid. She turns to the soldier Herbert Zubak for protection, and as his influence grows, the country’s delicate balance begins to shatter.

This dark comedy offers powerful social commentary on the fragility of political systems and the corrupting influence of manipulative forces. In tone, it echoes elements of Succession and Veep, though with its own distinct flavor. The Regime premieres exclusively on HBO Max on March 3rd.

• Years active: 2024 (Ongoing)
• Genre: Political drama 
• Rating: TV-MA
• Creator: Will Tracy
  
• Cast: Kate Winslet, Matthias Schoenaerts, Hugh Grant, Martha Plimpton

Blood and Water, Season 4 – March 1, Netflix

Blood & Water is a South African teen crime drama that first debuted in 2020. The series centers around Puleng Khumalo, a Cape Town teenager who suspects a popular swimming star at a prestigious private school might be her long-lost sister, abducted at birth by a human trafficking ring. Hoping to get to the truth, she begins an investigation of her own. Season 3 continues the drama as Puleng gets closer to uncovering the truth. If you haven’t seen the earlier seasons, you can catch them all on Netflix.

• Years active: 2020 – Ongoing
• Genre: Teen crime drama
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Nosipho Dumisa
• Cast: Ama Qamata, Khosi Ngema, Gail Mabalane, Thabang Molaba

The Completely Made-up Adventures of Dick Turpin – March 1, Netflix

Dick Turpin isn’t your typical highwayman. While most are violent thieves, he believes in handling things in a more civil manner. His unique mannerisms and his ambitions of being the most famous highwayman in the world certainly help set him apart and lead him into trouble with the corrupt lawman Jonathan Wild in the process.

Apple TV Plus has produced many interesting shows over the last few years, and Dick Turpin looks to be no exception. If you like the idea of a comedy with a historic spin on it, this one is worth catching when it debuts on March 1st.

• Years active: 2024 (Ongoing)
• Genre: Historical comedy/adventure
• Rating: TV-14
• Creators:  Claire Downes, Ian Jarvis, Stuart Lane
• Cast: Noel Fielding, Hugh Bonneville, Asim Chaudhry