It’s been a pretty good year for TV so far – after all, we’ve seen established shows such as Arrow and Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. going from strength to strength… and with a brand new Doctor in Doctor Who there’s a lot to get excited about. But if you believe the hype, the best is yet to come…
Over the next few months, we can expect all-new Star Wars storylines as well as our first glimpse at DC’s The Flash. And that’s not all. It seems there’s plenty to get excited about for horror fans too, with Guillermo Del Toro’s new series The Strain heading to our screens this week.
But what else is on the cards? Here’s our list of the hottest new TV shows in the coming months.
Constantine – unknown air date
Okay, so DC’s Constantine hasn’t been picked up by a UK network just yet… but with an October premiere in the US, I can’t help thinking it won’t be long before one of our channels takes the plunge. Of course, fans of the Hellblazer comic books will need no introduction.
John Constantine (Matt Ryan) is a man on the edge… a self-styled detective who specialises in the occult, Constantine reluctantly becomes the guardian of humanity against the demonic forces of evil. And it’s not long before he’s forced to face his chequered past.
We’ve only seen a short trailer so far, but it looks incredibly promising. And Matt Ryan’s performance as John Constantine seems spot on – a far cry from the rather dismal Keanu Reeves version. Sticking more closely to the comic books, it’s really one for the fans… but will no doubt delight paranormal enthusiasts too.
Gotham – October 2014, Channel 5
Arguably the most anticipated TV show of the year, Gotham takes us back to a time before Batman, when the criminal underbelly of Gotham City ran rampant. Well, more rampant than they do now. Starring Ben McKenzie as a young Detective Jim Gordon, Gotham promises a unique concept – how did Gotham handle the rise of the super villain?
Of course, a young Bruce Wayne (played by David Mazouz) makes an appearance… and it seems we might get a closer look at the murder of Bruce’s parents as Detective Gordon gets to work in an attempt to solve the case.
But it’s the villainous underbelly that provides the greatest interest here. So far, we’ve seen Oswald Cobblepot (Robin Lord Taylor) appear in promo materials, and even mention of The Riddler and Poison Ivy. Quite how they appear on screen remains to be seen… but with such an interesting concept, I get the feeling that Gotham is going to be a huge hit.
The Flash – October 2014, Sky1
After the huge success of Arrow, we finally get to see the fastest man alive in his very own spin-off show. First appearing in an episode of Arrow alongside his Justice League pal, the Green Arrow (Stephen Amell), Grant Gustin gets to reprise the role of Barry Allen… and this time, he’s packing a lot more punch.
After a freak accident involving an energy storm and a particle accelerator, Barry Allen soon discovers that he possesses the power of super speed… but he’s not the only superhuman that was created in the explosion.
Reactions so far have been incredibly positive… and with a functional and thoroughly modern take on the Flash costume, it looks as though The CW have (so far) managed to avoid the trappings of making a cheesy spin-off.
Instead, it seems that The Flash is a stylish new show that opens up the DC universe for the TV audience. And it’s about time.
The Leftovers – 16 September 2014, Sky Atlantic
An intriguing new show from ‘Lost’ writer Damon Lindelof, The Leftovers follows the story of a small town in the USA after the mysterious events of the Sudden Departure – a global rapture-like event which caused the inexplicable sudden disappearance of 2% of the world’s population.
Starring Justin Theroux as Mapleton’s Chief of Police – a man trying to bring some kind of normalcy to the post-rapture world – it’s an interesting concept that finds the residents of this small town trying to come to terms with losing their loved ones… and even the notion that they were in some way not worthy of being taken.
Featuring Liv Tyler and Christopher Eccleston and involving a weird, religious cabal, it’s certainly worth giving this show a try.
Star Wars Rebels – 3 October 2014, Disney XD
I know some may blast Star Wars Rebels as being just a kids TV show, but this is our first glimpse at the galaxy far, far away since Disney acquired the franchise back last year. It also happens to be the spiritual follow-up to the highly successful Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
Clearly taking a visual cue from previous Star Wars animated efforts, there’s also a hint of Ralph McQuarrie’s original designs… and that’s no coincidence.
Following the exploits of the growing rebellion to fight back against the Empire, we follow a band of all-new heroes led by Kanan (Freddie Prinze Jr) – a rough and ready Jedi who’s just as handy with a blaster as he is with a lightsaber. Joined by young rebel Ezra Bridger (Taylor Gray) aboard The Ghost starship, they fight back against the terrifying Inquisitor… and from what we gather, it might be our first hint of what to expect in Star Wars VII.
Either way, it’s a no-brainer for Star Wars fans.
The Strain – 17 September 2014, Watch
Highly anticipated by horror fans, Guillermo Del Toro heads back to the small screen for his latest TV show, The Strain. Adapted from Del Toro’s novel of the same name, it’s a brand-new take on the traditional vampire narrative… taking the romanticised notion of the vampire and turning it into a grotesque, parasitic creature. Fans of the Twilight saga might want to look away now.
When a plane lands at JFK Airport with the lights off and doors sealed shut, epidemiologist Dr Ephraim Goodweather and his team are sent to investigate. Of course, things soon take a turn for the worse, when it’s revealed that the plane contains a whopping 206 corpses… and only 4 survivors.
Naturally, the horror ramps up almost instantly and with a grotesque transformation into their vampiric state, we’d expect nothing less from Guillermo Del Toro. It’s a creepy, gut-churning show that will instantly appeal to horror fans. Just make sure you’re not eating when you watch this.
What do you think of these upcoming TV shows? Are there any new shows that you’re looking forward to? Let us know in the comments below…
