Between the holiday shopping sprees and the decadent meals, December is all about excess — and this month's TV releases are their own delightful bounty. They include a deep dive into a brand known for rainbow colors and big sales; a reboot of the relationship between two glitzy socialites; and a return to a fictional South Korea, where hundreds of gamers are ready to die for their shot at an enormous cash prize.
'Black Doves'
Keira Knightley, known to some as the Queen of Period Pieces ("Pride & Prejudice," "Pirates of the Caribbean," "The Duchess," "Colette," the list goes on) has finally found herself back in the modern era. She stars as a professional London-based spy; "Black Doves" is a "gleefully pulpy Christmas gift," said The Guardian. "If your idea of festive fun involves guns, gore and more white powder than a snowstorm in Lapland, this spy spectacle should be at the top of your gift list." (Dec. 5 on Netflix)
'Glitter & Greed: The Lisa Frank Story'
The bright, psychedelic designs of Lisa Frank were coveted by nearly every kid during the 1990s. The company's bread and butter was school supplies — folders, Trapper Keepers, notebooks — all boasting Frank's signature aesthetic of cute animals and neon colors. But behind the shiny-happy image of the kids' brand lies a grittier tale, and this four-part docuseries tracks the company's rise and fall. "So many artists I talk to were very influenced" by this brand, said the series' executive producer Arianne LaPenne to People. "When we started digging into this story, it really turned out to be about what it means to be an artist and how much we suffer as artists for our art." (Dec. 5 on Prime Video)
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'Paris & Nicole: The Encore'
In the early aughts, blonde socialites Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie ruled the tabloids and became household names with the success of their reality show, "The Simple Life." That was 20 years ago, and now the besties are reuniting for the aptly named "Paris & Nicole: The Encore." This time, instead of traveling the country doing manual labor, the now-adult women are putting together an opera based on their nonsense catch phrase, "Sanasa." Sounds just as nutty as the premise of their first series. (Dec. 12 on Peacock)
'No Good Deed'
If you are looking for some housing crisis catharsis, look no further than "No Good Dead," a new series from Liz Feldman, the creator of "Dead to Me." It's another murder mystery, this time following three families who are competing to buy the same Los Angeles house. The sellers, played by Ray Romano and Lisa Kudrow, may be trying to hide something about the place they are hawking — but the buyers have a few tricks up their sleeves, as well. "An open house event for an upscale home already resembles a game of 'Clue': affluent people from various walks of life, gathered together in a large, attractive space," said a Variety review. "All that's missing from this ready-made setup is a dead body," which the series provides. (Dec. 12 on Netflix)
'Squid Game' (season 2)
The first season of Netflix's original series "Squid Games" may have resonated so keenly with viewers due to its "unnerving relatability," said Dani Di Placido at Forbes. That might be thanks to a plot about "a faceless corporation which refers to its players by number rather than name, demanding they risk their lives, with the promise of the piggy bank always looming over their heads." In the show's second season, Gi-hun (aka Player 456), who survived the first game, is inexplicably back for another round. Times are tight. (Dec. 26 on Netflix)
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‘Furious Minds: The Making of the MAGA New Right’ by Laura K. Field and ‘The Dream Factory: London’s First Playhouse and the Making of William Shakespeare’ by Daniel SwiftFeature An insider’s POV on the GOP and the untold story of Shakespeare’s first theater
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How to shop smarter with a grocery budgetThe Explainer No more pushing your cart down the aisles on autopilot
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Henri Rousseau: A Painter’s Secretsfeature Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia, through Feb. 22
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11 extra-special holiday gifts for everyone on your listThe Week Recommends Jingle their bells with the right present
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The real tragedy that inspired ‘Hamlet,’ the life of a pingpong prodigy and the third ‘Avatar’ adventure in December moviesThe Week Recommends This month’s new releases include ‘Hamnet,’ ‘Marty Supreme’ and ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’
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A postapocalyptic trip to Sin City, a peek inside Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras’ tour, and an explicit hockey romance in December TVthe week recommends This month’s new television releases include ‘Fallout,’ ‘Taylor Swift: The End Of An Era’ and ‘Heated Rivalry’
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December’s books feature otherworldly tales, a literary icon’s life story and an adult royal rompThe Week Recommends This month's new releases include ‘The Heir Apparent’ by Rebecca Armitage and ‘Tailored Realities’ by Brandon Sanderson
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Jane Austen lives on at these timeless hotelsThe Week Recommends Here’s where to celebrate the writing legend’s 250th birthday
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Daddy Pig: an unlikely flashpoint in the gender warsTalking Point David Gandy calls out Peppa Pig’s dad as an example of how TV portrays men as ‘useless’ fools
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May your loved ones eat, drink and be merry with these 9 edible Christmas giftsThe Week Recommends Let them eat babka (and cheese and licorice)
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Turner: The Secret Sketchbooks – a fascinating portrait of the great painterThe Week Recommends BBC2 documentary examines the rarely seen sketchbooks of the enigmatic artist
