5 Must-Watch Shows in January 2025
New year, new shows. The first month of 2025 brings a long list of fresh TV premieres, including a new drama about a 1988 terrorist attack, a bloody Western from the creator of Friday Night Lights, and a high-stakes medical drama featuring an ER alum. Here are our picks for five must-watch shows in January 2025.
‘Lockerbie: A Search for Truth’
Oscar-winner Colin Firth plays Jim Swire, a father committed to uncovering the truth about the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in this inspired-by-real-life drama. Swire’s daughter Flora was one of 259 passengers and crew killed when a plane exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, shortly after takeoff. (Eleven people on the ground also died.) Following the disaster, Jim embarks on a quest to find out what really happened on Dec. 21, 1988, and who was responsible.
Lockerbie: A Search for Truth premieres Thursday, Jan. 2 on Peacock.
‘The Way Home’ Season 3
If you think Hallmark Channel is nothing more than sweet rom-coms and charmingly predictable Christmas movies, it’s time to give The Way Home a chance. This drama follows Kat Landry (Chyler Leigh) and her teenage daughter Alice (Sadie Laflamme-Snow) who discover that a pond on their family’s farm is actually a time portal. Skipping back and forth in time forces them to confront long-standing family tensions and reveals surprising secrets. Season 3 picks up immediately after the season 2 finale, with a now-adult Jacob (Spencer Macpherson) finally reuniting with his mom, Del (Andie MacDowell), decades after his mysterious disappearance.
The Way Home Season 2 premieres Friday, Jan. 3 at 9 p.m. ET on Hallmark Channel. Episodes stream the next day on Hallmark+.
‘American Primeval’
Netflix’s gritty new Western American Primeval isn’t pulling any punches, based on the bloody trailer that dropped on New Year’s Day. This new six-episode series from the writer of The Revenant reunites director Peter Berg with Friday Night Lights alum Taylor Kitsch for a look at the brutality of life on the American frontier in the mid-19th century. Expect an exploration of “the violent collision of culture, religion, and community as men and women fight and die for control of this world,” per the streamer’s synopsis.
American Primeval premieres Jan. 9 on Netflix.
‘The Pitt’
ER alum Noah Wyle scrubs in again in Max’s new medical drama The Pitt. The Emmy nominee stars as Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch, the chief attendant in the ER at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital. The Pitt follows Robby and his colleagues over an intense, 15-hour shift, with the 15 episodes playing out in real time. The show highlights the day-to-day challenges American doctors, nurses, and other first responders face in a broken and dysfunctional medical system.
The Pitt premieres Thursday, Jan. 9 on Max. New episodes release weekly through April 10.
‘Severance’ Season 2
AppleTV+’s unsettling workplace drama Severance finally returns for its much-anticipated second season this month. The new episodes pick up with the next chapter of the story of a group of office workers (led by Parks and Recreation’s Adam Scott) who’ve agreed to have their consciousness split between their work life and their home life. In season 2, the “innies” will confront the surprising consequences of their efforts to learn more about the lives of their “outies.” But as we know from season 1, nothing at Lumon Industries is what it seems. With new characters and suprising twists, Severance Season 2 is sure to deliver plenty more jaw-dropping, WTF moments.
Severance Season 2 premieres January 17 on Apple TV+
Other January 2025 TV premieres
What other shows can you look forward to in January 2025? Here’s a round-up of some of this month’s other notable premieres. You can also check out Showbiz Cheat Sheet’s list of return dates for fan-favorite broadcast shows including NCIS, Matlock, and Chicago Fire.
January 1: Missing You (Netflix)
January 3: RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 17 (MTV)
January 5: When Calls the Heart Season 12 (Hallmark Channel/Hallmark+); Mayfair Witches Season 2 (AMC/AMC+)
January 6: The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: The Final Chapter (ID/Max)
January 9: The Traitors Season 3 (Peacock); On Call (Prime Video)
January 12: Miss Scarlet Season 5 (PBS); All Creatures Great and Small Season 5 (PBS)
January 13: Baylen Out Loud (TLC/Max)
January 15: An Update on Our Family (HBO/Max); With Love, Meghan (Netflix)
January 16: XO, Kitty Season 2 (Netflix)
January 17: The Couple Next Door (Starz)
January 23: The Night Agent Season 2 (Netflix)
January 27: The Bachelor Season 29 (ABC)
January 29: All-American Season 7 (The CW)
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