After a relatively quiet summer, television is returning with a packed autumn schedule featuring new dramas, returning favourites, remakes and spin-offs.
For viewers who prefer staying indoors, the summer offered relatively little to get excited about. The World Cup dominated traditional television schedules, while streaming platforms did little to fill the gap. Even major shows such as The Bear seemed to come and go almost unnoticed, while House of the Dragon failed to make much of an impression.
That has changed dramatically with the arrival of autumn. New series and returning favourites are now appearing almost everywhere, creating what feels like an unusually crowded television landscape.
Among the biggest attractions is War, the new Sky and HBO divorce drama starring Sienna Miller and Dominic West.
The series centres on a bitter divorce between a fading Hollywood star and a technology billionaire, with their lawyers becoming embroiled in the increasingly vicious battle. The result has been compared to a combination of Rivals and Succession, mixing deliberately extravagant drama with sharper writing and social satire.
The series moves at a relentless pace, with episodes regularly ending on major cliffhangers. Pip Torrens also stands out as an exceptionally arrogant lawyer, adding another layer of entertainment to the show.
Slow Horses returns
Apple TV+’s Slow Horses is also back for its sixth season, and despite the show’s longevity, the latest instalment may be among its strongest.
The new season has considerably simplified its storyline, essentially turning it into an extended chase. That stripped-back approach gives the series a faster and more physical feel.
The performances remain one of its greatest strengths, while the writing continues to deliver despite the departure of former showrunner Will Smith.
There is also a sense that viewers may need to appreciate the series while they can. If Jack Lowden eventually takes on the role of James Bond, his future availability for Slow Horses could become increasingly uncertain.
The Paper proves its worth
Even television’s remakes and spin-offs are making a strong impression this autumn.
The second season of The Paper, Greg Daniels’ follow-up to The Office, has developed into a warm and consistently funny workplace comedy. Its ensemble cast has become increasingly comfortable in their roles, giving the show a stronger identity of its own.
The main frustration is its short run: the second season consists of just 10 episodes.
That could ultimately prevent The Paper from developing the kind of deep familiarity associated with long-running sitcoms such as Friends or Cheers. At its current pace, it could take decades to accumulate a comparable number of episodes.
Another remake, Reckless, takes inspiration from Neil Forsyth’s acclaimed Scottish series Guilt. The new production retains much of the tension and momentum of the original while introducing several new elements of its own.
More shows are on the way
The autumn television schedule does not stop there.
Rivals is set to return, as is The Celebrity Traitors. Sharon Horgan has a new series, Youth, while Apple’s Brothers, starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, is also generating interest.
Amazon’s Blade Runner 2099 is another intriguing addition. Even if the series ultimately fails to live up to expectations, its concept and connection to the Blade Runner universe make it one of the season’s more interesting projects.
And for fans of the Reacher universe, the new spin-off Neagley could be one of the most anticipated releases of the autumn.
With so many major productions arriving at once, the biggest problem for television viewers this season may not be finding something to watch, but finding enough time to watch everything.
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