The amount of television premiering each month is overwhelming. This is mainly a good thing as it offers up series for just about every type of fan, as evident by September’s release schedule. “Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” chases the buzz away from “House of the Dragon” as the next big fantasy series sequel, while the comedy favorite from earlier this year, “Abbott Elementary,” returns all ready for its second season. Along with that, two critical favorites from over the years, “Atlanta” and “The Handmaid’s Tale,” will start their final seasons, looking to end on high notes.
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Joining the existing favorites, there are new adaptations of popular 80s films, a must-see science-fiction animated show, the latest from the creator of “Modern Family,” and many more, including those that are sitting way below the radar. Add to that anything we’ve yet to finish, and the plate is stacked going into the colder autumnal season.
“Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power”
The most expensive television show ever, “Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” submerges fans back into the world of J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy world. Set thousands of years before the events of “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings,” the series, based on the appendices by Tolkien, follows the inhabitants of Middle-earth as they confront a long-feared evil that’s re-emerged. Morfydd Clark, Robert Aramayo, Nazanin Boniadi, Cynthia Addai–Robinson, and many more stars. Our critic commended the show for, “…presenting epic fantasy storytelling in a way that not only shows its oversized budget but allows its world to feel expansive and deep.”
Release Date: Season one premieres September 1 on Amazon Prime.
“Wedding Season”
Described by our critic as a cross between “Runaway Bride” meets “The Bourne Legacy,” “Wedding Season” is writing its own rules in regards to what genres it gets to play with. Rosa Salazar stars alongside Gavin Drea as the two suffer the fallout of a massive rampage against Salazar’s character’s in-laws. Created by Oliver Lyttleton, our critic called it “…an exercise in storytelling, jumping back and forth between two incredibly densely plotted timelines without losing its grip on its tone.”
Release Date: Season one premieres September 8 on Disney+.
“American Gigolo”
Paul Schrader is the latest filmmaker to have his work updated and adapted with the Jon Bernthal-led “American Gigolo.” Based on Schrader’s film from the 1980s, the television drama version was developed by David Hollander. Like the original film, it follows Julian Kaye (Bernthal taking up Richard Gere’s role), this time set 15 years after being arrested for murder as he struggles with modern-day Los Angeles and its sex industry while seeking the truth about what sent him to prison. Gretchen Mol, Rosie O’Donnell, Lizzie Brocheré, Gabriel LaBelle, and Leland Orser also star.
Release Date: Season one premieres September 9 on Showtime.
