“The Umbrella Academy“
What You Need To Know: It’s time to agree that the term “superhero fatigue” is growing as tired as the genre itself. For every standard television series or film that is far too compliant with the status quo of comic book adaptations, there comes along one that will break the mold and transform into something wildly entertaining. Created by My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way, “The Umbrella Academy” looks to build off of the latter point, a story set inside a world full of superheroics that manage to subvert expectations.
Release Date: Season 1 premieres February 15th on Netflix
“Documentary Now“
What You Need To Know: Up until now, one of the greatest selling points of IFC’s egregiously niche “Documentary Now!” has been the avante-garde style of its two stars and the way they could both mimic and sincerely homage the source material they were spoofing. Starring Fred Armisen and Bill Hader, the series was a reflection on their skill sets so to hear that one half of that equation (Hader) would be missing in season 3 momentarily took away from the excitement of the series being back. However, they more than brought the star-power to fill the void left by Hader in his absence with turns from everyone including Michael Keaton, Owen Wilson, and Cate Blanchett.
Release Date: Season 3 premieres February 20th on IFC.
“Better Things“
What You Need To Know: Following the controversy of Louis C.K’s inability to not abuse his position of power, Pamela Adlon – a frequent collaborator of C.K’s- was caught unfairly in the crossfire due to her work with the disgraced comedian in her series “Better Things.” Anyone who has ever watched the series is well aware that the success of a story of a single mom living in the L.A area with three daughters of varying ages knows that the success is due to Adlon’s brand of humor and heart but season 3 helps further shake the stench of C.K’s hold on the series. It is officially her own now and it’s all the better because of it. Still a familial comedy of the concerns and triumphs that come from being a single working mother in a cut-throat industry, there are few other voices that could tell this story in quite the same way.
Release Date: Season 3 premieres February 28th on FX
