’Tis the season to watch TV and lounge

By Constantinos Psillides

’Tis the season to be binging tra la la la! If there is one time when it is socially acceptable to stay home and watch TV all day long, that’s December. With the holidays around the corner streamers are pulling out the big guns to make a holiday splash.

Here’s what’s coming your way in December, in available streaming:

12 Angry Men – Prime Video (December 1)

Bit of an odd choice, sure, but hear me out. This 1957 movie is one of those old films that is not only great but still holds up today. Watching it is a reminder that you do not need CGI when you have a brilliant script and performers who can argue themselves into an existential crisis.

Inside a hot New York apartment, 12 jurors must decide the fate of a young boy accused of murdering his father. It seems like an easy decision, as all evidence points toward guilt. When a preliminary vote is held, 11 out of 12 jurors vote guilty. Only Juror 8 disagrees and goes on an almost impossible and utterly gripping journey to convince everyone else in the room.

The West Wing Seasons 1 to 7 – Netflix (December)

A complicated one emotionally. I loved Aaron Sorkin’s political drama and once considered it peak television, but with hindsight, you realise the series that shaped the worldview of an entire generation of voters and politicians is also deeply problematic. Compromise as virtue, environmentalists treated as fringe, elitism baked into every scene, cheerleading NAFTA… the list goes on.

Still, The West Wing is undeniably great TV with unforgettable performances. Allison Janney is CJ Cregg forever, and despite its issues the series remains compelling, smart and endlessly quotable. A perfect December binge for anyone seeking a hit of idealism before reality spoils everything again.

Knives Out: Wake Up Dead Man – Netflix (December 12)

The third and possibly final entry in the Knives Out saga brings back Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc, still speaking in a drawl that somehow remains both absurd and endearing. Blanc is called by a small-town sheriff in upstate New York to investigate the murder of a priest found with a knife in his back.

As always, the cast is stacked with A-listers including Glenn Close, Jeremy Renner, Andrew Scott and Josh Brolin. Expect twists, eccentric wardrobes and at least one monologue that makes you want to rewind immediately.

Fallout Season 2 – Prime Video (December 17)

Fans of the video game series were clutching their Pip-Boys, praying this adaptation would not join the graveyard of failed video game shows. No one expected season one to be a massive hit. Fallout’s irradiated wasteland, retro-futurism and dark satire turned out to be exactly what viewers wanted.

Season 2 expands the world even further, introducing New Vegas and diving deeper into the lore. Walton Goggins returns as the undying Ghoul, stealing every scene while guiding Ella Purnell’s character through the wasteland. Expect bigger stakes, sharper humour and more nuclear chaos.

Emily in Paris Season 5 – Netflix (December 18)

If you are not already a devoted fan of Emily’s fashion-forward Parisian chaos, this season will not change your mind. Emily returns with new outfits, new goals and new romantic entanglements. This is comfort-food viewing that makes no apologies and refuses to cater to newcomers.

Emily will slay, Paris will roll its eyes and fans will devour every sparkly second. If you prefer your December filled with sequins rather than snow, this is your pick.

Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2 – Netflix (December 25)

Everything is moving toward the finish line and fans are praying the show sticks the landing and does not go full Game of Thrones. Volume 2 promises maximum Hawkins chaos, Upside Down revelations and at least one slow-motion emotional breakdown backed by nostalgic synths.

Expect theories, screaming, and the kind of holiday meltdown only Stranger Things can deliver.

Stranger Things Series Finale – Netflix (December 31)

The grand finale arrives on New Year’s Eve, just in case you needed an excuse to stay home. The Hawkins gang faces Vecna one last time, bringing their stories full circle. Expect tears, catharsis, resolutions and maybe even a brighter future for this cursed little town.

And hopefully some long overdue #JusticeForBarb.

Ricky Gervais: Morality – Netflix (December 30)

Love him, hate him, tolerate him, or simply enjoy the chaos, when Ricky Gervais releases a special everyone watches. Morality brings his signature deadpan delivery and scalpel-sharp observations about humanity, ageing and cultural absurdity.

It is the kind of stand-up that will either make you howl with laughter or angrily Google “How old is Ricky Gervais anyway?” Either way, it is a New Year’s treat.