[imagesource: MovieDb- GoodMonster]

The back-to-work grind should be in full force by now, which means you probably need a new show to revenge-watch.

Funny how some of us respond to spending a lot of our precious time doing work for someone else by slumming it out behind a screen. In an effort to make the time more of our own, we go on to further waste it. Humans can be strange.

Anyway, whether you’re keen for an all-out binge-watch bender or a quick peek every now and then, The Guardian has listed a few of the best shows to stream right now, from a charming, boisterous sequel to Oliver Twist, and a stunning drama about how the doyen of Madrid’s fashion scene took over the world.

Check out the trailers, blurbs, and release dates below so that you can take your pick.

The Artful Dodger
On Disney+ from Wednesday 17 January

In the 1850s Aussie backdrop, this wild follow-up to Oliver Twist flips the script on Jack Dawkins (played by Thomas Brodie-Sangster), AKA the Artful Dodger. Now, he’s not a London pickpocket anymore but a former Royal Navy surgeon pulling off gruesome acts in front of rowdy crowds to make a buck. He’s left his thieving days behind, but the local army bigwig smells trouble, and Fagin (played by the delightfully repulsive David Thewlis) has caught up with him too. As Jack’s past and present collide, can he maintain his good name and capture the heart of the governor’s spirited daughter, Belle (played by Maia Mitchell)? Brodie-Sangster’s got enough charm to make this whole improbable story click into place.

Cristóbal Balenciaga
On Disney+ from Friday 19 January

Picture this polished Spanish bio-drama, giving off major Phantom Thread vibes and shot with such precision that it could cut fabric. You could easily ditch the subtitles and just soak in the fierce 1930s style. Alberto San Juan takes on the role of the formidable Cristóbal Balenciaga, ruling the Madrid fashion scene. However, when he hits Paris, the Dior and Givenchy gang isn’t exactly rolling out the welcome mat. To ascend the couture throne, he’s got to dial up his inner control freak and chase his vision. Keep an eye out for Gemma Whelan, playing the part of British fashion journalist Prudence Glynn.

Love on the Spectrum US
On Netflix from Friday 19 January

Get ready for the second season of the US reality show that’s serving up a blend of unexpected humour, stigma-breaking honesty, and downright heartwarming moments. In this show, autistic individuals dive into the world of love, and it’s a rollercoaster of emotions. Beyond just letting viewers in on the unique experiences, it sheds light on something deeper – the contrast between these participants who don’t put on a carefully crafted facade for potential partners and the often contrived nature of neurotypical dating. It’s a tearful joyride you won’t want to miss!

The Bequeathed
On Netflix from Friday 19 January

Meet Yoon Seo-ha (played by Kim Hyun-joo), a college lecturer with a mix of good and bad news. On the bright side, she’s inherited some land! The catch? It’s a burial ground. Undeterred, she heads off to the village where this cursed estate sits, only to find a surprise half-brother who’s dead set on claiming it all for himself. As this wild K-drama unfolds, there’s a local cop throwing caution to the wind to solve an unsolved murder tied to the burial ground, a flood of eerie happenings, and a real risk that the term “burial ground” might just start sounding hilariously repetitive.

Don’t worry, you deserve the downtime, even if it’s just been a couple of days into the new year.

[source:guardian]