The best new streaming shows this week: The Circle and more

We’re back with a new list of shows to binge on this weekend. A much-awaited reality show is live, as is one with loads of drama, mystery, and time travel. Grab a cup of coffee, and let’s get started. 

The best new streaming shows this week

Feel free to click on any links that pique your interest.

• Release date: September 11, 2024 
• Genre: Game Show, Reality
• Rating: TV-MA 
• Director: Tim Harcourt
• Cast: Michelle Buteau, Shubham Goel, Emma Bunton, Mel B, Brian Clark, Billie-Jean Blackett, Marvin Achi

Yet another season of pure entertainment, showbiz, and drama. In the seventh season of this popular reality competition, a new group of contestants enters The Circle, competing for a $100,000 prize. It’s very Gen Z; they build online personas and strategically build alliances, and the ones who do it best win. This season introduces a twist called “The Disruptor” mode, which allows players to gain powerful advantages or face unexpected setbacks — fair’s fair.

For example, this season, the first Disruptors on the show gain immunity from elimination. As new players join and alliances shift, the contestants must navigate deception, charm, and strategy to make it to the finale. Will this be the most unpredictable and dramatic season of The Circle? Probably, until the next one.

• Release date: September 12, 2024 
• Genre: Drama, History, Mystery
• Rating: TV-14
• Director: Elif Usman
• Cast: Yasemin Szawlowski, Tansu Biçer, Engin Hepileri, Hazal Kaya, James Chalmers, Selahattin Paşalı, Hakan Dinçkol

Esra is still stationed at Pera Palace Hotel on a quest to uncover the truth about her origins, which may be tied to events in 1941. As she and Ahmet navigate between 2022, 1941, and other periods, they encounter figures like Alfred Hitchcock while trying not to alter history drastically.

Meanwhile, the villainous Halit has also time-traveled to 2022 and discovered a mysterious “Gateway of Truth” in the hotel. With bombs going off, secrets being revealed, and the fabric of time at stake, Esra must piece together her own history while preventing disaster across multiple eras. More historical cameos, romantic intrigue, and mind-bending time travel twists await you at the Pera Palace.

• Release date: September 10, 2024 
• Genre: Documentary, Sport
• Rating: N.A.
• Director: Drea Cooper
• Cast: Livvy Dunne, Angel Reese, Flau’jae, Jayden Daniels

This documentary series offers an inside look at how recent rule changes in college sports are transforming the financial landscape for student athletes. Focusing on Louisiana State University, the show follows star athletes like gymnast Olivia Dunne and basketball player Angel Reese. For the first time, these young athletes can profit from their personal brands through sponsorships and social media while still competing at the college level.

The series explores the opportunities and challenges this creates, from athletes supporting their families to concerns about the future of college sports. Through intimate access to the athletes, their families, and LSU staff, The Money Game examines a pivotal moment in college athletics history and its wide-ranging impacts.

• Release date: September 9, 2024 
• Genre: Drama
• Rating: TV-MA 
• Director: Saverio Costanzo
• Cast: Anna Rita Vitolo, Alba Rohrwacher, Gaia Girace, Margherita Mazzucco, Alessio Gallo, Luca Gallone, Francesco Serpico

Based on Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Novels, the fourth season concludes the decades-spanning story of Elena “Lenù” Greco and Raffaella “Lila” Cerullo. Now in their 60s, the two women must confront the consequences of their choices and how their lives have diverged and reconnected over the years.

As Lenù deals with the aftermath of leaving her family for her lover, Nino, she must also reckon with her complicated relationship with Lila, who has become an influential figure in their Naples neighborhood. With its nuanced portrayal of two complex women and their intertwined destinies, My Brilliant Friend’s final chapter aims to provide a satisfying and emotionally resonant conclusion to this epic story.

• Release date: September 13, 2024 
• Genre: Comedy
• Rating: N.A.
• Director: Natasha Rothwell
• Cast: Natasha Rothwell, Conrad Ricamora, Jocko Sims, KeiLyn Durrel Jones

This new dramedy series stars Natasha Rothwell as Mel, a socially awkward airport employee whose life takes an unexpected turn after a near-death experience on her birthday. Realizing she’s been living in fear and isolation, Mel begins a journey of self-discovery and personal growth.

Mel navigates awkward social situations, budding romances, and fraught family dynamics as she attempts to become bolder and more engaged with life. The show balances humor with heartfelt moments as Mel learns to open herself to new experiences and connections. Along the way, she forms unlikely friendships with her quirky co-workers and begins to see the world — and herself — in a new light. A heart-warming watch, terrifically relatable too.

• Release date: September 13, 2024 
• Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure
• Rating: TV-G
• Director: Chris Buckley
• Cast: Gaten Matarazzo, Bobby Moynihan

This animated series combines the beloved LEGO style with classic Star Wars characters for an all-new adventure. Set after the events of the original trilogy, the show follows familiar heroes like Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo as they embark on a mission to rebuild and restore balance to the galaxy.

Our heroes must join forces with new allies to face formidable foes and uncover hidden secrets. The series promises to blend action, humor, and heart in the tradition of other LEGO Star Wars properties. Expect plenty of clever LEGO building scenes, iconic Star Wars moments reimagined in brick form, and more of the trademark irreverent humor.

What was new and worth watching over the last month

Missed our other lists? Here’s a quick recap. Also, check out our list of streaming movies if you’re in the mood for something longer this weekend.

• Release date: March 17, 2024 
• Genre: Drama, History
• Rating: TV-PG 
• Director: Heidi Thomas
• Cast: Laura Main, Vanessa Redgrave, Helen George, Jenny Agutter, Judy Parfitt, Cliff Parisi, Stephen McGann

The beloved period drama returns to Nonnatus House in 1969. The midwives face new challenges as social changes sweep through London’s East End. Sister Julienne grapples with modernizing practices while preserving traditions. Nurse Trixie adjusts to married life with Matthew. A problematic birth puts Nurse Crane’s skills to the test.

And a surprising pregnancy in Poplar leads to a crisis of faith for one of the nuns. Meanwhile, the introduction of the Abortion Act creates moral dilemmas for the midwives as they navigate changing laws and attitudes.

• Release date: September 4, 2024 
• Genre: Adventure, Game Show, Reality
• Rating: TV-14
• Director: Grant Kahler
• Cast: Amber Asay, Jill Ashock, Justin Court

Sixteen new contestants are dropped into the harsh Alaskan wilderness with minimal supplies. Split into four teams, they must work together to survive 45 days and claim the $1 million prize. But this season introduces new twists — shifting alliances are allowed between teams, and eliminated players can return as “ghosts” to sabotage the remaining competitors.

As food becomes scarce and temperatures plummet, rivalries intensify, and ethical boundaries are pushed to the limit. Who will have the strength, strategy, and teamwork to outlast the rest?

• Release date: September 2, 2024 
• Genre: Comedy
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Brian Jordan Alvarez
• Cast: Brian Jordan Alvarez, Stephanie Koenig, Enrico Colantoni, Sean Patton, Carmen Christopher, Langston Kerman, Aliyah ‘Aliyah’s Interlude’ Bah

This new comedy follows Evan Marquez, an idealistic high school English teacher in suburban Austin, Texas. Struggling to connect with his Gen Z students and navigate the culture wars erupting in education, Evan faces absurd challenges daily. When he’s reported for kissing his ex-boyfriend in public, it sets off a chain of events that test his principles.

With help from his jaded best friend/history teacher, Gwen, Evan fights to keep literature and critical thinking alive in his classroom while also grappling with his own identity as a gay Hispanic man in a conservative community.

• Release date: September 4, 2024 
• Genre: Drama, Thriller
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: James Hawes
• Cast: Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas, Rosalind Eleazar, Christopher Chung, Saskia Reeves, Chris Reilly

The dysfunctional spies of Slough House return for another twisting espionage adventure. When a bombing at a London shopping center is linked to an imminent terror threat, the “slow horses” are unexpectedly thrust into the center of the action. Jackson Lamb must leave his grimy office to go into the field, teaming up with MI5 to unravel a vast conspiracy with ties to Russia.

Meanwhile, River Cartwright investigates his grandfather’s worsening dementia, uncovering long-buried secrets that could compromise national security. As the stakes rise, the outcasts of Slough House may be the only ones who can save Britain from disaster.

• Release date: September 4, 2024 
• Genre: Drama
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Meaghan Oppenheimer
• Cast: Grace Van Patten, Jackson White, Catherine Missal, Alicia Crowder, Sonia Mena, Branden Cook, Spencer House

The toxic relationship drama picks up where it left off, with Lucy and Stephen returning to college after their dramatic breakup. But old habits die hard as they are drawn back into each other’s orbits. New secrets and lies threaten to unravel their lives and those of their friends. Bree struggles with an eating disorder while dating Evan. His family issues test Pippa’s relationship with Wrigley.

And a shocking revelation about the night of the freshman year car accident that killed Macy threatens to expose long-buried truths. Relationships fracture and reform as the characters grapple with love, betrayal, and their actions’ consequences.

• Release date: August 29, 2024
• Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Charlie Covell
• Cast: Jeff Goldblum, Stephen Dillane, Aurora Perrineau, Janet McTeer, Nabhaan Rizwan, Susan Wooldridge, Killian Scott

In this darkly comedic reimagining of Greek mythology set in the modern world, Jeff Goldblum stars as a neurotic Zeus who discovers a wrinkle on his forehead — the first sign of a prophecy that will end his reign and bring chaos. As Zeus plots vengeance on humanity, various gods and mortals become entangled in schemes that could fulfill the prophecy.

We follow characters like Orpheus and Eurydice navigating the underworld, Riddy forging connections beyond death, and Prometheus working to bring about Zeus’s downfall. With witty writing and an all-star cast, including Janet McTeer as Hera, this series blends ancient myths with contemporary issues of power, fate, and what it means to be human or divine.

• Release date: August 29, 2024
• Genre: Drama, Romance
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Soushi Matsumoto, Yuka Yasukawa, Ryo Ota
• Cast: Ai Mikami, Ryubi Miyase, Rintaro Mizusawa, Yudai Toyoda, Shiori Akita, Ichika Osaki

At the newly merged Asuran Academy in Japan, Principal Yoko Ikujima has instituted a strict “no romance” policy — no relationships or sexual contact between students allowed, on pain of expulsion. Into this powder keg environment steps Ichica Arisawa, a working-class student desperate to pay off her family’s debts.

When she catches popular athlete Ryogo Maki breaking the rules, Ichica hatches a blackmail scheme. As hormones and class tensions simmer under the surface, Ichica must navigate crushes, rivalries, and her own conflicting goals. With juicy teen drama and the added spice of forbidden romance, Chastity High explores power dynamics, economic inequality, and the inevitable chaos when authority tries to suppress young love.

• Release date: August 27, 2024
• Genre: Comedy, Crime
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Steve Martin, John Hoffman
• Cast: Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Michael Cyril Creighton, Jackie Hoffman, Teddy Coluca, Amy Ryan

They’re back again. Our favorite true-crime podcasting trio — Charles, Oliver, and Mabel — head to Hollywood as their podcast is being adapted into a movie. But the glitz and glamour take a dark turn when Charles’s stunt double Sazz is murdered in his apartment — and it seems Charles was the intended target.

With danger looming and a killer on the loose, the Arconia crew must solve their most personal case while navigating the cutthroat world of show business. New cast additions like Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria, and Zach Galifianakis (playing fictional versions of our heroes) add fresh comedic energy. As the stakes rise higher than ever, this season promises to be a thrilling blend of mystery, humor, and heart. We only get one episode every week, though, and that’s our only complaint.

• Release date: August 29, 2024
• Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
• Rating: TV-14
• Director: John D. Payne, Patrick McKay
• Cast: Morfydd Clark, Charlie Vickers, Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Nazanin Boniadi, Lloyd Owen

In the aftermath of Sauron’s deception and the forging of the first rings of power, Middle-earth teeters on the brink of darkness. As Galadriel grapples with her failure to recognize Sauron and the consequences of her actions, alliances shift, and new threats emerge. The dwarven kingdom of Khazad-dûm faces collapse, the elven realm of Lindon struggles to maintain its power, and the kingdom of Númenor reels from loss.

Meanwhile, a mysterious wizard known as The Stranger continues his journey of self-discovery. With Sauron now operating in the open, the forces of good must rally to confront the growing shadow before it engulfs all of Middle-earth.

• Release date: August 27, 2024
• Genre: Documentary, Reality
• Rating: N.A.
• Director: Kurt Sayenga
• Cast: David Dastmalchian, Joe Hill, Tom Holland, Jenn Wexler, Dewayne Perkins, Jonah Ray, Gigi Saul Guerrero

This five-part documentary series dives deep into beloved tropes and subgenres of horror cinema. Each episode focuses on a different topic: Tropes & Cliches, Giant Monsters, Japanese Horror, Horror Comedies, and Stephen King Adaptations. Featuring interviews with filmmakers, actors, academics and other experts, the series explores the history, cultural impact, and enduring appeal of these horror staples.

From dissecting the Final Girl trope to charting Godzilla’s evolution, from analyzing the influence of J-horror to celebrating horror-comedy classics, this series offers both a primer for newcomers and fresh insights for longtime genre fans.

• Release date: August 25, 2024
• Genre: Crime, Drama
• Rating: N.A.
• Director: Aly Muritiba
• Cast: Wayne LeGette, Alexandre Rodrigues, Andréia Horta

Twenty years after the events of the acclaimed film City of God, this series returns to the violent favelas of Rio de Janeiro. Wilson, the photographer who escaped the cycle of crime, is now a famous photojournalist. But he’s haunted by guilt over profiting from images of suffering in his old neighborhood. When a brutal turf war erupts between rival drug factions, Wilson is drawn back into the world he left behind.

As he tries to use his position to effect change, he must navigate complex loyalties, corruption at all levels of society, and his own conflicted feelings about his roots. With intense action sequences and social commentary on class, race, and the media’s role in depicting violence, this series aims to both honor and update the groundbreaking original film.