As the New Year approaches, a fresh wave of television is set to hit UK streaming platforms, offering everything from long-awaited sci-fi finales to poignant documentaries. This week's selection promises to cater to a wide range of tastes, ensuring your post-Christmas viewing schedule is packed with quality.
The Grand Finale: Stranger Things Concludes with Maximalist Flair
The beloved sci-fi phenomenon "Stranger Things" begins its final chapter on Netflix from New Year's Day. The town of Hawkins remains under quarantine and military rule following the catastrophic events of season four, feeling more isolated than ever as ominous traces of the villain Vecna continue to spread. With Eleven, played by Millie Bobby Brown, on the run, the odds are heavily stacked against our core group of heroes.
Despite the narrowed scope, creators the Duffer brothers have constructed this concluding season with their signature maximalist style, promising a finale designed to reward the show's devoted fanbase. While the story is clearly ready to wrap up, viewers can expect an incredibly exciting start to 2026 as the series reaches its endgame.
A Poetic Journey and Guilty Pleasures
For a more contemplative watch, BBC iPlayer offers the poetic Welsh documentary "Y Crwydryn (The Wanderer)," available now. This languid road movie follows country singer Wil Tân as he travels through the small towns and villages of Wales, discovering the vibrant, living tradition of his beloved music in local pubs and halls. The film becomes a melancholic meditation on ageing, as Tân finds the themes of classic country songs resonating more deeply with his own growing sense of mortality.
In stark contrast, Netflix serves up another dose of reality TV indulgence with "Members Only: Palm Beach," streaming from Monday 29 December. This series delves into the status-driven, garish world of the elite in the Florida resort, framing a classic power struggle between old-money stalwarts like Hilary Musser and ambitious newcomers such as Ro-mina Ustayev.
True Crime, Stand-Up, and Thrilling Adaptations
The week also brings a chilling true-crime story to Netflix. "Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story" lands on Tuesday 30 December, detailing the horrific case of YouTube influencer Ruby Franke and her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt. The documentary unravels how Franke's popular but controversial channel, 8 Passengers, masked a reality of severe child abuse, culminating in both women's arrest and conviction after Franke's malnourished and injured son escaped.
Comedy fans can catch Ricky Gervais's latest stand-up special, "Mortality," on Netflix from Tuesday 30 December. In it, Gervais ponders life and death, deliberately steering clear of what he might deem a mawkish tone, despite the weighty subject matter.
For thriller enthusiasts, an adaptation of Harlan Coben's novel "Run Away" arrives on Netflix from New Year's Day. Starring James Nesbitt and Minnie Driver as parents searching for their missing daughter, the drama asks whether she has been kidnapped, run away, or become a pawn in a larger conspiracy, with other parties also on her trail.
Finally, Channel 4 returns to the Friulian Alps for "The Teresa Battaglia Cases" from Friday 2 January. The complex criminologist, played by Elena Sofia Ricci, investigates the murder of a young policewoman, a case linked to a mythical painting created with human blood, all while grappling with concerning cognitive issues of her own.
