'Starfleet Academy' brings a modern sheen to the 'Star Trek' universe Viewers without any Star Trek expertise can enjoy the new adventures out of context. But there are echoes and Easter eggs throughout this Paramount+ series, for those who catch them. David Bianculli
'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' is 'Game of Thrones' for the haters There are no dragons, no maps and no internecine family trees in this Game of Thrones prequel about an underdog knight and his would-be squire. Glen Weldon
'Hijack' and 'The Night Manager' continue to thrill in their second seasons Idris Elba returns as the world's most unlucky traveler in Season 2 of the Apple TV series Hijack. And Tom Hiddleston is back as a hotel worker/intelligence agent in The Night Manager on Prime Video. John Powers
After years of avoiding the ER, Noah Wyle feels 'right at home' in 'The Pitt' After 11 seasons on ER, Wyle is producing, writing and starring in The Pitt. Now in Season 2, the series has earned praise for its depiction of emergency medicine. Originally broadcast April 21, 2025. Dave Davies
Doctors says 'The Pitt' reflects the gritty realities of medicine today The Pitt is back for a new run, evoking the tensions health care providers face in the U.S. today. Here's what one doctor says to watch out for this season. Michal Ruprecht
'Hedda' star Tessa Thompson wrestles with cynicism but chooses optimism Thompson has the words "yes" and "no" tattooed on opposite arms. "I'm constantly wrestling with ... my cynicism and my optimism," she says. In addition to Hedda, she stars in the series His & Hers. Tonya Mosley
A preview of what's coming to the small screen in January Two popular streaming series return Thursday: "The Pitt" and "The Traitors." Pop Culture Happy Hour previews those shows and some of the other big events coming to the small screen in January. A Martínez
'Stranger Things' fans hoping for one more episode trade theories online Will there be a second series finale for Stranger Things on Jan. 7? Some fans seem to think so, and their theories are going viral with the hashtag, Conformity Gate. Sarah Handel
Netflix docuseries 'Sean Combs: The Reckoning' does what prosecutors couldn't We look at how "Sean Combs: The Reckoning," an explosive Netflix docuseries, is affecting the public's opinion of music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, convicted last year after a highly publicized trial. Ayesha Rascoe
What worked — and what didn't — in the 'Stranger Things' finale Between the final battle and some key needle drops, there was a little too much talking. Linda Holmes