Your week is about to get a whole lot more exciting with some thrilling new shows to settle in for, including a tense new Netflix drama starring Suranne Jones (Vigil). And Jones isn't the only noteworthy actor to crop up in this week's batch of recommendations, as The Gold's Tom Cullen stars alongside The Crown's Erin Richards in a "bold" and "gritty" crime series that promises to be a 'twist on the genre'.
Our curated list also includes a returning sci-fi hit and a brand new animated series from the creator of BoJack Horseman. So let's dive right in – here's everything you need to watch for the week, beginning Monday 18 August.
Mudtown
The Crown's Erin Richards leads in this legal crime drama, playing the character of Claire Lewis Jones, an experienced Magistrate whose life is upended when local criminal kingpin Saint Pete (The Gold's Tom Cullen) re-enters the picture.
Their past connection threatens to cause trouble in Claire's present life. Matters are made worse by Claire's suspicions over her daughter's bad-boy boyfriend, and as the six-part series – written by Hannah Daniel (Keeping Faith) – unfolds, she soon discovers a web of criminal activity that could put her family in harm's way.
The cast of this gritty crime drama also includes Matthew Gravelle (Broadchurch), Sion Pritchard (Doctor Who), Lauren Morais (The Red King) and Gareth John Bale (Steeltown Murders).
Mudtown is available to watch from 20 August on U&Alibi.
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Long Story Short
From the creators of BoJack Horseman comes another adult animation, this time centred on the Schwooper family's three siblings.
The series jumps back and forth between their complex adulthood and squabbling childhood, chronicling their ups and downs, dealing with sibling tension, crushing disappointments and joy.
Long Story Short is available to watch from 22 August on Netflix.
Hostage
In this fictional drama, Suranne Jones stars as British Prime Minister Abigail Dalton whose loyalties are put to an extreme test when her husband is kidnapped. Meanwhile the visiting French President Vivienne Toussain (Julie Delpy) is up against her own ordeal as someone is blackmailing her.
These two political leaders are thrust into a fierce rivalry, but must now work together to save innocent lives as well as their political futures.
Hostage is available to watch from 20 August on Netflix.
Peacemaker, season 2
John Cena makes his return as the vigilante Peacemaker in the second season of the DC series of the same name.
The latest instalment finds Christopher 'Chris' Smith, aka Peacemaker, struggling to reconcile his shady past with his new sense of purpose, while "continuing to kick righteous evil-doer butt in his misguided quest for peace at any cost," (according to the logline).
Peacemaker season 2 is available to watch from 21 August on HBO in US and 22 August on Sky and NOW TV.
Fisk, season 3
Fisk's third season has already dropped on ITVX in the UK, and this week it's also joining Netflix. The stakes are much higher for Helen (Kitty Flanagan), who has been named partner at Gruber & Fisk.
Challenges arise when Ray (Marty Sheargold) becomes distracted by a new romance, meanwhile Roz's (Julia Zemiro) shaken confidence affects her performance. Now it's down to Helen to put things right, but is she up to the task?
Fisk is available to watch from 20 August on Netflix.
Invasion, season 3
After almost two years off air, fans of Invasions will finally be reunited with their favourite sci-fi horror after it left viewers hanging on so many cliffhangers.
Season three of the show, which explores an alien invasion from multiple perspectives around the world, is set to be full of twists and surprises as the threat evolves with new and more powerful creatures making their presence known.
What chance does humanity have to survive? You'll have to watch to find out.
Invasion season 3 is available to watch from 22 August on Apple TV+.
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TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since. For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing. She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.
