Now that 2026 is officially underway and the pomp and circumstance of the holidays are fading into the distance, we’re all settling back into routine—sometimes reluctantly. The silver lining? A new year always brings new stories. New shows, new seasons, and new reasons to sink into the couch and let great television take the edge off life’s stressors. This week, three series across HBO Max, Peacock, and Netflix stand out as worthy additions to your watchlist.
The Pitt (Season 2) – HBO Max
We’ll start with The Pitt, returning for its second season on HBO Max. The series stars Noah Wyle, back where many viewers first came to know him: the medical drama. Wyle, of course, was a cornerstone of ER, the genre-defining series that brought emergency medicine into America’s living rooms. Some of the original creative forces behind ER reunited with Wyle for The Pitt, and that lineage shows.
Season one unfolded over the course of a single overnight shift at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center, with each episode covering one relentless hour. Season two picks up ten months later and raises the stakes by centering the action around a chaotic Fourth of July weekend—historically one of the most overwhelming times for emergency rooms due to fireworks injuries, heat-related emergencies, and holiday excess. The new season also follows Dr. Frank Langdon’s return to work after a stint in rehab, while Dr. Robbie continues to juggle personal turmoil alongside the constant pressure of life-or-death decisions.
The Pitt returns January 8 on HBO Max.
The Traitors (Season 4) – Peacock
Peacock has spent the last few years searching for its streaming identity, and nowhere has it found firmer footing than in the reality competition space. That brings us to The Traitors, the Emmy-winning series hosted by Alan Cumming. Set in a castle in the Scottish Highlands, The Traitors blends strategy, deception, and psychological warfare into one of the most addictive reality formats on television.
The premise is simple and brutal: a group of contestants—made up of reality stars and everyday players—compete for a cash prize of up to $250,000. A small number are secretly designated as “Traitors,” tasked with eliminating other players under the cover of darkness, while the remaining “Faithfuls” must identify and banish them through group votes. The upcoming season features familiar faces, including Michael Rapaport and Dancing with the Stars pro Mark Ballas, adding fresh intrigue to an already tense format.
The Traitors season 4 starts streaming January 8th on Peacock.
His & Hers on Netflix
Finally, Netflix offers one of the most binge-ready series of the week with His & Hers, a six-episode mystery thriller starring Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal. Dropping in its entirety on January 8, the series centers on a journalist who returns to her hometown to investigate a murder, only to find herself at odds with the detective on the case—and increasingly suspicious of him.
Set against the sweltering backdrop of Atlanta, His & Hers thrives on tension, mistrust, and shifting perspectives. As the investigation unfolds, both leads begin to suspect that the other may be closer to the crime than they’re willing to admit. The series also weaves in the fallout from their estranged marriages, adding complexity to an already layered mystery. It’s another example of Netflix continuing to refine the modern thriller, stacking psychological drama on top of traditional whodunit storytelling.
His & Hers streams on Netflix on January 8.
This article appears in Private: Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2026.