Squid Game season 2, Doctor Who’s Christmas special, and more new TV this week

It’s that time of year, when the world falls in love, every song you hear seems to say: Not a lot new on TV! Don’t let that get you down; this is, after all, just a list of premieres (and a curated one, at that). There’s plenty to watch, whether you’re pulling from our best-of-the-year lists of movies and television, ongoing shows like Skeleton Crew, or even just pulling out some of the holiday season (or holiday season time) staples.

But don’t let that distract you from the big headlines of the week (non-holiday-related): We’re going back in the Squid Game! The Doctor is in over his head just in time for Christmas, once again! Bad Sisters is coming to a close!

Here’s all the best new TV premieres and finales in this holiday week.

Genre: Dystopian competition
Release date: Dec. 26, with all seven episodes
Showrunner/creator: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Cast: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon, Lee Byung-hun, and more

At the end of Squid Game season 1, Gi-hun was just about to get out and put his time in the games behind him. And then… he stopped. Season 2 picks up with what happens next: He wants to get put back in the game.

Genre: Sci-fi Christmas adventure
Release date: Dec. 25 at 9:10 a.m. PST/12:10 p.m. EST
Writer: Steven Moffat
Cast: Ncuti Gatwa, Nicola Coughlan

You know the drill: It’s Christmas Day in our world, and in the Doctor’s (Ncuti Gatwa) — only his has some timey-wimey weirdness and we get to watch. “Joy to the World” is 2024’s Who Christmas episode, and it brings with it Derry Girls’ Nicola Coughlan, a series of very odd happenings (as the trailer can attest), and what appears to be many different worlds. Happy Christmas to all indeed!

Genre: Irish black comedy
Release date: Dec. 25
Showrunner/creator: Sharon Horgan, Dave Finkel, and Brett Baer
Cast: Sharon Horgan, Eve Hewson, Fiona Shaw, and more

After yet another season of misadventures and (unfortunately) murder, the “bad” sisters of Bad Sisters are rolling into the finale of season 2. With bodies in their wake and betrayals still left to be dealt with, what will this final episode bring for the sisters?