Sonal Pandya

After premiering in November 2024 on SonyLIV, Freedom at Midnight has returned to pick up the story after independence was announced for India and Pakistan by the British Raj. The historical drama, created by Nikkhil Advani, is more thoughtful and poignant in this second season as the emotional impact of the Partition hits you deep. Backed by a strong cast and excellent writing, Freedom at Midnight takes viewers right in to the heart of creating the two neighbouring nations and the toll it created for the citizens, then and now.

The first season of HBO Max’s The Pitt became a breakout hit after it focused its attention on the forgotten frontline workers in a Pittsburgh hospital. Now, a year after its premiere, the medical drama is back with its unique storytelling format and more urgent conditions for its characters. With each episode taking place over an hour, The Pitt highlights the many challenges faced by healthcare workers in America. This time, the show unfolds over the busy national holiday on the Fourth of July and delves more into the doctors’ and nurses’ lives as well.

It all comes down to this! The Netflix series, Stranger Things, ends with a big bang and lots of emotional moments with the last episode titled The Rightside Up. Co-creators Matt and Ross Duffer must wind down the story of Hawkins, Indiana, and its residents, who were terrorised by the Upside Down for the past five seasons. Now, they must vanquish the big villain and make it out alive. The result is a satisfying but expected ending that is sure to leave fans discussing it for years to come.

The latest spy thriller on the block, The Copenhagen Test, wonders if a person’s brain can be hacked. The high-concept drama for Peacock, created by Thomas Brandon, adds extra layers to the story with the spy in question being a child of immigrants. Starring Simu Liu as Alexander Hale, The Copenhagen Test on JioHotstar mixes the spy thriller with sci-fi and adds in covert organisations and political threats. The heart of the series remains with Simu’s Alexander, who is not only trying to prove himself as a spy but also asserting his loyalty as an American after the hack.

The second part of Stranger Things opens after the exhilarating and devastating events of the last four episodes of Season 5. Noah Schnapp’s Will Byers has powers, and Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) has captured all 12 children to the Upside Down for his grand plan. What’s afoot? Co-created by the Duffer Brothers, Matt and Ross, the final season of the Netflix show hurtles towards an epic showdown that promises casualties this time. Who will make it out alive at the end?

The American fashionista Emily Cooper is back, and this time, she’s setting up base in Rome, Italy. Au revoir Paris? Not quite yet. The Netflix series Emily in Paris returns for a fifth season that once again puts our favourite bunch of Parisians through the ringer. There are hookups and breakups, goodbyes and hellos as the characters have some big life decisions to ponder. Created by Darren Star, the romantic comedy has settled in, only to reinvent itself yet again.

Fallout first premiered alongside The Last of Us in 2024 and established itself as a worthy addition to the world of video game adaptations. Now, as it returns for its second season, the Amazon Prime Video game doesn’t waste time in setting up the universe anymore. It dives right into the next phase as the main characters are once again separated, off on personal quests to seek answers. The one exception is Lucy (Ella Purnell) and The Ghoul (Walton Goggins), who reluctantly team up. Their dynamic is what drives this exciting new instalment that shifts into second gear, with vast, unexplored locations, new characters, and more.

Can a man become a single parent in India? The odds are stacked against him in the Netflix series Single Papa. Kunal Kemmu plays the man in question, a divorced man who finds purpose in becoming a father to a baby abandoned in his car. The zany comedy, created by Neeraj Udhwani and Ishita Moitra, has an equally zany cast of characters in this slightly fantasy path to adoption. Even while the scenarios grow wild, the heart of Single Papa is sincere as it bats for gender equality and supports adoption.