21 TV Shows to Watch in November and December

Series debuts November 12 on Disney+. While the Disney+ launch day schedule includes a few original films, a High School Musical spinoff, a Pixar series, and a Marvel reality series, among other original shows and several hundred Disney catalog titles, one newcomer is clearly drawing the most advance interest, and it's not even close: The Mandalorian, the first live-action series set in the Star Wars universe.

Created (but not directed) by Jon Favreau—directors include Taika Waititi, Dave Filoni, Rick Famuyiwa, Deborah Chow, and Bryce Dallas Howard—the eight-episode series is set sometime during the gap between the sixth and seventh Star Wars films and stars Pedro Pascal (Narcos) as the title character, a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy. Joining him in the cast are Nick Nolte, Gina Carano, Giancarlo Esposito, Carl Weathers, and ever-cheerful filmmaker Werner Herzog (who plays a villain, naturally). Expect a more character-driven, smaller-scope approach rather than constant action and expensive special effects—not that Disney is being cheap; episodes reportedly cost $15 million apiece. And prior knowledge of Star Wars is not a prerequisite to following the story.

New episodes will stream roughly on a weekly basis, though some will be spaced just a few days apart (including episode 2, which streams on the 15th), and a second season is already in pre-production. Note that Disney is keeping the show under wraps until the premiere, so you will not see any advance reviews. However, buzz out of a 27-minute industry preview in early October was very strong, with observers likening the series to the original film trilogy.