22 New TV Shows That Are 100% Worth Checking Out This Spring

    Phoebe Waller-Bridge's next TV show is almost here.

    Nora Dominick
    by Nora Dominick

    BuzzFeed Staff

    1. Run

    HBO

    The series follows Ruby and Billy, college exes who made a pact that if either of them texted the word "run" and the other replied the same, they would drop everything, meet, and travel across the US together. Run is executive produced by Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Vicky Jones, who worked together on Fleabag, Killing Eve, and Crashing.

    Starring: Merritt Wever, Domhnall Gleeson, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Rich Sommer, and Archie Panjabi.

    When it premieres: Apr. 12 on HBO.

    Watch the trailer here.

    2. Defending Jacob

    AppleTV+

    Based on the novel of the same name, Defending Jacob centers around a shocking crime that turns a small town in Massachusetts upside down. When Andy and Laurie's son becomes the prime suspect in the murder investigation, Andy is forced to navigate between his role as assistant district attorney and his unconditional love for his son.

    Starring: Chris Evans, Michelle Dockery, Jaeden Martell, Cherry Jones, Pablo Schreiber, Betty Gabriel, J.K. Simmons, and Sakina Jaffrey.

    When it premieres: Apr. 24 on AppleTV+.

    Watch the trailer here.

    3. Mrs. America

    FX / Hulu

    Mrs. America tells the story of the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment during the 1970s and the backlash led by conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly. The series is told through the eyes of the women from the era, including Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan, Shirley Chisholm, Bella Abzug, and Jill Ruckelshaus.

    Starring: Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne, Sarah Paulson, Margo Martindale, Uzo Aduba, Elizabeth Banks, Tracey Ullman, and John Slattery.

    When it premieres: Apr. 15 on FX and Hulu.

    Watch the trailer here.

    4. Never Have I Ever

    Netflix

    Inspired by Mindy Kaling's childhood, Never Have I Ever follows Devi, a first-generation Indian American who is dealing with typical high school issues. While she has always focused on her academics, Devi wants this year to be different and filled with life experiences, like attending parties and having a boyfriend.

    Starring: Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Poorna Jagannathan, Richa Moorjani, Benjamin Norris, Adam Shapiro, and Ramona Young.

    When it premieres: Apr. 27 on Netflix.

    Watch the teaser trailer here.

    5. Penny Dreadful: City of Angels

    Showtime

    Penny Dreadful: City of Angels follows Detective Tiago Vega and his partner Lewis Michener, who get caught up in an epic story after they are called to investigating a shocking murder in 1938 Los Angeles. The series depicts the history of this iconic city, including the Mexican–American culture of the area.

    Starring: Natalie Dormer, Nathan Lane, Daniel Zovatto, Kerry Bishé, Adriana Barraza, Rory Kinnear, Michael Gladis, and Jessica Garza.

    When it premieres: Apr. 26 on Showtime.

    Watch the trailer here.

    6. #blackAF

    Gabriel Delerme / Netflix

    Created by and starring Black-ish creator Kenya Barris, #blackAF is inspired by Kenya's honest approach to parenting, relationships, race, and culture. The series focuses on a flawed and unfiltered family as they explore the world and figure out what it means to be a "new money black family."

    Starring: Kenya Barris, Rashida Jones, Genneya Walton, Iman Benson, Scarlet Spencer, Justin Claiborne, Ravi Cabot-Conyers, and Richard Gardenhire Jr.

    When it premieres: Apr. 17 on Netflix.

    Watch the trailer here.

    7. Hollywood

    Hollywood

    Created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, Hollywood follows a group of aspiring actors and filmmakers during Hollywood's Golden Age after World War II. The series explores the unfair system — biases across race, gender, and sexuality — that continues to this day.

    Starring: David Corenswet, Darren Criss, Jeremy Pope, Laura Harrier, Samara Weaving, Dylan McDermott, Holland Taylor, Patti LuPone, Jim Parsons, Jake Picking, Joe Mantello, and Maude Apatow.

    When it premieres: May 1 on Netflix.

    8. Home Before Dark

    AppleTV+

    Home Before Dark follows Hilde, a young girl who moves from Brooklyn to a small town that her father once lived in. While there, she ends up unearthing a cold case that everyone in the town, including her dad, tried to bury. The series is directed and produced by Jon M. Chu.

    Starring: Brooklynn Prince, Jim Sturgess, Abby Miller, Kylie Rogers, Joelle Carter, Jibrail Nantambu, Deric McCabe, Michael Weston, Aziza Scott, and Louis Herthum.

    When it premieres: Apr. 3 on AppleTV+.

    Watch the trailer here.

    9. Survive

    Quibi

    Based on the novel of the same name, Survive follows Jane and Paul, the only survivors of a plane crash, who are stranded on a remote mountain. The duo must learn to trust each other, overcome personal traumas, and try to make it back to civilization.

    Starring: Sophie Turner and Corey Hawkins.

    When it premieres: Apr. 6 on Quibi.

    Watch the trailer here.

    10. Feel Good

    Netflix

    Feel Good follows Mae, a rising comedian and recovering addict who falls in love with George, a pragmatist who has never been with a woman before. Mae and George deal with the ups and downs of their relationship and George embarks on a journey of self-discovery, while Mae struggles to stay sober.

    Starring: Mae Martin, Charlotte Ritchie, Lisa Kudrow, Adrian Lukis, Sophie Thompson, Phil Burgers, and Ritu Arya.

    When it premiered: Mar. 19 on Netflix.

    Watch the trailer here.

    11. Hightown

    Claire Folger / Starz

    Hightown follows Jackie Quiñones, a free-wheeling National Marine Fisheries Service agent who discovers a body in Cape Cod Bay after a night of partying. In order to deal with the trauma, Jackie decides to take her first steps toward sobriety after convincing herself that it's her duty to solve the murder. Alongside Sergeant Ray Abruzzo, the duo cross more lines than they can count in the name of the investigation.

    Starring: Monica Raymund, James Badge Dale, Riley Voelkel, Shane Harper, Amaury Nolasco, and Atkins Estimond.

    When it premieres: May 17 on Starz.

    Watch the teaser trailer here.

    12. The Eddy

    Lou Faulon / Netflix

    The Eddy follows Elliot Udo, a renowned NYC jazz pianist who co-owns the The Eddy, a struggling club in the heart of Paris. Elliot eventually learns that his business partner might be involved in some questionable practices at the club, all while his estranged daughter arrives in Paris to live with him.

    Starring: André Holland, Amandla Stenberg, Joanna Kulig, Tahar Rahim, Leïla Bekhti, Melissa George, Adil Dehbi, Benjamin Biolay, Tchéky Karyo, and Sopico.

    When it premieres: May 8 on Netflix.

    Watch the teaser trailer here.

    13. When the Street Lights Go On

    Quibi

    The series follows the aftermath of a murder of a young girl in a small town during the 1990s. The girl's high school classmates and her sister struggle to move on while the murder investigation takes place.

    Starring: Chosen Jacobs, Sophie Thatcher, Queen Latifah, Tony Hale, Sam Strike, Ben Ahlers, Julia. Sarah Stone, Kristine Froseth, Mark Duplass, and Nnamdi Asomugh.

    When it premieres: Apr. 6 on Quibi.

    Watch the trailer here.

    14. Belgravia

    Epix

    Created by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, the series takes place in Belgravia, an affluent London neighborhood, and follows the emergence of the nouveau riche, including the Trenchard family. Of course, tensions rise between new and old wealth as secrets from the past are threatened of being exposed.

    Starring: Tamsin Greig, Philip Glenister, Harriet Walter, Alice Eve, Jack Shalloo, Tom Wilkinson, and Ella Purnell.

    When it premieres: Apr. 12 on Epix.

    Watch the trailer here.

    15. Tales From the Loop

    Amazon Prime Video

    Tales From the Loop follows a group of people who live right above "The Loop," a machine built to explore the mysteries of the universe. The show is based on a series of paintings by Simon Stålenhag.

    Starring: Rebecca Hall, Tyler Barnhardt, Jonathan Pryce, Jane Alexander, Ato Essandoh, Daniel Zolghadri, Duncan Joiner, and Abby Ryder Fortson.

    When it premieres: Apr. 3 on Amazon Prime Video.

    Watch the trailer here.

    16. Normal People

    Hulu

    Based on Sally Rooney's bestselling novel, Normal People tells the complicated relationship between Marianne and Connell. Starting at the end of high school in a small Irish town through their undergrad years, Marianne and Connell keep running into each other and soon realize they were meant to be in each other's lives.

    Starring: Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal.

    When it premieres: Apr. 29 on Hulu.

    Watch the trailer here.

    17. The Great

    Ross Ferguson / Hulu

    The Great explores the rise of Catherine the Great from a total outsider to the longest reigning female ruler in Russia's history. This satirical, comedy-drama begins when Catherine, a hopeless romantic, arrives in Russia for an arranged marriage to Emperor Peter. Expecting her fairy-tale love story, she learns that the backward world she has entered needs a change.

    Starring: Elle Fanning, Nicholas Hoult, Phoebe Fox, Adam Godley, Gwilym Lee, Charity Wakefield, Douglas Hodge, Sacha Dhawan, Sebastian de Souza, Bayo Gbadamosi, and Belinda Bromilow.

    When it premieres: May 15 on Hulu.

    Watch the teaser trailer here.

    18. Betty

    HBO

    Inspired by Skate Kitchen, Betty tells the story of a diverse group of young women who try to successfully navigate the male-dominated world of skateboarding in NYC.

    Starring: Dede Lovelace, Moonbear, Nina Moran, Ajani Russell, and Rachelle Vinberg.

    When it premieres: May 1 on HBO.

    Watch the teaser trailer here.

    19. Stargirl

    The CW / DC Universe

    Based on the DC comic books, Stargirl follows Courtney, a high school sophomore as she ends up inspiring an unlikely group of young heroes to stop the villains of the past. The series reimagines the first superhero team, the Justice Society of America.

    Starring: Brec Bassinger, Luke Wilson, Amy Smart, Trae Romano, Cameron Gellman, Yvette Monreal, Anjelika Washington, Meg DeLacy, Neil Jackson, Jake Austin Walker, Christopher James Baker and Hunter Sansone.

    When it premieres: May 18 on DC Universe and May 19 on The CW.

    Watch the trailer here.

    20. I Know This Much Is True

    HBO

    Based on the novel of the same name, the limited series follows the lives of identical twin brothers Dominick and Thomas Birdsey. I Know This Much Is True explores the family's stories of betrayal, sacrifice, and forgiveness.

    Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Melissa Leo, Rosie O'Donnell, Archie Panjabi, Imogen Poots, Juliette Lewis, Kathryn Hahn, and Aisling Franciosi.

    When it premieres: May 10 on HBO.

    Watch the trailer here.

    21. Council of Dads

    Joe Mast / NBC

    Council of Dads follows the Perry family, who are dealing with their dad's unexpected cancer diagnosis. Scott ends up reaching out to three of his closest friends to form a "Council of Dads," so that his children will always have extra parental figures to lean on after he's gone.

    Starring: Sarah Wayne Callies, Clive Standen, Tom Everett Scott, J. August Richards, Hilarie Burton, Blue Chapman, Emjay Anthony, Michele Weaver, Thalia Tran, Steven Silver, and Michael O’Neill.

    When it premieres: Apr. 30 on NBC and the first episode is already available on Hulu.

    Watch the trailer here.

    22. And finally, Vagrant Queen

    SYFY

    Based on the comic books of the same name, Vagrant Queen follows Elida, an orphaned former queen who scavenges throughout the galaxy. Her entire world changes when her friend Isaac claims that her mother is still alive. Now, they embark on a new quest while trying to escape the government that wants to end her bloodline.

    Starring: Adriyan Rae, Tim Rozon, Alex McGregor, and Paul du Toit.

    When it premiered: Mar. 27 on Syfy.

    Watch the trailer here.