This is what is happening in the television world on Friday January 8th and Saturday January 9th. All times are Eastern.
Top choices
Dickinson (Apple TV +, Friday, 12:01 PM, Season Premiere): The Apple TV + sleeper hit returns for season two with three episodes today, followed by a new episode every week. The series follows Emily Dickinson (Hailee Steinfeld) – still heartbroken over her brother Austin (Adrian Enscoe) ‘s marriage to her best friend and soulmate Sue (Ella Hunt), as well as the death of Ben Newton – as she is withdrawn from her private life -literary life and put into the public eye. The cast includes Jane Krakowski, Anna Baryshnikov, Toby Huss and Wiz Khalifa, and this season will also feature notable performances from Nick Kroll, Finn Jones, Ayo Edebiri and Timothy Simons. Dickinson Creator Alena Smith discussed the new season with AV Club TV editor Danette Chavez, including how the pandemic went into writing. Check the site later this morning for our seasonal overview.
Marvel Studios: Legends (Disney +, Friday, 3:01 AM, Season Premiere): Marvel kicks off 2021 by delving deep into the major heroes and villains of the cinematic universe, exploring iconic MCU moments, and paving the way for a host of originals to be streaming on Disney + this year. The first episode of Legends acts as a refresher for the stories of Wanda Maximoff, aka Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olson), and Vision (Paul Bettany), pending WandaVision‘s premiere next week.
Regular coverage
RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1, Friday, 8 p.m.)
Vikings (Amazon Prime Video)
Jokers
Herself (Amazon Prime Video, Friday, 12:01 p.m.): “Leaving an abused household is an uphill battle in many advanced societies, where courts and laws can severely harm victims. Directed by Phyllida Lloyd (The Iron Lady), from a script by Malcolm Campbell and star Clare Dunne, Herself approaches the subject gracefully and with an unexpected degree of hope. At a time when neighbors often visit neighbors, the film’s optimistic ‘It takes a village’ perspective risks nonsense. Read the rest of Anya Stanley’s B + review of this movie here. Herself stars Clare Dunne, Ruby Rose O’Hara, Molly McCann, Ian Lloyd Anderson and Harriet Walter.
A discovery of witches (Sundance Now and Shudder, Saturday, 3:01 p.m., season premiere): Adapted from Deborah Harkness’ All souls trilogy, A Discovery Of Witches’ Season 2 follows Matthew (Matthew Goode) and Diana (Teresa Palmer) as their romance faces new threats in Elizabethan London, where they must find a powerful witch to help Diana master her magic.