5 must-see TV shows to check out in January 2026

5 must-see TV shows to check out in January 2026

      With 2026 approaching, viewers have a lineup of thrilling new TV shows to enjoy as they enter the New Year. This January, major franchises such as Marvel and Game of Thrones will unveil their latest projects on both TV and streaming platforms. Established favorites like Fallout and The Pitt will also continue their beloved narratives with new seasons. As everyone organizes their calendars for 2026, be sure to note these five new shows premiering in January.

      A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (2026-present)

      HBO / HBO

      Taking place a century before Game of Thrones, this prequel series tells the story of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey), a humble hedge knight who mentors young Prince Aegon Targaryen (Dexter Sol Ansell) as they traverse Westeros in search of honor and justice. Eventually, Duncan participates in a tournament and confronts the malevolent Prince Aerion Targaryen (Bertie Carvel), embarking on a journey that will cement his status as a legend.

      This new spinoff is sure to please fans eager for the next season of House of the Dragon. Rather than focusing on the dragons and nobles of Westeros, this series will introduce a lighter, more comedic tone compared to previous installments, offering a refreshing contrast to the franchise's usual atmosphere of despair while further expanding the world of Westeros and showcasing its greatest heroes.

      Catch A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms on HBO or HBO Max starting January 18.

      Wonder Man (2026)

      Disney+ / Disney+

      In a unique twist within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Wonder Man will center on the production of a remake of a superhero movie set in a world already populated by superheroes. The series follows Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), an actor with actual superpowers, as he vies for the lead role in the new Wonder Man film. Additionally, viewers will see Williams working to land a role alongside Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley), a failed actor and former faux villain.

      Wonder Man diverges from the typical, planet-altering storylines frequently found in the MCU, which may alleviate the superhero fatigue that audiences have been experiencing lately. Those who enjoy superheroes and metafictional series like The Studio will likely be drawn to this Marvel miniseries when it premieres.

      Tune in to Wonder Man on Disney+ on January 27.

      Fallout (2024-present)

      Prime Video / Prime Video

      Fallout has quickly become one of Prime Video’s most popular original series since its debut in 2024. Following its return on December 17, season 2 will continue its captivating storyline with new episodes throughout January. The second season follows Lucy (Ella Purnell) and the Ghoul (Walter Goggins) as they journey across a post-nuclear America to New Vegas.

      As they pursue Lucy’s nefarious father (Kyle MacLachlan), they face the myriad dangers of the wasteland while uncovering Vault-Tec’s sinister secrets. Viewers will also encounter iconic adversaries from the Fallout video games, such as Caesar’s Legion and the fearsome Deathclaws.

      Watch Fallout season 2 on Prime Video.

      Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2023-present)

      Disney+ / Disney+

      Percy Jackson and the Olympians will continue its second season throughout January, following the heroes' latest adventure that began in December. Season 2 sees demigod Percy Jackson (Walker Scobell) returning to Camp Half-Blood, only to find that his friend Grover (Aryan Simhadri) has been captured by the cyclops Polyphemus, while the malevolent Kronos (Nick Boraine) threatens the camp. This forces him to venture to the Sea of Monsters to retrieve the Golden Fleece and rescue his friends and fellow demigods.

      This Emmy-winning series continues to adapt Rick Riordan’s classic novels into thrilling television experiences. As the show moves into The Sea of Monsters narrative, viewers are one step closer to witnessing an epic clash among the Olympians, the Half-Bloods, and Kronos. Fans of coming-of-age tales like Stranger Things and Harry Potter will want to embark on Percy’s mythical journey this season.

      View Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 on Hulu and Disney+.

      The Pitt (2025-present)

      HBO Max / HBO Max

      Yet another season is upon us. The first season of The Pitt included 15 episodes chronicling the experiences of the students and professionals at a financially strained Pittsburgh hospital during their inaugural 15-hour shift. After winning multiple Emmys with its first season, the show returns for its second season on HBO Max this January, showcasing another day in The Pitt.

      Though medical dramas are quite common on television, The Pitt is distinctive for its raw realism, immersing viewers in the chaos and tension that hospital staff face daily. One can only speculate what intense challenges the cast will encounter on their second day.

      Catch

5 must-see TV shows to check out in January 2026 5 must-see TV shows to check out in January 2026 5 must-see TV shows to check out in January 2026 5 must-see TV shows to check out in January 2026 5 must-see TV shows to check out in January 2026

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Resources: Afford Anything podcast episode #375 Timestamps: Note: Timestamps may vary across different listening devices due to dynamic advertising durations. The provided timestamps are approximate and may differ by a few minutes based on changing ad lengths. (0:00) Nick’s regret over focusing on investments while neglecting returns from partying (4:20) Explanation of the Save-Invest Continuum (7:00) When savings are more crucial than investment returns (11:20) Balancing both saving and investing in midlife (12:00) Crossover point: when investment returns surpass spending (13:00) The 2X Rule for guilt-free spending (14:20) Save 50 percent of future raises (19:30) Five strategies to increase income (21:20) Selling time versus selling skills (23:00) Teaching and product creation for income (25:00) Advancing the corporate ladder (26:00) Transforming human capital into financial capital (27:20) Income-generating vs. speculative assets (31:00) Allocation for individual stocks and cryptocurrency (34:40) Basics of farmland investing (36:20) Example of royalty investing (40:20) Art and non-income-generating assets (42:00) Strategies for inflation and debt Thanks to our sponsors! Boldin: Model your retirement scenarios, test every "what if," and confidently take control of your financial future. Start planning at go.boldin.com/afford. Welcome to Greatest Hits Week – five days, five episodes from our archive, spelling out F-I-I-R-E. Today’s second letter, I, represents Investing. This episode first aired in April 2022, but the framework we discuss remains among the most practical guides we've provided for accumulating wealth at any age. Nick Maggiulli is with us to explain why many young investors fixate on the wrong metrics and to introduce his Save-Invest Continuum, which illustrates precisely when savings outperform investment returns and when that shifts. _____ In his twenties, Nick Maggiulli spent a considerable amount of time fixating on his investment portfolio, adjusting his asset allocation, estimating net worth projections, and creating complex spreadsheets. At the same time, he was spending $100 every weekend partying in San Francisco. It took him years to recognize the absurdity of this behavior. His annual investment returns on his modest $1,000 portfolio might yield him $100, which is equivalent to what he would spend in one night out. Maggiulli joins us to clarify why young investors concentrate on the wrong aspects and provides his framework for determining when to focus on saving versus investing. He introduces the Save-Invest Continuum, which compares your projected annual savings to your anticipated investment returns. When starting out, your saving capacity greatly exceeds any investment gains. For instance, a $6,000 annual saving potential surpasses a $100 investment return every time. We delve into the mathematics of saving 50 percent of future raises, not out of guilt or deprivation, but to achieve lifestyle balance while growing wealth. This guideline only applies to actual raises above inflation. 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The episode underscores that time is your most valuable asset. Warren Buffett would likely be willing to trade his entire fortune—and even incur debt—to be 35 again. This viewpoint influences every financial decision, from selecting income strategies to choosing between assets that simply appreciate versus those that provide income while you sleep. Resources: Afford Anything podcast episode #375 Timestamps: Note: Timestamps may vary across different listening devices due to dynamic advertising durations. The provided timestamps are approximate and may differ by a few minutes based on changing ad lengths. (0:00) Nick’s regret over focusing on investments while neglecting returns from partying (4:20) Explanation of the Save-Invest Continuum (7:00) When savings are more crucial than investment returns (11:20) Balancing both saving and investing in midlife (12:00) Crossover point: when investment returns surpass spending (13:00) The 2X Rule for guilt-free spending (14:20) Save 50 percent of future raises (19:30) Five strategies to increase income (21:20) Selling time versus selling skills (23:00) Teaching and product creation for income (25:00) Advancing the corporate ladder (26:00) Transforming human capital into financial capital (27:20) Income-generating vs. speculative assets (31:00) Allocation for individual stocks and cryptocurrency (34:40) Basics of farmland investing (36:20) Example of royalty investing (40:20) Art and non-income-generating assets (42:00) Strategies for inflation and debt Thanks to our sponsors! 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In a statement to The Information, OpenAI acknowledged this direction, stating that it is “exploring what ads in our product could look like,” while reiterating its commitment to maintaining user trust. Prototypes indicate ad placement The report suggests one concept where the model would prioritize sponsored content to ensure it shows up in responses. Another design proposed would feature sponsored information displayed in a sidebar next to the main ChatGPT response area. Sidebar placement is easier to interpret quickly since it resembles traditional advertising space. In contrast, incorporating sponsored suggestions directly into an answer is more complex, as the user interface may create the impression of a unified recommendation. Shifts in the timeline This situation seems to fluctuate between "not at this moment" and "still being considered." After ad-related terms appeared in the Android beta, a subsequent report indicated that OpenAI had stalled ad development as leadership concentrated on quality, influenced by ongoing advancements with Gemini. The Information now reports new advertising concepts again, implying that the notion remains alive, albeit temporarily deprioritized. What to look for next If “ChatGPT ads” progress beyond the prototype stage, the first indication will be disclosure: clear sponsorship labels, uniform placement across platforms, and settings that clarify personalization. The second indication will be the location of paid content, whether it remains in a sidebar or begins to integrate into the main responses. However, there is currently no set date for implementation. Until OpenAI shares specific product details, consider this as testing and pay attention to its reactions to Google’s Gemini initiative. --- Paulo Vargas is a reporter and technical writer who previously studied English, with a career that has continually returned to… --- Maximize your after-Christmas sales shopping with these essential tips These shopping strategies will aid you during the Christmas sales. Once the mince pies are stored away and the wrapping paper is being removed, consider the neglected gadgets, clothing, and snacks that went unwrapped this holiday season. The Christmas sales begin right after the main day and offer a chance to snag a variety of items at appealing discounts. While not as widely anticipated as Black Friday or Prime Day, the post-Christmas sales still present an excellent opportunity to find bargains, whether on a gift you desired but didn’t receive or on leftover stock of popular items from the year. Now is the perfect time to purchase that sought-after phone, discover an affordable GPU to enhance gaming in 2026, or finally get the best TV you’ve been waiting for. --- I compared the image generation capabilities of ChatGPT with those of Nano Banana, and only one proved to produce usable stock photos. This involves testing stock image creation with two distinct chatbots. One of my personal hobbies is querying two different chatbots with the same question to see which one yields the best answer. Much like a professor evaluating students (which I occasionally do as a volunteer), I assess whether the bot creates hallucinations or provides intelligent, coherent responses that are genuinely useful. “Intelligence” and “coherence” aren’t the descriptors I would typically assign to the images generated by chatbots. Often referred to as AI slop, these bizarre creations — featuring aspects like blurred backgrounds, impeccably styled humans, and sometimes even extra thumbs — abound on social media and even appear as feature images in articles like this one. --- LG introduces its new UltraGear evo monitors, emphasizing resolution and AI upscaling. With a focus on AI-driven upscaling and addressing Mini-LED blooming, LG's UltraGear evo monitors suggest that the future of gaming displays is about refinement rather than excess. LG has launched a new series of UltraGear evo gaming monitors that heavily focus on two main themes: enhanced resolutions and advanced AI upscaling. The lineup includes three models: a 39-inch 5K2K OLED gaming monitor, a 52-inch 5K2K 240Hz gaming monitor, and a 27-inch 5K mini-LED monitor. To start, the 39-inch GX9 (39GX950B), a curved OLED monitor, delivers "5K-class clarity without necessitating GPU upgrades," indicating the brand's commitment to AI upscaling. With real-time upscaling, AI Scene Optimization, and AI Sound, this monitor not only enhances visuals but also improves audio quality. A recent report discusses the potential for sponsored placements in ChatGPT responses, while OpenAI emphasizes the importance of trust and product quality. OpenAI continues to investigate the idea of “ChatGPT ads,” despite earlier indications that it was reconsidering this approach in order to enhance response quality. According to The Information, the company is thinking about introducing sponsored content that could be prioritized for inclusion in ChatGPT answers. This is significant for a straightforward reason: if paid placements appear alongside advice, it may influence your clicks and purchases. However, this does not guarantee that ads will definitely be implemented. Companies are perpetually testing features, and this is more about concepts and prototypes than an actual rollout. In a statement to The Information, OpenAI acknowledged this direction, stating that it is “exploring what ads in our product could look like,” while reiterating its commitment to maintaining user trust. Prototypes indicate ad placement The report suggests one concept where the model would prioritize sponsored content to ensure it shows up in responses. Another design proposed would feature sponsored information displayed in a sidebar next to the main ChatGPT response area. Sidebar placement is easier to interpret quickly since it resembles traditional advertising space. In contrast, incorporating sponsored suggestions directly into an answer is more complex, as the user interface may create the impression of a unified recommendation. Shifts in the timeline This situation seems to fluctuate between "not at this moment" and "still being considered." After ad-related terms appeared in the Android beta, a subsequent report indicated that OpenAI had stalled ad development as leadership concentrated on quality, influenced by ongoing advancements with Gemini. The Information now reports new advertising concepts again, implying that the notion remains alive, albeit temporarily deprioritized. What to look for next If “ChatGPT ads” progress beyond the prototype stage, the first indication will be disclosure: clear sponsorship labels, uniform placement across platforms, and settings that clarify personalization. The second indication will be the location of paid content, whether it remains in a sidebar or begins to integrate into the main responses. However, there is currently no set date for implementation. Until OpenAI shares specific product details, consider this as testing and pay attention to its reactions to Google’s Gemini initiative. --- Paulo Vargas is a reporter and technical writer who previously studied English, with a career that has continually returned to… --- Maximize your after-Christmas sales shopping with these essential tips These shopping strategies will aid you during the Christmas sales. Once the mince pies are stored away and the wrapping paper is being removed, consider the neglected gadgets, clothing, and snacks that went unwrapped this holiday season. The Christmas sales begin right after the main day and offer a chance to snag a variety of items at appealing discounts. While not as widely anticipated as Black Friday or Prime Day, the post-Christmas sales still present an excellent opportunity to find bargains, whether on a gift you desired but didn’t receive or on leftover stock of popular items from the year. Now is the perfect time to purchase that sought-after phone, discover an affordable GPU to enhance gaming in 2026, or finally get the best TV you’ve been waiting for. --- I compared the image generation capabilities of ChatGPT with those of Nano Banana, and only one proved to produce usable stock photos. This involves testing stock image creation with two distinct chatbots. One of my personal hobbies is querying two different chatbots with the same question to see which one yields the best answer. Much like a professor evaluating students (which I occasionally do as a volunteer), I assess whether the bot creates hallucinations or provides intelligent, coherent responses that are genuinely useful. “Intelligence” and “coherence” aren’t the descriptors I would typically assign to the images generated by chatbots. Often referred to as AI slop, these bizarre creations — featuring aspects like blurred backgrounds, impeccably styled humans, and sometimes even extra thumbs — abound on social media and even appear as feature images in articles like this one. --- LG introduces its new UltraGear evo monitors, emphasizing resolution and AI upscaling. With a focus on AI-driven upscaling and addressing Mini-LED blooming, LG's UltraGear evo monitors suggest that the future of gaming displays is about refinement rather than excess. LG has launched a new series of UltraGear evo gaming monitors that heavily focus on two main themes: enhanced resolutions and advanced AI upscaling. The lineup includes three models: a 39-inch 5K2K OLED gaming monitor, a 52-inch 5K2K 240Hz gaming monitor, and a 27-inch 5K mini-LED monitor. To start, the 39-inch GX9 (39GX950B), a curved OLED monitor, delivers "5K-class clarity without necessitating GPU upgrades," indicating the brand's commitment to AI upscaling. With real-time upscaling, AI Scene Optimization, and AI Sound, this monitor not only enhances visuals but also improves audio quality. A report on Reddit states that the flashlight lens of a Pixel 10 Pro has melted, resulting in a dark, crater-like mark around the LED. While this information is unverified, it is simple to inspect, document, and raise concerns if you notice any similar damage. Samsung's latest Music Studio speakers provide clear sound while fitting seamlessly with your decor. Samsung's latest Music Studio speakers provide clear sound while fitting seamlessly with your decor. Samsung's latest Music Studio speakers offer clear sound along with a stylish, minimalist design.

5 must-see TV shows to check out in January 2026

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Wonder Man, and The Pitt are among the new series that viewers should check out in January 2026.