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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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. If you receive a 3 percent raise concurrently with a 3 percent inflation rate, you have not truly made any progress.

The discussion shifts to unconventional income-generating assets. Aside from stocks and bonds, Maggiulli explores investing in farmland, which provides returns that are uncorrelated with standard markets. He recounts a story about someone who purchased the royalty rights to Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ "Empire State of Mind" for $190,000. The song earned $32,733 in royalties the prior year, indicating an 11 percent return if that income remains stable.

We investigate why 85 to 90 percent of your portfolio should generate income via dividends, rent, interest, or business profits. Maggiulli keeps his speculative investments, including cryptocurrency, art, and individual stocks, to less than 10 percent of his net worth. He admits that his two selected individual stocks have declined by 60 to 70 percent, illustrating his point about steering clear of stock picking.

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!

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. If you receive a 3 percent raise concurrently with a 3 percent inflation rate, you have not truly made any progress. The discussion shifts to unconventional income-generating assets. Aside from stocks and bonds, Maggiulli explores investing in farmland, which provides returns that are uncorrelated with standard markets. He recounts a story about someone who purchased the royalty rights to Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ "Empire State of Mind" for $190,000. The song earned $32,733 in royalties the prior year, indicating an 11 percent return if that income remains stable. We investigate why 85 to 90 percent of your portfolio should generate income via dividends, rent, interest, or business profits. Maggiulli keeps his speculative investments, including cryptocurrency, art, and individual stocks, to less than 10 percent of his net worth. He admits that his two selected individual stocks have declined by 60 to 70 percent, illustrating his point about steering clear of stock picking. 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! Boldin: Model your retirement scenarios, test every "what if," and confidently take control of your financial future. Start planning at go.boldin.com/afford. According to a recent report, OpenAI is still considering the introduction of ads in ChatGPT, highlighting the potential for sponsored content to be featured prominently in responses. While this isn't a launch yet, it indicates that the concept is very much in consideration. A leak suggests that the battery life of the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro will improve, which may make your wait worthwhile. A leak suggests that the battery life of the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro will improve, which may make your wait worthwhile. Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 4 Pro have recently passed through the FCC, indicating that a launch is imminent. A disclosed battery capacity of 57mAh per earbud, up from the previous 48mAh, suggests that improved battery life might be the key enhancement. Samsung's Galaxy S28 series might be the first to include a proprietary GPU. Samsung's Galaxy S28 series might be the first to include a proprietary GPU. Samsung is said to be working on its own GPU, which may be introduced alongside the Exynos 2800 in the Galaxy S28 series. Leaked prototypes show that Apple had previously experimented with pink and yellow AirPods. Leaked prototypes show that Apple had previously experimented with pink and yellow AirPods. Uncommon prototype images show that Apple had previously tested colorful designs for AirPods before ultimately deciding to standardize the white finish that is currently used. Bose QuietComfort headphones are now available for $199, giving you a $160 discount on regular noise cancellation. Bose QuietComfort headphones are now available for $199, giving you a $160 discount on regular noise cancellation. If you've been anticipating a genuine discount on a trustworthy set of noise-canceling headphones, this offer is definitely worth considering. The Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Canceling Over-the-Ear Headphones are now priced at $199.00 (down from $359), giving you a savings of $160. This significant price drop shifts these headphones from being a "consider for the future" option to a "purchase immediately if you commute." The first gaming monitor in the world featuring a 1080Hz refresh rate has arrived. The first gaming monitor in the world featuring a 1080Hz refresh rate has arrived. The first gaming monitor in the world featuring a 1080Hz refresh rate has arrived.

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.