Crime, horror, humor and a forbidden love: April has a lot to offer thanks to series such as “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Chernobyl” and “A Teacher”.
Whether it is a long-time fan magnet or a promising new start: If the cinema has to be foregone in April as well, other forms of entertainment are in demand once again more than ever. For example through these series, which premiere sometimes on free TV, sometimes on various streaming services. Including the now 17th season of the hospital series “Grey’s Anatomy”, the relentless and ingenious miniseries “Chernobyl”, the undead of the “Walking Dead” offshoot “Fear the Walking Dead” or two very different stories about teacher-student relationships.
Free TV
No April Fool’s joke, on April 1st the great series “Fleabag” will have a long overdue free TV premiere on the public broadcaster One (from 9.45 p.m. in double episode). The British cult series by and with Phoebe Waller-Bridge (35), who won three Emmys, two Golden Globes and numerous other prizes, is about the eponymous woman (Waller-Bridge) who deals with various affairs from her once tragic, wants to distract sometimes pathetic, but always unique existence. A circumstance that neither her meticulous sister Claire (Sian Clifford, 38) nor her hateful stepmother (Oscar winner Olivia Colman, 47) make any easier.
Another highly acclaimed production on free TV will start on ProSieben (on three Mondays at 8:15 pm) on April 12th, the miniseries “Chernobyl”. 35 years after the meltdown in the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the series relentlessly works on how the accident could have come about and how close the world has escaped an even greater catastrophe. “Chernobyl” goes to the core, but is one of the best that has ever been pressed into mini-series format. Ten Emmys and two Golden Globes are evidence of this.
During the 17th season of “Grey’s Anatomy”, which starts in April, fans of Dr. Meredith Gray (Ellen Pompeo, 51) has several options. The new episodes will appear on free TV from April 28th at 9:15 p.m. on ProSieben. If you can’t stand it until then to find out which dramas are going on this time at Seattle Grace Hospital, you can join a week in advance. Both Joyn and Disney + will start their weekly broadcast of the new episodes on April 21st.
Netflix
The British series “The Serpent” will be available for crime fans from April 2nd. In the eight episodes the true story of the French serial killer Charles Sobhraj (Tahar Rahim, 39) is told, who in the 70s on the so-called “Hippie Trail” between Europe and East Asia, initially tricked the trust of tourists and many of them from murdered them. At least a dozen murders can be traced to the killer known as “The Serpent” because of his deceit.
Those who prefer fantasy instead of crime will also get the first season of “Shadow and Bone” served on Netflix from April 23rd. It is a series adaptation of the first part of the “Legends of Grisha” trilogy by US author Leigh Bardugo (45), known in this country under the title “Golden Flames”. The plot: Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li, 25), an orphaned, low-ranking soldier, releases extraordinary powers in a world torn by war, which could mean the freedom of her country. Faced with the unspeakable threat posed by the Shadow Corridor, Alina must leave everything behind and join an elite unit of magical soldiers called Grisha.
Amazon Prime
The simply impossible-to-kill zombies from the “Walking Dead” universe will also be back in April. But not in the main series, but in the offshoot “Fear the Walking Dead”. The second half of season six starts on April 12th via Amazon Prime Video and reveals the fate of various characters, including “Walking Dead” defector Morgan (Lennie James, 55).
Disney +
From April 16, the dramedy series “Big Shot” with John Stamos (57), who plays a hot-headed basketball coach at a US college, is coming to Disney +. But after one of his famous outbursts of anger, he is transferred to a high school, where he is to train a team of girls in the future. A farce for the macho! But then he gradually notices how his new protégés warm his heart and make him a better person.
The miniseries “A Teacher”, which will be available from April 23 on Disney +, tells a much more controversial student-teacher story. The ten episodes are about the early 30-year-old English teacher Claire Wilson (Kate Mara, 38), who is in an unhappy relationship. When she starts teaching at a high school in Austin, Texas, she quickly gets close to 17-year-old high school student Eric Walker (Nick Robinson, 26). The two begin a passionate and illegal affair that threatens to destroy their lives.
Sky ticket
From April 12th, the series “The Nevers” will ship superheroes to Victorian London. At the center of the plot is a group of women who have discovered they have supernatural powers. A good opportunity to change existing social structures.