The Best New Shows on TV and Streaming This Week

Lots of new shows and returning seasons of your favorite TV series are coming out this week, both on television and streaming platforms.

Want to find a new show to watch with friends or family, or just stay up-to-date on the latest seasons and specials of your current favorites? We can help!

Movies are perfect for a quick night out, but TV shows and streaming series offer a deeper experience if you’re willing to invest a little more time. This week, there’s a lot to choose from, whether you want a show to binge-watch or something to have on while you’re busy around the house.

New TV Shows, New Seasons & New Streaming Series Out This Week

This week brings the highly anticipated final season of The Boys. You can also enjoy a new animated Star Wars series focusing on Darth Maul, and a fascinating documentary series about a manipulative leader who exploited a trusting community in Utah.

Grab your remotes or fire up your streaming devices – these new TV shows are now available! Plus, you can find last week’s new releases right here as well.

Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord

After the Clone Wars ended, I was so excited to see what happened to Darth Maul! This comic, Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, shows him escaping to some distant planet where he’s trying to get his criminal empire back up and running. It’s a really cool look at what he did after everything went down.

The new animated series, Star Wars: Maul – The Shadow Lord, will begin streaming on Disney+ with the first two episodes available on April 6th at 9 PM Eastern Time. New episodes will be released every Monday after that.

The Boys (Season 5 Premiere)

In the final season of the popular superhero show, The Boys prepare for one last showdown with Homelander, determined to reveal the shocking secrets behind The Seven and the powerful company, Vought International.

You can watch the final season of The Boys only on Prime Video. The first two episodes will be available starting April 8th, and new episodes will be released every Thursday after that.

The Testaments

This show, a sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, follows a new group of young women living under the harsh rules of Gilead.

You can start watching The Testaments on Hulu April 8th, when the first three episodes become available. New episodes will then be released every week.

Trust Me: The False Prophet

This new documentary series follows a cult expert as she goes undercover within an FLDS community targeted by a manipulative and deceitful leader.

You can watch Trust Me: The False Prophet starting April 8th, only on Netflix. It’s a four-part documentary series.

The Miniature Wife

In The Miniature Wife, a scientist’s experiment goes wrong, shrinking his wife to a minuscule size and forcing the couple to confront the existing power dynamics in their marriage.

You can watch all episodes of the comedy series The Miniature Wife starting April 9th, only on Peacock.

10 Actors Who Hated How Their Own TV Shows Ended

Bonnie Bartlett, St. Elsewhere

The finale of St. Elsewhere is famously considered one of the worst series endings ever, and Bonnie Bartlett, who played Ellen Craig on the show, felt that disappointment deeply. Bartlett was as frustrated with the show’s controversial “it was all a dream” ending – revealed through a snow globe – as many viewers were. She told Entertainment Weekly during a cast reunion that the writers intentionally created an ending that would prevent any future revivals, and she strongly disapproved, calling it “terrible!”

Gillian Anderson, The X-Files

When Fox announced the return of The X-Files in 2016, fans were thrilled. However, the revival only lasted two seasons, and the final episode of the eleventh season felt like a second series finale – a letdown for almost everyone involved, including Gillian Anderson, who had played Dana Scully for all eleven seasons. Both fans and critics strongly disliked the final episode, “My Struggle IV,” finding its story choices unoriginal and repetitive. The episode revisited old storylines – Scully lost her son again, the Cigarette Smoking Man died again, and she unexpectedly became pregnant once more. Following the negative reaction online, Anderson responded with a GIF of Scully looking defeated, accompanied by the message, “Boy oh boy do I ever hear you.”

Scott Bakula, Star Trek: Enterprise

The final episode of Star Trek: Enterprise wasn’t just poorly received, it felt like a disservice to the show and its star, Scott Bakula. Bakula, who played Captain Jonathan Archer, was upset that the series finale essentially turned into a small, self-contained story within Star Trek: The Next Generation. His crew only appeared as holograms, serving a plot focused on TNG‘s Commander Riker. Enterprise struggled to gain a strong fanbase, and the finale cemented its place as one of the less popular Star Trek series. Brannon Braga, the showrunner, later admitted that filming that episode was the only time Scott Bakula had ever been unkind to him.

James Gandolfini, The Sopranos

Like so many fans, I was totally thrown by the way The Sopranos ended! I remember watching the final scene – Tony, Carmela, and A.J. in the diner, Tony looking around all paranoid – and just being stunned when the screen suddenly went black. Even James Gandolfini himself was shocked! He said his first reaction was, “What the f—?” After everything his character went through, all the violence, he couldn’t believe it just stopped. But you know what? After he slept on it, he actually grew to love it. And honestly, after nearly 20 years, I feel the same way. It’s a brilliant, unforgettable ending.

Penn Badgley, Gossip Girl

A major part of what made Gossip Girl so popular was the mystery of who “G.G.” really was, so when the show finally revealed the answer, many fans were let down. Penn Badgley, who played Dan Humphrey, wasn’t a fan of the twist either, and discussed it with his co-star Chace Crawford in an interview with Variety. Crawford pointed out that the reveal didn’t quite fit Dan’s character, and Badgley agreed. Even years later, those involved with the show haven’t been able to agree on whether Dan was always intended to be the secret antagonist, or if the decision was made later when fans started guessing correctly.

Michael C Hall, Dexter

Michael C. Hall was very unhappy with how the original Dexter series ended, and he actually helped bring the show back twice to try and create a better conclusion. The original finale involved Dexter killing his sister, who was brain-dead, and then faking his own death to become a lumberjack in Oregon and escape the consequences of his crimes. In an interview with The Daily Beast, Hall admitted that many viewers – including himself – felt the ending was unsatisfying and hoped for a more fulfilling continuation, wondering what happened to Dexter after those events.

Ian Somerhalder, The Vampire Diaries

Many viewers were pleased with the positive conclusion of The Vampire Diaries, as most of the main characters got happy endings. However, Ian Somerhalder shared that he and co-star Paul Wesley had hoped for a different outcome. They told Access Hollywood they both thought their vampire characters should have died, allowing the human characters, including Elena Gilbert, to finally have peace. Somerhalder explained he felt it would have been a more fitting end for the brothers, but ultimately, the showrunners disagreed.

Everyone, Game of Thrones

The finale of Game of Thrones is often considered one of the most disappointing series endings ever, rivaled perhaps only by St. Elsewhere. A now-famous video from the table read of the final scenes perfectly captures the cast’s reaction: everyone was visibly dismayed and silent, while Kit Harington was shocked to learn his character, Jon Snow, would kill Daenerys Targaryen. Several cast members have since spoken about their feelings. Harington later admitted there were “mistakes made,” Lena Headey said she felt “gutted,” and Isaac Hempstead-Wright initially thought the ending was a prank. Emilia Clarke was so upset when she read the final scenes that she went for a long walk and didn’t return for five hours, returning with blisters on her feet.

Alexis Bledel, Gilmore Girls

When Netflix revived Gilmore Girls in 2016, it offered a chance to finally wrap up the story as its creator, Amy Sherman-Palladino, originally intended. Sherman-Palladino had left the show during its initial run, keeping her planned final scene a secret. Fans eagerly anticipated learning what those ‘final four words’ were. However, the revival’s ending – Rory Gilmore revealing she’s pregnant – left many disappointed. Alexis Bledel, who played Rory, admitted she had hoped for a more positive outcome for her character after all her efforts, wanting to see her successful and flourishing. Lauren Graham, who played Lorelai, strongly agreed, calling the ending a frustrating cliffhanger and an unsuitable conclusion to the series.

Sarah Hyland, Modern Family

Sarah Hyland, a lead actress on Modern Family, wasn’t in many episodes during the show’s last season. Though fans saw her character, Haley Dunphy, become a mother of twins in the finale, Hyland wished for a different outcome. In an interview with Cosmopolitan, she shared that she’d hoped to see Haley pursue a successful career in fashion – perhaps as a stylist or building her own brand – while also being a mom. Hyland felt it would have been inspiring to show a character like Haley excelling in both her career and as a parent, demonstrating that women can be both dedicated mothers and successful professionals.

2026-04-06 19:58