LOVECRAFT COUNTRY S1 | Eps 1-4 on 8 September, eps 5-8 on 6 October, eps 9-10 on 20 October

In the 1950s, Atticus Black, a young African-American, sets out on a road trip with his friend and uncle to find his missing father. This catapults the three into a struggle for survival against the dual terrors of Jim Crow-era America and terrifying monsters that could be ripped from a paperback written by pulpy horror author HP Lovecraft.

Based on the cult novel by Matt Ruff, Lovecraft Country is a collaboration between Misha Green (creator of Underground, named Best New Cable/New Media Show of 2016 by the African-American Film Critics Association) and Oscar-winner Jordan Peele (Us, Get Out), executive produced by JJ Abrams (Star Wars, Star Trek, Lost, Super 8, Westworld). 

RAMY S2 | Binge now, first on Showmax 

Ramy stars 2020 Golden Globe winner and stand-up comedian Ramy Youssef as Ramy Hassan, a first generation Egyptian-American millennial in suburban New Jersey grappling with how to be a good Muslim in the Tinder era. 

Two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali (Moonlight, True Detective) joins the cast this season as Sheikh Malik, while Hiam Abbass (Succession, Blade Runner 2049) returns as his mother. 

MY BRILLIANT FRIEND S2: THE STORY OF A NEW NAME | Binge now

Set in Naples and based on Elena Ferrante’s bestselling novels, My Brilliant Friend is the story of a life-long friendship spanning 60 years. Season 2, based on the second novel in Ferrante’s series, sees Lila (Gaia Girace) stuck in a brutal marriage to the wealthy Stefano Caracci (Giovanni Amura), while Elena dallies with suitor Antonio Cappuccio (Christian Giroso) and her growing attraction to the magnetic Nino Sarratore (Francesco Serpico). 

9-1-1: LONE STAR S1 | Binge now 

This spinoff of the hugely popular first responder drama 9-1-1 stars multiple Golden Globe nominee Rob Lowe (Parks and Recreation) as a New York firefighter who relocates to Austin, Texas, where he’s tasked with putting together an entirely new squad following a tragedy. The cast includes Teen Choice nominees Liv Tyler (Harlots, Lord of the Rings) and Lyndsy Fonseca (Desperate Housewives, Nikita, Kick-Ass). 

9-1-1: Lonestar was one of the ten most-streamed shows on DStv Now in the first half of 2020, and the highest-rated new series of the year for its parent network, FOX, which recently announced its renewal for a second season.

PERRY MASON S1 | Tuesdays at 23:00, same day as M-Net. Binge from 15 September 

It’s 1932, and despite the Great Depression, LA is booming. But when the kidnapping case of the decade comes knocking on down-and-out detective Perry Mason’s door, his relentless pursuit of the truth reveals a fractured city and, just maybe, a pathway to redemption for himself.

Indiewire hailed Perry Mason as “one of the most beautiful series ever made… One of the best I’ve ever seen. Really.”

WE’RE HERE | Binge from 18 September

The six-part series sees renowned drag queens Bob the Drag Queen, Eureka O’Hara and Shangela Laquifa Wadley inspire small-town residents from across America to step outside their comfort zones for a night of no-holds-barred, full-on drag – and a life-changing journey of self-discovery. Sometimes all it takes is a little love – and “a lotta werk” – to take someone from who they are to what they can be.

AV Club describes the show as “a charming and engaging reality series… well worth watching,” while Salon.com notes that, “on a deeper level, it’s a show about loving – truly loving – your neighbour.” 

HBO has already renewed We’re Here for a second season.

LAZOR WULF S1 | Binge from 18 September, first on Showmax

He’s a wolf. With a laser on his back. And he’s the coolest thing in Strongburg. 

Created by Henry Bonsu, Lazor Wulf, Adult Swim’s latest series, is an acid vision of modern life and friendship, voiced by a predominantly black cast including rapper Vince Staples, comedian Quinta Brunson from A Black Lady Sketch Show, and WWE wrestler Ettore ‘Big E’ Ewen, with Reginald VelJohnson (Die Hard) as the voice of God. 

LA Times describes the show as “African American, retro, futuristic and strange… relaxed, but at the same time packed with tension.”

WORLD ON FIRE S1 | Thursdays at 23:30 from 24 September, same day as M-Net

Set in 1939, on the eve of the German invasion of Poland, World on Fire follows the interwoven stories of ordinary people caught up in catastrophic global events beyond their control.

The critically acclaimed World War II drama has an 84% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has already been renewed for a second season. 

LOVE ISLAND UK S6 – THE CAPE TOWN EDITION | 5 eps every Saturday. Binge from 26 September

For South African fans dying to see the latest season of the BAFTA-winning reality show Love Island UK, the long wait is finally over. And it’s all the more delicious because this is the season that was filmed at a villa in Constantia, Cape Town.

Laura Whitmore of Strictly Come Dancing and I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! fame is this season’s new host for the drama-packed reality show, where single hopefuls flirt, date, break up and make up while trying to capture the hearts of viewers, who will vote for their favourite couple to take home the £50k prize money.

BRIARPATCH S1 | Mondays at 2300, same day as M-Net. Binge from 28 September

Senator’s aide Allegra Dill (MTV Movie Awards nominee Rosario Dawson from Sin City, Luke Cage and Jane the Virgin) returns to her border-town Texas home to investigate the death of her sister – a local cop killed by a car bomb. What begins as a search for a killer turns into an all-consuming fight to bring her corrupt hometown to its knees. 

I MAY DESTROY YOU S1 | Wednesdays at 22:30, same day as 1Magic. Binge from 11 November

I May Destroy You centres on Arabella (BAFTA winner Michaela Coel from Chewing Gum), a carefree, self-assured Londoner with a group of great friends, a boyfriend in Italy, and a burgeoning writing career. But when her drink is spiked with a date-rape drug, she must question and rebuild every element of her life.

There’s plenty more to watch and to view everything on Showmax this month including the 2020 Oscar nominee Harriet, click here.

HBO best describes the one-hour drama series as being based on the 2016 novel by Matt Ruff, follows Atticus Black as he joins his friend Letitia and his Uncle George to embark on a road trip across 1950s Jim Crow America in search of his missing father. What follows is a struggle to survive and overcome both the racist terrors of white America and the terrifying monsters that could be ripped from an H.P. Lovecraft paperback.

Now truth be told, I admit to not particularly being a fan of Jordan Peele’s work, so imagine my feelings when I got the opportunity to review his latest piece of work, sceptical to say the least. For one I have always said that I’m not a horror fan and to this day the appeal of it (which I understand what others get) for me, personally, I have never been encapsulated by. Jordan Peele very much specialises in that but always manages to put a spin on things with the inclusion of a black cast driving the story line, we’ve seen it in Us and Get Out.

Despite my reservations, I decided to give it a try and the result is a tough one to determine. For one I enjoyed the opening sequence of it and of course the clever inclusion and shining a light on racial issues and biases, but like with most horror titles and especially Peele’s work, weird sequences tend to deflect away from the good, at least that’s what I thought. I get that the premise is mostly horror but I just wish less was more in this instance. So yes, if you are not particularly a horror fan then chances of you liking this are quite minimal.

Having said all of that, it’s all according to personal taste, in as much as it’s not for me, I’m confident that many others will like it a lot. It’s different, edgy and certainly keeps you on the edge of your seat with tons of intrigue also included as part of it. And that’s what good entertainment is all about really.

We also have confirmation that in addition to 1Magic, it will be also be hitting Showmax real soon but in stages, specifically there will be 4 episodes on 8 September, followed by the next 4 on 6 October, and the final two being available on 20 October. Like all horror movies, this one is not for the kids so best to keep that in mind … it also explains why the timing it currently has on 1Magic, which by the way, and to remind you, is 21:30. Catch the first episode tonight and I look forward to the numerous debates I’m going to have with various individuals about this one, especially those that like it, which again there will be plenty I’m sure.

Special mention to the Showmax team for letting us into the early pre-screener, as always, classy.