Thanksgiving week is finally here! It's the perfect time to enjoy some cozy comfort food and relaxing TV. Whether you're catching up on shows between family gatherings or settling in for a binge over the long weekend, there’s so much to love, from exciting new premieres to beloved nostalgic specials. Enjoy and make the most of this special week!
Welcome to this week's edition of TV Corner Notes. Let’s begin with some brief reflections: two shows truly stood out to me this week, from Keeley Hawes' exciting return to action to Ted Danson’s touching new season.
The Assassin Series Premiere: A Killer Start for Keeley Hawes
One of my most anticipated series since last summer has finally arrived in the U.S., and AMC+ didn't waste any time releasing the premiere of The Assassin. Keeley Hawes stars as Julie, a retired hitwoman living in Greece, whose quiet life is disrupted when her son Edward (Freddie Highmore) appears with questions, especially about the mysterious trust fund that was credited to his bank account on his 30th birthday.
The premiere begins with a stylish, almost video-game-like flashback of a young Julie taking out a room full of gangsters, a fun and energetic way to set the tone. But the core of the episode comes from Hawes and Highmore, who portray strained mother-son tension with the right balance of warmth, awkwardness, and suspicion.
The turning point happens during a wedding when gunfire erupts, forcing Julie’s carefully hidden past into the spotlight. Edward’s stunned realization that his mother isn’t just “complicated” but an actual assassin sets the stage for the bigger mystery: Who’s targeting Julie now? And does it relate to the job she recently refused, a contract chillingly delivered by an AI voice pretending to be an old friend? Even more unsettling: the target was Edward’s fiancée.
The premiere combines stylish action with emotional depth, highlighted by outstanding performances from Hawes and Highmore. It’s sharp, compelling, and already raises many questions I look forward to seeing answered. Overall, I rate the premiere 9/10.
A Man on the Inside: Season 2
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A Man on the Inside was one of my favorite shows last year, a mystery wrapped in a second-chance story, and Season 2 maintains that same heart. This time, the mystery revolves around a stolen laptop belonging to the university president, filled with secrets. Still, the school faces threats after accepting a billionaire's donation (played hilariously by Gary Cole). However, the real story this season isn’t about who did it; it’s about the characters growing, healing, and stumbling as they move forward.
Charles discovers a new spark with Mona, a professor played by Mary Steenburgen, whose chemistry with Ted Danson feels natural and sweet, as expected. We also see a standout season for Lilah Richcreek Estrada as Julie, the private investigator and Charles' boss, who's managing her own complicated family and relationship issues.
No spoilers about who’s behind the big twist, but I can say the reveal will make you second-guess your predictions. The whole season feels as warm, funny, and quietly thoughtful as Mike Schur always makes it. There are fantastic performances from Danson, Steenburgen, and Estrada, along with guest stars like Cole, Constance Marie, Jill Talley, David Strathairn, and a brief but welcome appearance from Stephanie Beatriz. Overall, I give Season 2 a 9/10.
More Reviews:
Ghosts "Planes, Shanes & Automobiles"
DMV "Blindspot"
One Chicago Fall Finale
St. Denis Medical "Two Docs, One Conf"
What to watch This Week
From specials to finales and the anticipated final season premiere, here's what to look forward to this Thanksgiving week.
Monday, Nov. 24
Bel-Air final season (Peacock, three-episode premiere)
Harry Wild Two-Part Holiday Special (Acorn TV): After an apparent poisoning occurs at Vicky and Cormac's wedding, Harry springs into action alongside the FBI.
8/7c Everybody Loves Raymond 30th Anniversary Celebration (CBS, next day on Paramount+): Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton, Brad Garrett, Monica Horan, Madylin Sweeten, Sullivan Sweeten, and series creator Phil Rosenthal reunite on the recreated Barone living room set.
Tuesday, Nov. 25
Is It Cake? Holiday Season 2 (Netflix, three-episode binge)
8/7c Good Sports (Prime Video): The weekly talk show will unleash a full-court press of comedy and unfiltered opinions, as hosts Kevin Hart and Kenan Thompson break down the biggest sports stories and highlights.
9/8c Doc fall finale (Fox, next day on Hulu)
9/8c Lida Celebrates America: A Nation of Neighbors (PBS): Lidia Bastianich travels to wildfire-scarred neighborhoods outside Los Angeles, a pay-how-you-can cafe in Denver, a Japanese-American community center in Portland, and a first-of-its-kind free grocery market in San Francisco to meet the volunteers and visionaries who are building community one neighborhood at a time.
9/8c Vanderpump Rules: Raise Your Glass to 11 Seasons (Bravo): The special looks back at over a decade of iconic moments and never-before-seen footage, before passing the glass to a new crew.
9/8c The Shuffle (HBO documentary short): The first in a new series of short football films, made in partnership with the NFL, chronicles the making of the 1985 Chicago Bears' ironic rap music video that became a cultural phenomenon en route to the team's storied Super Bowl XX Championship.
Wednesday, Nov. 26
The Beatles Anthology (Disney+, three-day event): Restored and remastered, the classic music docuseries rolls out over three days and is now capped by a never-before-seen ninth installment featuring Paul McCarthneym, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr as they come together between 1994 and 1995 to reflect on their shared life as The Beatles.
8/7c Countdown to Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (NBC): Happy's Place star Melissa Peterman interviews parade performers Colbie Caillat, Gavin DeGraw, and Jewel.
8/7c Stranger Things final season (Netflix, four-episode premiere)
Thursday, Nov. 27
Silent Witness Season 28 finale (BritBox)
8:30/7:30c Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (NBC and Peacock)
12/11c The National Dog Show (NBC and Peacock)
8/7c NFL Game (NBC and Peacock)
We Met in December (Hallmark Channel movie): Strangers (Autumn Resser and Niall Matter) share a magical night on a holiday layover and spend the season trying to find each other again.
Friday, Nov. 28
Disney's Hulu's Family Guy's Hallmark Channel's Lifetime's Familiar Holiday Movie (Hulu): Lois, who works for Big Pie, travels to a small town in hopes of stealing Peter's award-winning family secret recipe.
8/7c A PAW Patrol Christmas (CBS, next day on Paramount+): When Santa comes down with a cold and can't deliver presents, Rubble and the PAW Patrol spring into action to stop Mayor Humdinger from stealing Christmas.
6/5c The Snow Must Go On (Hallmark Channel movie): A Former Broadway actor (Corey Cott) directs a high school Christmas musical and falls for the guidance counselor (Heather Hemmens).
8/7c The More the Merrier (Hallmark Channel movie): An ER doctor (Rachel Boston) snowed in at a rural hospital falls for a cardiologist (Brendan Penny) amid a Christmas Eve baby boom.
8/7c The Christmas Spark (Great American Family movie): A corporate lawyer (Mario Lopez) joins his hometown fire department and falls for a widowed mom (Ali Cobrin).
Saturday, Nov. 29
6/5c An Alpine Holiday (Hallmark Channel movie): Estranged sisters (Ashley Williams and Laci Mailey) reunite in the French Alps at Christmas, where one finds love with a mounteinerr (Julien Samani)
8/7c Christmas Everyday (Lifetime movie): A woman (Brandy Norwood) juggling her sister's wedding and her mother's declining sight finds unexpected sparks with a contractor (Robert C. Riley).
8/7c A Grand Ole Opry Christmas (Hallmark Channel movie): A country star's daughter (Kikki Deloach) returns to the Grand Ole Opry and reconnects with a lifelong friend (Kristoffer Polaha).
That’s it for this edition of TV Corner Notes. I’ll be spending the week balancing premiere binges with pumpkin pie, and I hope your holiday weekend is just as full of good TV and good company.
See you next week!
Adam
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