Project Hail Mary author slams Star Trek TV shows as he reveals his pitch for one was rejected
Andy Weir, author of The Martian and Project Hail Mary, has taken aim at Star Trek's recent TV offering, revealing his own idea for a series was rejected by Paramount. Speaking on the Critical Drinker podcast, Weir said: “I’m Gen X, so my sci-fi was like original series Star Trek reruns and Lost in Space reruns. "And there wasn’t really much in the way of [new] sci-fi that was airing — where people are off in space doing cool things — until we got to [Star Trek: The Next Generation].” While podcast host Will Jordan suggested everything since Enterprise (which ran from 2001 to 2005) should be removed from the Star Trek canon, Weir admitted that might be a little "severe". However, he added: “I’ll give you my opinion and I’m just a consumer. I like Strange New Worlds. I think it’s pretty good. I didn’t hate Enterprise. I thought it was kind of weird. Lower Decks I thought was entertaining and fun. All the others, they can go.” Speaking about his pitch for a new series, Weir went on to say: “And here’s another thing: I pitched a Star Trek show to Paramount and I was in a Zoom with the showrunners with all the shows and spent a long time talking to [executive producer Alex Kurtzman]. “I don’t like a lot of the new Trek. He, as a person, is a really nice guy. I feel a little bad for him but at the same time, those shows are s**t. He is a nice guy." Weir jokingly added: "But they didn’t accept my pitch so, you know, f**k ‘em!” As it approaches its 60th anniversary, Star Trek doesn't currently have any new series in active development. However, still to air are series including Starfleet Academy season 2 and Strange New Worlds seasons 4 and 5. Kurtzman recently opened up to Radio Times about his plans for future Star Trek series, saying: "There's a perception, I think a lot of the time, that because it's 60 years’ worth of storytelling, it's very difficult to enter into that fresh, and obviously we want to grow Star Trek for future generations. Otherwise it won't be around." Radio Times has contacted Paramount for comment. Star Trek is available to watch on Paramount+. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/offers/?benefitId=paramountplusgb&ref_=DVM_PDS_CHN_UK_mi_C_mkw_sNynrT7ZC-dc_pcrid_637893181401&mrntrk=slid__pgrid_143491579803_pgeo_9045946_x__adext__ptid_kwd-1210995054370&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAs5i8BhDmARIsAGE4xHwTfGgy5aYKkYxNQV68UYUZhVWUr2bVS4o-EfnvpowOvplyXMbKqXAaArmvEALw_wcB&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2191954" target="_blank" rel="noopener sponsored">Sign up to your seven-day Paramount+ free trial. Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on tonight. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Yellowstone creator's new show breaks huge record with strong premiere ratings
The Taylor Sheridan drama is a surefire hit for Paramount+.
The first season of The Madison may have now drawn to a close, but its future has never been in doubt, with a second instalment already announced and some truly impressive viewing ratings now being revealed. Another notch on Taylor Sheridan's drama belt, it was always clear that the show was destined to be a fan-favourite, particularly with the likes of Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell heading up the cast. Well now, the series has been truly underlined as a Paramount+ hit, with the premiere episode boasting an impressive 8 million streaming views globally in its first 10 days, according to Deadline. That makes it Sheridan's biggest series launch ever. And that's really saying something seeing as Sheridan has been behind the likes of Yellowstone, Tulsa King, Mayor of Kingstown, Marshals and Landman. Paramount also revealed that The Madison is also, more specifically, Sheridan's biggest series debut among women aged 35 and above. So, it's safe to say that the series launch of The Madison will be going down in the history books for Sheridan. However, it's not his best season debut overall, with that title remaining with the season 2 premiere of Landman. The Billy Bob Thornton series clocked up a staggering 9.2 million streaming views in just a couple of days. As for The Madison, fans were left shocked with the series opener when a major character was killed off, underlining the series as Sheridan's most intimate, emotional series yet. Read more: Riz Ahmed talks turning Bait's chilling hate crime scene into the surreal: 'It's about internalised racism and prejudice' Game of Thrones spin-off plans get update from HBO boss as he notes "script by script" approach Well before season 1 had debuted, it had already been announced that season 2 was in the pipeline and is expected to be on our screens sometime next year. We can expect a return of series lead Pfeiffer, with the other cast members including Beau Garrett, Elle Chapman, Patrick J Adams, Amiah Miller, Alaina Pollack, Ben Schnetzer, Kevin Zegers, Rebecca Spence, Danielle Vasinova, Matthew Fox and Will Arnett. The Madison season 1 is available to stream on Paramount+ now. Add The Madison to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
What to watch on streaming: today's picks from Netflix, Prime Video and more
Looking for something to watch today on Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV and more? Don't miss our experts' recommendations...
We can all feel a bit overwhelmed when looking for something to watch in the world of streaming, so if you're in need of some help, you've come to the right place. This week: every decision counts for Noah Wyle, who stars as Dr Michael “Robby” Robinavitch, an attending physician in a Pittsburgh emergency room. Acclaimed, pulse-pounding hospital drama The Pitt, already the recipient of Golden Globe and Emmy awards, arrives in the UK a year on from its debut in the USA — its airing here marking the launch of streaming service HBO Max. Over on Apple TV, the fifth run of alt-history epic For All Mankind from Ronald D Moore, Matt Wolpert and Ben Nedivi has landed. It follows a world in which the USSR beats the US to the moon in 1969, and the space race never ends, leading up to the colonisation of Mars. In season 5, we jump to the 2010s, years after season 4's Goldilocks asteroid heist, with Happy Valley growing into a thriving colony. New to Prime Video is comedy series Bait, which sees Riz Ahmed star as struggling actor Shah Latif, when his one prospective audition turns into a worldwide headline-maker as everyone wades into whether or not he's the right man to take on the role of 007. And years after riding into the sunset, Cillian Murphy comes striding back into action as Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders: the Immortal Man, available now on Netflix. It’s 1940, and with the ex-gangster’s adult son (Barry Keoghan) causing chaos on the streets of Birmingham — and mixing with Nazi sympathisers — Tommy has h his work cut out for him. If you haven't yet caught all the award-winning pictures from this awards seasons, here's your chance. Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle after Another and horror flick Sinners are the talk of the town following the Oscars, and you can stream them both now. And Jessie Buckley hoovered up the gongs for her sensational leading turn in director Chloé Zhao’s drama Hamnet about the domestic life of William and Agnes Shakespeare, and the unimaginable loss that may have inspired the Bard’s greatest play. There's no shortage of streaming options, and so to give you a bit of a hand, Radio Times has collated some of the best new offerings: from Netflix and Disney Plus to Prime Video, BBC iPlayer and Apple TV, here are the latest highlights across the services. Whether it's a fascinating documentary like Dynasty: the Murdochs, a drama spin-off like The Madison or a music extravaganza such as Harry Styles. One Night in Manchester, there's something here to suit everyone's taste. Take a look at the list below, which includes all the details about where you can watch any title – and what we think.
Criminal Minds: Evolution future confirmed as season 19 start date revealed with Heated Rivalry's Connor Storrie to guest star
Paramount+ dropped three announcements at once about the much-loved show.
In a whopping triple announcement from Paramount+ about one of its hit shows, Criminal Minds: Evolution has been renewed for season 20, with a release date confirmed for the upcoming 19th run. It's also been announced that the latest season will feature a plethora guest stars including Heated Rivalry's Connor Storrie amongst other big names in a future episode. Criminal Minds: Evolution season 19 has been given a US release date of Thursday 28 May on Paramount+. Criminal Minds: Evolution follows the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, a team of profilers tasked with analysing and capturing the country’s most dangerous criminals, before they can strike again. It currently stars Joe Mantegna, AJ Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, RJ Hatanaka, Zach Gilford, Adam Rodriguez and Paget Brewster. As well as Storrie, the new season of Criminal Minds: Evolution guest stars in full includes Justin Kirk (Angels in America), Yvette Nicole Brown (Community), Clark Gregg (Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD), Paul F Tompkins (Bojack Horseman), Cress Williams (Black Lightning), Kofi Siriboe (Queen Sugar), Lyndon Smith (Step Sisters) and Richard Cabral (Mayans). Season 19 will also see Jeri Ryan (Star Trek Voyager), Rob Yang (The Menu), Nicholas Gonzalez (The Good Doctor), Inny Clemons (Judging Amy), Nicole Pacent (Westworld), Dash Mihok (Ray Donovan), Joseph Cross (Big Little Lies) and Cara Jade Myers (Killers of the Flower Moon) join its cast as guest stars. Criminal Minds: Evolution is a continuation of the much-loved long-running TV series Criminal Minds that ran for 15 seasons from 2005 to 2020. In 2022 it was picked up by Paramount+ and a 16th season was released under the new name and with mostly the same characters and cast. Two spin-offs of Criminal Minds also exist, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior which ran for one season in 2011 and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders which had two seasons starting in 2016. Storrie rose to fame for his breakout role as Ilya Rozanov in the Crave original television series Heated Rivalry, across from Hudson Williams. The series, which is based on the Game Changers series of novels by Rachel Reid, follows the on-and-off romance between two rival ice hockey players. Criminal Minds: Evolution arrives in the US on Paramount+ on Thursday 28 May. UK broadcast details are yet to be confirmed. Add Criminal Minds: Evolution to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
School Spirits future finally confirmed weeks following end of acclaimed season 3 episodes
With an official announcement from Paramount itself.
Fans have spent the weeks since the finale asking the same thing: if School Spirits has been renewed for season 4. Now, there’s finally a clear answer. Paramount+ has officially confirmed School Spirits season 4, putting an end to the uncertainty that followed the end of the show’s latest run. The streamer announced the renewal on 24 March, after season 3 wrapped on 4 March, meaning the supernatural drama’s future has been locked in less than a month after its most recent finale. That news will come as a major relief to viewers, because season 4 of School Spirits always felt likely after the way the latest episodes left things hanging. Paramount’s official announcement said the series had closed its third season on a high with critical acclaim, and also noted that the latest run carried a perfect 100% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes. While Paramount+ hasn’t revealed a season 4 release date yet, the renewal suggests there is still plenty more story to tell after that dramatic season 3 ending. Paramount Plus's own post-finale breakdown made clear there are still major loose ends surrounding Maddie, Split River High, and the fallout from the final episode, so a return always seemed more like a necessity than a bonus. The next instalment also looks set to keep the same creative core intact. Paramount confirmed that creators Nate and Megan Trinrud will continue as co-showrunners and executive producers, while Oliver Goldstick remains involved as a consultant. Star Peyton List is also continuing as an executive producer alongside leading the cast on-screen. School Spirits is available to stream Paramount Plus – you can sign up for Paramount Plus now. Add School Spirits to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy future revealed - and William Shatner shares emotional reaction
It's not just Shatner that's feeling emotional!
The future of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has been revealed and it's not looking good for the spin-off show. It's now been confirmed that Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will not be renewed after its upcoming season meaning the second will also be its last, revealed Variety. William Shatner, best known for his portrayal of Captain James T Kirk in the Star Trek franchise, has shared his thoughts on the cancellation, admitting he was deeply saddened by the news. "Star Trek exists in more than one world. It exists in the fantasy of science fiction - weird and wonderful things that play unimaginable possibilities of exploration and human endeavour. "But it also exists in the fantasy of human beings, the perfection of human beings, the exploration that human beings have made since the dawn of time and the continuing exploration - physically mentally and morally," Shatner shared on Twitter. He continued: "It’s that aspect of Star Trek that I’ve always loved, to look at something physically that doesn’t exist now by these talented writers & designers but also to tackle the eternal human questions the agonies, the ecstasies. "Star Trek should exist for a long time to come based on those truths. I for one would love to see its continuity. It’s with sorrow that I hear about the cancellation of the new Star Trek series." The spin-off series of the beloved Star Trek franchise was picked up by Paramount+ in 2023 and premiered the first two of its 10 episodes in January this year. It was renewed for a second season before the first had even aired, with production of which only recently wrapping. Announcing the show's cancellation, CBS Studios and Paramount+ said in a joint statement: "We’re incredibly proud of the ambition, passion, and creativity that went into bringing 'Star Trek: Starfleet Academy' to life. "The series introduced audiences to a bold new group of characters, welcomed familiar faces, and expanded the ‘Star Trek’ universe in exciting new ways. "We’re grateful to Alex Kurtzman, Noga Landau, Gaia Violo, and the entire cast and crew who pushed storytelling boundaries in the spirit of Gene Roddenberry’s vision. We look forward to sharing the upcoming second and final season with everyone, and continuing to celebrate the cast, crew, and all that was accomplished with this series." A release date for the second season of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has yet to be confirmed, but judging by the streamer’s previous staggered release schedules for the franchise it is likely on track for an early 2027 release window. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is streaming on Paramount+. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/offers/?benefitId=paramountplusgb&ref_=DVM_PDS_CHN_UK_mi_C_mkw_sNynrT7ZC-dc_pcrid_637893181401&mrntrk=slid__pgrid_143491579803_pgeo_9045946_x__adext__ptid_kwd-1210995054370&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAs5i8BhDmARIsAGE4xHwTfGgy5aYKkYxNQV68UYUZhVWUr2bVS4o-EfnvpowOvplyXMbKqXAaArmvEALw_wcB&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2191954" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-geniuslink="https://buy.geni.us/Proxy.ashx?TSID=114542&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2Fgp%2Fvideo%2Foffers%2F%3FbenefitId%3Dparamountplusgb%26ref_%3DDVM_PDS_CHN_UK_mi_C_mkw_sNynrT7ZC-dc_pcrid_637893181401%26mrntrk%3Dslid__pgrid_143491579803_pgeo_9045946_x__adext__ptid_kwd-1210995054370%26gad_source%3D1%26gclid%3DCj0KCQiAs5i8BhDmARIsAGE4xHwTfGgy5aYKkYxNQV68UYUZhVWUr2bVS4o-EfnvpowOvplyXMbKqXAaArmvEALw_wcB%26tag%3Dradtim0b-21%26ascsubtag%3Dradiotimes-2191954&dtb=1">Sign up to your seven-day Paramount+ free trial. Add Star Trek: Starfleet Academy to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Yellowstone sequel Dutton Ranch with fan-favourite couple gets premiere date confirmed with dramatic first look
Rip Wheeler and Beth Dutton are almost back on our screens.
As one Yellowstone spin-off, Marshals, continues to release new episodes weekly, another, Dutton Ranch, is just around the corner, with the release date having been confirmed. The new series, which will see Cole Hauser and Kelly Reilly reprise their roles as Rip Wheeler and Beth Dutton, will premiere globally on Paramount+ on Friday 15 May, with the first two episodes being released at once. The remaining seven episodes will then air weekly on Fridays. The synopsis for the new series says: "As Beth and Rip fight to build a future together - far from the ghosts of Yellowstone - they collide with brutal new realities and a ruthless rival ranch that will stop at nothing to protect its empire. In South Texas, blood runs deeper, forgiveness is fleeting, and the cost of survival might just be your soul." Alongside news of the show's release date, a dramatic first-look trailer has also been released, which you can watch here now. View oEmbed on the source website As well as Reilly and Hauser, Dutton Ranch will also star Ed Harris and Annette Bening, along with Finn Little, Juan Pablo Raba, Jai Courtney, JR Villarreal, Marc Menchaca and Natalie Alyn Lind. Dutton Ranch, like Marshals before it, will be set after the fifth and final season of Yellowstone, picking up with the characters in their new lives. Marshals has been following Kayce Dutton, with the first episode having revealed that his wife Monica, a long-running major Yellowstone character played by Kelsey Asbille, had died. Like all other Yellowstone series, Dutton Ranch has been created by Taylor Sheridan. The prolific writer has also been behind another recent Paramount+ show The Madison, which at one time was believed to be a Yellowstone spin-off, before being revealed as its own, contained story. Dutton Ranch will air from Friday 15 May on Paramount+. Add Dutton Ranch to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
There was plenty of story left to tell at the end of season 1.
*Warning - contains spoilers for The Madison season 1.* The first season of The Madison has now come to an end on Paramount+, with the final scenes seeing Stacy travel back to the Madison River Valley, without telling her family. Earlier in the run, Stacy had argued that the entire family should follow her out there, after she found it to be a better way of life and felt closer there to her late husband, Preston. It certainly seems like that could still happen in potential future episodes, with the story of the Clyburn family certainly not closed off - but will we get to see those future stories? Has the Taylor Sheridan series actually been renewed? Read on for everything you need to know about The Madison season 2. Will there be The Madison season 2? There will! It was first reported in August 2025 that The Madison was set to be renewed for a second season, well before season 1 had debuted. That season subsequently went into production in September and finished filming in December 2025. This was confirmed by Paige star Elle Chapman, who wrote in an Instagram story: "And that’s a wrap on season 2. Heart is full". When will The Madison season 2 be released? We don't yet know when The Madison season 2 will be released, but given that it has already been filmed in its entirety, we'd imagine we shouldn't have to wait long. While an annual release schedule might seem likely, with season 2 therefore arriving around March 2027, we could even potentially see it earlier, perhaps towards the end of 2026. We will keep this page updated with any news regarding The Madison season 2's release as and when we get it. Who will return to star in The Madison season 2? Given that The Madison seasons 1 and 2 filmed almost back to back, we would expect the majority of the central cast to return. This will of course include Michelle Pfeiffer as Stacy Clyburn, as well as the rest of the actors playing her family - Beau Garrett as Abigail, Elle Chapman as Paige, Patrick J Adams as Russell, Amiah Miller as Bridgett and Alaina Pollack as Macy. We are also expecting Kurt Russell to be back, despite his character Preston dying early on in season 1. He continued to appear in flashbacks throughout the first season, and that is likely to be the case once again. In fact, Russell actually filmed all of his scenes for both seasons during the production of season 2, due to a clash between season 1's filming dates and Russell's work on Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2. We would also expect additional key stars such as Ben Schnetzer and Kevin Zegers to be back, although one actor who reportedly won't be is Paul Clyburn star Matthew Fox. He told TV Insider: "This is a contained experience for me in the show, and I’m very happy about that. It’s been an incredible experience." Like Preston, Paul died early on in The Madison, and it appears we can't expect any more flashbacks featuring him. Here's a list of the stars from The Madison season 1 who we might expect to return for season 2: Michelle Pfeiffer as Stacy Clyburn Kurt Russell as Preston Clyburn Beau Garrett as Abigail Reese Elle Chapman as Paige McIntosh Patrick J Adams as Russell McIntosh Amiah Miller as Bridgett Reese Alaina Pollack as Macy Reese Ben Schnetzer as Van Davis Kevin Zegers as Cade Harris Rebecca Spence as Liliana Weeks Danielle Vasinova as Kestrel Harris Will Arnett as Dr Phil Yorn Is there a trailer for The Madison season 2? There isn't a trailer for The Madison season 2 just yet, but we will keep our eyes peeled and add one in once it is released. For now, you can rewatch the trailer for season 1 right here. View Green Video on the source website The Madison season 1 is available to stream on Paramount+ now. Add The Madison to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Madison reveals shock death of A-list star's character in dramatic first episode
*Warning - contains major spoilers for The Madison episode 1.* The first three episodes of Taylor Sheridan's new star-studded drama series The Madison are available to stream now on Paramount+, and they start things out on a shocking note. While we had been pre-warned that the series would focus on a family dealing with a tragedy, we didn't know what that tragedy would be. However, within the first half of episode 1, it became clear. The premiere saw Kurt Russell's character, Preston, taking a regular trip to go fishing with his brother, Paul, at the latter's shack in the Madison River valley. As they return to the shack from one particular trip out, Preston and Paul fly back on a biplane, but find themselves caught up in a storm – one which proves to be deadly. Soon after we see them struggling through the storm, Preston's wife Stacy, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, receives a call back in New York to say that the worst has happened – the plane has gone down and two people have died. The bodies are believed to be those of Preston and Paul, but formal identification is needed. This leads to Stacy, her two daughters, her son-in-law and her two granddaughters travelling out to the Madison River valley, setting up the story for the rest of the season. While Russell continues to make appearances throughout remaining episodes in flashbacks, his character's death this early on in the series is still a shocker – the drama has been sold on Pfeiffer and Russell as its A-list lead stars. The series also stars Beau Garrett, Elle Chapman, Patrick J Adams, Amiah Miller, Alaina Pollack, Ben Schnetzer, Kevin Zegers, Rebecca Spence, Danielle Vasinova, Matthew Fox and Will Arnett. The first season will be made up of just six episodes, with the remaining three being released one week later, on Saturday 21 March. The Madison will continue on Paramount+ on Saturday 21 March. Add Yellowstone to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Madison release schedule: When will episode 4 be on Paramount+?
The first three episodes of Taylor Sheridan's new drama were released at once.
*Warning: Contains major spoilers for The Madison episodes 1-3.* The first three episodes of Taylor Sheridan's new drama The Madison have now been released on Paramount+, and they began with a huge, shocking and tragic moment. Early on in the episode, Kurt Russell's character Preston died, leaving his wife Stacy (Michelle Pfeiffer) and daughters Abigail (Beau Garrett) and Paige (Elle Chapman) heartbroken. Throughout the subsequent episodes, they travelled to the Madison River valley where he died, with Stacy falling in love with the land, as it made her feel closer to her lost husband. But when will the next instalment in the series be released and how many episodes will there be in total? Read on for everything you need to know about the release schedule for The Madison. When will The Madison episode 4 be released? The first three episodes of The Madison were released at once on Paramount+ on Saturday 14 March. Unlike many Paramount+ shows which release episodes weekly, The Madison will be released in two batches, meaning episodes 4, 5 and 6 will all be released together, one week after the first three. This means that episode 4, along with episodes 5 and 6, will be released on Paramount+ on Saturday 21 March. How many episodes will there be of The Madison? There will be 6 episodes of The Madison in total. This is shorter than many of Taylor Sheridan's other shows, which include Yellowstone, Tulsa King, Mayor of Kingstown, Marshals and Landman. The Madison release schedule The Madison is releasing its six episodes in two batches, with the first three arriving one week, and the final three the next. Here's a full breakdown of the release schedule for The Madison: The Madison episode 1 - Pilot – Saturday 14 March 2026 (out now) The Madison episode 2 - Let the Land Hold Me – Saturday 14 March 2026 (out now) The Madison episode 3 - Watch Her Fall – Saturday 14 March 2026 (out now) The Madison episode 4 - Tomorrow is Goodbye – Saturday 21 March 2026 The Madison episode 5 - No Name and a New Dream – Saturday 21 March 2026 The Madison episode 6 - I Give Me Permission – Saturday 21 March 2026 The Madison will premiere on Paramount+ on Saturday 14 March. Add The Madison to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Madison cast: Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell star
Pfeiffer and Russell are joined by Beau Garrett, Elle Chapman, Patrick J Adams and Matthew Fox in Taylor Sheridan's new drama.
From Demi Moore to Samuel L Jackson, plenty of Hollywood A-listers have been lining up in recent years to work with Taylor Sheridan, and now, for his new drama The Madison, the screenwriters has roped in one of his starriest casts yet. The family drama, which tackles the subject of grief and is set in the Madison River valley, is headed up by Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell as married couple Stacy and Preston Clyburn. Joining the duo in the series are other stars including Patrick J Adams and Matthew Fox, but who else stars in the six episodes and who do they all play? Read on for everything you need to know about the cast of The Madison. The Madison cast: Meet the characters in Taylor Sheridan's drama The cast of The Madison is as follows. Scroll down for more information on the actors and who they play. Michelle Pfeiffer as Stacy Clyburn Kurt Russell as Preston Clyburn Beau Garrett as Abigail Reese Elle Chapman as Paige McIntosh Patrick J Adams as Russell McIntosh Amiah Miller as Bridgette Reese Alaina Pollack as Macy Reese Ben Schnetzer as Van Davis Kevin Zegers as Cade Harris Rebecca Spence as Liliana Weeks Danielle Vasinova as Kestrel Harris Matthew Fox as Paul Clyburn Will Arnett as Dr Phil Yorn Michelle Pfeiffer plays Stacy Clyburn Who is Stacy Clyburn? Stacy is the wife of Preston and mother to his children. She considers herself a "city mouse" and loves her life in New York City. What else has Michelle Pfeiffer been in? Pfeiffer has had roles in many films, including Grease 2, Scarface, Dangerous Liaisons, Batman Returns, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hairspray, Stardust and Murder on the Orient Express, and plays Janet Van-Dyne in the MCU. She has also appeared in series including The First Lady and the upcoming Margo's Got Money Troubles. Kurt Russell plays Preston Clyburn Who is Preston Clyburn? Preston is Stacy's husband and father to her children. He often visits his brother in the Madison River valley to go on fishing trips. What else has Kurt Russell been in? Russell has had roles in many films including The Thing, Big Trouble in Little China, Vanilla Sky, Death Proof, Furious 7, The Hateful Eight, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2, The Christmas Chronicle and Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood, as well as series such as Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. Beau Garrett plays Abigail Reese Who is Abigail Reese? Abigail is Stacy and Preston's eldest daughter. What else has Beau Garrett been in? Garrett has had roles in films including Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer and Tron: Legacy, as well as series such as Criminal Minds: Suspect Behaviour, Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce, The Good Doctor and Firefly Lane. Elle Chapman plays Paige McIntosh Who is Paige McIntosh? Paige is Stacy and Preston's youngest daughter. What else has Elle Chapman been in? Chapman has appeared in films A Man Called Otto and Shark Girl, as well as the series The Girl in the Mirror. Patrick J Adams plays Russell McIntosh Who is Russell McIntosh? Russell is Paige's husband. What else has Patrick J Adams been in? Adams is best known for playing Mike in Suits, while he has also had roles in series including Orphan Black, Legends of Tomorrow, Sneaky Pete, The Right Stuff, A League of Their Own, Plan B, The Bombing of Pan Am 103 and Wayward, as well as the films The Swearing Jar and He Went That Way. Amiah Miller plays Bridgette Reese Who is Bridgette Reese? Bridgette is Abigail's eldest daughter. What else has Amiah Miller been in? Miller has had roles in films including War for the Planet of the Apes and The Stranger in My Home, as well as series such as MacGyver and The 'Burbs. Alaina Pollack plays Macy Reese Who is Macy Reese? Macy is Abigail's youngest daughter. What else has Alaina Pollack been in? Pollack has had a role in the series On Call and the film The Surrender. Ben Schnetzer plays Van Davis Who is Van Davis? Van is a police officer who the family meet in the Madison River valley. What else has Ben Schnetzer been in? Schnetzer has had roles in films including Pride, The Riot Club, Warcraft: The Beginning, Snowden and Swiped, as well as series such as Happy Town, Y: The Last Man and 3 Body Problem. Kevin Zegers plays Cade Harris Who is Cade Harris? Cade is a friend who the family meet in the Madison River valley. What else has Kevin Zegers been in? Zegers has had roles in films including Air Bud, Wrong Turn, Dawn of the Dead, It's a Boy Girl Thing, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, as well as series such as Titans, Gossip Girl, Titanic: Blood and Steel, Gracepoint, Fear the Walking Dead, Rebel, The Rookie and Doctor Odyssey. Rebecca Spence plays Liliana Weeks Who is Liliana Weeks? Liliana is Stacy's best friend. What else has Rebecca Spence been in? Spence has had roles in films including The Break-Up, Public Enemies, The Dilemma, Contagion, Man of Steel and Candyman, as well as series such as Easy, Paper Girls, 61st Street, Lady in the Lake and Power Book IV: Force. Danielle Vasinova plays Kestrel Harris Who is Kestrel Harris? Kestrel is Cade's wife. What else has Danielle Vasinova been in? Vasinova has had roles in series including Dexter, The Bay and 1923, as well as films such as Queens of the Dead. Matthew Fox plays Paul Clyburn Who is Paul Clyburn? Paul is Preston's brother. What else has Matthew Fox been in? Fox is best-known for playing Jack in Lost, while he has also had roles in other series such as Party of Five, Haunted, Last Light and CAUGHT, as well as films including Speed Racer, Alex Cross and World War Z. Will Arnett plays Dr Phil Yorn Who is Dr Phil Yorn? Phil is a therapist who Stacy visits. What else has Will Arnett been in? Arnett is best-known for his roles in series including Arrested Development and BoJack Horseman, as well as other shows such as Up All Night, 30 Rock, The Millers, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Flaked, Riviera, Twisted Metal and The Morning Show. He has also had roles in films including Ice Age 2: The Meltdown, Blades of Glory, Ratatouille, Hot Rod, Monsters vs Aliens, Despicable Me, The Lego Movie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Is This Thing On?. The Madison will premiere on Paramount+ on Saturday 14 March. Add The Madison to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Yellowstone spin-off Marshals gets future swiftly confirmed after huge record-breaking premiere
It's an early renewal for the Taylor Sheridan drama.
Having only released two episodes of its first season so far, fans are in for a treat as Marshals has now been renewed for a second season already. The early season renewal isn't all that surprising, given the fact that Taylor Sheridan dramas continue to reign supreme on Paramount Plus and the fans continue to love them. Add to that the fact that Marshals is part of the Yellowstone universe and we're onto a sure fire winner. On the announcement of the series renewal, CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach said in a statement: "Marshals delivered a breakout performance, capturing a massive audience across platforms and quickly establishing itself as one of TV's most powerful new series. "The overwhelming viewer response speaks to the strength of the Yellowstone world, the bold character driven storytelling from the creative team and the dynamic cast performances led by Luke Grimes." The new series sees Luke Grimes reprise his role Kayce Dutton, son of Kevin Costner’s John Dutton. In Marshals, Kayce has now left the Yellowstone Ranch behind him and has joined an elite unit of US Marshals, combining his skills as a cowboy and Navy SEAL. The synopsis for Marshals teases that Kayce and his teammates must balance "family, duty and the high psychological cost that comes with serving as the last line of defence in the region’s war on violence". In the show's premiere episode, Yellowstone's fans theories were proven right as the fate of Kayce's wife Monica (played by Kelsey Asbille) was revealed. It was certainly an emotional way of opening up the new series but certainly sets it apart as being a gripping series in its own right. Read more: Martin Clunes transforms into Huw Edwards in new extended first-look trailer for 5 drama Vera icon on new A Woman of Substance role: 'It’s quite nice to take the hat and mac off!' While fans may have wanted several Yellowstone faces to make an appearance in Marshals, this new cast is comprised of new characters and faces including Logan Marshall-Green, Arielle Kebbel, Ash Santos and Tatanka Means. Well, Marshals is only set to go from strength to strength as we dive deeper into the show's characters, dynamics and stories. The season is so far averaging 20.6 million viewers and debuted as the best new show without football as a lead-in since Young Sheldon launched in 2017. In fact, the series premiere of Marshals was the most streamed episode ever on Paramount Plus. So, it's safe to say that plenty will be tuning in not only to the rest of this first season but likely, for the second season to come. Marshals airs new episodes weekly on Mondays on Paramount+. Add Marshals to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Star Trek is struggling to find its moment – and it might need to face up to a hard truth
As the franchise marks its 60th anniversary, its optimistic vision feels out of step with the current political mood.
Add Star Trek: Starfleet Academy to your watchlist There’s a scene late in the 1991 movie Star Trek VI: the Undiscovered Country where old warhorses Kirk and Spock wonder whether they’ve outlived their own usefulness. The film itself is a Cold War allegory that sees the once-adversarial Klingons brokering for peace, a situation that leaves the Enterprise crewmates confronting a galaxy that may no longer need them. It’s a sobering moment in a story that serves as a swan song for the original team. But it’s also a question that echoes today, not just for Kirk but for Star Trek itself. The underwhelming performance of latest offshoot Starfleet Academy in early Nielsen ratings, and the fact that no new series is currently in production, suggest a once-dominant sci-fi brand is struggling to capture the public imagination. Streaming fragmentation muddies the numbers, but the cultural temperature feels far cooler than in previous eras. A show that once defined television science fiction now feels strangely peripheral. But this could be more than just franchise fatigue. It may be that Star Trek’s worldview is simply out of step with the political mood. Because historically, the franchise tends to flourish at one particular kind of time: moments when the United States feels confident about the future. Just consider when Star Trek has previously thrived. It arrived amid the optimism of JFK’s “reach for the stars” rhetoric. It soared again with The Next Generation during Reagan’s “Morning in America” resurgence of the late 1980s and the post-Cold War triumphalism of Clinton’s 1990s. In short, Star Trek chimes when America believes the future belongs to it. Contrast that with the periods when it’s struggled. In the 1970s, distrust of institutions runs high after the Watergate scandal – and Star Trek exists mostly in reruns until the films revive it. Once we hit the 2000s and George W Bush’s war on terror, Star Trek again stumbles with the lacklustre Enterprise, which is axed after four seasons. There’s a sense here that when the prevailing culture becomes anxious or cynical, the show’s utopian tone can feel naïve and irrelevant. The exception is '90s spin-off Deep Space Nine, the one show willing to test Star Trek’s ideals rather than just celebrate them. With later seasons set during a time of war, Captain Benjamin Sisko is seen questioning the extent to which the Federation ought to sacrifice its principles to survive. View Green Video on the source website There’s real moral ambiguity here, but with Deep Space Nine airing alongside The Next Generation and later Voyager, the optimistic core of Star Trek was being protected elsewhere. Deep Space Nine could push boundaries because it wasn’t the shop window. Today, there’s no such protective glass. All of which brings us to 2026 and Donald Trump’s more aggressive posture on the world stage. With opinion polarised and faith in governments waning, Starfleet’s assumptions – cooperation, decency, consensus – feel increasingly distant from political reality. It may sound churlish to point this out in the year when Star Trek is marking its 60th anniversary, but none of the recent series (Discovery, Picard, Strange New Worlds, Starfleet Academy) have left a deep cultural footprint. Might this be because the Federation looks suspiciously like a benevolent superpower extending its reach across the galaxy – liberal internationalism with warp drive? At a time when US influence is contested, that metaphor leaves us with a prickle of unease. There’s a paradox at the heart of this. Yes, Star Trek can feel like an imperialist project, but it’s also aspirational. It shows what humanity might become. But optimism works best when it feels attainable. In moments where we feel jaded and sceptical, a perfect future can feel less like hope and more like denial. And so, just as the original Enterprise crew realised it was time to hand over the future in The Undiscovered Country, Star Trek perhaps ought to come to the realisation that it needs a pause. The franchise has survived dormant periods before and then returned when the public was ready to believe in its values once more. Perhaps the most Trek thing the brand could do right now is wait patiently for the future to catch up with it again.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 2 release date speculation and latest news
The first season of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has officially come to a close, and fans already have good news about the future of the series. A second season was renewed early, with the announcement made during the Star Trek Universe panel at New York Comic Con back in 2024. With the two-part finale finally bringing back Tatiana Maslany as Anisha Mir, we can expect to see an even more conflicted Caleb heading into his sophomore year at Starfleet Academy. As executive producer and showrunner Alex Kurtzman originally mapped the series out to emulate a four-year college experience, the cadets will undoubtedly face bigger challenges – and new foes – in their second year aboard the USS Athena (NCC-392023). While we wait to see whether Paramount+ will greenlight a third season, here’s everything we know so far about Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 2. Starfleet Academy season 2 release date speculation As of yet, there hasn’t been a confirmed release date for the second season of Starfleet Academy. However, production has now wrapped on the sophomore season at the Star Trek Stage at Pinewood Studios in Toronto, with the main cast sharing a number of emotional messages and behind-the-scenes videos on Instagram. Paramount+ has yet to announce official release dates for either Starfleet Academy season 2 or Strange New Worlds season 4. However, judging by the streamer’s previous staggered release schedules for the franchise, season 2 of Starfleet Academy is likely on track for an early 2027 release window. That would suggest a mid-to-late 2026 premiere for Strange New Worlds season 4, particularly as Paramount+ has historically scheduled its Star Trek offerings so that one show airs between January and March, with another running in the summer or autumn – avoiding two live-action series overlapping. Who could star in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 2? While specific plot details have been kept closely under wraps, we do know that Alex Kurtzman wrote the series to emulate a four-year college experience for the cadets. That means season 2 will focus on the cadets’ sophomore year at Starfleet, so we can expect the main ensemble to return. Thanks to actor Karim Diané’s (Jay-Den Kraag) wrap video on Instagram, we also know that fans can look forward to more Tig Notaro, as the Discovery character will feature more prominently in the second season. Paul Giamatti also confirmed in an interview on the D-Con Chamber podcast that villain Braka will not appear in the second season. However, he did note that he “would love to return” if a third season is greenlit. The cast we’d expect to see return for Starfleet Academy season 2 is as follows: Holly Hunter as Captain/Chancellor Nahla Ake Sandro Rosta as Caleb Mir Karim Diané as Jay-Den Kraag Bella Shepard as Genesis Lythe Kerrice Brooks as Series Acclimation Mil (Sam) Zoë Steiner as Tarima Sadal Tig Notaro as Jett Reno Robert Picardo as The Doctor Gina Yashere as Lura Thok Oded Fehr as Admiral Vance Mary Wiseman as Sylvia Tilly Tatiana Maslany as Anisha Mir Becky Lynch as Lieutenant McKenzie Ya Stephen Colbert as Starfleet Academy’s Digital Dean What could Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 2 be about? Following the explosive finale, there were certainly plenty of threads running throughout season 1 that could be further explored. Chief among them is the mystery of Anisha Mir and what really happened to her following her arrest by Starfleet, her subsequent escape, and her time on the run. We know that Braka was involved in her escape – but what really happened while Caleb was growing up? Speaking of Caleb, his divided loyalties will most definitely be tested going forward. Will he be forced to choose between his birth mother and his found family aboard Starfleet Academy? Another major question revolves around whether the Federation will forge a path to reunite with the wider universe – and whether it can help shift its reputation in the process. Meanwhile, with the pirate-esque Nus Braka out of the picture, the second season will undoubtedly introduce a new “big bad” for our cadets – and the Federation – to face. Speaking to TrekMovie.com about the show’s second season, star Bella Shepard (who plays cadet Genesis Lythe) commented: “Oh my gosh, so many things have changed, almost as a reflection to what our cadets went through in season 1. Our cadets are more tight knit in season 2 because their relationships are deeper, and I think we’re all experiencing that now in real life as well, because we’ve known each other for longer now.” While the series has currently only been greenlit for two seasons, it certainly seems that those working on the show aren’t planning on neatly wrapping things up just yet. Series creator and executive producer Gaia Violo also teased to TrekMovie.com: “It’s such a shocking ending, you do not want it to [end] – no, no!” When asked whether the season 2 finale - which Kurtzman directed himself - was written in a way that could tie up the series in case it wasn’t renewed, co-showrunner Noga Landau added: “Absolutely not. We have so much story to tell. If anything - yeah, it is not the end.” Is there a trailer for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 2? Seeing as the second season of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has just wrapped filming, there's no trailer just yet. However, we’ll update this page as soon as it drops! Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is streaming on Paramount+. Sign up to your seven-day Paramount+ free trial. Add Star Trek: Starfleet Academy to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 1 ending explained – How does the trial end?
Everyone is now back aboard the USS Athena, but that doesn't mean anyone is safe.
School's almost out for summer, or whatever constitutes a summer break aboard Star Trek: Starfleet Academy's USS Athena. This semester has flown by, especially as the final two episodes of the season are actually a two-parter that reunites Caleb (Sandro Rosta) with his mother after 16 years apart. As seen at the very start of the season, Caleb was separated from Anisha (Tatiana Maslany) when he was just a kid due in part to Holly Hunter’s officer Nahla Ake. That's why the captain has gone out of her way to help Caleb all season, to make up for this awful past trauma. By the end of last week's episode, Anisha was wounded after she helped Caleb's fellow cadets escape execution. Everyone is now back aboard the USS Athena, but that doesn't mean anyone is safe, not with Paul Giamatti’s obnoxious baddie Nus Braka back on the scene. And where does Anisha's allegiance really lie? Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 1 ending explained — How does the trial end? Braka has everyone's favourite crew on the ropes when the finale begins. Overlapping mines have prevented the ship from escaping, and there are 240 inhabited planets in the blast radius if one should go off. Not even the USS Discovery could jump through this using Mycelium Spores because that would trigger the bombs too. The skeleton crew that remains aboard surmises that the energy field surrounding these mines is being controlled by one signal. If they can isolate it and jam it, they can deactivate the entire network of bombs. They just need to do so without disrupting it, because that would lead to one big BOOM. The Venari Ral warp in then with Braka at the helm. Jett Reno (Tig Notaro) hides the first year cadets below deck as the ship's shielding is pummeled to breaking point, allowing Braka to teleport onboard. "It was always going to be me in this chair," he laughs, leaving his stinkiness all over Nahla's nice Captain's furniture. Braka is very surprised to see Anisha still alive, and what's even more shocking is that she's not saying much of anything. "You were awfully chatty when I busted you out of prison two years ago," he points out before adding: "What are the only two people in the universe who hate me most doing together?" Before Braka takes Anisha and the Captain away, Nahla leaves the Doctor (Robert Picardo) with a cryptic message: "Leap clear of all that is corporeal and make yourself greater." Braka is obviously an idiot because this all passes him by. That's just as well because Nahla was actually telling the Doctor to run training mission Hermes 19. What is that? We don't have time to figure it out because the Venari Ral open fire then and destroy the USS Athena completely. Boy, that was a short finale… Except, the show's title card suddenly appears over the debris as it's revealed all the broken pieces of ship that remain are actually holograms initiated by Hermes 19. The decoy worked. Everyone on board is still alive and the Venari Ral have left without realising their mistake. The ship itself has seen better days, however, as its structural integrity continues to fail. As if that wasn't bad enough, there's something wrong with the Doctor. He's malfunctioning, repeating weird strings of words like "There's glue in the shoe." The gang come together to try and come up with solutions, spearheaded by Reno who uses this life and death situation as a teaching moment. Never mind the "trillions of lives" at risk. Teachers are still gonna teach, damnit! Meanwhile, the Captain finds herself on trial, even appearing on a Venari Ral news broadcast that's being sent across the quadrant. Before shit goes down though, she reassures Anisha that Caleb is safe. Braka recounts a story from his childhood, one which explains his hatred for the Federation and how he ended up the way he did. Basically, Braka's father sent flares up to Federation ships who hit his family with missiles in return. "From my colony, eight of us survived." "So today," Braka continues, "We’re putting the Federation on trial for their lives and crimes against democracy. I never got a real trial and neither did the woman next to me (Anisha)." Braka decides that Anisha alone "will decide if the Federation deserves a reprieve," presumably so he comes across as impartial. Of course, Braka knows that Anisha hates The Federation and Nahla especially because she's the one who separated Anisha from her son. As Giamatti showboats it for the cameras, Nahla pushes back, claiming that Braka's opening statement is wrong because The Federation would never attack civilians. "But who writes the history?" asks Braka. Oh, good point. "Liberators don’t take hostages," counters Nahla. Oh, also a good point. "But you took a kid and put him in the uniform of his mothers jailers." Ooh, snap! Nahla quickly changes the subject by pointing out that Federation shuttles "had to make hard choices in impossible times". Anisha chimes in then, attacking Nahla for her role in separating mother and son at such a young age: "I want you to have no shelter from this [guilt], to feel it every day like cold or hunger or broken bones. I want it there when you close your eyes, when you’re laughing or grieving. I want you to see me. It's the only way I get justice and the only way I get to dance on your grave." Back on the USS Athena, the cadets bond in the face of death, and in doing so, they suddenly find a solution. It turns out The Doctor has been trying to communicate a solution this whole time, even though he can no longer articulate sentences properly. With surprising speed, they surmise Doc was referring to Ruben particles. View Green Video on the source website By reducing these particles, simulations show a way to transmit the algorithm so they can bring down the wall of the signal completely. They just need the right frequency. Oh wait, Tarima (Zoë Steiner) just found it. As the others try to find a way to narrow down Braka's location, Caleb and Tarima get cutesy in a psychic room together. Just your everyday Betazoid fling, really. During their chat, Caleb reminds Tarima how she used her psychic ability to connect with his mother. "Can you find her again through me?" asks Caleb. "Then we can find Braka." Everything's coming together, which makes this the perfect moment for Reno to chip in with an inspiring speech: "As far as final exams go, this is a doozy. Pass we live, fail, we're all dead." Oh. OK. We then cut back to the trial, which is already ending apparently. "You wanna dance on my grave?" asks Nahla. "There’s another grave… The pilot you killed," she points out, reminding Anisha of what she and Braka got up to on that ship together all those years ago. "He was from Earth, Hawaii," Nahla continued. "We served together… He was a lousy singer. That supply ship was supposed to be his last rotation before he retired. What did you think was gonna happen when you boarded that shuttle? You both had weapons and were prepared to use them." Braka claims he shot the pilot in self defence, so Nahla continues to interrogate Anisha instead, asking if she could have stopped him. "'Maybe' is not enough. In that moment, you changed the lives of his kids as well, and your son’s life. So did I. We have to live with it, Anisha claims to hate Nahla still, proclaiming her guilty at the trial (even though she's supposed to represent The Federation? It's all a bit of a mess, if we're being honest.) Caleb shows up then, just before the trial is about to end. Braka lets him talk to save face in front of all the cameras broadcasting everything as it unfolds. He's there to save Nahla, yes, but he's also buying the Athena crew time to finish deactivating the mines. "Mum," says Caleb. "I would ask at this minute for you to listen… I can be more than just a 'space rat' or a 'lost son.' I can be part of a community." Accepting this community at Starfleet Academy felt like a betrayal at first, a betrayal to his mother and everything she stood for. But the lessons he learned there, the friends he made… "I've laughed more in the last year than in my entire life. But I was a coward and I fought them. I did horrible things and they deserved so much better. I tried to push them away, but they didn’t let me because they all live for something bigger than themselves." To be fair, this is all coming from a genuine place, as is Caleb's respect for Nahla. "[Nahla] believed in me, mum. She’s never given up on us. She listens… I know what happened 16 years ago. She taught me I can’t stay there forever. I can be part of this world without forgetting where I come from, forgetting you... I’ve been searching for you my whole life, looking for a home for so long and now I think I finally found it." Anisha cries, realising that her son has finally found happiness in his life. Sensing that the tide is shifting, Braka tries to laugh it all off as brainwashing. Nahla then brings up strontium, of all things, a fuel source that could be found on Braka's planet. Caleb explains that it's cheap, but lethal, burning red when it explodes. Earlier on, Braka mentioned that The Federation rained down "red hellfire" on his settlement, but their weapons are always green. As such, Nahla realised that The Federation didn't attack. It was the weapon used by Braka's father which burned up the atmosphere because it was made of strontium. "Vicious lies!" screams Braka. "Lies! Lies and propaganda!" "You were a kid," says Nahla. Then she turns to the cameras using Holly Hunter's trademark charisma and husky voice. "Is this the person you want to follow into the future? An angry child with a finger on the trigger whose entire worldview is based on a lie?" Spectators watching the trial in person begin to leave, presumably to go rewatch Anatomy of a Fall instead. Braka gets desperate, threatening to blow up all the mines with a trigger. What he doesn't know, however, is that the Athena's crew are doing all they can to deactivate them at the same time. We see a counter reach 93 per cent, and then he presses the button. That's a misdirect, obviously, because a Star Trek show like this was never going to casually wipe out trillions of people in one fell swoop. Yep, the counter reached 100% before Braka pulled the trigger, which means that the mine field has been nullified. And with that, other Federation ships are suddenly free to come in and arrest Braka for his crimes against the quadrant. Maybe he would have gotten away with it too, if not for those meddling kids. Anisha punches Braka as he's led into custody, because her allegiance will flip on a dime, it seems. "Close your eyes and you'll see me in your nightmares!" he screams. And you know what? With all those gross prosthetics he's sporting, Braka might just be right. We then cut to one last sequence where Caleb goes over future summer plans with his mum. "Part of me hopes you won’t wanna come back," says Anisha, "but I know you will". Sounds harsh, but really she's just a bit reluctant about him and the whole Starfleet Academy thing. Anisha tells Caleb how proud she is of him then. "I know this is your home, but you always have another one here." Yep, she touched her heart as she said it. Totes adorbs. Caleb runs off to give his mum the tour then as everyone else at Starfleet Academy enjoys the end of year celebration that's unfolding aboard the ship. He then says some cute stuff about home and trusting people in his first ever cadets log entry as we watch the crew celebrate the end of a successful season year. Don't be scared though. A second season of Starfleet Academy has already been confirmed, so there's plenty more classroom hijinks to come once the summer break comes to an end. Just don't be surprised if this "summer break" takes a year or so to conclude in real time. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is streaming now on Paramount+. Add Starfleet Academy to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
There’s a scene late in the 1991 movie Star Trek VI: the Undiscovered Country where old warhorses Kirk and Spock wonder whether they’ve outlived their own usefulness. The film itself is a Cold War allegory that sees the once-adversarial Klingons brokering for peace, a situation that leaves the Enterprise crewmates confronting a galaxy that may no longer need them. It’s a sobering moment in a story that serves as a swan song for the original team. But it’s also a question that echoes today, not just for Kirk but for Star Trek itself. The underwhelming performance of latest offshoot Starfleet Academy in early Nielsen ratings, and the fact that no new series is currently in production, suggest a once-dominant sci-fi brand is struggling to capture the public imagination. Streaming fragmentation muddies the numbers, but the cultural temperature feels far cooler than in previous eras. A show that once defined television science fiction now feels strangely peripheral. But this could be more than just franchise fatigue. It may be that Star Trek’s worldview is simply out of step with the political mood. Because historically, the franchise tends to flourish at one particular kind of time: moments when the United States feels confident about the future. Just consider when Star Trek has previously thrived. It arrived amid the optimism of JFK’s “reach for the stars” rhetoric. It soared again with The Next Generation during Reagan’s “Morning in America” resurgence of the late 1980s and the post-Cold War triumphalism of Clinton’s 1990s. In short, Star Trek chimes when America believes the future belongs to it. Contrast that with the periods when it’s struggled. In the 1970s, distrust of institutions runs high after the Watergate scandal – and Star Trek exists mostly in reruns until the films revive it. Once we hit the 2000s and George W Bush’s war on terror, Trek again stumbles with the lacklustre Enterprise, which is axed after four seasons. There’s a sense here that when the prevailing culture becomes anxious or cynical, the show’s utopian tone can feel naïve and irrelevant. The exception is '90s spin-off Deep Space Nine, the one show willing to test Star Trek’s ideals rather than just celebrate them. With later seasons set during a time of war, Captain Benjamin Sisko is seen questioning the extent to which the Federation ought to sacrifice its principles to survive. View Green Video on the source website There’s real moral ambiguity here, but with DS9 airing alongside the Next Generation and later Voyager, the optimistic core of Star Trek was being protected elsewhere. DS9 could push boundaries because it wasn’t the shop window. Today, there’s no such protective glass. All of which brings us to 2026 and Donald Trump’s more aggressive posture on the world stage. With opinion polarised and faith in governments waning, Starfleet’s assumptions – cooperation, decency, consensus – feel increasingly distant from political reality. It may sound churlish to point this out in the year when Star Trek is marking its 60th anniversary, but none of the recent series (Discovery, Picard, Strange New Worlds, Starfleet Academy) have left a deep cultural footprint. Might this be because the Federation looks suspiciously like a benevolent superpower extending its reach across the galaxy – liberal internationalism with warp drive? At a time when US influence is contested, that metaphor leaves us with a prickle of unease. There’s a paradox at the heart of this. Yes, Star Trek can feel like an imperialist project, but it’s also aspirational. It shows what humanity might become. But optimism works best when it feels attainable. In moments where we feel jaded and sceptical, a perfect future can feel less like hope and more like denial. And so, just as the original Enterprise crew realised it was time to hand over the future in the Undiscovered Country, Star Trek perhaps ought to come to the realisation that it needs a pause. The franchise has survived dormant periods before and then returned when the public was ready to believe in its values once more. Perhaps the most Trek thing the brand could do right now is wait patiently for the future to catch up with it again. Star Trek is available to watch on Paramount+. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/offers/?benefitId=paramountplusgb&ref_=DVM_PDS_CHN_UK_mi_C_mkw_sNynrT7ZC-dc_pcrid_637893181401&mrntrk=slid__pgrid_143491579803_pgeo_9045946_x__adext__ptid_kwd-1210995054370&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAs5i8BhDmARIsAGE4xHwTfGgy5aYKkYxNQV68UYUZhVWUr2bVS4o-EfnvpowOvplyXMbKqXAaArmvEALw_wcB&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2191954" target="_blank" rel="noopener sponsored">Sign up to your seven-day Paramount+ free trial. Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on tonight. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Star Trek showrunner offers exciting update on potential new spin-off set to revisit iconic era
There are more stories to be told on board the USS Enterprise.
While the future of Star Trek looks a little uncertain at the moment, one of the franchise's showrunners has revealed he's not exactly short of ideas for where it could go. Henry Alonso Myers, who is the co-showrunner of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds alongside Akiva Goldsman, has confirmed that the two of them have pitched their new idea, which they're calling Star Trek: Year One, to Paramount+ and it's now "in their hands". Year One would act as a sequel to Strange New Worlds, following Paul Wesley's James T Kirk on board the USS Enterprise. “Yeah, we we’ve brought them a lot," Myers recently told TrekMovie. "We’ve done a lot to give to them. It’s in their hands right now. They’re taking a look at it, trying to decide it. I mean, there’s a lot of love for our show over there, and obviously a lot of love for Star Trek.” He added: "We think it would be a great [show], it’s the next thing for Star Trek, we think, in the story that we’ve been telling. But it’s out of our hands." Goldsman has previously said that the final episode of Strange New Worlds (which will end with its fifth season) will show Kirk’s first day of command. Year One would then fill in the gaps in his story, before we see him in The Original Series episode Where No Man Has Gone Before. View Green Video on the source website It's thought that other cast members, including Ethan Peck (Spock), Jess Bush (Christine Chapel), Martin Quinn (Scotty), and Celia Rose Gooding (Uhura) could also join the show. Strange New Worlds wrapped on its fifth and final season late last year - although it still has two seasons left to air. Season 4 is expected to air sometime this year. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is available to stream on Paramount+. Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The end of the shared TV experience? Why streaming's power grab should worry viewers
The fight for Warner Bros Discovery risks television becoming a gated empire of elites.
The Warner Bros Discovery takeover has been presented to us all as a numbers game, the ever-climbing bids like a Jenga tower made of gold bullion. For those keeping score, it appears as though Paramount has reached the battlements of that tower ahead of rivals Netflix, its triumph having made for a blockbuster business epic with a budget in the billions – $111 billion, to be precise. But this is far from a mere financial story, for the prize pot for the victors is the back catalogue of such touchstones as the sitcom Friends and the Game of Thrones franchise. And the day now appears to be fast approaching when Paramount (already the rights owners of Yellowstone and Star Trek) also gets its clutches on the likes of Joey Tribbiani and Jaime Lannister. Should the regulators give their approval, this is likely to be a major turning point in the landscape of TV, with the potentially winning bid making Paramount one of the most exclusive gated media communities on the planet. TV shows once available to everybody are already now siloed away on streaming services, but this deal will give Paramount control over two substantial players: Paramount+ and HBO Max. In the US, plans are already afoot to combine them into one platform, though HBO Max is set to be rolled out here in the UK as a separate entity. Yes, that’s right, it’s yet another members-only platform for which punters must shell out. There really ought to be a term for this. Subscription creep? Streaming fatigue? On-demand overload? But how did we reach this point where television – once the great democratising force of the 20th century – became such a walled-off domain in the 21st? Those who came of age in the terrestrial-only era can recall a time when TV in Britain at least had a truly cohesive quality. Unlike newspapers (which divided their readers along political lines) or cinema and theatre (where admission was gained only with a ticket), television belonged to everyone. It was common cultural ground – a landscape where ITV could air both Bullseye and The South Bank Show, while the BBC showed ‘Allo ‘Allo! and Arena. For evidence of a social leveller, look to those TV schedules. Channels may have been few, but their reach was nationwide. But the era of entry without exclusion was not to last. An early sign of a rope barrier being put in place came with the launch in 1989 of satellite broadcaster Sky. For the first time, viewers discovered a new concept: the paywall. And neighbourhoods were suddenly split between those who had access to The Simpsons and live Premiership football and those who went without. It was sold to us as greater choice, but what Sky really represented was the start of television being a paid-for commodity. Circle back to Friends and you can see that tiering of TV in action. The US sitcom debuted in the UK on the free-to-air Channel 4 in 1994. Sky, recognising its popularity, then poached it and acquired first-run episodes in 1996, in much the same way as it later did with such established terrestrial hits as ER, Lost and 24. Spool forward to 2026 and Friends is again being used as an enticement to subscribe. After being removed from Netflix in the UK in December 2025, it’s now getting promoted as a key part of HBO Max’s line-up. So, a series that was once a fixture in TV’s public square is now being fought over in the equivalent of private members’ lounges. Looking at the fate of Friends, it’s difficult not to conclude that television hasn’t so much evolved as been fenced off. But it’s something we tend not to notice because there’s now so darn much of it. The paid-for model introduced by Sky in the late 1980s is now the norm for services provided not via satellites but through wi-fi. At times, it can feel as though there are more platforms than there are eyeballs to watch them. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Disney+ – as the options increase, our bank balances deplete, as the medium that once needed little more than a licence and an aerial now requires multiple monthly direct debits. But this is a mirage of plenty. In truth, few can afford everything that’s on the market, so we end up picking a selection that suits our budget. Watching TV has become an exercise in choosing a side, stumping up for the fee, and missing out on the rest. Yet there’s a paradox at the heart of this age of apparent proliferation. For while we have more platforms to choose from than ever, there are now fewer people in charge. The audience may be fragmenting, but ownership is clustering. And if we can’t afford to watch everything, it’s worth querying who’s in control of what’s on offer. The situation with Warner Bros Discovery is a reminder that power is in danger of being hoarded. And the suspicion is that when media ownership consolidates, risk-taking goes out the window, especially in the US where companies are loathe to take on a president easily bruised by criticism. Eyebrows have already been raised at the friendly relationship between Paramount boss David Ellison and the White House. Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, donated $1m to the president’s inauguration fund in 2025, with Prime Video releasing a documentary the following year focused on the first lady. The irony for UK viewers is that, as we pay more for these American-owned platforms, the programmes we’re watching are being made with an eye not on Ofcom but the man in the Oval Office. Television, an art form that once reflected our broad social palette, now finds its boardrooms preoccupied with US politics. And the danger is that with a narrower appetite for risk, viewers will be exposed to a shrinking range of viewpoints. Might we end up paying a premium price for streaming services afraid to offend? There have, admittedly, been recent occasions when dramas made for streaming platforms have bitten at our social conscience. Think of the piercing anguish of Adolescence (Netflix) or the polemical streak in Suspect: the Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes (Disney+). But when political leaders go on the attack or frame creatives as ideological enemies, global brands begin to fret about share price. In the broadcast era of old, networks could be brave and contain any loss – now, controversies have the potential to reverberate across the markets. In hindsight, the launch of Sky in 1989 feels like the thin end of a wedge whose thick end includes the abundance of streaming and the gradual dissolving of television as a shared experience. Watercooler moments are slowing to a trickle and national viewing events have become fewer in number. Programmes that once worked on us as a collective have now become niche. TV has gone from the living room to the laptop, while the licence fee now exists alongside the payment plan. But perhaps the biggest cost of all this will not appear on bank statements but in the loss of communal memory. The Line of Duty episode we all debated. The Ross and Rachel kiss in Friends that drew a collective gasp of breath. As ownership contracts, caution increases and prices rise, what was once a national conversation becomes monetised and hyper-targeted. A culture that was once bound together is now being packaged up and sold back to us in pieces.
The Warner Bros Discovery takeover has been presented to us all as a numbers game, the ever-climbing bids like a Jenga tower made of gold bullion. For those keeping score, it appears as though Paramount has reached the battlements of that tower ahead of rivals Netflix, its triumph having made for a blockbuster business epic with a budget in the billions – $111 billion, to be precise. But this is far from a mere financial story, for the prize pot for the victors is the back catalogue of such touchstones as the sitcom Friends and the Game of Thrones franchise. And the day now appears to be fast approaching when Paramount (already the rights owners of Yellowstone and Star Trek) also gets its clutches on the likes of Joey Tribbiani and Jaime Lannister. Should the regulators give their approval, this is likely to be a major turning point in the landscape of TV, with the potentially winning bid making Paramount one of the most exclusive gated media communities on the planet. TV shows once available to everybody are already now siloed away on streaming services, but this deal will give Paramount control over two substantial players: Paramount+ and HBO Max. In the US, plans are already afoot to combine them into one platform, though HBO Max is set to be rolled out here in the UK as a separate entity. Yes, that’s right, it’s yet another members-only platform for which punters must shell out. There really ought to be a term for this. Subscription creep? Streaming fatigue? On-demand overload? But how did we reach this point where television – once the great democratising force of the 20th century – became such a walled-off domain in the 21st? Those who came of age in the terrestrial-only era can recall a time when TV in Britain at least had a truly cohesive quality. Unlike newspapers (which divided their readers along political lines) or cinema and theatre (where admission was gained only with a ticket), television belonged to everyone. It was common cultural ground – a landscape where ITV could air both Bullseye and The South Bank Show, while the BBC showed ‘Allo ‘Allo! and Arena. For evidence of a social leveller, look to those TV schedules. Channels may have been few, but their reach was nationwide. But the era of entry without exclusion was not to last. An early sign of a rope barrier being put in place came with the launch in 1989 of satellite broadcaster Sky. For the first time, viewers discovered a new concept: the paywall. And neighbourhoods were suddenly split between those who had access to The Simpsons and live Premiership football and those who went without. It was sold to us as greater choice, but what Sky really represented was the start of television being a paid-for commodity. Circle back to Friends and you can see that tiering of TV in action. The US sitcom debuted in the UK on the free-to-air Channel 4 in 1994. Sky, recognising its popularity, then poached it and acquired first-run episodes in 1996, in much the same way as it later did with such established terrestrial hits as ER, Lost and 24. Spool forward to 2026 and Friends is again being used as an enticement to subscribe. After being removed from Netflix in the UK in December 2025, it’s now getting promoted as a key part of HBO Max’s line-up. So, a series that was once a fixture in TV’s public square is now being fought over in the equivalent of private members’ lounges. Looking at the fate of Friends, it’s difficult not to conclude that television hasn’t so much evolved as been fenced off. But it’s something we tend not to notice because there’s now so darn much of it. The paid-for model introduced by Sky in the late 1980s is now the norm for services provided not via satellites but through wi-fi. At times, it can feel as though there are more platforms than there are eyeballs to watch them. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Disney+ – as the options increase, our bank balances deplete, as the medium that once needed little more than a licence and an aerial now requires multiple monthly direct debits. But this is a mirage of plenty. In truth, few can afford everything that’s on the market, so we end up picking a selection that suits our budget. Watching TV has become an exercise in choosing a side, stumping up for the fee, and missing out on the rest. Yet there’s a paradox at the heart of this age of apparent proliferation. For while we have more platforms to choose from than ever, there are now fewer people in charge. The audience may be fragmenting, but ownership is clustering. And if we can’t afford to watch everything, it’s worth querying who’s in control of what’s on offer. The situation with Warner Bros Discovery is a reminder that power is in danger of being hoarded. And the suspicion is that when media ownership consolidates, risk-taking goes out the window, especially in the US where companies are loathe to take on a president easily bruised by criticism. Eyebrows have already been raised at the friendly relationship between Paramount boss David Ellison and the White House. Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, donated $1m to the president’s inauguration fund in 2025, with Prime Video releasing a documentary the following year focused on the first lady. The irony for UK viewers is that, as we pay more for these American-owned platforms, the programmes we’re watching are being made with an eye not on Ofcom but the man in the Oval Office. Television, an art form that once reflected our broad social palette, now finds its boardrooms preoccupied with US politics. And the danger is that with a narrower appetite for risk, viewers will be exposed to a shrinking range of viewpoints. Might we end up paying a premium price for streaming services afraid to offend? There have, admittedly, been recent occasions when dramas made for streaming platforms have bitten at our social conscience. Think of the piercing anguish of Adolescence (Netflix) or the polemical streak in Suspect: the Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes (Disney+). But when political leaders go on the attack or frame creatives as ideological enemies, global brands begin to fret about share price. In the broadcast era of old, networks could be brave and contain any loss – now, controversies have the potential to reverberate across the markets. In hindsight, the launch of Sky in 1989 feels like the thin end of a wedge whose thick end includes the abundance of streaming and the gradual dissolving of television as a shared experience. Watercooler moments are slowing to a trickle and national viewing events have become fewer in number. Programmes that once worked on us as a collective have now become niche. TV has gone from the living room to the laptop, while the licence fee now exists alongside the payment plan. But perhaps the biggest cost of all this will not appear on bank statements but in the loss of communal memory. The Line of Duty episode we all debated. The Ross and Rachel kiss in Friends that drew a collective gasp of breath. As ownership contracts, caution increases and prices rise, what was once a national conversation becomes monetised and hyper-targeted. A culture that was once bound together is now being packaged up and sold back to us in pieces. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The X Factor and Coronation Street legends confirmed for Celebrity Ex on the Beach as return date confirmed with "most explosive season yet"
Celebrity Ex on the Beach is returning for a fourth season on Paramount+ later this month, featuring an all-star cast that plenty will recognise. The launch episode will be released on the streamer on Tuesday 31 March, with new episodes released weekly, in which Paramount+ has teased will be the "most explosive season yet". This season, eight single celebrities touch down in the stunning shores of Tenerife in the search of love but, as ever, their exes are waiting to crash the party. Helen Flanagan (Coronation Street), Dani Imbert (The Only Way Is Essex), Toby Aromolaran (Love Island) and Jedward's John Grimes (The X Factor) are among the famous faces diving first into the drama, with exes Curtis Pritchard, Ronnie Vint and Rogan O'Connor ready to make their dramatic entrance into the villa. But how will the singles cope when faced with their former flames seeking closure, truth or even worse, revenge? Elsewhere, Married at First Sight's Amy Kenyon, Too Hot to Handle's Chase DeMoor and Izzy Fairthorne and Love Is Blind's Freddie Powell will all feature in the series. Along with an all new cast, Daisy May Cooper will be stepping into the narrator's booth. Cooper is best known for co-writing and starring in the BBC sitcom This Country and the critically acclaimed Am I Being Unreasonable? She has also appeared in the likes of Never Mind The Buzzcocks, The Masked Singer and Last One Laughing UK on Prime Video. More recently, she and her brother Charlie have been travelling the country looking for the UK's most haunted locations in the BBC's Nightwatch. Celebrity Ex on the Beach returns on Tuesday 31 March on Paramount+. Add Celebrity Ex on the Beach to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Spooks and Marvel legends confirmed for all-new adaptation of beloved classic with "striking contemporary edge"
The "bold and atmospheric reimagining" is currently in the works for Paramount+ UK.
Classic adventure story Treasure Island will be reimagined as a "high-stakes coming-of-age" series for a "new generation", with David Oyelowo (Spooks) and Hayley Atwell (Marvel's Agent Carter) set to star. Inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson's legendary novel, the upcoming adaptation will chart "the transformation of teenager Jim Hawkins from sheltered boy to emboldened young pirate". Jim will be played by rising star Tom Sweet, who you may have spotted as a young Pip in Steven Knight's Great Expectations, with Oyelowo taking on the role of the "charming [yet] terrifying" veteran pirate Long John Silver. Mission: Impossible and rumoured Avengers: Doomsday cast member Atwell co-stars as Jim's mother, Bess, whose "clever and decisive actions leave him holding valuable knowledge that puts both of their lives in danger". Rounding out the Treasure Island cast is Jack Huston (Boardwalk Empire) as duplicitous British agent Aaron Graham and Tomer Capone (The Boys) as jaded seaman Billy Bones. The synopsis teases: "Jim has to grow up fast as he and his mother fight for survival on a voyage where alliances shift, secrets multiply and peril closes in from all sides. "Set across the Atlantic, in a Caribbean on the brink of revolution and on the terrifying Skeleton Island, the series tracks Jim as he confronts a world far more complex and dangerous than he ever imagined, where resilience, loyalty and identity are tested – and fortune is the prize." Treasure Island is a co-production between streaming platforms Paramount+, where it will stream in the UK, and the Amazon-owned MGM+, which will take the US rights. Paramount UK's deputy chief content officer Sebastian Cardwell commented: "Treasure Island is a bold and atmospheric reimagining of a story that has captivated audiences for generations. "This adaptation brings fresh emotional depth and a striking contemporary edge to Stevenson's classic." The series is created by McDonald & Dodds scribe Robert Murphy, with directors Jeremy Lovering (Slow Horses), William McGregor (His Dark Materials) and Paul Walker (Riviera) to put in shifts across the six-part run. Treasure Island is currently filming in Spain. Treasure Island is coming soon to Paramount+ in the UK. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/offers/?benefitId=paramountplusgb&ref_=DVM_PDS_CHN_UK_mi_C_mkw_sNynrT7ZC-dc_pcrid_637893181401&mrntrk=slid__pgrid_143491579803_pgeo_9045946_x__adext__ptid_kwd-1210995054370&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAs5i8BhDmARIsAGE4xHwTfGgy5aYKkYxNQV68UYUZhVWUr2bVS4o-EfnvpowOvplyXMbKqXAaArmvEALw_wcB&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2191954" target="_blank" rel="noopener sponsored">Sign up to your seven-day Paramount+ free trial. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add Treasure Island to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Paramount+ and HBO Max set to merge – but HBO tipped to operate with "independence"
Paramount CEO David Ellison has said that "HBO should stay HBO".
Following the news that Paramount Skydance had won out in its battle to acquire Warner Bros Discovery, beating out Netflix's offer with a bid that was deemed "superior", the company has reaffirmed its plan to combine Paramount+ and HBO Max. Paramount CEO David Ellison spoke about this plans during an investor call, as reported by Variety, now that the wheels are in motion for the deal to go ahead. He said: "As we said, we do plan to put the two services together, which today gives us a little over 200 million direct to consumer subscribers. We think that really positions us to compete with the leaders in the space. "At Paramount, by the middle of this year, we’ll have completed the consolidation of our three services under one unified stack, and you can see us taking a similar approach to this platform going forward. "And we think the combined offering, and given the amount of content and what we can do from the tech side, really will put us in a position to be able to compete with the most scaled players in DTC [direct to consumer]." While it has not yet been confirmed exactly how this will work in practice and whether the new streamer will be retaining one title or another, Ellison did say that "HBO should stay HBO", suggesting a special place would be marked out for the brand, which has for many years been synonymous with premium, critically lauded content. Ellison said on the call: "Casey [Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO and HBO Max Content] and his team do absolutely a remarkable job at HBO. And as we said, we do plan for that to be able to operate with independence, so that HBO can, candidly, do what it does incredibly well. "Our viewpoint is HBO should stay HBO. They built a phenomenal brand. They are a leader in the space, and we just want them to continue doing more of it. But by bringing the platforms together, all of our content will be able to reach even a broader audience than we can do standalone." HBO's current, ongoing dramas include A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and House of the Dragon, Euphoria, The White Lotus and The Last of Us, amongst many others. Meanwhile, upcoming additions include DC's Lanterns and the new Harry Potter series. HBO Max has yet to launch in the UK, and will actually be arriving later this month. Based on the prospective deal, it seems it may only be doing so, at least in its current form, in the short-term. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Yellowstone spin-off Marshals reveals shocking fate for Dutton family member in premiere
Luke Grimes is back as Kayce Dutton - but another key character is no longer with us.
*Warning - contains spoilers for Marshals episode 1.* The original Yellowstone series may have come to an end in 2024, but the franchise continues on apace, with new spin-off and sequel series Marshals having now debuted on Paramount+. The new series sees Luke Grimes return as his character Kayce Dutton, who has left the Yellowstone Ranch behind him and has joined an elite unit of US Marshals, combining his skills as a cowboy and Navy SEAL. The synopsis for the series teases that Kayce and his teammates must balance "family, duty and the high psychological cost that comes with serving as the last line of defence in the region’s war on violence". That family element was out in full force in the premiere episode, which has now been released, as it was revealed that Kayce is now raising his son Tate, played by Brecken Merrill, as a single father. That's right, as many fans had predicted based on the show's trailer, Kayce's wife Monica, who was played by Kelsey Asbille in all five seasons of Yellowstone, has died. The character suffered a traumatic brain injury in the very first season of Yellowstone, but in Marshals she was revealed to have died as a result of cancer due to the toxicity on the reservation. Throughout the episode, Kayce grappled with the fact that Monica was "better at all this" when it came to raising their son, adding that "the only thing more cruel than losing a parent, is losing the wrong one". While a couple of other returning stars join Grimes and Merrill in the spin-off, in the form of Mo Brings Plenty and Gil Birmingham, the cast is mostly made up of newcomers including Logan Marshall-Green, Arielle Kebbel, Ash Santos and Tatanka Means. This isn't the first time the Yellowstone franchise has killed off a key player off-screen - the same happened to Kevin Costner's John Dutton at the start of the final batch of episodes of the main show. While other series are in development, there is currently only one other Yellowstone spin-off officially on the way, in the form of The Dutton Ranch, starring Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser. The Madison, starring Michelle Pfeiffer, was originally reported to be set in the Yellowstone universe, but it now turns out that is not the case. Marshals airs new episodes weekly on Mondays on Paramount+. Add Marshals to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Tulsa King spin-off with Samuel L Jackson gets new title and major creative update
The spin-off won't be taking place in New Orleans anymore...
Paramount+’s upcoming Tulsa King spin-off has undergone a major creative overhaul, including a title change. The Samuel L Jackson-starring series, previously announced as NOLA King, has been officially renamed to Frisco King, with the title change reflecting a shift in the show’s setting – as it's moved from New Orleans to Frisco, Texas. Meanwhile, Tulsa King creator Taylor Sheridan will now write all eight episodes of the series. This news comes after Dave Erickson, who wrote the pilot script and had been due to serve as showrunner on the series, departed in July. No new showrunner has been announced, and it remains unclear whether one will be – not all Sheridan series appoint one. “We are honoured to have Taylor Sheridan write the first season of Frisco King and bring to life Samuel L Jackson’s iconic character,” said Paramount Studios president, Matt Thunell. “Having him pen all episodes of the season with his singular voice will be a treat for fans of Tulsa King and audiences around the world.” The plan for the original series followed Russell Lee Washington Jr (Jackson), who, "after befriending Dwight Manfredi (Sylvester Stallone) during a 10-year stint in federal prison, is sent to Tulsa by New York’s Renzetti crime family to take Dwight out once and for all". The synopsis continued: "Inspired by what Dwight created in Tulsa and impressed with the possibilities of second chances, Washington returns to New Orleans, the home he abandoned 40 years ago, to rekindle his relationship with his family, friends, and to take control of the city he left behind. "In so doing, he incurs the wrath of his former employers in New York, and makes himself vulnerable to old NOLA foes, both criminal and cop." It's not yet clear how much of the original plan has changed along with the new setting. Casting is under way, with filming scheduled to begin next month in Fort Worth, Texas. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Star Trek legend returns after 27 years with cameo from retired star – series boss explains how they it made happen
The latest episode of Starfleet Academy packed an emotional punch.
After 27 years, Star Trek legend Avery Brooks made a return to the franchise this week, with an incredible voice cameo in the latest episode of Starfleet Academy. Episode 5 of the new spin-off sees cadet Sam (Kerrice Brooks) set out to discover what happened to Benjamin Sisko (Brooks), the Captain of Deep Space Nine. With an appearance from Cirroc Lofton, who plays Brooks's on-screen son, Jake Sisko, the entire episode is a love letter to the '90s series – but a few moments at the end really pack an emotional punch, with the Deep Space Nine theme playing and a thank you message to Brooks. Incredibly, Brooks, who has retired from acting, also makes a voice cameo, as we hear him say: "Divine laws are simpler than human ones, which is why it takes a lifetime to be able to understand them. Only love can understand them. Only love can interpret these words as they were meant to be interpreted." Revealing how exactly that happened, showrunner Noga Laundau said: "Along the journey of the episode, we realized that Avery had these beautiful spoken word pieces that he had recorded, and we thought, 'Wouldn't it be amazing if we could put one in the episode?' Because the one that's in the episode in a really serendipitous way is exactly the message of the episode. And he was very, very generous, and he said yes." EP Alex Kurtzman added to TV Line that Brooks is "an incredible jazz musician," and went on to say: "He had done these recordings, and he let us use it." Recently speaking to RadioTimes.com about the widely loved episode, Kurtzman explained: "Tawny felt very strongly that she wanted to do, not just a love letter to Deep Space Nine, but also to Avery and really give him his due. "It took a while to craft the shape of that particular episode, but I guess I could say that about all of the episodes and it ended up being just an absolutely beautiful testament to what great writers they are, and how much they love Deep Space Nine. View Green Video on the source website "It brings an awareness of what Deep Space Nine represented to the fandom in such a deep way to the foreground for a generation that maybe hasn't experienced Deep Space Nine. "We're just really proud of it, and the fact that it's so funny and then gets so emotional by the end, I think, is kind of the magic special sauce of that particular episode." He added: "It was a very hard story to break and then like we went through many, many outlines and the minute Noga [Landau, showrunner] and I got the script, we called each other and we were like, 'This is one of the best first drafts we've ever read.' Star Trek: Starfleet Academy airs weekly on Paramount+. Add Starfleet Academy to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The biggest night in music has wrapped, but how can you watch it?
After walking away with five gongs 12 months ago, rapper Kendrick Lamar was the big winner at the Grammy Awards again this year. The rapper received his second consecutive record of the year trophy for Luther, a collaboration with SZA, as well as best rap album and best rap song. Lamar has now won 27 Grammys, making him the most-award rapper in Grammys history. Other major Grammys at the 68th annual edition of the awards went to Olivia Dean for new artist, Lady Gaga for best pop vocal album and Billie Eilish and Finneas for song of the year. Comedian Trevor Noah hosted the awards for the sixth time running, while there were also live performances from the likes of Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars & Rosé and Sabrina Carpenter. Wondering where you can catch up on the ceremony? Read on for everything you need to know about how to watch the Grammys 2026 in the UK. How to watch the Grammys 2026 in the UK In the US, the ceremony was broadcast on network television on CBS at 8pm PT/ 5pm ET on Sunday 1st February, and was also available to stream live on Paramount+ for those with a premium subscription including Showtime. In the UK, only Paramount subscribers who pay for the Showtime add-on were also able to access the livestream. However, fans can watch the ceremony on demand from Monday (2nd February) with just a Paramount+ subscription. UK fans can also watch clips from the ceremony on the Grammy’s official website and social media pages. Check out more of our Audio coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
School Spirits stars reveal how they've influenced Maddie and Wally's fate in season 3
School is officially back in session in School Spirits season 3 - and, by this point, stars Peyton List and Milo Manheim know exactly where they want their characters to go. The supernatural drama is set to pick up after the massive cliffhanger that saw Maddie (List) return to her body, while Simon (Kristian Flores) is now the one trapped in the afterlife. Meanwhile, Wally's (Manheim) fate was left up the air. Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com about what's to come in season 3, List and Manheim revealed their requests and questions for the show's creative team. Manheim told us: "They want to hear about what we think makes sense for our characters. "I feel like Wally, in the past, has always been such a team player and down for anything, but I told them he's always sort of a step behind figuring things out, and this season, I'd love for him to be a step ahead. I'd love for him not only to go along with a plan, but maybe come up with a plan. "I think that they really took that note well, and I think we see that happen this season. It's a very adventurous season for Wally." Asked whether Maddie will be helping Simon this season like he helped her, List explained: "That was my first question for the creators and the directors as well! I just wanted to make sure that Maddie is fighting for Simon as hard as he fought for her. "But she has so many other concerns and worries with this new superintendent at the school and with her relationship with her mother... "[She has] so many things that Simon kind of ends up...she's so worried about him, but there's so many other things happening." As for what this all means for Maddie and Wally's relationship? "Wally's really going on his own individual journey this season," Manheim says. "He's done a lot of helping out for others, and I think it's time he starts thinking about himself and putting his needs first. We're definitely a new side of Wally this season." As List points out, Maddie has more than ever to deal with this season as she navigates darker mysteries, while the veil between the two realms grows even more thin, and more terrifying secrets begin to surface. School Spirits season 3 begins on Paramount Plus on 28th January – you can sign up for Paramount Plus now. Add School Spirits to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
School Spirits season 3 release schedule: When is episode 4 on Paramount+?
Maddie and her friends are investigating an even deeper, darker mystery this time around.
Hit Paramount+ fantasy teen drama, School Spirits, is back for its third season, which sees Peyton List's Maddie and her friends being plunged into a deeper, darker mystery as the veil between worlds grows dangerously thin. The synopsis for season 3 says: "After clawing her way back to life, Maddie struggles with terrifying visions and the weight of protecting both the living and the dead while Simon – trapped in the afterlife – becomes obsessed with the secrets buried in Split River High’s scars. "Why have so many people died at Split River High? What was Mr Martin warning them about? As they search for answers, new dangers and dark secrets begin to surface." The first three episodes are available to watch now, but when will the rest of the instalments become available, and what is the full release schedule for season 3? Read on for everything you need to know about the release schedule for School Spirits season 3. When will School Spirits season 3 episode 4 be released? School Spirits season 3 began with three episode being released at once on Wednesday 28th January. Since then, it has switched to a weekly release schedule. This means episode 4, titled The Bereftest Club, will be released on Wednesday 4th February on Paramount+. How many episodes will there be in School Spirits season 3? There will be a total of eight episodes in School Spirits season 3. This is also the same number of episodes that were featured in the first and second seasons of the show, which were released in 2023 and 2025 respectively. School Spirits season 3 release schedule The first three episodes of School Spirits season 3 were released on Wednesday 28th January, following which the show has switched to a weekly release schedule on Wednesdays. This means the season will run through until Wednesday 4th March, when the finale will become available on Paramount+. You can find the full release schedule for School Spirits season 3 right here: School Spirits season 3 episode 1 - It's a Wonderful Afterlife - Wednesday 28th January 2025 (out now) School Spirits season 3 episode 2 - Mean Ghouls - Wednesday 28th January 2025 (out now) School Spirits season 3 episode 3 - The Halls Have Eyes - Wednesday 28th January 2025 (out now) School Spirits season 3 episode 4 - The Bereftest Club - Wednesday 4th February 2025 School Spirits season 3 episode 5 - Raiders of the Lost Scar - Wednesday 11th February 2025 School Spirits season 3 episode 6 - Children of the Scorned - Wednesday 18th February 2025 School Spirits season 3 episode 7 - Midsomester - Wednesday 25th February 2025 School Spirits season 3 episode 8 - Dawn of the Deb - Wednesday 4th March 2025 School Spirits is available to stream on Paramount Plus in the UK – you can sign up for Paramount Plus now. Add School Spirits to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy release schedule – when is the next episode out?
Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti star in the latest frontier for the long-running franchise.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is facing some major turbulence in its early weeks on Paramount Plus, as the sci-fi drama becomes the latest target of review-bombing (echoing the reception of The Acolyte and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law). Despite reasonable reviews from critics (including our own three-star verdict), Starfleet Academy's user scores are tanking on sites such as Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb and Metacritic as it becomes a flashpoint in culture war debates. Although its format was bound to divide longtime fans – sharing more in common with a high school teen drama than a typical Star Trek show – many of the most vocal critics appear to be targeting the show's perceived politics. Polygon notes that Star Trek has always been a progressive franchise, dating back to The Original Series of the 1960s and its commentary against racial discrimination. Therefore, efforts to paint Starfleet Academy's representation as a radical politically-motivated departure suggest a lack of knowledge on what came before, but there are certainly other valid criticisms to be levelled at the spin-off. RadioTimes.com's Sci-Fi and Fantasy Editor Louise Griffin praised the performances of lead actors Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti, but criticised the bloated size of the supporting cast and a tone that is "too sickly sweet" for some palates. If you're sticking with the show and want to know when class is next in session, read on for your full guide to the Star Trek: Starfleet Academy release schedule on Paramount Plus. When is the next episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy out? Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is following a weekly release schedule on Paramount Plus, meaning that new episodes of the sci-fi drama will be released on Thursdays. The show premiered on Thursday 15th January 2026 with a double-bill launch, introducing USS Athena captain Nahla Ake (played by Holly Hunter) and her team of fresh-faced cadets. Expect episodes to keep dropping until the finale in mid-March. How many episodes are in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy? View Green Video on the source website Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 1 will consist of 10 episodes in total. If that leaves you wanting more, rest assured that a second season of the spin-off is already in production. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy release schedule Here's an overview of the Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 1 release schedule, so you can mark your calendars for when each episode drops. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 1 – Thursday 15th January (out now) Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 2 – Thursday 15th January (out now) Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 3 – Thursday 22nd January (out now) Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 4 – Thursday 29th January Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 5 – Thursday 5th February Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 6 – Thursday 12th February Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 7 – Thursday 19th February Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 8 – Thursday 26th February Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 9 – Thursday 5th March Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 10 – Thursday 12th March Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is streaming on Paramount+. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/offers/?benefitId=paramountplusgb&ref_=DVM_PDS_CHN_UK_mi_C_mkw_sNynrT7ZC-dc_pcrid_637893181401&mrntrk=slid__pgrid_143491579803_pgeo_9045946_x__adext__ptid_kwd-1210995054370&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAs5i8BhDmARIsAGE4xHwTfGgy5aYKkYxNQV68UYUZhVWUr2bVS4o-EfnvpowOvplyXMbKqXAaArmvEALw_wcB&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2191954" target="_blank" rel="noopener sponsored">Sign up to your seven-day Paramount+ free trial. Add Star Trek: Starfleet Academy to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Landman season 3: Release date speculation and latest news
Will the Taylor Sheridan series return for more?
*Warning: This article contains spoilers for the Landman season 2 finale.* With Landman season 2 having now reached its dramatic end, fans will undoubtedly start looking ahead to the show's future. Another gem in Taylor Sheridan's TV crown, the Paramount Plus series has continued to go from strength to strength, amassing a loyal legion of fans who have followed this complex tale of oil rigs and geopolitics. But will the series be returning for more? Well thankfully, fans needn't have to wait to find out as Landman was actually renewed for season 3 in the middle of its season 2 release. It's no real surprise really as the series has the viewership figures to match, what with season 2's premiere episode smashing Paramount's record for biggest season premiere in its history. It amassed a staggering 9.2 million views worldwide within its first few days of release, tripling its previous year's debut. Co-creator and showrunner Christian Wallace seems none the wiser as to where Sheridan will take the series after Billy Bob Thornton's Tommy Norris struck out on his own with family-run oil company, CTT Oil Exploration. Wallace told The Hollywood Reporter of season 3 plans: "At the end of the day, it is Taylor’s plan and we’re all just waiting on what he decides to do. There’s a great level of trust there that whatever Taylor decides will be the right move. There are a lot of possibilities, but I’m not sure myself exactly how it’s going to play out. So, we’ll see." There's plenty more to dig into (quite literally) in season 3, as Thornton teased that it "may be a combo of seasons one and two". With that, read on for everything we know so far about Landman season 3. Landman season 3 release date speculation As of now, Paramount Plus has not confirmed when Landman season 3 will be released. View oEmbed on the source website However, we'd hazard a guess and predict that we could be seeing season 3 premiere somewhere in November 2026 if previous timelines are to be observed. Season 1 debuted in November 2024 and season 2 followed suit in November 2025 so should schedules permit, we'd assume later this year will see new episodes land on our screens. Who will return for Landman season 3? <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/01/LANDMAN207EM060301675RTf-0ce5ebd.jpg" width="3000" height="2000" alt="A group of adults sit around a dining table in a warmly lit interior, mid-meal. A woman in a fitted teal dress stands at the table, drawing the attention of the others as they look up at her. Plates of food, drinks, and serving dishes are spread across the table, suggesting a shared dinner. The room is richly decorated with patterned textiles and soft lighting, creating an intimate but slightly tense atmosphere." title="Forever is an Instant" /> Some fans initially thought that the direction of season 2 was pointing toward Billy Bob Thornton bowing out from the show, but the actor previously told USA Today that he will star on Landman "for as long as they'll have me." The actor signed a multi-year deal to helm the series as Tommy Norris, telling The Hollywood Reporter: "I think Landman, as an entity, will know when it’s over." Thornton dismissed the exit rumours as "AI-generated crap", telling USA Today: "There’s an AI report that Demi [Moore] and I are a couple now, and there’s one that I’m leaving the show. They have nothing to do with reality." As for whether we can expect to see Demi Moore's Cami in season 3, Thornton also revealed: "I think it would be a good idea to keep that character going. Once again, I don’t know. I have no clue. For all I know, an oil rig will fall on me and I’ll only be in the first half of the first episode. I have no idea. "But I like that dynamic [between Cami and Tommy] in the show very much. This is the wife of my best friend [played by Jon Hamm] who’s died. We’ve known each other for a long time. What’s interesting about that is to see how, when money or business come in, that can really throw a wrench into those kind of friendships." For that reason, the cast we'd expect to return for season 3 is as follows. Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris Demi Moore as Cami Miller Ali Larter as Angela Norris Michelle Randolph as Ainsley Norris Jacob Lofland as Cooper Norris Paulina Chávez as Ariana Medina Kayla Wallace as Rebecca Falcone Sam Elliott as TL Mark Collie as Sheriff Walt Joeberg James Jordan as Dale Bradley Andy Garcia as Gallino Guy Burnet as Charlie Newsom Miriam Silverman as Greta Stidham What will happen in Landman season 3? There's no confirmed synopsis for season 3 yet and by the sounds of things, it seems as though Sheridan is keeping that all a well-guarded secret for now. Series star Billy Bob Thornton told The Hollywood Reporter: "I think Taylor would probably rather the craft service people know than the actors. And that keeps you interested and on your toes, the way he does that. But I have a feeling — this is not even a rumor, it’s only in my head and just a guess — but that season three may be a combo of seasons one and two. Where maybe the danger will come back, but those relationships will still be at the forefront. And that’s just a guess." In terms of whether season 3 will pick up where season 2 leaves off, Thornton also said: "Honestly, I don’t know. If I did, I would tell you. I really don’t know what’s going to happen. I think maybe the actual physical danger might come back a little bit more. It feels right to me that it would. "But I can’t help but think that there’s going to be something that happens in the family that is maybe unsettling. I don’t know. These are all feelings I have because that’s all I have to go on." Whilst we may not know the exact ins and outs of the upcoming season, Wallace did describe season 3 as a "reset", telling The Hollywood Reporter: "We have these characters entering into different dynamics with one another, and now we have T.L., Tommy and Cooper all working at the same company, but not under the auspices of this larger corporation. "It’s now family-run, very small, starting from almost scratch. That’s a whole new dynamic for them. Along with these other characters from M-Tex who are taking a pretty big gamble." Previous seasons may have seen Tommy continue to navigate high stakes, oil rigs, roughnecks and billionaires all while balancing his own personal drama, but now heading up his own company will likely offer up its own challenges. Landman season 3 trailer As Landman season 3 hasn't yet entered into production, there's no trailer to see right now. You can revisit the trailer for season 2 below: View Green Video on the source website Landman seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream on Paramount+ now. Get a seven day free Paramount Plus trial at Amazon Prime Video. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.