5 new series to watch in December

The biopic of a Formula 1 champion by Netflix, a dive into the history of the early days of the Irish Republican Army, an offbeat and biting series that makes you want to strangle the protagonist played by Doria Tillier, a story of a robbery involving… maple syrup (!), produced by Jamie Lee Curtis, and the true story of the greatest British con artist of the 80s portrayed by Sophie Turner: what are the best series of December? Here's our short list.

For whom: Those who fell in love with Formula 1 after watching Netflix's Formula 1 - Drive to Survive.

The pitch: When you think Formula 1, you might imagine Michael Schumacher or Niki Lauda. But this time, we follow the Brazilian Ayrton Senna (played by Gabriel Leone, seen in Ferrari, Verdades Secretas), an absolute genius of car racing. Fascinated—even obsessed—with cars since his early childhood (at 6, he could already turn the key in his mom’s car ignition and rev the engine!), we witness his meteoric rise in the world of car racing, leading to three consecutive championship victories. Senna is the story of a driver who never gave up (even choosing divorce over abandoning his sport), starting with his first contract in England with a less-renowned team to his immense global success. But Formula 1 is a highly dangerous discipline: tragedy strikes during the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994.

Why we loved it: Senna is a series packed with adrenaline. You experience the car races up close—inside the cockpits or even through the drivers’ eyes—and hold your breath throughout! Warning: these ultra-fast sequences are so gripping you might find yourself clapping for Ayrton’s victories. What truly excites in this series (besides the actor’s gorgeous eyes...) is its faithfulness to Senna’s journey: most of the dialogues are in Portuguese, between the driver and his loved ones, especially his father (Nicolas Cruz) and a car enthusiast journalist who’s the first in the field to believe in him (Kaya Scodelario: Skins, The Maze Runner, The Gentleman). You get so attached to this handsome man that you’ll wish there were more than just 6 episodes to binge.

Senna, available on Netflix since November 29

For whom: Lovers of Guinness.

The pitch: In 1972, Jean McConville (Judy Roddith), a working-class mother of 10, disappears in Belfast, abducted by members of the Irish Republican Army. Amidst the violent conflict between Catholics and Protestants, Northern Ireland is engulfed in chaos. Dolours (Lola Petticrew) and Marian Price (Hazel Doupe), two Catholic sisters raised by a father deeply committed to the IRA, join the ranks of these groups fighting for the rights of Irish Catholic minorities. Dolours, in particular, stands out for her intelligence, quickly becoming the mastermind behind operations under the protective watch of Gerry Adams (Josh Finan), who would later rise as a prominent left-wing political figure, and Brendan Hughes (Anthony Boyle), a legendary leader of the IRA. From nun-disguised bank heists and breaking into an operating room to rescue a comrade under military surveillance, to daylight gunfire, the series plunges into the story of Ireland's struggle for unification amid religious divisions.

Why we loved it: This series is inspired by a book by Patrick Radden Keefe, an American author fascinated by the murder of Jean McConville, who conceived Say Nothing after reading Dolours Price’s obituary in 2013. Ne Dis Rien offers a gripping sneak peek into the history of Northern Ireland in the late 20th century. The IRA’s activities, often labeled as terrorism, are portrayed with a blend of humor and thrill, without diminishing the intensity of interrogation scenes, chases, or brutal beatdowns. Have you ever seen nuns robbing a bank or a femme fatale storming a hospital with a machine gun? The ultimate charm? Ne Dis Rien is set in the land of Cillian Murphy and Barry Keoghan, and the characters sport the delightful Northern Irish accent (we love it).

Ne Dis Rien, streaming from December 11 on Disney+.

For whom: The chatterboxes who can’t lie.

The pitch: Iris (Doria Tillier) is a schoolteacher who loves contradicting people—the unbearable embodiment of the “loveably annoying” archetype who says out loud what others think quietly (or don’t even think at all). From her unambitious pianist boyfriend (Maël Besnard) to her wine merchant who tries, with little success, to do his job by advising her, let’s be honest: Iris is a top-tier troublemaker. Her specialty? Pushing everyone to their limits by constantly questioning everything. It’s no surprise that even her friends don’t want to deal with her after a group dinner where Iris insists that the lasagna isn’t the best she’s ever had and that lying to flatter someone is pointless. Iris would love to meet someone who understands her. So far, the only person who has is a homeless man who gives her a corkscrew to cheer her up. Will Iris find friends and a partner who get her?

Why we loved it: Canal+ delivers with this ultra-quirky and genuinely hilarious new miniseries. If you’re a fan of love-to-hate characters like Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory or Ted Mosby from How I Met Your Mother, you’ll fall for Doria Tillier’s performance (Les Enfants sont Rois, La Flamme). At first, you’ll hate Iris, but soon, you’ll grow fond of her blunt honesty and bewilderment at the hypocrisy of some social interactions. Whether she’s ranting at her wine merchant, chatting loudly with her colleague (the excellent Pascale Arbillot) during a meeting, or whining about a stubborn cork, you’ll wonder how she’s still invited to dinners. Fingers crossed she finds someone who thinks like her. As Etienne Daho would say, “I was looking everywhere for someone who resembles me.”

Iris, streaming since November 25 on Canal+.

For whom: Fans of Céline Dion who drown their pancakes in maple syrup.

The pitch: Ruth Landry (Margo Martindale) is a bitter Quebecois woman managing her maple syrup farm and caring for her husband, who’s in a coma. When her farm is forcibly bought out due to non-compliance with provincial regulations, she decides to take revenge on the system that’s taking everything she loves. She teams up with Mike Byrne (Chris Diamantopoulos), a failed Boston criminal trying to maintain his gangster credibility, and Rémy Bouchard (Guillaume Cyr), a closeted gay man still living with his father and working as a security guard at the local maple syrup warehouse. Their mission: discreetly steal several million dollars' worth of maple syrup.

Why we loved it: This quirky heist story is based on a true event that shook Canada in 2012. Produced by none other than Jamie Lee Curtis (who also makes a small cameo) and directed by Brian Donovan (Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb), this series is bound to leave you stunned. Margo Martindale is phenomenal as a woman furious at the system but willing to do anything to protect what she loves (because, really, who doesn’t love maple syrup?). You’ll be torn between condemning the trio’s criminal acts and rooting for their underdog lives. And to top it off, the Quebecois accent adds an uncontrollable comedic charm.

The Sticky, streaming from December 6 on Prime Video.

For whom: Fans of masterminds like El Profesor from La Casa de Papel.

The pitch: In 1980s London, the beautiful and clever Joan (Sophie Turner, aka Sansa Stark from Game of Thrones) flees her abusive husband with her daughter. Forced to entrust her child to social services, she spends the following months trying to rebuild her life to get her back. While searching for a legitimate job, she partners with Boisie (played by Frank Dillane—young Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince), an antiques dealer whose business is far from lawful. From jewel thefts to international schemes, she quickly becomes England’s most charming and prolific thief. And the cherry on top? It’s based on a true story.

Why we loved it: We’ve seen Sophie Turner embody the stoic and resilient Sansa Stark, but here, we get to enjoy her as a fiery, passionate, and driven woman. Joan’s creativity knows no bounds: strapped for cash, she follows two wealthy clients into a high-end jewelry store, poses as a finicky rich woman, and quizzes the staff on every detail about the diamond she’s eyeing. Her goal? To gain expert knowledge so she can land a job in the jewelry world… and rob the safe. Absolute girlboss energy. Bonus points for the costume work: the ultra-chic 1980s power suits will make you want to overhaul your wardrobe.

Joan, streaming from December 12 on OCS.

Also, check out the must-see movies of December and the Beatles documentary produced by Scorsese!