September is typically the time when television gets serious again. The summer’s biggest TV shows have aired their finales, the fall schedule is kicking into high gear, and streamers are rolling out everything from high-concept sci-fi to prestige dramas. There’s plenty of familiar IP in the mix, but also some genuinely original shows worth putting on your “to watch” list.
While plenty of outlets will tell you what everyone is watching (see: Reacher), that’s not our goal. As always, the TV shows we’re watching this month reflect the kinds of stories WIRED covers every day—shows that explore technology, science, politics, culture, and the sometimes unsettling ways they intersect.
From returning favorites to ambitious new series—and at least one show that might rekindle your love of traditional anime—these are the TV shows we think you should make time to stream this month.
The Paper
What happens when a newspaper attempts to not just survive, but thrive, in a world where digital media has become the norm? The Paper, a spinoff of The Office from Greg Daniels and Michael Koman, follows the staff of a struggling Midwestern paper as they attempt to revive it.
Ultimately, its idealistic new editor-in-chief Ned Sampson (Star Wars and Harry Potter alum Domhnall Gleeson) and his hungry young reporter Mare Pritti (Chelsea Frei) end up grappling with what journalism looks like in the digital age. Season 2, which arrived on September 9, finds their Toledo Truth Teller newly revitalized and searching for its next big scoop, making the show a surprisingly sharp comedy about the future of journalism—and who gets to shape it.
Lego Star Wars: The Mandalorian
Though this summer’s The Mandalorian and Grogu (which is streaming on Disney+ now) seriously underperformed at the box office, Lucasfilm is partnering with Lego to take another stab at the fan-favorite Star Wars series—which might be exactly what the franchise needs right now. Lucasfilm and Lego are going back to the beginning, reimagining all three seasons of the Pedro Pascal-starring live-action series as a 49-minute animated comedy.