Ten New and Returning Shows to Watch on Netflix in December 2020

Not content to simply stock its shelves with another bumper crop of holiday viewing options this December, Netflix also has plenty of new and returning alternatives for those who are not in the mood for love stories with a Christmas backdrop or yuletide baking specials. December highlights include more awkward animated antics from the Big Mouth middle-schoolers, a new thriller set in the cutthroat world of ballet, Shondaland's long-awaited Netflix debut, and a farewell to everyone's favorite teenage witch.

Here are the new releases we're most looking forward to on Netflix this December:

Big Mouth, Season 4

Forget real life, in the world of Big Mouth the sun is shining and summer camp is on the calendar. Joining the Hormone Monsters and Shame Wizards this season is a new terrifying entity in the form of Tito the Anxiety Mosquito. Season 3 ended with breakups aplenty, including the end of Andrew (John Mulaney) and Nick's (Nick Kroll) friendship, which spills over into their vacation. Fresh off a deserved first Emmy win for the series — Maya Rudolph won Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance for her performance for her role as Connie the Hormone Monstress — there are some new big-name guest stars including Seth Rogen and John Oliver. This season also features Jenny Slate's last episodes as Missy. Ayo Edebiri takes over the at season's end.
Available December 4

Selena: The Series (NEW series)

Charting superstar Selena Quintanilla's rise from a young girl with a big voice to the most successful female Latin artist of all time, this scripted series starring Christian Serratos (The Walking Dead) in the titular role arrives with much anticipation. First-time showrunner Moisés Zamora worked with Selena's family on the series, which details the Qunitanillas' years of hard work on the road to stardom. Original music from the artist is featured (including previously unreleased material), making this is a must-watch for fans and newcomers alike..
Available December 4

The Surgeon's Cut (NEW series)

Netflix entered the medical docuseries world over the summer with an intense look at the staff of New York City's Lenox Hill Hospital — including two brain surgeons. The Surgeon's Cut takes the life-and-death reins as it profiles four expert surgeons from around the world. Viewers will get a peek behind the surgical curtain, watching ground-breaking procedures, and gaining insight into an ever-evolving field of medicine. Pioneers in their fields, the specialties featured are fetal medicine, transplant surgery, cardiology, and neurosurgery.
Available December 9

Alice in Borderland (NEW series)

Card game stakes have never been higher than in the Japanese thriller based on Haro Aso's original graphic novel Imawa no Kuni no Alice. When video-game-obsessed Arisu (Kento Yamazaki ) finds himself in a wasteland version of Tokyo, he must compete alongside his friends for survival. Along the way he encounters the solitary Usagi (Tao Tsuchiya), and the pair set out together to unravel the mystery behind their dangerous predicament.
Available December 10

The Mess You Leave Behind (El desorden que dejas) (NEW series)

If you thought the horny murder teens of Elite were nightmare students, this new Spanish thriller set in rural village Galicia gives them a run for their money. Also featuring dual timelines, two teachers are at the heart of the story; Viruca (Bárbara Lennie) who is embroiled in tragedy, and her replacement Raquel (Inma Cuesta). Moving to a new place is challenging, but the threats, lies, and central mystery have Raquel questioning this relocation. Lines from Sylvia Plath poems are spoken ominously, and eagle-eyed Elite fans will notice a familiar pupil among the troubled teens.
Available December 10

Tiny Pretty Things (NEW series)

Black Swan depicted the intensely competitive world of professional ballet, but even before the performers hit the big stage, it seems there's plenty of work (and sabotage) to be done. Based on Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton's book of the same name, Tiny Pretty Things portrays an elite ballet academy in Chicago that takes dancers from all backgrounds. But when someone takes matters into their own hands, emotions, rivalries, and rumors are just the tip of the iceberg. Exactly how far will an Archer School dancer go to succeed?
Available December 15

Song Exploder, Volume 2

REM, Hamilton, and Alicia Keys were on the Song Exploder Volume 1 tracklist. now the podcast-turned-Netflix-series returns with a new batch of heavy hitters, including Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor, who discusses the classic NIN track "Hurt." Also appearing in Volume 2 are The Killers, Dua Lipa, and Natalia Lafourcade.
Available December 15

Anitta: Made in Honório (NEW series)

Brazlian sensation Anitta is a best-selling pop star who has her sights set on global domination. This new docuseries takes an intimate look at the fascinating world of the funk singer who recently collaborated with Cardi B.
Available December 16

Bridgerton (NEW series)

Inspired by Julia Quinn's best-selling historical romance novels, Shondaland finally arrives on Netflix with a Christmas Day gift for fans of period drama. Far from the chaste eye-banging tension of Jane Austen, this series takes a contemporary approach, complete with multi-racial casting and a gaudy candy-colored twist on the costumes.
Available December 25

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Part 4

Ring in the New Year with with teen witch Sabrina Spellman (Kiernan Shipka) as undertakes one final battle in the show's eight-episode final season Season 3 ended with Sabrina in Queen Elizabeth I cosplay (with a hellish sartorial twist), wearing an extravagant coronation gown as she was crowned Queen of Hell. Because of time travel shenanigans, there are now two Sabrinas, which means the darker side can rule in the underworld, whereas the other returned to her family home. How will the two Sabrina's fare with the forthcoming final war that could destroy this coven?
Available December 31

Emma Fraser has wanted to write about TV since she first watched My So-Called Life in the mid-90s, finally getting her wish over a decade later. Follow her on Twitter at @frazbelina.