Netflix Kicks Off 2020 With an Onslaught of New Programming

The new year brings with it all sorts of things -- resolutions and hangovers for starters. When we're talking about Netflix, it also brings a whole honking load of new programming. Television's leader in bulk programming, it can incredibly difficult to keep up with everything Netflix has to offer.  Just in the first few weeks of the year alone, Netflix is offering up reality competitions, returning favorites, a supernatural miniseries, RuPaul in a drama, and the return of Jesus. If you need help keeping these show straight, you've come to the right place.

The Circle

What You Should Know: The U.S. version of the reality competition show about a group of people in a Big Brother-esque house but who can't see each other will look to grab American viewers right out of the gate. The isolated contestants must secretly rate one another until the last contestant standing is named an "influencer."
Premiere Date: January 1st

Spinning Out

What You Should Know: This drama follows the story of prodigious figure skater Kat Baker (Kayla Scodelario from Skins and The Maze Runner) trying to navigate her passion, her mental health struggles, and an ice queen (no pun intended) mother played by Mad Men’s January Jones.
Premiere Date: January 1st

Messiah

What You Should Know: From the writer of The Book Thief and the directors of V for Vendetta and Rectify comes this story of a man claiming to be a modern-day Messiah. This mysterious man (Mehdi Dehbi) amassing followers and allegedly performing miracles captures the attention of the entire world, and a skeptical CIA officer (Michelle Monaghan) must seek out the truth before the geopolitical implications get out of hand.
Premiere Date: January 1st

Dracula

What You Should Know: The Square's Claes Bang continues to shine on American television after a stint on the final season of The Affair. This time, he's starring in the latest retelling of the Bram Stoker novel. The co-production between Netflix and the BBC is a three-part miniseries airing on three consecutive nights in Britain, before landing in its entirety on Netflix the next day.
Premiere Date: January 4th

Cheer

What You Should Know: From the makers of Last Cance U comes this docuseries following the cheer squad of Navarro College in Texas and their pursuit of a national title.
Premiere Date: January 8th

Medical Police

What You Should Know: From the people who brought you Children's Hospital comes a new comedy about a pair of doctors and their work to find a cure for a life-threatening virus. Erinn Hayes, Rob Huebel, Sarayu Blue, Rob Corddry, Henry Winkler, Malin Akerman, Ken Marino and Lake Bell star.
Premiere Date: January 10th

AJ and the Queen

What You Should Know: After dominating the Outstanding Reality Host category at the Emmys, RuPaul might be making a go at an acting trophy for his role in this comedy about a struggling drag queen and her 11-year old sidekick. The series was created by Michael Patrick King of Sex and the City fame.
Premiere Date: January 10th

Grace and Frankie

What You Should Know: The sixth season of the Jane Fonda/Lily Tomlin comedy will give this series the largest episode count of any Netflix show in history with a total of 94 episodes.
Premiere Date: January 15th

Sex Education

What You Should Know: The sleeper hit returns to Netflix for its second season with more heartbreak, horniness, and Gillian Anderson’s double entendres.
Premiere Date: January 17th

Ares

What You Should Know: This Dutch series is a suspenseful look at a group of college students who uncover a mysterious society, and with it, a portal to hell.
Premiere Date: January 17th

The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

What You Should Know: Season two of the breakout hit finds Sabrina (Kiernan Shipka) reeling from the events of last season's shocking finale, where — spoiler — she defeated Lucifer, only to see her boyfriend Nick (Gavin Leatherwood) condemned to hell in the process. The new season will have Sabrina and her mortal pals looking to save Nick (ideally without freeing Lucifer in the process).
Premiere Date: January 24th

Next in Fashion

What You Should Know: Hosted by Queer Eye’s Tan France and Alexa Chung, this fashion competiton show follows professional designers as they work towards winning a 25,000 reward and a collection with Net-a-Porter.
Premiere Date: January 29th

Ragnarok

What You Should Know: A Scandanavian thriller about a small town heading towards a potential apocalypse.
Premiere Date: January 31st

Locke and Key

What You Should Know: Based on the comic of the same name by Joe Hill, Locke and Key follows a trio of siblings who find magic and potential danger in a pair of keys after the murder of their father. Bates Motel and Jack Ryan creator Carlton Cuse, along with Meredith Averill (who wrote The Haunting of Hill House's "Bent-Neck Lady" episode) will serve as showrunners.
Premiere Date: February 7th

Stephen Hladik is a freelance culture writer and actor. You can follow him on Twitter @stephen_hladik