1. Taboo
Debuts: January 10 (10 PM) on FX
Film buffs are pumped about this series thanks to the presence of Tom Hardy who created the story along with his father, Chips, and Steven Knight, the director of Locke . It's a period saga set in 1814 and Hardy plays a nutjob named James Delaney who's just returned home to England from Africa. His father is dead and he and his sister (Game of Thrones' Oona Chaplin) battle for the inheritance. Trust in the amazing production design and the talent of Hardy, who's at his best when he's unhinged and playing unpredictable characters.

2. A Series of Unfortunate Events
Debuts: January 13 on Netflix
Following in the footsteps of Jim Carrey, Neil Patrick Harris picks up the Count Olaf mantle for a new Netflix series adapted from the popular 13-book children's series. The built-in fanbase should make this one a hit, but Harris is another reason to watch. The story is about the Baudelaire children, who go to live with their relative, Olaf, after their parents' deaths. Olaf has his eyes set on the kids' inheritance.

3. The Young Pope
Debuts: January 15 (9:00 PM) on HBO (Sundays and Mondays)
This lavish new limited series will run for 10 episodes this month and next. Starring Jude Law as Pope Pius XIII, the first trailers offer a glimpse of what could be one of the great performances of the year. Law plays the eponymous character like a gangster and seems to be bringing real attitude to the Vatican. The series is also created by Italian film icon Paolo Sorrentino (Youth), which helps explain the incredible production design.

4. Victoria
Debuts: January 15 on PBS (Masterpiece)
The third limited series on the list comes from the UK and looks to be courting those lost and wandering erstwhile Downton Abbey fans. A seven-part series, Victoria follows the reign of Britain's Queen Victoria from her ascension at age 18. Doctor Who fans will be excited to see Jenna Coleman in the title role and always-reliable Rufus Sewell plays her prime minister, Lord Melbourne.

5. SIX
Debuts: January 18 (10:00 PM) on History
Look no further than the History Channel for one of early 2017's most intriguing new shows. For its eight-episode first season,
SIX will detail actual missions if by SEAL Team 6 and focus on a rescue assault issued after the team's ex-leader (played by Walton Goggins) is captured by Boko Haram. There haven't been many shows who've captured black ops with any seeming authenticity since David Mamet's The Unit was cancelled, but SIX gives me some hope.

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