Shows We're Watching and Looking Forward to in 2018

To be read... or watched?

While books will always hold the number one place in our hearts, TV shows come in at a close second - especially if they’re literary adaptations. A good TV show functions just like a well-written book and whisks you away to new worlds with captivating plot lines and creative dialogue and settings. 2018 is shaping up to be a great year for television. Already, our list of TV shows to watch in 2018 is coming close to the length of our to-be-read lists. From book adaptations to original works, we’ve compiled our own 2018 TV preview list of our most anticipated 2018 TV shows. From fantasy to drama, we can’t wait to see what the year has to offer in terms of TV.

It may go without saying, but beware of spoilers if you aren’t caught up on these TV shows.

Outlander Season Four

The third season of Outlander debuted on Starz network on September 10th, of 2017 and inside sources have claimed that the highly anticipated fourth season will air around the same date in the fall of 2018. We know that season three finished filming in June of 2017 and made its way to air by September; so we’re hoping for more of the same with season four. The fourth season will be based on the fourth book, The Drums of Autumn, of the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. This season is set to follow Claire and Jamie as they face new challenges while trying to build a new life in the American Colonies. We know that the cast and crew have been spotted filming in Scotland, North Carolina, and Eastern European locations, so we’re anxious to see what these scenes and plot lines will entail.

Westworld Season Two

The Westworld season two trailer debuted earlier this year during the 2018 Super Bowl (hosted right here in Minneapolis!), and we’re beyond excited for the new season. Season two, which is set to debut very shortly on April 22nd on HBO, is still mostly a mystery. With season one of the adventurous sci-fi western ending on such a cliffhanger, nearly anything is possible in the newest installment of this thrilling series. What we can predict, is that the season will use the same is-this-real-or-just-a-dream motif employed throughout the first season. Dolores can be heard saying “We can burn it to the ground, from the ashes, build a new world. Our world.” at the end of the season two trailer, and we’re taking that as a sign that some serious stuff is about to go down in the world’s favorite robot-driven western theme park.

Legion Season Two

Legion is undeniably odd. The show's showrunners use such creative means of storytelling that you find yourself lost about 60% of the time. The X-Men spin-off will return in 2018 with its second season. Following David, played by Dan Stevens, the second season will explore more of its character’s mysterious powers and examine the impact superpowers would have on everyday life. We look forward to seeing the continuation of this story, which started back up earlier this month on April 3rd.

Electric Dreams Season One

If you’re a fan of Total Recall / We Can Remember it for You Wholesale, Minority Report, or Blade Runner / Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, then you’re going to love this new series based on a collection of Philip K. Dick short stories. So far, the all-star cast that will portray these futuristic stories already includes Bryan Cranston, Steve Buscemi, Anna Paquin, and Terrence Howard. We’d watch just about anything with a cast like that. The new show debuted on Amazon on January 12th, 2018 and is already making waves in the entertainment industry. It’s a must-watch for any serious sci-fi lover.

Altered Carbon Season One

Netflix has many winners among its impressive lineup of original shows, but Altered Carbon will be its first full-scaled sci-fi production. The new series is based on the Richard K. Morgan’s novel of the same name. Set in the 24th century, the show is being led by the same mind behind Shutter Island, promising that its take on the sci-fi genre will be unique, to say the least. In a world where consciousness can be downloaded at whim into new bodies and no one really dies, Altered Carbon should be an interesting examination of a world that is no longer affected by death. The Netflix show already made its 2018 debut on February 2nd, and we can’t wait to dive in.

Sherlock Season Five?

We’re really not sure about this one. All evidence would point to saying that we’re not getting another season of Sherlock anytime soon, but series co-writer Steven Moffat has said himself that it’s unlikely that Sherlock will disappear entirely. This could mean that a few years from now we’ll get a final season, or that Sherlock will just have to live on in our hearts. With Martin Freeman recently having completed the Black Panther movie and Benedict Cumberbatch just wrapping up on Avengers: Infinity War, it’s unlikely that we’re getting a new season this year. But we can hope. If Robert Downey Jr. can fit Sherlock Holmes 3 into his schedule, surely we can get Sherlock season five into Cumberbatch and Freeman’s schedules.

book themed candles

What to Watch in 2018

Just like our to-be-read list, our to-be-watched list is getting out of control; and it’s early in the year! With more platforms than ever before to take in new shows, there’s a seemingly limitless availability of great TV programs to watch nowadays. If you want to take your viewing pleasure to the next level, check out our book themed candles. With scents that pair nicely with many of the shows we discussed, we have the perfect book lovers’ soy candle for everyone.

What TV shows are you most excited to see in 2018? Share your top picks with us down below!