What To Watch This Week: Stream Our Top 7 TV and Movie Picks (Jan. 12–18)

Fear Factor: House of Fear | FOX, Hulu | Reality

Series premiere, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 9 p.m. ET: Hosted by Jackass captain Johnny Knoxville, this new iteration of Fear Factor starts with the familiar premise—contestants face their worst fears in a series of challenges. Then the show adds something new: The classic reality TV drama play, where producers throw a bunch of strangers (probably chosen with personality conflicts in mind) into the same house. You know what that means, don’tcha? The fear challenges will chew on everyone’s nerves, which will ratchet up the ratchety interpersonal drama between the acrophobes, arachnophobes, and other kinds of -phobes. Oh, boy. This could be a glorious train wreck.

Hijack | Apple TV | Drama, thriller

Season 2 premiere, Wednesday, Jan. 14: Idris Elba is back as business-cum-hostage negotiator Sam Nelson. This time, Nelson’s going to Berlin, where some yahoo takes a whole train prisoner (last season, it was a plane—maybe next time it’ll be a commuter ferry). You can watch the first two (of eight) episodes today. New eps will come weekly through the season’s end.

Riot Women | BritBox | Drama

Series premiere, Wednesday, Jan. 14: You’re never too old to be a riot grrrl. In fact, you might be one already. That’s what five women “of a certain age” discover when they form a punk rock band to enter a talent show. In doing so, they discover they’re pissed off at how society marginalizes women and decide they’ve been quiet about it for too long. Created by Sally Wainwright (Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax) and featuring music by the band ARXX, the show stars Tamsin Grieg (Green Wing, Black Books), Rosalie Craig, Joanna Scanlan, Amelia Bullimore, and Lorraine Ashbourne.

Ponies | Peacock | Drama, thriller

Series premiere, Thursday, Jan. 15: In this spy thriller created by David Iserson (Mr. Robot, New Girl) and Susanna Fogel (The Flight Attendant), it’s 1977—the middle of the Cold War. Two secretaries at the American Embassy in Moscow—Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) and Haley Lu Richardson (The White Lotus)—lose their husbands under mysterious circumstances. Initially considered “PONIES” or “persons of no interest” by the intelligence world, they suddenly find themselves working as CIA operatives. Their task? Investigating a major conspiracy and, in the process, their husbands’ murders.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy | Paramount+ | Drama, science fiction

Series premiere, Thursday, Jan. 15: Seven years in development, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy boldly goes to San Francisco, circa the 32nd Century. There, Academy cadets train aboard the USS Athena, eyeing a future as full Starfleet officers while navigating “blossoming friendships, explosive rivalries, first loves, and a new enemy.” Naturally, the cast is mostly fresh faces (Sandro Rosta, Karim Diané Kerrice Brooks, and more), but look out for Star Trek vets (Tig Notaro from Discovery, Robert Picardo from Voyager), recurring guest stars (Gina Yashere, Paul Giamatti), and Stephen Colbert. We get two episodes today, then six more in weekly drops.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms | HBO, HBO Max | Drama, fantasy

Series premiere, Sunday, January 18, 10 p.m. ET: HBO loves adapting George R.R. Martin works—probably because the public is here for it. This third Game of Thrones spinoff is a prequel derived from Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novella series. Set in the world of Westeros—a full century before GoT, it follows the adventures of noob knight Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and his knee-high squire Eff (Dexter Sol Ansell). Don’t expect hour-long episodes, as this series has only six half-hour eps—but do anticipate another season or two.