After three long years, Squid Game‘s highly anticipated second season drops this Thursday, the day after Christmas. The dystopian thriller series was a near instant sensation when it first premiered on September 17, 2021, becoming the most-streamed show in 90 countries. Netflix is hoping lightning strikes twice for its sophomore turn, which will consist of seven episodes.
“I never imagined that we’d make a second season,” Lee Jung-jae, who plays Gi-hun, told Netflix at the show’s premiere in Seoul recently. “Developing new stories and writing a full season is a tremendously daunting task, but the script came out unbelievably well.”
When season two premieres, several new cast members will also join the series, which picks up with Player 456 determined to find the people behind the game and put an end to their vicious sport.
However, if you’re looking for something a bit more wholesome this holiday season, then there’s the Kennedy Center Honors (which air on CBS tonight) as well as Christmas staples like Home Alone and It’s a Wonderful Life.
Christmas day, which is also the first night of Hanukkah this year, has several new movies premiering in theaters—including the Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown, and Nosferatu—but it’s also a big day for the NFL and Beyoncé fans. Netflix will host the first of two NFL games, with game one being the Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and game two featuring Beyoncé performing during halftime as the Houston Texas host the Baltimore Ravens. Knowing that Taylor Swift will probably show up to support Travis in game one, and then Beyoncé will perform in game two, is probably the best gift a pop culture fan can get.
And if you’re just catching up on all things Virgin River, check out what Benjamin Hollingsworth (Brady) had to say about those cliffhangers at the end of season six (he’s as shocked as you are), plus what showrunner Patrick Sean Smith has to say about where we pick up in season seven.
For everything else this week, including all the details on Squid Game S2 and your NFL and NBA schedule, see below. I’ll see you back here next Sunday, and Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah (btw, if you want those Mickey Mouse light-up Hanukkah ears I’m wearing in this week’s Watch This video, you can buy them here) to all those who celebrate!
Sunday, December 22
Happy Howlidays (Hallmark Channel/Hallmark+): Starring Jessica Lowndes (90210) and the recently crowned winner of Finding Mr. Christmas, Ezra Moreland, in his onscreen debut (btw, we were actually on the set—watch that here). Here’s the synopsis for this Hallmark original movie: Mia (Lowndes), a meticulous webpage editor for the Seattle Tourism Board, finds herself unexpectedly navigating the holidays alone. As the only one working, she’s drawn into an unusual encounter when she encounters a stray dog. Unsure how to handle the situation, she crosses paths with Max, a dog shelter owner. Mia agrees to let Max’s ailing dog find solace with her newfound companion, in exchange for Max showing her the hidden gems of Seattle. Through their journey together, they both step out of their comfort zones, discovering new perspectives and forming a meaningful connection.
Check out the exclusive clip below! Streaming, and airing on 12/22 at 6 p.m ET/5 p.m. CT, and 12/24 at 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT
The 47th Annual Kennedy Center Honors (CBS): This year’s honorees include director and filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola; American rock band the Grateful Dead (Mickey Hart, Billy Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, Bobby Weir); blues rock singer-songwriter and guitarist Bonnie Raitt; jazz trumpeter, pianist and composer Arturo Sandoval; and The Apollo, which will receive a special Honors as an iconic American institution. Queen Latifah hosts. 8:30 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT and streaming on Paramount+
Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas (CW): In the film directed and written by Tyler Perry, Madea’s (Tyler Perry) friend convinces Madea to accompany her on a trip to visit her daughter in the countryside as a surprise at Christmas. However, their expectations of the small sleepy town are proven to be false as shocking revelations and bitter feuds come to a head during the preparations for the annual winter carnival. Starring Perry, and Anna Maria Horsford, Tika Sumpter, Eric Lively, Jr Lemon, Daniel Lawrence, Kathy Najimy, Chad Michael Murray, Alicia Witt, Noah Urrea, Lisa Whelchel, Caroline Kennedy, Julie Ann Doan, Vickie Eng, Whitney Christopher. 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT
Tuesday, December 24
The Price is Right at Night (CBS): Tonight’s special episode honors those who serve our country, and welcomes first responders, police officers, firefighters and members of the military to “come on down!” 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT
The Wonderful World of Disney Presents Home Alone (ABC): Is it really the holidays if you aren’t watching Kevin McCallister ward off two burglars while finding the meaning of the season? I think not. 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT
It’s a Wonderful Life (NBC): The annual airing of the Frank Capra classic starring Jimmy Stewart, where an angel is sent from heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed. 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT
Christmas with Andrea Bocelli and Friends: A Grammy Holiday Special (CBS/Paramount+): The special features Grammy winners Dua Lipa and Jennifer Hudson, as well as Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter Josh Groban, and singer and actress Sofia Carson, alongside Andrea Bocelli’s wife Veronica Bocelli and daughter Virginia Bocelli. 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT and streaming on Paramount+
Christmas Eve Mass (NBC): Pope Francis leads mass from St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. 11:30 p.m. ET/CT
Wednesday, December 25
Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade (ABC): Start your morning off with grand performances and the magical parade from Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California. 10 a.m. ET/9 a.m. CT
NFL on Netflix: Beyoncé will perform during Netflix’s first-ever NFL Christmas Gameday live, taking place during the second of Netflix’s two games, as the Houston Texans host the Baltimore Ravens at NRG Stadium at 4:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. CT/1:30 p.m. PT. This will be the first live performance of songs from her most recent album, Cowboy Carter.
Prior to the Beyoncé game (honestly, let’s call it what it is), the Kansas Chiefs will take on the Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 p.m. ET/noon CT/10 a.m. PT. Will Taylor Swift make the trip to Pennsylvania to watch her beau on Christmas Day? Of course we’ll be watching to find out.
And before the games even kick off, Mariah Carey will star in the Show Open for NFL Christmas Gameday on Netflix. In the pre-taped performance, she’ll sing her record-breaking single, “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” Streaming on Netflix starting at 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT
NBA Christmas (ABC): Starting at noon ET/9 a.m. PT, the San Antonio Spurs face the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Then at 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 p.m. PT, the Minnesota Timberwolves play the Dallas Mavericks in Texas. At 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT, the Philadelphia 76ers face off against reigning NBA Champion Boston Celtics. Then at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, Lebron James and the Los Angeles Lakers visit Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. And finally, to close out the night, the Denver Nuggets head to the desert to play the Phoenix Suns. 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT
A Complete Unknown (Searchlight Pictures): In one of the best-reviewed films of the year, Timothée Chalamet stars and sings as Bob Dylan in James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown, the true story behind the rise of one of the most iconic singer-songwriters in history. Here’s the synopsis: In the 1960s, against the backdrop of a vibrant music scene and tumultuous cultural upheaval, an enigmatic 19-year-old from Minnesota arrives in the West Village with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music. As he forms his most intimate relationships during his rise to fame, he grows restless with the folk movement and, refusing to be defined, makes a controversial choice that culturally reverberates worldwide. Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro, Boyd Holbrook, Dan Fogler, Norbert Leo Butz, and Scoot McNairy also star. In theaters
Nosferatu (Focus Features): Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson, Simon McBurney, and Willem Dafoe star in Robert Eggers’ gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her. To get you into the spirit of the film, Focus Features has even partnered with Heretic Parfum and perfumer Douglas Little for a limited-edition scent—called, of course, Nosferatu—which is described as, cold, pale, and pellucid. Basically, it’s mean to evoke the uneasy chill of encountering an apparition. Good luck getting the fragrance, though: There’s currently a waitlist. (Although you can find something similarly captivating, also from Heretic, here). Movie tickets, on the other hand, are still available. In theaters
Los Frikis (Lord Miller Productions): The Spanish-language film is a follow-up to The Peanut Butter Falcon and stars Adria Arjona (Hit Man), who also executive produces, as well as Héctor Medina, Jorge Perugorría, Luis Alberto García, and newcomer Eros de la Puente. Here’s the official synopsis: Set in 1990s Cuba and based on true events, the film follows Gustavo, who idolizes his older brother Paco and his bandmates, members of the punk subculture known as the “Frikis.” But as poverty and repression deepen under an oppressive regime, the Frikis make a drastic and defiant choice: they intentionally contract HIV to seek refuge in government-run sanatoriums, where they can escape the harsh realities of life outside. In these places meant for isolation, they create their own free-spirited haven—an oasis of rock ‘n’ roll, acceptance, and a sense of freedom. In theaters
Thursday, December 26
Squid Game Season 2 (Netflix): Here’s the official synopsis, per Netflix: Three years after winning Squid Game, Player 456 remains determined to find the people behind the game and put an end to their vicious sport. Using this fortune to fund his search, Gi-hun starts with the most obvious of places: look for the man in a sharp suit playing ddakji in the subway. But when his efforts finally yield results, the path toward taking down the organization proves to be deadlier than he imagined: to end the game, he needs to re-enter it.
Director Hwang Dong-hyuk returns as director, writer, and producer. Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-jun, and Gong Yoo reprise their roles from season one, along with new cast members including Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-uk, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, Choi Seung-hyun, Roh Jae-won, Jo Yu-ri, and Won Ji-an. Streaming
The Year: 2024 (ABC): Robin Roberts hosts this annual special which looks back at the most memorable and iconic moments of 2024, and what’s to come in 2025. 9 p.m. ET/PT, 8 p.m. CT
Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas (NBC): Musical performances by Jimmy Fallon, Willie Nelson, Miley Cyrus and of course, the legendary Dolly Parton. 9 p.m. ET/PT, 8 p.m. CT
Friday, December 27
Outlander (Starz): The newest episode is titled “Ye Dinna Get Used to It” and is written by Outlander author Diana Gabaldon. Here’s the logline: The truth about Lord John Grey’s mysterious disappearance is revealed. Brianna faces off with the foes threatening her family. Streaming and on linear
Nightbitch (Hulu): The critically-acclaimed film from Searchlight Pictures (which earned Amy Adams a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture) arrives on Hulu today. It’s about a woman (played by Adams) who pauses her career to be a stay-at-home mom, but soon her new domesticity takes a surreal turn. Glamour colleagues Anna Moeslein and Stephanie McNeal recently sat down to talk about all the thoughts they had while watching the film, especially as mothers. Streaming
The post What to Watch the Week of December 22: Squid Game S2, Beyoncé’s NFL Half-Time Show, and More appeared first on Glamour.
