Between streaming and cable, viewers have a seemingly endless variety of things to watch. Here is a selection of TV shows and specials that are airing or streaming this week, Dec. 22-28. Details and times are subject to change.
A documentary, a thriller and the fight against Vecna.
Over his long career, the journalist Seymour Hersh reported on his fair share of concealed acts while working at The Associated Press, The New York Times and The New Yorker. The new documentary, “Cover-Up” uses archival footage, Hersh’s notes and interviews with him to recount some career-defining moments, including his uncovering of the My Lai massacre during the Vietnam War, reporting on the Watergate scandal, disclosing the C.I.A.’s domestic spying program and documenting abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib. Streaming Friday on Netflix.
Do you ever have the existential fear that someone can hear and see every thought you have? If not, you might after watching the new series “The Copenhagen Test”: Simu Liu plays Alexander Hale, an intelligence agency analyst who is told that a Wi-Fi signal in his head has been hacked, and he is now being accused of committing treason. A love interest, played by Melissa Barrera, is brought in as the agency tries to figure out how to use his interception to its advantage. All eight episodes will be released at once. Streaming Saturday on Peacock.
Now that the first batch of “Stranger Things” Season 5 episodes have dropped, the group (including Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp) are back in full force to fight against Vecna, the humanoid being with psychic powers out to destroy them. The next three episodes arrive on Christmas Day before a mega 2-hour-plus finale drops on New Year’s Eve. Streaming Thursday at 8 p.m. on Netflix.
A slew of season finales.
With a few episodes in, Taylor Swift’s tour documentary series, “The End of an Era,” has introduced viewers to her dancers, discussed the terror plot in Vienna that forced Swift to cancel her concerts there and looked at how she reworked her concert set to include “The Tortured Poets Department.” Last week, Disney+ announced on X that the final episodes would be available on Dec. 23 — three days early. Now that the last episodes are going to be released, the Eras tour era seems to officially be over. Streaming Tuesday on Disney+.
Though the first season of “Pluribus” is now ending, the show has already picked up two Golden Globe nominations — one for best drama television series and another for Rhea Seehorn’s role on the show. The series’s nine-episode arc has followed Carol (Seehorn), a romance novelist and one of 13 people immune to the hive mind that has taken over the world. Created by “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul” writer Vince Gilligan, the series has been renewed for a second season. Streaming Friday on Apple TV.
“Heated Rivalry,” the hockey romance series that chronicles very little hockey playing and instead lots of yearning, is wrapping up its first season. Those who have read the books know that the season finale will feature the cottage chapters in which, after a yearslong situationship, the rival hockey captains Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) and Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) might actually have to D.T.R. (define the relationship). The second season, which was announced earlier this month, will continue to follow the story line of Rozanov and Hollander from Rachel Reid’s “Game Changers” book series. Streaming Friday on HBO.
During the seventh season of “The Kardashians,” which is wrapping up, we’ve kept up with Kim studying for her bar exam and testifying in a Paris courtroom during a robbery trial; Khloe starting her new popcorn brand and maintaining her role as the voice of reason; and Kourtney enjoying motherhood and spending time with her husband, Travis Barker. No word yet if we will still be hanging out with the famous family in 2026. Streaming Thursday on Hulu.
Very merry viewing.
As the newly elected Pope, Leo XIV will host his first Christmas Eve Mass from St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City featuring the Sistine Chapel Choir. Available to watch with English translations. Wednesday at 11:30 p.m. on NBC.
When the most wonderful time of year comes to the most magical place on Earth, it’s the Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade. Alfonso Ribeiro is back as the host, this time with Ginnifer Goodwin (who just voiced Judy Hopps in “Zootopia 2”) by his side. Gwen Stefani, Lady A and Nicole Scherzinger will all perform from around different Disney locations, and for the first time, Disney villains will have their own segment of the parade. Thursday at 10 a.m. on ABC and 11 a.m. on Disney+ and Hulu.
Shivani Gonzalez is a news assistant at The Times who writes a weekly TV column and contributes to a variety of sections.
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