This is something of a golden age for action series, with many networks and streamers premiering series that emphasize adrenaline, spectacle, and the excitement of stories focused on people doing things (many of which are often perilous). What’s more, the advantage of television is that it can combine the extended narrative of many episodes with the sorts of conventions that continue to draw people toward the action show as a genre.
Fortunately for fans, there are a number of new and returning action TV shows that are set to appear all during 2022.
Raised By Wolves – On HBO Max February 3
There have been many great science-fiction series in recent years, and Raised by Wolves deserves to be seen as one of those. Though it can at times seem a bit cold, its fundamental conflict, between religion and science, is one that is especially timely, and its characters are, if not sympathetic, at least understandable. What’s more, like all great science fiction it asks the tough questions that often haunt the human imagination, including the most pressing one of all: just what is it that constitutes personhood?
Reacher – Streaming On Amazon Prime Video February 4
One of the key aspects of the action genre is the hero, who often finds himself at odds with the world around him and must do everything that he can to clear his name. That is certainly the central premise of Reacher, the New Amazon series based on the novels by Lee Child.
In this case, the main character has to fight back against those who have made sure that he is accused of a crime he didn’t commit (a common trope within this particular type of action series).
The Walking Dead – On AMC February 20
There are few zombie shows that have had quite the longevity of The Walking Dead, which continues to demonstrate its staying power. Though obviously the zombies are a major part of the story, it’s also a series very much about its human characters, who continue to have to struggle to survive in the aftermath of the apocalypse. Given that this will be the final season of the series, it is very much something that is worth looking forward to in 2022.
Vikings: Valhalla – On Netflix February 25
The Vikings are some of the most infamous people in European history, notable for raping and pillaging their way across Europe. They were also the subject of a very successful period drama, Vikings, which has spawned its own spinoff, Vikings: Valhalla. While it is sure to have a similar gritty aesthetic to its predecessor, its story will take place a century afterward, when the Vikings begin to have a more permanent presence in some of the great countries of Europe, including England, where they will even manage to attain the crown.
The Boys Presents: Diabolical – On Amazon Prime March 4
The Boys has shown that it has what it takes to be one of the most popular and best series on Prime Video. It’s not hard to see why, given that it adds some new and interesting dimensions to the traditional superhero story (in this version, they are the bad guys rather than the good guys). The new spinoff series, The Boys Presents: Diabolical, promises to give fans more of what they want, in addition to introducing new elements of this world, all in different styles of animation.
Kung Fu – On The CW March 9
The original Kung Fu series from the 1970s continues to be seen as one of the better shows of the 1970s, but it receives a much-needed upgrade in this reboot, which airs on the CW. In this case, the show focuses on a young woman who uses her martial arts training to fight back against the organized crime that has overtaken her city of San Francisco and even threatens her family. After a very successful first season, it is slated to return to what will be an equally successful one in 2022.
Halo – On Paramount+ March 24
It’s hard to think of a game more influential and enduringly popular than Halo. If anything, it’s rather surprising that it has taken this long to produce a television series of this ambition. As with the game, the series will focus on a group of military warriors as they battle against a group of aliens who constitute a theocracy.
It is set to premiere on Paramount+ in March, and it will almost certainly become one of the best and most popular series from the streaming service.
Moon Knight – On Disney+ March 30
Oscar Isaac is widely regarded as one of the most talented actors in Hollywood, and he has been in many great roles. He is also no stranger to the superhero realm, and he is poised to make his entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the series Moon Knight, set to premiere on Disney+ in March. He will portray the character of Marc Spector, a man with multiple personalities who has to unravel the mystery of not only who he really is but also a plot involving the Egyptian gods.
The Boys – On Amazon Prime Video June 3
The superhero show is one of the most enduringly popular genres, especially in the last decade. However, there are some shows that really try to probe what it means to be a hero and whether those with extraordinary powers are truly to be trusted. That is the central premise of The Boys, which continues to be a success for Amazon. The adventures of the characters are set to continue in the new season premiering this year.
The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power – On Amazon Prime Video September 2
In the annals of fantasy, there are few series that have quite the influence and power of Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. The series’ expansive mythology is set to be explored in great depth with Amazon’s new series, which will take place during the mysterious Second Age and, as the title suggests, examine the forging of the Rings of Power. What’s more, it will also give viewers more of an understanding of some of the most powerful beings to inhabit Middle-earth, including both the Elves and Sauron himself.
