The 2018 TV Shows That Should Be on Our Radar

A lot of great content is headed for the small screen, a place where original and challenging art seems to have almost exclusively migrated.

From world-building series to true-crime dramas, there will be plenty to choose from throughout the year thanks to the numerous content platforms that exist today.

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These five upcoming programs absolutely need to be on our radar.

1.) “Castle Rock.” The year of 2017 was an excellent period for Stephen King adaptations. “It” was adapted into a blockbuster film, “Gerald’s Game” and “1922” received positive reactions on Netflix, and “Mr. Mercedes” was renewed for a second season.

Now, 2018 is set to be just as big for King thanks to “Castle Rock.” Produced by J.J. Abrams (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”) and set in a fictional town featured in many of King’s novels, this Hulu series is an attempt at creating a King universe. It will reportedly tie many classic King characters and storylines into one program, much as King’s books already do.

Related: The Four Best Stephen King Adaptations

If pulled off right, “Castle Rock” could be a modern-day “Twilight Zone.” King has plenty of popular material to choose from, and this could be the adaptation that does them all justice.

“Castle Rock” premieres sometime this year on Hulu.

2.) “Mayans MC.” “Sons of Anarchy” was a monster success for FX over the course of its seven-season run. The network was understandably eager to continue the series through a spinoff, and creator Kurt Sutter has finally delivered.

“Mayans MC” will focus on a rival biker gang featured in “Sons of Anarchy,” but will still have the grit and feel of the original series.

There’s a great deal of mystery surrounding “Mayans MC” and the various ways it will tie into the older series, but there’s little doubt it will be hit. If it’s even half as good as the original series, fans will flock to it and show equal loyalty.

“Mayans MC” will premiere sometime in 2018 on FX.

3.) “Fahrenheit 451.” The science fiction novel by Ray Bradbury has only become more and more relevant over the decades.

It makes sense that a new adaptation of the novel is in the works, and it’s attracted such top-tier talent as actors Michael Shannon and Michael B. Jordan.

As long as this new version of the story doesn’t twist the book-burning futuristic tale into an agenda-driven feature focused only on the shallow politics of today, then it should be a noteworthy piece of entertainment.

“Fahrenheit 451” will premiere sometime in 2018 on HBO.

Related: The Five Biggest Pop Culture Stories of the Year

4.) “Waco.” The 1993 events in Waco, Texas, that left members of David Koresh’s Branch Davidian compound dead continue to divide Americans today. Nobody can truly agree on exactly what happened.

A new miniseries about the events there stars Taylor Kitsch as Koresh (pictured above) and Michael Shannon as a cop trying to piece everything together.

By taking the perspectives of both sides of the event, this show could be a real achievement in writing. The trailers thus far have looked pretty gripping.

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“Waco” will premiere on the Paramount Network (previously Spike TV) on January 24.

5.) “Yellowstone.” Taylor Sheridan is one of Hollywood’s greatest and most original writers currently working. With acclaimed films like “Sicario,” “Hell or High Water,” and “Wind River” under his belt, there is a very high bar set for “Yellowstone.”

Starring Kevin Costner, the show has offered just glimpses so far of what it has to offer, but it’s sure to be something grand, considering Sheridan is taking up scripting and directing duties. The show follows a ranching Montana family as they push back against people trying to encroach on their land and way of life.

Costner has always had the grit to pull off the cowboy-type — and with a script from Sheridan, this is sure to be one of 2018’s true television treats.

“Yellowstone” will premiere sometime in 2018 on the Paramount Network (previously Spike TV).

PopZette editor Zachary Leeman can be reached at [email protected].