By Ishani Nath

Every month, Ishani Nath, pop culture expert, journalist and the most avid tv-watcher I have ever met, is sharing her top picks for new shows, movies and documentaries to stream on Apple TV, Disney Plus, Netflix Canada, Amazon Prime Video, Crave and CBC Gem, plus the one older release she thinks you should check out. Here’s what she’s recommending this month.

‘Tis the season for wearing cozy sweatpants, snuggling up on the couch and slowing things down. OH WAIT. That’s literally what we’ve been doing since March. Fam, I know this December is a weird one. Even the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree couldn’t get it together. While it may not be quite the holiday any of us had in mind, there are plenty of exciting new shows, movies and classics hitting Canadian streaming services in December to lift the spirits.  

The show I won’t shut up about: I have been back home with ol’ Poppa Nath since June, and bless him, he has turned into something of an amateur baker. Thanks to his curiosity, mixed with a hefty amount of pandemic-induced boredom, I have been treated to everything from homemade jalapeno cornbread to chocolate chip-banana muffins to a carrot cake that I literally ate for lunch. The rotating menu of kitchen confections inspired me to *finally* watch a show that has been on my list for ages: The Great British Bake Off. 

This show has long been heralded one of the sweetest (pun intended) culinary competitions on television. Unlike Masterchef or Chopped, these contestants will truly melt your heart with their endearing love of baked goods, and each other. Get ready to feast your eyes on biscuits that have more ingredients than my entire pantry, cakes that are as tough to pronounce as they are to create and *literal* towers of pie. Most of the first 10 seasons are all available (for free!) on CBC Gem, where it’s called The Great British Baking Show, as well as the show’s multiple spinoffs and all three seasons of the Canadian version, The Great Canadian Baking Show. Trust, it’s the perfect series to have on in the background or to watch with the entire household (Poppa Nath belly laughed through an entire episode… before falling asleep in his recliner).     

In addition to all things Bake Off, there are plenty of other titles to help make December a bit less bitter. Consider this an early holiday gift, from me to you. Hope you enjoy.

Apple TV

Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special (Premieres December 4)

An exclusive holiday event from worldwide superstar and multi-platinum, multi-Grammy award-winning artist Mariah Carey which will debut globally on Apple TV+ this holiday season. The new special is set to premiere on the heels of the 25th anniversary of Carey’s iconic No. 1 holiday anthem "All I Want For Christmas Is You," and will feature the legendary icon Carey and a star-studded lineup of surprise guest appearances, in a magical holiday journey to enliven the Christmas spirit around the world. The innovative special will combine music, dancing and animation driven by a universally heartwarming story that brings the world together.

Disney Plus

Soul (Premieres December 25)

What is it that makes you... YOU? This December, Pixar Animation Studios’ all-new feature film Soul introduces Joe Gardner (voice of Jamie Foxx)—a middle-school band teacher who gets the chance of a lifetime to play at the best jazz club in town. But one small misstep takes him from the streets of New York City to The Great Before—a fantastical place where new souls get their personalities, quirks and interests before they go to Earth. Determined to return to his life, Joe teams up with a precocious soul, 22 (voice of Tina Fey), who has never understood the appeal of the human experience. As Joe desperately tries to show 22 what’s great about living, he may just discover the answers to some of life’s most important questions.

Netflix Canada

Bhaag Beanie Bhaag (premieres December 4)

Beanie has always done what's asked of her—until she decides to run from her very comfortable life and pursue a career in stand-up comedy.

Big Mouth, Season 4 (premieres December 4)

On the brink of eighth grade, the friends contend with summer camp torments, shady alter egos, new make-out frontiers and Tito the Anxiety Mosquito.

Selena: The Series (premieres December 4)

A coming-of-age story following Selena as she chases her dreams, and the heart-wrenching and life-changing sacrifices she and her family make as they navigate the highs and lows of success, loss, love and music.

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (premieres December 18)

Tensions rise when the trailblazing Mother of the Blues and her band gather at a Chicago recording studio in 1927. Adapted from August Wilson's play.

Bridgerton (premieres December 25)

From Shondaland and creator Chris Van Dusen, Bridgerton follows Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dyvenor), the eldest daughter of the powerful Bridgerton family, as she makes her debut onto Regency London’s competitive marriage market. Hoping to follow in her parent’s footsteps and find a match sparked by true love, Daphne’s prospects initially seem to be unrivaled. But as her older brother begins to rule out her potential suitors, the high society scandal sheet written by the mysterious Lady Whistledown casts aspersions on Daphne. Enter the highly desirable and rebellious Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page), committed bachelor and the catch of the season for the debutantes’ mamas. Despite proclaiming that they want nothing the other has to offer, their attraction is undeniable and sparks fly as they find themselves engaged in an increasing battle of wits while navigating society’s expectations for their future. Bridgerton is a romantic, scandalous, and quick-witted series that celebrates the timelessness of enduring friendships, families finding their way, and the search for a love that conquers all. The series also stars Golda Rosheuvel, Jonathan Bailey, Luke Newton, Claudia Jessie, Nicola Coughlan, Ruby Barker, Sabrina Bartlett, Ruth Gemmell, Adjoa Andoh, Polly Walker, Bessie Carter and Harriet Cains and Julie Andrews as the voice of Lady Whistledown. The series is inspired by Julia Quinn’s novels.

Amazon Prime Video

Sound of Metal (premieres December 4)

Metal drummer and former addict Ruben (Riz Ahmed) begins to lose his hearing. When a doctor tells him his condition will worsen, he thinks his career and life is over. His girlfriend Lou (Olivia Cooke) checks him into a rehab facility for the deaf hoping it will prevent a relapse and help him adapt to his new life. After being welcomed and accepted just as he is, Ruben must choose between his new normal and the life he once knew.

Small Axe (premieres December 4)

Director Steve McQueen’s Small Axe anthology captures vividly the lives of London’s West Indian community in the 1970s and ’80s and their force of will against systemic racism and discrimination. “I dedicate these films to George Floyd, and all the other Black people that have been murdered, seen or unseen, because of who they are, in the U.S., U.K. and elsewhere,” the director said in May. The first two films, Mangrove (starring Letitia Wright and Shaun Parkes) and Lovers Rock (starring Micheal Ward and Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn), are streaming now. The final three—Red, White and Blue starring John Boyega, Alex Wheatle starring Sheyi Cole and Khali Best and Education starring Kenya Sandi and Tamara Lawrence—will arrive weekly starting Dec. 4.

Happiest Season (premieres December 10)

Meeting your girlfriend's family for the first time can be tough. Planning to propose at her family's annual Christmas dinner—until you realize that they don't even know she's gay—is even harder. When Abby (Kristen Stewart) learns that Harper (Mackenzie Davis) has kept their relationship a secret from her family, she begins to question the girlfriend she thought she knew.

The Wilds (premieres December 11)

Part survival drama, part dystopian slumber party, The Wilds follows a group of teen girls from different backgrounds who must fight for survival after a plane crash strands them on a deserted island. The castaways both clash and bond as they learn more about each other, the secrets they keep, and the traumas they've all endured. There’s just one twist to this thrilling drama… these girls did not end up on this island by accident.

Yearly Departed (premieres December 30)

Yearly Departed is a series of eulogies for the year 2020, which a lineup of all-women comedians will deliver on everything from casual sex to beige Band-Aids and everything in between that we’ve “lost” in 2020. After a year of societal upheaval, plague, murder hornets and banana bread, Yearly Departed will give 2020 the huge send-off it deserves, from some of the world’s funniest women. Hosted by comedian Phoebe Robinson (2 Dope Queens), the female-led lineup includes Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Ziwe (Book of Ziwe), Tiffany Haddish (Girls Trip), Patti Harrison (Shrill), Natasha Leggero (Another Period), Natasha Rothwell (Insecure) and Sarah Silverman (I Love You, America).

Crave

Euphoria Special Episodes (Starting December 6)

HBO’s Emmy®-winning drama series Euphoria presents two special episodes, with the first premiering Sunday, Dec. 6 at 9 p.m. ET. The first episode follows Rue (Zendaya) as she celebrates Christmas and the aftermath of being left by Jules (Hunter Schafer) at the train station while relapsing. This episode also stars Colman Domingo (Selma), who returns as Ali, a man also in recovery from a substance use disorder and frequently speaks at Rue’s Narcotics Anonymous meetings. Broadcast details for the second special will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Photograph (Premieres December 18)

The Photograph follows a series of intertwined love stories set in the past and present. When famed photographer Christina Eames dies unexpectedly, she leaves her estranged daughter, Mae (Issa Rae, Insecure) with many questions. When Mae finds a photograph tucked away in a safe-deposit box, she soon finds herself exploring her mother’s early life, which leads to an unexpected romance with Michael (Lakeith Stanfield, Knives Out), an up-and-coming journalist.

CBC Gem

This Close, Season 1 (Premieres December 3)

In this trailblazing portrayal of two deaf best friends, twenty-somethings Kate (Shoshannah Stern, Supernatural) and Michael (Josh Feldman, Fridays) try to balance their personal and professional lives: she's newly engaged and struggles to grow at work, while he battles self-destructive writer's block after having his heart broken. This Close is created by and starring Stern and Feldman, alongside Zach Gilford (L.A.’s Finest), Colt Prattes (Dirty Dancing), Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm), and Academy Award-winner Marlee Matlin (Children of a Lesser God).

Alone Together: Personal Stories from the Pandemic (Premieres December 4)

Selected and funded by the CBC Creative Relief Fund, Canadian documentary filmmakers have captured real moments – from light-hearted to serious – of life in the pandemic.

Funny Boy (Premieres December 4)

Based on the evocative, queer, coming-of-age award-winning novel by Shyam Selvadurai and helmed by prolific award-winning filmmaker Deepa Mehta, Funny Boy has been chosen as Canada’s submission to the Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film. Shot on location and set in Sri Lanka in the 1970s and 80s, Funny Boy explores the awakening of sexual identity by a young boy named Arjie set against the backdrop of the civil war. As political tensions escalate to a boiling point between the minority Tamils and the majority Sinhalese, the boy comes of age in a society and family that refuses to embrace differences outside of societal norms. The film mirrors the oppression of the Tamil people with the marginalization Arjie suffers because of who he is and who he loves. Funny Boy chronicles a country torn apart by fear and abuse of power, while Arjie’s struggles to find balance and self-love despite the absence of empathy and understanding

Call the Midwife,  Season 1 (Premieres December 11)

Set in the 1950s, hit British drama Call the Midwife is a moving and intimate insight into the colourful world of midwifery and family life in London's East End. The local community is introduced through the eyes of young nurse Jenny Lee (Jessica Raine, The Woman in Black) as she lives and works as a midwife alongside the Nuns of the Order of St. Raymond of Nonnatus. Created by Heidi Thomas (Upstairs Downstairs, Cranford) and based on the book Call the Midwife: A True Story of the East End in the 1950s by Jennifer Worth.