7 reasons why TV is amazing right now

Based on the psychological thriller by Caleb Carr, this gloriously sinister eight-parter is set in late 19th-century New York, where a hypocritical and intolerant society is grappling with a serial killer targeting male prostitutes. Daniel Brühl stars as the eponymous, derided criminal psychologist, who joins forces with Luke Evans’ crime reporter and Dakota Fanning’s police secretary to work on the case in secret. Watch now on TNT

Season two of Ryan Murphy’s American Crime Story anthology investigates how and why Andrew Cunanan was able to conclude a three-month country-wide killing spree by shooting dead the beloved designer outside his palatial Miami home. Long-time Murphy collaborator Darren Criss plays Cunanan while Edgar Ramirez is uncanny as Versace, but the real don’t-miss moments come courtesy of Penélope Cruz, whose performance of Donatella is subtle, accurate and compelling. Watch now on FX

If the cast (Jonah Hill and Emma Stone, reunited for the first time since 2007’s Superbad) doesn’t have you at hello, then the premise – based around the delusions of two patients in a mental institution – should seal the deal. What’s more, Maniac is directed by Cary Fukunaga, the man behind Beasts of No Nation and season one of True Detective. The details are closely guarded, but we do know that Jonah Hill’s character is living his best life in his head, and Justin Theroux, Jemima Kirke and Sonoya Mizuno will all appear as season regulars. Expect 10 episodes of pure joy. Late 2018; Netflix

Media takes a long hard look at its sacred cows in a six-part BBC series that’s already garnering comparisons to The West Wing. Set in the cut-throat, decaying world of newspaper newsrooms, there is something and someone for everyone to love and hate. Charlotte Riley takes on the role of a news editor on broadsheet The Herald, while Ben Chaplin plays the editor of rival tabloid The Post, under CEO David Suchet. The conflict between ambition and integrity forms the backbone of the story arc, helmed by Mike Bartlett, the writer of British hit drama, Doctor Foster. Late 2018; BBC One

This June, HBO will finally screen its eight-part adaptation of Gillian Gone Girl Flynn’s earlier novel. Amy Adams plays troubled reporter Camille who returns to her hometown to cover a local murder and face her varied and many demons. Adapted by Marti Noxon (To the Bone) and directed by Jean-Marc Vallée (Big Little Lies; Dallas Buyers Club), the team alone guarantees a layered, artful, stylish whodunit guaranteed to clean up during awards season. June 2018; HBO

The eponymous hero of Edward St Aubyn’s five novels is an aristocratic, funny, seductive addict, so it’s no stretch of the imagination to see Benedict Cumberbatch in the role. Each episode of the five-part mini-series takes on a different book in the anthology, which follows Melrose through his childhood with an abusive father (the sublime Hugo Weaving) and enabler mother (Jennifer Jason Leigh), addiction, marriage and fatherhood. Also starring Girls’Allison Williams and The Borgias’ Holliday Grainger, all five episodes have been adapted by One Day author David Nicholls. Mid 2018; Sky Atlantic

No 2018 small-screen round-up would be complete without hailing the homecoming of the greats: Thandie Newton and Evan Rachel Wood are back in Westworld (spring; Sky Atlantic); Elisabeth Moss, Samira Wiley and Yvonne Strahovski return to Gilead in The Handmaid’s Tale (April; Hulu); Moira Demos and Laura Ricciardi pick up where they left off with Steven Avery in season two of Making a Murderer (June; Netflix); and the whole gang will be back in Stranger Things 3 (fall; Netflix). See you on the other side.