Somewhere between the clocks changing and the annual rediscovery of my sweater drawer, November has arrived. Heating is the subject of negotiation at home, and it’s warm beverages over iced ones for the foreseeable future.
The idea of holiday planning might be quietly siphoning your emotional bandwidth, but there’s great news: peak cozy season is officially upon us! And nothing pairs better with cozy than a little drama — on-screen only, where it belongs. The daylight has dwindled, but this month’s lineup sparkles. From the beaches of Normandy to the working-class living rooms of 1960s Northumberland, the stories are stylish, suspenseful, and will make a night in feel like a proper treat.
Maybe it’s OK to leave the real-life drama behind, just a little while longer...
Pausing all decisions for now,
Anna Fort, Senior Digital Producer
P.S. For the full printable primetime schedule, visit gbh.org/explore — and sign up for the GBH Daily to get news and a daily reminder of programming you don’t want to miss. This Friday, treat yourself to Great Performances’ Twelfth Night, starring Peter Dinklage, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Junior and Lupita Nyong’o, Sandra Oh, and Daphne Rubin-Vega, airing at 9pm on GBH 2.
This is a web edition of GBH's The Deep Dive, a weekly newsletter bringing you the best GBH has to offer.
Dramas with Staying Power
MASTERPIECE: The Great Escaper
In the summer of 2014, Bernard Jordan quietly left his care home and made headlines around the world when he journeyed to Normandy, to mark the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Starring two legendary actors, Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson, this deeply moving film is based on the true story about one man’s unwavering determination to honor his past. The Great Escaper premieres Sunday, Nov. 23 and, if I may, be sure to have hankies at the ready. The trailer alone nearly undid me.
Inspector George Gently
Inspector George Gently is back to keeping Northumberland in check, or attempting to, with the help — and occasional hindrance — of his younger, headstrong sidekick John Bacchus. Set in the 1960s and based on a series of novels by Alan Hunter, this crime drama nails the mood of post-war North East England: gritty streets lined with vintage cars, period-perfect hair and clothes —you’ll want to settle in and stay a while. Inspector George Gently airs Wednesdays in Nov. at 8pm on GBH 44, and you can stream all four seasons now.
Marathon Time! (No Running Required)
Undercover
A defense lawyer is fighting to uncover the truth, while her husband is doing his very best to bury it. Undercover is a compelling drama about a marriage built on secrets, and the slow, steady unravelling of both. All six-parts of this drama, from BAFTA-winning screenwriter Peter Moffat, will air Sunday, November 16, from 6pm-12am on GBH 44.
Captivated
You might remember Allen Leech from a little show called Downton Abbey — well, he’s traded the country estate for something a touch darker. In this four-part unnerving thriller, a single mother and her son find themselves drawn into a relationship that comes with a few too many unwelcome strings attached. GBH 44 will air all four episodes of Captivated on November 23, starting at 8pm.
Cue the Music
Discover the music that sets the mood — and does the emotional heavy lifting — in some of your favorite MASTERPIECE dramas.
- The Gold brings the drama, but the soundtrack brings the decade — and it’s pure '80s gold. MASTERPIECE caught up with writer and executive producer Neil Forsyth to talk about the show’s music choices and the punk spirit behind them.
- If the All Creatures Great and Small theme is living rent-free in your head, don’t worry — it was written to do just that. Composer Alexandra Harwood shares how she crafted the warm, emotionally rich score for All Creatures Great and Small Season Two.
- Ever wondered where Unforgotten gets its hauntingly beautiful score? Join Sanjeev Bhaskar for a behind-the-scenes tour of Abbey Road Studios — you know the one — where the music comes to life.
- Also from the studios at Abbey Road, composer Matthew Slater shares how he crafted Endeavour’s distinctive sound, with help from the London Metropolitan Orchestra and a deep understanding of the show’s mood and tone.
More from MASTERPIECE: Behind the Curtain
- If revenge is best served cold, The Count of Monte Cristo — coming in March — is a gourmet feast. Here’s why this sumptuous retelling deserves a spot on your watchlist.
- Eliza Scarlet is back in the gaslit streets of Victorian London, where mystery lurks around every corner. Check out the preview for Miss Scarlet Season Six!
- Season Two of The Gold is no longer just a rumor. The preview’s dropped, and it’s worth its weight.
Off Topic
- Turns out growing pumpkins the size of small cars is a thing. Meet Woody and his “pumpkin son,” the duo behind some seriously impressive pumpkins.
- FRONTLINE’s latest documentary 2,000 Meters to Andriivka follows a Ukrainian platoon through a harrowing mission, captured with haunting intimacy and raw footage from the front lines. Premieres Nov. 25.
- When sisters Dani and Lana from Eastham, MA heard that funding for public media — and their favorite kids’ shows — had been cut, they sprang into action, launching a lemonade stand, and raising a whopping $1,510 which they donated to GBH. Check out their amazing work.
