iWorld
10 must-watch series to binge this weekend
MUMBAI: The final weekend of January 2026 has arrived, bringing with it a bittersweet transition in the world of entertainment. While we mourn the passing of the legendary Catherine O’Hara, we also celebrate the staggering wealth of storytelling currently available at our fingertips. If you are looking to lose yourself in a new world without the daunting commitment of a decade-long saga, we have curated the perfect selection.
From rain-soaked Mumbai alleys to the sun-drenched gardens of Regency London, these are the 10 must-watch series this weekend. Each selection is limited to just one or two seasons, making them the ideal candidate for a focused, high-quality binge-watch.
The fresh hits
• A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (HBO / JioCinema)
Set a century before the events of Game of Thrones, this series follows Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and his squire, Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). Unlike the grand dragons and dynastic wars of its predecessors, this is a grounded, adventurous tale of chivalry and friendship. Having premiered on 19 January, it has been praised for bringing a much-needed warmth to Westeros.
• Daldal (Amazon Prime Video)
In this 7-episode thriller released on 30 January, Bhumi Pednekar stars as DCP Rita Ferreira. This isn’t just a police procedural; it is a psychological dive into a woman balancing the hunt for a cold-blooded serial killer with the heavy shadows of her own past and PTSD. It is raw, unflinching, and currently the most talked-about crime drama in India.
• The Death of Bunny Munro (Sky / HBO)
Matt Smith delivers a tour de force in this 6-part adaptation of Nick Cave’s novel. As Bunny Munro, a self-destructive, sex-addicted salesman, he takes his young son on a doomed road trip across the south coast of England following his wife’s suicide. It is a brutal yet deeply poetic look at flawed masculinity and grief.
• Sarvam Maya (JioHotstar)
Nivin Pauly returns to top form in this supernatural Malayalam comedy that dropped on 30 January. He plays Prabhendu, an atheist musician who reluctantly assists a priest with an exorcism, only to be haunted by a “Gen-Z ghost” named Delulu (Riya Shibu). It is a clever, quirky investigation into memory and modern relationships.
• Ponies (Apple TV+)
Set in 1977 Moscow, this espionage thriller follows two American widows—played by Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson—who go undercover as CIA “ponies” (secretaries) after their husbands are killed on a mission. It is a stylish, 8-episode binge that blends Cold War tension with sharp, character-driven wit.
The returning favourites
• The Night Manager: Season 2 (BBC / Disney+ Hotstar)
A decade after his first mission, Tom Hiddleston’s Jonathan Pine is back. The second season picks up with Pine being pulled out of his quiet life to face a new, high-stakes threat in the global arms trade. Olivia Colman also returns as the indomitable Angela Burr, ensuring the stakes remain as high as ever.
• Fallout: Season 2 (Amazon Prime Video)
The wasteland expands as the narrative shifts toward New Vegas. Ella Purnell and Walton Goggins return to navigate the bizarre and brutal remnants of human civilisation. Expect more of the dark humour and retro-futuristic gore that made the first season a runaway success.
• The Pitt: Season 2 (Max)
Noah Wyle leads this intense medical drama that focuses on the daily grind of a Pittsburgh hospital. Season 2 delves deeper into the systemic failures of modern healthcare while keeping the focus on the poignant, personal lives of the ER staff. It is the “ER” successor fans have been waiting for.
• Hijack: Season 2 (Apple TV+)
Idris Elba’s Sam Nelson finds himself in the middle of another high-tension crisis. While the first season took place entirely in the air, the second season applies the same real-time pressure to a new environment, proving that Nelson’s skills as a corporate negotiator are just as deadly on the ground.
The heart of the weekend
• Schitt’s Creek (Netflix / Amazon)
Though this beloved series technically ran for six seasons, the first two seasons serve as a perfect standalone arc of a family losing everything only to find each other. In light of Catherine O’Hara’s passing, there is no more poignant way to spend your weekend than watching her transform Moira Rose into a global icon of resilience and avant-garde fashion.
Whether you choose the gritty realism of a Mumbai precinct or the sharp wit of the Rose family, this weekend offers a chance to see some of the finest acting of the modern era.
iWorld
Ankuur Rajesh Kapila named national sales head – India at ZEE5 & digital
Former sports-gamification executive to drive revenue strategy and digital monetisation across India
MUMBAI: A seasoned dealmaker across television, sport and digital, Kapila steps in as national sales head – India, charged with sharpening revenue strategy, widening market reach and deepening digital monetisation. The mandate is clear: convert scale into sales and attention into advertising.
The move bolsters the streaming ambitions of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited as competition intensifies in India’s crowded OTT market. The focus will be on stronger advertiser tie-ups, smarter packaging and monetisation that keeps pace with shifting viewer habits.
Kapila arrives from JioStar India Pvt. Ltd., where as vice president – sports gamification he helped scale Jeeto Dhan Dhana Dhan into one of the country’s largest live play-along ecosystems. During the Indian Premier League and major international tournaments, the platform engaged over 300 million fans, blending branded integrations with sponsorship-led revenues.
The appointment also marks a homecoming. Across a 14-year earlier stint at the company, Kapila handled brand solutions across regions and genres, led key account management for the GEC cluster and oversaw programming and content acquisition at Zee Studio. Few executives have worked as many sides of the revenue engine.
For ZEE5, the signal is unmistakable: monetisation is back in the spotlight. With advertisers chasing measurable impact and platforms chasing profitability, Kapila’s brief is to make growth pay. In the streaming wars, scale is vanity, revenue is sanity, and momentum is everything.
