Pedro Alonso Pulls Off Another Money Heist in Prequel Series Berlin

Looking for your next binge-watch, or just need to fill an hour? Welcome to Your Weekly Watch List, our curated collection of the best shows on television. Here's what to watch from Sunday, December 24 through Saturday, December 30.

Fast-paced thrills, holiday cheer, and bawdy humor await this week as Pedro Alonso reprises the role of Berlin in a new Money Heist prequel, Ncuti Gatwa makes his first proper appearance as the 15th doctor in the Doctor Who holiday special, Canadian comedy Letterkenny signs off after 12 seasons, and more.

Doctor Who: The Church on Ruby Road

Monday, Disney+

After making his official debut in Doctor Who's third 60th anniversary special, Ncuti Gatwa assumes the role of the 15th Doctor in an hour-long holiday episode. The Church on Ruby Road — the franchise's first proper Christmas special since 2017 — efficiently establishes the relationship between the Doctor and his new companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson), who, nearly 20 years after she was abandoned as a baby on Christmas Eve, has finally begun looking into her past. When she meets the Doctor, Ruby is plunged into a world she never knew existed, leading her to confront the secret of her birth (as well as a band of sinister goblins).

Just as he did in Netflix's Sex Education, Gatwa brings an effervescence to the role, and he seamlessly switches between the more lighthearted and action-oriented aspects of Russell T. Davies' script. His myriad talents are on full display in the special's original musical number, "The Goblin Song," which, for a song about feasting on "baby blood and baby bones," is shockingly catchy. All told, The Church on Ruby Road offers an exciting introduction to Doctor Who's next chapter, which is expected to continue on Disney+ and BBC One in 2024.

Letterkenny Season 12

Tuesday, Hulu (Full Season)

Who better to cure your holiday hangover than the lovable Hicks, Skids, and Hockey Players of Letterkenny? Creator and star Jared Keeso has spent the past 12 seasons exploring the petty disputes among the residents of a rural community in Canada, and while there's plenty to mock about these colorful characters, the comedy has always imbued their antics with an inherent belief in the goodness of humanity.

That trend continues in the final six episodes, which includes a comedy night at Modeans, a rave at the Ag Hall, and even a cessation of hostilities between the town's warring parties. There's still plenty of rapid-fire banter and inappropriate humor to be found in these storylines, but in Season 12, the show's optimistic worldview prevails, making it a fitting cap to a comedy that's as much about penis jokes as it is the power of community.

Berlin

Friday, Netflix (Full Season)
*Our must-watch pick of the week

Berlin isn't quite an origin story for Money Heist's (also known as La Casa de Papel) terminally ill jewel thief, but it does go a long way toward fleshing out his character's past. Years before Berlin (Pedro Alonso) robbed the Royal Mint of Spain, he recruited a crew to help him pull off an equally dangerous heist: the theft of $44 million worth of jewels from an auction house in Paris. Berlin has spared no thought when it comes to executing the perfect heist, but when he falls for Camille (Samantha Siqueiros), the wife of the auction house director (Julien Paschal), their romance threatens to derail his team's criminal efforts and prevent them from claiming their spoils.

While Berlin follows in its predecessor's footsteps by leaning into the danger of the heist, the prequel also embraces a more comedic tone as the crew members (played by Michelle Jenner, Begoña Vargas, Julio Peña, and Joel Sánchez) banter and flirt with one another. Berlin's unwavering belief that Camille is his next great love also gives the show a sentimental air, especially considering what Money Heist viewers know about the character's future. The result is a spin-off with its own unique identity — it fits squarely into the larger franchise, while still taking it in a surprisingly tenderhearted direction.

If You Have...

An Hour

Love Like a K-Drama: Tuesday, Netflix
Slow Horses Season 3 Finale: Wednesday, Netflix
Hell Camp: Teen Nightmare: Wednesday, Netflix

An Evening

Call the Midwife Holiday Special: Monday, 8:00 PM ET on PBS
Pokémon Concierge Season 1: Thursday, Netflix
I Am Burt Reynolds: Saturday, 8:00 PM ET on The CW
Time Bomb Y2K: Saturday, 10:00 PM ET on HBO

A Full Day

The Manny Season 1: Sunday, Netflix
Raffa: Wednesday, Hulu
Captains of the World: Saturday, Netflix

Up Next

New Year's Eve Coverage: Sunday, December 31 on ABC, CBS, and CNN
Fool Me Once: Monday, January 1 on Netflix
The Brothers Sun: Thursday, January 4 on Netflix
Sanctuary: A Witch's Tale: Thursday, January 4 on AMC+ and Sundance Now

Claire Spellberg Lustig is the Senior Editor at Primetimer and a scholar of The View. Follow her on Twitter at @c_spellberg.