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Television

The 2022 /Film Holiday Gift Guide (Part 2): TV Shows On Blu-Ray & DVD, New Seasons, And Complete Series Box Sets

2022 SlashFilm Holiday Gift Guide HBO Max / Showtime / Universal / AMC / Paramount
By Ethan Anderton and SlashFilm Staff

With endless streaming services in the world, there's a plethora of new television across the spectrum. Comedy, drama, horror, action, sci-fi, thrillers, and plenty of documentary subjects are demanding our attention each and every week. Only a small selection end up on our shelves for repeated viewings, but we've got a huge variety of shows that will surely satisfying someone on your shopping list this year. 

In this second part of the 2022 /Film Holiday Gift Guide (check out the first part right here), we're highlighting TV shows from network TV, cable, and streaming services. Yes, even shows on streaming services are getting physical media releases. If you've been following the news, then you know HBO Max gave everyone a good reason to keep buying TV shows on Blu-ray and DVD, and you'll find no shortage of programming with our TV show gift guide below.

Get the latest season of your favorite TV shows and more

Peacemaker HBO Max

Straight Outta Comics

Superheroes remain all the rage in popular media these days, as has been the case for more than two decades at this point. But so much focus is put on movies like "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" or "The Batman," when hours upon hours of comic book-based TV is out there for the taking. From the acclaimed "The Suicide Squad" spin-off "Peacemaker" to the long-running adventures of Barry Allen in "The Flash," or even the blood-soaked antics of "The Boys," there is something for superhero lovers of every sort to enjoy on the small screen. So why not bring some of the heroics home on Blu-ray/DVD for the superhero fan in your life? Streaming is temporary, after all, but physical media, much like the fondness we feel for a loved one, is forever. (Ryan Scott)

House of the Dragon (and Space, Robots, and Whatnot)

House of the Dragon HBO

Red and green, snow and mistletoe, and .... fire and blood? Targaryens and commoners alike getting caught up in an epic civil war might not seem like a fit for the typical season's greetings during this time of the year, but when has that ever stopped fans before? HBO's "House of the Dragon" quickly erased any lingering ill will from "Game of Thrones" and proved to be one of 2022's buzziest and most talked-about new shows. Luckily, the prestige network is giving those audiences who were won over by the tale of infighting royals another chance to experience the story, as the complete first season has been made available for its 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray/Digital release on home media. Start your newest holiday tradition with a little spice of dragons and courtly intrigue. (Jeremy Mathai)

The Final Frontier

Star Trek UniverseParamount+

Although we may never have actually seen "Star Trek" characters celebrate the holiday season on-screen throughout various movies and shows in the illustrious history of the sci-fi franchise (believe it or not!), that doesn't mean Trekkies can't ring in the yuletide spirit with a trio of recent shows anyway. After all, this time of the year is supposed to be all about families coming together to celebrate one another and the potential of a bright future on the horizon. What could possibly feel more "Trek" than that? 

This December, fans have a number of home media offerings to choose from. There's season 4 of "Star Trek: Discovery," which has taken the "futuristic" elements of the series to never-before-seen heights. In the mood for something a little more colorful, irreverent, but oh-so-faithful to the property's values? How about "Star Trek: Lower Decks" season 2? And for those in the mood for some nostalgia-infused adventures during the most nostalgic time of the year, season 2 of "Star Trek: Picard" will likely tide you over. Go forth with festive cheer, live long, and prosper! (Jeremy Mathai)

New Worlds

HaloParamount / HBO / BBC

When folks need an escape from reality, the last thing they need is "reality" TV. Thankfully, there are a handful of great science fiction series getting physical releases just in time for the holiday season! Whether you want to fight with Pablo Schreiber as Master Chief and take on the villainous Covenant in season 1 of "Halo," experience the android apocalypse in season 4 of "Westworld," or see what's the latest in timey-wimey wackiness with "Doctor Who" season 13, you're totally covered. (Danielle Ryan)

Thrills and chills

Yellowjackets Showtime

The cold weather and dark hours of the holiday season are a perfect time to curl up on the couch with a big bowl of popcorn and enjoy some quality binge-watching. For those still trying to chase the high of scaring yourself silly with a late-night mystery show, we recommend diving into the thrilling Indigenous whodunit in the first season of "Dark Winds," or trying to figure out if the "Yellowjackets" soccer team (above) resorted to cannibalism to survive after a plane crash. The debut seasons of these shows had folks immediately hooked, and ready to dedicate years of their lives trying to uncover all the answers, much like the fans of "Killing Eve" who have been enraptured in the high-stakes cat-and-mouse story for the last four years. And let's not forget the return of Dexter and his Dark Passenger. (BJ Colangelo)

Monsters, Killers, and the Supernatural

ChuckySyFy / Shudder / NBC

Horror has historically served as one of the most profitable and prolific genres of entertainment, but horror television has been particularly fantastic as of late. Fortunately, there are plenty of spine-chilling shows for all the monster kids and spooky adults in the world. Season 3 of Shudder's hit anthology horror series "Creepshow" is finally available, as are the first two seasons of the compelling supernatural drama "Evil." Don Mancini has extended his long-running "Child's Play" franchise into the slapstick slasher series "Chucky," a must-watch for any fans of horror's favorite killer doll. If modern horror isn't your style, never fear, because seasons 2 and 3 of the Rod Serling sci-fi series "Night Gallery" are also ready to provide the scares. (BJ Colangelo)

Behind the Scenes of Horror

Behind the Monsters Season 1Shudder

Shudder has always been the absolute best streaming service for horror fans, offering a treasure trove of beloved classics alongside original horror shows and movies that fans will be discussing for years to come. In addition to its treasure trove of fictional horror stories, Shudder is also the home to a number of documentary projects, giving fans a first-hand look behind the makings of some of the all-time great horror movies. To make things even better, Shudder also understands the power of physical media, and makes many of its originals accessible outside of the app. 

"Behind the Monsters" helps break down how some of horror's most iconic villains came to life on screen, while "Cursed Films" returned for a second season to dispel all of the conspiracy theories surrounding notoriously difficult productions. The streamer also released all three seasons of "Eli Roth's History of Horror," a documentary series looking at the timeline of cinema's scariest genre. Fortunately, there are an endless amount of horror journalists and creatives to distract from it being yet another Eli Roth project. (BJ Colangelo)

Much action, plenty of drama, such wow

Better Call Saul AMC

Better Call Saul Season 6

"Better Call Saul" never should have worked as well as it did. Basing an entire "Breaking Bad" prequel series around a comic relief character reeked of desperation, as if AMC was so frightened of losing "Breaking Bad" that they said yes to anything. But in the end, the prequel series became arguably better than the show that spawned it. For six brilliant, stress-inducing seasons, "Better Call Saul" brought us into the world of Saul Goodman, aka Jimmy McGill, a morally gray character who strays further and further into the dark side until he's dug himself a hole he can't climb out of; a grave, if you will. The show remained consistently fantastic through its entire run, and its final season is brutal, unflinching, upsetting, and altogether perfect. It would've been easy to stumble and not stick the landing, but "Better Call Saul" does just that, giving us a conclusion that will likely be hailed as one of the all-time-best series finales. (Chris Evangelista)

Shows for Your Dad

Jack RyanAmazon Prime

Mainstream audiences tend to prefer superhero films to westerns or movies about regular ol' justice-seeking human beefcakes these days. But fear not, all you dads out there! The wide world of streaming's got you covered. Be they small-screen adaptations of best-selling airport novels like "Reacher" and "Jack Ryan" or Taylor Sheridan's ever-expanding "Yellowstone" television universe, there are plenty of shows to choose from when it comes to getting your fix of horse-riding or non-superhuman heroics. And let's not forget "Walker," The CW's own TV series about a scruffy cowboy hat-wearing gent who loves dealing out justice and ruminating on his tragic backstory ... and he's all out of tragic backstory. (Sandy Schaefer)

Young Struggles

Bel-AirPeacock / HBO

High school dramas with a dark twist are some of the buzziest shows out there right now. "Bel-Air" and "Euphoria" stand proudly as two of the best shows this subgenre has to offer, and you or your favorite TV stan can now add them in your physical media collection. Whether you want to relive the infamous Oklahoma Cassie bathroom breakdown or that time Will thought Carlton was snorting a certain powdery substance, this holiday season is the perfect time to snag one of these discs. (Erin Brady)

True Stories

Winning TimeHBO / Showtime

Hey, are you into the Los Angeles Lakers or on-demand transportation? We have good news. You can get the first season of "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty" from HBO. The series is based on the book "Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s," and in case it wasn't clear in the title, chronicles the formation of the beloved NBA team that dominated the basketball court. Meanwhile, Showtime has the first season of their anthology series "Superpumped," which focuses on the rise of the ride-sharing services known as Uber with Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the lead. (Ethan Anderton)

Historical Epics

Outlander Season 6Sony Pictures Television

"House of the Dragon" and "The Rings of Power" might be dominating television right now, but for fans of sword and sandals historical epics without the fantasy, there are still plenty of great options coming to home video. Fans can catch season 5 of the Viking-era tale of the conquering of the British Isles, "The Last Kingdom," or take a peek at things from the opposite side with both volumes of season 6 of the History Channel series "Vikings." Those looking for more romance and fewer Vikings can find it in season 6 of the Scottish romantic adventure "Outlander," also out on home video and ready to keep you warm on these cold winter nights. (Danielle Ryan)

Laugh it up!

Rutherford Falls / Ghosts / Hacks Peacock / CBS / HBO Max

In this era of peak TV, there's a comedy show that's perfect for everyone, but sometimes it's hard to find the right one for you. Luckily, there's a sitcom Blu-Ray release to match every sensibility this holiday season. Season 1 of HBO's Emmy-winning hit "Hacks" has you covered with plenty of edgy, hilarious humor courtesy of Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder, while the first season of the Peacock series "Rutherford Falls" introduces a clever and warm comedy that centers Native American voices. If network TV is more your style, you can finally take home season 1 of CBS' "Ghosts," which is exactly what the young couple in the series accidentally do. Or you can go back to school with the raucously hilarious and charming "Abbott Elementary." Finally, if comedy about death isn't your jam, relive your awkward youth instead with "Young Sheldon" and "Young Rock." (Valerie Ettenhofer)

Animated Absurdity

South ParkParamount+ / Adult Swim

If you're looking for some animated adventures, look no further than these home video collections featuring some of the latest and greatest in cartoon action-comedy! "South Park" has been running for an astonishing 24 seasons and now the latest adventures of Cartman, Stan, Kyle, Kenny, and the rest of their Colorado mountain town can be yours to own on DVD and Blu-ray! Looking for something a little more multi-dimensional? The fifth season of "Rick and Morty" is here with plenty of portal-gun goodness and weird, wonderful humor. Nothing says "Merry Christmas" quite like "wubba lubba dub-dub!" (Danielle Ryan)

Get the complete series of new and old favorites

Yellowstone, Dawson's Creek, Dexter Paramount+ / Warner Bros. / Showtime

There's a varied ensemble of contemporary favorites that stretch back to the 1990s and up through 2022 that will be sure to satisfy at least one person on your holiday shopping list. Do they love watching the happenings surrounding the Dutton Ranch on the hit "Yellowstone" series? Give them four seasons worth of drama in a sleek black-and-yellow package. Are they already yearning to rewatch Jimmy McGill's rise to infamy in "Better Call Saul" after his story ended earlier this year? They can trace his career from start to finish with a complete series collection on Blu-ray. Are they big fans of tossed salad and scrambled eggs? It's time to make an appointment with the "Frasier" Blu-ray box set. Whether they love watching dramatic teens go through life on "Dawson's Creek" or the dramatized making of "The Godfather," we've got a box set for them. (Erin Brady)

A collection of classics

Hogan's Heroes, The Little Rascals, Magnum P.I. Paramount / NBC Universal / Classicflix

Forget the age of Peak TV. Wind the clock back past the 2000s, and you will find plenty of worthwhile shows just waiting to be enjoyed. "The A-Team" follows a motley crew of heroes-for-hire on their wild adventures, giving us handy multi-use catchphrases like "I love it when a plan comes together!" Meanwhile, its fellow 1980s action series "Magnum PI" makes a hero out of Tom Selleck, assuring us that all you really need to save the day is a Hawaiian shirt and a little gumption. There's also plenty of pluck to go around in the WWII comedy show "Hogan's Heroes." Or, if you prefer, you can have some fun with the superhuman do-gooders of "The Bionic Woman" and "The Six Million Dollar Man." And if you want to get really old-school, there's the 100th anniversary set for "The Little Rascals," including some previously unreleased shorts and special features. (Sandy Schaefer)

Superheroes, space, and beyond

Star Trek: The Next Generation, Supergirl Paramount / Warner Bros.

As the sun sets on the Arrowverse (RIP), now's as good a time as any to finally check out some of The CW's best DC TV shows. If quirky misfits and zany time-travel escapades are your bag (calling all the "Doctor Who" fans out there), the complete series of "DC's Legends of Tomorrow" is now available. You can also get to know Superman's unfailingly optimistic cousin and her adorkable Super-Friends by checking out all six seasons of "Supergirl." 

If you're more into spell-casters than superheroes, there's "Charmed" and "A Discovery of Witches." Or perhaps you'd be more into "The 4400," an elaborate sci-fi mystery involving enigmatic beams of light from the sky and people vanishing for decades. Finally, with all this talk of traveling through time, how about a true blast from the past in the form of some 1980s and '90s goodness like the "RoboCop" series and "Star Trek: The Next Generation?" Make it so! (Sandy Schaefer)

Animated adventures

Chip 'n' Dale, Street Sharks, The Batman Disney / Discotek Media / Warner Bros.

Why not set your Saturday mornings aside for a little cartoon marathon of your own with these new animated series box sets? With the new "Chip 'n Dale" movie arriving earlier this year, there's no better time to dig into the original animated series. Maybe you'd like to get back to solving mysteries with "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?" while having a cartoonishly tall sandwich? Then again, it might be better to have a chili dog while watching the adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog. There are plenty of options for animated binge-watching! (Ethan Anderton)

Comedy collections

Brooklyn Nine-Nine FOX

You won't be short on laughs for your holiday shopping this year. For the "30 Rock" fan in your life, you can't go wrong with "Mr. Mayor," which features the same absurd, fast-paced comedy sensibility, but it sadly only lasted two seasons before getting canned by NBC. Another short-lived but funny series comes in the form of "Up All Night," which also only lasted a couple seasons. But Will Arnett and Christina Applegate make for a hilarious couple navigating life with a newborn baby, and Maya Rudolph does what she does best as a talk show host diva. Finally, you can't go wrong with the hilarious antics of Andy Samberg and the rest of the cop crew in "Brooklyn Nine-Nine." (Ethan Anderton)

That's all for Part 2 of the 2022 /Film Holiday Gift Guide. Be sure to check out Part 1 here, and come back tomorrow for Part 3, featuring these cool things called books!

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