December on Netflix is a mix of drama, anime action, comedy, and of course those all important next 3 episodes of Stranger Things.
The month kicks off with The Abandons, a new Western series starring Lena Headey and Gillian Anderson as two matriarchs of their respective families — both found and biological — who clash violently over land, love, wealth, and status in 1850’s Washington territory.
Season 3 of Record of Ragnarok and Season 2 of Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft are sure to scratch the itch of those looking for some animated adventure, while Mr Bean himself (Rowan Atkinson) brings festive fun and baby bungling in Man Vs Baby.
Later this month Season 5 of Emily in Paris finds Emily in … Rome!
Then finally, the big one. Stranger Things returns with Volume 2 of Season 5 — 3 new episodes all dropping on Dec. 25.
Catch Netflix’s December in full below, and help support our coverage of streaming shows with a follow @TVPulseMag on X and TVPulseMag.com on BlueSky.
THE ABANDONS
(December 4)
Washington Territory – 1854 – The matriarchs of two very different families — one of wealth and privilege bound by blood, the other a found family of orphans and outcasts bound by love and necessity — find their fates linked by two crimes, an awful secret, a star-crossed love, and a piece of land with silver underneath. The collision echoes the American struggle of the haves and have-nots, in a place just beyond the reach of justice.
Starring Gillian Anderson and Lena Headey.
RECORD OF RAGNAROK (Season 3)
(December 10)
The saga continues with 13 one-on-one battles for the survival of humanity, pitting gods against humans from across the world. Witness the fateful seventh battle: the final fight to break the 3-3 tie between the gods and humans. Blood flows and fists fly in these intense battles of strong convictions!
MAN VS BABY
(December 11)
After a job looking after a high-tech mansion ended in disaster thanks to an irritating insect in Man vs Bee, Trevor Bingley (Rowan Atkinson) has left the stressful world of housesitting for the quieter life of a school caretaker. That is, until a lucrative offer to look after a luxury London penthouse over Christmas proves too tempting to resist. But on the last day of term, when no one comes to collect the Baby Jesus from the school nativity, Trevor finds himself with another undersized and very unexpected companion. With a penthouse to protect and a baby to burp, will Trevor be able to have the calm Christmas he hopes for, or will festivities descend into chaos?
TOMB RAIDER: THE LEGEND OF LARA CROFT (Season 2)
(December 11)
The animated series Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft picks up after the events of the highly successful Tomb Raider video game Survivor trilogy (Tomb Raider; Rise of the Tomb Raider; Shadow of the Tomb Raider), and will chart the globetrotting heroine’s next chapter as the iconic adventurer. More than 25 years after her first appearance, Lara Croft (voiced by Hayley Atwell) continues to explore ancient mysteries and uncover lost truths across breathtaking and dangerous destinations.
Following the events of the Survivor series, Lara Croft has abandoned her friends to embark on increasingly more perilous solo adventures. But she must return home when a dangerous and powerful Chinese artifact is stolen from Croft Manor by a thief with an uncanny personal connection. Her daring pursuit will take her on an adventure around the world and to the depths of forgotten tombs, where she will be forced to confront her true self, and decide just what kind of hero she wants to become.
The all-new animated Netflix series features the voices of Hayley Atwell (Lara Croft), Allen Maldonado (Zip), Earl Baylon (reprising his role as Jonah from Tomb Raider video games).
EMILY IN PARIS (Season 5)
December 18
Now the head of Agence Grateau Rome, Emily faces professional and romantic challenges as she adapts to life in a new city. But just as everything falls into place, a work idea backfires, and the fallout cascades into heartbreak and career setbacks. Seeking stability, Emily leans into her French lifestyle, until a big secret threatens one of her closest relationships. Tackling conflict with honesty, Emily emerges with deeper connections, renewed clarity, and a readiness to embrace new possibilities.
STRANGER THINGS (Season 5, Volume 2)
December 25
Three more episodes to whet your appetite before the grand series finale on New Year’s Eve.
The fall of 1987. Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished — his whereabouts and plans unknown. Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding. As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming — and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone — the full party — standing together, one last time.
