Bring back the binge: Returning and premiering shows in April
April 2018 delivered a loaded slate of returns and premieres that kept viewers glued to their screens. From British imports and prestige dramas to sci-fi reboots and dark comedies, the month offered plenty of fresh material worth marking down.
The shows that landed that spring ranged from quick cancellations to surprising long hauls. Some expanded into spin-offs while others wrapped after just a season or two. The mix of period pieces, space epics, and serialized thrillers reflected the era’s appetite for bingeable storytelling across networks and streamers.
The Crossing (ABC)
New from the creators of MTV’s Scream is this mysterious thriller about a group of refugees fleeing a war that doesn’t take place for another 250 years. Starring Steve Zahn (Sahara), Natalie Martinez (Death Race), Jay Karnes (Gang Related), and Sandrine Holt (House of Cards), the show has officially piqued our curiosity and looks intriguing as hell. The Crossing premiered April 2, 2018, and was canceled after season 1.
The Last O.G. (TBS)
Created by John Carcieri (Eastbound & Down) and Jordan Peele (Get Out), this comedy starring Tracy Morgan (30 Rock), Tiffany Haddish (Girls Trip), Cedric the Entertainer (Barbershop), and Ryan Gaul (Father Figures) could be one of the best of the season. The show follows an ex-felon who is horrified by how gentrified Brooklyn has become after a 15-year stint in prison. The Last O.G. premiered March 31, 2018, ran four seasons through December 2021, and was canceled in April 2022.
Legion (FX)
The second season of TV’s trippiest, most innovative show is charging back onto FX. Expect more supreme weirdness and impromptu dance routines from Dan Stevens (The Guest) and deadpan comedy goddess Aubrey Plaza (Ingrid Goes West). Legion season 2 premiered April 3, 2018, before concluding with a final season 3 in 2019.
Famous in Love (Freeform)
Pretty Little Liars fans won’t want to miss the second season of Famous in Love – Marlene King’s glitzy Hollywood drama starring Bella Thorne (Amityville: The Awakening) & Charlie DePew (The Amazing Spider-Man). Famous in Love season 2 premiered April 4, 2018, and was canceled after two seasons.
National Treasure: Kiri (Hulu)
This gripping British miniseries follows a trail of notoriety, lies, and guilt after the abduction and murder of a black foster child from a white middle-class family.
Imposters (Bravo)
The season two premiere of Paul Adelstein (Land of the Lost) & Adam Brooks’ (Whatever Works) dark comedy about a woman who cons people into marriage so she can disappear with their money hits Bravo at the start of April. Imposters season 2 premiered April 5, 2018, and was canceled after two seasons in June 2018.
Howards End (Starz)
Starring Matthew Macfadyen (Frost/Nixon), Hayley Atwell (Agent Carter), and Philippa Coulthard (Annabelle: Creation), Kenneth Lonergan’s adaptation of E.M. Forster’s literary classic has already received a fair share of acclaim and is an essential watch for anyone who lives for British period dramas about savage class divides.
New Girl (Fox)
The final season of TV’s kookiest sitcom is finally here – it’s time to say goodbye to New Girl in its seventh and final season. Here’s hoping Zooey Deschanel (500 Days of Summer) will play a cute song on her ukelele while Max Greenfield (About Alex) pushes the boundaries of how hot an actor can look on TV.
The Expanse (Syfy)
The third season of Syfy’s ambitious and acclaimed space drama looks set to be packed full of tension, neon set pieces, and people breathing loudly within an oversized helmet. The Expanse season 3 premiered April 11, 2018, on Syfy, was later picked up by Amazon after cancellation, and continued through season 6 in 2022.
Bosch (Amazon)
Bosch is back, baby! Amazon’s most underrated series returns for a fourth season in which ya boy Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) is investigating the murder of an attorney killed the day before a high-profile civil rights trial against the LAPD. Nail em, Bosch! Bosch season 4 premiered April 13, 2018, ran through season 7 in 2021, and was followed by Bosch: Legacy.
Lost in Space (Netflix)
Danger Will Robinson! Netflix’s highly-anticipated reboot of the sci-fi classic looks well worth a bingewatch, if just to see the ever-glorious Parker Posey (Scream 3) as the caustic villainous Dr. Smith. If early reviews are any indication, the show is shaping up to be “the uplifting family drama we desperately need right now.”
Rellik (Cinemax)
Told in reverse, the debut season of Cinemax’s intriguing new serial killer show from Harry & Jack Williams (Retribution) is a strange UK import with an intriguing approach. If you like having your head twisted open by odd plots and weird twists, this is one show you won’t want to miss. Rellik remained a single-season miniseries.
Fear the Walking Dead (AMC)
The dead are still shuffling and so is Fear the Walking Dead. The spinoff show is arguably superior than The Walking Dead but that’s hardly high praise. Still, the fourth season features the first crossover between the two shows which could be fun. Maybe.
The Originals (The CW)
It’s the final ever season of the CW teen vampire series, so prepare for some melodrama, crass special effects, and plenty of brooding.
Into the Badlands (AMC)
The epic martial arts show will return to AMC for a third season, starring Daniel Wu (Warcraft: The Beginning), Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead), and Orla Brady (The Foreigner).
Westworld (HBO)
It’s finally back! The long-awaited second season of HBO’s latest and most ambitious hit show will see new cast members Hiroyuki Sanada (The Wolverine), Peter Mullan (Tyrannosaur), Katja Herbers (The Leftovers), Gustaf Skarsgård (Vikings), and Fares Fares (Zero Dark Thirty) joining returning actors Evan Rachel Wood (Thirteen), Thandie Newton (Crash), James Marsden (X-Men), and Jeffrey Wright (Broken Flowers) for more jaw-dropping television. We can’t wait. Westworld season 2 premiered April 22, 2018, and ended after season 4 in 2022.
The 100 (The CW)
Here’s hoping you’re all caught up on The 100 because the fifth season is fast approaching and it looks absolutely killer. The latest trailer for S5 of Jason Rothenberg’s dystopian drama hints at even more emotional reunions and separations.
Genius (Nat Geo)
After season one gave audiences a complex look at Geoffrey Rush (Shakespeare in Love) as Albert Einstein, the follow up season will explore the life of Pablo Picasso with the hugely likeable Antonio Banderas (The Skin I Live In) playing the trailblazing painter.
Archer (FX)
Season nine of the cult-animated spy series features the titular character (H. Jon Benjamin) as a seaplane pilot in 1939. Don’t worry – regular cast members Judy Greer (Jurassic World), Amber Nash (Frisky Dingo), Jessica Walter (Arrested Development), and Aisha Tyler (Criminal Minds) will also return as their beloved characters. Archer concluded with season 14 in 2023.
Brockmire (IFC)
Starring Hank Azaria (The Birdcage), Amanda Peet (A Lot Like Love), and Tyrel Jackson Williams (Failure to Launch), the second season of this drunken dark comedy looks just as dizzying and hilarious as the first (and twice as messy).
The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
You’ve likely just about recovered from the first season Hulu’s bleak adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s classic novel. Ready for round two? Terrific. This season looks to be just as harrowing as the first with a trip to the dreaded Colonies on the cards. Emmy-winner Alexis Bledel (Sin City) is returning to the show along with Elisabeth Moss (The One I Love), while new faces will include Clea DuVall (Argo), Cherry Jones (Signs), Bradley Whitford (Get Out), and even Marisa Tomei (for one special episode). The Handmaid’s Tale ran six seasons through 2025.
Quantico (ABC)
Following delays and rumors of cancellation in 2017, fans will be relieved to discover the action-packed Priyanka Chopra FBI drama is back for its third season. Quantico was canceled after season 3 in May 2018.
Good Witch (Hallmark)
Ssh – we won’t tell anyone about your favorite guilty pleasure. Good Witch is back for a fourth season, centering on a magical mother-daughter duo who spellbind an entire community with their charms. Good Witch ended after seven seasons in 2021.
Elementary (CBS)
Lucy Liu (Charlie’s Angels) & Jonny Lee Miller (Trainspotting) are bringing their modern-day take on a New York City-based Sherlock Holmes back to CBS for a sixth season. No doubt their chemistry will be lit as ever and the mysteries will be worthy of a chin stroke.
Shows Canceled After Their April 2018 Returns or Premieres
Several titles from the April slate wrapped quickly. The Crossing ended after its single season. Famous in Love closed after season 2 in June 2018. Imposters concluded following its second season. Quantico wrapped after season 3 in May 2018. Rellik stayed a one-season miniseries. The pattern showed how quickly networks moved on when early numbers softened.
Long-Running Survivors from the April 2018 Slate
Other entries exceeded expectations. Bosch reached season 7 before spinning off into Bosch: Legacy. The Expanse continued on Amazon through season 6. The Handmaid’s Tale logged six seasons ending in 2025. Archer finished at season 14 in 2023. Good Witch ran seven seasons and closed in 2021. These longer arcs proved the April slate held lasting appeal for certain audiences.
Where to Stream the April 2018 Shows Today
Availability has shifted since the original airings. Bosch and Bosch: Legacy sit on Prime Video. The Expanse previously streamed on Prime with rights moving over time. The Handmaid’s Tale remains on Hulu. Archer and Legion appear across various platforms. Many others now live on ad-supported services or require purchase, reflecting how quickly catalogs rotate.
April 2018 Crossovers and Shared Universes
The month also highlighted connective tissue between properties. Fear the Walking Dead season 4 brought the first major crossover with The Walking Dead. Westworld season 2 expanded HBO’s prestige slate with fresh cast additions. Legion and Archer both landed on FX and leaned into inventive styles that set them apart from standard network fare. These overlaps gave viewers extra layers to track across channels.
Looking back, April 2018 captured a moment when networks and streamers still experimented with ambitious formats and quick pivots. The month’s mix of endings and extensions offers a clear snapshot of how quickly television fortunes can shift once episodes hit the air.
