It was largely a quiet summer on PBS, but the fall is an entirely different story. Three British dramas are lighting up PBS’ September prime-time schedule including the series premiere of Moonflower Murders, in addition to Ridley season 2 and Van der Valk season 4. Antiques Roadshow season 28 is resuming with new episodes as well.
When it comes to news, PBS is underrated as a nonpartisan media outlet. That perspective is going to be useful as the U.S. presidential election coverage heats up in September with news specials. And PBS is also making room on its schedule for documentaries about other subjects.
If you missed the best shows on PBS from August, you can still stream those online. But you will have to wait for the premiere dates listed below to catch everything coming to PBS in September.
POV — Name Me Lawand
Premieres: Monday, September 9
Lawand, deaf from birth, seeks a fresh start with his family in the U.K. after a traumatic year in a refugee camp. At Derby’s Royal School for the Deaf, he learns sign language and discovers a way to communicate with the world. As he thrives, his family faces deportation, challenging their stability. Name Me Lawand is a love letter to the power of friendship and community.
PBS News Special: ABC Presidential Debate Simulcast
Premieres: Tuesday, September 10
PBS News offers live special coverage of the ABC Presidential debate simulcast, co-anchored by Geoff Bennett and Amna Nawaz, with reporting from the News Hour team and featuring various guests.
Ridley season 2
Premieres: Sunday, September 15
In the heart-racing second season, retired detective-turned-police consultant Alex Ridley (Adrian Dunbar, Inside No. 9, Line of Duty) is set to rejoin forces with his former protégée, D.I. Carol Farman, portrayed by Bronagh Waugh (The Suspect, Unforgotten, The Fall),who is now at the helm of investigations.
Ridley returns to investigating crimes, which will take him from the atmospheric moors to the pulsating beats of an illegal rave. Ridley must face formidable challenges as he works tirelessly to solve the most intricate and perplexing cases.
Moonflower Murders on Masterpiece
Premieres: Sunday, September 15
Susan Ryeland (Lesley Manville, The Crown) has left publishing and is living in Crete with her longtime boyfriend, Andreas. But her idyll is disturbed by the shadow of a murder committed at a British country hotel eight years ago. Alan Conway visited the hotel and wrote a novel based on what happened there.
Cecily Treherne, the young woman who helps run the hotel, read the book and believed the wrong man had been arrested. Now she has disappeared. Can Susan uncover the secret hidden in the book and find Cecily before it is too late? Moonflower Murders on Masterpiece is based on the bestselling novel by Anthony Horowitz.
Van der Valk on Masterpiece season 4
Premieres: Sunday, September 15
Van der Valk (Marc Warren, The Good Wife, Beecham House) and his team return to investigate new crimes in Amsterdam. In addition to solving murder cases, Van der Valk must deal with an unwelcome past romance resurfacing and find a way to make one of his beloved team members confront their own mortality.
American Masters and Voces — Julia Alvarez: A Life Reimagined
Premieres: Tuesday, September 17
One of America’s most celebrated Latina writers, the Dominican-American poet and novelist Julia Alvarez burst on to the literary scene and blazed a trail for a generation of Latino authors. Her semiautobiographical novel, How the García Girls Lost Their Accents, was published in 1991, followed by In the Time of the Butterflies (1994), which raised global awareness about life under Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo.
This new documentary opens a window into her extraordinary journey from her childhood in the Dominican Republic to a life of exile in New York City to a brilliant literary career that shows no sign of slowing down. At 74, she recently published the critically acclaimed novel, The Cemetery of Untold Stories.
Big Cats 24/7
Premieres: Wednesday, September 18
In this six-part series, a team of local and international wildlife filmmakers uses the latest technology to follow a group of African big cats in Botswana’s awe-inspiring Okavango Delta, day and night for six months, revealing their lives like never before.
Deadlock
Premieres: Friday, September 20
This dynamic one-hour special aims to facilitate civil dialogue in an era dominated by polarizing debates. Moderated by Aaron Tang, professor at UC Davis School of Law, the series will feature a diverse panel of influential figures from legal, political, and cultural spheres delving into complex, ethical dilemmas based on real-life scenarios. A featured host will begin the hour, setting the tone and topic.
Frontline — South Korea’s Adoption Reckoning
Premieres: Friday, September 20
Frontline probes allegations of fraud and abuse in South Korea’s historic foreign adoption boom.
Antiques Roadshow season 28
New Episodes Starting Monday, September 23
Antiques Roadshow continues season 28 with the start of all-new fan-favorite Vintage episodes. Antiques Roadshow looks back at memorable objects from 15 years ago to discover what they are worth today and how the market and their value has changed.
Crossroads: A Conversation with America
Premieres: Monday, September 23
PBS News presents Crossroads: A Conversation with America, moderated by senior correspondent Judy Woodruff. In a one-hour town hall-style setting in the battleground state of Wisconsin, the prime-time special will explore the issues at the heart of our divisions and the values that bind us together, regardless of party or politics, as well as ideas for restoring a measure of civility to the public square. The program will be produced in partnership with Milwaukee PBS.
POV — Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law?
Premieres: Monday, September 23
At 21, he was a leader of Hong Kong’s Umbrella Revolution. By 23, he became Hong Kong’s youngest elected lawmaker. At 26, he was Most Wanted under the National Security Law. Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law? offers a close look at the city’s most famous dissident to uncover what happens to freedom when an authoritarian power goes unchecked.
Frontline — The Choice 2024: Harris vs. Trump
Premieres: Tuesday, September 24
Frontline investigates the lives and characters of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump as they seek the presidency. In an historic election, those who know the candidates best reveal key moments that shape how they would lead America.
Voces — American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos
Premieres: Friday, September 27
Actor and playwright John Leguizamo’s work in preparing for his 2018 Broadway show, Latin History for Morons, produced an obsession with reading and researching the history of the Americas. His passion for uncovering the full scope of American history, coupled with his nature as a curious student of the world, resulted in American Historia. In this three-part series, Leguizamo travels throughout Mexico and the U.S. to shed light on both the known and lesser-known Latino stories.
37th Hispanic Heritage Awards
Premieres: Friday, September 27
The evening commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month includes performances and appearances by some of the country’s most celebrated Hispanic artists and visionaries, including designer Carolina Herrera and NBA Legend Carmelo Anthony.
Independent Lens — One Person, One Vote?
Premieres: Monday, September 30
At a time when many Americans question democratic institutions, One Person, One Vote? unveils the complexities of the Electoral College while following four presidential electors in the 2020 election.