Preparing for More Mid-Season TV (March Edition)

We are only a few days into March and while there tends to be a lot of repeats during the doldrums of this month, there are still a few new dramas to look out for and a handful of mini-series to check out.

The list that follows highlights those new programming options for March:

This past Sunday saw the debut of two new mini-series on the History Channel. The first being The Bible, the 10-hour, 5-part live-action retelling narrated by Emmy winner Keith David that included the stories of Noah’s Ark, the Exodus, Daniel in the Lion’s Den and the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. The second is Vikings, the 9-hour mini-series that follows historical figure Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel from Tarzan and The Beast) as he rises up the ranks to become King of the Viking tribes.

Also that night the new drama Red Widow debuted. The focuses of the series is one woman’s journey into the world of organized crime after the death of her husband and how far she will go to keep her family safe.

On March 11 and 12, the two-night mini-series Ring of Fire will debut on Reelz Chanel and focuses on what happens when an oil rig causes an eruption in a small town, which is just the first in a series that could affect the dangerous Ring of Fire that contains most of the world’s volcanoes. The film stars Michael Vartan (Alias), Lauren Lee Smith (CSI and Mutant X), Terry O’Quinn (Lost) and Agam Darshi (Sanctuary).

The new A&E series Bates Motel will debut at 10 PM on March 18. This prequel of sorts to the classic box office movie Psycho will explore the formative years of Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore from Finding Neverland) and his relationship with his mother Norma (Vera Farmiga). The cast includes Max Thieriot, Nicola Peltz, Olivia Cooke, Mike Vogel, Nestor Carbonell, Keegan Connor Tracy and Richard Harmon.

That same night the Sundance Channel 7-part mini-series Top of the Lake will debut at 9 PM. The mystery of this film revolves around the disappearance of Tui, a pregnant 12-year-old. Investigative detective Robin Griffin (Elizabeth Moss from Mad Men) must lose herself in order to find the missing girl. During the investigation, she collides with Matt Mitcham (Peter Mullan from War Horse), Tui’s father, a local drug lord, and G.J (Holly Hunter), a guru at a local women’s camp. As the case unfolds, in a paradise where honest work is hard to find, Robin will find that her limits are tested, sending her on a journey of self-discovery. The cast includes David Wenham (Lord of the Rings), Jay Ryan (Beauty And the Beast) and Lucy Lawless (Spartacus: Vengeance).

On March 25 and 26, the new mini-series Barabbas will air on Reelz Channel at 9 PM on both nights. Billy Zane stars in the lead role of this special Easter TV event inspired by the novel by Par Lagerkvist that is rooted in the Bible about the man whose life was spared because of the death of Jesus Christ.

The new BBC America drama Orphan Black will debut at 9 PM. This sci-fi series explores what happens when a woman named Sarah (Tatiana Maslany from World Without End) finds out she’s a clone. Sarah is an outsider, orphan and street-wise chameleon who, after witnessing a woman’s suicide, assumes the stranger’s identity. Oddly enough, the woman looks just like her. Sarah is keen to solve her problems by taking on her lookalike’s identity and savings, but instead she is thrust into a dizzying mystery. Sarah learns early on that she and the woman are in fact clones — and that there are more people out there like her. It also doesn’t help that an assassin is pegging off clones one by one.

On March 31, there will be two new mini-series to debut, one on Ovation and the other on PBS. First, the four-hour mini Ben Hur will debut on Ovation at 8 PM that follows Judah Ben Hur (Joseph Morgan from The Vampire Diaries), a wealthy Jewish prince who is betrayed by his childhood friend, Messala. Eventually enslaved, Ben Hur becomes a hero when he saves the life of a Roman leader and soon receives new wealth and power. His quest, though, is to deliver vengeance upon Messala for the destruction of the Ben Hur family. During his journey for redemption, Ben Hur challenges his foe to a chariot race to the death. The cast includes Emily VanCamp (Revenge), Kristin Kreuk (Beauty And the Beast), Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey), Alex Kingston (Doctor Who), Ray Winstone (Great Expectations) and Ben Cross (William & Kate). Second, is the mini-series Mr. Selfridge that will begin at 9 PM on PBS as part of Masterpiece Classic. Jeremy Piven (Entourage) will star in the real-life story of Harry Gordon Selfridge, the flamboyan and visionary American founder of the famous London department store that revolutionized the modern shopping experience. This mini-series will run every week until May 19.

There is still more to come even though the 2012-2013 TV season is quickly coming to a close so be on the look-out for details on what is around the bend next month.