Summer TV preview: All the TV shows you need to know, and where to stream them
What TV shows are coming to streaming this summer? We break down titles to expect from AppleTV+, Hulu, Netflix, Max, Prime Video, and more.
Crank up your air conditioning and find the coziest spot on your couch, because it's time for summer television.
This summer promises a boatload of TV coming our way, be it old favorites or new obsessions. Beloved smash hits like Squid Game, The Bear, and Wednesday are almost back, while new comedies like Adults and Overcompensating aim to make you laugh your summer vacation away. And keep your eyes peeled for sci-fi series, mystery thrillers, and romances.
All this TV can be daunting, so we've picked out 43 titles for you to peruse across a wide variety of genres. Plus, we've sorted everything by streaming service, so you can figure out which shows you'll have access to, or which streamer you'll need to get in order to catch an upcoming series that strikes your fancy. Here are the TV shows you should keep an eye out for this summer.
What's coming to Apple TV+ this summer?
Apple TV+ has you covered across a wide range of genres this summer. Hungry for sci-fi? Feast your eyes on Murderbot. What about a historical epic? Check out Chief of War. More in the mood for a sports comedy? Stick should be right up your alley. But there's even more where that came from.
The Buccaneers, Season 2
You might have ventured into The Buccaneers' first season to satiate your thirst between seasons of Bridgerton without expecting much. However, this Regency romantic drama created by Katherine Jakeways, based on Edith Wharton's final novel, quickly found its own footing, offering diabolical narrative twists, long-simmering love stories, and a Taylor Swift-packed anachronistic soundtrack.
And now, it's back for a second season on Apple TV+, with the show's core American expats — Nan St. George (Kristine Frøseth), Jinny St. George (Imogen Waterhouse), Lizzy Elmsworth (Aubri Ibrag), Mabel Elmsworth (Josie Totah) and Conchita, Lady Brightlingsea (Alisha Boe) — all returning. But where these England newcomers felt like fish out of water last season, they're now either in positions of immense power or on the run. Drama will ensue! — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor
Starring: Kristine Frøseth, Alisha Boe, Aubri Ibrag, Josie Totah, Imogen Waterhouse, Christina Hendricks, Mia Threapleton, Josh Dylan, Guy Remmers, Matthew Broome, Barney Fishwick, Leighton Meester, Jacob Ifan, Grace Ambrose, Maria Almeida, and Greg Wise
How to watch: The Buccaneers Season 2 premieres June 18 on Apple TV+.
Chief of War
Jason Momoa takes on acting, writing, directing, and executive-producing duties in Chief of War, which he co-created with Thomas Pa'a Sibbett.
Based on true events, Chief of War transports viewers to Hawaii at the end of the 18th century, when the Hawaiian Islands are at war with one another. Enter warrior Ka'iana (Momoa), who undertakes a bloody campaign to unite the islands in the face of Western colonization. Prepare yourself for epic historical action, and to see the story of Hawaii's unification told from an Indigenous perspective. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter
Starring: Jason Momoa, Luciane Buchanan, Temuera Morrison, Te Ao o Hinepehinga, Cliff Curtis, Kaina Makua, Moses Goods, Siua Ikale‘o, Brandon Finn, James Udom, Mainei Kinimaka, and Te Kohe Tuhaka
How to watch: Chief of War premieres Aug. 1 on Apple TV+.
Murderbot
Martha Wells' Hugo–winning The Murderbot Diaries series comes to TV in this sci-fi comedy about an android who claims to despise humanity — but who may actually have more in common with humans than it cares to admit.
Alexander Skarsgård plays the titular Murderbot, a rogue security android who's gained autonomy by hacking its own governor module. Instead of using its newfound freedom to destroy the humans it works for, Murderbot tries its best to keep a low profile and watch all the TV it wants, including the space-set soap opera The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon. But when a mission it's chaperoning goes haywire, Murderbot finds itself getting closer to its scientist clients and facing its most daunting challenge yet: emotions. Come for another high-quality Apple TV+ sci-fi show, stay for Murderbot's snarky —yet super perceptive — inner monologue. — B.E.
Starring: Alexander Skarsgård, Noma Dumezweni, David Dastmalchian, Sabrina Wu, Akshay Khanna, Tattiawna Jones, and Tamara Podemski
How to watch: Murderbot premieres May 16 on Apple TV+.
Smoke
In 2022, Taron Egerton and Dennis Lehane teamed up for the riveting true crime miniseries Black Bird. The pair look to recreate the magic in the upcoming miniseries Smoke.
Inspired by true events and the podcast Firebug, Smoke stars Egerton and Jurnee Smollett as an arson investigator and a detective investigating two serial arsonists. Smollett earned an Emmy nomination for her leading role in Lovecraft Country, while Egerton received one for his role in Black Bird, so their team-up here sounds extra promising. — B.E.
Starring: Taron Egerton, Jurnee Smollett, Rafe Spall, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Hannah Emily Anderson, Anna Chlumsky, Adina Porter, Greg Kinnear, and John Leguizamo
How to watch: Smoke premieres June 27 on Apple TV+.
Stick
Apple TV+ struck gold in the realm of feel-good sports comedies with Ted Lasso. Can the streamer do it again with Stick?
This golf-centric comedy series stars Owen Wilson as Pryce Cahill, an ex-pro golfer whose career ended prematurely. Now, 20 years down the line, his marriage has collapsed, and he's lost his job at a sporting goods store. So Pryce gambles his future on one last big move and decides to focus all his energy on coaching troubled golf prodigy Santi (Peter Dager). Can these two beat the odds? — B.E.
Starring: Owen Wilson, Peter Dager, Marc Maron, Mariana Treviño, Lilli Kay, and Judy Greer
How to watch: Stick premieres June 4 on Apple TV+.
What's coming to Disney+ this summer?
Get ready for a double dose of Marvel on Disney+ this summer, with a bit of nostalgia on the side. Beloved stepbrothers Phineas and Ferb make their triumphant TV return, while new MCU titles like Ironheart and Eyes of Wakanda await.
Phineas and Ferb
Ferb, I know what we're gonna watch this summer. The Phineas and Ferb reboot, of course! The new season promises 104 more days of summer vacation, reuniting viewers with stepbrothers Phineas (voiced by Vincent Martella) and Ferb (voiced by David Errigo Jr.) as they dream up new ways to spend their summer.
Once again, their sister Candace (voiced by Ashley Tisdale) is on the warpath to bust their shenanigans, and once again, platypus Perry (aka Agent P) must thwart supervillain Dr. Doofenshmirtz (voiced by Dan Povenmire) from taking over the tri-state area. Brace yourself for boatloads of nostalgia — and boatloads of bangers. — B.E.
Starring: Vincent Martella, David Errigo Jr., Ashley Tisdale, Caroline Rhea, Dee Bradley Baker, Alyson Stoner, Dan Povenmire, and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh
How to watch: Phineas and Ferb premieres June 5 at 8 p.m. ET on the Disney Channel, and all episodes are streaming on Disney+ June 6.
Eyes of Wakanda
The four-episode animated miniseries Eyes of Wakanda takes us back into the history of Wakanda and the MCU. Directed by Todd Harris and executive produced by Black Panther director Ryan Coogler, the series follows the Wakandan warriors known as the Hatut Zeraze as they retrieve dangerous vibranium artifacts from across the globe. Maybe we'll even see the Black Panthers who preceded Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa, or older iterations of the Dora Milaje warriors.* — B.E.
Starring: Winnie Harlow, Cress Williams, Patricia Belcher, Larry Herron, Adam Gold, Lynn Whitfield, Jacques Colimon, Jona Xiao, Isaac Robinson-Smith, Gary Anthony Williams, Zeke Alton, Steve Toussaint, and Anika Noni Rose
How to watch: Eyes of Wakanda premieres Aug. 6 on Disney+.
Ironheart
Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) steps into the spotlight in Ironheart, created by Chinaka Hodge. First introduced in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Riri is a genius inventor who's hoping to make a mark on the world. Honestly, she already has! As an MIT student, she built a suit of armor on par with Tony Stark's — and she's just getting started. In Ironheart, she returns to her hometown of Chicago, where she'll cross paths with the mysterious Parker Robbins (Anthony Ramos), aka The Hood. What comes next is a collision between magic and technology that will lead Riri down a dangerous path.* — B.E.
Starring: Dominique Thorne, Anthony Ramos, Lyric Ross, Alden Ehrenreich, Regan Aliyah, Manny Montana, Matthew Elam, and Anji White
How to watch: Ironheart premieres June 24 on Disney+.
What's coming to Hulu/FX this summer?
Strangers, chefs, and aliens are just a sample of the fascinating characters you'll meet on Hulu (and FX on Hulu) this summer. Get ready for the comedy Adults, the Alien prequel Alien: Earth, and The Bear Season 4.
Adults
Created by Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw (The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon), Adults is an ensemble comedy about five twentysomethings in New York trying to become good people, even if they're barely fully fledged "people" yet. Samir (Malik Elassal), Billie (Lucy Freyer), Paul Baker (Jack Innanen), Issa (Amita Rao), and Anton (Owen Thiele) all crash in Samir's childhood home, where they experience the highs and lows of early adulthood together. From dating drama to work woes, Adults looks to paint a heightened picture of a pivotal moment in everyone's lives — and the groups of friends who are able to see us through.* — B.E.
Starring: Malik Elassal, Lucy Freyer, Jack Innanen, Amita Rao, and Owen Thiele
How to watch: Adults premieres May 28 on Hulu.
Alien: Earth
The Alien franchise comes to TV with Alien: Earth, a prequel series from Fargo's Noah Hawley. Set two years before the events of the original Alien, the show kicks off when a mysterious spaceship crash lands on Earth. As a group of ragtag tactical soldiers investigates, they'll come face to face with Earth's greatest threat. We're guessing face-hugging, chest-bursting, and more delicious sci-fi horror is in store. We’re also guessing the Weyland-Yutani corporation is going to be totally normal about this!* — B.E.
Starring: Sydney Chandler, Timothy Olyphant, Alex Lawther, Samuel Blenkin, Essie Davis, Adarsh Gourav, Kit Young, David Rysdahl, Babou Ceesay, Jonathan Ajayi, Erana James, Lily Newmark, Diêm Camille, Adrian Edmondson, Moe Bar-El, and Sandra Yi Sencindiver
How to watch: Alien: Earth premieres this summer on Hulu.
The Bear, Season 4
Perhaps The Bear can overcome its underwhelming third season and get back to top form in Season 4. After all, Season 3 left us with a ton of unanswered questions: What did the restaurant review of The Bear really say? Will Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) finally talk things over with Claire (Molly Gordon)? Did Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) accept a job offer at another restaurant? Who knows! One thing’s for sure: I bet we’re in for a healthy serving of mouthwatering cooking scenes. Here’s hoping they just come with a side of much-needed evolution.* — B.E.
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas, Abby Elliott, Matty Matheson, Edwin Lee Gibson, Corey Hendrix, Oliver Platt, Molly Gordon, Ricky Staffieri, and Jamie Lee Curtis
How to watch: The Bear Season 4 premieres this summer on Hulu.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Season 17
The gang's all back in Season 17 of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which celebrates the 20th anniversary of its series premiere this August. On the docket is the conclusion to Always Sunny's crossover with Abbott Elementary, this time told from the gang's perspective. Surely their volunteer time at Abbott couldn't have been that bad of a catastrophe, right? Right? — B.E.
Starring: Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Kaitlin Olson, Danny DeVito, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, and David Hornsby
Nine Perfect Strangers, Season 2
If you desperately want The White Lotus to do a ski resort-themed season, then check into Season 2 of Nine Perfect Strangers.
Set at a wellness retreat in the Austrian Alps, Season 2 re-introduces enigmatic guru Masha Dmitrichenko (Nicole Kidman). Joining her are nine new strangers seeking spiritual well-being, played by big names like Crazy Rich Asians' Henry Golding, Schitt's Creek's Annie Murphy, The Gilded Age's Christine Baranski, and The White Lotus' Murray Bartlett. — B.E.
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Henry Golding, Murray Bartlett, Christine Baranski, Annie Murphy, Dolly De Leon, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, King Princess, Aras Aydin, Lucas Englander, Mark Strong, and Lena Olin
How to watch: Nine Perfect Strangers Season 2 premieres May 21 on Hulu.
Rick and Morty, Season 8
Rick & Morty returns with more high-concept sci-fi mayhem! Season 7 saw Rick face down his vicious nemesis Rick Prime, and Morty tackle his own personal Fear Hole. What could Season 8 possibly do to top those heart-wrenching yet hilarious episodes? Well, for starters, a weird-ass Easter episode, as previewed in Season 8's teaser.
The trailer above revealed even more, including a death race car, a scream-worthy Matrix-like experiment involving Morty and Summer, a Space Beth adventure, and a clutch of alternate dimension Ricks and Mortys that seem to have escaped Evil Morty's annihilation at the Citadel of Ricks. And if you're aching for more clues for what Season 8 has in store, check out the titles teased for the upcoming episodes: "Summer of All Fears," "Valkyrick," "The Rick, The Mort, & The Ugly," "The Last Temptation of Jerry," "Cryo Mort a Rickver," "The Curicksous Case of Bethjamin Button," "Ricker Than Fiction," "Nomortland," "Morty Daddy," and "Hot Rick." — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor
Starring: Ian Cardoni, Harry Belden, Sarah Chalke, Chris Parnell, and Spencer Grammer
How to watch: Rick and Morty Season 8 premieres May 25 at 11 p.m. ET on Adult Swim, and streams on Hulu starting Sept. 1. It also begins streaming on Max Sept. 1.
Washington Black
Based on the novel by Esi Edugyan, limited series Washington Black tells the story of George Washington "Wash" Black (Ernest Kingsley Jr.), an 11-year-old boy who escapes from a 19th-century Barbados plantation. On the run after a shocking death, Wash crosses paths with a number of new characters on his adventures, including gregarious refugee Medwin Harris (Sterling K. Brown), the de facto mayor of Black Halifax, Nova Scotia. — B.E.
Starring: Ernest Kingsley Jr., Sterling K. Brown, Iola Evans, Eddie Karanja, Edward Bluemel, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Rupert Graves, Shaunette Renée Wilson, Tom Ellis, and Charles Dance
How to watch: Washington Black premieres this summer on Hulu.
What's coming to HBO/Max this summer?
Several major Max shows return this summer, including And Just Like That..., The Gilded Age, and Conan O'Brien Must Go. On the new shows front, get ready to roll with crime thriller Duster.
And Just Like That..., Season 3
And just like that... there's a third season of the Sex and the City reboot. After those major cameos, anti-Android sentiments, strangely minimal use of Carrie Bradshaw's (Sarah Jessica Parker) voiceover, and big moments of the finale, And Just Like That... Season 2 threw a lot at us. Season 3 picks up in the summer, with Carrie enjoying her new place in Gramercy Park — and narrating again! Things between her and Aidan (John Corbett) remain fairly undefined, but anything's possible in New York in the summer, right?* — S.C.
Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, Mario Cantone, Sarita Choudhury, Evan Handler, David Eigenberg, Nicole Ari Parker, John Corbett, Sebastiano Pigazzi, Dolly Wells, Mehcad Brooks, Jonathan Cake, and Logan Marshall-Green
How to watch: And Just Like That... Season 3 premieres May 29 on Max.
Conan O'Brien Must Go, Season 2
There's something deeply enjoyable about watching Conan O'Brien interacting with other human beings, whether they're fans from his podcast, former colleagues that he shares a deep love/hate relationship with, or random celebrities like Javier Bardem and Taika Waititi. All of these feature in Season 2 of comedy travel show Conan O'Brien Must Go, which sees the former late night host visiting the home countries of random people he's met on his call-in podcast Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend — this time Spain, New Zealand, and Austria. The show has plenty of slapstick humor (O'Brien singing and dancing in costume is a regular occurrence), but it's in the more low-key, improvised moments with everyday people in the street that this show really shines. — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor
Starring: Conan O'Brien
How to watch: Conan O'Brien Must Go premieres May 8 on Max.
Duster
Crime drama Duster promises high-octane thrills courtesy of J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan (Shameless, The Walking Dead). Set in the American Southwest in the 1970s, the series centers on the FBI's first Black female agent (Rachel Hilson, Red, White & Royal Blue), who teams up with a getaway driver (Josh Holloway, Lost) in order to take down a formidable crime syndicate.* — B.E.
Starring: Rachel Hilson, Josh Holloway, Keith David, Sydney Elisabeth, Greg Grunberg, Camille Guaty, Asivak Koostachin, Adriana Aluna Martinez, and Benjamin Charles Watson
How to watch: Duster premieres May 15 on Max.
The Gilded Age, Season 3
The 1800s-set period series The Gilded Age returns for more old money versus new money squabbles, gorgeous gowns, and lauded Broadway stars sinking their teeth into Julian Fellowes' scripts. Here's hoping that we get more petty beefs between America's uber-wealthy, and that Bertha and George Russell (Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector) get whatever they damn well want.* — B.E.
Starring: Carrie Coon, Christine Baranski, Morgan Spector, Cynthia Nixon, Louisa Jacobson, Denée Benton, Harry Richardson, Taissa Farmiga, Blake Ritson, Taylor Richardson, Phylicia Rashad, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Jordan Donica, Victoria Clark, Merritt Wever, Bill Camp, Leslie Uggams, LisaGay Hamilton, Paul Alexander Nolan, Hattie Morahan, Andrea Martin, Jessica Frances Dukes, Dylan Baker, Kate Baldwin, Michael Cumpsty, John Ellison Conlee, Bobby Steggert, and Hannah Shealy
How to watch: The Gilded Age Season 3 premieres June 22 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and Max.
What's coming to Netflix this summer?
Two of Netflix's biggest titles get new seasons this summer: Squid Game closes out its run with its third and final season, while Jenna Ortega gets creepier and kookier in Wednesday Season 2. But that's just the tip of the Netflix iceberg.
Big Mouth, Season 8
With its eighth season, Big Mouth becomes Netflix's longest-running series. But now it's time to say goodbye, as this is also the animated comedy's final season.
Kicking off in 2017, Big Mouth followed a batch of mixed-up middle schoolers (voiced by the likes of John Mulaney, Nick Kroll, Jessi Klein, and Jason Mantzoukas) through the highs and lows of puberty. Along the way they've faced social disasters, changing bodies, sexual urges, hormone monsters, and a whole array of emotion-centric critters who got their own spinoff with Human Resources. But in Season 8, besties Nick and Andrew have new misadventures and fresh anxieties to tackle. How will they climax? You'll have to tune in to find out. — K.P.
Starring: Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, Jessi Klein, Jason Mantzoukas, Ayo Edebiri, Maya Rudolph, Fred Armisen, Jordan Peele, and Andrew Rannells
How to watch: Big Mouth Season 8 premieres May 23 on Netflix.
Forever
For decades, the books of Judy Blume have spoken to kids and teenagers on their level about life, loss, love, and much, much more. Her frankness about things like sex and menstruation has made her a controversial figure whose books have been banned — as covered in the documentary Judy Blume Forever. Now, one of her most frequently banned books is a new Netflix series.
Published in 1975, Forever… sought to demystify and destigmatize teen sex by centering on a pair of high school seniors who fall in love and explore that love through physical intimacy. While a lot has changed since this novel first hit shelves, producer Mara Brock Akil felt the story at its core was timeless. So, she reconceived Forever..., setting it in 2018 Los Angeles, where two Black teens, Keisha (Lovie Simone) and Justin (Michael Cooper Jr.) fall for each other, flirting through text messages and facing modern concerns about dating and balance. From the looks of Forever's first trailer, this series will be a must-watch. — K.P.
Starring: Lovie Simone, Michael Cooper Jr., Xosha Roquemore, Marvin Lawrence Winans III, Wood Harris, Barry Shabaka Henley, Niles Fitch, Paigion Walker, and E’myri Crutchfield
How to watch: Forever premieres May 8 on Netflix.
FUBAR, Season 2
Arnold Schwarzenegger rings in the summer with a whole lot of action in FUBAR Season 2.
Season 1 ended with the bombshell reveal that the show's central CIA operatives' covers have been blown. Now, Luke Brunner (Schwarzenegger) and his daughter Emma (Monica Barbaro) will have to clean that mess — and more — to survive. But they're not alone. Joining the cast this season is The Matrix legend Carrie-Anne Moss, who plays a former East German spy (who's also Luke's ex). — B.E.
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Monica Barbaro, Carrie-Anne Moss, Travis Van Winkle, Fortune Feimster, Milan Carter, Scott Thompson, Fabiana Udenio, Andy Buckley, Jay Baruchel, Adam Pally, Tom Arnold, Aparna Brielle, and Barbara Eve Harris
How to watch: FUBAR Season 2 premieres June 12 on Netflix.
Ginny & Georgia, Season 3
Buckle up, Peaches! We're heading back to Wellsbury, Massachusetts, for Ginny & Georgia Season 3, and things are only going to get more complicated for our titular mother-daughter pair.
Season 2 ended with Georgia (Brianne Howey) under arrest for the murder of Tom (Vincent Legault), and you can bet Season 3 will pick right back up with her trial. Meanwhile, Georgia's daughter Ginny (Antonia Gentry) tries to piece her life back together after her mother's arrest. In true Ginny & Georgia fashion, expect even more drama on the horizon. — B.E.
Starring: Brianne Howey, Antonia Gentry, Felix Mallard, Sara Waisglass, Diesel La Torraca, Jennifer Robertson, Scott Porter, Raymond Ablack, Katie Douglas, Chelsea Clark, Nathan Mitchell, Katelyn Wells, Ty Doran, and Noah Lamanna
How to watch: Ginny & Georgia Season 3 premieres June 5 on Netflix.
Leanne
Looking for a classic multi-cam sitcom? Netflix has you covered with Leanne, co-created by Leanne Morgan and Chuck Lorre (The Big Bang Theory, The Kominsky Method). The series kicks off when Leanne's (Morgan) husband of 33 years leaves her for another woman. Now, she has to pick up the pieces of her marriage and start over, which is the last thing she expected! Luckily, she has the rest of her family to help her through. — B.E.
Starring: Leanne Morgan, Kristen Johnston, Graham Rogers, Hannah Pilkes, Ryan Stiles, Celia Weston, and Blake Clark
How to watch: Leanne premieres this summer on Netflix.
Long Story Short
Anyone who's seen BoJack Horseman will know the power held by creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg to make you cry-laugh at cartoons, so the news that he has a new animated show coming out is a big deal. Details on Long Story Short are fairly slim, but the Netflix series will tell the story of a family over time, including — according to Bob-Waksberg — "the shared history, the inside jokes, the old wounds." In other words, prepare yourself for more clever visual gags and smart humour mixed with the occasional side of crushing despair. — S.H.
Starring: The cast of Long Story Short has yet to be revealed.
How to watch: Long Story Short premieres this summer on Netflix.
The Sandman, Season 2
The Sandman comes to an end in its second and final season, finishing up the story of Dream (Tom Sturridge) as he works to rebuild his kingdom of the Dreaming. This season of the fantasy epic covers the Brief Lives and Seasons of the Mist portions of The Sandman graphic novels, introducing new members of the Endless family, as well as Greek gods like Loki, Odin, and Thor. This season is also the first adaptation of Neil Gaiman's work to be released following allegations of sexual misconduct. — B.E.
Starring: Tom Sturridge, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Mason Alexander Park, Donna Preston, Esmé Creed-Miles, Adrian Lester, Barry Sloane, Patton Oswalt, Vivienne Acheampong, Gwendoline Christie, Jenna Coleman, Ferdinand Kingsley, Stephen Fry, Asim Chaudhry, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Razane Jammal, Ruairi O’Connor, Freddie Fox, Clive Russell, Laurence O’Fuarain, Ann Skelly, Douglas Booth, Jack Gleeson, Indya Moore, and Steve Coogan
How to watch: The Sandman Season 2 Volume 1 premieres July 3 on Netflix. Volume 2 premieres July 24.
Sirens
Julianne Moore, Meghann Fahy, Milly Alcock, and Kevin Bacon swim into the star-studded limited Netflix series Sirens. This dark comedy hinges on the mysterious Cliff House, a sprawling mansion on a lush island, where preppy-in-pink staff manager Simone (Alcock) handles things for glamorous owner Michaela (Moore). Simone's flustered sister Devon (Fahy) turns up on Labor Day weekend, pretty pissed her sister didn't show up after she told her about their father's diagnosis of early onset dementia. But there's something more afoot here, as pastel-clad guests turn up and Michaela wields a scepter to address them all. — S.C.
Starring: Julianne Moore, Meghann Fahy, Milly Alcock, Kevin Bacon, Glenn Howerton, Felix Solis, Bill Camp, Josh Segarra, Trevor Salter, Britne Oldford, Lauren Weedman, and Jenn Lyon
How to watch: Sirens premieres May 22 on Netflix.
Squid Game, Season 3
Still reeling from the cliffhanger ending of Squid Game Season 2? Don't worry, you won't have to wait another three years to find out what happens next. The show's third and final season is already shot, and it premieres this summer.
Hopefully, this season will gives us some answers to our biggest questions: What are the full consequences of Gi-hun's (Lee Jung-jae) rebellion? What happens when he finds out the Front Man's (Lee Byung-hun) true identity? And perhaps most importantly, will Jun-ho (Wi Ha-jun) ever get off that damn boat?* — B.E.
Starring: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-jun, Lee Byung-hun, Gong Yoo, Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, Park Sung-hoon, Jo Yuri, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, and Roh Jae-won
How to watch: Squid Game Season 3 premieres June 27 on Netflix.
Too Much
Lena Dunham's return to TV eight years after Girls ended comes with Too Much, a romantic comedy co-created with her husband Luis Felber. The Netflix series sees Megan Stalter in the lead as Jessica, a woman who leaves New York for London after a messy breakup. Here, she meets the dashing Felix (Will Sharpe, The White Lotus, A Real Pain), and you know the rest. But prepare for twists and turns along the way — Notting Hill ain't a straight road. — S.C.
Starring: Megan Stalter, Will Sharpe, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Adwoa Aboah, Andrew Rannells, Daisy Bevan, Dean-Charles Chapman, Emily Ratajkowski, Janicza Bravo, Kaori Momoi, Leo Reich, Michael Zegen, Prasanna Puwanarajah, Rhea Perlman, Richard E. Grant, Rita Wilson, and Stephen Fry
How to watch: Too Much premieres this summer on Netflix.
The Waterfront
A new dysfunctional family is hitting our screens in The Waterfront, starring The Iron Claw's Holt McCallany. McCallany plays Harlan Buckley, the patriarch of the Buckley family, who have ruled the fishing town of Havenport, North Carolina, for decades. But the Buckleys' grip on the town is loosening as Harlan recovers from two heart attacks. In order to regain the family's foothold, Harlan's wife Belle (Maria Bello) and son Cane (Jake Weary) take some dangerous risks. Will they pay off? Or will the Buckleys sink beneath the waves? — B.E.
Starring: Holt McCallany, Maria Bello, Jake Weary, Melissa Benoist, Rafael L. Silva, Humberly González, Danielle Campbell, and Brady Hepner
How to watch: The Waterfront premieres June 19 on Netflix.
Untamed
Eric Bana stars as a special agent for the National Parks Service in Netflix mystery thriller Untamed. And honestly? You had me at "National Parks mystery." The series centers on Kyle Turner (Bana) as he investigates a brutal death, uncovers dark park secrets, and confronts his own past. Here's hoping we'll get some gorgeous National Parks scenery to go along with his case. — B.E.
Starring: Eric Bana, Sam Neill, Rosemarie DeWitt, Lily Santiago, and Wilson Bethel
How to watch: Untamed premieres this summer on Netflix.
Wednesday, Season 2
Da-da-da-da! Click click! We've been tormented by the tiny clues and behind-the-scenes snippets from Season 2 of Tim Burton's Netflix series, but finally, Wednesday is returning to Netflix. Jenna Ortega is back in the braids and pinstripes as our spooky eponymous queen, returning to the Nevermore Academy with her best teen werewolf friend Enid Sinclair (Emma Myers) and siren Bianca Barclay (Joy Sunday). But what lies in store for the students this time around? We don't know much, but we do know there's going to be a bunch of new faces (just check out that cast list). Remember that dance? It's probably time to break it out again.* — S.C.
Starring: Jenna Ortega, Emma Myers, Joy Sunday, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzmán, Bianca Barclay, Moosa Mostafa, Georgie Farmer, Victor Dorobantu, Hunter Doohan, Isaac Ordonez, Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo, Jamie McShane, Fred Armisen, Steve Buscemi, Billie Piper, Evie Templeton, Owen Painter, Noah Taylor, Christopher Lloyd, Joanna Lumley, Thandiwe Newton, Frances O'Connor, Haley Joel Osment, Heather Matarazzo, and Joonas Suatamo
How to watch: Wednesday Season 2 Part 1 premieres Aug. 6 on Netflix, with Part 2 premiering Sept. 3.
What's coming to Paramount+/Showtime this summer?
What do the Star Trek franchise and Dexter Morgan have in common? They're both major players on Paramount+ this summer.
Dexter: Resurrection
Contrary to what the Dexter: New Blood finale would have you believe, Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) isn't dead. Dexter: Resurrection fittingly resurrects the serial killer antihero for one more (last?) ride. This time, he's following his son and would-be killer Harrison (Jack Alcott) to New York City, where I'm sure we're in for a sweet, loving family reunion.
Dexter players like David Zayas, John Lithgow, and Jimmy Smits are all returning for Resurrection, with Peter Dinklage and Uma Thurman joining up as some of Dexter's new enemies. Who will prevail, and who will leave this season in a body bag? — B.E.
Starring: Michael C. Hall, James Remar, David Zayas, Jack Alcott, Peter Dinklage, Uma Thurman, Krysten Ritter, Neil Patrick Harris, David Dastmalchian, Steve Schirripa, John Lithgow, and Jimmy Smits
How to watch: Dexter: Resurrection premieres July 11 on Paramount+ with Showtime.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Season 3
Paramount+ has a dazzling array of Star Trek shows and movies old and new, including 2025's film spinoff Star Trek: Section 31 starring Michelle Yeoh. But only one of these series can be called the delightfully horniest of the bunch, and that'd be Strange New Worlds.
Centering on a time when Spock (Ethan Peck) was not only young and hot, but also everyone (including Carol Kane as a flirtatious engineer) was hot for him, Strange New Worlds doesn't take itself as seriously as some of the classic Trek shows. To that point, this series has already offered a musical episode that including move-busting Klingons and a crossover episode with the animated comedy Lower Decks, which resulted in all kinds of epic adventure and hilarity.
What does Season 3 have in store? Paramount gave a glimpse of some of the action and drama to come out of New York Comic Con last fall. But we suspect the show's biggest surprises are being held close to their coms badges. We can't wait to see them.* — K.P.
Starring: Anson Mount, Ethan Peck, Jess Bush, Christina Chong, Celia Rose Gooding, Melissa Navia, Babs Olusanmokun, Bruce Horak, Rebecca Romijn, and Martin Quinn
How to watch: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 premieres this summer on Paramount+.
What's coming to Peacock this summer?
This summer, Peacock delivers the second seasons of Rian Johnson's whodunnit Poker Face, starring Natasha Lyonne, and video game adaptation Twisted Metal, starring Anthony Mackie.
Poker Face, Season 2
Rian Johnson and Natasha Lyonne put a delightful spin on Columbo in Poker Face, which sees Lyonne sniffing out crime as "human lie detector" Charlie Cale. In Season 1, she solved murders everywhere from racetracks to dinner theaters, so who knows what's in store for her next?
One thing's for sure: Like in Season 1, Poker Face Season 2 will be packed with high-profile guest stars. Among the faces you can expect are John Mulaney, Ego Nwodim (Saturday Night Live), Sam Richardson (Veep), Giancarlo Esposito (The Boys), Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Kumail Nanjiani (Only Murders in the Building), and Margo Martindale (The Sticky). There's even more where those came from, and that's no lie.* — B.E.
Starring: Natasha Lyonne, John Mulaney, Ego Nwodim, Sam Richardson, Giancarlo Esposito, Katie Holmes, Gaby Hoffmann, Kumail Nanjiani, Sherry Cola, Kevin Corrigan, Ben Marshall, Kathrine Narducci, Cynthia Erivo, BJ Novak, and Margo Martindale
How to watch: Poker Face Season 2 premieres May 8 on Peacock.
Twisted Metal, Season 2
Peacock's adaptation of the Twisted Metal games continues in Season 2. Based on the end of Season 1, we'll be seeing the titular tournament in action, so strap in for some serious car-on-car violence. Plus, get ready to learn more about John's (Anthony Mackie) mysterious sister Dollface, last seen on the hunt for her brother.* — B.E.
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Stephanie Beatriz, Samoa Joe, Will Arnett, Michael James Shaw, Saylor Bell Curda, Lisa Gilroy, Anthony Carrigan, Richard de Klerk, Patty Guggenheim, and Tiana Okoye
How to watch: Twisted Metal Season 2 premieres July 31 on Peacock.
What's coming to Prime Video this summer?
YA drama, crime thrillers, and more await on Prime Video this summer. Teen romance The Summer I Turned Pretty brings its love triangle to a close, while college comedy Overcompensating and crime series The Better Sister are just kicking off.
The Better Sister
Alafair Burke's crime novel The Better Sister gets the TV treatment with Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks in the lead. In the new eight-part series from Prime Video, the pair play estranged sisters Chloe (Biel) and Nicky (Banks), whose reunion comes after Chloe's husband, Adam (Corey Stoll), is brutally murdered.
But there's more going on under the surface here, as Adam is actually also Nicky's ex, who married her sister and lived with her along with Nicky's teen son Ethan (Maxwell Acee Donovan). Bit awkward. Suffice to say tensions are high. Chloe and Nicky must wade into family secrets as Detectives Nancy Guidry (Kim Dickens) and Matt Bowen (Bobby Naderi) investigate his death, and the sisters try to keep the press off their lawn. — S.C.
Starring: Jessica Biel, Elizabeth Banks, Corey Stoll, Kim Dickens, Maxwell Acee Donovan, Bobby Naderi, Gabriel Sloyer, Gloria Reuben, Matthew Modine, and Lorraine Toussaint
How to watch: The Better Sister premieres May 29 on Prime Video.
Countdown
Jensen Ackles, Eric Dane, and Jessica Camacho lead Countdown, an action series about the murder of a Department of Homeland Security Officer, and the LAPD detective (Ackles) tasked with investigating it. He joins a secret task force of undercover agents who discover a sinister plot that could kill millions. What follows is an explosive race against the clock — but hopefully not too explosive, for the sake of the citizens of L.A. — B.E.
Starring: Jensen Ackles, Eric Dane, Jessica Camacho, Violett Beane, Elliot Knight, and Uli Latukefu
How to watch: Countdown premieres June 25 on Prime Video.
Motorheads
Rev your engines if you're in the mood for YA drama, because that's what Motorheads looks to deliver in spades. The series takes place in a once-thriving rust belt town, where a group of high schoolers form an unlikely bond over street racing. Could Motorheads join The Summer I Turned Pretty in the ranks of Prime Video teen drama royalty? — B.E.
Starring: Ryan Phillippe, Nathalie Kelley, Michael Cimino, Melissa Collazo, Uriah Shelton, Nicolas Cantu, Drake Rodger, Josh Macqueen, Mia Healey, Matt Lanter, Audrey Gerthoffer, and Johnna Dias-Watson
How to watch: Motorheads premieres May 20 on Prime Video.
Overcompensating
Mourning the loss of The Sex Lives of College Girls and searching for another college-set comedy? Look no further than the absolutely hilarious Overcompensating, created by comedian Benito Skinner and produced by A24.
The semi-autobiographical series focuses on Benny (Skinner), a closeted former football player and homecoming king navigating the ins and outs of college life, including frat houses, fake IDs, and embarrassing hookups. Oh, and Charli XCX is involved too, wearing multiple hats as executive producer, executive music producer, and star. The mastermind behind brat summer plays herself, yelling in the trailer, "Do you think I want to play fucking 'Boom Clap' in a fucking college? Are you joking?" (Maybe she'll play "365" instead?) — B.E.
Starring: Benito Skinner, Wally Baram, Mary Beth Barone, Adam DiMarco, Rish Shah, Andrea Martin, Connie Britton, Kyle MacLachlan, Kaia Gerber, Julia Shiplett, Tommy Do, Alexandra Beaton, Claire Qute, Elias Azimi, Maddie Phillips, and Charli XCX
How to watch: Overcompensating premieres May 15 on Prime Video.
The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy, Season 2
It’s the year 14,002 in a space hospital in the Ergulon galaxy. Alien surgeons and BFFs Dr. Sleech (Stephanie Hsu, Everything Everywhere All at Once) and Dr. Klak (Keke Palmer, One of Them Days) have one doozy of a case on their hands — with the chance to cure anxiety for good. From showrunner, writer, and executive producer Cirocco Dunlap comes The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy, a new animated series with major talent backing it up — Maya Rudolph, Natasha Lyonne, and Danielle Renfrew Behrens are on board as executive producers. Plus, the voice cast and cameo lineup for this one is stacked. — S.C.
Starring: Keke Palmer, Stephanie Hsu, Kieran Culkin, Sam Smith, Maya Rudolph, and Natasha Lyonne
How to watch: The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy Season 2 premieres May 27 on Prime Video.
The Summer I Turned Pretty, Season 3
Prime Video's teen drama The Summer I Turned Pretty comes to a close in its third and final season, and the question remains: Which of the Fisher brothers will be Belly's (Lola Tung) endgame?
For now, the answer appears to be Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno), whom Belly chose over his brother Conrad (Christopher Briney) at the end of Season 2. Season 3 picks up at the end of Belly's junior year of college — that's right, it's a time jump! — and she and Jeremiah are still happily together. But when a surprise turn of events brings Conrad back into her life, Belly will once again have to choose between brothers. We can't guarantee how faithfully The Summer I Turned Pretty will follow the end of Jenny Han's book series, but we can guarantee one thing: There will definitely be Taylor Swift on the soundtrack. It wouldn't be The Summer I Turned Pretty without it. — B.E.
Starring: Lola Tung, Christopher Briney, Gavin Casalegno, Sean Kaufman, Rain Spencer, and Jackie Chung
How to watch: The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 premieres July 16 on Prime Video.
What's coming to Starz this summer?
The biggest story on Starz this summer is the release of Outlander prequel, Outlander: Blood of My Blood.
Outlander: Blood of My Blood
Outlander fans know all about the time-traveling love story of Claire (Caitríona Balfe) and Jamie (Sam Heughan) — but what about their parents' love stories?
Prequel Outlander: Blood of My Blood weaves the romances of the two couples together and delivers origin stories for key Outlander players. Claire's parents, Julia Moriston (Hermione Corfield) and Henry Beauchamp (Jeremy Irvine), cross paths during the horrors of World War I, while Jamie's parents, Ellen MacKenzie (Harriet Slater) and Brian Fraser (Jamie Roy), meet in the Scottish Highlands in the 18th century. Before Outlander airs its eighth and final season, Blood of My Blood is sure to tide over Outlander fans' cravings for sweeping romance. — B.E.
Starring: Hermione Corfield, Jeremy Irvine, Harriet Slater, Jamie Roy, Tony Curran, Séamus McLean Ross, Sam Retford, Rory Alexander, and Conor MacNeill
(*) means a blurb has previously appeared on another list.
