Summer was once considered a dead zone for TV watching. Once all the network shows have wrapped up their seasons, you’re left with largely nothing to watch. Thanks to streaming services, like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime there are plenty of content to keep us entertained through those dog days of summer. The season is gearing up to be a good TV viewing time, and there are a number of shows I’m looking forward to watching.
1. Black Mirror
Last week Netflix finally released Season 5 of Charlie Brooker’s highly popular sci-fi anthology series. With only a total of three episodes, this is Black Mirror’s shortest season to date. But based on the trailer, promo images, and some of the newest cast of actors tied to this season, such as Miley Cyrus and Anthony Mackie, I’m always excited to see what new horrors Brooker and his writing team manage to cook up next. Black Mirror is available on Netflix now.
2. A Discovery of Witches
3. Good Omens
A demon and an angel who are friends and team up to prevent the end of the world? Sign me up! Good Omens is based on the novel by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, starring David Tennant as the demon and Michael Sheen as the angel. Similar to A Discovery of Witches, I have never read the book but I have heard of Good Omens. The first time I watched the trailer, not knowing much about the plot, I can tell this show will have plenty of humor and heart. Pairing Tennant and Sheen together onscreen is a match made on earth. These are two seasoned actors who have a knack for transforming themselves in any role they’re given and nearly steal every scene they’re in. I’m already anticipating that there will be a lot of hard to choose favorite scenes in this show. Good Omens is streaming now on Amazon Prime.
4. Stranger Things
Summer has arrived in Hawkins, Indiana and with it brings vacation, mall jobs, and sinister creatures bursting its way through from the Upside Down. After 2018 has been devoid of our favorite kids, they’re back and ready to face the new threats invading their town once more. Stranger Things has one of the best casts ever assembled and it’s one of the reasons to watch the show. There’s also a bit of a time jump between Season 2 and Season 3. I’m really looking forward to seeing how Eleven adjusts to having a more normal life and what her relationship to Hopper has been like since the end of Season 2. And more Dad Steve and Dustin cuteness! I can’t hardly wait! Season 3 of Stranger Things releases on Netflix on July 4.
5. Big Little Lies
Last year I managed to watch the first season of HBO’s Big Little Lies and I was instantly hooked. I couldn’t stop watching the show, as the seemingly perfect lives of these five different women, living in the affluent section of Monterey, California, come undone. Everyone has something to hide, but some secrets are far more explosive than others if the truth were to ever come out.
What makes Big Little Lies irresistible to watch is the amazing cast of actresses who give standout performances from beginning to end. When it was later announced that Big Little Lies will be getting a Season 2, I had my misgivings. As much as I love seeing Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, and Zoe Kravitz play off of each other, I kind of didn’t want the story extended beyond the original source material. Big Little Lies is a single novel by Liane Moriarty. The way the first season ends should be the definitive end of the story. Instead, because of it’s massive and critical success, Big Little Lies has been deemed good enough to get another season. Although I don’t agree with another season of Big Little Lies, I can’t deny that I am curious and a little excited to see what they can do with the story when there’s no book to fall back on. Big Little Lies Season 2 is now on HBO.
What will you be watching this summer?
I’m most excited for the new season of Veronica Mars this summer!!! I’ll also be watching Big Little Lies, The Handmaid’s Tale, Stranger Things and trying to catch up on Black Mirror (only watched the first two seasons so far). I recently finished the second season of Fleabag on Amazon Prime and I highly recommend that. It’s only 12 half hour episodes total between both seasons, so a pretty low time commitment. One of the best shows of the year I think.
I keep hearing a lot about Fleabag! I plan on adding it to my queue, but with all the list of shows out this summer, it’ll be difficult to find time to watch them all! I’m still behind on The Handmaid’s Tale (about 3 episodes in on Season 2), and there’s still some of the Marvel TV shows I want to see too! It really does help when some shows are either shorter lengths or seasons. Makes watching the shows you want to watch a little manageable.
We’re finishing up Good Omens. I’ll just say it’s totally worth watching and it’s far more…um…absurd (in a good way!) than its trailers let on. We’ve also been re-watching Stranger Things in prep for the new season – only a couple more weeks wait!
The last season of Jessica Jones just joined our watchlist, and I’m not sure what the think yet. The first episode was a little slow and packed in a lot of reminders about the characters. But it seems like we might get some good character treatment regarding Patsy, which should be fun.
*Trish, that is. You know who I mean. 🙂
I know exactly what you mean, haha! 🙂
I haven’t heard one bad thing about Good Omens yet and I’m definitely excited to start watching it soon.
I’ve been tempted to rewatch all of Stranger Things, but I never have enough time to really make the commitment. I still remember enough of the prior seasons to still be invested in the kids and Hawkins.
I’m behind on Jessica Jones at the moment, haven’t watched Season 2 yet, but I am curious to see how they wrap up the show and the character. Season 1 has been amazing and I hope Season 2 and 3 will give the series a proper send off. Sometimes finales can be a bit hit or miss.