Ah, May; the time of year when the birds chirp again, the weather warms up, and you’re ready to hit the pool. May is also the time of the year when most TV shows take their summer breaks by the pool. In the past, this would have meant a summer filled with endless reruns game shows; but, thanks to cable and streaming services,television execs have come to realize the potential summer TV has, and there are a number of great shows that will be premiering during the hot months of June, July, and August.
While there are a lot of shows coming to a cable or streaming service near you this summer, here are my personal favorites that I really need for you to check out while you’re working on your tan.
7’Ginny & Georgia' (Season 3)
Premiering on Netflix June 5th
The show that took everyone by storm when most of us were dodging the virus-that-shall-not-be-named,Ginny & Georgiawas an instant hit when it premiered on Netflix in early 2021. StarringBrianne HoweyandAntonia Gentry(along with a couple ofDegrassialums,Sara WaisglassandRaymond Ablack), this wholesome comedy-drama centers on the Miller family moving to a small New England town after Georgia’s (Howey) husband dies.
Filled with a tender mix of laughs and emotions,Ginny & Georgiais a lot more than your typical teenage drama. It’s kind of like a modern-day version ofGilmore Girls, with a tang ofDesperate Housewivesmixed in for good measure. Season 3 promises to be a bang, with Georgia being accused of murder, and Ginny (Gentry) figuring out how to deal with this, along with all the pressures high school can bring.
Ginny & Georgia
6’The Gilded Age' (Season 3)
Premiering on HBO June 22nd
If you’re a big fan of historical dramas,The Gilded Ageshould be at the top of your summer watchlist. The HBO series centers around Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson), a young woman who tries to fit into the social scene of 1882 New York City. Brook comes from old money, but most of her daily conflicts center around the Russell family (Carrie CoonandMorgan Spector), who come from new money and are more attuned to the rigid scene. Making things even more complicated: Their neighbors.
Unlike the more well-knownBridgerton,The Gilded Agedoes a better job showcasing the complexities of upper-class at the time, and is, overall, more grounded in the reality of that era instead of a re-imagining. In fact, it’s a lot less Bridgerton, and more like an American version ofDownton Abbey. In any case, you’ll find plenty of entertaining and relatable storylines inThe Gilded Age.
The Gilded Age
5’The Bear' (Season 4)
Premiering on FX/Hulu June 25th
Brilliant. Controversial. These are the words that have often described FX’s brilliant comedy-dramaThe Bear, and for good reason. The premise is rather cynical, and follows a young chef (Jeremy Allen White) who returns to his hometown of Chicago to turn around his late-brother’s failing Italian beef restaurant. Along the way, he has to deal with all sorts of problems, from his brother’s crushing debt, a horribly outdated kitchen, and a staff that is unruly, at best. Oh, and while he’s dealing with all of this, he also has to deal with his own trauma and suffering.
The Bearexpertly tackles some pretty heavy topics, such as suicide and trauma; but the show has also become a lightning rod within the restaurant industry, with many employees in this field praising the show for its near-realistic portrayal of the industry. This is thanks to the series’ brilliant writing and performances, especially from White andAyo Edebiri.
4’Squid Game' (Season 3)
Premiering on Netflix June 27th
I remember the first time I turned onSquid Game. I was on vacation and looking for something to watch on my laptop. Sure, I’ve heard of the Netflix dystopian drama, but I didn’t pay too much attention to it until I turned it on that fateful night in late 2021. From the first episode, I was hooked, thinking to myself: “Only the Koreans can take harmless childhood games and make them my nightmares.”
If you’re one of the two people who have yet to seeSquid Game, that’s the basic premise of this show. It’sSurvivorbut with Red Light, Green Light, and, if you lose a challenge, you die. The performances withinSquid Gameare simply stellar, and I’m too pumped to see what Season 3 will bring to our favorite, and new, victims of this cynical game.
Squid Game
3’The Summer I Turned Pretty' (Season 3)
Premiering on Prime July 16th
As a person who grew up watching shows likeDegrassiandBeverly Hills 90210, I can say, without a doubt, thatThe Summer I Turned Prettyis one of the best modern-day coming-of-age shows on TV.The Summer I Turned Prettyis simple in how it tells its story. The series follows Isabel “Belly” Conklin (Lola Tung), a sixteen-year-old whose family reunites with the Fisher family, including Conrad Fisher (Christopher Briney), whom she’s had a crush on since she was just ten-years-old.
The series is told through the lens of previous summers, and looks at how teenagers navigate the trials and tribulations of their teenage years, and deal with the awkwardness of first love. There are no other elements thrown in to spice things up, just Belly and the FIsher boys and their friends navigating summer in their small Massachusetts beach town. Sometimes, simplicity is all one needs for a comfort show, andThe Summer I Turned Prettyis just that: comfort food that is good for the soul.
The Summer I Turned Pretty
2’Wednesday' (Season 2)
Premiering on Netflix August 6th
Staying on the coming-of-age train,Wednesdaytakes this premise and gives it a heavy dose of black comedy and supernatural to make this Netflix series the perfect summer joyride. It was only a matter of time before Wednesday Addams got her own series, andJenna Ortegaportrays the character perfectly.
While it has all of the supernatural trappings,Wednesdayis, at its heart, a coming-of-age story. Here, Wednesday is having to adjust to a new school after having been kicked out of her old one thanks to dumping live piranhas into the school’s swimming pool (classic Wednesday!). Her cold personality makes it hard for her to adjust to her new surroundings, and we get to see a slightly different side to Wednesday Addams that we normally don’t get to see.
1’Alien: Earth' (New Series)
Permiering On FX/Hulu August 12th
After spending 46 years primarily on the big screen,Alienis finally (FINALLY!) coming to the small screen withAlien: Earth. StarringTimothy OlyphantandSydney Chandler, this sci-fi horror series sees the setting transition to Earth, 2120, where a vessel crash-lands on the planet, and a group of soldiers is tasked with studying and stopping the looming threat that was unleashed from the vessel.
While not much else has been released of its plot, judging by what we already know,Alien: Earthpromises to bring the same suspenseful dread that the movies are known for. Here’s hoping that Alien: Earth can become a series with multiple seasons, instead of an unfortunate summer casualty.
