Summer TV Preview: Every show you must see
Happy (almost) summer! Let’s celebrate by looking ahead to the oodles of television coming in the next few months.
The summer of 2024 is already shaping up to be a busy time for TV lovers, with the return of heavy-hitters like House of the Dragon, The Bear, Bridgerton, and The Boys. Elsewhere, upcoming Star Wars show The Acolyte will transport us to the High Republic, The Umbrella Academy prepares to take its final bow, and Interview with the Vampire goes all in on gothic goodness.
But there are even more shows — both new and returning — where those came from. Read on for 33 TV shows to check out this summer.
Shardlake
Sean Bean as Thomas Cromwell. That’s all we need to watch Shardlake, a four-part historical murder mystery set in Tudor England. Written by Stephen Butchard and directed by The Other Boleyn Girl‘s Justin Chadwick, Shardlake is based on the first book in C. J. Sansom’s novel series. The show spans the reign of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, during the dissolution of the monasteries. Lawyer Matthew Shardlake, who works for Cromwell, is ordered to investigate the murder of one of the Crown’s commissioners in the town of Scarnsea. With his assistant Jack Barak, Shardlake must solve the crime while navigating the political turmoil permeating this seaside town. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor
Starring: Arthur Hughes, Sean Bean, Babou Ceesay, Paul Kaye, Matthew Steer, David Pearse, Joe Barber, and Kimberley Nixon
How to watch: Shardlake premieres May 1 on Hulu.
Hacks Season 3
Sharp-tongued comedians Deborah Vance and Ava Daniels return in Hacks Season 3, which has a lot of ground to cover following Season 2’s game-changing finale. In that episode, stand-up legend Deborah fired her assistant Ava in order to give her more time to focus on her own life and career. But a dynamic duo can only stay apart for so long, right? The two will team up again soon, right?
Based on the trailer for Season 3, it looks like a Deborah and Ava reunion is certainly in the cards after a chance elevator encounter. And now that Deborah’s latest special has put her back on top of the comedy world, she’ll need someone like Ava to keep pushing her to do all that she wants to achieve. That’s great news for Hacks fans, because we can always count on Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder’s killer chemistry for a great time.* — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter.
Starring: Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Paul W. Downs, Megan Stalter, Kaitlin Olson, Poppy Liu, Rose Abdoo, and Mark Indelicato
How to watch: Hacks Season 3 premieres May 2 on Max.
A Man in Full
Tom Wolfe’s novel gets the Netflix treatment with Jeff Daniels in the lead as Atlanta real estate mogul Charlie Croker. He’s going bankrupt and risks losing everything, much to the delight of many of his adversaries. Created by David E. Kelley, A Man in Full has Regina King directing alongside Thomas Schlamme, so expect this one to be sharp and smart as hell. — S.C.
Starring: Jeff Daniels, Diane Lane, Tom Pelphrey, Aml Ameen, Chanté Adams, Jon Michael Hill, Sarah Jones, William Jackson Harper, and Lucy Liu
How to watch: A Man in Full premieres May 2 on Netflix.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz
New Zealand author Heather Morris’ popular novel The Tattooist of Auschwitz has been adapted into a six-part TV series for Peacock. The book follows a love story in unimaginable circumstances, inspired by the true story of Lale and Gita Sokolov.
The series follows Lale, a Jewish man imprisoned in Auschwitz-Birkenau; there, he was forced to tattoo identification numbers on the forearms of other prisoners. One such prisoner is Gita, with whom he fell in love. — S.C.
Starring: Jonah Hauer-King, Anna Próchniak, Jonas Nay, Harvey Keitel, and Melanie Lynskey
How to watch: The Tattooist of Auschwitz premieres May 2 on Peacock.
Dark Matter
Admit it: You’ve sometimes wondered how your life might have turned out if you made a slightly different choice along the way. That’s the starting premise for Apple TV+’s sci-fi series Dark Matter, but in the world based on Blake Crouch’s novel, it isn’t just a premise.
Scientist Jason Dessen (Joel Edgerton) has actually invented a black box that can access infinite versions of his own life. The villain of the piece? A different version of Jason, who kidnaps the first Jason and rudely moves him into a parallel universe. Yes, it’s all a little confusing. But the premise is also so intriguing that we can’t wait to see where this one goes. — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor
Starring: Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Connelly, Alice Braga, Jimmi Simpson, Dayo Okeniyi, and Oakes Fegley
How to watch: Dark Matter premieres May 8 on Apple TV+.
Reginald the Vampire Season 2
Reginald the Vampire Season 2 raises the stakes with a promise of a face-off between vampires and angels.
The SYFY comedy sees Reginald Andres (Jacob Batalon) adjusting nicely to his new vampire life and cohort. But just as life as a bloodsucker is starting to click, angels return to Earth and threaten to destroy every vampire in existence. With 30 days before the Blood War, can Reginald and his friends find enough allies to stand a chance? — B.E.
Starring: Jacob Batalon, Mandela Van Peebles, Em Haine, Savannah Basley, Aren Buchholz, Marguerite Hanna, and Thailey Roberge
How to watch: Reginald the Vampire premieres May 8 at 10 p.m. ET on SYFY.
Black Twitter: A People’s History
In 2021, Wired‘s Jason Parham published the essential three-part article series “A People’s History of Black Twitter,” chronicling the rise of the mighty online community that defined the platform now known as X. Hulu has developed Parham’s piece into a three-part series, directed by Prentice Penny (Insecure) and produced by Onyx Collective. The series looks to delve further into the rise of Black Twitter through the memes, moments, and influencers who defined one of the most influential, important spaces on the internet.
“Black Twitter is the beating heart of Twitter overall,” wrote Mashable’s Chance Townsend and Tim Marcin. “If you have a favorite meme, joke, or even way to use Twitter, it most likely started on Black Twitter. There is no Twitter — at least not the version we know — without Black Twitter.” The response to Hulu’s trailer, however, was mixed — especially on Black Twitter. — S.C.
Starring: Jason Parham, Roxane Gay, W. Kamau Bell, TJ Adeshola, Ira Madison III, Dr. André Brock, Jemele Hill, Kid Fury, Rembert Browne, Luvvie Ajayi Jones, Raquel Willis, Dr. Meredith Clark, Brandon “Jinx” Jenkins, Shamika Klassen, Wesley Lowery, April Reign, Sam Jay, Brad Jenkins, Van Lathan, Jamilah Lemieux, Baratunde Thurston, Judnick Mayard, God-is Rivera, Ashley Weatherspoon, Amanda Seales, Denver Sean, and J Wortham
How to watch: Black Twitter: A People’s History premieres May 9 on Hulu.
Bodkin
From true crime docu-series to troubling dramas and outright parodies, Netflix loves a good murder mystery. Created by Jez Scharf, Bodkin offers a curious new series to obsess over, one that combines a small-town mystery, a tenacious journalist, and a big-hearted podcaster (played by comedian Will Forte).
But don’t expect this one to be a laugh riot. Set in an Irish community untrusting of outsiders, Bodkin begins with the unsolved case of three missing persons who vanished 21 years ago during Samhain — or as Gilbert (Forte) puts it, “the Irish Night of the Dead.” From there, surly locals, strange revelations, and a battle between ambition and empathy stoke tension. Also, there are nuns who promote yoga. This is an odd Bodkin to be sure. — K.P.
Starring: Will Forte, Siobhán Cullen, Robyn Cara, David Wilmot, and Chris Walley
How to watch: Bodkin premieres May 9 on Netflix.
Pretty Little Liars: Summer School
2022’s Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin gets a new title, just in time for summer! Appropriately titled Pretty Little Liars: Summer School, the series sees our crew of liars catching up on classes while everyone else is on vacation. Summer jobs and flings are in the cards, but so is a disturbing development: A new villain who may be linked to “A” has surfaced, and they’ve got bloody vengeance on their mind. — B.E.
Starring: Bailee Madison, Chandler Kinney, Zaria, Malia Pyles, Maia Reficco, Mallory Bechtel, Sharon Leal, Alex Aiono, Jordan Gonzalez, and Elias Kacavas
How to watch: Pretty Little Liars: Summer School premieres May 9 on Max.
Doctor Who Season 14
It’s a thrilling time to be a Whovian. Following David Tennant’s return in the eponymous role for a timey-whimey mini-arc of episodes, Ncuti Gatwa debuted as the Fifteenth Doctor with plenty of panache — and no pants! Shortly thereafter, he took the lead in “The Church on Ruby Road,” a Christmas special that ranks as one of the long-running sci-fi series’ very best. And now, at long last, we’re getting a full season of his swaggering Doctor, aided by a plucky companion in Millie Gibson’s Ruby Sunday. But that’s not all!
The eight-episode season will be brought to us by showrunner Russell T Davies, who is responsible for some of the most beloved episodes of the modern run, including “The Runaway Bride.” And in teasers and trailers, Davies has revealed flashy fashion, dinosaurs, dance numbers, and big guest stars, including Broadway’s Jonathan Groff and RuPaul‘s Drag Race‘s Jinkx Monsoon! When it’s Monsoon Season, everybody’s a winner, baby. — K.P.
Starring: Ncuti Gatwa, Millie Gibson, Jinkx Monsoon, Aneurin Barnard, Anita Dobson, Yasmin Finney, Michelle Greenidge, Jonathan Groff, Bonnie Langford, Genesis Lynea, Jemma Redgrave, Lenny Rush, Indira Varma, and Angela Wynter
How to watch: Doctor Who Season 14 premieres Friday, May 10 at 7 p.m. ET on Disney+ in the U.S. In the UK, the season kicks off Saturday, May 11, at 12 a.m. GMT on BBC iPlayer, followed by BBC One later that day.
Interview with the Vampire Season 2
AMC’s Interview with the Vampire shocked and awed us with its gothic romance and thoughtful reworking of Anne Rice’s original novels. Its spectacular first season ended with Louis de Pointe du Lac breaking away from lover Lestat de Lioncourt, bringing young vampire Claudia with him. Season 2 picks up with this pair joining a group of bloodsuckers at the Théâtre des Vampires in France. New characters await, including Théâtre des Vampires members Santiago and Armand, whom Louis introduced to his interviewer Daniel Molloy in the Season 1 finale as “the love of my life.” But how did Louis and Armand grow so close? And what fresh hell will Lestat wreak when he finds out? Let’s just say we’re more than ready to sink our teeth into what comes next.* — B.E.
Starring: Jacob Anderson, Sam Reid, Delainey Hayles, Eric Bogosian, Assad Zaman, Rae Dawn Chong, and Ben Daniels
How to watch: Interview with the Vampire premieres May 12 on AMC and AMC+.
Blood of Zeus Season 2
Several TV shows got us through the dark times of October 2020. One was Blood of Zeus, Charley and Vlas Parlapanides’ brutal animated Greek mythology series about the son of the god of thunder, a demigod known as Heron. As is tradition, Hera wasn’t stoked at another of Zeus’ mortal dalliances resulting in a kid, so she went down the path of vengeance. At the end of Season 2, Heron found out some real Greek myth-level truths about his family, and fratricide went down. But when has death stopped the gods, especially when Hades is around? — S.C.
Starring: Derek Phillips, Elias Toufexis, Jason O’Mara, Fred Tatasciore, Claudia Christian, and Jessica Henwick
How to watch: Blood of Zeus Season 2 premieres May 9 on Netflix.
Bridgerton Season 3
Dearest gentle readers, it’s high time we reunite with the Bridgerton family, wouldn’t you agree? After the swoon-worthy story of Queen Charlotte and King George, Netflix’s juggernaut Bridgerton returns to its roots for a third season, this time focusing on the romance between Penelope Featherington (who is secretly gossip maven Lady Whistledown) and Colin Bridgerton.
Based on the trailer for the new season, this latest trip to the Ton will see Penelope seeking out a suitor with Colin’s friendly help. (Emphasis on friend.) But as possible matches for Penelope arise, Colin finds that his feelings for Penelope may be stronger than he originally thought. Cue the angst! Oh, and remember that for the first time in Bridgerton history, Netflix will be releasing the season in two parts — so be sure to time your binge viewing accordingly!* — B.E.
Starring: Nicola Coughlan, Luke Newton, Claudia Jessie, Luke Thompson, Golda Rosheuvel, Adjoa Andoh, Ruth Gemmell, Lorraine Ashbourne, Hannah Dodd, Simone Ashley, Jonathan Bailey, Harriet Cains, Bessie Carter, Jessica Madsen, Florence Hunt, Martins Imhangbe, Will Tilston, Polly Walker, and Julie Andrews
How to watch: The first four episodes of Bridgerton Season 3 premiere May 16 on Netflix, and the last four on June 13.
The Big Cigar
An elaborate escape plan involving a fake movie production? This is one of the core “stranger than fiction” elements of The Big Cigar, Apple TV+’s series about Black Panther leader Huey P. Newton and his escape from the U.S. to Cuba, which he managed with the help of Hollywood producer Bert Schneider. The series is based on a 2012 Playboy article written by journalist Joshuah Bearman, whose 2007 Wired article fueled Ben Affleck’s Argo. Yep, it’s another fake-movie-border-smuggling-affair drawn from real events, if you can believe it. Plus, the first two episodes are directed by Don Cheadle. — S.C.
Starring: André Holland, Alessandro Nivola, Tiffany Boone, P.J. Byrne, Marc Menchaca, Moses Ingram, Rebecca Dalton, Olli Haaskivi, Jordane Christie, and Glynn Turman
How to watch: The Big Cigar premieres May 17 on Apple TV+.
Trying Season 4
Have you slept on Trying? There’s a fourth season coming of writer Andy Wolton’s delightful series, so now’s the time to get into it. A heartfelt journey through the trials and tribulations of starting a family, specifically through the adoption process, Trying has been one of Apple TV+’s underrated gems for a while now. The series hinges around London couple Nikki and Jason, whose road to parenthood isn’t straightforward. But the series embodies the phrase “it takes a village,” with a wonderful supporting cast of their family and friends making up the show. — S.C.
Starring: Rafe Spall, Esther Smith, Imelda Staunton, Sian Brooke, Darren Boyd, Scarlett Rayner, and Cooper Turner
How to watch: Trying Season 4 premieres May 22 on Apple TV+.
Evil Season 4
I’ve said it before: Evil is the wildest show you aren’t watching. But with Season 4 fast approaching, there’s no better time than the present to catch up quick! Imagine The X-Files with loads of Catholic horror, and you’ve got the rough outline of Robert King and Michelle King’s racy and riveting series. A supernatural drama set in New York City, Evil follows a motley crew of paranormal investigators: one true believer, Catholic priest David Acosta (a sultry and stern Mike Colter); one die-hard skeptic, forensic psychologist Kristen Bouchard (an eye-rolling and charming Katja Herbers); and one agnostic tech wizard, Ben Shakir (the always-funny Aasif Mandvi).
Week after week, this quipping trio combats everything from urban legends, demons, and ghosts to cults, creatures, and their main antagonist, Leland Townsend (the delectably devilish Michael Emerson), a wicked rival of Kristen’s who is literally in league with Satan. After three seasons of cheeky stand-alone stories and an overarching narrative about a sinister IVF company, things are coming to a head with the coming of the Antichrist. So grab a blanket to cuddle up with. This one’s going to get creepy. — K.P.
Starring: Katja Herbers, Mike Colter, Aasif Mandvi, Michael Emerson, Andrea Martin, Kurt Fuller, and Christine Lahti
How to watch: Evil Season 4 premieres May 23 on Paramount+.
Eric
Suffragette writer Abi Morgan’s Netflix thriller, Eric, promises to plunge us back into ’80s Manhattan with a missing person mystery. Benedict Cumberbatch is in the lead as Vincent, a famous puppeteer and kids’ TV show creator. When his nine-year-old son Edgar goes missing, a distressed Vincent descends into destructive actions, fixated on the character Edgar created in his drawings: a monster called Eric. Seeing Eric as the one real chance to bring his son home through his TV show, Good Day Sunshine, Vincent starts to become more and more isolated from those around him. — S.C.
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Gaby Hoffmann, McKinley Belcher III, Dan Fogler, Clarke Peters, Ivan Howe, Phoebe Nicholls, David Denman, Bamar Kane, Adepero Oduye, Alexis Molnar, and Roberta Colindrez
How to watch: Eric premieres May 30 on Netflix.
We Are Lady Parts Season 2
It’s been a while since Nida Manzoor’s comedy about an all-female Muslim punk bad made a splash with its first season, but fans will be pleased to hear that it won’t be long before Saira (Sarah Kameela Impey), Ayesha (Juliette Motamed), Bisma (Faith Omole), Momtaz (Lucie Shorthouse), and Amina (Anjana Vasan) are back on our screens.
“The main critique for We Are Lady Parts remains that it is too short,” wrote Mashable’s Proma Khosla about Season 1. “I want eight episodes, or 10, or 50. Finishing the first season feels a lot like performing a stage gig; you won’t remember every detail but you’ll remember the feeling, a rush of joy and adrenaline that you were grateful to share with this motley, magnificent crew.”* — S.H.
Starring: Sarah Kameela Impey, Juliette Motamed, Faith Omole, Lucie Shorthouse, and Anjana Vasan
How to watch: We Are Lady Parts Season 2 premieres May 30 on Peacock.
The Outlaws Season 3
Stephen Merchant and Elgin James’ lauded comedy series is back for a third round. Described as “a criminally fun watch” by Nicole Gallucci for Mashable, The Outlaws follows a group of random miscreants in Bristol charged with community service. In previous seasons, this now-tight crew has dealt with crime boss and drug lord The Dean (Claes Bang), but they’re not free of the threat yet. No word yet on whether Christopher Walken will return, but the rest of the beloved cast is back for more. — S.C.
Starring: Stephen Merchant, Rhianne Barreto, Gamba Cole, Darren Boyd, Clare Perkins, Eleanor Tomlinson, Jessica Gunning, Charles Babalola, Tom Hanson, and Claes Bang
How to watch: The Outlaws Season 3 premieres May 31 on Prime Video.
Clipped
FX’s sports drama Clipped tackles one of professional basketball’s biggest scandals: Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling’s racist remarks and subsequent lifetime ban from the NBA.
The series examines the dysfunctional environment Sterling (Ed O’Neill) fostered at the Clippers organization through the eyes of new head coach Doc Rivers (Laurence Fishburne) and Sterling’s mistress, V. Stiviano (Cleopatra Coleman), who leaked tapes of Sterling’s racist comments during the Clippers’ 2014 playoff run. Not only does Clipped portray a pivotal moment in NBA history, it also chronicles social media’s response and the role it played in the scandal’s aftermath. — B.E.
Starring: Laurence Fishburne, Ed O’Neill, Cleopatra Coleman, Jacki Weaver, Kelly AuCoin, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Rich Sommer, Corbin Bernsen, Clifton Davis, and Harriet Sansom Harris
How to watch: Clipped premieres June 4 on Hulu.
Star Wars: The Acolyte
2023’s Star Wars TV offerings like The Mandalorian Season 3 and Ahsoka suffered from an overreliance on Easter eggs, fan service, and hewing too closely to prior Star Wars series and films. The Acolyte may just avoid these pitfalls altogether, as it takes us to an entirely new time period in the Star Wars chronology. Created by Leslye Headland (Russian Doll), The Acolyte is our first live-action introduction to the High Republic era, 100 years before the prequels take place. This is a time of relative peace for this galaxy far, far away. However, when a former Jedi Padawan and her master team up to investigate a series of crimes, they’ll uncover forces far darker than they could have possibly imagined.* — B.E.
Starring: Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Jodie Turner-Smith, Rebecca Henderson, Charlie Barnett, Dean-Charles Chapman, Carrie-Anne Moss, Margarita Levieva, and Joonas Suotamo
How to watch: The Acolyte premieres June 4 on Disney+.
Queenie
Candice Carty-Williams has already had a big 2023 with her awesome BBC series Champion, but this year has even more on the horizon. The author has adapted her popular 2020 debut novel, Queenie, as a buzzy series with Onyx Collective and Channel 4, with Dionne Brown in the lead as the eponymous protagonist. With Carty-Williams at the helm as showrunner and executive producer, the series revolves around Queenie, a 25-year-old Jamaican British journalist who’s going through a break-up, navigating the mess of modern dating, and figuring out how to keep her job together, all while connecting with her family and incredibly tight group of friends.* — S.H.
Starring: Dionne Brown, Jon Pointing, Samuel Adewunmi, Bellah, Sally Phillips, Tilly Keeper, Elisha Applebaum, Mim Shaikh, Llewella Gideon, Michelle Greenidge, Cristale De’Abreu, Joseph Marcell, Joseph Ollman, Melissa Johns, and Laura Whitmore
How to watch: Queenie premieres June 7 on Hulu.
The Boys Season 4
In 2023, The Boys universe took a college detour with the deeply fun (and deeply bloody) spin-off Gen V. In 2024, the flagship series will return for an explosive fourth season. America is more polarized than ever (sound familiar?), with the MAGA-esque cult of Homelander facing off against Starlight’s supporters. Meanwhile, Congresswoman Victoria Neuman grows ever closer to the Oval Office, the Boys are at odds with former leader Billy Butcher, and new supes Sister Sage and Firecracker are joining the Seven. With so much at stake, how will The Boys be able to top themselves in terms of outrageous gore?* — B.E.
Starring: Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Jessie T. Usher, Laz Alonso, Chace Crawford, Tomer Capone, Karen Fukuhara, Colby Minifie, Claudia Doumit, Cameron Crovetti, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan
How to watch: The Boys Season 4 premieres June 13 on Prime Video.
Presumed Innocent
Already adapted into a Harrison Ford-led film in the ’90s, Scott Turow’s legal thriller novel Presumed Innocent has been snapped up by David E. Kelley and J.J. Abrams for Apple TV+. Jake Gyllenhaal (who is also on board as an executive producer) takes over Ford’s role of Rusty Sabich, the chief deputy prosecutor for the Chicago Prosecuting Attorney’s office. Here, a murder charge within the building sees power and politics thrown into the air, and over eight episodes, it’s a race to the truth. — S.C.
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Ruth Negga, Bill Camp, Elizabeth Marvel, Peter Sarsgaard, O-T Fagbenle, and Renate Reinsve
How to watch: Presumed Innocent premieres June 12 on Apple TV+.
House of the Dragon Season 2
Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon returns for its highly anticipated second season this summer, bringing more Targaryen fire and blood to our TV screens. And I mean a ton more fire and blood. Think of it this way: If Season 1 was all about the build-up to the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, Season 2 is where the war begins in earnest. Following the death of her son Lucerys, Rhaenyra Targaryen is prepared to go scorched earth on Alicent Hightower and her son Aegon II — and who can blame her? Brutal battles, dastardly assassinations, and political machinations await, along with more dragons. (Of course.)* — B.E.
Starring: Emma D’Arcy, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Rhys Ifans, Eve Best, Steve Toussaint, Fabien Frankel, Sonoya Mizuno, Graham McTavish, Matthew Needham, Gayle Rankin, Simon Russell Beale, Freddie Fox, Abubakar Salim, Clinton Liberty, Jamie Kenna, Kieran Bew, Tom Bennett, Tom Taylor, and Vincent Regan
How to watch: House of the Dragon Season 2 premieres June 16 on HBO and Max.
Orphan Black: Echoes
In the mid-2010s, Orphan Black was an obsession for sci-fi fans. Not only did the twisted Canadian drama series spin a complicated and compelling tale of clones quirky and caustic, but also it was shouldered by the wildly talented Tatiana Maslany, who’d go on to star in She Hulk: Attorney at Law. Now, the concept is replicated with Orphan Black: Echoes, a sequel series of sorts that exists in the same universe as the original.
This time around, Krysten Ritter (Jessica Jones, Love and Death) stars, but specifics on the plotline are currently cryptic. Here’s what AMC has released: “Set in the near future, Orphan Black: Echoes takes a deep dive into the exploration of the scientific manipulation of human existence. It follows a group of women as they weave their way into each other’s lives and embark on a thrilling journey, unraveling the mystery of their identity and uncovering a wrenching story of love and betrayal. Ritter plays Lucy, a woman with an unimaginable origin story, trying to find her place in the world.” — K.P.
Starring: Krysten Ritter, Keeley Hawes, Amanda Fix, Avan Jogia, Rya Kihlstedt, and James Hiroyuki Liao
How to watch: Orphan Black: Echoes premieres June 23 at 10 p.m. ET on AMC, AMC+, and BBC AMERICA.
Land of Women
Eva Longoria leads Apple TV+’s Land of Women as Gala, a New Yorker who’s used to the good life. Unfortunately, Gala’s husband has been up to no good; he implicates their family in financial wrongdoings and promptly disappears, leaving her to deal with his debt. With bad guys hot on their trail, Gala flees the country with her mother and adult daughter. The three wind up in a small wine town in Northern Spain — the same one Gala’s own mother left decades before. They try their best to keep their identities hidden, but as townspeople gossip and criminals hunt Gala down, she and her family will learn deep, surprising family secrets. — B.E.
Starring: Eva Longoria, Santiago Cabrera, Victoria Bazúa, and Carmen Maura
How to watch: Land of Women premieres June 26 on Apple TV+.
The Bear Season 3
Are you ready for Carmy and company to come back? Season 1 gave us a panic attack with the real-time lunch rush of “Review.” Season 2 gave us treats: rising star chef Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) guiding us on a Chicago food tour, beloved baker Marcus (Lionel Boyce) rolling around Denmark, Cousin Richie finding himself and his inner Swiftie, and hard-shelled Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) finally letting some love into his life. But man, this so-called “comedy” show also knows how to gut us with the ferocious family conflict in a star-stuffed holiday episode.
Whether you love this critically heralded series for its “Forks” or “Fishes,”The Bear is undeniably some of the best TV of the past decade. So while we know virtually nothing about Season 3, it’s still among our most anticipated returns of 2024. Let it rip! — K.P.
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Abby Elliott, Lionel Boyce, and Liza Colón-Zayas
How to watch: The Bear premieres June 27 on Hulu.
Fantasmas
Julio Torres wowed audiences earlier this year with his whimsical directorial debut Problemista. Next up on his to-do list? Fantasmas, a new television show for HBO and his second with the network after Los Espookys. In Fantasmas, Torres tells us the story of how he lost a golden oyster. His journey to find it will bring him face to face with fascinating new characters (played by the likes of Julia Fox and Steve Buscemi) in a series of introspective (and likely charming) little films. — B.E.
Starring: Julio Torres, Martine, Joe Rumrill, Julia Fox, Ziwe, Steve Buscemi, Alexa Demie, and Kim Petras
How to watch: Fantasmas premieres on HBO and Max in June.
Sunny
A mystery with a sci-fi twist, Apple TV+’s Sunny stars Rashida Jones as a woman who teams up with a robot to solve the disappearance of her family.
Jones plays Suzie, an American woman living in Kyoto. When her husband and son go missing in a plane crash, Suzie receives Sunny, a domestic robot made by her husband’s electronics company. Her resentment and grief soon give way to an unexpected friendship between the two — one that leads them to investigate what really happened to Suzie’s family. Dark secrets and robot detective capers await. — B.E.
Starring: Rashida Jones, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Joanna Sotomura, Judy Ongg, You, annie the clumsy, and Jun Kunimura
How to watch: Sunny premieres July 10 on Apple TV+.
Hit-Monkey Season 2
2021’s Hit-Monkey brought us face to face with one of TV’s most unlikely (yet surprisingly moving) duos: Monkey (voiced by Fred Tatasciore), a Japanese snow monkey with a killer instinct, and Bryce (voiced by Jason Sudeikis), an American assassin who is also a ghost. In Season 1, the two took on the Yakuza in Tokyo. Season 2 moves the action to New York City, where Monkey will try to end his killing ways. But with former ally Akiko (voiced by Olivia Munn) hunting him down to avenge the death of her uncle, Monkey’s plans for a life of peace might have to wait. — B.E.
Starring: Fred Tatasciore, Jason Sudeikis, Olivia Munn, Ally Maki, and Leslie Jones
How to watch: Hit-Monkey Season 2 premieres July 15 on Hulu.
Those About to Die
Anthony Hopkins! Roland Emmerich! Gladiators! Those About to Die has it all.
The TV debut from Independence Day director Roland Emmerich takes us behind the scenes of a gladiatorial competition in ancient Rome. Prepare to see the nitty-gritty ins and outs of the bloodiest entertainment industry imaginable, as well as some gnarly fights. And, of course, reigning over it all is Hopkins himself as Emperor Vespasian. Let the games begin. — B.E.
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Iwan Rheon, Sara Martins, Tom Hughes, Jojo Macari, and Moe Hashim
How to watch: Those About to Die premieres July 18 on Peacock.
The Umbrella Academy Season 4
2024 marks one last ride with the Hargreeves siblings, who can never quite seem to time travel without any consequences. By the end of Season 3, the siblings have entered an all-new timeline, one where none of them have any powers, and where their nightmare of an adoptive father is exceedingly powerful. The Hargreeves’ future may be unpredictable, but you can bet we’ll get one more season full of fun fight scenes set to absolute banger tunes.* — B.E.
Starring: Elliot Page, Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher, Justin H. Min, Ritu Arya, Colm Feore, Nick Offerman, Megan Mullally, and David Cross
How to watch: The Umbrella Academy Season 4 premieres Aug. 8 on Netflix.
Emily in Paris Season 4
The drama is on this season of Emily in Paris, especially in the aftermath of Camille and Gabriel’s messy wedding. Emily finds herself struggling with her feelings for both Gabriel and Alfie, Sylvie must confront a dilemma from her past, the Agence Grateau team is facing some big shakeups, and Mindy’s Eurovision hopes may be dashed by financial troubles. Sacré bleu. — B.E.
Starring: Lily Collins, Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, Ashley Park, Lucas Bravo, Camille Razat, Samuel Arnold, Bruno Gouery, William Abadie, and Lucien Laviscount
How to watch: The first five episodes of Emily in Paris premiere Aug. 15 on Netflix, and the last five premiere Sept. 12.
Only Murders in the Building Season 4
Following the theatrical conclusion of their Broadway murder mystery, Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez), Oliver Putnam (Martin Short), and Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin) are back on the case this summer! Season 4 will focus on who killed Charles’ long-time body double Sazz Pataki (Jane Lynch). And — considering her physical similarity to the polarizing TV star — was she even the intended target?
The Season 3 finale laid out some early clues. But here’s what else we know about this fresh investigation: Season 4 of Only Murders in the Building will feature the return of Meryl Streep as the secretive actress Loretta Durkin, and new to the ever-expanding ensemble are Molly Shannon, Eva Longoria, Eugene Levy, Kumail Nanjiani, and Zach Galifianakis. Without even knowing what roles these comedic talents are slated for, we suspect this season will be another big hit. — K.P.
Starring: Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Meryl Streep, Molly Shannon, Eva Longoria, Eugene Levy, Kumail Nanjiani, and Zach Galifianakis
How to watch: Only Murders in the Building Season 4 is coming to Hulu this summer.
(*) means a blurb comes from a prior story.