Top 12 Best Shows to Watch This Summer

If you’re anything like me, you look forward to the summer semester for its calmer, less stressful course load, not to mention Tallahassee’s diminished traffic (as a college-driver, I would like to apologize on behalf of my schoolmates for the nonsense we pull on Tennessee St). With the reduced summer coursework, you might be looking to fill some of the time that’s been freed. Luckily, streaming platforms are here to capitalize off your boredom, with a great deal of shows and seasons premiering throughout the months of June, July, and August.

For your sake and mine, I’ll be organizing the shows by streaming platform and premiere date. I’ll even throw in a bonus and highlight my personal recommendations with an asterisk. So, if you’re looking for a new show to watch or season to catch up on, “Welcome to Watchmojo (not really, this is clearly a college blog), here are the twelve best shows to check out this Summer”:

Disney+

*Obi-Wan Kenobi, Premiere (May 27th)

• With its series premiere being the most watch series premiere in Disney+ history, the new Obi-Wan series tells the story of Obi-Wan Kenobi dealing with the fallout of losing his friend, Anakin Skywalker, to the dark side, and takes place ten years after the events of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005).

She-Hulk, Premiere (August 17th)

• According to the comics, after Bruce Banner gives his cousin a blood-transfusion to save her life, she develops similar hulk-like traits. This Disney+ show follows Bruce’s cousin, a 30 year old lawyer named Jennifer Walter, as she navigates her new powers.

HBOMax

House of the Dragon, Premiere (August 21st)

• The highly anticipated prequel to Game of Thrones stars Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen and takes place as the reign of House Targaryen begins. If you see me with bleached-white hair in August, it definitely has nothing to do with this show. I just…am experimenting with Dumbledore-chic, you know?

Hulu

*Grown-ish, Season 5 (July 20th)

• Another great Spin off, the comedy series follows Zoey Johnson as she sets off to college and experiences the ups and downs of independence. Now on its fifth season, the show is based off of ABC’s popular comedy show, Black-ish.

American Horror Stories, Season 2 (July 21st)

• A spin off of FX’s American Horror Story (singular), American Horror Stories in an anthology of different creepy tales any horror junkie can enjoy on a weekly basis. If you enjoy the variety in the American Horror Story seasons, American Horror Stories offers an even more various assortment of episodes, where you won’t have to be caught up on the season to understand what’s going on in each individual episode.

Netflix

*Stranger Things, Season 4 (May 27th)

• Surpassing the Obi-Wan Kenobi premiere, the premiere of Stranger Things Season Four: Volume 1 garnered 5.1 billion minutes of watch-time in just the weekend of its premiere alone. Taking place in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana in the 1980s, the show investigates the paranormal events that occur following the disappearance of Will Byers, and boy, do things get strange. It’s uniquely 80’s inspired aesthetic has attracted numerous nostalgic viewers. I wouldn’t have typically considered this show full-on horror, but considering I could not sleep the night I watched the first two episodes, it’s safe to say this season has a lot of horror elements. Second half of season (Volume 2) comes out July 1st.

*The Umbrella Academy, Season 3 (June 20th)

• Two words: Elliot. Page. Umbrella Academy is another superhero-type show about a family of adopted superheroes that, after the death of their father, set off a series of events that forces them to come together and save the world. It’s absurd, often humorous plot makes for a riveting experience.

Resident Evil, Premiere (July 14th)

• Based on the extremely successful video game and movie franchise, the show takes place in a world where due to a breakout of a virus, zombies have begun to take over. If the gory, suspense-filled movies and games are any indication, the show is guaranteed to deliver some solid scares.

*Uncoupled, Premiere (July 29th)

• Produced by and starring comedy legend Neil Patrick Harris (of How I Met Your Mother fame), the comedy tells the story of a 40 year old Angeleno who attempts to rebuild his life after ending a 17 year marriage. Created by renowned drama producer Darren Star and comedy producer Jeffrey Richman, this eight-part series is unlikely to disappoint in either genre.

Never Have I Ever, Season 2 (August 12th)

• This high school comedy, produced by Mindy Kaling, follows a first-generation Indian American teenager trying to improve her high school status. It’s fresh, nuanced, honest take on the American coming-of-age narrative.

Amazon Prime

The Summer I Turned Pretty, premiere (June 17th)

• Following the success of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Prime is taking notes from Netflix and producing one of Jennie Han’s books, this time as a full-blown series. The story follows a young girl stuck in a love triangle between two brothers.

*The Boys, Season 3 (June 3rd)

• If you’re a Marvel fan, get ready for the best superhero satire you’ve ever seen. The Boys is a black comedy set in a universe where superheroes are real and recognized as celebrities in the public eye. Capitalizing off of superheroes' success, a corporation called Vought International hires, monetizes, and represents heroes.

So, whether you’re looking for a new show to watch for the Summer or just reading this article because you’re my mom, there is an gluttonous amount of content to choose from. From gore-packed horror to heart-wrenching drama to Neil Patrick Harris, I hope this list offers you some solace from the dreaded Netflix doom-scroll we know all too well.

Written by: Mia Hernandez

Art by: Laura Pellini