The Can't-Miss Shows of Summer

Jul 18, 2022

The Can't-Miss Shows of Summer

The summer 2022 tv season is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated in recent years due to the veritable downpour of excellent shows coming to our small screens. It can be hard to decide which shows are worth watching so let’s break down the 5 we think are the most worthwhile.  

Westworld - HBO & HBO Max

The fourth season of the acclaimed HBO science-fiction series is finally back after a two-year hiatus. After the climactic season three finale, the story picks up seven years later, with what is described as a dark odyssey about the fate of sentient life on Earth. Last season, Dolores (Evan Rachel Wood) escaped to real-world 2050s Los Angeles as well as some of the other “hosts” from the parks. If you’re not familiar with the series, it tells the story of a fictional theme park populated by extremely human-like robots where humans can pay to play out their darkest desires free from legal consequences. The series is executive produced by Jonathan Nolan, best known for writing films such as Interstellar and The Dark Knight.

If you’re a fan of dystopian sci-fi thrillers, then this show is for you. The first four episodes are available to stream on HBO Max and currently airs Sunday nights at 9pm.

House of the Dragon - HBO/HBO Max

Westeros fans rejoice! The highly anticipated prequel series to Game of Thrones finally arrives August 21st at 9 pm on HBO and streaming on HBO Max. Set approximately 200 years before the events of GOT, the series tells the story of House Targaryen and the events leading up to the civil war that would ultimately end most of the bloodline. Fans of the original series will expect the usual, swords, steam and dragons, but exponentially more of that classic Targaryen drama. The series is based on George R.R. Martin’s novel Fire & Blood and the first season will consist of 10 episodes.

Fans of Doctor Who looking to see more Matt Smith can be excited to see him appear as Prince Daemon Targaryen. Paddy Considine portrays King Viserys I and Emma D’Arcy stars as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen.

Better Call Saul - AMC

Over on AMC, the sixth and final season concludes with 6 episodes, with Jimmy McGill finally becoming Saul Goodman from Breaking Bad. Bob Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks continue to portray the characters they’ve embodied since 2009 and now the stakes couldn’t be any higher going into the final episodes. Expect to see some familiar faces before the series draws to a close as rumors of appearances from Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul circulate.

The final season is expected to wrap up Saul’s complex relationship with Kim portrayed by Rhea Seehorn. As one of the most critically acclaimed series on television, these last few episodes should not be missed. Catch the final episodes airing Mondays at 9/8c starting July 11.

What We Do in the Shadows - FX

One of the funniest shows on television is finally back. The fourth season of the mockumentary series follows the lives of three “classic” vampires, Nandor, Laszlo, and Nadja, and one energy vampire, Colin, and their genuine but hapless experiences in navigating the modern world.  If you’re a fan of satire and black comedy, then this show is worth checking out. The series is executive produced by Taika Watiti (Thor: Ragnarok) and airs Tuesdays, starting July 12, at 10/9c on FX and streaming on Hulu.

A League of Their Own - Amazon Prime 

Are you a fan of the 1992 classic film starring Tom Hanks and Geena Davis? Amazon Prime has adapted the film into a television series premiering on August 12th. The show is going to have a completely different storyline and characters, about the formation of the All American Women’s Professional Baseball League which was founded in 1943 and ran until 1954. The series features a large ensemble cast and stars Abbi Jacobson and Nick Offerman. The series will, of course, have some callbacks to the original film, including a cameo from Rosie O’Donnell.

Honorable Mentions

Keeping it brief – there’s quite a few other fantastic shows that are or have returned already this summer. Here’s our honorable mentions list:  

Andor: Follow Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) on his spy missions for the Rebel Alliance on Disney + this August.

Stranger Things 4: It’s fully released and airing on Netflix. No doubt you’ve already seen the memes.

Rings of Power: Experience the stories from JRR Tolkien’s Silmarillion in The Rings of Power coming to Amazon Prime September 2nd!

Get the most out of your viewing experience, by pairing Xtream Variety TV & Xtream Internet, click here for more details.