Broadcast television will soon close for the 2024-2025 season, and we’ll be without many of our favorite shows for the summer.
Gone are the days of summer fare you could sink your teeth into on a Tuesday night in the summer, with networks mostly opting for reality television shows like Big Brother and Bachelor in Paradise instead, which are solid choices for those who are into that kind of thing but not for everyone.
What if you want a solid drama to watch over the summer? Something you’ve never gotten a chance to check out because you’ve been inundated with so much television during the rest of the year.
There is so much television currently on television that some will argue there is too much.
And while broadcast television remains king for most, there are many gems on streaming platforms that are worthy of attention.
We’re reviewing some of our top picks that you should consider trying if you haven’t already.
From medical dramas to legal thrillers and everything in between, here are a few recent series you can add to the list to watch while you wait for your beloved broadcast series to return in the fall.
The Pitt (Max)
One complaint about streaming shows is the lack of promotion.
A new show will premiere on one of the top streamers, and the only reason you may find out it exists is because you eventually stumble upon an article like this that talks about it.
The same can not be said for The Pitt, which had a tremendous promotional campaign ahead of its January 2025 debut and had steady word of mouth all season that turned the series into one of the year’s biggest hits.
There are solid medical dramas across television, but The Pitt lends a sense of realism to the genre.
The first season takes place over a single shift, each representing one hour of a shift in the busy emergency room department of Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital.
The cast is led by Noah Wyle and some lesser-known names who have quickly become internet darlings amidst the show’s tremendous reception.
If you’re in the mood for a medical drama with heart, creativity, and a unique presentation, this is the series to watch during the upcoming summer months.
Presumed Innocent – (Apple TV+)
Apple TV+ has a bevy of solid shows on its platform, but you may not know much about them. And that’s not on you!
The streaming service is notorious for having little promotion for many of its shows, which is a big shame because many of them have big names, like Presumed Innocence, a David E. Kelley affair with Jake Gyllenhaal in the lead role.
The series is a legal thriller with shocking twists that will keep you engaged from the very first minute to the final frame of the first season.
Gyllenhaal plays a prosecutor who becomes the number one suspect in the murder of his colleague, with whom he was having an affair.
It’s not exactly a groundbreaking premise, but Presumed Innocence’s power is in its stellar cast, which also includes Ruth Negga, Bill Camp, O-T Fagbenle, and Peter Sarsgaard.
The series explored the complexities of each character, who all have different motivations as the series unfolds.
Come for the twists, but stay for the wonderful character stories and stellar acting.
The Penguin (HBO/Max)
The Batman connection may draw you in, but you’ll stick around for the dark, gritty character study of one of the most famous superhero villains ever.
Colin Farrell disappears into the role of Oswald Cobb, one of the many criminal masterminds of Gotham City that would become a significant figure in Batman’s history.
The miniseries gives significant history to the famed villain and envelops you in this version of the famous city and many of its inhabitants, who will be familiar if you’ve read the comics or seen past movies.
Superhero shows never get the shine they deserve, but The Penguin stands out because it’s not trying to be a superhero show. It’s trying to get into the mind and psyche of this character, what motivates them, and pushes them all to the brink in one way or another.
Colin Farrell is a standout, but it’s Cristin Milioti who steals the show as Sofia Gigante, and the two of them help elevate the series into the conversation as one of the best miniseries of the last year.
Shōgun – (Hulu/FX)
If you’re an avid award show watcher, then you know Shōgun was a critical darling with voters, and there’s a good reason for that.
The series is absolutely stunning and epic in every sense of the word. At times, it almost feels too big for television, like we’re missing out by not getting to see it on an even bigger screen.
The series is a historical drama, though names have been changed, and is based on the novel of the same name. It’s not easy to encapsulate everything that Shōgun is, but at its core, it’s about power dynamics and a collision of two worlds when John Blackmore and Lord Toranaga collide.
Everything about the series just works, from the incredible acting to the beautifully shot fight sequences, and the top-notch writing.
If you’ve been wondering about the hype, rest assured that it’s justified. Do yourself a favor and give it a watch.
Adolescence – (Netflix)
One of our lovely editors, Jasmine Blu, wrote an excellent review of Adolescence earlier this year, proclaiming it the most riveting crime drama of the year.
The British series packs a powerful punch, as a 13-year-old boy (standout Owen Cooper) is arrested after a classmate is murdered. It’s an intriguing mystery right off the bat, but the series is much less of a whodunnit and more about dealing with why the murder took place.
Each hour (there are only four) is shot in one continuous take, which is a marvel in and of itself. The series is all the better for it because of how grounded and real each hour feels from a viewing standpoint.
The series’s atmosphere and subject matter are chilling, but everything is well done, and the viewing experience is immersive.
Add this to your summer list immediately if you have yet to check it out.
Rivals – (Disney+)
It’s time to embrace Rivals, people.
This raunchy, black comedy gem hit Disney+ in October 2024 and was a hit, earning itself a second season that will hopefully premiere at some point later this year.
Based on the novel of the same name, the series revolves around rivals, namely Rupert Campbell-Black and Tony Lord Baddingham.
Rupert is a womanizing retired Olympian from old money, while Tony is a ruthless television director. The two have a longstanding hatred of one another, which leads to many confrontations over the course of the first season.
They are, of course, not the only ones engaged in rivalries, and throughout the fast-paced seasons, you’re privy to fights, love affairs, betrayals, and everything in between, all set amidst the gorgeous backdrop of southwest England circa 1986.
The show is quirky, sexy, and maybe more than anything, it’s just downright entertaining. Not a single episode is a miss, and the season finale cliffhanger will have you glad there’s another season on the way.
Zero Day – (Netflix)
Robert DeNiro. Angela Bassett. Joan Allen. Need we say more?
The Netflix political thriller stars DeNiro as a former president who is called back to duty when a zero-day cyberattack in the United States throws the world into chaos.
The cast is like a who’s who of Hollywood elites, and there’s a very tantalizing mystery at the heart of the series that will have you second-guessing all the characters and their motives.
Political theories can sometimes be cheesy or think they’re more important than they are. Zero Day is aware of what it wants to be, and while it can be clunky at times, it does feel grounded in the message it’s trying to send.
The ending is worth watching all six episodes, which is right around the standard number of hours these streaming services are willing to give us in today’s television landscape.
Have another show you think audiences should check out this summer?
Let us know below, alongside what shows you’re hoping to add to your summer binge list.
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