Remember when the summer meant turning off the TV and going out? Well, thanks to cable and streaming services, we know have some viable (and truly great) reasons to turn the TV back on this summer. Summer TV offers a more eclectic variety of choices when compared to the main season’s offerings. You’ll be surprised by how good some of these new and returning shows are and where you find them.
Click through the slideshow for 10 shows we recommend checking out this summer.
Preacher – Season 1 Premiere: May 22 – AMC
Before we all take a breather from comic book adaptations for a month or two before Suicide Squad hits theaters, first we’ll all take in the anarchic Preacher which debuted on AMC this Sunday. Developed by comedy duo Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen, the two have taken on what has before been called “un-adaptable” material and from the sounds of it have done a pretty remarkable job. With Dominic Cooper, the Joe Gilgun and the poised for a big breakout this year Ruth Negga as the leads, the series has some immense talent taking on these popular characters. I don’t know about you, but Preacher sounds just the right amounts of weird and action-packed to have me hooked. – Allyson Johnson
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Girl Meets World – Season 3 Premiere: June 3 – Disney Channel
Arguably the most progressive show on TV geared toward a generation of young people, Girl meets High School this summer with the premiere of Girl Meets World’s third season. If season two was any indication, the move to high school is going to be major transition for best friends Riley and Maya as they deal with a new social setting and their growing, conflicting feelings for boys – or one boy at least. To say that a middle school romance had me on the edge of my seat last season wouldn’t be a lie. That’s just how invested you become after getting to know these pretty wonderful characters, both new and old. – Gabrielle Bondi
UnReal – Season 2 Premiere: June 6 – Lifetime
Who knew that Lifetime had it in them? It would seem that the underdog stations are having a bit of a moment with Lifetime, USA and SyFy all producing creative and innovative series, but it was UnReal that truly captured audience’s attention. Created by Marti Noxon, the show is described as a dark comedy/drama and with its satirical, feminist edges is one of the more refreshingly interesting series currently on air. – A.J.
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Casual – Season 2 Premiere: June 7 – Hulu
Perhaps the biggest surprise for me in 2015 was just how much I loved Hulu’s Casual after the frustrating first two episodes. Michaela Watkins was instantly wonderful as Valerie, a recent divorcee with a rebellious teenage daughter, deliberately showcasing the pain and self-doubt she was feeling under a layer of comedy. It was Tommy Dewey’s Alex who took longer to grow an attachment to, beginning the series as a type of socially unaware jerk who we’ve seen before. It was once the show delved into his insecurities born from his parents that we saw the human behind the archetype. And from there, the show soared. – A.J.
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Orange is the New Black – Season 4 Premiere: June 17 – Netflix
The women of Litchfield are back for season four, and things are about to get messy. With the budget restrictions, the women are in closer quarters and the tension is mounting. Piper seems to be in over her head (and after “breaking bad” last year it was only a matter of time). I’m still holding out hope that Nikki returns from being in solitary and that Ruby Rose stays there, having added little to nothing to season three. Now officially in the drama category, the show seems to be embracing that fact, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the show took a darker turn but hopefully they do so without sacrificing the laughs. – A.J.
Pretty Little Liars – Season 7 Premiere: June 21 – Freeform
Season six ended on a high point after a rather mixed season that included a disappointing “A” reveal. Even then, the drama is far from over for the girls. At the end, Hanna is captured, and we see her unconscious body being dragged on the floor by the mysterious “A.D.” If season seven promises to be as entertaining as the finale, PLL fans have something to be excited for this summer. Get your theories ready. – G.B.
Dead of Summer – Series Premiere: June 28 – Freeform
From the creators of ABC’s Once Upon A Time, a new supernatural horror drama hits Freeform this summer. From the first look, there’s something intriguing about the series, and I’m curious about what kind of myths – both magical and supernatural – Dead of Summer will use at the core of its mystery. Set at an idyllic summer camp in the 1980s, what secrets will come out and who will survive? I guess we’ll find out this summer. – G.B.
Mr. Robot – Season 2 Premiere: July 15 – USA
Easily THE breakout show of 2015 (amongst critics at least), particularly when you think of how judgemental we (I) can be regarding USA dramas. Mr. Robot is back this summer. After having established itself last year as a credible series that went beyond the gimmick, trailers for the new season suggest a show that digs deeper into its own lunacy. Elliot’s already fragile stability has been shattered with the Mr. Robot reveal, and now he’s left picking up pieces of decisions he’s made both consciously and not. – A.J.
The Get Down – Series Premiere: August 12 – Netflix
Described as “a mythic saga of how New York at the brink of bankruptcy gave birth to hip-hop, punk and disco,” Baz Luhrmann’s foray into television is probably my most anticipated series this summer. Sure to be atmospheric and filled with good, soulful music, The Get Down, which follows a group of South Bronx teenagers, premieres its first half of the season (six episodes) in August on Netflix. – G.B.
You’re The Worst – Season 3 Premiere: August 31 – FXX
An unexpected favorite of mine, season two of You’re The Worst took a big risk, putting Gretchen and her undiagnosed depression centerstage. While comedy is always at the forefront, when the show dives into its deeper themes, it starts to stand out from the rest. In particular, centering on Gretchen and her self-medicating problems may not have been fun all the time, but it works as a bit of catalyst for Gretchen and Jimmy to face their feelings and make the choice to be a little less selfish. Leaving us at that point, I’m looking forward to what season three brings us. – G.B.
Which shows are you excited to watch this summer?
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