Here Are 7 New And Returning TV Series To Watch

Summer is synonymous with fun in the sun, but sometimes, after a long day at the beach or lounging by a pool, you want to relax and binge-watch an excellent television series. Here are seven shows that are perfect for escaping the summer heat.

Black Mirror (Netflix, 5 Episodes): The sixth season of this satirical dystopian anthology series debuted on June 15 (technically just before summer started, but it’s so good it had to be included). This series is reminiscent of The Twilight Zone and comes from creator Charlie Brooker, who wrote the new season with Bisha K. Ali. The long-awaited season quickly reached the No. 2 spot on the streamer’s Top 10 TV list with just over 11.3 million views.

What I love about this series is that each episode is its own stand-alone story, so you can read what each is about and choose what suits your mood. I believe two of the series’ best episodes are in this new season. Though each episode is excellent, here are my personal favorites.

In “Joan Is Awful,” Annie Murphy portrays a totally “average” woman whose life completely unravels when a global streaming platform creates a TV adaptation of the least flattering moments of her life. Millions watch as A-list actress Salma Hayek Pinault portrays Joan, and though the entire world is hooked on Joan’s darkest moments, the two have to figure out a way to end the drama.

And then there is “Beyond the Sea,” which takes place in an alternate 1969, as two astronauts, Cliff (Aaron Paul) and David (Josh Hartnett), are living alone on a shuttle in outer space. Because of the length of their mission, they’ve been given technology that beams their consciousnesses back to Earth so they can live out their everyday lives with their families in the form of robotic avatars of themselves. When tragedy strikes, each goes to extreme lengths to preserve their link to the world as the effects of isolation take a mental toll on each.

And Just Like That…(Max, 11 Episodes): The ladies are back for a second season of the Max Original series from executive producer Michael Patrick King. The first two episodes will debut on June 22, with the following nine episodes premiering weekly on Thursdays.

Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, Sara Ramírez, Sarita Choudhury, Nicole Ari Parker, Karen Pittman, Mario Cantone, David Eigenberg, Evan Handler, Christopher Jackson, Niall Cunningham, Cathy Ang, and Alexa Swinton star in the highly-anticipated new season.

As much as they tried to keep it under wraps, fans will also get to see the return of two central characters to the story: Kim Cattrall has returned as Samantha Jones in a scene in the finale episode that Cattrall reportedly filmed without any other cast on set. Fans want to see some closure between Samantha and Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw, and we can hope for the same between Cattrall and Parker in real life. We will also see the return of John Corbett’s Aidan Shaw, Carrie’s love that fans feel got away.

These two storylines serve as wish fulfillment in many ways as who doesn’t have fractured friendships and that one love that you wonder, “What if?” If we can see Carrie get closure and a happy ending, perhaps we might have a chance at the same someday. This spin-off comes from the HBO series Sex and the City, created by Darren Star and based on the book “Sex and the City” by Candace Bushnell.

The Bear (FX, 10 Episodes): This comedy series returns with its second season on June 22, with all episodes dropping simultaneously. The critically acclaimed original series follows Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), Sydney Adamu (Ayo Edebiri) and Richard “Richie” Jerimovich (Ebon Moss- Bachrach) as they work to transform their grimy sandwich joint into a next-level spot.

As it turns out, the only thing harder than running a restaurant is opening a new one, and the team must juggle the insane bureaucracy of permits and contractors with the beauty and creative agony of menu planning. As the entire staff is forced to come together in new ways, pushing the boundaries of their abilities and relationships, they also learn what it means to be in service, both to diners and each other.

The Lincoln Lawyer (Netflix, 10 Episodes): The ten-episode second season will be released in two five-episode parts. Part One premieres on July 6, and Part Two will be released On August 3.

The show is based on the series of bestselling novels by renowned author Michael Connelly and season two is based on the fourth book in The Lincoln Lawyer series, “The Fifth Witness.” Created for TV by David E. Kelley and Ted Humphrey, the cast includes Neve Campbell, Becki Newton, Jazz Raycole and Angus Sampson.

So far, I have been able to binge the first five episodes, and this new season is fantastic! Once again, Mickey Haller (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) gets his clients out of hot water while getting himself into a huge mess. He’s still running his law practice out of the back seat of his Lincoln as he continues to take on cases big and small across Los Angeles.

Only Murders in the Building (Hulu, 10 Episodes): The third season of this fan favorite will return on August 8, with the streamer dropping the first two episodes, with one episode released per week through October 3.

This murder-mystery-comedy series comes from the wacky and brilliant minds of Steve Martin, Dan Fogelman, and John Hoffman. The story follows three strangers (Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez) obsessed with true crime.

When there’s a murder in their exclusive Upper West Side apartment building, the trio employs their precise knowledge of true crime to investigate the truth. As they record a podcast of their own to document the case, the three unravel the complex secrets of the building and soon discover that a killer might be living amongst them.

Billions (Showtime/Paramount+, 12 Episodes): The acclaimed drama series returns for its seventh and final season on August 11 on Paramount+ before making its on-air debut on August 13 on Showtime.

The magnificent cast includes Paul Giamatti, Corey Stoll, Maggie Siff, David Costabile, Asia Kate Dillon, Dola Rashad, Jeffrey DeMunn, Sakina Jaffrey, Daniel Breaker, and Toney Goins. The final season also marks the return of Damian Lewis as fan-favorite Bobby “Axe” Axelrod.

Since its premiere in 2016, Billions has been one of the most-watched series on Showtime. As previously announced, the cable network is expanding the Billions universe with several projects in development, all executive produced by showrunners Brian Koppelman and David Levien.

Harlan Coben’s Shelter (Prime Video, 8 Episodes): This thriller drops on August 18 with the first three episodes and on a weekly cadence afterward. This series marks Harlan Coben’s first collaboration with Prime Video.

The thriller is based on the New York Times best-selling book series by acclaimed author Harlan Coben. The series follows Mickey Bolitar’s story after his father’s sudden death, which leads him to start a new life in Kasselton, New Jersey. Mickey quickly finds himself tangled in the mysterious disappearance of a new student at his school, Ashley Kent, which leads to uncovering unimaginable secrets within their quiet suburban community. With the help of his friends, the inventive Spoon and the secretive Ema, Mickey pulls back the sleepy facade of Kasselton to reveal a dark underground that may hold the answers to decades of disappearances, deaths, and legends, and perhaps even his complex family history.

The series stars Jaden Michael, Constance Zimmer, Adrian Greensmith, Abby Corrigan, Tovah Feldshuh, Sage Linder, and Brian Altemus.