2022 Summer TV Watch Guide

From a galaxy far far away to the Upper West Side of New York, take a look at what television series to watch at home on the various streaming platforms during the summer season in between all the major films.

With the release of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the summer movie season has officially been kicked off. And with Memorial Day fast approaching as the unofficial start of summer, the various streaming series have plenty of new programs to grab viewers attention.

The standard practice used to be that summer was when series would take hiatuses. They would end their series in May and return in September. However over the past 10 years, and as streaming has become a bigger part of the television landscape, there is a constant need for programs to fill in the hours and keep viewers hooked and staying subscribed. While the summer movie season is packed with major films, television is certainly not lacking either, from major franchises like Star Wars, Star Trek, and the MCU to adaptations of books, the continuation of popular series, and so much more. Here is a guide to some of the biggest series you should keep an eye out for during the summer to try and watch.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds-May 5 (Paramount+)

The series has already premiered three episodes, but Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is a great kick-off to a great summer of television. While it is both a spin-off of Star Trek: Discovery and a prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is an easily accessible television show for anyone to get into even if one has never seen any Star Trek. With a wonderful cast of characters, it’s also great episodic television that harkens back to an old fashion way of television storytelling, with self-contained stories of the week. With its bright colorful production design and optimistic worldview, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds would be great for fans new and old and audiences of all ages.

The Essex Serpent-May 13 (Apple TV+)

For those looking for a period drama, The Essex Serpent follows a London widow named Cora Seaborne (Claire Danes) who moves to Essex to investigate reports of a mythical serpent. She forms a surprising bond of science and skepticism with the local pastor (Tom Hiddleston), and the two represent the various world views of how to look at this strange new phenomenon. The series is based on a 2016 novel of the same name and this gothic romance is worth checking out.

Obi-Wan Kenobi-May 27 (Disney+)

17 years after playing the character in Revenge of the Sith, Ewan McGregor returns to the Star Wars universe in Obi-Wan Kenobi. May 27 will kick off with a two-episode premiere that will help fill audiences in on what transpired between the events of Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. Given Star Wars’ rich history as a summer franchise before the acquisition by Disney, and how close the series is tied to Memorial Day weekend, Obi-Wan Kenobi seems tailor-made for the summer.

Stranger Things-May 27 (Netflix)

It has been three years since Stranger Things season 3 hit Netflix and while that season kicked off the 4th of July weekend in 2019, season 4 will kick off Memorial Day weekend. Season 4 is set to be a big one, with a 2-hour season finale that will lay the groundwork for the fifth and final season which will bring the story to an end, one that started back in the summer of 2016. As opposed to Obi-Wan Kenobi, which will after its two episodes drop weekly, Stranger Things will drop its entire season at once so there is plenty to watch over the three-day holiday weekend.

Pistols-May 31 (Hulu/FX)

FX and Hulu struck gold earlier in the year with the release of Pam & Tommy and are looking for another similar hit with the series Pistols, a biopic show about the formation of The Sex Pistols. Directed by Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire), the six-episode miniseries has already generated headlines as John Lydon aka Johnny Rotten tried filing a lawsuit against the band to prevent them from using the band’s music though he lost the legal battle. A series chronicling the story of one of the most iconic bands of all time is certainly one to check out.

The Boys-June 3 (Amazon Prime)

The hit superhero series that pushes boundaries, The Boys, is set to return to Amazon Prime for season 3. Season 3 is set to push even more boundaries, as it will adapt the controversial storyline Herogasm. It will also serve as a mini Supernatural reunion as the series creator Erik Kripke has cast Jensen Ackles as Soldier Boy, The Boys’ version of a Captain America type character. With the introduction of The Crimson Countess, the franchise homage to The Scarlet Witch, it appears season 3 will play much more on the Marvel characters as the franchise’s The Seven have been heavily influenced by DC’s Justice League. Superheroes go well with summer, and this is one violent group that is too rough for the big screen.

Ms. Marvel-June 8 (Disney+)

The big MCU series for the summer, Ms. Marvel follows the story of Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), a young Pakistanian-American high school student who is a fan of superheroes and discovers she herself has superpowers. This series will see Kamala finding her place in the world, and set up her involvement in 2023’s The Marvels uniting her with Captain Marvel and Monica Rambeau. The series arrives in the middle between the release of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in May and Thor: Love and Thunder in July as part of Marvel’s Phase 4 and will introduce a new hero to the MCU.

Evil-June 12 (Paramount+)

While a decent hit on CBS for season 1, Evil moved over to Paramount+ for season 2 where the series really found its grove being able to push more boundaries without the constraints of a traditional network. The series follows a skeptical forensic psychologist who allies with a Catholic seminarian and a technology contractor to investigate purported supernatural incidents, and each episode helps blur the line between what has a logical explanation and what is supernatural in terms. A truly scary and captivating series, Evil season 3 along with the other two seasons make for a great binge for those looking for a spooky offering.

Love, Victor-June 15 (Disney+/Hulu)

Love, Victor is a spin-off series to the hit 2018 film Love, Simon and is finally coming to an end with its upcoming third season. As with season 1 and season 2, the series will drop all ten episodes of its season in June (the series premiered in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, so really incredible to see how long it has been) and the series will now be broadcast on both Hulu and Disney+, as Disney+ originally moved the series to Hulu for being too adult for their service. It is fitting that for the series’ final season, it is coming back to the streamer it was originally intended for and a good way to show families that the subject matter is not taboo but natural.

Umbrella Academy-June 22 (Netflix)

Based on the popular Dark Horse Comic series by My Chemical Romance guitarist Gerard Way, Umbrella Academy season 3 hits Netflix in a full season drop. The season will pick up just after season 2 ended, with the titular team discovering they’ve created a time paradox and have now been replaced with the Sparrow Academy, a more traditional superhero operation. Most Netflix series tend to end after three seasons, and with their recent slate of cancelations there is a good chance this might be the end and if it is, a prime summer release date is one way to go out.

Westworld-June 26 (Netflix)

HBO likes to have a big series for summer, and this year the honor goes to Westworld season 4. Little is known about the upcoming season; in typical Westworld fashion it is surrounded by mystery. But the trailer offers a hint at the new setting, in what appears to be 1930s New York. Season 3 last aired in May 2020, so after two years off the air and over six years since the series first premiered there is a lot of anticipation.

Only Murders In The Building-June 28 (Hulu)

One of the breakout hits of 2021, Only Murders In The Building featured a cast that included Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez as a trio living in the same apartment complex who share a love for murder mystery podcasts and discover someone actually has been killed in their apartment and begin investigating it starting their own podcast. Season 1 ended with a cliffhanger of the trio being framed for murder, and now season 2 will pick up that storyline. If season 2 is half as good as season 1, viewers will certainly have a great time.

Baymax-June 29 (Disney+)

2014 brought the world of Marvel Comics and Disney animation together in the form of Big Hero 6. Now eight years later the story continues in a series following the lovable inflatable robot Baymax and will follow the character working as a nurse in San Fransokyo. This is the second series based on the film. Big Hero 6: The Series ran on Disney Channel and Disney XD from 2017 to 2021. However, Baymax will be fully CGI just like the film, and is part of Disney’s attempt to extend the same quality of CGI animation to their series as they do their films.

What We Do In The Shadows-July 12 (FX/Hulu)

Everyone’s favorite vampire roommates return for season 4 of What We Do In The Shadows on July 12. After numerous plotlines left hanging regarding the vampires season 3 ended on a big cliffhanger with Colin Robinson, the energy vampire, being reborn as a baby and Lazlo staying behind to raise him. With the other characters now in various parts of the globe, it is likely they will all need to return home. For audiences looking for a good laugh, What We Do In The Shadows always delivers.

Reservation Dogs-August 3 (FX/Hulu)

The breakout critically acclaimed series Reservation Dogs returns in the final month of the summer. The series follows the lives of four Indigenous teenagers in rural Oklahoma, as they spend their days committing crimes and deciding what they want to do with their future. FX has been a stable home for quality television, and Reservation Dogs provides something that is quite different from a lot of what is on television and worth checking out.

She-Hulk: Attorney At Law-August 17 (Disney+)

Finally confirmed for a late summer premiere date, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law recently aired its first teaser trailer that showcases Jennifer Walters (Tatiana Maslany) as she must balance being a lawyer, single, and a superhero. The series will see Mark Ruffalo reprise his role as Bruce Banner aka The Hulk, the return of Tim Roth as Abomination, and Benedict Wong as Wong and will feature a whole slew of Marvel characters and cameos. The series looks to primarily be pulling from the 2004 Dan Slott run on the title and looks to give the MCU its most comedic installment to date.

House of the Dragon-August 21 (HBO/HBO MAX)

It’s been three years since the final episode of Game of Thrones, and now the world is returning in the form of a prequel set 200 years before the events of the series titled House of the Dragon. The series will chronicle the beginning of the end of House Targaryen, the events leading up to the Targaryen civil war, known as the “Dance of the Dragons,” and the war itself and features an all-star cast that includes Matt Smith (Doctor Who), Emma D’Arcy (Truth Seekers), Olivia Cooke (Bates Motel), Rhys Ifans (Notting Hill), Sonoya Mizuno (Crazy Rich Asians), and Eve Best (Nurse Jackie). Game of Thrones took the world by storm when it was on the air, and now all eyes are on the prequel series to see if the appetite is still there.

Harley Quinn-TBD (HBO Max)

The third season of the popular animated series Harley Quinn does not have a set premiere date but the producers have indicated it will drop sometime in the summer. Most likely sometime in June after Young Justice: Phantoms wraps and can be DC’s series that airs on Thursdays. The long two-year wait since the season 2 finale will likely be worth it, as the series will expand on Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy’s new relationship, and possibly lay the groundwork for the spin-off series based around the character Kite-Man that HBO Max ordered.

Andor-TBD (Disney+)

The next Star Wars series following Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor is expected to air sometime in 2022 with many guessing a late summer premiere date possibly in August. With Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ms. Marvel airing so close together on separate nights, Andor might premiere shortly before or after She-Hulk: Attorney At Law and also take the Friday night slot. There is a chance the series could premiere in September after the summer, but with The Mandalorian season 3 likely hitting Disney+ in late 2022 they will likely want a bit of room between it and Andor, and a month after Obi-Wan Kenobi wraps in June is likely the best time for all the Star Wars series to get their moment in the sun.

Let us know what you are looking forward to watching this summer. Anything we missed? Any series you are eagerly anticipating? Let us know in the comments below.