Staycation selects: All the new shows worth staying in for this summer
Whether you’ve got a stacked social calendar this summer (you lucky bastard) or you’re looking at a hellishly humid few months stuck in work with no chance of a break, there are still some shows you won’t want to miss out on. Considering you can watch shows on your phone now, you could feasibly skip work and go enjoy these bad boys in the park or beach of your choice if you like. Or you can flip the bird at the outside world and stay inside where there’s aircon and an endless supply of cold beer. Either way, here’s our ranking of the eleven new shows you should be looking out for this summer.
11. Strange Angel
June 14, CBS
Created by Mark Heyman (Black Swan) and based on George Pendle’s book of the same name, Strange Angel is inspired by the true and storied life of Jack Parsons. The blue collar worker started out as a janitor, began the discipline of American rocketry, and even became a disciple of occultist Aleister Crowley. There’s a lot to unpack in his story and this Ridley Scott (Blade Runner) executive produced series looks to be doing it with intrigue and panache.
10. The Innocents
August 24, Netflix
Can there ever be too many stories about star-crossed teenage lovers with super powers on TV? We think not. This Netflix Originals show starring Percelle Ascott (A Brilliant Young Mind), Sorcha Groundsell (Clique), and Australian chameleon Guy Pearce (Memento) follows such a love story when one half of the couple is revealed to be a shapeshifter. Personally, we would assume that would be a bonus in the bedroom, but whatever – apparently it causes some major drama and that’s good enough for us.
9. Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan
August 31, Amazon
Tom Clancy’s iconic character is given the millionth new adaptation with John Krasinski (A Quiet Place) tackling the role of the CIA analyst. The Amazon show looks tense, suspenseful, and appealing, even if Clancy or Krasinski ain’t exactly your bag.
8. The Disappearance
July 12, WGN America
This Canadian six-part limited series follows a harrowing mystery of a young boy who goes missing while enjoying a birthday treasure hunt organized by his grandfather (Peter Coyote). Deep secrets are unraveled in the pursuit for the truth and the family becomes shattered during the course of the investigation, making this intense story well worth dipping into.
7. Take Two
June 21, ABC
The latest show from the makers of Castle brings back the lovely Rachel Bilson (The O.C.) to our screens as the former star of a hit cop show trying to restart her career after a very public breakdown. She chooses to go deep method into her return to the screen and shadows a private investigator (Eddie Cibrian) who we can only hope she shares a palpable sexual tension with.
6. Love Is_
June 19, OWN
Inspired by the real life romance of creators Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil (Black Lightning), Love Is_ explores their relationship against the backdrop of 90s Los Angeles as the two follow their hearts and dreams in Hollywood. As well as telling a personal story, the show will also be delving into the social issues and black culture of the time.
5. American Woman
June 7, Paramount Network
Based on the life of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Kyle Richards, this 70s set dark comedy brings back the always awesome Alicia Silverstone (The Killing of a Sacred Deer) and Mena Suvari (American Beauty) to our screens. From what we’ve seen of the show so far, American Woman offers some sharp humor and timely observations centered around the burgeoning women’s liberation movement of the time.
4. Sharp Objects
July 8, HBO
If you were living for David Fincher’s adaptation of Gone Girl a few years back, you should definitely be excited for the latest adaptation of another of Gillian Flynn’s fucked up mysteries. Starring top grade thespian Amy Adams (Arrival) as a reporter investigating some shady disappearances of teenage girls while also putting together a dark puzzle from her past, the show looks seriously gripping.
3. Disenchantment
August 17, Netflix
Featuring a cast of voice actors including Abbi Jacobson (Broad City), Eric André (Man Seeking Woman), and cult comedian Matt Berry (The IT Crowd), the latest animated creation from Matt Groening (The Simpsons) follows the misadventures of a hard drinking princess, her feisty elf pal, and the personal demon in the crumbling Medieval kingdom of Dreamland. To say we’re excited for it is a vast understatement.
2. You
September 9, Netflix
OMG, you guys! We’re not even kidding about how stoked we are for this show in which Penn Badgley looks to be returning to his Gossip Girl days as a deranged bookstore manager using his internet savviness to stalk the woman of his dreams and make her fall in love with him. It’s the latest show from Greg Berlanti (Arrow) and it looks like an absolute trashy delight that we want to binge in one salacious sitting.
1. Castle Rock
July 25, Hulu
We’re so stupidly ready for this upcoming horror show from Sam Shaw (Masters of Sex), Dustin Thomason (Lie to Me), and J.J. Abrams (Lost) set in the extensive Stephen King multiverse. As well as starring King movie alums like Bill Skarsgård (It) and Sissy Spacek (Carrie), the show apparently weaves together an “epic saga of darkness and light” in the iconic fictional Maine town.
