The only thing scarier than the realistic dread Apple TV’s Widow Bay brewed in its finale, would be its absence from the Emmys this fall. The adorably quaint comedy thriller stuck the landing, appeared on all the best TV lists thus far, and secured an early renewal. Despite suspecting Matthew Rhys’ Tom being connected to the town’s mythos, the path to the reveal was fantastic. And kudos to all of our main players surviving the night.

All 10 episodes are available on Apple TV.

Rating: 5/5

Review: It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Jacerday

HBO launched the third season of House of the Dragon last Sunday. Despite the mixed reviews of its sophomore season, #DemDragons plagued social media as Team Black and Team Green resumed mere hours after the second season finale.

Rhaenyra and Alicent’s attempt to prevent more burned blood fails as the men and their swords do what dragons do. While the beginning half was mostly setup, eyeing where our various players left off, the latter delivered the anticipated Battle of the Gullet.

News of Aegon’s escape spreads across King’s Landing, infuriating Aemond. Alicent seeks to soothe her king son. The conversation solicits an unexpected response from the younger son, leaving his mother and viewers shocked. Meanwhile Aegon and Larys are captured by Rhaenyra’s guards. But the whisperer uses this to his advantage.

Lord Corlys Velaryon and his son Alyn the Hull find themselves pursued by the Triarchy and the Lannister fleet. The surprise pursuit by Sharako Lahar finds the Sea Snake in dire straits with lack of resources. Upon word of the attack, Rhaenyra vows to assist, only for her son Jace to intercede.

He and Baela soar the skies, but find themselves outmatched. The situation worsens when Rhaena returns from the Vale with the untamed dragon, Sheepstealer. The creature’s friendly fire causes chaos. After a close call, Jace’s Vermax fatally wounded, sinking into the sea. The heir escapes drowning only to be silenced by the enemies arrows.

It’s clear this was meant to be the second season’s finale. Beside that awkward timing, the episode delivered what fans have been waiting for — the literal Dance of the Dragons. Losing Jace ends an recourse for reconciliation. It will be blood for blood moving forward. No character is safe.

Rating: 3/5

Whether you have FX or FX via Hulu, you’ve seen all or just two episodes of The Bear’s final season. Held within one shift a la The Pitt, our chefs face a downpour figuratively and literally. Syd attempts to lead her fearless team to opening as water rises around them. But unpaid bills, food shortages and a flooding pipe don’t seem to deter them from pressing forward.

The dramedy has traded it’s high-octane dysfunction for muted resolve and strength in the face of adversity. A display of our characters’ arc from trauma-bonded coworkers to equally yoked family. Recognizing each other’s strengths and stepping in to fill weaknesses. A beautiful start to say goodbye.

Stream The Bear on Hulu or watch weekly every Thursday on FX at 9 p.m. ET.

If you’re not watching Interview with the Vampire’s third season because of the racist fandom or a dislike for musicals, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Sam Reid leads TV’s strongest ensemble cast for two seasons in a tortured tale just as compelling as Jacob Anderson’s Louis. The gang is all here as Magnus’s fledgling reveals his liner notes.

On top of acting, Reid delivers the Daniel Hart-composed songs himself with the best saved for Episode 3’s “Toronto.” Matched with the episode’s revelations, the song is a cry for freedom from trauma-soaked existence.

In a totally different direction, Devin Morrison released SAKURA, genre-defining project laced with his signature interpretations of 1980s and 1990s vibes. From quiet storm to new jack swing, Morrison does it all without the ick of lazy nostalgia hunting.

With “GIRL” he traverses mixing ground-shattering Miami Bass and Freestyle to an addictive delight.

As we past the halfway mark of 2026, my top 20 list is starting to take shape. Only counting shows that premiered this year, read below for my favorites thus far. In no particular order.

After a thrilling debut laced with an unmatched award season streak, the HBO Max drama series returned a year later for its sophomore season. Taking place during the Fourth of July weekend, the healthcare professionals at the Pittsburgh Trauma Center faced an eclectic mix of emergent cases. But none as daunting as their own personal wellness, collectively carried by Dr. Robby’s upcoming sabbatical. Writers traded the sensational patient trauma for a more intricate character growth, revealing how incidents from season one carried over.

Marvel turns the hero’s journey on its head with this personable tale of authenticity to one’s self and others. While many hero stories are intertwined with learning to beat to one’s own drum, Destin Daniel Cretton & Andrew Guest save the heroics for the background, allowing the intimate moments take center stage. Yahya Abdul Mateen II is incredible trading scenes with Ben Kingsley, whose Trevor Slattery treks his own path to truth. Therein lies one’s full power.

Prime Video’s limited series from Riz Ahmed is a flash take on the immigrant experience in Hollywood. Half Ramy, half Wonder Man, Shah Latif (Ahmed) is a struggling actor whose fate seems to change by sleight of the hand. But in his attempt to be a voice, he loses his own.

HBO’s Industry went from being one of its least-streamed series to earning a primetime Sunday slot in season three. Creators Mickey down and Konrad Mkay struck while the coke was fresh, packaging an balls-to-the-wall fourth entry capturing the perilous dangers of our current world in eight episodes. If Ken Leung isn’t nominated — we riot.

Jamie Bell and a transformative Richard Gadd are two brothers whose unhealthy codependency leads to devastating consequences. As Gadd’s follow up to Netflix’s Baby Reindeer, Half Man is a timely and volatile look at how the fallacies of “manhood” manifest in brutal ways.

Bell and Gadd deliver powerhouse performances, but the series is carried by their younger counterparts — Mitchell Robertson and Stuart Campbell. In wake of shows like Adolescence and the manosphere phenomenon, Half Man is a stirring addition to the conversation on men’s relationships with themselves and others.

A mockumentary sitcom starring Tracy Morgan and Daniel Radcliffe (yes, Harry Potter) sounds like a sketch on the SNL writers’ room floor. However, the NBC freshman comedy scored big with critics and viewers alike for its humbling humorous heart and a second season renewal. Each character is a delight in their own way. Binge season one on Peacock for it’s second coming in November.

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Prime Video released the first full trailer for Batman: Caped Crusader season two. Led by Bruce Tim of Batman: The Animated Series fame, the series is a re-imagining of the iconic 1990s staple. Finding Bruce Wayne in the infancy of his masked marauder, Gotham City contends with the vigilante’s presence as a new menace, The Riddler, wrecks havoc as the new crime boss. In addition to the man in green, we see glimpses of Poison Ivy, the Mad Hatter, Firefly and Batman’s arch nemesis himself.

The first season find success in its excellent writing and liberating takes on the iconic characters. Prepare for war July 31.

If that isn’t enough Batman for you, DC announced a three-part R-rated film event. Batman: Knightfall will trace an older Wayne and several Robins match wits with his entire rogue gallery. The synopsis reads: When the mysterious behemoth known only as Bane frees Batman's entire rogue's gallery from Arkham Asylum, the Caped Crusader is pushed to his mental and physical breaking point.