Photo: Graceland / USA Network
Summer TV is beginning to draw to a close for the most part, so I thought I’d take a look at my summer watch list from May (which you can read here) and see how I’ve been fairing. I’ve put a strikethrough on the shows I’m not watching because I’ve either given up on the show or still have not caught up on the show to watch the new episodes. Here we go!
Returning Dramas
Orange Is the New Black
Under the Dome
Graceland
Falling Skies
Extant
The Strain
Chasing Life
Switched at Birth (ABC Family, Premieres Monday, August 24 8pm)
I will watch the series finale of Falling Skies, but for the past few seasons, I’ve always been inconsistent with my viewing so this comes as no surprise. As for The Strain and Chasing Life, I’m not watching simply because I’m still not caught up to watch the new episodes.
I still have yet to watch the season 3 finale of Orange is the New Black but I will get to it sooner than I got to the season 2 finale which, if you remember, I watched the first half of the season 2 finale when I binged season 2 shortly after it was released and finished watching the second half of the finale when season 3 premiered – yes, you read that right, I stopped watching in the middle of the episode and didn’t pick it back up until a year later.
Anyway, this season of Under the Dome has totally jumped ship and frankly, I hate it. But I’m watching because I’ve invested so much into these characters and I need to see who survives this season at least. I don’t plan on watching the next season because this season was just such a huge let down but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t anticipating the season finale. I need to know how this season concludes before I can close the door on this one. The same can sort of be said for Extant. The show didn’t jump ship but I don’t think I’ll be watching the next season if the show gets picked up again. I am enjoying this season enough to tune in each week but I’m not particularly excited about tuning in anymore. It’s solid TV but it’s not must watch. So this may get the ax next season. We’ll see. I’m still on the fence about this one.
Graceland is DYNAMITE. The best season yet. This is my absolute favorite returning summer drama hands down. Oh. My. God. This. Show. If you’re not watching this show, your priorities are out of order. You are missing out!!! And finally, I’m excited for the return of Switched at Birth tomorrow! Can’t wait!
Photo: Unreal / Credit: James Dittiger
New Dramas
AQUARIUS
THE WHISPERS
UNREAL
STITCHERS
SENSE8
DARK MATTER
COMPLICATIONS
KILLJOYS
MR. ROBOT
HUMANS
Aquarius bored me to tears. The Whispers was intriguing but felt like shows I’ve seen before and the mystery didn’t seem worth it to me to keep watching. Stitchers was good but I didn’t connect with the main character which is kind of problematic for someone who wants to watch the show every week. Plus, the show was good but it lacked a depth I was hoping for. Maybe it’s gotten better? If I hear that it has, I may try again. I have yet to watch Sense8 but do plan on watching eventually. Complications is a solid show but it’s nothing more than that for me so with so much TV to watch and so little time to watch it, this made it on the chopping block. Killjoys had a solid start but there was a lack of chemistry and connecting with the characters for me that I just couldn’t hold on to wait and see what would happen. So. Pass on Killjoys for me but from what I’ve seen, it’s a pretty solid show.
Unreal was the best new drama this summer without a doubt. So juicy! So shameless! I loved every single minute of this show and cannot wait for more. I did think that one storyline came a bit out of left field and may have worked better had it not been in the first season but that aside, I really, really loved this freshman season and am so excited to see what’s in store for season two. Mr. Robot comes in second among my favorites. The only reason it doesn’t come in first is because there were 2 episodes that weren’t all that captivating and in the most recent episode, there was quite the revelation that I’m still working out in my mind if I like or not. I appreciate the gutsy move but do I like it? Ehhh. I don’t know! My third favorite new drama is Dark Matter. Oh man, that show is SO much fun! I am having an absolute blast watching this show. I look forward to Fridays because of this show. Thank you, Syfy for delivering another winner! Finally, there’s Humans. I don’t hear anyone talking about this show but it’s so good! It’s so creepy! The only reason it comes in last for me is because really, it stands on its own. It’s a staple sci-fi show for me in that it was destined to be great from the get go and doesn’t compare to the others because it was always an auto-watch for me. So. Humans. Watch it. Love it. Talk about it!
New Comedy
Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp
I haven’t started watching this yet so I have no thoughts at the moment!
Photo: Playing House / USA Network
Returning Comedy
Playing House
Yes! So much yes to this show! If you need a good laugh, watch this show. This show is a gem. It’s the Happy Endings of this summer TV season in that it’s so good and no one is watching! Watch this show so it doesn’t receive the fate that Happy Endings did!
Returning Reality
Extreme Weight Loss
Big Brother
Hollywood Game Night
Candidly Nicole
Face Off
Million Dollar Listing: Los Angeles (Bravo)
I have yet to watch Extreme Weight Loss as I’m saving the episodes for September when I begin exercising again. Loving Big Brother! If you follow me on Twitter, you don’t need me to tell you that. Enjoying Hollywood Game Night, the episodes that I watch On Demand anyway. The season two premiere of Candidly Nicole had me really worried that the show realized how funny it was and therefore was trying too hard to hit the same mark. But as the show is continuing on, I see that the premiere is something we can all forget about like it never happened. Face Off is amazing, as per usual. Congrats on the Critics Choice Award! And apparently, Million Dollar Listing: Los Angeles is starting in September this year, not in the summer, so we have a bit of a wait for new episodes here!
New Reality
BECOMING US
CELEBRITY FAMILY FEUD
MONICA THE MEDIUM (ABC Family, Series Premiere This Tuesday 8/7c)
GEEKS WHO DRINK
HOME FREE
Becoming Us have been so eye opening. What a great show. This is what reality TV should be. I only watch Celebrity Family Feud when I’m interested in a certain celebrity and what I’ve seen has been entertaining. I’m excited for the series premiere of Monica the Medium this week! Geeks Who Drink is a blast. And I have yet to watch Home Free. Has anyone seen it? If so, thoughts?
Photo: Younger / TV Land
Aired Earlier This Summer:
YOUNGER
Troy: Street Magic
Celebrity Wife Swap
WAYWARD PINES
Lost Girl The Final Season
THE MESSENGERS
The ending of Wayward Pines was bananas!!!!! I know it’s a long shot but I really want a second season. Even if there is no second season, that ending was incredible. Love it to pieces. Wow. Wayward Pines was amazing. All of the above were great, even The Messengers which I stopped watching simply because it was cancelled and I didn’t feel like watching the rest would be satisfying so I stopped.
Pleasant Surprises:
Fear the Walking Dead (AMC)
Rachael Ray’s Kids Cook-Off (Food Network)
Twinning (VH1)
Who Do You Think You Are? (TLC)
TODRICK (MTV, Series Premiere August 31 10/9c)
ZOO (CBS)
Fear the Walking Dead wasn’t originally on my summer watch list only because at the time, the premiere date was not set in stone and I didn’t even know it would air this summer. So, I’ve added it to this list and am happy to say that I’ve really enjoyed this spin off series so far. I can’t wait for more! Rachael Ray’s Kids Cook-Off was originally Rachael and Guy’s Kids Cook-Off and the site hasn’t been updated nor was there any promotion for this new season as far as I can tell but I searched for it since I enjoyed the original show and am excited for this new season! Twinning has way more drama than I ever anticipated. I actually didn’t anticipate any so the fact that there is so much drama still startles me. All of that aside, the competition aspect is so entertaining and I love it! WDYTYA is back! Yay! Catch up On Demand if you are behind! Can’t wait for Todrick to premiere! Team Internet! And finally… I laughed when I first saw the trailers for Zoo but then I decided to watch to check out the ridiculousness of it all and oh my goodness, I was sucked into this show in no time. I can’t say that I would ever recommend this show, because it is so silly, but I can’t say that I’m not practically glued to the screen each week that it comes on so… mission accomplished? They got me.