Why Watch That

While summer’s ending, television’s here to stay. As the final days of summer approach, there’s no shortage of television shows to watch when you just want to stay inside and avoid the heat. In this episode, the Critic and the Referee continue their seemingly never-ending conversation about the ongoing 2014 summer television season.

Manhattan: an American television series that premiered on July 27, 2014, on WGN America Network (Stream Free on Hulu)

Plot: Set in 1943 at the time of the Manhattan Project, the series focuses on a New Mexico town the outside world knows nothing about. The federal government tells the scientists only what they need to know, while the scientists keep secrets from their families.

The Lottery: an American post-apocalyptic drama television series that premiered on Lifetime on July 20, 2014

Plot: Set in a world destined for extinction as women have stopped having children. When remarkably 100 embryos are successfully fertilized, a national lottery is held to decide the surrogates.

The Honorable Woman:  a 2014 British spy thriller television miniseries in eight parts, directed and written by Hugo Blick for the BBC and SundanceTV. It premiered on Sundance on 31 July 2014.

Plot: Starring Maggie Gyllenhaal as (Vanessa “Nessa” Stein ) centers on Nessa Stein, a woman who inherits her father’s arms business and finds herself in an international maelstrom as she continues to promote the reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians.

Rush: an original medical drama series that premiered on USA Network on July 17, 2014

Plot: Dr. William Rush (Tom Ellis) is not your average on-call doctor. He’s not attached to any hospital, and he’s highly discreet no matter what the ailment is as long as the client can pay his cash-only premium. Plus, he can party with the best of them. He has no desire to change his life or how he lives it until an old flame and his conscience begin to stir things up.

The Strain: an American vampire horror–drama television series that premiered on FX on July 13, 2014

Plot: A plane lands at John F. Kennedy International Airport with the lights off and doors sealed. Epidemiologist Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (Corey Stoll) and his team are sent to investigate. On board, they find 206 corpses and four survivors. The situation deteriorates when the bodies begin disappearing from morgues. Goodweather and a small group of helpers find themselves battling to protect not only their own loved ones, but also the entire city from an ancient threat to humanity.

What Should You Continue to Watch This Summer
The Strain: FX
The Leftovers: HBO
Halt and Catch Fire: AMC

What Should You Stop Watching This Summer
Tyrant (most likely): FX
Extant: CBS
The Last Ship: TNT

Maybe Watch
Musketeers : BBC America