The Why Watch That Talk: Summer TV Says Goodbye to Spring: Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger, Younger, and More!
Series Premieres:
Pose (FX)
Set in the 1980s, “Pose” is a dance musical that explores the juxtaposition of several segments of life and society in New York: the ball culture world, the rise of the luxury Trump-era universe, and the downtown social and literary scene. Blanca forms a “house,” a self-selected family that provides support to LGBTQ youth who have been rejected by their birth families. Damon is a dancer who joins Blanca’s house. Together, they compete in the balls — where house members challenge each other in various categories and are judged on their outfits, attitude, or dance skills — against Blanca’s former house mother, Elektra. Pray Tell is Godfather to the children who compete in the balls. Angel is a streetwalker who develops feelings for a new client, Stan, who has a loving wife, Patty. James Van Der Beek co-stars as Stan’s boss, Matt.
Succession (HBO)
Although he has no plans to step aside as the head of Waystar Royco, the international media conglomerate controlled by his family, aging patriarch Logan Roy is contemplating what the future holds. He has lingered in the limelight longer than even he thought he would, and now family members want to run the company as they see fit. Despite a best-laid succession plan, tempers flare over Logan’s intentions. Kendall Roy, Logan’s eldest son from his second marriage and a division president at the firm, is the heir apparent. As Kendall attempts to solidify his eventual takeover, he and the three other Roy children face a difficult choice as company control and family loyalties collide.
Dietland (AMC)
A ghostwriter for the editor of a New York fashion magazine struggles with self-image and sets out on a wildly complicated road to self-acceptance, as men accused of sexual abuse and assault disappear and meet untimely, violent deaths.
Younger (TV Land)
Trying to start a new career gets more difficult as you age, which suddenly single-mom Liza realizes when she tries to re-enter the working world at 40. After a young tattoo artist convinces her she looks younger, Liza decides to do something about it. Her solution revolves around trying to pass herself off as 26, courtesy of a makeover by her best friend, Maggie. The newfound confidence helps get her a job assisting temperamental Diana. Teaming with 20-something co-worker Kelsey, Liza hopes to make it a dream career — while no one discovers her secret. She later has to deal with the fallout of the truth after revealing her secret to Kelsey.
Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger (Freeform)
In New Orleans, teenagers Tandy Bowen and Tyrone Johnson come from different backgrounds and have acquired superpowers after two life changing events that revolved around the collapse of an oil rig that is owned by Roxxon. While forming a romantic relationship, they soon realize that their powers work better when they are together, “but their feelings for each other make their already complicated world even more challenging
Nashville (CMT)
Rayna James has had a successful country-music career, but lately, her popularity has started to fade. Her record label believes the solution is to have her open for up-and-comer Juliette Barnes on tour, but Juliette is a schemer and wants nothing more than to steal Rayna’s spotlight. Rayna thinks her real chance is in another young woman, undiscovered songwriter Scarlett O’Connor. While Rayna struggles with her career, her father is busy messing with her private life, encouraging her husband to run for election to be mayor of Nashville – against her wishes.
American Woman (Paramount)
A new, challenging life awaits Bonnie Nolan after she discovers her husband is having an affair. Amid the rise of second-wave feminism in the 1970s, the unconventional mom decides to leave her marriage and raise her two daughters by herself. It’s a struggle, but with the help of best friends Kathleen and Diana, the ladies each create their own brand of independence in a rapidly changing world that frowns upon it. Starring Alicia Silverstone as Bonnie, the comedy series is inspired by the real-life upbringing of co-executive producer Kyle Richards (“The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”).
Marcella (Netflix)
Despite marriage woes, a tragic loss, memory blackouts and her struggles as a mom, a London detective excels at what she does best: catching killers.
Season Finale:
Sweetbitter (Starz)
A new life awaits 22-year-old Tess when she arrives friendless in New York City and lacking any specific ambitions beyond finding a job. Her charm and observational nature lead to an invitation to train at one of the city’s best restaurants. She thinks it’s a temporary place to wait for her life’s big break, but Tess is quickly intoxicated by the chaotic world behind the scenes — tasting expensive wine, exploring dive bars, learning who to trust — and, most of all, by the people she meets. Her co-workers become her family, and through them she finds a sense of belonging that she has never encountered before.
Series Finales:
Patrick Melrose (Showtime)
Patrick Melrose is a man from a very privileged yet traumatic childhood in the 1980s. Patrick’s father was a very abusive man, and Patrick’s mother put up with his behavior. Eventually, Patrick’s childhood led him down a path into addiction and severe substance abuse in New York. “Patrick Melrose” is a five-part limited series based on the semi-autobiographical novels by Edward St. Aubyn from the 1980s through early 2000s.
Sense8 (Netflix)
Eight strangers around the globe find themselves connected — first by a violent vision, then by their shared ability to connect with one another’s thoughts and actions, and finally by the urgent need to find out what happened and why. Their need to know goes beyond simple curiosity — as they pursue answers, a mysterious organization hunts them down, intent on destroying them. The intense thriller is the first foray into television (or, more accurately, Netflix) for renowned filmmakers Lana Wachowski and Lilly Wachowski (“The Matrix Reloaded”), who created the series with J. Michael Straczynski (“Thor”). The international cast includes veteran actors known to U.S. audiences, like Daryl Hannah (“Kill Bill”) and Naveen Andrews (“Lost”), and others well-known in their home countries, like German actor Max Riemelt and Doona Bae of South Korea. In keeping with the global premise of the series, shooting takes place all over the world, including London, Reykjavik, Nairobi and Mumbai.