Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Summer 2021 is already shaping up to one of the best summers in years, what with the COVID-19 vaccine allowing the world to open up, folks hanging with loved ones in the sun once more, and a whole new slate of exciting TV hitting streaming. Yes, even though we’re not cooped up indoors this summer, there’s still incredible TV coming our way. And it starts…tomorrow!
Yes, the first big new series of the summer is Netflix’s Sweet Tooth, a fairy tale take on the apocalypse genre where a little boy/deer hybrid named Gus (Christian Convery) must embark on an epic adventure into the heart of danger. After Sweet Tooth, you have Disney+’s highly anticipated new series Loki to look forward to, the return of Netflix’s surprise winter hit Lupin, and a score of exciting new series.
HBO Max is hoping you’re amped to descend back into the scandal-ridden lives of Manhattan’s elite with the 2021 reboot of Gossip Girl. Meanwhile Apple TV+ is offering two more incredible new comedies: the darkly comic 1980s exercise show Physical and the irrepressibly charming Schmigadoon!
Of course what you might be most hype for is what’s returning to the screen this summer. The insanely popular animated series Rick and Morty is coming back for a fifth season on Adult Swim, RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars kicks off its latest showdown of queens on Paramount+, and The Walking Dead kicks off its final super-sized season just as the summer is set to come to a close.
From the return of Apple TV+ favorite Ted Lasso to the swan song of Bosch on Prime Video, trust us, you’ll have plenty of reasons to stay inside the cool AC this summer. Summer 2021 TV is going to be fabulous.
Here are the 20 TV shows Decider is most hyped for in Summer 2021…
'Sweet Tooth'
Release Date: June 4
Streaming Service: Netflix
Cast: Christian Convery, Nonso Anozie, Will Forte, Adeel Akhtar, Dania Ramirez, Stefania LaVie Owen, Aliza Vellani
Why We’re Hyped: It’s based on Jeff Lemire’s acclaimed mature readers series for DC Comics—and it looks like the Netflix adaptation hasn’t toned down the weird one bit. A deadly pandemic, human/animal hybrids, Will Forte being a Very Good Dad—we’re here for it. — Brett White
'Loki'
Release Date: June 9
Streaming Service: Disney+
Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Owen Wilson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Wunmi Mosaku
Why We’re Hyped: Uh, it’s Loki?? It’s Loki with Owen Wilson??? This time-traveling series somehow looks stranger than WandaVision, meaning Loki is gonna give people plenty to talk about during Hot Vax Summer. – BW
'Love, Victor' Season 2
Release Date: June 11
Streaming Service: Hulu
Cast: Michael Cimino, George Sear, Rachel Hilson, Anthony Turpel, Bebe Wood, James Martinez, Ana Ortiz, Anthony Keyvan
Why We’re Hyped: Season 1 ended with the biggest reveal possible: Victor came out to his devoutly Catholic parents. How are they gonna react? Not only that, how will Mia react to her ex-boyfriend having a new boyfriend? School’s back in session, and so is all the drama. – BW
'Lupin' Part 2
Release Date: June 11
Streaming Service: Netflix
Cast: Omar Sy, Vincent Londez, Ludivine Sagnier, and Hervé Pierre
Why We’re Hyped: Netflix’s slick French crime drama charmed us when it premiered back in January and by that we mean we all fell hard for Omar Sy’s Assane Diop. The son of an immigrant chauffeur wronged by a wealthy French family, Assane uses the classic Arsene Lupin stories as inspiration for his clever heists and cons. Omar Sy’s electric performance left us hungry for more, and Lupin Part 2 promises to deliver. – Meghan O’Keefe
'Kevin Can F*** Himself'
Release Date: June 13
Streaming Service: AMC
Cast: Annie Murphy, Eric Peterson, Mary Hollis Inboden, Alex Bonifer, Raymond Lee, Brian Howe
Why We’re Hyped: Have you ever wondered what happens when the sitcom cameras turn off and the overworked housewife is left alone? The marital dread you’ve always suspected is what this warped comedy explores. As wife Allison (Murphy) tries to break away from the canned studio laughter she also starts to break away from her own morals and grasp on reality. – Kayla Cobb
'Tuca & Bertie' Season 2
Release Date: June 13
Streaming Service: Adult Swim
Cast: Tiffany Haddish, Ali Wong, Steven Yeun
Why We’re Hyped: One of the most caring, revolutionary, and deeply underrated adult animated comedies is getting a second chance. After being canceled by Netflix, Tuca & Bertie is returning with another installment about female friendship and change in your 30s. This gorgeously animated gem will have you laughing one minute and examining your unspoken anxieties over parties the next. – KC
'Dave' Season 2
Release Date: June 17
Streaming Service: FX on Hulu
Cast: Lil Dicky, Taylor Misiak, GaTa, Andrew Santino, Travis “Taco” Bennett, Christine Ko
Why We’re Hyped: Hey, it’s Dave! He’s Lil Dicky! Dave was hands-down one of the funniest comedies to lighten the hellscape that was 2020. Chronicling David Burd’s early years as a struggling rapper in a scene that didn’t understand him, Season 1 accomplished a rare feat, delivering genuinely hilarious jokes without relying on stale comedy tropes. We have no idea what’s in store for the fictional Lil Dicky, but we’re confident he’s going to mess it up and make us laugh in the process. – KC
'Physical'
Release Date: June 18
Streaming Service: Apple TV+
Cast: Rose Byrne, Rory Scovel, Geoffrey Arend, Paul Sparks, Lou Taylor Pucci, Della Saba, Deirdre Friel
Why We’re Hyped: On the surface this Apple TV+ drama tells the story of a housewife becoming the head of an aerobics empire. But Physical is so much more than that. Through Shelia’s (Byrne) acidic inner monologue the series serves as a scathing reflection of the evils of eating disorders and the insurmountable pressure shoved onto women’s shoulders. You’re not going to want to miss this one. – KC
'Élite' Season 4
Release Date: June 18
Streaming Service: Netflix
Cast: Itzan Escamilla, Omar Ayuso, Miguel Bernardeau, Georgina Amorós
Why We’re Hyped: Élite is maybe the wildest and sexiest teen drama on TV today. Set in Spain’s most illustrious high school, each season of the series focuses on a horrible crime, like murder. However, the sexy students of Las Encinas aren’t just up to no good. They’re also all up in each other’s businesses. Élite is a juicy romp full of jaw-dropping sex scenes — and Season 4 might be the wildest season yet. I mean, they’re introducing three mischievous siblings and a prince to the school! – MO
'Rick and Morty' Season 5
Release Date: June 20
Streaming Service: Adult Swim
Cast: Justin Roiland, Sarah Chalke, Spencer Grammer, Chris Parnell
Why We’re Hyped: Do we even have to say? The craziest show in the multiverse is returning! Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland’s juggernaut of a comedy will be coming back with 10 episodes all about Voltrons, scantily clad sea gods, and Hellraiser parodies. By now you know the drill. Tune in for the weirdly specific pop culture jokes, stay for the existential dread. – KC
'Too Hot to Handle' Season 2
Release Date: June 23
Streaming Service: Netflix
Cast: TBA—but we know three of them (Matthew Mawhinney, Harry Johnson, Beaux Greenslade) because they were arrested at the airport upon their return from filming Season 2. Very on brand with this show!
Why We’re Hyped: No reality show screams “vaccine summer” quite like Too Hot to Handle. It’s horny, drunk, sloppy, and sweaty—pretty much everything party monsters missed out on in 2020. But can these sexy singles keep their hands off each other long enough to win big money? Like… no, probably not. – BW
'RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars' Season 6
Release Date: June 24
Streaming Service: Paramount+
Cast: A’keria C. Davenport, Eureka!, Ginger Minj, Jan, Jiggly Caliente, Kylie Sonique Love, Pandora Boxx, Ra’Jah O’Hara, Scarlet Envy, Serena ChaCha, Silky Nutmeg Ganache, Trinity K. Bonét, Yara Safia
Why We’re Hyped: Category is: CHAOS. Drag Race truly upped the WTF factor for its Paramount+ debut, assembling a cast of pot-stirrers, shit-talkers, and dolls with everything to prove and nothing to lose. There’s absolutely no telling how this will play out—and that’s the gag of it all. – BW
'Bosch' Season 7
Release Date: June 25
Streaming Service: Prime Video
Cast: Titus Welliver, Lance Reddick, Amy Aquino
Why We’re Hyped: Bosch is one of the most quietly popular shows on streaming and it’s coming to an end! Bosch Season 7 will be its final one on Amazon’s Prime Video. Meaning it’s now or never to bond with your dad (or mom) over the adventures of Harry Bosch. BOSCH! – MO
'Never Have I Ever' Season 2
Release Date: July
Streaming Service: Netflix
Cast: Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Poorna Jagannathan, Darren Barnet, Ramona Young, Lee Rodriguez, Jaren Lewison, Richa Moorjani, John McEnroe
Why We’re Hyped: Season 1 of this teen comedy from Mindy Kaling gave us all the feels (as well as a breakout performance from Maitreyi Ramakrishnan). Devi’s story picks up at the most dramatic point possible: she’s in a sudden love triangle with Paxton and Ben and her mom’s moving the family to India! We can’t wait to watch Devi untangle this mess. – BW
'Gossip Girl' (2021)
Release Date: July 8
Streaming Service: HBO Max
Cast: Emily Alyn Lind, Eli Brown, Whitney Peak, Thomas Doherty, Jordan Alexander, Evan Mock, Zión Moreno, Savannah Smith, Tavi Gevinson
Why We’re Hyped: A little Upper East Side birdie told us that scandal is the new black this summer. Gossip Girl is back with new cast of obscenely rich teenagers, new love triangles, new crimes, and a new list of reasons why you won’t stop watching. If HBO Max’s reboot is anything like the original get ready to ditch your actual friends for Manhattan’s most elite. – KC
'Schmigadoon!'
Release Date: July 16
Streaming Service:
Cast: Cecily Strong, Keenan-Michael Key, Alan Cumming, Kristen Chenoweth, Ariana DeBose
Why We’re Hyped: Apple TV+’s Schmigadoon! is silliness incarnate. The musical comedy series follows couple Melissa (Cecily Strong) and Josh (Keegan-Michael Key) as they get themselves lost on a hiking retreat. The two wind up in the mystical town of Schmigadoon!, where the townspeople (all played by a who’s who of musical theatre talent) behave like they’re stuck in a classic ‘40s musical. Trust us when we say Schmigadoon! is the perfect pairing with the next summer show we’re hyped for… – MO
'Ted Lasso' Season 2
Release Date: July 23
Streaming Service:
Cast: Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, Brendan Hunt, Brett Goldstein
Why We’re Hyped: Ted Lasso’s first season was Decider’s pick for the best show of 2020 and with good reason. The sitcom about an American football coach challenged with course correcting a flailing British football club was masterpiece in threading the needle between humor and kindness. Ted Lasso is comedy gold and we can’t help but expect Season 2 to give us all the giggles and good feels. – MO
'Riverdale' Season 5
Release Date: August 11
Streaming Service:
Cast: K.J. Apa, Cole Sprouse, Lili Reinhart, Camila Mendes, Vanessa Morgan, Madelaine Petsch
Why We’re Hyped: Back in the early days of 2021, The CW’s hit teen murder romp jumped seven years into the future to, uh, 2021. And when Riverdale finally returns on August 11 to finish off Season 6, the now adult cast of the series will tackle more maple-soaked aliens, a town on the brink of collapse, and probably some romantic shenanigans, as well. All that, plus the highly anticipated return of Josie and the Pussycats! Is it August yet? – Alex Zalben
'Nine Perfect Strangers'
Release Date: August 18
Streaming Service: Hulu
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Luke Evans, Melvin Gregg, Samara Weaving, Michael Shannon, Asher Keddie, Grace Van Patten, Manny Jacinto, Tiffany Boone, Regina Hall, Bobby Cannavale
Why We’re Hyped: It was supposed to be the perfect wellness retreat. But this getaway is anything but relaxing in the adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s novel about lies, ego, fear, and the extreme lengths people will go to become their “best” selves. It’s hard to imagine anyone other than Nicole Kidman heading a show about a misleading transformation retreat. That perfect casting paired with this wickedly strange premise is why we’re on the edge of our seats. – KC
'The Walking Dead' Season 11
Release Date:August 22
Streaming Service:
Cast: Norman Reedus, Lauren Cohan, Melissa McBride, Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Why We’re Hyped: After years of jokes about how The Walking Dead won’t die, AMC’s biggest hit returns for its final season. Don’t worry: it’s the longest season ever, and will stretch over two years. But when the zombie drama does return to air, it will also be tackling one its biggest storylines ever. After tangling with the fascistic Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and the zombie-skin wearing Whisperers, how will our heroes deal with The Commonwealth, a society that is… Better at surviving the apocalypse than they are? – AZ
