Week of June 20 – 26
How long is too long to wait for new episodes of your favorite show? This week sees several series return after two-year breaks in between seasons — and these are the types of shows that are so addictive you’re always dying for more, like “House of the Dragon” (on HBO), “The Agency” (on Paramount+) and “Avatar: The Last Airbender” (on Netflix). But maybe the extended wait makes their return even sweeter. We sure hope so!
On with the television!
House of the Dragon
Sunday, June 21 at 9 p.m., HBO
Source: HBO
The most recent episode of “House of the Dragon,” HBO's lavish “Game of Thrones” prequel, aired back in August 2024. If you remember anything from last season, you should be awarded a piece of Westeros’ finest gold (or whatever they value most). Those of us who have not revisited the world since 2024 are probably going to be incredibly confused. (“Who is that guy? Isn’t that person dead?”) In Season 3, the show's penultimate season, the Targaryen civil war continues. Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) goes on the offensive to take back King’s Landing and many, many people will likely die. Famously, Season 2 of the show was cut off early due to budget concerns. Now, Season 3 will open with the long-awaited Battle of the Gullet — one of the bloodiest naval battles in Westeros history. George R.R. Martin-heads will rejoice. And it really feels good to have the show back. There’s something oddly comforting about settling in on a Sunday night to watch knights kill each other and dragons burn entire kingdoms to the ground. And as “House of the Dragon” barrels towards its endgame, it’s only going to get more surprising and more intense. Luckily we brought our armor. [TRAILER]
Not Suitable for Work
Tuesday, June 23, Hulu
Source: Hulu
The Mindy Kaling-produced workplace comedy, starring Ella Hunt, Jack Martin, Avantika Vandanapu and Jay Ellis is wrapping up its first season. It’s unclear if it will come back for Season 2. It’s certainly not a given anymore! (Freshman sci-fi series “The Boroughs,” which had decent ratings and word-of-mouth, was unceremoniously axed by Netflix earlier this week.) The Hulu series, which had great directors on board like Greg Mottola and Gillian Robespierre, concludes with two new episodes Tuesday. Watch after work. [TRAILER]
In the Hand of Dante
Wednesday, June 24, Netflix
Source: Netflix
This one could really go either way. Directed by Julian Schnabel, the painter and filmmaker behind “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly,” and based on the 2002 novel by Nick Tosches, it concerns a handwritten manuscript of Dante Alighieri’s “Divine Comedy” that makes its way into the hands of a modern-day New York City mob boss (and a writer named, you guessed it, Nick Tosches). The movie, co-written by Schnabel and Louise Kugelberg, features oscillating time periods and a truly insane cast that includes (but is not limited to) Oscar Isaac, Gal Gadot, Gerard Butler, John Malkovich, Martin Scorsese, Al Pacino and Jason Momoa. The trailer gives off vaguely “Cloud Atlas” vibes and the movie, which premiered back at the Venice International Film Festival last September, was only recently picked up by Netflix, which suggests that it wasn’t anybody’s first choice. At the very least “In the Hand of Dante” will be a fascinating curio, undoubtedly full of the kind of WTF-worthy moments that spark endless discussions on Letterboxd and in the lobby of your favorite arthouse movie theater. Sometimes that’s enough. [TRAILER]
The American Experiment
Wednesday, June 24, Netflix
Source: Netflix
Fourth of July marks the 250th anniversary of the United States and with that anniversary comes a brand-new, five-part Netflix documentary series. According to the official release, the documentary “reexamines the improbable achievement that was the nation’s founding, and the radical question at the center of the American Revolution: Can a people govern themselves?” “The American Experiment,” directed by Brian Knappenberger, “will feature a wide range of voices, including former vice presidents and cabinet officials, current and former members of Congress, a former Supreme Court justice, leading historians, tribal chiefs, military experts, and thought leaders across the political spectrum to present uniquely bipartisan and deeply informed conversations about the origins and future of American democracy.” The series was executive produced by Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, Knappenberger and Sarah Huisenga, and features interviews with (among others) Al Gore, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Mike Pence, Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, Nancy Pelosi and Kamala Harris. Considering how democracy is teetering on the brink of oblivion, it might be good to learn where it all came from. Hey, it had a good run. [TRAILER]
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
HBO Max
Source: HBO
If the return of “House of the Dragon” has got you itching for more “Game of Thrones”-adjacent fun and you are tired of getting bogged down in the ever-increasing lore, why not check out “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”? Sure, it only premiered earlier this year but you might have missed it. If you did, you missed one of the very best shows of the year. “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” is smaller in scale and more deliberate in pacing; it follows Duncan “Dunk” the Tall (Peter Claffey), a loser hedge knight attempting to gain entrance to a jousting competition. “Egg” (Dexter Sol Ansell) is his young squire with a secret lineage (which we will not spoil here) and is deeply committed to Dunk. He does not mind that he is a lousy knight. The entire thing has the feeling of a 1980s RPG video game — you assemble your party, prepare for battle, fight. (Since this is in the magic-free period of Westeros history, you don’t cast spells.) It is charming and funny and surprisingly emotional. Perhaps the best “Game of Thrones” show yet? Who’s to say! [WATCH]
Source: HBO
“The Agency”
Sunday, June 21, Paramount+
“The Agency” is back. It didn’t take as long as “House of the Dragon” — but almost. The spy series, based on a French series called “The Bureau,” last aired an episode on Jan. 26, 2025. Again — good luck remembering anything. But what do you really need to remember? It has a great cast, led by Michael Fassbender and including Jeffrey Wright, Jodie Turner-Smith, Katherine Waterston, John Magaro and Richard Gere, sharp writing from Jez and John-Henry Butterworth and slick production value. We need more shows like “The Agency.” But if “The Agency” is all there is, that’s still pretty good. [TRAILER]
“The Bear”
Thursday, June 25, Hulu
Talk about consistency – “The Bear