At the risk of sounding overly dramatic, June is going to be an absolutely epic month for TV. Among the slew of TV series from the major streamers that are set to both debut and return next month, at least half a dozen arguably qualify as some of the biggest TV projects of the year. Which is to say: I hope you have plenty of free time next month, because there’s a lot to get to when it comes to quality TV series.
The six titles below — from Disney+, Netflix, Prime Video, and FX on Hulu — are all major releases in their own right, and the combination of all six TV series within a few weeks of each other will make the month of June a great month for TV all by themselves.
The Acolyte (June 4, Disney+)
First up is another Disney+ Star Wars TV series, this one set 100 years before the franchise’s 1999 prequel movie The Phantom Menace.
The Acolyte, from creator Leslye Headland (who also co-created Netflix’s Russian Doll), has piqued my interest solely on the basis of the fact that it appears to be trying something new — introducing a serial killer story into the comings and goings of the galaxy far, far away. That serial killer is a Sith warrior, whose crime spree pits a venerable Jedi master (played by Squid Game’s Lee Jung-jae) against a dangerous warrior from his past.
The cast also includes The Matrix’s Carrie-Anne Moss playing another Jedi Master. No guarantees, but for now The Force feels strong with this one.
Sweet Tooth: Season 3 (June 6, Netflix)
This next season of an existing franchise marks the final batch of episodes for Sweet Tooth, the Netflix show based on the DC comic book series by Jeff Lemire.
The third season picks up with Gus, Jepperd, Wendy, and Bear having set out for Alaska in search of Gus’ mother. Birdie tries to uncover the unclear origins of the deadly “Sick,” while a new threat has emerged in the form of Helen Zhang (who wants to eradicate hybrids rather than merely undo them).
Zhang’s daughter Rosie as well as the Wolf Boys join her efforts to restart human births, viewing Gus as the solution to their plans. “[It’s] another road trip story like Season 1, but in a very different way,” showrunner Jim Mickle said in a Netflix promotional interview. “Season 3 is an arctic story with exciting new adventures and what we hope will be a satisfying conclusion to this epic tale.”
Bridgerton: Season 3, Part 2 (June 13, Netflix)
It’s the #1 Netflix series in the world right now, and come mid-June Bridgerton is going to do it again.
Just in case you haven’t gotten around to Part 1 of the new season yet, we’ll keep it spoiler-free here. Suffice it to say, the first batch of episodes ends on a big cliffhanger, one that showrunner Jess Brownell has described as a “world-shifting moment.” Viewers know there’s something major hanging over Penelope and Colin that will color the rest of the season.
The official synopsis provides additional details about the new season, which racked up 45.1 million views on Netflix last week:
“Penelope enters Season 3 finally ready to give up her longtime crush on Colin. However, that doesn’t mean she’s done with love. Instead, Penelope has decided it’s time to take a husband — and preferably one who will give her the freedom to continue her double life as Lady Whistledown, far away from the prying eyes of her mother and sisters.”
The Boys: Season 4 (June 13, Prime Video)
It’s one of the biggest Prime Video releases of all time, and June will finally see the release of the fourth season of The Boys after a two-year break.
Last season, which continued to push boundaries in terms of the show’s graphic content and dark humor, we saw Billy Butcher continue his mission to take down Vought, Homelander become increasingly unhinged, and the introduction of Soldier Boy (among other developments). From Prime Video’s official synopsis for Season 4 of The Boys, which will find the world again on the brink:
“Victoria Neuman is closer than ever to the Oval Office and under the muscly thumb of Homelander, who is consolidating his power. Butcher, with only months to live, has lost Becca’s son and his job as The Boys’ leader. The rest of the team are fed up with his lies. With the stakes higher than ever, they have to find a way to work together and save the world before it’s too late.”
House of the Dragon: Season 2 (June 16, HBO)
Game of Thrones fans, you’re up next.
Based on creator George R.R. Martin’s encyclopedic Fire & Blood book that chronicles House Targaryen, this Thrones prequel series will have eight episodes in its second season, which picks up story-wise where we left off when Aemond’s dragon Vhagar attacked Lucerys and his dragon Arrax. Warring sides are facing off to obliterate each other, making the scenes with Rhaenyra and Alicent musing about peace seem so futile.
Several new cast members have also boarded the series this time around, including Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull, Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers, Freddie Fox as Ser Gwayne Hightower, Simon Russell Beale as Ser Simon Strong, Clinton Liberty as Addam of Hull, Jamie Kenna as Ser Alfred Broome, Kieran Bew as Hugh, Tom Bennett as Ulf, Tom Taylor as Lord Cregan Stark, and Vincent Regan as Ser Rickard Thorne.
The Bear: Season 3 (June 27, Hulu)
As if all those series weren’t enough, June is going to leave us with one more epic show to sink our teeth into, pun intended.
In the prior season of FX’s The Bear, we last saw the chef and his crew during Friends and Family Night in the finale, and the official description for Season 3 promises the following:
“Carmy pushes himself harder than ever and demands excellence from his crew, who do their best to match his intensity. Their quest for culinary excellence will propel the crew to new levels and stress the bonds that hold the restaurant together. As the team grows in size, each member will strive to reach a greater level of service within their role.”
