1. X-Men '97 Season 2 Ep. 9
94/100 – Disney+ – Season Complete
X-Men ’97 delivers a fantastic final episode with episode nine, one that genuinely doesn’t deserve the divisiveness it’s picked up online since its release. The episode blends Rogue and Gambit’s love story seamlessly into the season’s larger stakes rather than sidelining that relationship for spectacle, giving one of the show’s most compelling ongoing threads the emotional payoff it’s been building toward all season. The final fights here truly bring the season home, delivering exactly the kind of climactic weight the Apocalypse threat has been promising across the entire back half, while Nightcrawler’s sacrifice lands as the gut-punch of the whole run, a devastating loss of one of the series’ most beloved characters that left audiences in tears. It’s yet another reminder that this show isn’t afraid to let its stakes carry real, lasting consequences rather than resetting the board for convenience, and episode nine stands as one of the most emotionally accomplished hours X-Men ’97 has ever produced, the best episode released this week and it’s not too close.
2. Ted Lasso Season 4 Ep. 2
88/100 – Apple TV+ – Next Ep. August 18– 6:00 PM*
We have never been more back than we are right now with episode two of Season 4 of Ted Lasso, we are back in Richmond and the whole old gang returned as Ted tries to settle in with the women’s team as the show finds its comedic and dramatic timing that it seemed to lose a bit in its first episode. But where this episode really gets you is with the introduction of Coach Alice Chilton, who is perfectly cast and written for a classic Ted Lasso-type arc that has already won me, and everyone watching, over immediately. Ted is at his best when he has someone around him who challenges him to be better while he exudes the happiness and love they need and Alice is perfect for the job, here is to hoping this storyline continues just the way it was set up as episode 2 was a phenomenal episode of television that sits very high on our weekly rankings.
3. Lanterns Ep. 1
87/100 –HBO MAX– Next Ep. August 23 – 6:00 PM*
Lanterns opens with veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan partnered up with rookie John Stewart as the two investigate a murder in the American heartland that quickly points toward something far larger. It’s a fantastic start to the show and a genuine resurgence for DC, with the dynamic between Stewart and Jordan feeling so authentic to both characters that it’s honestly remarkable how quickly it clicks. The show plays as a crime detective thriller mixed with Green Lantern vibes, and that blend is exactly what this corner of the DC universe has needed for years, grounded and character-driven without ever losing sight of the cosmic scale lurking underneath. The premiere also closes on a genuinely crazy cliffhanger that sets the season up beautifully, and we cannot wait for the rest of this run.
4. Tires Season 3
85.5/100 – Netflix – Season Complete
Tires takes yet another huge step up in its third season, cementing itself as one of, if not the, funniest shows currently on television and a genuine success story for Netflix. The decision to focus more heavily on Shane this season was brilliant, giving the show a clearer comedic center and letting Shane Gillis do what he does best across a much wider runway than previous seasons allowed. Gillis is endlessly funny here, carrying stretches of the season on sheer delivery alone while the supporting cast around him has grown noticeably sharper with each passing year. What started as a modest workplace comedy has evolved into something genuinely reliable, a show that gets better with every season rather than settling into a formula. Season three is Tires at its absolute best, and it’s easily one of the strongest comedy runs on TV right now, sitting very high up on our rankings and our biggest full season drop recommendation of the month so far!
5. One Piece Ep. 1174
85/100 – Crunchyroll – August 23 7:15 AM
One Piece remains a strong watch with episode 1174, and we’re still genuinely interested to see where this arc is heading as it continues to build toward its bigger payoffs. The issue this week is that the pacing is stalling a bit, spending more time in setup than in forward momentum, which keeps the episode from reaching the highs the series has hit in recent weeks. It’s still great television and still sits comfortably near the top of our weekly rankings, but this one lands lower than most weeks simply because it’s a holding pattern rather than a step forward. One Piece has more than earned the patience, and there’s little doubt the payoff is coming, but episode 1174 is a slower stretch on the way there.
6. Silo Season 3 Ep. 7
85/100 – Apple TV+ – Next Ep. August 20– 9:00 PM*
Silo delivers the best episode of its third season with episode seven, as Juliette pushes forward on her plan to leave the silo and reach the children in the neighboring one before everything falls apart. The action here is genuinely great across the board, and the plot moves at a perfect pace without skipping a beat on any of its storylines, finally pulling the season’s threads together the way fans have been waiting for since the premiere. Rebecca Ferguson and Common are both operating at their absolute best here, anchoring an episode that trusts its cast to carry the emotional weight alongside the escalating stakes. After a rocky start to the season, Silo has fully regained its momentum heading into its final stretch, and episode seven is the clearest proof yet that this show still has the quality that made season one such a standout.
7. Trying Season 5 Ep. 5
85/100 – Apple TV+ – Next Ep. August 19 – 6:00 PM*
Trying delivers the best episode of its fifth season with episode six, as Nikki finally opens up to Jason about her crush, giving the season its most complex and well-written storyline yet. That conversation lands with real emotional honesty, the kind of messy, uncomfortable, deeply human exchange this show has always handled better than most comedies in its lane. Alongside it, Princess’s coming-of-age arc continues to be one of the season’s quiet strengths, really well designed across these last few weeks and reaching its high point right here in episode six. After a stretch of episodes that felt more like setup than payoff, Trying finally lets its storylines converge and pay off in a way that reminds you exactly why this show has remained such a comfortable, warm watch season after season.
8. My Adventures With Superman S3 Ep. 10
84/100 – HBO Max– Season Complete
The finale of My Adventures with Superman Season 3 is a solid finish to one of the better seasons of animated television we have received, solidifying it as the best season of the series so far, even if it does not quite knock it out of the park as expected. Superman’s much-anticipated return is fun, and the action is decently choreographed, but the final fight feels as though it is missing some of the emotion that could have elevated the episode to an even higher level. Nonetheless, we were very happy with this season, and Lois’ proposal to Clark at the end feels inevitable and well executed, leaving us on a happy cliffhanger for the next season. While this is not the best episode of the series, it certainly sticks the landing and once again firmly earns a place in our top 10 of the week.
9. Furious Ep. 5
84/100 – Hulu – Next Ep. August 16 9:00 PM
Furious continues its strong run with episode five, another entry that digs deeper into the psyche of its two lead characters, a serial killer and detective story that is incredibly unique, and continues to prove that this show’s real strength lies in character work rather than spectacle. The pacing here remains really solid, moving with a confidence that keeps the tension building without ever feeling like it’s stalling for time or rushing past the material that matters most. What Furious does better than almost any other new show this year is trust its audience to sit with two genuinely complex, morally tangled leads and let the psychological tension carry the weight. Visually the show is still nothing too special, but narratively and conceptually it continues to blow us away week after week, and episode five keeps it firmly in the conversation as one of the best new shows of the year.
10. Lucky Ep. 6
84/100 – Apple TV+ – Next Ep. August 19 – 6:00 PM*
Lucky turns in another intriguing episode with its sixth, though this is the point where the pacing starts to drag noticeably compared to the momentum of the season’s earlier stretch. Even so, Anya Taylor-Joy remains as compelling as ever, anchoring a character who stands as one of the smartest and most entertaining female leads Apple TV+ has given us in a long while. The show still has plenty of narrative road left to cover, and the mystery elements continue to hold real interest, but this episode leans more on setup than on forward movement. Lucky remains one of the more rewarding Apple TV+ releases of the year, although it’ll need to tighten things up over its final stretch to stick the landing the way its first half promised.
11. Reacher Season 4 Ep. 1 - 3
82/100 – Prime Video– Next Ep. August 12 – 9:00 PM*
Reacher Season 3 really fell back a few steps and left me worried if Alan Ritchson would be able to continue to carry this character like he did in the first season, however the return in the first three episode of Season 4 may have been the best episode run in the show’s history pulling me directly back into this character and the series. Sure, the dialogue and acting are a bit surface-level at many points, but the story is much more intriguing and entertaining in Season 4. The characters also seem to be having a lot of fun committing to their roles, leading Reacher to its highest position in our television rankings yet. We hope the rest of the season can continue that trend and bring back the Reacher that audiences have wanted from this series since its inception.
12. The Ghost in the Shell Ep. 6
81/100 – Prime Video – Next Ep. August 18 – 7:00 AM*
Ghost in the Shell turns in another solid episode with its sixth entry, though this one is nothing to write home about compared to the stronger installments that came before it. The show continues to hold onto the thoughtful dialogue and reflective tone that have set it apart from more conventional anime this season, but the storyline is beginning to get a little jumbled as the plot threads pile up without quite converging. That slower, more deliberate pace worked in the show’s favor earlier in the run, but here it starts to expose how loosely some of these narrative pieces are actually connected. Ghost in the Shell remains a worthwhile watch and a good sign for Prime Video’s future in the genre, but episode six is a reminder that it needs to tighten its focus if it wants to close out strong.
13. The Shards Ep. 3 & 4
80/100 – Hulu – August 19 6:00 PM
The Shards takes a real step forward with its third and fourth episodes, as the group of wealthy LA teens grows increasingly paranoid about their mysterious new classmate while the serial killer stalking the city closes in. The writing and character development both feel noticeably stronger here than in the premiere, with a story that’s finally starting to match the level of interest the show’s sleazy 1980s vibe had already achieved on atmosphere alone. That was the biggest question mark coming out of the first two episodes, and it’s encouraging to see the series answer it this quickly rather than coasting on style. The Shards is on a good path four episodes in, and it’s shaping up as another strong entry from FX in what’s already been a busy year for the network.
14. Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Seattle Seahawks Ep. 2
80/100 – HBO MAX – August 18 6:00 PM
Hard Knocks started off with a bang in its first episode, one of the best we have gotten from a premiere for the show in years, and episode two returns with yet another really entertaining and insightful look into the reigning Super Bowl champions’ opening days of training camp. From arguments between Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba and his coordinator to the head coach talking down his most aggressive defensive end, this season has solidified itself as one of the best reality shows you can watch right now. While Hard Knocks certainly has a lower ceiling, as the show can only portray what the team gives it, the Seahawks are close to reaching that ceiling, leaving us very excited for the final three episodes of the season, and ready for the NFL season.
15. The Challenge: Cutthroat Season 42 Ep. 3
80/100 – Paramount + – August 19 12:00 AM
The Challenge is a series we have not tapped into yet, but, as part of our initiative to cover more reality television, Season 42 has joined our review slate. It looks like a great time to jump aboard, as this may be the show’s most star-studded season yet. What The Challenge does best is cast the veterans who make for its most entertaining seasons, then pair them with some of the strongest and most fun competitors from reality series in a similar vein. That is why these first two episodes succeed so well. We are still far from the thick of Season 42, but if Bananas can remain this great on television, this could be a fantastic season of reality TV. For now, the premiere episodes sit in the middle of a packed week of television.
16. The Elusive Samurai Season 2 Ep. 5
80/100 – Crunchyroll– Next Ep. August 20 – 7:30 AM*
Elusive Samurai turns in another solid entry with Episode 5, as Tokiyuki and his allies continue their evasive campaign against the Ashikaga forces closing in around them. It is a noticeable step up from the shakier start to the season, delivering the fun, kinetic action and wildly unique facial expressions that have always defined the show’s visual identity. Those exaggerated expressions remain the series’ clearest signature, giving even its quieter moments a distinct personality that separates it from the rest of the season’s anime slate. Elusive Samurai still has not fully recaptured what made Season 1 click, but Episode 5 keeps the show trending in the right direction as it works its way back toward being one of the better releases of the summer.
17. Big Brother Season 28 Ep. 18 - 20
79/100 – CBS/Paramount+ – Next Ep. August 19 – 8:00 PM*
Big Brother sees the tides turning this week as alliances finally start splitting and the house dynamics shift in ways that suggest a more competitive back half might actually be coming. Unfortunately the same sentiment that’s defined this season still applies here, as the returning icons remain far too strong and continue to dictate the pace of the game in a way that makes the endgame feel largely predetermined. There’s genuine entertainment in watching those cracks form, and this season has been much better than expected overall, but until the rest of the house finds a way to actually challenge that dominance, Big Brother sits in the same middle-of-the-pack spot on our rankings that it usually does.
18. Black Torch Ep. 7
79/100 – Crunchyroll – Next Ep. August 23 – 7:15 AM*
Black Torch continues its steady run with episode seven, as Jirou and Rago dig deeper into the mononoke world while the threat surrounding Amagi keeps building in the background. It’s largely more of the same from a show that still hasn’t found the hook to separate itself from the pack, though the expanded lore around how the mononoke actually operate and behave was genuinely interesting and gave this episode a bit more substance than recent weeks. That worldbuilding is where Black Torch shows its most promise, and leaning into it further would go a long way toward giving the series its own identity. Seven episodes in, this remains a competent, watchable anime that keeps hinting at something more without quite getting there.
19. Stuart Fails to Save the Universe Ep. 4
78/100 – HBO Max – August 20 6:00 PM
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe has settled comfortably into being a middle-of-the-road fun comedy, and episode four continues that trend with a very confusing new universe that stands as the trippiest of the season so far. There’s real creativity in the visual concept here, and the show clearly has fun bending its own rules, but it still doesn’t grab your attention quite well enough to elevate the episode beyond pleasant background viewing. The comedy lands often enough to keep things moving, though the show has yet to find the hook that would push it from watchable spinoff of the big bang theory to genuinely memorable. Four episodes in, Stuart remains a perfectly fine weekly watch that just hasn’t quite figured out how to make its wildest ideas stick.
20. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime S.4 Ep. 18
78/100 – Crunchyroll – August 21 7:00 AM
Slime continues to deliver more of the same with Episode 18, as Granbell’s attack unfolds and Otherworlders and undead forces force Rimuru’s side to divide its attention across multiple fronts. Shion struggles against Razul before Diablo and Ranga step in to support her, while Yuuki’s faction makes moves of its own and Leon and Elmesia’s conversation adds more information about Chloe to the pile. The episode’s most compelling stretch comes when Diablo finally confronts Raine after she insults Rimuru, but even that payoff feels smaller than it should, given how long the season has been teasing the Primordial Demons’ true danger. The action this season keeps being promised but never quite delivered at the scale it deserves, and Episode 18 is another reminder that this bloated fourth season is spreading its best material far too thin.
21. My Brilliant Career
77.2/100 – Netflix – Series Complete
My Brilliant Career is the newest limited series to release on Netflix, and it is one that was much better served as the film it is adapting, which has since been added to the Criterion Collection, than it was in this TV show form. It is clear the show was trying to blend young adult romance with Bridgerton, with period piece drama, and did not quite hit the mark it needed to, delivering a lukewarm romance competition for the main woman’s heart that just is not as effective as many of the other shows in the same vein released this summer. My Brilliant Career is certainly not a bad watch and one that will resonate with some, but does sit on the back of this list as one of the weakest releases of the week.
22. Let's Marry Harry Ep. 8
72/100 – Netflix – Series Complete
Netflix has always had a real problem sticking the landing with its reality TV finales, and Let’s Marry Harry is the epitome of that failure. The finale struggles to be anything other than toxic, leaning into the messiest possible dynamics without ever finding the entertainment value needed to justify the discomfort. There is a version of this show that could have worked with a lighter touch or a genuine sense of fun, but Episode 8 instead doubles down on everything that made the season a chore to sit through in the first place. It is an extremely unentertaining close to a season that never figured out how to be anything more than toxic, fake-feeling reality television slop.
