1. House of the Dragon Season 3 Ep. 5
91/100 – HBO Max – Next Ep. July 26 – 9:00 PM*
House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 5 keeps the run on track as one of the standout shows of the year, and one of the strongest seasons in the franchise’s history, despite offering relatively little outright action. Coming off the chaos of Rook’s Rest, the episode leans into the series’ most Game of Thrones–style strengths: sharp political maneuvering, raw grief, and shifting loyalties on both sides of the Dance, all of which drive the story closer to the tragic end this prequel is clearly hurtling toward. It may not be the flashiest hour of the series, but with character work and tension this sharp, Episode 5 still feels like one of the season’s standout installments and keeps the momentum high heading into the much‑anticipated back half.
2. One Piece Ep. 1170
90/100 – Crunchyroll – July 26 7:15 AM
One Piece has become a broken record of topping our weekly rankings, but it is truly the best show releasing right now on the anime side and competing with House of Dragon for the overall part. With Luffy and Zoro starting their fight with Gaban and two more of the holy knights arriving on the island, we get yet another action packed adventure episode featuring gear 5, full story ramifications, and the introduction of a couple more much anticipated characters for the final war of Elbaph Island. Unless something drastically changes, One Piece will continue to sit atop our list as one of the most exciting and long lasting shows of all time.
3. X-Men '97 Season 2 Ep. 5
88/100 – Disney Plus– Next Ep. July 22 – 3:00 AM*
Episode 5 was admittedly lower stakes than episode four but the decision to place morph as the main character something promised at the world premiere of the season just a month ago, is one I will always be on board for, especially if it’s a story about Wolverine getting his adamantium back to fight in the war against apocalypse. It is now settled that regardless of what group of mutants this shows through to its viewers it will be an absolute hit, and episode 5 is the perfect example. Transformations from Morph here are brilliant and give a glimpse of famous characters in this animation format and it’s this great blast of nostalgia mixed with an enticing side story to the main plot that makes this sit among the best episodes of the week yet again.
4. Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness Ep. 4
84/100 – HBO Max – Next Ep. July 24 – 9:00 PM*
Larry David is as consistent as it comes and I must confess the ratings for this new series of his have been lower than I think reflect its actual execution from other outlets and admittedly our own, which is why this episode four of the same comedic quality and conversation just continuing to be hilarious moves up in our ratings for this week. I can totally understand people not getting down with David’s style of bickering comedy but it is undoubtedly timeless and he proves it here in this project over half way through now for HBO MAX.
5. My Adventures With Superman S3 Ep. 6
84/100 – HBO Max– Next Ep. July 25 – 12:00 AM*
After an episode that upped the stakes of the season and series as a whole and becoming the best rated episode of the series, episode 6 shows the ramifications of Superman’s sacrifice to protect his family, now powerless Clark must rely on who he loves more than he ever has. Sure episode 6 is a much more dulled down and ordinary episode of the show, but after the massive crescendo of the last episode and the ending that show’s a clear commitment to returning to the impending threat and one off simpler episode that focuses on the group neutralizing a threat instead was nice a nice change of pace that really worked for us at TwilightRoom, making My Adventures with Superman enter the back half of its season wig as much praise as its first half started with.
6. Silo Season 3 Ep. 3
83/100 – Apple TV+ – Next Ep. July 23– 9:00 PM*
Silo episode 3 focuses on a more action packed real danger approach that really excels in the complexity the show demands and feels like the strongest of the season so far. Rebecca Ferguson is clearly securing another possible award season nomination and this is her best work, as she slowly regains her memory but is becoming more of a problem for the people inside trying to control the Silo. The same sentiment remains, this show is not nearly as good as it was in season one when the sci fi mystery was strong, but it is certainly trying to work its way back there with this episode.
7. Lucky Ep. 1 & 2
82/100 – Apple TV– Next Ep. July 21 – 6:00 PM*
The new Anya Taylor-Joy crime thriller in Apple TV+’s live‑action slate swoops in to take over the Wednesday primetime spot from Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, and while it’s already clear the writing leans more fun than fully nuanced, the premiere proves yet again that she’s one of the most must‑watch actors in Hollywood. Built on a premise that leaves her character, Lucky, stranded after her partner abandons her with over $10 million from a Vegas casino heist and kicks off a multi‑sided cat‑and‑mouse chase, the series is almost guaranteed to stay entertaining, even if whether it becomes one of the year’s standout new shows remains to be seen. A second episode that once more delivers something lively and promising, with another strong turn from Taylor‑Joy, suggests the only real threat to the show’s potential is its pacing.
8. The Ghost in the Shell Ep. 2
82/100 – Prime Video – Next Ep. July 21 – 7:00 AM*
There is something about a nostalgic animation style and a nostalgic sci-fi story to look forward to every week that is so appeasing and easy about this new adaptation on Prime Video, and while the story starts to pick up and earn its narrative interest it certainly is something that has the chance to be a great new addition to this year’s slate. Not the greatest start in the world, fairly save and faithful to the source, but maybe thats what is necessary from this show because it is working for us and is something you should definitely check out.
9. Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed Ep. 9
82/100 – Apple TV+ – Season Complete
Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed wraps its first season clearly aiming at a second, and while we were skeptical about how far its unique premise could carry a series, this ending feels like a genuine step toward something sustainable. The finale itself isn’t mind‑blowing, its brisk pace, combined with earlier pacing issues, does the episode a bit of a disservice, but Paula’s ending is solid and gives the show a character foundation worth building on. Some of the open‑ended plotlines feel more like a cop‑out than an earned choice, undercutting the emotional impact of the resolution. Even so, Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed stands as a really good new Apple TV show, one of the better debuts in what has been a relatively slow year for fresh series, with clear room for improvement. A potential Season 2 will need to tighten pacing and make its twists feel more earned, but the core is strong enough that we’re rooting for it to level up.
10. Trying Season 5 Ep. 2
81/100 – Apple TV+ – Next Ep. July 21 – 6:00 PM*
Trying episode one is clearly setting up this difference between princess’ real mom and her adopted mother and how the dynamic is affecting everyone in the family, and while storylines are clearly building around it, it is clear trying season 5 is going to make it a point to focus on that storyline, a decision that seems like it is going to turn in another solid entry. Karen and Scott’s story is quite stale to this point and the dullest part of the episodes but not even to drag the ratings for the beginning of Trying season 5 and one that can certainly pick up and move towards what the typical ratings for this show have been through the first four seasons. Trying is becoming severely underrated and if you want a wholesome drama comedy that has now five seasons, it certainly should be one that you should check out.
11. Cape Fear Ep. 8
80/100 – Apple TV+ - Next Ep. July 24 - 9 PM
Episode 8 of Cape Fear slips back into that “stretching to fill a full 10‑episode season” pacing, but the story finally kicks into gear as everything starts to crash down around the central family and Max’s master plan truly moves into motion. Anna, now on her own and fueled by vengeance, benefits from a campy soundtrack and looming sense of dread that at last feel perfectly aligned with the narrative, making this the show’s strongest episode yet despite its structural flaws. With two episodes left, and early access to the finale ahead of its Fantasia Film Fest world premiere, we’re especially excited to see how this adaptation diverges from its source material over the coming weeks.
12. Quarterback Season 3
79.2/100 – Netflix – Season Complete
Quarterback Season 3 is yet another good entry in Netflix’s sports docuseries format, but it struggles more than past seasons and than Receiver, largely because it may have picked the wrong athletes for the year it covered. It’s always tough to choose stories before they’ve actually unfolded, and the players selected here, though promising on paper, ended up falling short of the most interesting NFL narratives of the season. The series does well in showcasing different ages and stages of a quarterback’s career, but that upper-echelon, deep-playoff quarterback presence is missing, and it’s the one thing needed to match the very best sports docuseries. Even so, it remains a high recommend from us as an easy, engaging documentary watch to hold you over before the NFL season.
13. The Hawk
78.9/100 – Netflix– Season Complete
If you wanted another sports comedy from Will Ferrell this is exactly what you get from The Hawk and it is quite funny and an absolute must watch for fans of his work but it certainly stops there when it comes to the substance of this release. The nostalgia is not here like it is in those older films but the same tone is and this golf father son story to the US open with Jimmy Tatro helping Ferrell with the undying comedy all the way, feeling like a mix of Talladega Nights and Happy Gilmore perhaps borrowing from both a bit too much. The show is much more one that you toss on the background of a slow weekend then dedicate your full attention to , but comedy television has always been necessary and this is one of the funniest new additions that 2026 has brought us.
14. Big Brother Season 28 Ep. 4 - 6
78/100 – CBS/Paramount+ – Next Ep. July 22 – 8:00 PM*
Big Brother 28’s second week feels like the moment the season finally clicks for us at TwilightRoom. After a rough start, the pace, cheesy games, and chaotic conversations are beginning to settle into the kind of comfort-watch rhythm the franchise is known for, thanks largely to Angela and Rick Devens, openly despised by the show’s host, but endlessly entertaining and pure primetime television. There are still stronger reality competition formats out there, but it’s easy to see now why Big Brother has stood the test of time. The mix of messy social gameplay, quirky challenges, and a fiercely loyal cult following makes the series’ appeal obvious, and week two of this 28th season feels like a clear step up that finally justifies sticking around.
15. That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime Season 4 Ep. 15
78/100 – Crunchyroll – Next Ep. July 23 – 7 AM*
That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime season 4 comes off its best episode of the season with a grittier more action packed episode that shows that show moving in the direction it has always been the most successful with, but episode 15 does seem to be a slight step back again from a promising release. It seems to be that Rimuru’s character has created such a large world that balancing all this characters feels superfluous at times, but with an actual threat looming for the first time in a bit the show could be moving in a positive direction.
16. Sugar Season 2 Ep. 5
77/100 – Apple TV+ – Next Ep. July 24 – 10 PM*
Sugar Season 2 Episode 5, follows the fallout of Ji’s faked death as Sugar plays it cool for Vega and works his way toward Pavich, and for us it’s the season’s weakest hour by decent margin, the investigate-lurk-repeat rhythm has officially become repetitive, and the case just isn’t pulling like Season 1’s did. The great touch is the Vertigo reference, Sugar nodding to the film’s fake-death angle after borrowing the trick himself — a well-earned wink to the show’s noir soul that made the first season so compelling. Farrell stays effortlessly watchable, but the season needs a jolt soon.
17. Black Torch Ep. 3
77/100 – Crunchyroll – Next Ep. July 26 – 7:15 AM*
Black Torch episode 3 affirmed some concerns about the show moving forward that the writing and storytelling are extremely basic despite the cool premise and good character designs. Whether you are watching in the sub or dub the dialogue is tough to get through here in episode 3 and the action simply wasn’t good enough to make up for it moving this new anime down on our list for the time. If these things can be fixed there is still a chance for this release, as our main character still maintains a likeability that is engaging and enticing.
