1. One Piece Heroines
89/100 – Crunchyroll – Special Episode
One Piece takes a brief break from the Elbaph Arc this week for a one-off special that debuts a striking new animation style, centering on Nami as she meets a woman uniquely skilled at crafting heels that let female pirates fight while still looking stylish, before the story shifts into a heist for famous jewels. It’s a simple yet stunning episode that tops our list this week purely on the strength of how creative, entertaining, and meaningful it is for Nami’s character. Sure it is simple, but it’s uniquely simple introducing two new characters slide effortlessly into the world while sending Nami, and Robin, in a smaller supporting role, on a side mission that feels like one of the best filler episodes the series has ever produced. As One Piece grows increasingly serious, this reminder of what the show is fundamentally built on feels like a welcome breath of fresh air, and it’s a big part of why “One Piece Heroines” is one of our favorite anime episodes of the year.
2. House of the Dragon Season 3 Ep. 3
87/100 – HBO MAX – Next Ep. July 12 – 9:00 PM*
A quieter episode, this chapter lingers in the aftermath of Team Black’s victory, with the Iron Throne now in their hands as Rhaenyra begins to realize she may be less fit to rule the realm than she once believed, forced into relentless, brutal choices while people press her for favors and attempt to deceive her from every angle. It’s clear this marks the beginning of a breaking point of paranoia for her character, setting the stage for something deeply tragic. And while Episode 3 lacks the explosive action of the first two, its beautiful complexity is exactly what makes House of the Dragon one of the best shows on television and earns it yet another trip to the top of our weekly rankings.
3. X-Men '97 Season 2 Ep. 1 - 3
86.7/100 – Disney Plus– Next Ep. July 8 – 3:00 AM*
I had the absolute pleasure of being at the world premiere of X-Men ’97 Season 2 at the Tribeca Film Festival, and the first two episodes absolutely blew me away, snapping right back into the same wild, propulsive energy that won over not just me, but the whole world, when Season 1 dropped. Storm’s power being fully unleashed, Jubilee finally getting her time to shine, a slick new title card, and a younger Cable getting mentored by his own parents all stack up to an opening stretch packed with great moments; even if Episode 3 doesn’t quite hit the same high as the first two, it’s still about as strong a start as an animated series could hope for. Marvel has struck gold with this show twice now, once in the 90s and again with this continuation, and Season 2 already looks like proof that the momentum is only growing.
4. Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness Ep. 2
82/100 – HBO MAX – Next Ep. July 10 – 9:00 PM*
Episode one of this new Larry David project is hilariously sharp, and its barrage of cameos absolutely blew me away, which is why it sits just a bit higher than episode two, even though the bits there are every bit as funny and cleverly constructed. Both episodes essentially drop Larry into different points in history to let him unleash his signature Curb Your Enthusiasm–style discomfort comedy, but the second also works as a clear statement piece: still very funny, but also pointed and personal, especially in the collaboration with Jimmy Kimmel, which feels as intimate as anything he’s done on television. Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness already seems to be settling into a confident rhythm that could mark the start of another wildly successful project for the legendary comedian.
5. Silo Season 3 Ep. 1
81/100 – Apple TV+ – Next Ep. July 9 – 9:00 PM*
Season one of Silo drew in one of the biggest audiences Apple TV+ has ever seen, and while we felt season two was a step down in narrative quality, it still reinforced that Silo is one of the absolute best things the streaming service has ever put out. Episode one of season three adds new layers of complexity and feels like the start of a step back up, signaling the potential continuation of one of the great new sci‑fi shows.We are back in one silo, combining our main character played by Rebecca Ferguson with the characters that were developed in the original Silo while she was absent in season two, and this time we meet another cast of characters that builds directly on season two’s puzzling ending. It’s an interesting angle, and one that seems to work in this premiere, but we at TwilightRoom are still a bit reserved about how the show will continue the plot and maintain the level of impact the first two seasons had
6. My Adventures With Superman Season 3 Ep. 4
81/100 – HBO MAX– Next Ep. July 11 – 12:00 AM*
A shocking new twist hits the series’ universe as Superboy is sent back into the present to help his parents stop an impending catastrophe, deepening the already complex future facing Lois and Clark while pulling the main conflict of the season into sharp focus. There have definitely been stronger episodes to start the season than this one, the last two in particular have struggled to balance action and relationships, leaning a bit too heavily in one direction, but the ending, which teases an all‑out war, makes it clear that this is about to change. With Season 3 now nearly at its halfway point, it’s shaping up to be another solid run and perhaps the show’s best season yet, if it can fully capitalize on the momentum this twist sets in motion.
7. Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed Ep. 8
80/100 – Apple TV+ – Next Ep. July 8 – 9:00 PM*
Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed episode 8 feels like a bit of a turning point, the episode that would decide whether this show was going to land as a good limited series or a truly great one, and in the wake of the arrest and the apparent end of the custody battle, it seems to be leaning more toward the former. It’s a good problem to have when an 80/100 episode is the weakest of the season, but the timing is a little worrying as we head into the final two episodes, where a lot still needs to be established and the pacing already feels like it’s stretching a story that probably could have been told just as effectively in eight episodes instead of ten. However, the verdict is still out, questions remain unanswered, and Paula is proving to be a great main character, so Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed may very well finish strong with a great final two episodes even after one of its weaker outings.
8. Love Island USA Season 8 Ep. 24 - 29
80/100 – Peacock – Next Ep. July 6 - 6PM
We have not been as big of a fan of Season 8 as a whole as we have been of the past few seasons—which might be a hot take—but the show is undeniably a cultural phenomenon, and this week’s episodes have been the most entertaining and easily the best of the year so far. As we head into the final few installments, with many of the relationships still needing work before the finale, the back half of the season is shaping up stronger than the start, which is why Love Island USA lands higher in our rankings this week than it has in the past.
9. Black Torch Ep. 1
80/100 – Crunchyroll – Next Ep. July 12 – 7:15 AM*
Black Torch kicks off with a fun concept: a teenage ninja who can talk to animals has his powers merged with a mononoke demonic spirit after rescuing a stray cat, and the animation and energy behind it are strong enough to make it one of the more intriguing new additions to the summer lineup. The first episode doesn’t quite fully grab your attention yet, moving through its setup efficiently without doing anything particularly memorable, but there’s enough here to keep coming back for what’s next.
10. Cape Fear Ep. 6
79/100 – Apple TV+ - Next Ep. July 10 - 9 PM
I think I’m finally starting to tap into the campy tone this Cape Fear–style story is aiming for, which was enough to bump this episode up a few spots as the character arcs that have been building since the start of the show begin to really move forward. However, Cape Fear episode 6 still sits in the back half of this list, because even though the vision is finally more apparent, it’s painfully clear this is a concept being stretched over far too many episodes. Apple TV+ seems committed to a longer 8–10 episode format that some shows simply don’t need, and Cape Fear is one of them.
11. Sugar Season 2 Ep. 3
79/100 – Apple TV + – Next Ep. July 10 – 10 PM*
Sugar Season 2 Episode 3 picks up right where the last left off, with Sugar patching himself up after the drive-by and heading straight back to work, a sharp reminder that physical jeopardy means very little when your lead character is an alien. Danny gets a promising lead on Ji, tracking him to a bar, only for Ji to mistake Sugar for a cop and bolt, only to be snatched by someone else in the process. The episode keeps the case intriguing without quite recapturing the tantalizing pull of Season 1, building out the LA underworld mythology steadily but without much urgency. The show remains an enjoyable, well-made watch, and Farrell is as magnetic as ever, but Season 2 continues to settle into a comfortable rhythm rather than the compulsive momentum that made the first season so addictiv
12. Star City Ep. 7
77/100 –Apple TV+ – Next Ep. July 10 - 9PM
Star City Episode 7 jumps forward a full year as the program shifts from space exploration to near-Earth surveillance under Petrovsky’s new power structure, with Lyudmilla fighting to maintain her grip and Irina caught between the two. The episode closes on its strongest note, with Anastasia aboard Salyut-1 intercepting a signal suggesting Venera is still operational and heading back to Earth, a genuine stakes reset heading into the finale. The show continues gaining traction without fully shaking its tedious stretches, but the finale setup lands well enough to keep us engaged for next week.
13. That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime Season 4 Ep. 13
77/100 – Crunchyroll – Next Ep. June 9 – 7 AM*
Slime Season 4 kicks off its second cour with “New Companions,” a lighter installment following Rimuru’s constitutional government plans and Kurobe’s introduction of a new god-grade sword, dependable nation-building that rarely rises above comfortable. For us it’s more of the same, solid but not particularly exciting, and Episode 13 feels more like a placeholder than the momentum shift a second‑cour premiere deserves. The bigger conflicts are still coming, but this week does little to accelerate them.
