Summer TV Roundup, Week 6

As we slide into July, we’re getting a wave of new series. Some of them offer us some intriguing possibilities. But which are worth the investment of your time? Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted—and select unscripted—series this summer. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Sundays:
Dexter: Resurrection, Streaming Fridays on Paramount+ airing Sundays at 9 p.m. on Showtime (Premiered July 11)
About: We last saw Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), then going by Jim Lindsay, in Dexter: New Blood, which ran in 2021. There, he was reunited with his son Harrison (Jack Alcot), who he began sharing his life and code. Things turned ugly and we ended on quite the cliffhanger. Now, the series is reborn again. Dexter is back using his regular name. We pick up 10 weeks later, with Dexter recovering from the gunshot wound that ended the last series. He’s managed to avoid any trouble for his actions in the last go-around, but an old face from his past, Angel Batista (David Zayas), is back. He has questions for Dexter, and perhaps more. That’s something Dexter is keen to avoid. He’s also keen to connect with Harrison, who fled to New York City and seems to have adopted his over version of the code. All that sets in motion a new series. Hall is great in this role and now that’s he’s back to being Dexter, Harry (James Remar) is back as his guide. That fits like an old glove. But there are aspects of the new series, and the continued focus on Harrison, that aren’t my favorite. Still, this feels like a wise investment for Showtime and will likely be a welcome addition for fans. The first two episodes aired this week with the series returning to weekly offerings—streaming on Fridays airing on Sundays—starting next week.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: C+

Streaming Series:
Quarterback, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered July 8)
About: This anthology series is made for NFL fans. It follows a group of NFL starting quarterbacks during a season. In this case, we follow Jared Goff, Joe Burrow, and Kirk Cousins during the 2024 NFL Season. It’s a great window into their personal lives, their preparation, and the life on the sideline as we follow the arc of the season. I love a sports documentary, and I’m a giant NFL fan, so this was made for me. It’s a fun watch and something sports fans will enjoy. It’s a seven-episode season, each between 43 minutes and an hour. It’s a quick watch and should be a lot of fun.
Pilot Grade: B
Second Episode: B

Ballard, Now Streaming on Prime Video (Premiered July 9)
About: This new series is an expansion of the world of Michael Connelly’s book series. We had Bosch, then Bosch: Legacy, and now Ballard. We were introduced to detective Renee Ballard (Maggie Q) during the final episode of Bosch: Legacy, now we pick up with her work at the Cold Case unit for the Los Angeles Police Department. She’s been placed there as a punishment after she accused a fellow cop of misconduct and lost, but also because a Councilman’s sister died decades earlier and he wants justice. Ballard is trying to get it for him and others but may also have uncovered some misdeeds in the LAPD. At least that’s where we’re led in the first two episodes. We get a cameo from Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) in the second episode, but this is meant as something new. The supporting cast includes Michael Mosely, Rebecca Field, and John Carroll Lynch, among others. This series comes from a different creative team, too. It’s got a similar feel but isn’t quite the same kind of show, writing, dialogue, or characters as Bosch. I like Q in the role, and the cases seem interesting enough. We’ll see if it sticks. All 10 episodes are now available to stream, each about 45 minutes.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: B-

Too Much, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered July 10)
About: This is the new series from Lena Dunham, the star and creator of Girls, and focuses on a young woman looking to make a change. Jessica (Megan Stalter) is a New Yorker who goes through a crisis after enduring a rough breakup. To get a kick-start in the right direction, her boss and brother-in-law (Andrew Rannells) sends her on a new assignment in London. There, she can get her life together and, perhaps, find love again. The series has a strong cast that includes Rita Wilson, Rhea Pearlman, Michael Zegen, Will Sharpe, and Dunham, herself, among others. Episodes run about a half hour, with all 10 episodes now available to stream. I wasn’t a fan of Dunham’s other series and its unique approach to character writing. The same is true of this series. If you like this kind of edgy romantic comedy, this will appeal more. It’s also a quick binge with just 10 half hour episodes. Still, this is the kind of show that will appeal most to those who like the premise and the world.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: C-