Top 5 Must-Watch TV Shows of August
As the holiday rush gradually subsides, August entices viewers weary of vacations and extreme heat with an array of exciting premieres. This month, many popular TV shows return to the small screen, but the most anticipated new releases of the last summer month will predominantly debut on Netflix.
From an epic return to Middle-earth under the looming shadow of the Dark Lord, to a teen detective investigating a murder, aging and overly suspicious Olympian gods, a new chapter in the grim world of Terminators and Skynet (this time in anime format), and a cynically amusing detective tale about corruption in the paradise state of Florida—each of these shows is worth your time and attention.
Bad Monkey, Apple TV+
This comedic detective series is based on the novel of the same name by American journalist Carl Hiaasen, who is considered one of the best satirical novelists in America and a true headache for the Miami Herald, where he worked as a reporter for many years, vexing both his bosses and the readers of Florida with his corruption-exposing articles. The main character of the series, former cop Andrew Yancy, is just as much of a walking problem and "pain in the backside" as the author of the novel. Andrew (played by the charming and charismatic Vince Vaughn) has had to switch careers to become a restaurant inspector in South Florida, but trouble seems to find him no matter what. When a tourist finds a severed hand, identified as belonging to a missing businessman, what seems like a simple task—delivering the hand to the "grieving" widow who wishes to bury at least part of her missing husband—turns into a deep dive into Florida's shady underworld, where greed, cynicism, and corruption reign supreme.
Kaos, Netflix
A dark comedy and urban fantasy in the spirit of Neil Gaiman's American Gods, but this time based on ancient Greek mythology. The gods of the Greek pantheon live in the modern world among humans—and are quite comfortable until a certain moment. But then, one day, the king of the gods, almighty Zeus (brilliantly portrayed by Jeff Goldblum), discovers a wrinkle on his forehead and decides it’s an omen of the end of the world. According to an ancient prophecy, the appearance of this wrinkle signals the imminent death of the Thunderer, chaos, and a battle of the gods. Zeus, like any immortal god, is naturally not inclined to die, but the threat of death turns him into a paranoid suspicious of everyone around him—from the Olympian gods to mere mortals (who aren't as simple as he thinks). Every new step Zeus takes to prevent the prophecy from coming true only exacerbates the situation, especially since his suspicions are not unfounded. His former friend, Prometheus, has long been plotting to overthrow Zeus, pushing both the Olympians and the world of men closer to an unprecedented war and apocalypse.
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, Netflix
A teen detective series that touches on a number of pressing social issues—from domestic violence to racial prejudice. In the quiet and respectable British town of Little Kilton, the murder of student Andie Bell took place. A few years later, 17-year-old schoolgirl Pip Fitz-Amobi chooses the murder case as the topic for her school project and, after starting to gather information, becomes drawn into a dangerous investigation. Pip believes that the investigation made a mistake by convicting an innocent man (who later committed suicide), and the real killer has never been found. This series is an adaptation of the first volume of Holly Jackson's debut detective trilogy, which began publishing in 2019 and became a bestseller. The lead role is played by Emma Myers—the werewolf girl from Nevermore Academy in the series Wednesday.
Terminator Zero, Netflix
This sci-fi anime series has no direct connection to the series of films about John and Sarah Connor, although it takes place in the universe created by James Cameron for The Terminator. This will be an entirely new story with new characters, set in 1997 in Japan—where the main character, scientist Malcolm Lee, plagued by visions of nuclear apocalypse, begins developing an artificial intelligence system that could counter the American "Skynet". Soon enough, an inevitable and ruthless cyborg from the future, as well as a mysterious warrior who will defend the main character and his three children, will arrive. For those hoping to hear Arnold Schwarzenegger's voice as the Terminator—be warned, the Terminator will be voiced not by "Iron Arnie," but by Timothy Olyphant.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Season 2, Prime Video
The first season of this loose retelling of the history of the creation of the Rings of Power was met with mixed reactions due to the significant creative liberties taken by the writers, including the introduction of dark-skinned elves and the prominence given to female characters of all races in Middle-earth (Galadriel, female hobbits, dwarf wives, etc.). However, there were also positives—firstly, The Rings of Power stylistically adhered to the winning visual canon established by Peter Jackson in the original, now-classic Lord of the Rings trilogy. And secondly, the first season featured a near-detective intrigue that lasted until the final episodes—who among the numerous characters would turn out to be Sauron? Unfortunately, the second season won't be able to entertain with such an intrigue—but the showrunners of the project claim they have prepared many surprises and unexpected plot twists in the continuation of the story about Sauron's rise, the fall of the kingdom of Númenor, and the formation of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. As a consolation to Tolkien fans, it can be added that a feature-length spin-off to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings—The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum—is scheduled for release in 2026. If all goes well, not only Andy Serkis, who is listed in the cast, but also Orlando Bloom (Legolas), Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn), and Sir Ian McKellen (Gandalf) may return to their roles.