Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Traditionally, August has been the TV doldrums, the time when broadcast networks would take the month off, and kids would take over the neighborhood playing outside. Not anymore, baby! Thanks to a plethora of streaming services — and frankly, blazing hot heat that means nobody wants to be outside — TV is as strong now as it has ever been.
Look no further than Ted Lasso, Apple TV+’s breakout hit that hasn’t just been dominating the service, it’s been taking over conversation for the entire month. And same for HBO’s The White Lotus, which filled that classic HBO Sunday night murder mystery slot, but with a modern, satirical twist courtesy creator Mike White. Oh, and in case you missed ’em? There’s yet another Marvel show on Disney+, and spoiler: it good.
A word on methodology, then. The staff of Decider all nominate their top five shows of the month. Those votes are ranked, weighted, culled together, and make the list you see below. Does that mean that widely watched shows rank a little higher than cult favorites? Yes. Sorry, Evil, who I think only one or two people on the staff watch and I am mad at everyone else. But it also does lead to a fun list of choices that — hopefully — reflect the popular conscious of the past month.
If you’re looking for some previous picks? Check out January, February, March, April, May, June, July and the Best TV Shows of 2021… So Far. For the best TV shows that aired at least one episode this August? Read on…
'Tuca & Bertie'
Adult Swim
Adult Swim’s resurgent bird lady series Tuca & Bertie wrapped up its sophomore season in style with three episodes airing this month: “Corpse Week,” “The Dance” and “The Flood.” As usual, the series was by turns surreal, hilarious, and agonizing to watch as Tuca (Tiffany Haddish) and Bertie (Ali Wong) struggle with their friendship and their own limitations. But the best Tuca & Bertie news of August? The show was such a big hit for Adult Swim, it got picked up for a third season. Take that, Netflix!
'Only Murders in the Building'
Hulu
The biggest twist of Hulu’s new comedy series Only Murders in the Building? Despite touring together, and appearing in multiple movies, Steve Martin and Martin Short have never appeared in a TV show together — until now. The creative, hilarious, and often surprisingly dramatic series finds Martin and Short teaming up with Selena Gomez as three true crime podcast aficionados living in the same apartment building, who decide to try to solve the apparent murder of one of the other tenants. The first three episodes dropped today, but it’s already our new obsession, thanks to these three comedy vets (yes, Gomez counts) playing at the top of their game.
'What If...?'
Disney+
What if Marvel Studios kept putting out hit series after hit series? That’s the reality unfolding in our corner of the multiverse right now thanks to What If…?, a bold animated series that spins off of the Marvel movies in calamitous new directions. The first three episodes alone gave us a jacked up Peggy Carter chucking motorcycles at Nazis; T’Challa kicking ass in outer space and bringing the best out of everybody—including Thanos; and a legit murder mystery with a serial killer taking out all of the would-be Avengers and Nick Fury left playing a one-eyed Jessica Fletcher. We have no idea where this show will take us next—and that’s why it’s so great. — Brett White
'The Other Two'
HBO Max
Watching the first two episodes of the second season of The Other Two is like catching up with an old friend. The critically-acclaimed Comedy Central sitcom moved to HBO Max for Season 2, and trust us when we say that you’ll become instantly obsessed with the show’s sparkling writing and incisive comedy. Created by former Saturday Night Live co-head writers Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider, the series follows two struggling siblings whose lives are turned upside down when their younger brother suddenly becomes famous. If you’re a fan of the joke writing on shows like Happy Endings, Hacks, and Search Party, you’ll appreciate the sophisticated comedic charms of The Other Two. — Josh Sorokach
'Nine Perfect Strangers'
Hulu
Unhappy, unhealthy and unfulfilled? It sounds like you need to check into Tranquillum House, the wellness spa and all-around mind fuck featured in Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers. Adapted from Liane Moriarty’s bestseller, the series follows nine (you guessed it!) strangers who give themselves over to Masha, an ethereal, complex and dangerous guru (played with gusto by Nicole Kidman) and her team for a 10-day retreat to find solutions to their litany of problems. With an all-star cast featuring Melissa McCarthy, Bobby Cannavale, Regina Hall, Michael Shannon, Luke Evans and more, Nine Perfect Strangers is truly compelling television. — Karen Kemmerle
'Heels'
Starz
If you’re looking for your next Sunday night obsession, we highly recommend Starz’s new indie wrestling series Heels. Starring Stephen Amell and Alexander Ludwig, the evocative new drama centers on a family-owned independent wrestling promotion in a close-knit Georgia community. Wrestling fans will appreciate the program’s obvious affection for the sport, but you don’t have to be a WWE fan to enjoy the show’s gripping exploration of sibling rivalry and small-town grapplers. — Josh Sorokach
'Reservation Dogs'
FX on Hulu
Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi’s new comedy series is technically about a few kids living on a native reservation committing light crimes. But really it’s a hangout series just like FX’s vampire comedy What We Do In The Shadows, another Waititi joint: funny, surreal, goofy, with a vein of emotion that sneaks up on you when you least expect it. The young cast is amazing, the jokes laugh-out-loud funny, and Punkin’ Lusty’s banger “Greasy Frybread” is going to get stuck in your head for the rest of the month.
'Schmigadoon!'
Apple TV+
If you both love ’40s Broadway musicals and are willing to acknowledge that most of them are pretty darn silly, then Apple TV+’s recent comedy series Schmigadoon! is your next watch. Cecily Strong and Keegan Michael-Key star as a modern-day couple who stumble into a town where everything is an old-school musical, and they can’t escape until they work out their relationship problems. This show toes the line between merciless parody (like the little boy in town whose job it is to shout exposition) and loving homage (like the jaw-dropping tap-dance number done on school desks). Featuring several big Broadway stars like Kristin Chenoweth and Aaron Tveit, you’ll find yourself laughing, dancing, and singing along to this underrated gem. — Anna Menta
'Ted Lasso'
Apple TV+
The most controversial show of the summer? Ted Lasso. Or at least, that’s what the internet might lead you to think if you spent any time on Twitter over the past few weeks. Over in the rest of the world, though, “Carol of the Bells” was a transcendent Christmas episode that delightfully encapsulated everything fans love about the show; and “Rainbow” packed more rom-com references into half an hour than Love Actually has plotlines. And then the month’s final episode revealed two huge plot points: it’s Sam (Toheeb Jimoh) who has been Bantr-ing with Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham); and Ted (Jason Sudeikis) is finally dealing with whatever trauma has been hitting him. This season keeps getting better and better — no matter what the internet thinks.
'The White Lotus'
HBO
It may feel like ages ago, but just two weeks have passed since we all discovered the identity of The White Lotus’s killer and dead body, finally getting the closure we needed on one of this summer’s biggest shows. The back half of Mike White’s beach-set satire ramped up the thrills in every way possible. We got a visit from Molly Shannon as the nightmare-in-law of a mother, a robbery gone wrong, and, for lack of a better word, poop. While The White Lotus seems to have said its farewell to this round of characters, we’re excited to see what comes of Season 2. Perhaps a long-shot, but maybe a return from Jennifer Coolidge’s terrific Tanya? — Fletcher Peters
