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Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
When it’s hot outside, what better to do than curl up in the air conditioning, put on a show, and binge, binge, binge? I guess eat some ice cream or something, but for most of us: it’s TV time.
And thankfully, the TV gods delivered with some superb content this month; from the final two, epic episodes of Stranger Things, to the beginning of the end for Better Call Saul, to the return of everyone’s fave vampires with What We Do In The Shadows.
One show you won’t see on our list, though, despite it being one of the biggest shows of the month? Hulu and FX’s The Bear, which dropped all of its episodes on June 23. Similar to how Squid Game dropped mid-September last year but didn’t really pick up steam until October, sometime that’s how the cookie crumbles — or how the beef gets dropped on the floor — when it comes to this list, which only includes shows that aired at least one episode between July 1-31. Don’t worry, you’ll still be saying “yes, chef” to all the shows on here.
Beyond dates, here’s how we determine the list… First, the staff of Decider submits their top shows of the month, ranked from one to five. Those are weighted, culled together, combined with seasoning, hand-rubbed, placed in a slow cooker for five to six hours, then when tender shredded with a fork and placed on a hard roll allowing the juices to soak into the bread. Nobody reads this paragraph, right? Right. And that’s how you get the list you see below!
Looking for our best shows of January, February, March, April, May, June, and the Best TV Shows of 2022 So Far? We got those. For the Best TV Shows of 2022 so far? Read on.
'Dark Winds'
AMC+
Based on the best-selling series by Tony Hillerman, AMC’s Dark Winds follows Tribal Police officer Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon) and his deputy/undercover FBI agent Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon) as they try to figure out how a bank robbery, a fake priest, a sleazy car dealership and the murder of two innocent Navajo people are all connected. The back half of the first season gives audiences the answers they so desperately need while developing our heroes and those around them—Jessica Matten’s plucky Deputy Bernadette Manuelito is a standout as well as Jeremiah Bitsui’s delightfully wicked Hoski—which bodes well for Season 2. Full of twists, turns and delicate nuances, Dark Winds proved to be a compelling police story, deftly incorporating tribal politics with the changing Southwest of the ‘70s. — Karen Kemmerle
'Resident Evil'
Netflix
From its insane lore to its upsetting medicines that can regrow limbs, I didn’t think it was possible to make a great Resident Evil adaptation. I’m so happy that Andrew Dabb has proven me wrong. Resident Evil is everything I could ever want from a summer series, from its snappy dialogue and killer action scenes to its endearing characters, jaw-dropping monsters, and effortlessly cool needle drops. But more than that, it’s a series that proves it is possible to take this endlessly ridiculous franchise — a universe filled with clones and where someone once died in a volcano from a grenade launcher — and give it actual, emotional weight. For so long, zombie shows and movies have either been grisly fun or somber contemplations on ethics and survival. Resident Evil asks, “Why not both?” in a season that is as addictive as it is memorable. — Kayla Cobb
'Only Murders in the Building'
Hulu
Only Murders in the Building wowed us in Season 1 and the Hulu show remains just as charming, hilarious, and inventive in Season 2. The Upper West Side-set series has upped the ante by giving us a murder mystery plot that implicates our heroes. We think Mabel (Selena Gomez), Charles (Steve Martin), and Oliver (Martin Short) are being framed for Bunny’s death, but why? Who’s got it out for our podcasters? And does the Arconia have even bigger secrets than an H.H. Holmes-style system of secret rooms and paths within the walls? Only Murders in the Building is a cozy delight, full of fabulous performances, star-studded cameos, and one twist-filled mystery to unravel. — Meghan O’Keefe
'Ms. Marvel'
Disney+
Marvel Studios frequently dazzles us with the impossible, from cosmic realms and massive slugfests. That’s why Ms. Marvel feels so special; the series’ final two episodes managed to dazzle us with very real, undeniably human moments. The penultimate episode’s powerful flashback scenes to the 1940s showed viewers the real pain of India’s partition. And instead of going big in the finale, Ms. Marvel kept the stakes small (save one super-powered teen from a couple dozen agents) and still delivered a cheer-worthy climax. It says a lot about Ms. Marvel’s quality that, even though Kamala Khan is destined for movies, we’re more excited to see her return to the small screen. — Brett White
'For All Mankind'
Apple TV+
Apple TV+’s For All Mankind took viewers to the red sands of Mars and into the thick of drama in July. The celebrated sci-fi show delivered episode after episode full of wild action set pieces, tense interpersonal drama, and quite a few deaths. The key to For All Mankind’s success now and always has been the way the series balances nerdy sci-fi with soap opera-esque storylines. Even as intrepid astronauts and cosmonauts find a way to work together to survive against all odds, they’ve also got to deal with such mundane problems as mental illness, homophobia, and a surprise pregnancy. For All Mankind Season 3 was simply one of the most thrilling shows of the month. — Meghan O’Keefe
'The Rehearsal'
HBO
Nathan Fielder’s The Rehearsal is art. Weird, wonderful, highly entertaining art. The buzzy new series from the man behind Comedy Central’s Nathan For You is ostensibly about Fielder helping ordinary people “rehearse” life’s biggest moments (a difficult conversation with a friend, having a baby) by taking them through intricate simulations designed to prepare them for the event. But the series is more a meditation on the human condition than a traditional reality show. The Rehearsal predictably goes on a number of bizarre tangents as we’re introduced to a slew of unique characters and unforgettable moments. In a streaming world that thrives on conformity, Nathan Fielder’s newest masterpiece is the audacious outlier that delivers an unrivaled viewing experience. — Josh Sorokach
'What We Do In The Shadows'
FX
Somehow, What We Do in the Shadows keeps getting weirder; but as the strangeness intensifies, so does the humor. What other show can pack a tap-dancing half-toddler/half-man, a wife-killing genie and a cringey stand-up comedian vampire in its first four episodes? WWDTS flawlessly pulls off all of those absurd plot points and more in its fourth season, which is as wacky as ever. With the vampires and Guillermo reunited after Season 3’s troubling sendoff, they’re back for more supernatural hijinks — and if the rest of the season is anything like what we’ve seen so far, we’re thrilled to be along for the ride. — Greta Bjornson
'Stranger Things'
Netflix
What show other than Stranger Things could get away with dropping seven episodes, then waiting a month, and then dropping two more episodes? And those two episodes, collectively, being almost four hours long? No other show, that’s who. And the absolutely epic conclusion of Season 4 delivered, not just with an insane showdown between the Hawkins gang and the villainous Vecna, but with a game-changing ending that vaulted the show into the final season — while still making time for emotional sacrifices, romantic moments, and so much more. Chrissy, this one was for you. — Alex Zalben
'Better Call Saul'
AMC
Better Call Saul returned in July to air its final batch of episodes, and the three we’ve seen so far serve as a bittersweet reminder that the show’s going out at the top of its game. After tying up a tragic cliffhanger, the Breaking Bad prequel delivered another major death, answers to long-held questions, a time jump, a highly-anticipated Gene-centric episode, and some weighty guest stars. (Nope. Still no Walt or Jesse yet, sorry. But there’s hope!) Among its many triumphs, Better Call Saul successfully crafted storylines that stretch far beyond the original series, making it impossible to predict how things will shake out. We have no idea what’s in store for these final three episodes, but we trust this remarkable show will nail the ending. — Nicole Gallucci
