As summer enters its waning months, the television premieres don’t stop coming. This August is looking like another great month for television and will hopefully keep pushing that momentum as summer transitions into fall. Listed below are our top 5 television shows that we believe readers would have the most fun watching in August.
1 – Lanterns
Lanterns is the third television series in James Gunn’s DC rebooted Cinematic Universe. Created by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King. he eight-episode sci-fi murder mystery follows veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan and the new Green Lantern recruit John Stewart as they investigate a murder Jordan believes to be an extraterrestrial incident in Rushville, Nebraska. Lanterns premiers on HBO and HBO Max August 16, 2026, on HBO and HBO Max.
2 – Alley Cats
Created by Ricky Gervais and produced by Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared creators Blink Industries, Alley Cats is an upcoming British adult animated television series. The series follows the lives of a group of ragtag feral British cats from a variety of backgrounds and walks of life on their search for companionship. Alley Cats premieres on Netflix on August 7, 2026.
3 – The Undeclared War
The second season of The Undeclared War is nearly here. Originally debuted in June 2022, The Undeclared War is a British near-future thriller television series written by Peter Kosminsky. The story follows dual protagonists Saara Parvin in the UK and Vadim Trusov in Russia, in the midst of a cyber attack on the UK. The Undeclared War season 2 premieres on Channel 4 in the UK and on Peacock in the US on August 27, 2026.
4 – Dark Matter
Created by Blake Crouch, Dark Matter is a 2024 sci-fi television series based on Crouch’s 2016 novel of the same name. The story follows Professor Jason Dessen, who is abducted into a labyrinth of realities and fights to go back and save his true family while fighting off an evil alternate version of himself. The second season follows the Dessen family in the aftermath, as their new life is shattered and they are forced to run again. Dark Matter season 2 premieres on Apple TV+ on August 28, 2026.
5 – Anna Pigeon
Anna Pigeon is an upcoming American drama series based on the 19-book novel series by Nevada Barr. The story follows the titular Anna Pigeon, who leaves the city to become a park ranger following the life-changing loss of her husband. That pain leads the now-park ranger Anna Pigeon into investigating various crimes committed within national parks, no matter the cost. Anna Pigeon premieres on the US Network on August 7, 2026.
