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- Current picks and notable runners-up for the week
- Daryl Dixon’s continued saga: The Walking Dead — Daryl Dixon (AMC)
- Boots — Netflix’s military coming-of-age drama with a queer heart
- Slow Horses — Apple TV+ spy drama balancing humor and grief
- Gen V — Youthful chaos in The Boys universe (Prime Video)
- The Diplomat — Netflix’s high-stakes political drama returns
Every week, editors and TV critics sift through a flood of new episodes across streaming platforms and broadcast channels. Below are the series that stood out this week, from quiet breakout dramas to the buzziest returns. Read on for quick takes and why these shows deserve your attention.
Current picks and notable runners-up for the week
- Honorable mentions: Task (HBO), Elspeth (CBS), The Chair Company (HBO), DMV (NBC).
Phoebe Bridgers voices Conor Oberst’s new short film Invention 13
Von Miller’s chicken farm: how his country club for chickens won over Patrick Mahomes
Daryl Dixon’s continued saga: The Walking Dead — Daryl Dixon (AMC)
- Network: AMC
- Last week: N/A
- This week: Season 3 finale raises new threats for Daryl and Carol.
The Walking Dead universe keeps finding ways to expand. Norman Reedus still leads as Daryl, older and rougher, riding through an apocalypse transplanted to Europe. The show swaps familiar American backdrops for French and Spanish landscapes.
Melissa McBride returns as Carol. Her inclusion shifted the show’s focus toward deeper character work. The spinoff now gives Daryl time to grow outside the massive ensemble of the original series.
Why it works: The series blends zombie action with character beats. It explores how different societies survived the collapse. The visuals and the duo’s chemistry keep it engaging.
Boots — Netflix’s military coming-of-age drama with a queer heart
- Network: Netflix
- Last week: N/A
- This week: A tense mix of training, identity, and internal conflict.
The title plays on multiple meanings: boot camp, the military itself, and a slang nod from ballroom culture. That layered name signals the show’s tonal blend of humor and seriousness.
The central relationship between Cameron and Sgt. Sullivan drives most of the emotional heat. Sullivan’s rigid exterior becomes a possible model for Cameron — for better or worse. The series also gives screen time to other recruits and instructors, making it feel like an ensemble.
Notes on tone: Boots looks conservative on the surface but pushes forward with progressive themes. It doesn’t shy away from racism, sexism, and homophobia inside the service. Sometimes those challenges are framed as obstacles to overcome on the path to belonging.
Slow Horses — Apple TV+ spy drama balancing humor and grief
- Network: Apple TV+
- Last week: 4
- This week: A standout episode blends the show’s wit with deeper emotion.
Slough House houses MI5’s misfits. The team occupies a kind of bureaucratic limbo. That setting creates both comic moments and quiet despair.
Where season four lands
Season 4 ramped up the personal stakes. River’s family saga resurfaced with revelations that shook the unit. Marcus’ death left a gap that still echoes.
When the new season picks up, the office itself is under repair. The damaged workplace mirrors the characters’ emotional states. Shirley throws herself into protecting others after loss. River buries trauma under duty.
Strength: The show marries sharp humor with human vulnerability. It sometimes skims past quieter character moments, but the cast’s performances keep the series compelling.
Gen V — Youthful chaos in The Boys universe (Prime Video)
- Network: Prime Video
- Last week: N/A
- This week: Season 2 continues with high energy and real-world loss.
Gen V wastes no time connecting to The Boys’ larger world. Season 2 honors the late Chance Perdomo while moving the school’s story forward.
The show thrives on its ensemble. Teen angst mixes with superhero satire. The cast carries emotional weight, especially around Andre’s pivotal sacrifice this season.
Why to watch: It fits within the franchise while standing on its own, balancing dark humor and genuine grief.
The Diplomat — Netflix’s high-stakes political drama returns
- Network: Netflix
- Last week: N/A
- This week: Season 3 cranks up global stakes at the expense of some character depth.
The Diplomat treats geopolitics as a personal arena. The show focuses on the human side of diplomacy. It favors dramatic maneuvering and sharp dialogue over dry procedural detail.
Key plot beats this season
Season 3 picks up after a devastating finale. Ambassador Kate Wyler and her ex-husband Hal hold a dangerous secret about a now-powerful public figure. A president’s sudden death makes the stakes immediate and global.
Tension: The Wylers juggle public duty, private loyalty, and survival. Plot threads sometimes outrun the show’s ability to dig into emotional consequences. Still, the performances and twists keep the momentum high.
