5 New Series to Watch in July

Eva Longoria's return to the small screen, a Bridgerton-style fantasy epic, Apple TV+'s latest dystopian creation, a delightful satirical thriller, and a heart-wrenching Norwegian social chronicle: what are the best new TV shows in July? Here's our shortlist.

For whom? Eva Longoria fans eagerly awaiting her return in an irresistible comedy!

Synopsis: Gala (Eva Longoria) lives a dream life. Married to a wealthy New York businessman, she just opened her own wine bar. But everything changes when her husband suddenly disappears after revealing a multi-million dollar debt to a mysterious creditor. Pursued by his henchmen, Gala flees with her mother and daughter to the first place she thinks of: La Muga, a remote village in Catalonia where her mother Julia (Carmen Maura) grew up. Armed with her Louboutins and hidden cash, Gala arrives in this village that Julia left abruptly in her youth.

Amidst unearthed family secrets, Julia's numerous past romances, rivalries with local women, convoluted hostage situations, and a meeting with the village's handsome man, Gala discovers life in La Muga is anything but peaceful. Believing she's safe, she starts anew with her family, but even Catalonia isn't far enough to escape dangerous mobsters...

Why You'll Love It: Land of Women shines with its strong female characters portrayed by confident actresses. Eva Longoria is as spirited and funny as she was in Desperate Housewives, delighting us in a Spanish-speaking role. Opposite her is Carmen Maura, a beloved Pedro Almodóvar actress, who is both mischievous and moving as a mother battling early dementia. The cast also includes Amaury Nolasco (Prison Break) as a vegetarian mobster and the charming Santiago Cabrera (The Musketeers) who steals our hearts. With such vibrant characters, the series never lacks pace, and its ending leaves us hoping for a second season. It's an energetic, straightforward binge-worthy series for the summer!

Available on Apple TV+.

© Apple TV+

For whom? Those who have watched every episode of Bridgerton.

Synopsis: This is a false story of real historical figures. In 16th century England, King Edward VI (Jordan Peeters) reigns and is part of the Verities family. His reign's struggle? Defeating the Ethians, humans who can transform into animals, who are hunted, exiled, and killed. Weakened by a mysterious illness, the king is threatened by a close confidant wishing to usurp his throne.

Amidst this chaos is Lady Jane Grey (Emily Bader), the king's beloved cousin. Rebellious and independent, she wants to live her own life, study medicinal plants, and wield a sword. Her worst nightmare? Marriage. This nightmare becomes reality when her mother marries her off to the wealthy Lord Guilford Dudley (Edward Bluemel) to save their family from ruin after her father's death. Luckily for her, he's a handsome, brooding man, and together they navigate courtly life, uncovering a plot that endangers the kingdom and their lives...

Why You'll Love It: Adapted from the bestselling novel by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows, My Lady Jane reimagines Jane Grey's tragic fate with a young adult, rock, and girl power twist. A witty narrator tells this love story between two enemies, intertwined with regicide attempts, conspiracies, sword fights, and a touch of fantasy. The result? A fantastic epic with a badass heroine played by Emily Bader, perfect as a charismatic hothead, made even more desirable with Edward Bluemel (Killing Eve) as her co-star. Opposing them is Dominic Cooper (Mamma Mia) as a grandiose villain, blinded by ambition. It's irresistible!

Available on Prime Video starting June 27.

© Jonathan Prime/Prime Video - Amazon MGM Studios

For whom? Fans of dystopian series like Black Mirror.

Synopsis: In a semi-futuristic Japan, all homes are connected, and intelligent robots are part of daily life. They can even replicate a loved one's behavior. Suzie (Rashida Jones), an American living in Kyoto, receives one of these robots after her husband Masa (Hidetoshi Nishijima) and son disappear in a mysterious plane crash. To console her, her husband's electronics company gives her a robot he built. However, she had no idea Masa was creating such machines and is unsettled to see the robot, named Sunny, mimicking her late husband's habits.

Initially trying to get rid of it, Suzie realizes Sunny is a valuable ally in uncovering the truth behind her husband and son's disappearance. Was the crash really an accident? Together, the woman and robot seek answers, navigating the ominous corridors of Masa's company to the Yakuza's lair in Japanese baths. Unwittingly, Suzie finds herself in danger, embroiled in a futuristic conspiracy.

Why You'll Love It: Sunny isn't just another thriller. The husband's and child's disappearance serves as a pretext for a broader plot revealed throughout the episodes, making the story even more intriguing and unpredictable. With a dystopian setting alternating between memories and the present, the series challenges our perceptions, immersing us in a futuristic world not so different from ours. Rashida Jones (The Office) leads the series, excelling in a dramatic role as a fearless woman determined to uncover the truth and seek revenge, reminiscent of Kill Bill, whose atmosphere and aesthetics are palpably felt in Sunny. A must-watch!

Available on Apple TV+ starting July 10.

© Apple TV+

For whom? Avid fans of thrillers and British humor.

Synopsis: This is the story of two desperate strangers who haven’t had much luck in life. On one side, Janet Campbell (Daisy Haggard), a former factory worker who lost her hand in a work accident and no longer has custody of her stepson since splitting with his father. On the other side, Samuel Wells (Paterson Joseph), a disbarred London lawyer who lost his savings and moved to the dreary town of Applebury in England. During a morning walk on the beach, luck finally smiles on them when they find a boatload of cocaine on a stranded vessel.

With their newfound fortune, Samuel treats himself to fine dining and rekindles his gambling addiction, while Janet regains custody of her stepson. But their luck quickly turns as they face the local dealer, the police, and a deranged French mobster who owns the drugs and is hot on their trail.

Why You'll Love It: Only English producers could come up with a story as quirky as Boat Story! Blending thriller and dark comedy, the series is narrated like a children's tale - though it certainly isn't one (!) - with a snarky narrator adding a successful contrast to the suspense and dangers the characters face. The cast of this gem includes Daisy Haggard (Breeders) and Paterson Joseph (Wonka) as ordinary protagonists who prove to be extraordinary and hilarious, and Tchéky Karyo (Belle and Sebastian) as a fiery mobster hopelessly in love. The plot twists are outrageous, the storyline is zany, and it works!

Airing on Canal+ and available on MyCanal starting July 4.

© 2023 Two Brothers Pictures & All3Media International

For whom? Those craving an original series that warms the heart.

Synopsis: Librarian by day, rapper by night, Odile (Amy Black Ndiaye) tries to find her place as a biracial woman in her thirties in Bergen, Norway: it’s tough to fit into an in-between in every aspect of life. Professionally: despite spending hours in her best friend Stian’s studio rapping her songs, she doesn’t take the leap and continues advising teens on books they don’t want. With a Senegalese and Muslim father, and a Norwegian mother, she faces daily casual racism.

Romantically, it’s equally confusing. Despite loving her girlfriend, she hesitates to move in with her. The fact that her father, with whom she is very close, knows nothing about her homosexuality doesn’t help. Only after her father’s heart attack does Odile realize her loneliness and seeks to understand and accept who she truly is. A poetic and personal journey.

Why You'll Love It: Without being preachy, The World Is Mine conveys in six quick episodes what minorities like Odile feel. This touching character, born from the pen of Amy Black Ndiaye, a rising star in Norwegian cinema, presents a beautiful, semi-autobiographical modern social chronicle on self-acceptance that everyone can relate to, regardless of their differences. It’s a universal internal journey that doesn’t forget to make us laugh, thanks to the protagonist’s quick wit and her father signing her up on Tinder to find her a husband. If the miniseries succeeds in one thing… it’s moving us and making us love Norwegian rap! An achievement in itself.

Airing on Arte and available on Arte.tv.

© Helge Skodvin

For whom: Kaiser nostalgics.

Synopsis: In 1972, Karl Lagerfeld (Daniel Brühl) worked behind the scenes at Chloé's workshops alongside the founder, Gaby Aghion (Agnès Jaoui). Before adopting his iconic ponytail, Lagerfeld was still unknown to the public, but his determination to make a name for himself among the greats was evident. This ambition faces challenges with the arrival of the flamboyant Jacques de Bascher (Théodore Pellerin), leading to a passionate yet destructive relationship. Meanwhile, Lagerfeld strives to surpass his rival and friend Yves Saint Laurent (Arnaud Valois), even at the cost of betraying his closest allies. But Lagerfeld's enemies are watching: spurred by jealousy, Pierre Bergé (Alex Lutz), then head of the Chambre Syndicale du Prêt-à-Porter des Couturiers et des Créateurs de Mode, is determined to exploit Karl's weaknesses to destroy him.

Five years after Karl Lagerfeld's death, it was time for a series dedicated to him! But which period to portray on screen? The years from the 1970s to the early 1980s, when the German designer began his ascent. Amidst glamour, oversized egos, grandiose parties, and passions, it's a time of change in the world of haute couture as new stylists emerge and the old guard weakens. Love and hate collide more than ever.

Why You'll Love It: Despite wishing for more scenes depicting the fashion world and the evolution of the German designer's career, the strength of "Becoming Karl Lagerfeld" lies in showing a lesser-known side of the Kaiser. A loving, flawed, delicate, and above all, lovestruck Karl. And who better to interpret him than a German-speaking actor? Daniel Brühl (Rush) excels in what is arguably his best role. Karl Lagerfeld seems to come back to life! Alongside him, the mesmerizing Théodore Pellerin (Franklin), Arnaud Valois (120 Beats per Minute) as a spitting image of Yves Saint Laurent, and Alex Lutz (Catherine and Liliane) as Pierre Bergé, whom we love to hate. A rival worthy of Karl!

Available on Disney+ from June 9.

© Disney+

For Whom? Fans of excellent psychological series.

Synopsis: New York City, 1980s. Nine-year-old Edgar (Ivan Morris Howe) disappears without a trace one morning on his way to school. All signs point to kidnapping, but his father, Vincent (Benedict Cumberbatch), refuses to believe it. Considered one of the city's best puppeteers and the creator of a successful children's show, Vincent desperately plunges into the search for his son but gradually loses his grip. While his wife spends all her days and nights with the police and distributing flyers, Vincent clings to Eric, the puppet Edgar imagined before his disappearance. However, his strategy to keep the monster alive in his show to bring back his son drives a wedge between him and his wife and loved ones, causing him to revisit his old demons: drugs, alcohol, and partying.

The story goes far beyond Edgar's disappearance. Against the backdrop of political elections and social upheavals, this news story brings to light another disappearance that occurred 11 months earlier: that of Marlon, a gay teenager of color. What is the connection between his case and Edgar's? Why is the police so interested in Lux, a wild club full of criminals? And do the frequent arguments between Edgar's parents have a connection? Answers await in the six episodes!

Why You'll Love It: Netflix steps out of its comfort zone with Eric, and it's a success! By addressing mental health issues as well as social divisions, this dramatic miniseries manages to paint a true portrait of 1980s New York. An era marked by drugs, poverty, racism, AIDS, and the disappearance of numerous children. It's these themes that make Eric so compelling, not to mention the main plot. The alternation is successful! The story grips us and moves us because this drama is also a story of love between a father and his son. The culprit? Benedict Cumberbatch (Imitation Game), who has never moved us so much. The British actor uses his voice-changing talent to lend his voice to the creature, allowing exploration of his character's demons in an unexpected and creative way. A gem!

Available on Netflix.

©2023 Netflix, Inc - Ludovic Robert/Netflix

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