The 12 Best TV Shows of June 2019

FX’s X-Men adaptation Legion only aired one episode in June, but it was more than enough to put the final season of the show on our list. That’s because it was one of the boldest debuts for a season of a show since, well, the last season premiere of Legion. Few shows would kick off a season focusing most of the runtime on a character we’ve never seen before, let alone played by an actress that had, thus far, only appeared on a reality show. But Legion isn’t most shows. It’s not even some shows. By swerving and delving into the backstory of the time-traveling Switch (Lauren Tsai), the series doubled down on the idea that David Haller (Dan Stevens) isn’t the hero we thought he was: he’s a villain. The episode jumped between huge action sequences, musical numbers, and once again proved that Noah Hawley’s vision for Marvel’s mutants won’t end like anything else on TV. — Alex Zalben

Where to stream Legion

Creating a sci-fi drama solely about time travel is a patently insane idea. But writing that twisting drama in a way that actually makes sense? And to cast actors who look and act like their past and future selves? Now that’s impressive. Co-created by Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese, the German language drama Dark follows a teenage boy who just wants to know why his dad killed himself. Finding that answer leads him down a path that involves traveling almost 99 years into the past, meeting his missing father as a child, and accidentally dabbling in some incest. It’s a crazy, and crazy good show that will leave you yelling “What the hell” at your TV. — Kayla Cobb

Stream Dark on Netflix

Too Old To Die Young takes great pleasure in breaking every “rule” about how to make television — and, by doing so, earns itself a place among the great shows of the Peak TV era. Nicolas Winding Refn, the Danish auteur best known for Drive, is not nearly as concerned with pedestrian details like “plot” or “dialogue” as he is at establishing mood and atmosphere by setting up every exquisitely framed scene as a tableau vivant. YMMV, of course, but if the prospect of sinking into your couch and allowing this glacially-paced tale of various underworld figures (dirty cops, Mexican cartel bosses, sketchball pornographers, New Age grief therapists, cokehead billionaire art collectors) to wash over you sounds like your idea of a perfect Friday night, then buckle up for an unforgettable 15 hour ride. — Mark Graham

Stream Too Old To Die Young on Prime Video

Nothing could top the first season of creators Steven Canals, Ryan Murphy, and Brad Falchuk’s gorgeous fantasy about the ’80s ballroom scene. Fortunately for all of us, Pose hasn’t tried to out-glamour itself. This season is bleaker and sadder than anything else the series has presented so far, frankly portraying the threat of the HIV epidemic as well as the violence and discrimination members of the LGBTQ+ community face on a daily basis. It’s been an emotionally brutal season for a show that’s biggest threat used to be Elektra’s devastating reads. But underneath this daily horror is a story about community and love that will never grow old. No show understands the importance of family better than Pose. — Kayla Cobb

Where to watch Pose

Euphoria doesn’t care about its pearl-clutching critics. The risqué teen drama follows a group of high school students as they go about their everyday lives, which seem to include plenty of sex, drugs, and alcohol. Naturally, the series has already been slammed by parental groups and concerned viewers for its NSFW attitude, but that’s what makes Euphoria so amazing: its all-out indifference to social norms and taboo topics. If it’s controversial, Euphoria is going to tackle it, and it will do so with jarring visuals, award-worthy cinematography, and performances from some of Hollywood’s top young talent. — Claire Spellberg

Stream Euphoria on HBO Now

Fans of the usually appropriately dark and nihilistic vision of the future and technology that is Black Mirror were mixed on the new season, which introduced a new, revolutionary concept for the series: hope. Over the course of three episodes — “Smithereens,” “Striking Vipers” and “Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too” — the show explored the idea that maybe tech isn’t trying to constantly murder us; it can be a tool for connection, as well. Sometimes, in the case of “Smithereens” that connection can lead to tragedy; others, like in the standout Miley Cyrus starring “Ashley Too,” it can help people figuratively and literally come out of their shells. Black Mirror may have grown past its enfant terrible stage to the irking of some long time fans. But hey, the show is growing up — and for once, it was… Fun? — Alex Zalben

Watch Black Mirror on Netflix

As a longtime listener of “The Daily,” The New York Times‘ daily news podcast, I was excited to dive into The Weekly, the newspaper’s new documentary news series which launched on both Hulu and FX this month. Each week is a new deep-dive report from top-notch journalists, covering everything from ISIS to New York City’s taxi driver crisis. “Daily” listeners might hear some repeats—the taxicab story, for instance—but having the visual brings it to the next level. You’ll come away from every episode of The Weekly ready to impress at the next happy hour with your comprehensive understanding of current events. — Anna Menta

Stream The Weekly on Hulu

I’ve already gone through the five stages of grief when it comes to NBC’s cancelation of A.P. Bio. Mike O’Brien’s mordant sitcom about a delightfully unhinged teacher (Glenn Howerton) hellbent on revenge improved upon a strong rookie season to blossom into one of the flat-out funniest shows on TV. The humor was there from day one, but Season 2 elevated the series to a whole new level by adding a new layer of heart and sincerity. Howerton’s Jack Griffin grew to reluctantly accept the folksy charms of Toledo without sacrificing any of the caustic comedy that was established during Season 1. My first instinct was to bemoan the fact that we’re not getting a Season 3, but now with the benefit of hindsight, I think I’ll just appreciate the fact that this crazy piece of wonderful insanity somehow earned a second season in the first place. — Josh Sorokach

Where to stream A.P. Bio

Who knew reading could be so much fun? HBO’s kooky new comedy Los Espookys is unlike any other comedy on TV, but not just because it’s primarily in Spanish. The show–which is exactly as odd as you’d expect from a horror comedy with SNL’s Fred Armisen and writer Julio Torres–takes you on a bizarre tour of the mundane and the macabre as a group of misfits deliver big scares for pay. And the show’s brilliant use of subtitles makes sure you don’t miss a single joke. — Brett White

Watch Los Espookys on HBO Go

On the heels of all the sound and fury of Game of Thrones’s final season, HBO served us Chernobyl. The masterful series was a poignant look at horrific tragedy, told with power and grace. Ironically addictive despite its dreadful subject matter, Chernobyl hooked us in by looking at the human cost of mass tragedy, and how human failing led to the disaster in the first place. — Meghan O’Keefe

Watch Chernobyl on HBO Go

Did you know: a shitty chef makes for great TV! This season of Below Deck Mediterranean on Bravo has been so satisfying in so many ways. The new yachties are wonderfully ridiculous, the drama in the kitchen has been almost as shocking as that car ride that gave us our favorite insult of all time, “oxygen thief,” and the best summer show continues to deliver in every way. We’ll be watching for the hookups and dust-ups to come, but really can’t wait to see if the professional chef learns how to cook pancakes… — Lea Palmieri

Where to stream Below Deck Mediterranean

Fans may have been skeptical about the return of Big Little Lies, but Season 2 has more than delivered. Yes, the HBO drama is practically tailor-made for GIF-fage, but its true strength becomes apparent in its subtler moments: the way Celeste (Nicole Kidman) attempts to interrogate her conflicting feelings about Perry; the pained looks Bonnie (Zoe Kravitz) shoots at women who will never understand her; the silent moments Madeline (Reese Witherspoon) shares with her daughter. Big Little Lies’ commitment to depicting the daily pressures of being a woman in the world — albeit one filled with murder, lies, and fantastic parties — is admirable. Plus, it features Meryl Streep. That certainly doesn’t hurt, either. — Claire Spellberg

Stream Big Little Lies on HBO Now