This summer provided the world with some great, and some not-so-great, television. Avoid this article if you have been living in a cave for the past few months. There are spoilers for major TV shows. That is your warning.
“Orange is the New Black”
Season two premiered on Netflix this summer on June 6 after a yearlong wait for eager fans. If you binged the entire season on June 6, consider re-watching it, since you were probably delirious for a few episodes in the middle of the season. For those of you who are not familiar with the show, Piper Chapman goes to prison to serve her time for the small part she played in smuggling drug money across a border 10 years ago with her girlfriend Alex. Plot twist: Alex ends up being in the same prison and drama unfolds with Piper’s fiancé, Larry. The second season gave a look into the storylines of some minor characters (like why Morello is legitimately a crazy stalker), which gave more insight into the prison life other than Chapman’s time there. We also met Vee this season who plays a prominent role in Taystee’s past. Vee is the sole reason why I will never get thrown into prison. She’s scary as hell; luckily, the season ends with Vee getting hit by the prison van that is being driven by the terminally ill Rosa. This ending leaves a lot of possibility for the next season.
“Rising Star”
So, ABC decided to ruin television, once again, with this show. Watching “Rising Star” was unbearable. Kesha should not be a judge on this show. All I have to say to that is why? Why? The network wants you to think you play a role in helping this person become famous by forcing you to download a voting app for the live show. As far as talent competitions go, put your trust in “The Voice” and “So You Think You Can Dance.” There are no excuses for watching “Rising Star.”
“Game of Thrones”
Finally, “Game of Thrones” came back in April for its fourth season. After the disappointment of the third season, the fourth season started off right with the death of Joffrey Baratheon after three years of enduring his attitude. Possibly the highlight of the season. Jaime Lannister turns out to be a good brother, but he’s still doing that whole incest thing with Cersei Lannister. Tyrion Lannister kills Tywin Lannister on the toilet for sleeping with Shae, the dragons were locked away after Daenerys decides they’re too dangerous, there is a battle at the wall and Jon Snow still knows nothing. Bottom line: Season five is going to be everything we have ever wanted.
“Girl Meets World”
Let’s just get this one out of the way. We all know the original was a million times better than whatever Disney tried to reinvent with this spin-off. The lessons are basically all the same, and the storyline is so anticlimactic compared to the real issues presented in “Boy Meets World.” Whatever happened to kids trying things and getting into legitimate trouble for it? That’s real life, and that is what made “Boy Meets World” so great. The new show is a dud, and it is a gigantic disappointment to all fans of the original series. Shame on you, Disney.
“The Hotwives of Orlando”
This is a show on Hulu, but it is so worth watching. If you’re a fan of “The Office,” “Bob’s Burgers,” and “Happy Endings” (before it made an untimely exit), then you will love this satire on reality TV. It is the only good thing that has come from Hulu as far as original series go. It’s reminiscent of the Saturday Night Live skit called “Disney Housewives” with Lindsay Lohan as Rapunzel . All those women spend too much money and have copious amounts of Botox in their foreheads. Watch this for some light hilarity.
“The Last Ship”
The first episode leaves you wanting more. First of all, McSteamy from “Grey’s Anatomy” plays the captain of the ship that is unaffected by a global disease. The woman with the cure is on the ship, which is why people keep attacking them. It is an incredible look into what a global epidemic looks like. Fair warning: Don’t watch this at night or after reading about Ebola. For those still interested, it airs on TNT on Sunday nights.
“Louie”
“Louie” came back on FX, finally, after an incredibly long break — almost two years, to be exact. For those of you who have yet to experience the brilliance that is “Louie,” it is an almost real depiction of Louis C.K.’s actual life as a divorced comedian raising his two daughters in New York. He combines his stand-up with real-life satire that will keep you laughing through the entire show. It’s surprising how honest and practical the life lessons in “Louie” are. Hopefully C.K doesn’t take two years to write the next season.
“Young & Hungry”
“Young & Hungry” premiered on ABC Family this summer. It stars Emily Osment from “Hannah Montana” (who is dating Jimmy Tatro, so there’s that) as an incredibly poor chef who surprisingly gets a job as a personal chef for a young entrepreneur played by Jonathan Sadowski from “She’s the Man.” A lot of things happen since it’s ABC Family and everything needs to be dramatic in a “first world problems” sort of way. It was a good idea in theory, but there’s just nowhere else to go with that storyline. Let’s just say DVR-ing wasn’t worth it after the first episode.
—Follow Lindsey Stegemoller @lstegs
