It’s all about reconnection in our July TV watchlist: Siblings gather, old flames spark again, a long-departed host returns, and a beloved serial killer looks for his runaway son. Yes, perfectly normal reunions. These are the performances and shows to check out this month.
“The Sandman”
Season 2 premiere July 3 on Netflix
Tom Sturridge’s (“Sweetbitter”) performance as Morpheus, the otherworldly personification of dreams, delighted fans on Season 1 of this fantasy from showrunner Allan Heinberg. Arrogant, aloof, and sometimes acerbic, Sturridge seemed to pop right out of the “Sandman” graphic novels from DC Comics. On the show’s second and final season, Morpheus reunites with his equally godlike siblings, like kindly Death (Kirby Howell-Baptiste, “Sugar”), seductive Desire (Mason Alexander Park, “National Anthem”), and a few who viewers haven’t met yet. Pace yourself: The first six episodes drop July 3, the final five July 24, and a standalone special July 31.
(The series was co-created by Heinberg, David S. Goyer, and Neil Gaiman. Between the first and second seasons of the show, multiple women accused Gaiman of sexual assault. Gaiman, who wrote “The Sandman” comic books, denied the allegations. In May, Heinberg told Entertainment Weekly that the show’s cancellation was unrelated.)
“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”
Season 17 premiere July 9 on FXX; streams July 10 on Hulu
The gang returns for the 17th season of America’s longest-running sitcom. This tight-knit ensemble have played the same hilariously repugnant characters since 2005—and it’s impossible to choose one standout performance. Maybe series creator Rob McElhenney’s meathead delusion as Mac, or Glenn Howerton’s preening sociopathy as Dennis? Then there’s Charlie Day’s feral charm as Charlie, or Kaitlin Olson’s narcissistic pathos as Dee. But y’know, it’s hard to beat Danny DeVito. As lovably depraved Frank, he’s any scene’s special ingredient. The season premiere will follow the gang’s point of view from a January crossover with ABC’s “Abbott Elementary.”
“Too Much”
Series premiere July 10 on Netflix
Surrealist comedian Megan Stalter regularly steals scenes as daffy Kayla on HBO Max’s “Hacks.” Filterless writer Lena Dunham captured the 2010s zeitgeist with HBO’s “Girls.” On the Netflix rom-com series “Too Much,” which Dunham co-created with her husband Luis Felber, they team up for the ultimate “yeah, that makes sense” collab. Stalter stars as Jessica, a workaholic who moves to London and finds love with laid-back musician Felix (Will Sharpe, “The White Lotus”). To scratch the surface of the stacked supporting cast, look out for Dunham’s “Girls” costar Andrew Rannells, Janicza Bravo (“Camping”), Emily Ratajkowski (“Gone Girl”), Richard E. Grant (“Saltburn”), and Jennifer Saunders (“Absolutely Fabulous”).
“Dexter: Resurrection”
Series premiere July 11 on Paramount+ with Showtime; airs July 13 on Showtime
Fans of the long-running drama “Dexter” are in for a bloody treat with the latest sequel. Michael C. Hall’s serial-killing vigilante Dexter Morgan heads to the Big Apple searching for his son, Harrison (Jack Alcott). Along the way, he crosses paths with old police colleague Angel Batista (David Zayas) and some fellow death-dealers, played by guest stars Krysten Ritter (“Jessica Jones”), Neil Patrick Harris (“Doctor Who”), David Dastmalchian (“Late Night With the Devil”), and Eric Stonestreet. Those first three regularly take darker roles, but we can’t wait to see Stonestreet shed his image as cuddly Cam from “Modern Family.” Uma Thurman and Peter Dinklage costar; Clyde Phillips is the showrunner.
“Foundation”
Season 3 premiere July 11 on Apple TV+
Things get galaxy-brained on “Foundation,” the epic space series adapted by David S. Goyer and Josh Friedman from stories by sci-fi legend Isaac Asimov. Luckily, viewers have an irresistible center of gravity in star Lee Pace (“Halt and Catch Fire”). As Brother Day, the reigning member of a centuries-long clone dynasty, the Emmy nominee struts, bellows, and rules, quite frankly. The third season ushers in a fearsome threat to intergalactic peace with mind-controlling warlord the Mule (Pilou Asbæk, “Game of Thrones,” replacing Mikael Persbrandt). New faces Cherry Jones (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) and Troy Kotsur (“CODA”) also join returning stars Jared Harris (“Mad Men”) and Lou Llobell (“Voyagers”).
“The Summer I Turned Pretty”
Season 3 premiere July 16 on Prime Video
If you haven’t turned pretty yet, well, this is your last summer to do so. The coming-of-age series based on Jenny Han’s YA books ends with its third season. College student Belly (Lola Tung) returns to Cousins Beach, where she finds herself again torn between dreamy brothers Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno, “Walker”) and Conrad (Christopher Briney, “Mean Girls”). It’ll be extra tear-jerking to watch these actors explore more mature sides of their characters, who are now at the threshold of adulthood. Han and Sarah Kucserka serve as showrunners.
“Project Runway”
Season 21 premiere July 31 on Freeform; streams on Hulu and Disney+
Does the average actor need to be convinced to watch this long-running fashion design competition? We’re gonna go with no. But just in case, we can make it work. Acting and design enjoy a symbiotic creative relationship, from the wardrobe rack to the red carpet; peering into this artistic process can only help performers become better collaborators. On Season 21, host Heidi Klum returns to the runway for the first time since 2017. She’s joined by fashion journalist Nina Garcia, who’s been a staple on the show since its inception; stylist and new judge Law Roach; and designer and Season 4 winner Christian Siriano, who will mentor the 12 contestants.
More must-watch TV premieres in July: “Ballard” (series premiere July 9 on Prime Video); “South Park” (Season 27 premiere July 9 on Comedy Central); “Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story” (premieres July 10 on National Geographic); “The Institute” (series premiere July 13 on MGM+); “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” (Season 3 premiere July 17 on Paramount+); “Untamed” (series premiere July 17 on Netflix); “Acapulco” (Season 4 premiere July 23 on Apple TV+); “Washington Black” (series premiere July 23 on Hulu); “Leanne” (series premiere July 31 on Netflix); “Twisted Metal” (Season 2 premiere July 31 on Peacock)