With so many different ways to access and enjoy TV shows these days, it’s a bit surprising that the true top-tier ones don’t overlap on the schedule from time to time. With Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV+, Disney+, Paramount+, and probably more streaming platforms with a “plus” in the title all pumping out regular releases and the more traditional channels still doing their thing, every month should have something worthy of our time.
In June this year, assuming the standards remain the same, there will be three absolute blockbuster shows hitting TV through streaming and satellite channels around the same time. Those three are House of the Dragon Season 2, The Boys Season 4, and The Bear Season 3. With each commanding a strong following and critical success already, it’ll be interesting to see which one comes out on top in the end.
Can’t underestimate the allure of dragons
On 16 June, HBO will release the second season of its first fully-fledged spin-off to the once-mighty Game of Thrones. It wasn’t going to have the easiest start, given how its predecessor ended its run, but the legacy of Westeros among TV viewers was apparently strong enough to help House of the Dragon land well. Of course, Game of Thrones has sprawled well beyond its original books and the TV show.
Based on George R. R. Martin’s series, the show became a merchandising behemoth. Every form of additional product and media was used to appease its army of fans. There were vinyl figures, shirts, caps, replica swords, coasters, and even games. Still going strong at the fast withdrawal casino with hundreds of slots, the Game of Thrones slot remains a huge draw. With Tomb Raider and Jurassic Park games there, it’s in good company.
Based on the prevalence of merchandise sales and the continued popularity of the slot, it’d be fair to say that Game of Thrones wasn’t completely discarded after its fall from grace. Still, it certainly helped that House of the Dragon Season 1 was so well written, boasted the same very high production standards, and that the performances were top-tier across the board. Given the way Season 1 ended, Season 2 looks primed to pick up very strongly and likely beat the ten million viewers of the first episode last time around.
The Boys and The Bear powering up streaming
A few days before House of the Dragon returns, Prime Video will be letting loose its psychopathic superheroes in The Boys Season 4. With a 13 June premiere, Season 4 kicks off this grand summer of shows. Already, Amazon hangs its credentials as a streamer on The Boys. In fact, in 2022, the $1 billion show The Rings of Power and its 9.4 billion minutes viewed couldn’t match the viewing count of 10.6 billion minutes for The Boys Season 3.
Perhaps the biggest surprise to be counted among these heavyweight contenders for our time is The Bear Season 3. Quietly launched on a platform known to be predominantly for its major franchises and existing content, like the MCU, Star Wars, and everything inherited from Fox, The Bear quickly took Disney+ by storm. A true top-tier original creation, the Jeremy Allen White-led now gets a tremendous amount of hype before each new season.
Created by FX for Hulu in its native market, Season 2 of The Bear saw its viewership leap by 70 per cent for its first episode compared to the premiere of Season 1. Word of mouth certainly got around to bolster The Bear, leading to the hype for Season 3 being quite spectacular. The comedy-drama from the kitchen will enter this race last on 27 June.
Regardless of which show comes out on top with the critics and its viewership count, the real winners look set to be everyone who loves a compelling, high-quality TV show – and has plenty of time to spare in June!