We here at Collider know that Peak TV makes it hard to figure out what shows are worth watching, especially in the middle of this deluge of new fall shows. Sometimes you just sit there and look at a lackluster DV-R list and think, "What's that series on HBO about the historical woman who dresses like a man or something?" (It's Gentleman Jack, and Suranne Jones is a gift) -- we're here to help.

Each month, we’re polling our Collider staffers to pick our favorite shows on TV right now. Every show is submitted with a point value: 3 is “must-see,” 2 is “should see if you have time,” and 1 is for “honorable mention.” Then we tally the votes and list out the series in order, starting with the highest votes tallied among our staff members, giving a sense not only of what we agree on, but allowing for a variety of niche favorites.

Things can — and will — change up each month, so be sure to check back in as things are sure to shift around (This is probably one of our longest and most diverse lists in a long time). Happy viewing!

Rules: TV shows must be currently airing on broadcast/cable, or have aired a new episode within the last month as of the posting date. For streaming series, they have to have premiered since July 15.

The Boys

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Image via Amazon

Network: Amazon

Point Total: 17

If you’re growing tired of superhero TV, Amazon’s got the antidote for you. And if you’re not yet tired of superheroes on the small screen, Amazon has an option you also might enjoy. Somehow, the streaming service’s adaptation of The Boys manages to be both. It gives us a much-needed balm for the “same old superhero story” doldrums and an enjoyable twist on the superhero sub-genre at the same time. How? By grounding the super-powered characters in a heightened reality and by empowering the normal humans caught in their destructive wake.

The Boys is essentially an extreme version of the saying “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Superheroes have become celebrities and the most powerful—or photogenic, or well-connected—among them become the most popular, at least until an up-and-comer unseats them. It’s a satire on both the superhero story and decades of comic book tropes while also skewering the cult of personality that’s prevalent in our culture. So if you’ve ever wanted to see the underdogs rise to the challenge and take down some truly powerful villains masquerading as heroes, The Boys is for you. – Dave Trumbore

GLOW

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Image via Netflix

Network: Netflix

Point Total: 15

How often do we see shows launch hot only to fizzle out with concepts that grow repetitive as seasons progress? Not the case with Netflix’s GLOW whatsoever. In fact, the show’s been getting better and better. Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch introduced their undeniably lovable ensemble in 2017 with a first season brimming with colorful characters, heart and energy. Season 2 expertly balanced the familiar charm and comedy with intensifying dramatic beats, and now Season 3 continues down that path beautifully. Alison Brie and Betty Gilpin continue to make commanding, inspiring and complex leads, but Season 3 also puts the spotlight on the supporting cast better than ever before. Gayle Rankin and Sunita Mani have always made an impression as Sheila and Arthie respectively, but the way the new season follows them as they explore new truths about themselves makes them downright unforgettable.

GLOW has always been a show to jump feet first into any extreme scenario, whether it be an outrageous bit in the wrestling ring or incorporating hot button issues in its storylines, and thanks to expert writing and deeply sincere performances, that approach pays off big time in round three. It’s one winning episode after the next but if I’m playing favorites, the one-two punch of “Freaky Tuesday” and “Outward Bound” is an especially powerful pairing. I’ve fallen so hard for GLOW that I’ve gotten into the terrible habit of panicking as I see the episode runtimes wind down. But fortunately, not only is all of GLOW highly rewatchable, you also have the option to watch a great documentary on the real Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling on Netflix right now. -- Perri Nemiroff

Mindhunter

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Image via Netflix

Network: Netflix

Point Total:12

Season 2 of Mindhunter almost functions as a soft reboot of sorts for the series. The FBI’s burgeoning Behavioral Crimes Unit is no longer butting heads with their superiors but instead receiving support (and expectations). Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) is no longer the lead, but it’s more of a balanced trio with Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) ostensibly stepping forward. The personal stories of the investigators get deeper they pull back from the charismatic serial killers and broaden their scope to the inability to truly grasp the complexities of human behavior. The direction remains masterful and the storytelling is still gripping. If David Fincher ever made a TV series out of his 2007 movie Zodiac, it would look a lot like Mindhunter, which I mean as high praise. – Matt Goldberg

The Dark Crystal: The Age of Resistance

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Image via Netflix

Network: Netflix

Point Total: 9

It’s hard to overstate how amazing The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is. You don’t have to be super familiar with Jim Henson’s original movie that created a cult following back in 1982, but it certainly helps to understand what goes on in this prequel series. However, you could come into the Netflix show blind and still walk away with an appreciation for the solid fantasy story, the incredible production value, and the world’s top puppeteers plying their craft in one of the best suspensions of disbelief ever seen on TV.

But if you need a little plot nugget to get you going, essentially The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance sees the elf-like Gelflings overcoming their tribal differences in order to escape from under the oppressive rule of the villainous and reptilian Skeksis. The 10 currently available episodes introduce compelling characters from all walks of life on the alien planet of Thra and have already inspired a whole new generation of The Dark Crystal fans. And this is only phase one; there’s hopefully more to come, but if you can’t get enough from the series itself, be sure to seek out the behind-the-scenes documentary, also available on Netflix. – Dave Trumbore

The Righteous Gemstones

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Image via HBO

Network: HBO

Point Total: 7

Thank God for The Righteous Gemstones, the HBO comedy that unleashes some of Hollywood's most talented on-screen scumbags like Danny McBrideWalton Goggins, and Adam Devine with all the force of the Old Testament. Created by McBride with regular collaborators Jody Hill and David Gordon Green taking on producing and directing roles, the series follows the uber-famous evangelist family the Gemstones, led up by blowhard patriarch Eli Gemstone (John Goodman, a blast as always) and often cast into controversy by siblings Jesse (McBride), Judy (Edi Patterson, fantastic), and Kelvin (Devine).

Like most McBride projects, The Righteous Gemstones basks in its own assholery—it's a pretty perfect companion to HBO's Succession—but it's impressive how often it whiplashes into high-tension drama and violence. Crude and unflinching its views on the vastly wealthy megachurch scene, fans of Eastbound & Down and Vice Principals will be in from moment on one. But what those shows do not have is Walton Goggins rocking an absurdly red face and shock of white hair to play a character named Baby Billy. Praise be. -- Vinnie Mancuso

Succession

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Image via HBO

Network: HBO

Point Total: 6

In today’s climate, a TV show about rich white assholes has no reason being as delightful or compelling as Succession, but here we are. The HBO series sort of follows a fictionalized version of a Murdoch-like family dynasty, complete with corporate takeovers, questions about the future of media, and profane one-liners that give Veep a run for its money. It’s handsomely crafted, magnificently scored by Nicholas Britell, and extremely well-written, but it’s the ensemble cast that really makes this thing sing. There’s not a weak link in the bunch, and everyone’s delivering a layered, complex performance that can turn on a dime from darkly comedic to truly tragic. Matthew Macfadyen is a hoot, Sarah Snook is a revelation, and Jeremy Strong just might be giving one of the best performances of the year across any medium. In its stellar (and superior) second season Succession has come into its own as one of the best original series in HBO history. – Adam Chitwood

On Becoming a God in Central Florida

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Image via Showtime

Network: Showtime

Point Total: 6

Dreamers, schemers, and stinker-thinkers all collide as they try to get rich quick in 1992 suburban Orlando, Florida in On Becoming a God in Central Florida. This 10-episode series stars Kirsten Dunst in a career-best performance as working-class wife and mom Krystal Stubbs. Krystal, as we quickly find out, has been sold a shittier version of the American dream. Husband Travis, played by a delightfully absurd Alexander Skarsgard, has sunk all of the couple's hard-earned cash from their unfulfilling day jobs (he sells insurance, she works at a low-rent water park) into a pyramid scheme knows as FAM, or Founders American Merchandise. From the get-go, we know Krystal and Travis are sunk the clearer it becomes that they're in dire straits as mountains of cardboard boxes full of FAM products pile up in their garage and they can't seem to earn enough money to become self-made millionaires by shilling it.

What makes On Becoming a God so compelling to watch isn't just the evocation of the early '90s with all of its acid wash jorts and bedazzled bathing suits (series costume designer Stacey Battat deserves Emmys attention), nor is it Dunst's furiously determined performance as Krystal. It's also the deeply superb turns from supporting stars Theodore Pellerin as Cody, a privileged and naive FAM participant who Krystal leans on, and Ted Levine as Obie Garbeau II, the venomous co-creator of the FAM program and Krystal's archnemesis. On Becoming a God speaks to the futility of joining oneself with the ever-present specter of pyramid schemes which have always promised big returns, autonomy, financial independence, and so much more to those of us who are just willing to take a leap. It's a glorious and delirious trip through the Florida suburbs in this Showtime series and you truly don't want to miss a minute of it. -- Allie Gemmill

Twitch

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Image via Twitch

Network: Twitch.tv

Point Total: 6

Can’t find anything you like on network, cable, or premium TV? Have you already exhausted all of the latest streaming content on your favorite provider? Or are you just looking for some engaging, creative, and original content (or some quality background noise) to get you through the day? Then Twitch.tv is the place for you.

The best thing about Twitch, which has been around for quite a few years now, isn’t that there’s always something to watch 24/7 wherever you are in the world, it’s the communities of like-minded people you find along the way. So whether you’re watching Ninja play Fortnite (or the relatively new BR competitor Apex Legends) or chilling out with some archived Bob Ross marathons, Twitch is quickly replacing more traditional screened and streamed content.

Here are a few of my personal favorites:

  • CohhCarnage – A variety streamer with one of the most professional setups, helpful moderators, and welcoming community on the platform.
  • CriticalRole – A weekly, long-running, live-action D&D game featuring top tier voice actors, led by Matt Mercer.
  • Ezekiel_III – A variety streamer whose quirky setup and offbeat humor makes this one of the wildest channels on Twitch, complete with vintage games, an unpredictable playing style, and a healthy dose of rage.
  • King Gothalion – A mainline Destiny streamer who has built a small empire around his channel, including the coffee company King’s Coast and an annual charity drive for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, with events like the Borderlands Hunt.

Lodge 49

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Image via Jackson Lee Davis/AMC

Network: AMC

Point Total: 5

It's almost impossible to pin down just what exactly makes Lodge 49 so special. It's really one of those you have to see it to "get it" type shows. Wyatt Russell stars as Dud, a meandering, simple man cut from the same cloth as The Big Lebowski's The Dude, but with a much purer heart and a lot more vulnerability. All Dud wants is his dad's old pool cleaning business back, but in an era of a crumbling middle class, those dreams seem all but lost... until Dud happens by chance upon the fraternal Lodge 49 and suddenly, adventures seem to drop at his feet.

Lodge 49 is full-tilt magical realism; a singular mix of the magical and mundane that's so earnestly and honestly rooted in the working-class experience, it feels like one of the most authentic shows on TV. It's also strangely moving, unexpectedly hilarious, and gripping beyond reason for a show that has so little interest in propulsive plotting. A little slice of feel-good wonder, the sleeper gem returns in fine form in Season 2, and it's as endearing as ever to watch Dud tilt at his windmills with the help of his ragtag friends and family. -- Haleigh Foutch

Veronica Mars

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Image via Hulu

Network: Hulu

Point Total: 5

Who would have thought the return of Veronica Mars would turn into such a controversial TV moment? While diehard fans are understandably shocked by some of the seasons darker turns, don't let the outraged buzz keep you from making up your own mind about the all-grown-up adventures of the intrepid detective. In the eight-episode Hulu revival, Kristen Bell is back on fire as the sharp-tongued PI, alongside series creator Rob Thomas and original co-stars Enrico Colantoni and Jason Dohring, for a new high-stakes case. When Neptune's famed spring break gets interrupted by a serial bomber, it's not long before Mars Investigations is on the case, and the high-stakes investigation starts to put pressure on the cracks in Veronica's life.

Far removed from the teen soap romances in the halls of Neptune High, Veronica Mars returns with a take on a character who is, understandably, deeply messed up by everything she's gone through in the series. Avoidant, distrusting, and flawlessly wielding her endless wit and charm as a defense mechanism, Veronica is a downright mess. It's a fascinating and layered spin on the beloved character, rooted in the truths of her experience, and as always, Bell is a powerhouse in the role. The twists and turns and the decidedly more dysfunctional Veronica certainly aren't for everyone, but they're a thoughtful soul-searching moment for a character that's been through hell and back, and came out the other side a bit busted up. I cackled, I cried, I shouted at the screen (look, episode 7 is really tense) and I've been sitting here ever since praying that Hulu hands down a renewal. -- Haleigh Foutch

Carnival Row

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Image via Amazon

Network: Amazon

Point Total: 4

Be it the cast, the plot, or the world it has rendered, Carnival Row is taking some big leaps — and they pay off beautifully. Carnival Row is a wholly original fantasy series where magical folk you've only read about cohabitate (albeit rather uneasily) with humans in the rich and gloomily rendered steampunk world of The Burgue. Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne lead the series as star-crossed lovers Rycroft "Philo" Philostrate and Vignette Stonemess. He's a soldier-turned-inspector in The Burgue and she's a fae (read: fairy) seeking refuge after being driven out of her homeland, Tirnanoc. As Philo and Vignette's paths cross after seven years apart, they find themselves drawn into uncovering the truth about a series of murders targeting the magical creatures who have immigrated to The Burgue.
Carnival Row has plenty on its mind when it comes to its allegorical approach to contemporary issues around race and immigration which make this series all the more interesting to watch — even when it gets a little shaky on that front. It's a bold series that is confident in its vision, which deserves a big tip of the cap as far as I'm concerned. It also doesn't hurt that Bloom and Delevingne have decent chemistry while performances turned in from supporting cast members Jared HarrisIndira VarmaTamzin MerchantKarla Crome, and David Gyasi really bring the story Carnival Row is telling in this inviting series to life. -- Allie Gemmill

I Ship It

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Image via The CW

Network: The CW

Point Total: 3

From creator Yulin Kuang and based on the 2014 digital short of the same name, the musical comedy series I Ship It (which started out on CW Seed before airing on The CW) follows Ella (Helen Highfield), a fangirl and aspiring writer who writes fan-fiction for her favorite TV show, Superstition, while dreaming of doing the real thing. After delivering a flower order to the showrunner of the series, Ella jumps at the chance to get herself a job as a writer’s assistant, quickly quitting her job at a boutique shipping agency to live out her fantasies. The show is clever, fun and charming, with original songs and enough glimpses of the show within the show that you’ll long for more. And with a show creator that’s gone from fangirl to fanfiction writer to creator of her own material, it’s easy to see the passion and inspiration behind the story that she’s telling.  --Christina Radish

Two-Sentence Horror Story

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Image via The CW

Network: The CW

Point Total: 2

From creator Vera Miao, The CW’s Two Sentence Horror Stories (which started out on CW Seed before airing on The CW) is an anthology of contemporary tales of horror inspired by the viral fan fiction idea comprised of two sentences. No matter the advancements in technology, social progress, inequality, and environmental degradation, we are still haunted by universal primal fears that have been filtered through our own anxieties, and this series explores that.

Each story is book-ended with the two sentences that inspired it, and each explores different ideas, whether societal or political or just downright scary, that will send shivers down your spine. --Christina Radish

A Black Lady Sketch Show

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Image via HBO

Network: HBO

Point Total: 2

From creator/executive producer/writer/star/all-around funnywoman Robin Thede, HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show is a hilarious new sketch comedy series with a core cast of black women – including Thede, Ashley Nicole Black, Gabrielle Dennis and Quinta Brunson – who tell an ongoing story as hyper-versions of themselves, stuck in a house together during an end-of-the-world event, while also taking on an array of varied characters. With a slew of celebrity guests and five to six sketches jam-packed into each half-hour, the episodes touch on everything from social norms, anxiety, and religion to sex, dating and relationships.  There are song-and-dance numbers, homages to old TV shows, and even puppets (and who doesn’t love puppets!). The series has already been picked up for a second season, so stay tuned for more laughs and more famous guest stars. --Christina Radish

Late Night with Seth Meyers

Network: NBC

Point Total: 2

It feels so long ago now that Late Night with Seth Meyers picked up the mantle of the Jon Stewart-hosted The Daily Show, offering sharp political commentary packed with well-crafted comedy, but it remains the shining star of late night television. The “A Closer Look” segment has become a must-see staple, and Meyers’ eagerness to invite politicians and authors on the show offers a great change of pace to some other late night programs. But first and foremost, Late Night with Seth Meyers is just funny. A lot of that comes from Meyers’ willingness to let his writers shine in segments like “Amber Says What” or “Jokes Seth Can’t Tell,” but he’s also able to relax into an insightful (and delightful) conversation with most of his guests, which is far easier said than done. On the flipside, he’s not afraid to challenge guests when it comes to pressing issues facing the world today. – Adam Chitwood

Honorable Mentions

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Image via AMC

(1 Point Each)

The Terror: Infamy

Four Weddings and a Funeral

Cannon Busters

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Image via Fox
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Image via HBO
fresh-off-the-boat-season-3
Image via ABC
dragon-ball-super
Image via Cartoon Network / Adult Swim
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Image via Syfy
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Image via ABC