You (and your regular shows) were on a break!
We're just a few short weeks away from the lazy, hazy days of summer filled with those incredibly hot and heavy, albeit relatively short-lived TV binges. Hey, for some of us marathoning an old TV show or getting acquainted with a newcomer is the only summer fling really worth having. (There's certainly less of a risk of feeling dirty the next morning. Unless, of course, you're willingly watching the new seasons of Keeping Up With the Kardashians or Big Brother, in which case you brought that shame on yourself.)
Then again, summer TV escapades aren't really all that different from a romantic summer fling. In fact, whatever your type is, we bet you there's a TV series to match it. And don't think of it as cheating on your regularly scheduled programming; just consider it a healthy, adventurous break that will make you appreciate them even more when they're back. Here are 10 shows to have a fling with this summer.
The New Guy/Gal in Town Fling
The Leftovers
This is the ideal kind of fling, really. Not only do you both get to go in to this with no sense of history or baggage (though expectations may be set unfairly high), but you get to build the terms of your relationship. Will you have a standing date at the same time every week, or will you DVR them and catch them later? Totally your call! That's where The Leftovers comes in, the new post-Rapture drama from Damon Lindelof (Lost) and Tom Perrotta (Little Children). Not only will this fling be intellectually stimulating, but thrilling as well.
The Leftovers premieres on Sunday, June 29 at 10 p.m. on HBO.
The Rekindle an Old Spark Fling
Freaks and Geeks
Sure, it's exciting to find something shiny and new, but there's something great about reconnecting with a great fling from the past. Especially one that makes you feel young again. Now, it should be mandatory that Freaks and Geeks be watched at least once a year, but summer is really the ideal time to do that. Not only does the tragically short-lived series make you nostalgic and sad-happy (like the effect summer tends to have), but it will also make you so, so glad you're not in school anymore. And isn't that the best part of summer anyway?
Freaks and Geeks is available to watch on Netflix.
The Experimental Phase Fling
Orange is the New Black
Come on, everyone is a little bit gay, anyway. Or, in the case of a few of the women in the prison dramedy Orange is the New Black, a lot of bit gay. The first season of the Netflix series excited everyone last summer and the eagerly anticipated second season will likely do the same. Now, whether you see yourself with more of a Piper or an Alex or a Nicky is entirely up to you. Whatever floats your boat. (May wanna steer clear of any Pennsatuckys, though.)
Season two of Orange is the New Black will begin streaming on Netflix on Friday, June 6.
The Reliable Summer Fling
Suits
They're laid back, they're easy on the eyes, they give you exactly what you need in the time that you need it. The reliable summer fling knows it's place in your life, and they're totally cool with it. They've been good to you every year, and they're actually way better than your friends give them credit for. In other words, the USA lawyer dramedy Suits. Now entering its fourth season, Suits is perfect summer entertainment: light but not stupid, sexy, infinitely watchable, but non-committal. It's good to see you again, Harvey and Mike.
Season four of Suits premieres on Wednesday, June 11 at 9 p.m. on USA.
The 'Don't Tell a Soul About Us' Fling
Men of the Strip
Dumb hunks need love too, you know. That's what you can tell yourself when you're watching this 90-minute reality "documentary" (let's use that word loosely here) about the men (including 98 Degrees singer Jeff Timmons!) who appear in the Las Vegas all-male revue Men of the Strip. No, this probably won't be as surprisingly complex as Magic Mike, but Men of the Strip is only in town for one night and you know what, dumb hunks deserve love, too. Just maybe don't tell anyone about this.
Men of the Strip premieres on Monday, May 26 at 8 p.m. on E!
The Eye Candy Fling
Arrow
Not to be confused with the hotties of the 'Don't Tell a Soul About Us' fling variety, this fling is sexy, but without the stigma. Case in point: the action adventure series Arrow. The nice thing about this fling is, you can get acquainted pretty quickly (there's only two seasons so far, which you can check out online or on demand) and if you wanna hook up again in the fall, they'll be around. Sure, it's entertaining and surprisingly smart for a show about a sexy billionaire turned masked vigilante, but really it's all about the unapologetic CW eye candy.
Arrow is available to watch on Google Play, Hulu Plus, and Netflix. Season three will air on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. in the fall on The CW.
The Potential to Be Something So Much More Fling
The West Wing
Your friend has been raving about this old love for years and thinks you would make a great fit – you just haven't really had the time. Besides, you have so many other time-consuming flings that you're getting shit for having not seen yet (see: The Wire). But, now is the time. Since this political drama isn't as addicting a fling as, say, Breaking Bad or Lost, you can take your time. You can spread this fling out over the entirety of the summer (you have seven seasons, after all) and then wonder what the hell you did without President Bartlet and C.J. Cregg and Sam Seaborn in your life before. Plus, the nice thing about The West Wing is that, in a year or two, it can join the ranks of Rekindle an Old Spark fling.
The West Wing is available to watch on Netflix and Google Play.
The High School Sweetheart Fling
Girl Meets World
Something feels so familiar here. Have we met before? Did I know you from another time or place? You remind me of someone I loved, maybe a first love, even. But you're older, I'm older – maybe we won't be able to recreate what we once had. Or maybe it will be better now that we've seen the world and know what we want. Hell, let's just give this thing a shot and see what happens, shall we? This sequel to Boy Meets World follows a grown-up (and married with kids) Cory and Topanga, so this fling will either make you feel really old or young again. Either way, expect serious déjà vu.
Girl Meets World premieres on Friday, June 27 at 9:45 p.m. on ABC Family.
The Fling You Swore Off Before, But Yet…
True Blood
Oh, this fling. This fling that stopped being fun about two years ago, but you can't stay away. The thing is, this fling swears it won't be back next year and honestly, that's the best case scenario because seven summers together has proved to be enough. You can remember the good times together (haha, remember the vampire love triangle phase you went through?), try to block out the bad (faeries?!), and send this thing off for good. True Blood, you sexy, campy, stupid, awesome, bloody mess, you. We're gonna miss you when you're gone. Kind of.
The seventh – and final – season of True Blood premieres on Sunday, June 22 at 9 p.m. on HBO.
The Fling You'll Probably Get Too Attached To
Masters of Sex
Who knew it could be this good? Aren't these summer things supposed to be nothing more than mindless fun? This one is so edgy and sexy and smart (you've already learned so much from them) that you can't help but want them around all the time. This one left us hanging last year and now it's time to win them back. You'll play it cool; you won't get too invested in what happens to Bill and Virginia. You won't even feel threatened by the new girl (played by Sarah Silverman). Nope, you're just gonna soak in every moment and enjoy it while you have them. (Just call us, okay?!)
Season two of Masters of Sex premieres on Sunday, July 13 at 10 p.m. on Showtime.
Images by Dianna McDougall
