15 New and Returning Shows We’re Anxiously Awaiting in August 2022 – Part 2

August is packed with shows for many tastes and ages, from an animated children show to a reality series to high fantasy. Here’s the final seven of fifteen shows we’re excited to see this summer:

Game of Thrones: House of the Dragon (August 21, HBO Max)

This Game of Thrones prequel follows the Targaryen family, who can control dragons. Set 200-300 years before the events of Game of Thrones, the family finds itself at civil war as who should claim the Iron Throne is a matter of contention after the death King Viserys I. If nothing else, I’m looking forward to seeing Matt Smith again. Since there don’t appear to be any particularly young characters or actors on the set, that should help with the pacing of the series (Game of Thrones was forced to contend with the fact that characters like Bran and Arya were meant to be quite young and the actors were aging faster than the series could be produced.)

Welcome to Wrexham (August 24, Hulu)

This docu-series follows movie stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney when they decide, seemingly on a whim, to buy a fifth division Welsh soccer team. What could go wrong? What could go right?

Dragons: The Nine Realms (August 25, Hulu/Peacock)

The third spinoff series of Dreamworks’s How to Train Your Dragon (based on but wildly different than the children’s book series by Cressida Cowell), Dragons: The Nine Realms is about to start its third season. Set in present day, Tom Kullersen (Jeremy Shada) and his mother, a geologist, move to a scientific research center to study a fissure in the Earth’s surface. Tom and several other children from the facility discover something amazing in the fissure – dragons. The kids band together to protect the dragons and keep them from being discovered.

Mike (August 25, Hulu)

From I, Tonya screenwriter Steve Rogers comes Mike, the story of heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson’s rise and fall, which ultimately led to a brief incarceration.

House of Ho (August 25, HBO Max)

I don’t generally enjoy reality shows, particularly ones about people ostensibly going about their day, but for some reason this one really stuck with me. House of Ho draws on the popularity of Crazy Rich Asians (we are still waiting on that sequel!) to follow the Ho family. Like with Never Have I Ever, the series does an excellent job showing the culture clash between the immigrants and their children who have grown up in America. Questions like “should the eldest boy inherit the family company and money even if he is an irresponsible partier?” and “should a woman remain in an unhappy marriage because divorce is frowned upon?” are just some of the things this series touches on.

Star Trek: Lower Decks (August 29, Paramount +)

Star Trek: Lower Decks follows the oft-ignored, generally-disposable lower-level crew members of Starfleet. Taking place on one of the least important and prestigious ships in Starfleet, these are not the bravest, smartest, most qualified crew members that we’re used to. They’re not captains or members of the senior staff. Instead, Ensigns Mariner, Boimler, Rutherford, and Tendi are just trying to get by. Apparently a couple of these characters will also be crossing over into Star Trek: Strange New Worlds at some point, which will be a particular treat. Whether the tongue-in-cheek tone of the animated series will work in live-action is anyone’s guess, but I’m excited to see them try.

If you missed it, check out 15 New and Returning Shows We’re Anxiously Awaiting in August 2022 – Part 1.

Photo: Star Trek: Lower Decks. Courtesy of Paramount +