If you’ve been following me on social media or reading this blog for very long, you know that I love consuming media and talking about content that makes me smile. And I watch a lot of stuff. After getting excited for fall premieres and watching regular TV through the spring, I’m usually eager for summer, when I can get a break from the constant barrage of new episodes and slow down for a bit. This summer is no different. But even though most of my TV shows are off the air for now, summer blockbuster season is just getting started, and there are still a few shows releasing new stuff in the summer months. So here’s a selection of the shows and movies I’m watching this summer and why I’m excited to see each of them.

movies

Baby Driver

This is the first movie that I’ll be going into blind for a very long time. I haven’t seen a trailer for Baby Driver or even really any posters. What little I know about it has come from word-of-mouth, and it’s got me very excited. The film is directed by Edgar Wright, who previously directed Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and spent years developing Ant-Man before leaving the project during production. I’m really excited to see something new from him, and he’s put together an epic cast as well. I guess the movie is about a stunt driver or something? I don’t know. But I trust Wright and look forward to seeing the cast he’s assembled on-screen soon.

Spider-Man: Homecoming

Hands-down, Spider-Man is my favorite superhero. I grew up watching Tobey McGuire play Peter Parker, and I related to his story so much. I even stuck through the Andrew Garfield days, when Spider-Man was a skateboarding punk. And now, after years of patience, Spidey fans are finally getting the film adaptation we deserve. We got a taste of Tom Holland’s version of the hero in last year’s Captain America: Civil War, and that preview combined with early reviews of Homecoming indicate that this is going to be the best Spider-Man film to date. I’m really happy that the character is finally under the creative control of Marvel Studios, giving him the ability to interact with the world of the Avengers and his mentor, Tony Stark, who features prominently in the film. Spider-Man: Homecoming releases on July 7, but I’ll already have seen it by then because I’ll definitely be attending a Thursday night premiere.

Despicable Me 3

Summer movies aren’t just for grown-ups. The kids have to get some love, too. And since my nephew is a huge Minions fan, I have an excuse to go see the newest Despicable Me sequel in theaters. The first film was a huge hit, and I thought the follow-up and spin-off were equally entertaining, if not quite as endearing. The threequel is set to feature a look into Gru’s backstory and family dynamics after he finds out about his long-lost twin brother, who happens to be a villain. Will Gru choose to return to his former life of evil, undermining the growth we’ve seen in him over the past two films? Or will he choose to stay true to his newfound family and the sense of fulfillment they give him? Either way, we’re going to see Minions running a prison gang, which on its own makes this movie worth seeing when it comes out this weekend.

TV

Planet of the Apps

This show is Apple’s first attempt at creating original television content, and it’s only available to Apple Music subscribers. I was already a subscriber to the service for its music streaming services, so I decided to give the show a shot. It’s got a Shark Tank vibe, but with Apple’s own techy spin. I think they’re still trying to nail down exactly what the format will be, but I’m enjoying the show a few episodes in. Some of the featured apps are really compelling, and it’s fun to see the advisors teach app developers how to pitch their products to investors. Plus, the failed pitches can be pretty funny, too. It’s unclear how many episodes Apple plans on releasing this summer, but for now, I’m enjoying my weekly dose of Planet of the Apps on Apple Music.

Suits

Props to USA Network for taking a premise that sounds like it should only last a season or two and making it work year after year. Suits is a drama about a young man who decides to impersonate an attorney at an upscale New York law firm and the complacent, overachieving senior partner who decides to give him a shot. Over the years, Suits has focused a lot more on the relationships between the characters than on the show’s premise, but that central conflict has always weaved its way in and out of the story in creative ways. Season seven premieres July 12, and I’m happy that I don’t have a lot of shows to keep up with this summer so that I can really pay attention to the intricacies of one. It offers enough depth and complexity to keep me occupied all summer long.

bonus

summer binge: Glee

This show first came out as I was graduating high school, so it has a special place in my heart. I spent my first summer post-high school binging season one and listening to the soundtrack in my car. Even though I didn’t stick with Glee through its initial run, I’ve always meant to go back and experience it start-to-finish, if for no other reason than to see what happened to my favorite characters. I’m almost through season one, and I’ve had a lot of fun re-experiencing the show all these years later. Plus, the music makes for great motivation at the gym. I don’t know that I’ll power through all six seasons this summer, but I’m committed to binging Glee until I finish it this time around.

podcasts

One other medium I’ve recently gotten really into is podcasts. I find the format to be much more intimate than movies or TV shows, and it’s a lot easier to fit into my schedule since I can listen while I’m driving or performing certain tasks at work. I listen to podcasts non-stop, and I’ll continue to do so over the summer. I’m subscribed to so many that, even though a few of my favorites are taking a summer break, I’ll still have plenty to listen to. I’m particularly excited to keep listening to Red Couch from Relevant Magazine and to check out the upcoming collaboration between Microsoft and Gimlet, .future. If you haen’t given podcasts a try, why not do it now, while you’re not totally distracted by new TV shows? Those two podcasts would be a great place to start.

So that’s what I’m watching (and listening to) this summer. Now I want to hear from you. What’s on your list of things you’re looking forward to seeing this summer? Have any suggestions for podcasts I’m missing out on? I’d love to hear from you. Thanks for reading, friends, and I’ll see you next week!