The Best New Shows to Stream This Week: Reacher, Lanterns and more...
From muscular action heroes and gritty DC mysteries to archival revamps and international crime thrillers, this week’s lineup across major streaming platforms is packed with heavy hitters.
From muscular action heroes and gritty DC mysteries to archival revamps and international crime thrillers, this week’s lineup across major streaming platforms is packed with heavy hitters.
Whether you’re settling in for an adrenaline-fueled binge or catching a long-awaited premiere, here are the absolute best new shows and streaming events to watch this week.
1. Reacher (Season 4)
Available US & UK
Where to Watch Prime Video
Release Format 3-Episode Premiere (Weekly thereafter)
Alan Ritchson returns as Lee Child’s iconic wandering justice-enforcer in what is already shaping up to be the most intense chapter of the series yet. Adapting Child’s fan-favorite novel Gone Tomorrow, Season 4 shifts the action into a dense, paranoia-inducing urban backdrop.
The new season kicks off with Jack Reacher stepping straight into a twisted conspiracy following a tense encounter on a New York City subway platform. Expect the usual brutal hand-to-hand combat, clever detective work, and massive explosions, but with a tighter, time-sensitive thriller pacing that keeps you guessing.
2. Lanterns
Available US & UK
Where to Watch HBO Max
Release Format Weekly Series Premiere
One of the most anticipated prestige television events of the year, Lanterns grounds the vast Green Lantern mythology into a gritty, atmospheric True Detective-style mystery. Starring Kyle Chandler as aging legendary Lantern Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as promising new recruit John Stewart, the series follows the duo as they investigate a dark, earthbound murder in the American heartland.
With executive producers Chris Mundy (Ozark), Damon Lindelof (Watchmen), and comic writer Tom King at the helm, Lanterns crafts a tense, character-driven procedural with colossal DC Universe stakes.
3. The X-Files: I Want to Believe – Vrach Frankenshteyn (The Director’s Cut)
Available US & UK
Where to Watch Disney+ / Hulu
Release Format Special Feature Premiere
X-Files creator Chris Carter has revisited the franchise’s controversial 2008 feature film, re-editing and re-titling it as The X-Files: I Want to Believe – Vrach Frankenshteyn.
Restoring the film’s original, visceral horror vision—which was heavily toned down for its original PG-13 theatrical release—this R-rated Director’s Cut streamlines the narrative. Carter leans into the unsettling body-horror element of the central organ-harvesting plotline while sharpening the focus on Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully’s (Gillian Anderson) investigation. It offers die-hard fans a genuinely fresh, vastly scarier perspective on a polarizing piece of X-Files history.
4. Women in Blue (Las Azules) (Season 2)
Available US & UK
Where to Watch Apple TV
Release Format Weekly Series Premiere
Apple TV’s critically acclaimed, stylish Spanish-language period drama Women in Blue (Las Azules) returns for its second season. Set in 1970s Mexico City, the drama follows four trailblazing women who defy ultra-conservative norms to join the country’s first female police force—only to realize their unit was created as a publicity stunt to distract from a brutal serial killer.
Season 2 raises the bar as the officers navigate rising political corruption, personal danger, and systemic opposition while taking on high-stakes cases that the male establishment refuses to solve. Driven by stellar lead performances and lush production design, it remains one of the finest international crime dramas on television.
5. Joe & David’s Magical Sitcom Tour (Series Finale)
Available UK Only
Where to Watch: U&GOLD / On Demand via Sky, Virgin Media, NOW
Broadcast Time Tuesday, August 18 at 9:00 p.m.
Part travelogue, part buddy comedy, and part retrospective, comedians Joe Wilkinson and David Earl wrap up their hilarious celebration of classic British sitcoms on U&GOLD. In this grand finale, Joe guides David on a personal pilgrimage through the show that inspired him to enter comedy: Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s groundbreaking masterpiece, The Office.
The duo embarks on a fascinating piece of “sitcom archaeology”—tracking down lost filming locations, uncovering original props, and even unearthing an old recording from one of the show’s most iconic moments. Along the way, they sit down with David Brent himself, Ricky Gervais, to swap stories, unpack bold creative choices, and pay tribute to beloved cast members.
Keep in the know with a 50% discount
Upgrade to a paid subscription to The Version for half price this summer to get:
🔓 Full vault access to every article, review, and breakdown—no paywalls, ever.
🎯 Exclusive regional streaming guides tailored specifically for the UK & US.
💬 Join the community: Unlock commenting on all posts and get tailored watchlist recommendations.
Stop searching, start watching, and support independent pop culture coverage.
You’ll pay just £2.50 / $3.36 a month with our special offer if you subscribe today!
Claim 65% off at Gousto and feed your family for less
In the UK? Claim a massive 65% off at Gousto and eat for less this week.