Everything We're Watching This August

With new seasons of 'Only Murders in the Building' and 'Emily in Paris', August has it all.

Remember when Tiger King took over the world? Eric Goode’s about to do it all over again with his new thrilling docuseries about Tonia Haddix, AKA “the Dolly Parton of chimps.” Meanwhile, some of our favourite shows are back with a season 4, including Only Murders, Emily in Paris, and The Umbrella Academy, the latter of which is bidding us goodbye.

Whether you’re in the mood for some light laughs or a dark documentary, these are the 10 best new series we can’t wait to watch in August.

1. Only Murders in the Building, Season 4

Where can I watch it? Disney+

TV’s most beloved true crime podcasting trio is back, along with another season 3 fave, the one and only Meryl Streep. And surprise, surprise, they’ve found themselves smack-bang in the middle of another murder. Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez investigate the shock shooting that transpired at the end of Season 3, while new recruits Eugene Levy, Zach Galifianakis, and Melissa McCarthy look set to bring even more star power to an already stacked cast.

2. Emily in Paris, Season 4 Part 1

Where can I watch it? Netflix

Everyone else might be in Paris for the Olympics this August, but Emily Cooper’s there for love. Well, kind of. As always, it’s très complicated. Apparently at some point in this two-part season, we’ll also see Ms Cooper strut the historic streets of Rome. Wherever she ends up, you can rest assured she’ll look chic while doing it, debuting 10 episode’s worth of new outfits as she picks up the pieces from Season 3’s many-a-bombshell finale.

3. Bad Monkey

Where can I watch it? Apple TV+

Set in Florida and the Bahamas and based on the 2013 bestselling novel by Carl Hiaasen, this new comedic drama follows Andrew Yancy (played by Vince Vaughn), a once dynamic detective demoted to working as a restaurant inspector. A severed arm found by a fisherman presents Yancy with a chance to dust off his detective skills and potentially earn him a spot back on the Miami Police Department. Featuring murder, voodoo, and yes, a monkey, the 10-episode dramedy also stars Michelle Monaghan, Natalie Martinez, Meredith Hagner and Jodie Turner-Smith.

4. Chimp Crazy

Where can I watch it? Prime

Produced and directed by Tiger King’s Eric Goode, Chimp Crazy is as wild as its name suggests. The four-episode docuseries centres around Tonia Haddix, AKA “the Dolly Parton of chimps”, an ex-nurse turned exotic animal broker, whose life spins out of control as she fends off authorities and animal rights activists. As hilarious as it is tragic, the series explores the precarious bond between humans and our fellow primates while lifting the lid on the secretive world of those who raise chimpanzees in their own homes. Carole Baskin who?

5. The Umbrella Academy, Season 4

Where can I watch it? Netflix

Returning for its fourth and final season, superhero series The Umbrella Academy promises to end its sprawling story with a bang. Dysfunctional family drama through a comic book lens, the series follows the Hargreeves siblings as they search for the truth about their father’s death while also tasked with stopping the pending apocalypse. You know, just regular day-to-day stuff. Season 4 follows the siblings on yet another rescue mission, with cast members promising plenty of “excitement, surprises, family nonsense and shenanigans to look forward to”.

6. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Season Two

Where can I watch it? Prime

Set a thousand years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, this fantasy-fest delivers Middle-earth drama in droves. Season 1 reportedly cost $1 billion to make, and it looks like plenty of cash has been splashed this time around too. Marking the return of Sauron, Season 2 sees the creation of the Rings of Power as darkness threatens to overwhelm everyone – elves and dwarves, orcs and men, and wizards and Harfoots alike.

7. Kaos

Where can I watch it? Netflix

From the writers of The End of the F*cking World and the producers of Chernobyl, this new Greek mythological dark comedy stars the ever-iconic Jeff Goldblum as Zeus, a man who spirals after discovering a new forehead wrinkle (can relate). Paranoia sets in as he becomes convinced of his own downfall, one suspicious sign at a time. The eight-episode series also stars Janet McTeer as Hera, David Thewlis as Hades, and Cliff Curtis as Poseidon.

8. The Body Next Door

Where can I watch it? Stan

Not just a “whodunnit” but also a “whoisit”, this captivating three-part documentary series takes you inside a bewildering true crime story set in the heart of the Welsh Valleys. In 2015, an unidentifiable body was found in the garden of a quiet residential block, wrapped in over 40 layers of plastic. As the police search for his identity and a motive, they hone in on the most unsuspecting of suspects, uncovering a dark and traumatic past full of secrets.

9. Industry, Season 3

Where can I watch it? Prime

Succession may have left an unfillable void, but high-flying business series Industry offers a pretty good place to get your finance fix. Following the young and power-hungry traders of Pierpoint & Co as they navigate the cut-throat world of investment banking, season 3 of the hit series has recruited a new yet familiar face – Game of Thrones’ Kit Harington, seemingly trading his animal skins for a business suit.

10. RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars

Where can I watch it? Paramount+

Twelve queens. Twelve countries. One title. And not just any title, but “Queen of the Mothertucking World”, just to be clear. For the first-ever season of RuPaul's Drag Race Global All Stars, 12 fan favourites from around the world will compete for the crown, alongside a grand prize of $200,000, and a spot in the coveted Drag Race Hall of Fame. Representing Australia is Adelaide’s Kween Kong, while legendary Texan queen Alyssa Edwards will do her thing for the U.S. Other familiar faces include Italy’s Nehellenia, Sweden’s Vanity Vain, and the UK’s Kitty Scott-Claus.