House of the Dragon, Lord of the Rings, The White Lotus and Ted Lasso - the best TV yet to premiere in 2022

Thought you might venture outside the house in the second half of this year? Ha — think again. There’s far too much great TV coming out in the coming weeks and months to risk being away from that couch for even a second. Here are our picks for the ones to watch in the second half of the year. The Sandman, August 5, Netflix The TV adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s fantasy comic is hitting Netflix next month, and it’s already getting heaps of buzz. With an all-star cast including Tom Sturridge and Jenna Coleman, it’s set to be a huge release for the streaming service. A League of Their Own, August 12, Prime Video Excuse us while we lose our minds with excitement over the TV remake of this much-adored 1992 film. Broad City’s Abbi Jacobson (who also stars) is at the helm, so you know it’s going to be good. Nick Offerman also appears, playing a role first made famous by Tom Hanks. House of the Dragon, August 22, Foxtel and Binge Set 200 years before Game of Thrones, this tells the story of the fall of the House of Targaryen. Starring Doctor Who’s Matt Smith and Australia’s own Milly Alcock (she’ll pop up later this year in season two of Upright), it’s on track to be the biggest new show of 2022. The Patient, August 30, Disney Plus From the creators of The Americans comes this psychological thriller, starring Steve Carell and Domhnall Gleeson. Carell plays a therapist who is held prisoner by Gleeson, his patient, who reveals himself to be a serial killer. Yikes! Andor, August 31, Disney Plus It’s been mere seconds since the last Star Wars spin-off debuted — time for another! This one is a prequel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and focuses on rebel hero Cassian Andor, played by Diego Luna. Stellan Skarsgard and Killing Eve’s Fiona Shaw also appear — sign us up! The Bear, August 31, Disney Plus This half-hour comedy series stars Jeremy Allen White as a young chef who recently returned to Chicago to run his family’s sandwich shop. It’s been getting heaps of buzz in the States and looks set to be a hit here too. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, September 2, Prime Video This prequel is based on the backstory written by J.R.R. Tolkien in The Lord of the Rings Appendices. It took five years to film, and cost an absolute fortune. Will it be any good? You’d want to hope so — and we can’t wait to find out. Heartbreak High, September TBC, Netflix OK, so there’s no Drazik, but we’re still pumped for the Heartbreak High reboot, which lands on Netflix this September. A reimagining of the 90s Aussie drama, it stars a host of unknowns as a new crop of Hartley High students. The 13-strong ensemble cast have big shoes to fill. The Handmaid’s Tale, September 15, SBS Real life not dystopian enough for you? Season five of The Handmaid’s Tale shows a pregnant Serena Joy (Yvonne Strahovski) mourning her husband, who was finally taken out by a vengeful June (Elisabeth Moss). We’ll be watching through slitted fingers. The Crown, November TBC, Netflix One-upping the current real life dramas of the British royal family is going to take some doing. But something tells us this latest season of The Crown, which focuses on the disintegration of Prince Charles and Lady Diana’s marriage, will give it a nudge. Bali 2002, TBC, Stan Talk about a stellar cast — Richard Roxburgh, Rachel Griffiths, Ewan Leslie and Sean Keenan star in this local drama, about the terrorist bombings that happened in Bali back in 2002. Based on first-hand accounts of survivors, it sounds like it’s going to pack a punch. The White Lotus, TBC, Foxtel and Binge Pack your bags — we’re off to the White Lotus again! Season two sees the action switch to another of the chain’s resorts, and a whole new cast has signed on. The one constant? Jennifer Coolidge returns as socialite Tanya. Cannot. Wait. American Gigolo, September 10, Stan This is a modern-day take on the 1980s film, starring Richard Gere. This time, his character is played by We Own This City’s Jon Bernthal, who stars as former male escort Julian Kaye. Rosie O’Donnell also stars. Savage River, ABC Local drama has been a bit thin on the ground of late, but this new offering from ABC looks set to fill the void. It stars Katherine Langford as a woman who returns to her home town in rural Victoria after eight years in prison. Jacqueline McKenzie, Bernard Curry and Virginia Gay also star. Ted Lasso, TBC, Apple TV Plus Thought Ted Lasso was nothing but a feel-good comedy about a bunch of people on a football team? Series two proved otherwise, and we can’t wait to see where this always surprising series takes viewers for its third season. No word yet on an air date. And don’t miss: