If it feels like summer has quietly become the best season for new (and returning) television, you’re not imagining things. Not long ago, the warmest months were widely considered television's doldrums, dominated by reruns and reality shows while viewers waited for September’s fall lineup. Like so many other parts of the TV landscape, streaming changed all that. Now, the hottest season is also when many of the year’s biggest—and best—series arrive.

Chances are you’re already watching returning favorites like The Bear and The Vampire Lestat, along with new must-watch series like Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: An Almost History of America. The picks below offer something different: stories that illuminate the technologies, ideas, and cultural shifts shaping the world—making them as thought-provoking as they are binge-worthy.

Among these is House of the Dragon, which has been eagerly awaited by fans since Game of Thrones left HBO’s lineup. Though it will never live up to its predecessor's acclaim, it’s a pretty good also-ran, especially if you’re craving even more dragon action (and don’t mind that George R.R. Martin has called out some of cocreator Ryan Condal’s creative decisions as “toxic”).

Avatar: The Last Airbender, on the other hand, is a critically acclaimed live-action fantasy hit for Netflix, set in a world made up of four nations—the Water Tribe, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation, and the Air Nomads. A 12-year-old boy named Aang, who can manipulate all four elements, must maintain harmony among these nations as the Fire Nation prepares for war.

My Adventures With Superman, an anime-inspired rom-com, sees Clark Kent ready to settle down with Lois Lane but being forced back into action by a never-ending list of villains. It’s a quirky yet very human reimagining of one of the comic book world's most iconic (alien) superheroes.

Doctor Who, over 60 years, has regenerated almost as many times as its titular Time Lord. The future of the legendary sci-fi series is a bit up in the air following the departure of Fifteenth Doctor Ncuti Gatwa and rebooter extraordinaire Russell T. Davies. However, there are still plenty of exciting seasons to keep you occupied until a new plan is confirmed.

Adventure Time: Side Quests, a companion to the original series, sees dynamic duo Finn the Human and Jake the Dog reuniting for more wild shenanigans in the Land of Ooo. And finally, X-Men '97, iconic from the 1990s cartoon that started it all.