What to Watch This Week: 'Stranger Things' Finale, 'Only Murders In the Building' and More

From 'Westworld,' to the 'Stranger Things' Series Finale on Netflix, here are the TV shows and movies you need to be watching and binging this weekend.

What to Watch This Week Stranger Things Only Murders Westworld
Netflix

Image via Netflix

What to Watch This Week Stranger Things Only Murders Westworld

Fourth of July weekend is historically one of the biggest pop culture weekends of the year—especially for movies—but unless you’re a parent or a huge Minions fan, you’re likely not headed to the cinemas this weekend. While Top Gun: Maverick and Elvis continue to set the box office ablaze, the weekend is pretty light on other theatrical releases. That’s not the case on television, where viewers might find themselves overwhelmed with content.

As if ongoing episodes of The Boys and Ms. Marvel weren’t enough, this weekend sees the debut of a splashy new Amazon series called The Terminal List, led by Chris Pratt. The hit Hulu comedy Only Murders in the Building starring Selena Gomez makes its sophomore return, and Westworld will boot up another episode this Sunday. But, by and large, the biggest release of the long weekend is that of Netflix’s Stranger Things, which is dropping the second part of its mammoth fourth season. 

As you head into a weekend full of beers and BBQs, here’s what to watch if you find yourself with some downtime. 

'Stranger Things' 4, Vol 2

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When: Friday, July 1

Where: Netflix

While I was a bit mixed on the first half of Stranger Things’ fourth installment, I’m decidedly all-in for what the series teased at the conclusion of its first half. The reveal that big bad Vecna is 001, aka Henry Creel, and has a storied history with Eleven was accomplished in such a way that you couldn’t help but wish for the rest of the episodes. However, Netflix decided not to issue any screeners to press for Vol. 2 beforehand, so we’re all on this journey together. 

There’s quite a bit of story left across these final two episodes, including a season finale that will clock in at a whopping two-and-a-half hours. The super-sized conclusion is also likely to bring some rumored character deaths, making these episodes even more impactful. As you can see from our list, the weekend is short on major blockbuster releases—but that might be because all the fireworks will be happening in Stranger Things’ last two episodes. Prepare yourself accordingly. —William Goodman

'Only Murders in the Building' Season 2

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When: Tuesday, June 28

Where: Hulu

Hulu is starting summer off strong. Last week the streamer debuted the must-watch The Bear and this week, the suspenseful murder-mystery Only Murders in the Building is back with Season 2. The show brought together the most unlikely group of actors, Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez, who have become TV’s most endearing trio. Season 1 brought the group of neighbors Mabel, Charles, and Oliver, to solve a murder that happened inside their New York City building—The Arconia. The season ended with the shocking death of the building’s Board President Bunny Folger, and now they once again have to find the killer, but this time, it’s to prove to their neighbors and everyone else that they didn’t commit the murder. 

Gomez has been receiving praise for her incredible performance on the show as Mabel. Some may be surprised by her acting chops, but real ones already knew about her talent since her days on the Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place. She has been more than holding her own alongside the two Hollywood’s veterans, and together, they have delivered a show that will keep you roped in episode after episode. This season also adds Cara Delevingne to the cast, and a new episode will arrive every week. —Karla Rodriguez

'The Terminal List'

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When: Friday, July 1

Where: Prime Video


Chris Pratt has been busy running away from dinosaurs and guarding galaxies on the big screen for a damn long time, but he’s back on the small screen with The Terminal List. The last time Pratt had a recurring role on TV it was as the lovable goofball Andy Dwyer in Parks and Recreation, but this role is far from that.

Amazon Prime Video’s latest action-drama series is based on the best-selling novel by Jack Carr by the same name and follows James Reece (Pratt) after his entire platoon of Navy SEALs is ambushed during a high-stakes mission. Reece survives and returns home to his family ridden with guilt that turns to vengeance. He soon realizes that the mission is far from over, and begins to investigate and hunts down the people responsible for the murder of his platoon while making sure his loved ones back home are safe. The show’s plot has major Without Remorse starring Michael B. Jordan vibes, but we could all use a little more action in our lives. 

In addition to Pratt, who also executive produced the show, the series stars Constance Wu, Taylor Kitsch, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Riley Keough, JD Pardo, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Stephen Bishop, Christina Vidal, and more. All eight episodes of Season 1 are available to stream now. —Karla Rodriguez

Westworld

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When: Sunday, July 3

Where: HBO


Last Sunday, HBO’s sci-fi hit, Westworld, brought itself back online. While I covered the first half of the season for the site, it’s worth mentioning the premiere episode in particular. I was struck in my viewing of it just how smartly the series managed to pivot out of a pretty inscrutable ending to Season 3 and create something that feels a little more straightforward and overall easier to understand, without totally removing what’s come before. That’s a deft move to execute, and the show feels stronger for it. It’s also nice to see Aaron Paul and Thandiwe Newton bouncing off one another; the two have such inherent chemistry that it wouldn’t have made sense to keep them apart for long. Oh, and Teddy’s return—or, at least, James Marsden’s—is exact the season-starting cliffhanger you could hope to see. —William Goodman

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