There are scores of TV shows out there, with dozens of new episodes each week, not to mention everything you can find on Hulu Plus, Netflix streaming, and HBO Go. How’s a viewer to keep up? To help you sort through all that television has to offer, Flavorwire is compiling five best bets for the coming week. If you’re hoping to use the long weekend to play catch-up, you’re in luck. Here are five TV marathons scheduled for the Fourth of July weekend.
WGN America
Saturday July 2: Underground Season 1 on WGN America
If you missed the action-packed first season of this thriller about a group of slaves in the antebellum South who plot an escape from their Georgia plantation, WGN America is airing the whole shebang on Saturday starting at 10am. The show has been renewed for a second season, so take this opportunity to catch up — despite the heavy subject matter, Underground is easy to binge, thanks to its excellent pacing and focus on character.
Starz
Saturday July 2: Outlander Season 2 on Starz
Outlander‘s 90-minute finale airs not this Saturday but next Saturday, July 9, which gives you ample time to catch up with the Scottish time-travel series’ excellent second season. Starz is airing the entire season, minus the finale, of course, on Saturday beginning at noon.
James Dimmock/FOX
Sunday July 3 – Monday July 4: Empire Season 1-2 on TV One
From 8am on Sunday until 5pm on Monday, TV One will air every single episode of Empire thus far. If you lost track of the show somewhere in the middle of its first or second season, now’s your chance to get reacquainted with one of TV’s most fucked-up — and nattily dressed — families.
Jim Fiscus/SHOWTIME
Monday July 4: Homeland Season 5 on Showtime
People were already feeling Homeland burnout during Season 4, so the fifth, which premiered in the fall, flew a little under the radar. But Season 5 finally figured out how to make the show work without Brody (Damian Lewis), and smartly made Peter Quinn (the compelling Rupert Friend) a bigger focus. If you were into the show at the beginning but lost interest, give Season 5 a chance. It airs from 8am to 8pm on Showtime.
HBO
Monday July 4: Veep Season 5 on HBO2
Finally, show your patriotism in the most blasphemous way possible: With a full day of cynicism and obscenities courtesy of Veep’s just-finished fifth season. Your love for your country is best expressed by tuning into HBO2 from 2:30pm until 7pm this Fourth of July.