The Best TV Shows and Movies to Watch This Week: Gossip Girl, Virgin River, Black Widow

Hey there, TV viewers. As Gossip Girl would say, you've been spotted — watching this week's hottest shows and movies. The next generation of Gossip Girl debuts this week on HBO Max, reimagining prep school drama for the Instagram era. Meanwhile, favorites like I Think You Should Leave, Leverage, and Virgin River return, and Atypical signs off. But the buzziest premiere on the calendar, at least in certain circles, is Marvel's long-awaited Black Widow solo film, which you can catch Friday in theaters or on Disney+ (for a price). XOXO.

Our list of editors' picks for the week of July 4-10 is below, but if that's not enough and you're looking for even more hand-picked recommendations, check out our picks for last week or sign up for our free, spam-free Watch This Now newsletter that delivers the best TV show picks straight to your inbox. You can also look at our massive collection of recommendations, as well as our list of suggestions of what to watch next based on shows you already like.

We the People

Available Sunday on Netflix
Like a modern Schoolhouse Rock!, We the People is a cool civics remix that serves up educational songs set to colorful animation. And yes, it is produced by the Obamas. The animated shorts feature Janelle Monáe, Lin-Manuel Miranda, H.E.R., Adam Lambert, Brandi Carlile, and more singing about American rights, citizenship, and government. You haven't lived until you've heard Daveed Diggs rap about checks and balances. [TRAILER]

I Think You Should Leave

Season 2 available Tuesday on Netflix
Our long national meme shortage is over. Over two years after the premiere of the cult hit first season, Tim Robinson's I Think You Should Leave is finally back for another round. The absurdist sketch comedy series has already done more for the internet in six episodes than some shows do in six years. What will Season 2 do with all that power? Get even weirder, hopefully. [TRAILER]

Big Brother

Season 23 premieres Wednesday at 8/7c on CBS
It isn't really summer until the cameras turn on in the Big Brother house. The shameless reality TV sensation is back for its 23rd season of competitions and drama that will be literally impossible to explain to everyone in your life who doesn't watch Big Brother. The new houseguests have already been announced; don't sleep on the "fun facts" they've shared about themselves, including, "Afraid of manholes," "I have over 300 cousins!" and "The only thing that I'm scared of in life is our devil rooster."

Gossip Girl

Premieres Thursday on HBO Max
The CW's Gossip Girl was so influential on many of today's YA series that it's gone full circle and is influencing itself via reboot. Some 10 years after the show shook up the way we look at private school kids, Gossip Girl (2007) executive producer Joshua Safran returns to Manhattan to follow a new batch of school-aged wealthy socialites who are under the watchful eye of the anonymous Gossip Girl, but through the lens of 2021. That means a more diverse cast, more social issues, and Gossip Girl moving over to Insta. -Tim Surette [TRAILER]

Atypical

Season 4 available Friday on Netflix
If there's one thing Netflix loves as much as a third and final season, it's a fourth and final season. The sweet coming-of-age dramedy Atypical is wrapping up with Season 4, which finds Sam (Kier Gilchrist) and Casey (Brigette Lundy-Paine) both preparing to leave the nest. It's the end of an era for the Gardner family. [TRAILER]

Black Widow

Available Friday on Disney+ with Premier Access and in theaters
Scarlett Johansson's Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, finally gets her turn in the MCU spotlight with this Cold War-inspired spy thriller. Set after Captain America: Civil War, Black Widow picks up with Natasha while she's on the run and forces her to confront her past, including her training in the Red Room. Your mileage will vary on the generic smash-bang Marvel stuff, but the spy drama is a good time. Florence Pugh, sporting a Russian accent, is a thrill as Natasha's de facto sister in Red Room trauma. [TRAILER]

Leverage: Redemption

Part 1 available Friday on IMDb TV
Hollywood's obsession with TV revivals is really getting old, except when it's a show we love. Then it's great. Leverage: Redemption is the great kind. TNT's fan-favorite crime drama is reuniting the Grifter, the Hacker, the Hitter, and the Thief for another heist, but this time, the name of the game isn't revenge. Like the title says, they're in it for redemption. Here's everything we know about the Leverage revival. [TRAILER]

This Way Up

Available Friday on Hulu
Are you watching This Way Up? You should be! Aisling Bea and Sharon Horgan star in this British dramedy about Aine (Bea), a teacher recovering from a "teeny tiny nervous breakdown" with the help of her protective sister, Shona (Horgan). The first season deftly, sensitively navigated Aine's struggles with mental health, and in Season 2, she's working to leave her time in rehab behind and live less cautiously. As you can imagine, that decision has its ups and downs. -Allison Picurro [TRAILER]

Virgin River

Season 3 available Friday on Netflix
"Who shot Jack?" is the new "Who shot J.R.?" for fans of Virgin River. Hopefully the soapy Netflix drama will dish out some answers in Season 3, which finds Jack (Martin Henderson) skittish about committing to Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) while there's a target on his back. When will these two crazy kids work it out already? Head here for everything we know about Virgin River Season 3. [TRAILER]