IN 2022 TV streaming went blockbuster. Big budget series like House Of The Dragon, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and Stranger Things rivalled anything you'd find at the cinemas in terms of special effects and scope. But there was also room for good old-fashioned story-telling. Here's eight series worth bingeing over the summer. The final two ham-fisted seasons of Game Of Thrones tainted the Westeros franchise, so expectations for this prequel were understandably pessimistic. However, House Of The Dragon helped restore the faith with an absorbing series of blood-letting and politics. Set 200 years before GoT, it plots the Targaryen family's downfall as they tear themselves apart. Ever since The Crown began dramatising the history of Queen Elizabeth II's reign in 2016, viewers have anticipated the portrayal of the tumultuous 1990s. Season 5 finally brought viewers into undoubtedly the nadir of the British Royal Family as Charles and Diana split amid a tabloid frenzy and the Queen's popularity plummets. Andor might have won over the critics with its spy-thriller narrative, but for pure nostalgia Obi-Wan Kenobi was an enjoyable edition to the Stars Wars universe. Set between the original Star Wars film and the 2005 prequel Revenge Of The Sith, it had its flaws. But the emotional final lightsaber duel between Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and Darth Vader (Hayden Christensen) was beautifully delivered. One of the great strengths of English comedies is they never outstay their welcome. Season 3 of After Life wrapped up Ricky Gervais' black comedy about a small-town newspaper journalist struggling to continue his life following the death of his wife. It's rare to find a show that makes you laugh and cry in equal measure. Gervais' exploration of grief and the importance of friendship tugs on the heartstrings without slipping into sentimentality. You've been living under a rock if you haven't caught an episode of Stranger Things. The show reached cultural phenomenon status this year when it helped Kate Bush's 1985 song Running Up That Hill top the charts throughout the world. Everything was bigger in season 4 - the special effects, the story lines and the episode lengths. The Matrix meets True Blood is perhaps the easiest way to describe this complicated sci-fi thriller. Chloe Grace Moretz (Kick Ass) shines as a young Appalachian woman whose family become embroiled in a time-shifting plot after she test plays a new virtual reality game that's impossible to finish. Isla Fischer made a terrific return to Australian TV as the troubled Mary, a woman who turns into a violent werewolf the night of a full moon. While the synposis sounds silly, Fischer and Josh Gad's awkward chemistry and tender moments ensure there's a real warmth to what is essentially a family drama. This incredible documentary plays out like a nightmare that you can't help but keep watching. Some of the footage is frightening as misogyny, violence and corporate greed collide in the worst possible outcome. If you're attending a music festival this summer, you'll be thankful society has progressed since this literal bin fire.
