House of the Dragon Leads a Packed Weekend of Premieres

Back to Westeros we go: three years after Game of Thrones ended its eight-season run, the epic fantasy franchise returns to HBO with a new prequel series. Set 200 years before GoT, House of the Dragon tells the story of House Targaryen and the family’s battle over the Iron Throne.

Also this weekend: Michelle Monaghan plays twins in Netflix’s Echoes, Sharon Horgan returns to TV with Bad Sisters, 2009 horror flick Orphan gets a Paramount+ prequel, and more. Here’s what’s new and noteworthy on TV this weekend:

FRIDAY AUGUST 19

Echoes: Complete limited series. Identical twins Leni and Gina (Michelle Monaghan) have swapped lives since they were children, sharing two homes, two husbands, and a child, but when one of the sisters goes missing, their perfectly choreographed world is thrown into disarray. Watch trailer. Streaming on Netflix

Bad Sisters: Series premiere. Sharon Horgan created and stars in this dark comedy about five sisters bound together by their mutual disdain for their brother-in-law and a promise to always protect one another. Two episodes drop today, followed by one every Friday through mid-October. Read our review. Streaming on Apple TV+

Orphan: First Kill: Original film. Years before the events of the 2009 horror film, Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman) orchestrates an escape from an Estonian psychiatric facility and travels to America by impersonating the missing daughter of a wealthy family. However, an unexpected twist pits her against a mother determined to protect her family from the murderous “child” at all costs. Julia Stiles and Rossif Sutherland also star. Watch trailer. Streaming on Paramount+

The Rehearsal: Season 1 finale. The aftermath of a birthday party causes Nathan to re-evaluate his entire project. 11:00 PM ET on HBO

Surfside Girls: Series premiere. Based on the bestselling graphic novel series of the same name, this YA comedy follows two best friends as they solve supernatural mysteries in their sleepy California beach town. Watch trailer. Streaming on Apple TV+

Making the Cut: Season 3 premiere. Ten established designers from around the world compete to be the next great fashion brand in a new season of the Amazon competition series. With hosts Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn. Watch trailer. Streaming on Prime Video

Sprung: Series premiere. After being released from prison early due to the pandemic, Jack (Garret Dillahunt) bands together with an unlikely group of formerly incarcerated people to use their criminal expertise for good. Created by Greg Garcia (Raising Hope), the ensemble comedy also stars Martha Plimpton, Phillip Garcia, and Shakira Barrera. Read our review. Streaming on Amazon Freevee

Good Sex: Docuseries premiere. Five couples facing challenges in the bedroom work with sex coach Caitlin V. to harness their sexuality, restore their confidence, and feel more connected. Streaming on Discovery+

Disney Sing-Alongs: Disney+ adds the sing-along versions of three popular movies to its library:

• Beauty and the Beast (1991)
• Beauty and the Beast (1997)
• Tangled

Killer Camp: New episode. The remaining campmates have their first opportunity to expose the killer (or killers) in their ranks; later, more unhinged camp activities offer an opportunity to win cash and vital clues. Tonight’s episode is the first new installment to air since the series was pulled from the schedule last fall. 8:00 PM ET on The CW

The New York Times Presents: Superspreader: Original documentary. Director Lora Moftah (Who Gets To Be an Influencer?) takes an in-depth look at one of the web's leading spreaders of COVID misinformation. Watch trailer. 10:00 PM ET on FX and Hulu

Major League Baseball: Apple TV+ offers two games tonight:

• Toronto Blue Jays at New York Yankees 7:00 PM ET/4:00 PM PT
• Texas Rangers at Minnesota Twins 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT

SATURDAY AUGUST 20

Temptation Under the Sun: TV movie. While vacationing on an exotic island, Detective Cassady Cruz (Annika Foster) begins a torrid affair with charming expat (Mike Markoff), but when his ex-girlfriend winds up dead and he’s accused of her murder, Cassady sets out to clear his name. 8:00 PM ET on Lifetime

Dating the Delaneys: TV movie. Three generations of Delaney women (Rachel Boston, Karen Kruper, and Zoë Christie) explore the highs and lows of modern dating in this romance. Watch trailer. 8:00 PM ET on Hallmark Channel

Cold Case Files: New episode. The true crime series returns from a three-month hiatus with a new episode about the 1988 murder of young mother Brenda DuPont. 9:00 PM ET on A&E

American Justice: New episode. When two separate cases of women who have been abducted and murdered run cold, it takes the courage of a third unsuspecting victim to unveil a killer hiding in plain sight. 10:00 PM ET on A&E

Major League Baseball: Baseball Night in America offers one of three games, depending on your region. Coverage begins at 7:00 PM ET/4:00 PM PT on FOX:

• Houston Astros at Atlanta Braves
• New York Mets at Philadelphia Phillies
• Seattle Mariners at Oakland Athletics

America’s Got Talent: Encore presentation. NBC re-airs the first night of qualifiers, in which 11 performers took the stage at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. 8:00 PM ET on NBC

SUNDAY AUGUST 21

House of the Dragon: Series premiere. Based on George R.R. Martin’s book “Fire & Blood,” this Game of Thrones prequel centers on the conflict between the heirs of King Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine), a civil war that became known as the Dance of the Dragons. The long-awaited series boasts a massive ensemble cast that includes Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke, and Rhys Ifans. The premiere airs twice tonight. Watch trailer. 9:00 PM ET and 10:10 PM PT on HBO

Blood & Treasure: New episode. Streaming on Paramount+

90 Day Fiancé: Season 9 finale. This season's cast continues to “tell all” in Part 2 of the reunion special. 8:00 PM ET on TLC

Power Book III: Raising Kanan: New episode. Raq (Patina Miller) learns she may have a snitch and tasks Marvin (London Brown) with confirming the rumor. Watch preview. 9:00 PM ET on Starz

Flatbush Misdemeanors: Season 2 finale. Now that he knows the truth, Drew (Hassan Johnson) is determined to settle the score with Dan (Dan Perlman). Elsewhere, Kevin (Kevin Iso) finds out his fate with the art fellowship. 11:00 PM ET on Showtime

Major League Baseball: A day of live sports begins and ends with MLB action:

• Chicago White Sox at Cleveland Guardians 12:00 PM ET/9:00 AM PT on Peacock
• Boston Red Sox at Baltimore Orioles 7:00 PM ET/4:00 PM PT on ESPN

U.S. Gymnastics Championships: The country’s best gymnasts, including Olympic and world medalists Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, and Kayla DiCello, meet in Tampa, Florida in hopes of claiming individual and all-around titles. Two hours of live coverage begins at 7:00 PM ET/4:00 PM PT on NBC

NFL Preseason: The Baltimore Ravens head west to face the Arizona Cardinals in a preseason matchup. 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT on FOX

Claire Spellberg Lustig is the Senior Editor at Primetimer and a scholar of The View. Follow her on Twitter at @c_spellberg.