By Maddy Merritt, RCHS intern writer; courtesy photo

With 75 days of summer and a multitude of new arrivals to Netflix and other TV programming, Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) students awaited new seasons of their favorite shows including the highly anticipated “Stranger Things 3,” “Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists,” “Shameless,” “Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir” and “Riverdale.”

“Stranger Things,” a teenage favorite on Netflix since it came out in 2016, is set in the 1980s and combines the genres of science fiction and thriller.

“The first season was a distinct ode to the ‘80s with three popular movie tropes blended seamlessly to complete one story. Season three tried but kind of fell flat,” said Aspen McDonnell, Castle Pines resident and junior at RCHS.

Joshua Lederman, Castle Pines resident and sophomore at RCHS, said, “The writers made the season extremely interesting to watch because of the characters and plot line. Also, satirical elements made the show have humor in stressful situations.”

While some students watched thrillers this summer, others preferred dramas. “Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists” came out after the seventh and final season of “Pretty Little Liars.”

“Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists” was a spin-off. “It was full of mystery and was entertaining,” Justina Wiser, Castle Pines resident and junior at RCHS said.

Junior Mohini Soor watched “Shameless,” a show about six siblings who face many tough circumstances after their alcoholic father and troubled mother divorce.

“The siblings have a really messed up life, but they learn to make the best of it. I really love this show because it’s funny but at the same time it teaches you to appreciate your life; it’s a great show,” Soor said.

Castle Pines resident and sophomore at RCHS Lily Hansen watched the third season of “Riverdale” this summer. Riverdale’s characters are loosely based on the original “Archie” comics and pop culture, and it follows the story of four teens who try solve mysteries in their small town.

“I like the crime and mystery. You know it will all add up to a bigger picture, but you have to watch all the in-between episodes for clues as to what’s going to happen in the near future,” Hansen said.

Hansen also watched “Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir,” a show set in France that follows the love story of two teenagers who aren’t aware of each other’s secret identities.

“The thing that sets it apart from the rest is the incredible storyline – two superheroes that fight against one of their own who turned to the dark side,” Hansen said.

The plethora of new shows this summer had something for fans of mysteries, thrillers, science fiction and drama and had many waiting to find out what would happen to the characters in the new seasons of their favorite shows.