What to Watch: Summer 2020
WHAT’S NEW
The Politician Season 2
Carrier: Netflix
Family Friendly: No
Rotten Tomatoes: 67%
Emotional Exhaustion Level: Light
While I’ll admit, this isn’t my favorite show out there, it’s an easy watch. The new season dropped on June 19th. I can’t believe I’m saying this but I think my favorite part (other than anytime Ben Platt sings) is Gwyneth Paltrow.
The Great
Carrier: Hulu
Family Friendly: No
Rotten Tomatoes: 86%
Emotional Exhaustion Level: Light
It’s a cute, R-rated comedy. I have no idea on the historical accuracy of any of it but it’s a delight to watch. Elle Fanning is fantastic and Nicholas Hoult should be cast in comedic roles more often.
Normal People
Carrier: Hulu
Family Friendly: No
Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
Emotional Exhaustion Level: Heavy
I was blown away by this series. I’m partial to storylines that explore complicated love stories but this one stunning. I haven’t read the book but am planning on it. Each episode is an hour and deeply moving. While this is one of my favorite shows from this year, this is also one of the most emotionally draining. Some episodes had me sobbing and at the end of the season, I just needed to sit in my feelings for a couple days before dissecting it with friends. Be ready for that intensity,
I May Destroy You
Carrier: HBO
Family Friendly: No
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Emotional Exhaustion Level: Medium-Heavy
Michaela Coel dives into the trauma of sexual assault in a way I haven’t seen before. It’s filled with dark humor and beautifully human moments while still heartbreaking at the same time. If you’re someone who has had experience with a sexual assault in any form, you may have someone with you when/if you watch or be prepared to take breaks. Although not graphic, it’s still a traumatic topic. There are only a couple episodes out so far because it premiered June 7th. So, we’ll see where it goes!
Killing Eve Season 2
Carrier: Hulu
Family Friendly: No
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Emotional Exhaustion Level: Medium
Because if you’re familiar with Killing Eve, why wouldn’t you want more of it?! Season 3 recently finished, but you can only access the first 2 seasons on Hulu. Still, it’s worth your time.
Insecure Season 4
Carrier: HBO
Family Friendly: No
Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
Emotional Exhaustion Level: Light-Medium
This may have been my favorite season so far. The dialogue is so well written where it seamlessly is able to address major political shifts, societal norms, and heavy topics while still making you laugh out loud. I could go on and on about Insecure and what it brings to the table, but instead I’ll just remind you that it’s worth your time and doesn’t take a lot of it. The episodes are only 30 minutes.
Ozark Season 3
Carrier: HBO
Family Friendly: No
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Emotional Exhaustion Level: Medium-Heavy
Ozark. Goodness. Where do I even start with this one. While I enjoy the show, it’s not my favorite. Every year, I watch it and am reminded about how well it’s done, how eerie Jason Bateman is as a serious actor and when it ends, I immediately forget about it. Each episode is 1 hour long and although the content is dark, I personally don’t feel like the content stays with you long afterward. The coloring of the show is still noticeably unsaturated and blue tinted while it holds a similar structure to previous seasons in that it takes a few episodes to pick up momentum. Both of those tend to be draining for me. It’s arguable about whether or not the suspense pays off but Bateman and Linney carry the show well.
FEEL GOOD
Carrier: Netflix
Family Friendly: No
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
Emotional Exhaustion Level: Light-Medium
This was one of my favorites. I actually fell in love with it from the trailer and I was pleased to see it live up to my expectations. Mae Martin wrote and stars in it as herself. It’s hilarious, heartbreaking, and real. It’s also short. Only a few episodes that are 30 minutes each. Watch it, fall in love with Mae, and get back to me.
Little Fires Everywhere
Carrier: Hulu
Family Friendly: No
Rotten Tomatoes: 76%
Emotional Exhaustion Level: Heavy
Race conversations, white privilege, queer relationships, classism, Reese doing her thing - what does this show not have in it? It almost tries to cover too much ground and although it wasn’t my favorite of the shows I’ve watched, the conversations on race, wealth, privilege, and mothering are worth having. Each episode is one hour and it can be a heavy hour. It made my list not because of how well done of a show it was, but because of the content and Reese’s acting chops.
DEVS
Carrier: Hulu
Family Friendly: No
Rotten Tomatoes: 80%
Emotional Exhaustion Level: Heavy
Nick Offerman plays a God-like tech CEO trying to achieve the impossible while Sonoya Mizuno in all of her beautiful, chameleon-like glory is trying to find out where she fits in his story. It’s not what you want to watch while folding laundry or doing dishes - you’re going to need to pay attention. You should probably prep to have your jaw drop a few times, too.
Never Have I Ever
Carrier: Netflix
Family Friendly: Eh. Yes and no.
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Emotional Exhaustion Level: Light
Super cute and short series on Netflix created by Mindy Kaling and loosely inspired by her childhood. It’s funny, relatively PG, and adorable. The episodes are 30 minutes each and there’s only one season so it’s easy to jump in.
RUN
Carrier: HBO
Family Friendly: No
Rotten Tomatoes:
Emotional Exhaustion Level: Light-Medium
I really loved RUN. Two exes decide to run away with each other for a week long train ride after not seeing each other for 15 years. It’s hilarious and full of sexual tension. The comedy is sharp, the feelings are raw, and it’s a wild ride. Also, keep your eyes peeled for my girl Phoebe Waller-Bridge who helped create the show.
Dead to Me Season 2
Carrier: Netflix
Family Friendly: No
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Emotional Exhaustion Level: Light
Truly, this is not a show I enjoy very much. There, I said it. However, Christina Applegate is pure gold and watching her should remind all of us what a near perfect comedic actress she is. Her talent is under appreciated and I love watching her, even if the show isn’t my favorite. So, while this isn’t necessarily a show I would recommend, I cannot say enough good things about Applegate. She carries the series with her comedic timing and that alone makes it worth watching. The episodes are 30 minutes and it’s an easy watch.
Betty
Carrier: HBO
Family Friendly: No
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Emotional Exhaustion Level: Light
Following a group of young women skateboarders in NYC and the highs and lows of their daily lives. Episodes are 30 minutes long and even though I’m not involved in the skateboarding culture one bit, it made me smile.
Miss America
Carrier: Hulu
Family Friendly: No
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Emotional Exhaustion Level: Light-Medium
Conservative plays activist Phyllis Schlafly going up against the Women’s Equality movement in the 1970s. The cast is ridiculous. We’ve got Cate, Rose Byrne, Uzo Aduba, Elizabeth Banks, Margo Martindale, John Slattery, Sarah Paulson - the list goes on and on. It’s well done and equally as infuriating, so be prepared to take a deep breath after each time you see Cate on screen. Episodes are an hour each but fly by.
Unorthodox (Miniseries)
Carrier: Netflix
Family Friendly: No
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Emotional Exhaustion Level: Heavy
This four-part miniseries is powerful and not something to casually jump into. It’s based on the book by Deborah Feldman about a young woman escaping her life and Hasidic roots. It’s primarily in Yiddish so for those of you who don’t enjoy subtitles, get over it. It’s 4 episodes that are each 1 hour. There’s also a bonus “making of” that shows behind the scenes and lays out how monumental it is to see Hasidic Judaism representation
Queer Eye: Season 5
Carrier: Netflix
Family Friendly: Yes
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
Emotional Exhaustion Level: Light-Medium
The same guys, the same feels, different makeovers.
WORTH REVISITING
Fleabag (Season 2)
Carrier: Amazon Prime
Family Friendly: No
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% (for both seasons)
Emotional Exhaustion Level: Light-Medium
I mean, you all know I can’t get enough of Fleabag. Each episode is 30 minutes and the seasons are very short. It’s an emotional roller coaster but Phoebe Waller-Bridge is one of the funniest people and she keeps me laughing.
Succession
Carrier: HBO
Family Friendly: No
Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Emotional Exhaustion Level: Medium
When someone says “they can’t get into Succession,” all I can say is simply try again.
Bodyguard
Carrier: Netflix
Family Friendly: No
Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Emotional Exhaustion Level: Medium
This is a high tension show that kept me guessing. The moment I thought I knew where the plot was going, it completely changed. Before the show was launched on Netflix, it actually broke records becoming the most-watched drama in the U.K. since current records began. It has a Homeland Season 1 vibe in that it’ll keep you on the edge of your seat without going into a full anxiety attack.
Catastrophe
Carrier: Amazon Prime
Family Friendly: No
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Emotional Exhaustion Level: Light-Medium
Similarly to Fleabag, this is a beautiful mix of feeling all the things and laughing so hard you need to take a break. We’re currently rewatching this and it still makes us laugh as hard as we did when we first watched. Each episode is 30 minutes.
WestWorld
Carrier: HBO
Family Friendly: No
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
Emotional Exhaustion Level: Medium-Heavy
Outlander
Carrier: Netflix
Family Friendly: No
Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
Emotional Exhaustion Level: Medium
Please don’t make me explain the plot. You’ll just have to trust me.
The Crown
Carrier: Netflix
Family Friendly: Yes
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Emotional Exhaustion Level: Medium
