Seasonal sizzle.
Summertime is here, and it’s easy to get swept up in the big marquee shows: “The Bear” is ending, the “Game of Thrones” spinoff “House of the Dragon” is returning.
But there are a handful of other shows that you shouldn’t sleep on. Some of them have already become popular, others are underrated.
Here are five summer shows that you can’t miss.
“Widow’s Bay”
This AppleTV+ horror /comedy has already become a word-of-mouth sensation, so you may already be onboard. But if you aren’t yet, now is the time to start watching. Starring Matthew Rhys (“The Americans”), the show is set on a charming island that just so happens to be cursed. It’s original, funny, and nails the balance of laughs and scares.
It’s got a stamp of approval from genre king Guillermo del Toro, who wrote on X: “#WidowsBay may very well be the best streaming series in a long time… and hands down one of the most mesmerizing acts of narrative prestidigitation in Horror.”
Where to watch: AppleTV+.
“The Boroughs”
Produced by The Duffer Brothers (from “Stranger Things”), this is a sci-fi adventure with boomer characters. Starring Alfred Molina, Bill Pullman, Alfre Woodard, and Geena Davis – in a rare TV appearance – the story follows members of a retirement community as they must step up to the plate to be unlikely heroes against a sci-fi threat.
Like “Stranger Things,” there are plenty of creatures and mysteries. The plot is a bit shaggy and meandering, but it’s still fun. Although the show seems reasonably popular, it also got lost in the shuffle of other early-summer releases.
Where to watch: Netflix.
“Off Campus”
This hockey romance has been a hit, so you may have already seen it a time or two. But if you haven’t, what are you waiting for? Charming, warm, and fun, the story follows Hannah Wells (Ella Bright), a college student who makes a deal to “fake date” the campus hockey star, Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli). Of course, fake feelings turn real. It’s a lighthearted frothy college story, but it also deftly handles Hannah and Garrett both having significant trauma in their lives. It’s already been renewed for a Season 2, which will follow their more free-spirited friends, Dean (Stephen Kalyn) and Allie (Mika Abdalla).
Where to watch: Prime Video.
“Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed”
This dark crime comedy is wild, funny, and suspenseful. The story follows Paula (Tatiana Maslany) a frazzled divorced mother who finds herself ensnared in a plot that involves blackmail, murder, and OnlyFans-style online sex work. So yes, this show continues the trend of OnlyFans being everwhere, lately, including “Euphoria” and “Margo’s got Money Troubles.” Although this time, men are doing the webcam stuff. The cast includes Jake Johnson as her sour ex-husband, and “The White Lotus” star Murray Bartlett.
The story is full of unexpected turns, and it’s impossible to tell where the gonzo plot is going. The show is underrated, and it should be on more people’s radars.
Where to watch: AppleTV+
“The Other Bennet Sister”
What was the “boring” sister Mary, doing in “Pride and Prejudice” while Elizabeth was getting her love story with Mr. Darcy? That’s the premise of this winsome period piece. Elizabeth, Darcy, and the famous characters from the well-known story are on the margins of this plot, while side character Mary (Ella Bruccoleri) takes center stage.
It’s a well-done period piece, a show where the shy academic girl gets ensnared in a love triangle. And, for anyone who doesn’t want their romance to be uber-steamy, it’s steam-free. You can watch it with your family without feeling uncomfortable at all.
Where to watch: BritBox
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