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Seven of the the most streamed shows in May are based on existing properties. Dutton Ranch is a Yellowstone spin-off. Spider-Noir is based on the Spider-Man Noir comic books. Off Campus is based on a novel, etc—but these aren’t lazy rehashes. These shows use familiar properties as starting points to reexamine and expand on the ideas behind the original—Spider-Noir imagines Spider-Man as a broken private detective in the 1930s; Lord of the Flies adds character-based complexity to the classic story, resulting in bold, unpredictable narratives couched in the comfort of familiar worlds. In other words, perfect summertime viewing.
Widow’s Bay
This series from Apple TV has won nearly unanimous praise from both critics and audiences. It’s a rare horror-comedy that manages to be genuinely scary and really funny. In the island town of Widow’s Bay, literally everything is haunted, cursed, and otherwise beset with unspeakable evil, but mayor Tom Loftis, played by Matthew Rhys, wants to bring tourism to the island. Mayor Tom is so married to his vision of Widow’s Bay as the next Martha’s Vineyard, he ignores the sea hags, fog monsters, and serial-killer-ghosts surrounding him. The great Stephen Root plays Wyck, an old-timer who’s always there to remind everyone that time is short and everyone is doomed. Stream Widow’s Bay on Apple TV+.
The Boys
This satirical take on the superhero genre examines what happens when “supes”—people with godlike powers—are owned by a multi-billion dollar corporation. As Season 5, The Boys’ final season, begins, Vought International is poised for a total political takeover, and Billy Butcher, leader of “The Boys,” is ready to go full scorched Earth to end the superhero menace once and for all. Stream The Boys on Prime Video.
FROM
The residents of the unnamed town at the center of FROM just cannot catch a break. If it’s not worms crawling around under their skin, it’s the mysterious Man in Yellow stealing people’s souls. Season four of this mystery-heavy show from the creator of Lost sees the survivors pushed to their limits as the veil between the strange town and the real world gets thinner. Stream FROM on MGM+.
Off Campus
Ice hockey players are having a moment. First in the breakout series Heated Rivalry, and now in Off Campus. This college-set soap opera is based on the bestselling book series from Elle Kennedy. Set at the fictional Briar Academy, Off Campus details the heartbreak, romance, and drama between top college ice hockey players and the women who love them. Season one follows the opposites-attract romance between Hannah (Ella Bright), a sarcastic music major, and Garret (Belmont Cameli), the arrogant captain of Briar U’s hockey squad. Stream Off Campus on Prime Video.
Euphoria
When it premiered in 2019, Euphoria turned heads for its stylish, nothing-held-back look into the lives of modern teenagers. Now in its third season, the show has undergone a major time jump to follow the characters into adulthood. Zendaya’s Rue is still the heart of the show, and original cast members Sydney Sweeney (Cassie), Jacob Elordi (Nate), Hunter Schafer (Jules), Alexa Demie (Maddy), and Maude Apatow (Lexi) are all back. Sharon Stone has been added to the cast as an imposing TV showrunner, adding a meta layer to this always provocative show. Stream Euphoria on HBO Max.
Margo’s Got Money Problems
If you like quirky, of-the-moment comedy with heart, Margo’s Got Money Troubles is the show for you. It tells the story of Margo Millet, played by Elle Fanning, a 20-year-old junior college dropout. Left a single mother by her English professor, Margot starts an OnlyFans to survive, only to become a massive success. Margo’s cast includes Michelle Pfeiffer as Shyanne Millet, Margo’s prickly but loving mother; Nick Offerman as Jinx Millet, Margo’s father, a retired professional wrestler; and Nicole Kidman as Lace, a former wrestler turned lawyer. Stream Margo’s Got Money Problems on Apple TV+.
What do you think so far?
Lord of the Flies
Netflix adds a fresh coat of paint to William Golding’s 1954 tale of British schoolchildren who go savage after being stranded on a isolated island. Each of the four episodes of this BBC-produced miniseries focuses on a different character, giving us the backstories of Piggy, Ralph, Jack, and Simon, and adding depth to the story’s exploration of trauma, masculinity, and the limits of civilization. Stream Lord of the Flies on Netflix.
Your Friends and Neighbors
The great Jon Hamm returns for a second season of Your Friends and Neighbors, a dark drama about the secrets lurking beneath the surface of an upscale neighborhood. Hamm plays Coop, a recently divorced and recently fired hedge fund manager. To keep up with his family’s expensive lifestyle, he turns to robbing the wealthy residents of his own tony neighborhood. It’s a perfect plan, until everything unravels in a spectacularly entertaining way. Stream Your Friends and Neighbors on Apple TV+.
Spider-Noir
Nicolas Cage plays Spider-man in a superhero story set in the pulpy, stylized world of classic film noir. Set in alternative-universe version of New York in the 1930s, Ben Reilly is a world-weary private detective who secretly cleaned up the town as his alter-ego, The Spider. After a personal tragedy, Reilly hung up his mask, choosing to drown his memories in cheap whiskey. But when an investigation uncovers a sprawling political conspiracy, he is forced to confront his past and become the Spider again. This series is viewable in both color and black-and-white. Stream Spider-Noir on Prime Video.
Dutton Ranch
Dutton Ranch is a nine-episode neo-Western drama that serves as both a spin-off and sequel to massive hit series Yellowstone. After a wildfire destroys their Montana ranch, Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly), Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser), and their adopted son Carter (Finn Little) move to a 7,000-acre Texas ranch, hoping for a fresh start. But life at the border gets rough when ruthless ranching rivals set out to destroy the young family. Stream Dutton Ranch on Paramount+.
