With the Emmys just entering the rearview everyone's buzzing about which shows deserved which award, which shows made us binge-watch until three in the morning without realizing it, and which shows literally everyone in the (virtual) office are debating about. We did the research (can we call watching great TV research?) and narrowed down our picks of what you absolutely need to stream this week:
Sex Education: Season 3
Image Credit: Netflix
If it’s not number one in your queue it should be. Raunchy, witty, teeny, but don’t make the mistake of underestimating these younger characters for any less than adults in terms of emotional capacity. Side note — what decade are we in here? Because we’re loving the ‘70s attire and '80s John Hughes parallels alongside topical references.
Where the first two seasons dealt more with classic romantic will-they, won’t-they and coming of age shenanigans, season 3 is a deeper dive into specific relevant issues of today’s youngsters and their parents: the ignorance of those in positions of power, finding your identity while trying to also graduate high school, and stumbling your way through a love triangle. With more of an emphasis on representing folks in the LGBTQIA2+ community and their everyday struggles in a world that is slow in catching up, this season is undeniably a more serious one without sacrificing the laugh-out-loud moments we crave.
Never Have I Ever: Season 2
Image Credit: Masala
In Mindy Kaling’s latest project, sophomore Devi once again embarks on her conquest to somehow keep her friendships while capturing the attention of the nerd and the hottest boy in school. Extra points for that signature Kaling witty writing style we know and love from her days scribbling for The Office and The Mindy Project, as well as the killer soundtrack that pushed The Glass Animals’ song “Heat Waves” into a sleeper hit overnight. High school drama? Overcoming trauma? Heartwarming moments and triumphs by women and marginalized characters? Count us in for round two of this comedy series.
Mare of Easttown
Image Credit: The Atlantic
We stan a Kate Winslet casting. Sweeping the Emmys last week was the altogether strong and whip smart detective Mare played by Winslet who has never not executed on pretty much becoming the whoever she's playing. It’s hare to believe that this English actress is not a women from the Eastern Philly burbs. Also how adorable is Evan Peters talking about heartbreak while taking a breather from solving a grisly murder? Such amazing casting in this show and an undeniably beautiful portrayal of a woman in her 40’s reflecting on motherhood, romance, work-life balance, and really just the everyday trials that plague us. If you like the Broadchurch banter between detectives with opposite personalities — you will be hooked by the first episode.
Ted Lasso
Image Credit: Apple
Everyone we ask for opinions on this show raves about it and everyone assures us “it’s not about soccer, unless you really love soccer.” The entire Ted Lasso team basically cleaned house at last week’s Emmy’s, scoring (see what we did there?) a total of seven Emmys and what we can reasonably assume is a herd of new viewers stampeding to purchase an Apple TV+ trial. What really is striking about this feel-good, heart-warming sitcom is its portrayal of healthy relationships, forgiveness, and quite refreshingly, supportive and caring men. With just the right amount of (a lot of) profanity — this is English football, it needs to be accurate — and character growth, this show is an easy “play next episode” series.
I May Destroy You
Image Credit: HBO/BBC
You may have heard tell of Michaela Coel’s poignant acceptance speech for her win at last week’s Emmys for this 12-episode HBO show. She was the first Black woman to take home the award for Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, and to say it was well-deserved is an understatement. Coel wrote 191 drafts of I May Destroy You, the fictionalized story of her sexual assault, and the pain, honesty, and consideration of trauma is evident throughout the final draft. Each episode shows often contradicting sides of the main character Arabella, her changing hairstyle corresponding to different versions, while all culminating to the introspection prompted through the finale.
The Morning Show: Season 2
Image Credit: Parade/Apple TV+
For a show where the first season’s first episodes got less than kind reviews, it swept the Emmys that year because of its women-led tale that pulls back the curtain on those that greet Americans each morning. We were encapsulated by its illustration of spiralling after events following a sexual harassment allegation at the TV network. Season 2 weaves the pandemic into the storyline without dwelling too much on it, and so far focuses more on issues of cancel culture than the #MeToo movement influence that dominated Season 1.
9 Perfect Strangers
Image Credit: Hulu
Honestly we will try anything with Nicole Kidman in it. Hulu’s new drama is a commentary on how separate life struggles, when spliced together, can be connected just by the fact that we’re all human and trying to get by. Based on the novel by Liane Moriarty, the show follows, that’s right, nine perfectly good strangers through a 10-day retreat at a Tranquillum House and the scenarios that brought them there. This show isn’t what it seems to be and there are a fun amount of secrets, metabolic-specific smoothies, and dramatic peeks into nine lives — that’s all we’ll say.
Cover photo courtesy of Hulu
