WHAT TO WATCH THIS SUMMER!
If you prefer to stay indoors with the AC on we are not judging you. In no particular order, here’s a list of the shows we think you should get into this summer! Let us know what you think if you do watch.
Name: On My Block
Where To Find It: Netflix
What it’s about: A quartet of bright, street-savvy friends who are navigating their way through high school, including all the of the triumph, pain and newness they experience along the way. Lifelong friendships are tested as Monse, Ruby, Jamal and Cesar confront the challenges of adolescence and life in their predominantly Hispanic and black neighborhood in South Central Los Angeles in this coming-of-age comedy series.
Why it’s good: It has all the realistic parts of growing up Black and Latinx in the hood. It’s funny, sad, scary, beautiful and a bit messy. We love the cast and the writing.
Name: 3%
Where To Find It: Netflix
What it’s about: In the distant future, most of the population lives in poverty in an area known as the Inland. There is an elite group, though, that is chosen to live in a virtual paradise, the Offshore. Every year, each 20-year-old gets a chance to make it to the island paradise by taking a series of tests. Only three percent of the candidates succeed and qualify to leave the impoverished Inland area.
Why it’s good: 3% is a Brazillian Netflix original! If you like suspense and thrillers, this is the show for you. Plus it will probably make you question capitalism and class if you don’t already AND you might pick up some Portuguese while doing it, win win!
Name: Killing Eve
Where To Find It: Hulu
What it’s about: Eve's life as a spy is not adding up to what she had hoped it would be when she started. She is a bored, very smart, MI5 security officer who is very desk-bound. Villanelle is a very talented killer, mercurial in mood, who clings to the luxuries of her job. Eve and Villanelle go head to head in a fierce game of cat and mouse, each woman equally obsessed with the other as Eve is tasked with hunting down the psychopathic assassin.
Why it’s good: It’s so smart it’s always 10 steps ahead of you. Plus we love Sandra Oh.
Name: When They See Us
Where To Find It: Netflix
What it’s about: In 1989 a jogger was assaulted and raped in New York's Central Park, and five young people were subsequently charged with the crime. The quintet, labeled the Central Park Five, maintained its innocence and spent years fighting the convictions, hoping to be exonerated. This limited series spans a quarter of a century, from when the teens are first questioned about the incident in the spring of 1989, going through their exoneration in 2002 and ultimately the settlement reached with the city of New York in 2014
Why it’s good: Most of us have definitely tuned into this one. But if you haven’t, we can confirm When They See Us is hard, but necessary educational watching ! Following the case of the 1989 Central Park Jogger Case, Ava DuVernay AMAZINGLY captures the innocence and pain of the young five boys wrongfully convicted. Ava’s purpose to this film is to give people the awakening around our justice system and how it was built to protect White people and oppress Black & Brown communities.
Name: She’s Gotta Have It `
Where To Find It: Netflix
What it’s about: Brooklyn-based artist Nola Darling struggles to stay true to herself and her dreams while dividing her time between her friends, her job and her lovers -- all three of them.
Why it’s good: Crash course on dating multiple people can get … busy, and also everything Brooklyn all day every day which we’re obviously a fan of. Lastly, and very important — Nola starts to go to therapy and that alone is extremely powerful to see representation of on the screen.
Name: Games People Play `
Where To Find It: BET
What it’s about: drama series centers around a world of money, sex and glamour in Los Angeles. The ensemble cast of characters includes a desperate basketball wife trying to protect her family, a tenacious journalist struggling to rebuild a tarnished career, and a scandalous groupie looking to become a star, who all find it is murder trying to stay on top.
Why it’s good: The drama gets deeper every episode with scandals revolving around lying, cheating, and fame. Who doesn’t like watching fictional characters be messy?
Name: Queen Sugar `
Where To Find It: OWN/On Demand through the OWN app
What it’s about: The story of the estranged Bordelon siblings in Louisiana. At the center of the family are Nova, a journalist and activist; Charley, the wife and manager of an NBA player; and formerly incarcerated father Ralph Angel, who is searching for redemption. Following a tragedy in the family, the siblings must put their complicated lives aside so that they can come together to run the clan's struggling sugar cane farm.
Why it’s good: Queen Sugar is an American drama series and another show on this list created by the talented Ava DuVernay. You got family ties which always brings drama, you got romance, you got beautiful cinematography and a whole 3 seasons to get into!
Name: La Reina Soy Yo `
Where To Find It: Univision/On Demand
What it’s about: The series narrates the life of Yamelí, a beautiful woman with great talent for musical composition, who after being betrayed by the man she loves, is unjustly condemned. In prison she gives birth to a son who is taken from her, and she believes that he is dead. In prison she is also the victim of an attack and is pronounced dead, a situation that the DEA takes advantage of to give her a new identity and infiltrate her into a criminal organization. With her new identity, Lari Andrade, an important music producer, Yamelí will begin her revenge against those who ruined her life.
Why it’s good: Do you like soaps? Do you like singing? Do you like dance scenes? Do you like extreme drama that makes you go ‘OH WOW’? Then this is the show for you.
Name: Superstore
Where to Find it: NBC/Amazon Prime
What it’s about: An oddball family of employees at supersized megastore Cloud 9 tackles the day-to-day grind of rabid bargain hunters, riot-causing sales and nap-worthy training sessions.
Why it’s good: The comedy writing is top notch, we love America Ferrera and honestly we know that there is a Target or Walmart out there with these same characters. Relatable.
Name: Sex Education
Where to Find it: Netflix
What it’s about: Socially awkward high school student Otis may not have much experience in the lovemaking department, but he gets good guidance on the topic in his personal sex ed course -- living with mom Jean, who is a sex therapist. Being surrounded by manuals, videos and tediously open conversations about sex, Otis has become a reluctant expert on the subject.
Why it’s good: For anyone who was a late bloomer or who finds talking sex awkward, this British comedy will get you talking or at least laughing. You’ll find a character to relate to and also wonder how you can move to whatever town it is that this takes place because it is STUNNING.
