The best new streaming shows this week: Bridgerton, The Boys, and more

The best new streaming shows this week

We have a show starring Jake Gyllenhaal this week, so we’re pretty excited. Selections cover Prime Video, Apple TV, Peacock, and Netflix. Click on the links below if anything piques your interest.

• Bridgerton, Season 3, Part 2
• The Boys, Season 4
• Presumed Innocent
• Love Island USA, Season 6
• Perfect Match, Season 2
• Queenie, Season 1

• Release date: June 13, 2024
• Genre: Drama, Romance
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Chris Van Dusen
• Cast: Nicola Coughlan, Claudia Jessie, Ruth Gemmell, Luke Thompson, Polly Walker, Bessie Carter, Florence Hunt

After what feels like forever, part 2 of Netflix’s Regency-era romance is finally out, and boy, it is so worth the wait. We reach new heights of intrigue and emotion in the second half, given the existing standards for it — that’s saying a lot. If you haven’t watched the previous seasons or the first part, you might want to stop reading here.

Let it be known: the ton has never been so deliciously addictive.

• Release date: June 13, 2024
• Genre: Action, Crime
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Eric Kripke
• Cast: Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Dominique McElligott, Jessie T. Usher, Laz Alonso

The Boys are back and bolder than ever in Prime Video’s gritty superhero satire. Season 4 finds Butcher dying and desperate to save the world from Homelander and Neuman. Expect the show’s trademark shocks, from a horrifying Human Centipede-inspired scene to explosively bloody fights.

Strong performances, especially from Antony Starr’s deliciously evil Homelander, and the deft handling of topical themes keep you riveted, even if the nihilistic tone feels bleaker than ever. The Boys continues to deliver a wild, unsettling ride that sets up an epic final season.

• Release date: June 12, 2024 
• Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: David E. Kelley
• Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Ruth Negga, Bill Camp, Elizabeth Marvel, Peter Sarsgaard, O-T Fagbenle, Renate Reinsve

Apple TV+ takes a second stab at Scott Turow’s legal thriller, with Jake Gyllenhaal stepping into the role of prosecutor Rusty Sabich, accused of murdering a co-worker he had an affair with. The series explores the case, and Rusty’s psyche and marriage. A solid, modernized take that justifies revisiting the story.

The pacing is great, hard to do with such a dense plot because the daily gripping courtroom drama keeps things humming. With its timely themes of power, privilege, and media scrutiny, Presumed Innocent makes for a very interesting weekend watch. But then, anything with Gyllenhaal would be.

• Release date: June 11, 2024
• Genre: Game Show, Reality
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Mark Busk-Cowley, Brent Baker, Jo Scarratt-Jones, Tom Gould
• Cast: Arielle Vandenberg, Matthew Hoffman, Iain Stirling, Sarah Hyland, Ariana Madix, Nicholas Theodore Nemeth

We’re here with the latest iteration of Love Island USA, with the usual round-up of attractive singles converging to find love. With Vanderpump Rules fan-favorite Ariana Madix presiding as host, the new season starts strong, introducing memorable characters like mellow Kordell, hyper-sweaty Hannah, and lovable goofball Rob. The nearly real-time format remains as addictive as ever, letting viewers watch relationships bloom or wilt over weeks.

Everything you would expect from a show like this happens like the “bombshell” arrivals meant to spice things up. Still, there’s an escapist charm to watching attractive people flirt in a tropical villa, and the teased twists suggest the drama will keep heating up. Pack your emotional baggage for the trip.

• Release date: June 7, 2024 
• Genre: Reality, Romance
• Rating: TV-14
• Director: Chris Coelen
• Cast: Nick Lachey, Dom Gabriel, Georgia Hassarati, Bartise Bowden, Chloe Veitch, Izzy Fairthorne, Joey Sasso

Netflix doubles down on its Netflix reality all-stars conceit with another frothy season of Perfect Match. Though you needn’t be familiar with shows like The Circle or Sexy Beasts to follow along, half the fun is watching the collision of outsized personalities from different “extended universes.” The stakes are simple but effective: find your “perfect match” from the crowd or risk going home.

This ticking clock fuels much of the drama, as the absurdly attractive contestants fall into bed and bicker with equal passion. Host Nick Lachey presides with affable charm. A few couples emerge as early favorites to root for, but with new faces entering the villa each episode to shake things up, no pairing is safe. Silly, bubbly, and surprisingly sincere, Perfect Match remains the ideal low-stakes binge. Grab some popcorn and find a couple to root for.

• Release date: June 4, 2024
• Genre: Drama
• Rating: N.A.
• Director: Candice Carty-Williams
• Cast: Dionne Brown, Bellah, Samuel Adewunmi

Queenie is a 25-year-old British Jamaican journalist struggling to navigate the challenges of work, love, sex, and family in this uneven but endearing quarter-life crisis dramedy on Hulu. Recently dumped by her boyfriend for being “too much”, Queenie spirals into a series of ill-advised decisions – drinking to excess, engaging in unsatisfying hookups, and flaking on work and friends.

Haunted by fractured memories of her estranged mother, Queenie avoids confronting her childhood trauma until she’s ready. While the show sometimes stumbles in articulating Queenie’s identity outside her struggles, it surrounds her with warmth and treats her with compassion, affirming that for all her flaws and missteps, she is worthy of love. A likeable if messy portrait of a young woman figuring herself out.

What was new and worth watching over the last month 

In case you’ve missed our previous lists, here’s a recap. 

• Release date: June 6, 2024
• Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
• Rating: TV-14
• Director: Jim Mickle
• Cast: Nonso Anozie, Christian Convery, Adeel Akhtar, Stefania LaVie Owen, James Brolin, Naledi Murray, Dania Ramirez

After surviving harrowing ordeals in the first two seasons, the young deer-human hybrid Gus and his gruff protector Tommy Jepperd continue their journey through a post-apocalyptic America. Still reeling from the deadly Sick virus, of course. Having escaped the clutches of human militias who hunt hybrids, Gus has learned his kind’s existence is deeply linked to the pandemic’s origins.

New enemies soon emerge to threaten Gus and his found family. With each perilous stop, the mysteries surrounding Gus’s destiny loom larger. Despite slower subplots, Sweet Tooth builds narrative urgency for a satisfying final chapter that explores its core themes — the power of innocence and humanity’s self-destructive impulses.

• Release date: June 4, 2024
• Genre: Action, Adventure
• Rating: TV-14
• Director: Leslye Headland
• Cast: Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Charlie Barnett, Dafne Keen, Manny Jacinto, Rebecca Henderson, Joonas Suotamo

This exploration of the Star Wars mythos is set centuries before the Skywalker saga. The series follows the journeys of former Jedi acolytes — sisters Osha and Mae — after a tragic incident derails their training in the ancient mystical order’s ways. Mae has fallen in with shadowy underground elements plotting to overthrow the complacent Jedi regime.

Meanwhile, the more reluctant Osha finds herself caught in a web of conspiracy surrounding the Jedi’s once ironclad beliefs of peace and justice for the galaxy. The Acolyte dares to ask — were the Jedi’s lofty teachings masking darker, more troubling secrets? This uniquely feminist take pushes Star Wars to new frontiers.

• Release date: June 7, 2024
• Genre: Comedy
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Julio Torres
• Cast: Julio Torres, Martine Gutierrez, Tómas Matos, Joe Rumrill

This comedy series is an unfiltered fever dream. You only need to watch the trailer to know that. It follows Torres himself, an eccentric artist, as he pitches demented high-concept TV premises to baffled Hollywood producers. From a deranged Lion King remake about zebras to a twisted addiction drama centered on the Tooth Fairy, Fantasmas’s sketches routinely veer into the surreal, and outright unhinged.

Overflowing with absurdist humor, Fantasmas explores the anxieties plaguing an authentic artistic voice. By leaning fully into strangeness and vulnerability, the series discusses the infinite realms of possibility within one brilliant creative mind. But….if you’re in the mood for a traditional watch, this show might be too mind-bending for you.

• Release date: June 6, 2024
• Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
• Rating: TV-14
• Director: Jeff Davis
• Cast: Kirsten Vangsness, A.J. Cook, Joe Mantegna, Thomas Gibson, Shemar Moore, Paget Brewster

Your weekly dose of your favorite profilers is back, but they might be in a tight spot this season. The show opens very dramatically, as our BAU profilers meet one of their most evil criminals — a prolific serial killer dubbed “Gold Star”. They have to make a shocking, unholy alliance to capture him — with none other than Elias Voit, the serial killer from last season.

That’s because Voit may possess insights into Gold Star’s psychopathic motives that could help track him. However, being close to the manipulative Voit is traumatizing for the agents, especially David Rossi who is still haunted by Voit’s torments. Emily Prentiss also brings in former analyst Tyler Green, whose romantic history with Penelope Garcia might just make it difficult for the team to stay together.

• Release date: June 2, 2024
• Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Taylor Sheridan, Hugh Dillon
• Cast: Jeremy Renner, Hugh Dillon, Tobi Bamtefa, Taylor Handley, Emma Laird, Derek Webster, Hamish Allan-Headley

In the gritty third season, Jeremy Renner returns as Mike McLusky, the fixer who wields true power in the crime-ridden city of Kingstown. Still reeling from his mother’s tragic death, Mike faces a new wave of violence that threatens his grasp on order between the police force and criminal factions like the Aryan Brotherhood, gangs, and the Russian mob.

An IED detonates at his mother’s funeral, kicking off a chaotic game of retaliations and bloodshed. Mike’s former ally, the formidable gang leader Bunny, declares Kingstown a warzone as he battles to maintain dominance. New adversaries also emerge — like the menacing Russian mobster Konstantin, while the hard-nosed new DA Evelyn Foley turns into a bigger problem for Mike.

• Release date: June 2, 2024
• Genre: Documentary
• Rating: TV-14
• Director: Lance Oppenheim, David Gauvey Herbert
• Cast: Jeffrey Baldwin, Darla Smith, George Coulam, Louie Migliaccio

Ren Faire takes viewers behind the scenes of the massive Texas Renaissance Festival, providing an intimate look at the heated succession battle to determine who will inherit control of this iconic event after its 86-year-old founder, George “King George” Coulam, retires. Two frontrunners have emerged to take over King George’s kingdom when he steps down — Jeff Baldwin and Louie Migliaccio.

• Release date: May 30, 2024
• Genre: Comedy, Music
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Nida Manzoor
• Cast: Anjana Vasan, Sarah Kameela Impey, Juliette Motamed, Faith Omole, Lucie Shorthouse, Zaqi Ismail, Aiysha Hart

The all-Muslim, all-female punk rock band is back again. The group just completed a summer tour that will forever be etched in their memories, and they’re now determined to make their highly anticipated first album with renowned producer Dirty Mahmood. However, soon personal issues, culture clashes, and the brutality of the industry get in the way. Are they ever going to become celebrated musicians?

Will Saira compromise her artistry and give in to commercialism? Drummer Ayesha explores the complexities of life as a queer Muslim woman. Bassist Bisma pushes back against being pigeonholed. The ladies explore who they are when it comes to faith, ambition, and identity while providing hilarious comedy alongside live punk performances. The first season was a huge hit, word on the street is — the second season gets even better.

• Release date: 30 May, 2024
• Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Abi Morgan
• Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Gaby Hoffmann, McKinley Belcher III, Dan Fogler, Clarke Peters, Ivan Morris Howe, Phoebe Nicholls

80s New York, a kidnapping gone wrong, and Benedict Cumberbatch — it doesn’t get a whole lot better than this. Vincent’s life unravels when his son 9-year-old son Edgar suddenly disappears. Vincent starts to lose his mind as he tries to find his son, slowly losing his grasp on reality and pushing his wife and detectives away. His only companion is a hallucinatory blue monster Eric that his son left behind. Vincent is convinced that getting him on TV will get his son back.

As Vincent fights with a persistent detective and estranges himself from his wife Cassie, his mission gets crazier. The world of Vincent’s television show where everything is painted in pretty bright colors collides with the harsh reality of America, with widespread crime and forgotten homeless people.

• Release date: May 31, 2024
• Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Stephen Merchant, Elgin James
• Cast: Christopher Walken, Stephen Merchant, Darren Boyd, Rhianne Barreto, Gamba Cole, Clare Perkins, Eleanor Tomlinson

The Outlaws are done with their community service on a Bristol farm when Rani suddenly drives back in her car with a dead body. The group has to solve how to get rid of the dead body without letting Rani’s strange behavior get in the way. On the other hand, the drug boss — The Dean — is out for revenge against them for having him jailed. Rani’s boyfriend Ben feels let down after she ran away earlier.

Loads of other sub-plots working in the background — Greg resigns from work and goes on a date, and Gabby attempts to kick her bad habits. Most of the main cast is back, but Christopher Walken who played Frank’s character will only make one appearance this season. Expect the show’s signature mix of crime thrills and character-driven humor as the gang gets pulled into yet another risky misadventure.

• Release date: May 30, 2024
• Genre: Comedy, Drama
• Rating: TV-PG
• Director: Holly Smale, Jessica Ruston
• Cast: Emily Carey, Tim Downie, Sarah Parish, Jemima Rooper, Liam Woodrum, Rochelle Harrington, Hebe Beardsall

Think of this one as The Princess Diaries of 2024. Geek Girl follows the same format, nerdy girl is discovered, becomes beautiful, and has to decide if this is ultimately what she wants. Meet Harriet Manners: a smart yet clumsy 16-year-old who feels more comfortable with books than fashion magazines. But when she accidentally comes across a model scout, Harriet has to decide whether she wants to fit in the stylish world of high fashion and leave behind her past.

With sarcastic humor and endearing relatability, Geek Girl traces a teenager’s evolution from a social outcast to a rising starlet.

• Release date: May 29, 2024
• Genre: Game Show, Reality
• Rating: TV-14
• Director: Franc Roddam
• Cast: Gordon Ramsay, Joe Bastianich, Aarón Sánchez, Graham Elliot, Christina Tosi, Eddie Jackson, Brynn Weaver

This new season of MasterChef will divide the rivals by their ages, with Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z competing in a cooking face-off to determine which age group dominates in the kitchen. Gordon Ramsay is back again with his partners Joe Bastianich and Aarón Sánchez for another season. This time we also have Lidia Bastianich for baby boomer contestants, Christina Ha for Gen X, Priya Krishna for millennials, and Nick DiGiovanni for Gen Z.

From auditions to finals, we witness these home cooks highlighting the strengths that are unique to their respective generations as well as taking on challenges resulting from their weaknesses. Are aging boomers going to embrace culinary conservatism or will they find it hard to innovate? Will millennials defy expectations with their avocado toast?

• Release date: May 24, 2024
• Genre: Animation, Comedy, Science Fiction
• Rating: TV-14
• Director: Robert Carlock, Sam Means
• Cast: Nat Faxon, Chrissy Teigen, Tina Fey, Sam Richardson, Dana Carvey, Phil LaMarr, Kevin Michael Richardson

The apocalypse is here, and it’s a comedic disaster in Mulligan, the wild animated sitcom from the creators of 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. When aliens attempt to take over Earth, Matty Mulligan becomes the unlikely leader of what remains of the free world. In the wreckage of the White House along with his motley crew, President Mulligan must find a way to rebuild society — and his poll numbers.

He is joined by ex-Miss Universe, the last scientist alive, a cyborg super soldier with dreams of show business stage, a teenage military prodigy, and his former alien captor-turned-pal. They have to face hordes of mutant beavers mutants, cannibalistic sects, and assassination attempts while trying to bring America back on its feet again. In part two of this saga, a boatload of boozy newcomers washes ashore, sparking a philosophical divide over how to survive Armageddon.

• Release date: May 24, 2024
• Genre: Crime, Drama
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Breno Silveira
• Cast: Gabriel Leone, Flávio Tolezani, Filipe Bragança, Raquel Villar, Isabella Santoni, Laila Garin, Digão Ribeiro

As the last chapter unfolds, the stakes have never been this high for Pedro and Victor Dantas. Hounded by drug dealers and chased by authorities, Pedro seeks shelter in Rio’s sprawling Rocinha favela. Victor’s cancer could be eating him from within, but his spirit remains intact as he tries to save his son, even if it means dying in the process.

Will the law finally get hold of Pedro? Can Victor manage just one more Hail Mary that will save his child? Pulsing with raw emotion and fast-paced action, DOM’s thrilling ending reminds us that when everything is on the line, you can only move forward — even if it is straight into the heart of darkness.