May is serving up everything from dusty ranch drama to broody islands, campy noir and a spooky retirement home with secrets. I rounded up 11 shows that deserve prime real estate on your watch list — snacks and judgmental commentary optional.
Lord of the Flies
Think classic island nightmares, but remixed for modern times. This retelling zooms in on different kids episode-by-episode as social order unravels — bullies, power grabs and moral chaos included. It’s grim, timely and written by Jack Thorne, so expect emotional punches and unsettling questions about how boys grow up (or don’t).
Premieres 4 May on Netflix (US); available on BBC iPlayer in the UK.
The Other Bennet Sister
Jane Austen fanfic done right: this series follows Mary Bennet — the bookish middle sister who normally fades into the wallpaper — as she gets plucked into London life, romance mishaps and family melodrama. Charm, stiff upper lips and a delightful cast make it a cozy, witty period treat.
Premieres 6 May on BritBox (US); on BBC iPlayer in the UK.
Legends
A gritty, 1990s-flavored thriller about ordinary border agents turned undercover operatives with made-up lives (their “legends”). Expect adrenaline, identity twists and big moral stakes as these recruits fake entire pasts to infiltrate drug rings. It’s true-story inspired and full of reckless energy.
Premieres 7 May on Netflix (international).
Off Campus
College rom-com meets fake-dating plotline: a music major and a star hockey player strike a mutually beneficial agreement that, surprise, spirals into feelings. If you like sexy sports romps and tropey bliss, this breezy series delivers exactly that.
Premieres 13 May on Prime Video (international).
Rivals
Glamour, greed and backstabbing in the 1980s Cotswolds. This second round brings champagne, affairs and the return of schemers who never learned the meaning of subtlety. If you enjoy deliciously trashy upper-crust chaos, this one’s for you.
Premieres 15 May on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (UK).
Dutton Ranch
Yellowstone energy migrates to Texas in this spin-off focused on fan-fave couple Beth and Rip. Expect ranch politics, big-name actors, brooding looks and cowboy hats aplenty — plus a new set of enemies to feud with over fences and legacy.
Premieres 15 May on Paramount+ (US and UK).
Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed
Tatiana Maslany stars as a tired fact-checker who stumbles into a crime, becomes an amateur sleuth and accidentally invites chaos into her messy life. It’s darkly funny, slightly deranged and delightfully genre-bending — like noir met podcast true-crime and had an anxiety-ridden baby.
Premieres 20 May on Apple TV (international).
The Boroughs
What if your friendly retirement community had eldritch secrets? Produced by the Stranger Things folks, this spooky-comedy places an unlikely team of retirees on monster-watch duty. Think supernatural mystery with a side of knitting and life wisdom.
Premieres 21 May on Netflix (international).
Spider-Noir
Nicolas Cage as a 1930s private eye who, bizarrely, also has spider powers — and the show leans into classic noir vibes. Part Bogart swagger, part irreverent Cage energy, this one’s a genre mash-up with snappy quips, smoky nightclubs and a very strange hero.
Premieres 25 May on MGM+ (US) and 27 May on Prime Video (international).
The Four Seasons
Tina Fey’s cozy comedy about a friend group who take four annual trips is back. Expect relationship drama, awkward moments and midlife mishaps served with sharp humor and warm vibes. It’s travel therapy — with emotional baggage.
Premieres 28 May on Netflix (international).
Star City
A space-race drama spun out of For All Mankind, telling the Soviet-side story of the Moon competition. Political pressure, risky launches and the human cost of national pride are front and center as leaders push to plant a Soviet flag — and sometimes send people up too early to meet the headline.
Premieres 29 May on Apple TV (international).
There you go — a month’s worth of viewing choices, whether you’re in the mood for melodrama, monsters, moustaches or moral collapse. Now go pick a show, cancel your plans and enjoy the binge.
