Angels, demons, and an interdimensional duo are among the popular characters returning in must-see TV shows in May. They are joined by the Dutton family, a group of married friends, a pair of spies, and a teen detective. From a cattle ranch in Montana to the Central Finite Curve, here are the six streaming series you should catch up on before they continue this month.
What it is: Game of Thrones’ Richard Madden and Quantico’s Priyanka Chopra Jonas star in this globally set action series about two spies whose memories have been wiped by a rival agency. The original program has already branched out with multiple international spin-offs, with more in the works. Season 2 of the main run of Citadel premieres in full on Prime Video on Wednesday, May 6, with seven new episodes.
Why you should watch it: Ambitiously conceived and produced, with a budget that tops most blockbuster movies, this series features impressive action sequences and spectacular visual effects, along with the usual suspense and shocking twists of a good spy series. Add Oscar-nominated actress Lesley Manville (The Phantom Thread) as the show’s villain, opposite two of the prettiest leads on television, and it’s impossible not to find Citadel appealing on some level.
Where to watch: Prime Video (subscription, Season 1, plus the spin-offs Citadel: Diana and Citadel: Honey Bunny)
Commitment: Approx. 4 hours (for Season 1; plus another 9.5 hours for the two spin-offs)
What it is: Based on the comedic fantasy novel of the same name, Good Omens follows a demon and an angel who represent Hell and Heaven, respectively, on Earth. They’ve become friends and, when the looming Armageddon threatens that relationship, they team up to save the world from the Antichrist. The third and final season, consisting of a single feature-length episode, premieres on Prime Video on Wednesday, May 13.
Why you should watch it: True to its source material, the series adaptation is hilarious and imaginative, with divine chemistry from leads Michael Sheen (The Twilight Saga) and David Tennant (Doctor Who). Of course, it may offend some seriously religious viewers, or it could be seen as an antidote to divisive values. If you can appreciate the holy humor, you’ll be bummed that the series is coming to such an abrupt end.
Where to watch: Prime Video (subscription, Seasons 1-2)
Commitment: Approx. 10.5 hours (for Seasons 1-2)
What it is: The series that made Taylor Sheridan a household name, especially for your parents, Yellowstone stars Kevin Costner as the owner of the enormous eponymous cattle ranch and the head of the Dutton family. Through five seasons, the soapy neo-Western dealt with land disputes, political conflicts, and family drama. Dutton Ranch, the latest spin-off in the Yellowstone franchise, premieres its first two episodes on Paramount+ on Friday, May 15.
Why you should watch it: Despite its reputation for being the franchise your dad watches, Yellowstone and its offshoots have something for everyone, especially when you get into the period-piece prequels, 1883 and 1923, and the procedural appeal of Marshals. The bigger this universe gets, the more real it feels and the greater the casting. Dutton Ranch is the most direct sequel, continuing with some of the regulars from the original, so it’s about time you catch up.
Where to watch: Peacock (subscription, Seasons 1-5; plus Paramount+ for the spin-offs 1883, 1923, and Marshals); buy the main series and spin-offs on Prime Video, Fandango at Home, Google Play, and Apple TV
Commitment: Â Approx. 45.5 hours (for Seasons 1-5, plus another 31 hours for the first three spin-off series)
What it is: A mad scientist and his grandson travel to other planets and dimensions in this animated sci-fi comedy, which also sometimes involves the rest of their family or other multiverse versions of themselves. Originally inspired by Back to the Future, the show has gone in so many wild directions over its first eight seasons that it’s become difficult to compare to anything else. Rick and Morty Season 9 premieres on Adult Swim on Sunday, May 24.
Why you should watch it: One of the most iconic series (animated or otherwise) of this century so far, Rick and Morty is so much of an institution at this point that it’s hard to remember a time without its titular duo. While visually loud and often crude in its plots and characters, the show is also very smart and can get quite deep in its multidimensional adventures and postmodern themes. Think Doctor Who, but a lot less wholesome.
Where to watch: HBO Max and Hulu (subscription, Seasons 1-8); buy on Prime Video, Fandango at Home, Google Play, and Apple TV
Commitment: Approx. 31 hours (for Seasons 1-8)
What it is: Based on the novel of the same name by Holly Jackson, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder follows a British teenager named Pip as she investigates the disappearance of a student who went missing five years earlier. The case has been officially closed, but Pip believes the authorities got it wrong. The second season, adapted from the sequel book Good Girl, Bad Blood, premieres in full on Netflix on Wednesday, May 27, with six new episodes.
Why you should watch it: Best known for playing Enid on Wednesday, Emma Myers continues to shine as one of the most appealing up-and-coming stars with her leading role in A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. Despite not involving supernatural and gothic elements, this show has been compared to that fellow Netflix series as well. It’s not just another typical teen girl detective show, as it delivers a darker and more emotional drama at the center of its mystery.
Where to watch: Netflix (subscription, Season 1); buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Google Play, and Apple TV
Commitment: Approx. 4.5 hours (for Season 1)
What it is: Co-created by Tina Fey and starring Fey, Steve Carell, Colman Domingo, and Will Forte, The Four Seasons is a remake of the 1981 movie of the same name written and directed by Alan Alda. Like the feature-length original, the series follows three married couples as they vacation together in the spring, summer, fall, and winter. The second season, expanding the plot, premieres in full on Netflix on Thursday, May 28, with eight new episodes.
Why you should watch it: While Alan Alda’s movie is an underrated early ‘80s Boomer dramedy for middle-class midlifers, the series remake updates elements for a modern generation. One of the couples is a same-sex pair, for example (half of that pair is played by Domingo, who earned an Emmy nomination for his performance). It’s not laugh-out-loud funny, as you might anticipate coming from Fey, but it’s still filled with smart and witty humor.
Where to watch: Netflix (subscription, Season 1)
Commitment: Approx. 4 hours (for Season 1)
Thumbnail image by Amazon MGM Studios
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