Movies

The Best New TV Shows of May 2025

BBG News

As a devoted cinephile, if you hear a sudden thud at approximately 11:59 pm on May 31st, don’t be alarmed. It’s simply the sound of the 2024-25 Emmys eligibility period drawing to a close. Over the past few weeks, you might have found yourself swamped by an influx of new TV shows, nail-biting season finales, and emotional series conclusions. But fear not! Once June arrives, the release schedule should ease up, giving you ample time to catch up on all the shows you’ve missed.

Now, here’s some fantastic news! Many of May’s premieres – from the heartwarming teen romance ‘Forever’, the relatable 20-something comedy ‘Adults’, the nostalgic action series ‘Duster’, to the captivating Austen-inspired drama ‘Miss Austen’ – are definitely worth your valuable time. Below, I’ve compiled a rather extensive list of this month’s must-watch shows. Enjoy!

Adults (FX)

Instead of depicting young adults in New York residing in desirable settings like north Brooklyn or the post-bohemian Village (as seen in shows like “Girls” and “Friends”), “Adults” presents a more confined perspective for Generation Z by housing its five characters within one individual’s childhood home situated in an unpopular area of Queens. The primary character, Samir (played by Malik Elassal), is the head of the household, grappling with everyday difficulties such as paying checks for water-heater repairs. Issa (portrayed by Amita Rao) embodies a lively, flamboyant, sexually expressive character reminiscent of “Broad City’s” Ilana; her laidback, pansexual boyfriend, Paul Baker (played by Jack Innanen), is consistently referred to using his full name. Anton (Owen Thiele, who also features in “Overcompensating”) befriends people effortlessly, even forming relationships with individuals such as a criminal terrorizing the neighborhood in one episode. The only housemate concerned about her future is Lucy Freyer’s Billie, who is anxious and struggles with issues related to her colon health.

The Gen X characters from “Friends” spent their time lounging on coffee-shop sofas for years before eventually landing in prestigious careers, a luxury the Sex and the City women had already achieved when we were introduced to them in their 30s. In contrast, the millennial Girls graduated during the tumultuous period of the Great Recession, harboring dreams and aspirations. However, for the characters in Adults, simply being able to assertively claim the title character status seems like a fulfilling life goal. [Read the full review of Adults and collegiate comedy, Overcompensating.]

Dept. Q (Netflix)

Dept. Q, a Netflix crime drama penned by the same talent behind The Queen’s Gambit, offers a series that revolves around challenging characters. The protagonist, Detective Carl Morck of Edinburgh police, has returned to work following an injury sustained in duty—during which he berated a young officer who was tragically killed before Carl had a chance to complete his reprimand, due to his rage. Graphic footage from the shooting incident, coupled with his already-abrasive demeanor, makes his comeback far from celebratory. The series’ debut further introduces Merritt Lingard, a prosecutor known for her sharp tongue and volatile temperament. Her aggressive questioning of a man believed to have murdered his wife leaves her peers infuriated. Her superior cautions her, “You go too far,” expressing similar concerns about Carl’s harsh methods.

The blend of virtuous characters with complex personalities, whose relentless pursuit of justice often leaves them lonely and resentful, is intriguing. However, the numerous plot twists in the show tend to favor Carl’s perspective over Merritt (Chloe Pirrie), making it seem as though the story is more about Carl. This adaptation by Frank, based on Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen’s novels, might disappoint some due to this focus, but it does create a detective series with a promising future, as it offers characters and performances that are deeper than typical in this oversaturated genre, potentially running for multiple seasons without losing appeal. [Read the full review.]

Duster (Max)

Josh Holloway is an exceptional TV actor, capable of drawing viewers back to a series week after week when skillfully cast. This fact is well-known by “Lost” co-creator J.J. Abrams, which is why he and collaborator LaToya Morgan decided to create a series specifically for Holloway, who hasn’t appeared on the small screen since 2021 following the conclusion of his character’s storyline on “Yellowstone”. Their new crime drama set in the 1970s, titled “Duster”, is undeniably tailored to showcase Holloway’s talents. In fact, the series is so entertaining and Holloway delivers such a delightful performance that it sometimes struggles when trying to get serious. [Read the full review.]

Forever (Netflix)

At a gathering, two adolescents encounter each other and swiftly develop a deep, fervent affection. However, their relationship is challenged by external factors, particularly their families. This narrative, as timeless as the works of Shakespeare, echoes strongly in tales like his tragedy “Romeo and Juliet,” which has captivated and been reimagined by numerous generations for over four centuries. Yet, it also forms the basis of Judy Blume’s 1975 young adult novel, “Forever.” Rooted in the second-wave feminist movement, this book remains relatable and bold even after half a century. While “Romeo” established the template for impassioned stories of doomed love, “Forever” struck a chord with a more straightforward, empathetic approach towards young individuals experiencing their first romantic feelings.

The launch of the Netflix series Forever, based on Blume’s book, demonstrates its enduring and universal appeal. Unlike the novel set in 1970s suburban New Jersey, this adaptation is set in a technologically advanced metropolis of Los Angeles in the late 2010s, focusing on Black teenagers from diverse backgrounds. Creator Mara Brock Akil (Girlfriends, Being Mary Jane) has deviated significantly from the original, but she remains faithful to the emotional authenticity of the source material. She portrays the depth of young characters’ emotions and respects the wisdom of parents who understand their children’s first love from a mature perspective. [Read the full review here.]

The Four Seasons (Netflix)

Miss Austen (PBS)

The focus of the BBC’s four-part adaptation, “Miss Austen,” based on Gill Hornby’s 2020 novel and airing in the U.S. on Masterpiece, is the realities faced by single women during Regency England, with a specific emphasis on Jane Austen’s family. This historical fiction, set after Jane’s passing, explores Cassandra, Jane’s older sister, portrayed sensitively by Keeley Hawes in her role as executive producer. The story delves into the reasons behind Cassandra’s destruction of thousands of Jane’s personal letters. The main characters are unmarried women. If you can tolerate the formalities common to Masterpiece productions, it becomes more relaxed and transforms into a thoughtful and affectionate depiction of the life that Austen experienced but barely wrote about. [Read the full review.]

Pee-wee as Himself (HBO)

Throughout his life, Paul Reubens maintained two contrasting public images. Initially, in the 1980s, he was known as the quirky and humorous actor who played Pee-wee Herman, a popular children’s TV character. However, later on, he became a regular tabloid figure due to his twice arrests, separated by a decade, on charges related to explicit activities that he continuously disputed. The real Paul Reubens, who passed away at 70 from cancer in 2023, was far removed from both of these depictions. Thanks to the work of filmmaker Matt Wolf, viewers who once admired, then turned away from, and eventually forgot about Pee-wee can now get to know the man beneath the red bowtie. And it turns out that he is undeniably the most intriguing of all three characters.

In my perspective, I found myself captivated by the two-part biographical documentary titled “Pee-wee as Himself“. This masterpiece was constructed from approximately 40 hours of intriguing conversations between the director and Paul Reubens, the man behind Pee-wee. Not every conversation was cordial, as Reubens, a cunning and highly ambitious individual who sought significant control over the documentary, often expressed his discomfort with being portrayed as a victim.

The film’s true brilliance lies in its unveiling of Reubens’ complex side – his ego, the conscious decisions he made that led to fame and success at the expense of a contented life as an openly gay man, and the relationships he strained or lost along the way. In doing so, the director not only adheres to Reubens’ wishes but also surpasses the conventional celebrity tribute documentaries.

There are numerous precious moments from Reubens’ art-school days, and the director even spoke with some of his famous friends like Debi Mazar, Tim Burton, and Cassandra Peterson (a.k.a Elvira). If there was ever a doubt about his comedic genius and artistic prowess, this documentary provides more than enough evidence to convert you into a believer.

However, the director’s most significant achievement is in truthfully depicting an open, at times brutally honest, dialogue with a figure who was well-known yet never truly understood – until now.

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2025-05-30 14:06

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