I Kissed a Girl, Hotel Cocaine, and more

We’re back with this week’s list of shows brand-new streaming shows. We’ve got a lot of horror and action for you and a much-waited reality show that’s finally out in the US.

The best new streaming shows this week

Feel free to click on anything that piques your interest. This week, our list includes shows on Netflix, Max, Hulu, and MGM Plus.

• Release date: June 16, 2024
• Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: George R. R. Martin, Ryan Condal
• Cast: Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke, Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Rhys Ifans, Graham McTavish, Jefferson Hall

Set 200 years before Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon’s second season continues the Targaryen saga with a slow-burning start that gradually builds to intense political drama. The series focuses on the brewing conflict between Rhaenyra and Alicent, former friends now leading opposing factions. While the opening episode is heavy on recaps and diplomacy, the show soon hits its stride, delivering the epic dragon battles that you would expect.

House of the Dragons, in the first season, is slightly less dramatic than Game of Thrones. The second season continues this trend, holding on to the subtlety — but it is still a riveting, action-packed watch full of rivalry and, well…dragons.

• Release date: June 20, 2024
• Genre: Documentary, Crime
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Michael Beach Nichols
• Cast: Allison Berkley, Joseph Freed, Rob Ford, Erin Lee Carr

This is a three-part docuseries examining the controversial 2016 kidnapping case that turned out to be a hoax. Doesn’t that remind you of Gone Girl? The show opens with the initial investigation and Papini’s reappearance, before revealing the truth behind her fabricated story. Each hour-long episode meticulously reconstructs the events, from Papini’s initial vanishing to her reappearance 22 days later, and the eventual unraveling of her fabricated story.

An absolute treat for true-crime fans, the series features interviews with law enforcement officials, journalists, and Papini’s friends and family who offer multiple perspectives on the case. It explores the investigation process, the impact on the community, and the psychological factors that may have led to Papini’s actions. The show also leans into why this kind of “victim” is so problematic, and how their false reports hurt those who actually suffer.

• Release date: June 16, 2o24
• Genre: Crime, Thriller
• Rating: N.A.
• Director: Chris Brancato
• Cast: Danny Pino, Yul Vazquez, Mark Feuerstein, Laura Gordon, Corina Bradley, Tania Watson, Michael Chiklis

Hotel Cocaine transports viewers to 1970s Miami, in the infamous Mutiny Hotel. More specifically, on the general manager. Roman Compte. The series blends historical events with fictional drama, exploring the intersections of drug trafficking, politics, and family loyalties.

We watch Roman attempt to balance his legitimate business with the demands of drug traffickers, politicians, and law enforcement. The series features a large ensemble cast, including Michael Chiklis as a determined DEA agent. Hotel Cocaine also explores immigration, the American Dream, and the transformation of Miami during the cocaine boom, offering a gritty, detailed look at a pivotal era in the city’s history. It’s full of action and drama — so there’s that too.

• Release date: May 14, 2023
• Genre: Reality
• Rating: N.A.
• Director: Johnathan Booth
• Cast: Dannii Minogue, Layton Williams

I Kissed a Boy breaks new ground as the UK’s first all-gay dating show. Hosted by Dannii Minogue, the program brings together ten single men in a picturesque Italian setting. The unique twist is that contestants must kiss before speaking, challenging conventional dating norms.

Over eight episodes, the show follows the men as they navigate potential relationships, participate in challenges and face eliminations. While adhering to familiar reality dating show formats, I Kissed a Boy also addresses issues specific to gay dating and relationships. The series is a great start to showcasing LGBTQ+ relationships and identities, potentially paving the way for more diverse dating shows in the future.

• Release date: June 21, 2024
• Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: David Chuang, Chen Kuan-chung
• Cast: Joseph Chang, Tiffany Hsu, Wang Shih-Sian, Moon Lee, Ruby Lin, Ding Ning, River Huang

The Victims’ Game: Season 2 is a Chinese-language crime thriller series returning to Netflix on June 21, 2024, following a four-year wait since its first season. This new installment centers around a series of interconnected murder cases tied to an incident from 15 years ago, delving into themes of belonging and the value of life.

Chang Hsiao-chuan reprises his role as Fang Yi-jen, a forensic detective with Asperger’s syndrome who finds himself as the prime suspect in these new cases. The series explores Fang’s character development as he navigates complex situations, including mending his relationship with his estranged daughter and learning to socialize more.

• Release date: June 14, 2024
• Genre: Horror, Mystery
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Joko Anwar
• Cast: Muzakki Ramdhan, Kevin Ardilova, Happy Salma, Sha Ine Febriyanti, Sal Priadi, Ayu Laksmi, Muhammad Faqih Alaydrus

Aptly named, this is the stuff of nightmares. This is a 7-part horror anthology. In the first episode, we follow taxi driver Banji as he leaves his senile mother in a luxurious elderly home, only to uncover sinister secrets about the place.

As Banji investigates increasingly disturbing occurrences, the episode transitions from a family drama into a supernatural horror, with lots of shocking revelations about the facility’s true purpose sprinkled in between. The story draws on Indonesian folklore and mythology elements, creating a culturally specific horror experience. Things are looking pretty good for the next episodes.

What was new and worth watching over the last month

Did you miss our other lists? Here’s a recap of what was released this month.

• 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.

Penelope and Colin might just get a happy-ever-after, but she has to deal with the looming threat of her Lady Whistledown secret being revealed. Because guess who Colin absolutely hates? Penelope must choose between holding on to her voice or starting a new family, with her own overbearing family making the choice even tougher than it needs to be. Queen Charlotte is also out to get her, and Francesca’s got her own complicated love story brewing on the sidelines.

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 Plus 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.

• 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.

Blending cinematic visuals with an engrossing character study of its eccentric players, Ren Faire pulls back the curtain on the high-stakes battle to control a multimillion-dollar live entertainment empire built on fantasy, intrigue, and medieval lore. Only one contender can win and lead this kingdom into a new age.

• 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.