Hello, friends! I am back after taking a week off to enjoy the holiday weekend with my family. My sister, brother-in-law and nephew are staying with me for the month of July. We're having a blast, and thanks to the rainy weather, doing a lot of streaming.
Before I get into this week's picks, here a few upcoming shows to keep on your radar:
- Today - I cannot wait to start season three of Virgin River on Netflix. It's the story of Mel, an OBGYN nurse who relocates to a small town to start over. It has the quirkiness of Gilmore Girls, plus the romance of a Hallmark movie.
- Sunday, July 11 - The Real Housewives of Potomac returns to Bravo. These women got me through last summer when all my trips were canceled during the pandemic. Watching them on Sunday nights helped diminish my pre-Monday scaries.
- Thursday, July 15 - Mindy Kaling is the producer of a Netflix show called Never Have I Ever, and it's coming back for a second season. I am giddy about this one!
- Friday, July 30 - At the end of this month, Outer Banks (OBX for short) will be back on Netflix with a second season. This show stars the insanely gorgeous Chase Stokes. The first season ended on a cliff hanger, so I can't wait to see where they're taking things.
Ok, now on to a fresh batch of suggestions.
1. This is Pop (Netflix) - My sister picked this show at random, and three episodes in, we're loving it. The show is about pop music (as the title suggests) and each episode is a deep dive on one particular topic - boy bands, auto-tune, Swedish producers, etc.
The first episode is called the Boyz II Men Effect and talks about the creation of a new genre in the 1990s - an all-male vocal group who were real, gifted singers. As the hour goes on, you learn how Boyz II Men paved the way for the Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, 98 Degrees and more. I grew up on their music, so the nostalgia was very real.
The episode about auto-tune is also eye-opening, featuring popular tracks by T-Pain, Kanye West and Cher (Hello, Believe).
If you're looking for something light and fun, this is it.
2. Who Killed Sara? (Netflix) - One of my besties recommended this murder mystery and I'm completely sucked in. The story is set in Mexico and features a brother, recently released from prison, avenging the death of his sister.
To do that, he must take down one of the richest and most powerful families in Mexico. The patriarch, Don Cesar, gives off major Succession vibes.
The show is in Spanish. We are watching with English subtitles.
Warning: there is a lot of nudity in this show, so maybe not something to have on with little kids around.
3. Flack (Amazon) - I devoured season one of Flack, starring Anna Paquin as Robyn, a celebrity publicist / fixer. Season two features the same crazy antics, but with much more drama in Robyn's personal life.
I am finding this season much darker, so if you're looking for a pick-me-up, this isn't it. That said, watching what happens behind the scenes to maintain a famous person's reputation is endlessly fascinating.
4. Good on Paper (Netflix) - I decided to watch this movie because it kept showing up on the Instagram Stories of friends who I know have great taste. It is written by Iliza Shlesinger, who also stars.
The film is part rom-com, part stand-up comedy set. It's mostly about the perils of dating. Iliza's character, Andrea, meets a guy on a plane and they start seeing each other regularly, despite some serious red flags.
With all the dark shows I've been watching lately, this was a great palette cleanser!
There you have it. This week's recommendations. Hope this helps you stream right through this weekend's rainy weather.
*Images courtesy of Unsplash, Netflix, TV Insider, SF Gate and Variety.
