While the coming weeks may call for more outdoor gatherings and dinners out with friends, many of us still relish the joy of staying in. Thankfully, there are a slate of exciting new TV shows debuting this May and June to justify curling up on the couch and enjoying a good dose of escapism. From Ryan Murphy’s electrifying depiction of the life of legendary American designer Halston to the second installment of hit French series Lupin, there’s plenty of options to choose from. Here, we’ve rounded up the best new TV shows to catch over the next few weeks.
Ryan Murphy, the producer behind hit shows including American Horror Story, Pose and The Politician, is back with another dazzling, over-the-top series, this time focused on the life and trials of legendary American fashion designer, Halston. Ewan McGregor gives a persuasive and captivating performance as the designer, even getting a nod of approval from Tom Ford. Directed by Daniel Minahan, the miniseries traces Halston’s journey from small town Indiana boy to American fashion icon who defined the Studio 54 era, as well as his battles with the pressure to stay on top, drugs, reckless business moves, and AIDS.
Beyond the plot and performances, fashion lovers will be entranced by the glitz and glamour of the on-screen depiction of Halston’s world. From the jewel-toned gowns to the elegant, simple tailoring, the designer’s impeccable eye and taste is put on full display, perfectly matching Murphy’s love of the extravagant.
14 May on Netflix
With Line of Duty over, many of us are craving a new police drama. Luckily, the BBC has things covered, with a new suspenseful crime thriller centred around a suspicious death aboard the submarine HMS Vigil and the mysterious disappearance of a fishing trawler. Suranne Jones, of Gentleman Jack fame, stars as DCI Amy Silva, who is tasked with figuring out what is really going on.
Full of suspense and tension from the get-go, the drama quickly becomes entangled with questions concerning British national security. Set against the backdrop of Scotland’s nuclear deterrent, the show captures the perfect balance between captivating drama and contemporary issues.
Coming soon on BBC
Scandi-noir gets a British twist in this adaptation of the hit Swedish crime thriller. Lesley Sharp stars as detective Hannah Laing, who becomes embroiled in a complex criminal underworld and investigation when she discovers that her son Christian (played by Patrick Gibson) is acting as an undercover informant in a horrific murder investigation that involves a powerful criminal gang.
The gripping crime drama is balanced by an emotional core, as the series explores the complex and at times dysfunctional relationship between Sharp’s character and her son, intelligently contrasting with the close-knit bonds of the crime family they’re working to bring down. Can’t wait for the new series? Both seasons of the original Swedish show are available to stream on All4 now.
Coming soon on Channel 4
When Netflix dropped the five-episode first season of the heist show Lupin in January, it became the streaming platform’s most-watched French-language original series of all time. So it’s no surprise that we’re getting a second chapter in the story of professional thief Assane Diop (Omar Sy) — especially when there are so many loose ties left to resolve.
Tensions between Assane and Hubert Pellegrini, whose false accusation of burglary against Assane’s father led to his death when Assane was a child, are at an all time high, after the season one finale saw Pellegrini abduct Assane’s son, Raoul. The five episodes, which will close out the show’s first season, will see the brilliant thief search for his son as well as a way to finally reveal Pellegrini’s crimes and bring him down.
11 June on Netflix
The seven-episode anthology series created by David Weil boasts an all-star cast in its exploration of memories, shared experiences and what it means to be human. Each episode will focus on one character as they deliver a 30-minute monologue sharing their story from their perspective in their own moment in time, from a woman shuttling through space to a scientist who discovers time travel.
Blending theatrical elements with science fiction, the Hunters creator has created a truly unique format for his contemplative miniseries. This is likely what provided the draw for the impressive cast, which includes Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, Uzo Aduba, Anne Hathaway, Anthony Mackie, Dan Stevens, Nicole Beharie and Constance Wu. Enlightening and thought-provoking, it promises to be an impressive TV feat.
21 May on Amazon Prime
Acclaimed Moonlight director Berry Jenkins makes his television directorial debut with this highly anticipated historical fiction drama about the 19th century Underground Railroad. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Colson Whitehead, the series reimagines the real-life network of hidden routes and safe houses that helped enslaved African-Americans escape the antebellum South as an actual subterranean railroad line that promises to take riders to freedom.
At the centre of the story is Cora (played by newcomer Thuso Mbedu) who discovers the railroad and jumps on board to flee the horrors of the plantation she grew up on. Her journey is perilous, with a bounty hunter called Ridgeway (Joel Edgerton) in hot pursuit, determined to take her back. It’s a timely and important reimagining of African American history that is sure to be well-served by Jenkins’ vision.
14 May on Amazon Prime
With hints of Big Little Lies, the BBC’s latest drama follows a group of friends who work at a brewery and are drawn into a joint pact of silence when their antagonistic new boss is found dead. Details on the plot of the new Welsh drama are sparse, but you can be sure that there’ll be plenty of twists and turns, dark revelations and some severely tense moments.
The six-part series stars a mix of familiar faces and exciting new talent. Breaking Bad star Laura Fraser leads the group of friends as Anna, who was eyeing a promotion before the mysterious death of her boss, and whose commitment to the pact is complicated by the fact she is married to one of the investigating police officers. Recent BAFTA nominee Rakie Ayola also joins the cast as the Senior Investigating Officer, and Eddie Marsan stars as the retired boss of the brewery and the father of the murdered man.
17 May on BBC
