Spin-offs, sequels and second seasons are the flashiest titles to stream this week, but there’s plenty of original content to enjoy too. Whether you’re in the mood for a heartfelt comedy, a sprawling sci-fi saga, or a chilling thriller, the streaming powers that be have you covered.
What to watch on Netflix
Survival of the fattest
Following the tradition of other A24 television projects such as Ramy And Mo, Survival of the fattest is a show inspired by co-creator and star, comedian Michelle Buteau, and her memoir of the same name. The comedy revolves around stylist Mavis after a breakup with her long-term beau and creative partner. For the first time in five years, she is alone and trying to make a name for herself, not just as a fashionista, but as a woman who advocates for all kinds of bodies in the fashion world. Survival of the fattest premieres Thursday, July 13.
Birdhouse Barcelona
Netflix’s biggest horror hit (NFLX). Bird Box is getting a spin-off this week, albeit halfway around the world from where the original episode took place. Birdhouse Barcelona serves as another episode of the same conceit as a group of survivors struggling to stay hidden from the mysterious force decimating humanity by causing violent suicides. One father worries about his daughter, while others fear that these deaths are the work of a certain heavenly Father, creating a cultural divide as threatening as the death and destruction surrounding the characters. Birdhouse Barcelona premieres on Friday, July 14.
What to watch on Hulu
Rightly so: City Primeval
One of the top-rated shows of the past decade is coming back to the small screen with a sequel. Rightly so: City Primeval picks up some time after the original series: Raylan Givens, Timothy Olyphant’s lawyer, has returned to Miami as Deputy U.S. Marshal, and now spends as much time raising a teenage daughter as chasing down perpetrators. However, a chance encounter with a career criminal sends him to Detroit, where he must traverse a dangerous underworld before he can consider his case closed. Aunjanue Ellis and Boyd Holbrook also star. Rightly so: City Primeval premieres on Wednesday, July 19.
What to watch on Amazon Prime
The summer when I became beautiful
Thanks to an endearing love triangle, a relatable coming-of-age story and some major Taylor Swift needle drops, The summer when I became beautiful was one of the biggest success stories of last summer. It now returns for season 2 and the gang is back on Cousins Beach. Belly’s heart is still pulled in different directions by brothers Conrad and Jeremiah, but heartbreak may be on the horizon. The boys could also lose their family beach house forever, adding to the loss hanging over them from last season. The first three episodes of The summer when I became beautiful Season 2 premieres Friday, July 14.
What to watch on Apple TV+
Foundation
This sci-fi series is based on one of the most famous series by prolific author Isaac Asimov. Foundation is wide-ranging and ambitious in its objectives, as it focuses on a group of exiles across planets and ages trying to protect humanity from a crumbling Galactic Empire. Season 1 saw interplanetary travel, battles and political intrigue, and Season 2 promises all that and then some, with betrayal, religious upheavals and all-out war. The story is meticulous, aided by the likes of Lee Pace and Jared Harris, and the visuals are stunning. Season 2 of Foundation premieres on Friday, July 14.
What to see on Peacock
You won’t be alone
A chilling tale of witchcraft and curiosity, You won’t be alone is an intricately detailed entry into the horror genre. This dark fairy tale follows a girl whose mother has made a deal with a witch; the sorceress tried to claim the girl when she was just a baby, but her mother begged for sixteen years. The witch is punctual and considers the girl one of her own – in more ways than one. Magic, shapeshifting and a reluctant bloodlust haunt the rest of the movie. You won’t be alone will be available to stream from Sunday, July 16.
What to watch is a regular endorsement of movies and TV worth your streaming time.
