Everything I Watched in June 2023
And what I thought about it all
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Back with another monthly watch list recap!
Once a month I send out a list of everything I watched the previous month to give you some ideas of things to add to your own watch lists, so I’m here to share the rundown of all of the stuff I watched in June.
Also note that I only include seasons of TV shows that I finished in any given month — if it’s still on or I’m still currently watching it, then I’ll include it when it’s over.
You’ll find that my reactions to things lean positive, because 1. I actively try to seek out stuff that I expect to be entertaining, has been well reviewed and/or has value to me — I’m not just going to watch the most popular show on Netflix because everyone else is if I don’t think I would like it — and 2. I’ve given myself more leeway recently to give up on shows that I’m not enjoying (here’s the list of all the shows I dropped last year). I used to force myself to finish things even if I hated them, which is truly unnecessary and a waste of time.
Keep scrolling for the list of everything I watched in June 2023 (and here’s the list from May if you want more ideas for things to watch):
Ted Lasso - Season 3 (Apple TV+)
While I ultimately liked how they (seemingly) ended this series, I found this third and final season to be a complete slog. The episode were too long, they were too focused on fringe characters that I had zero investment in and some of the choices made around some of the main characters were odd and unearned. Worth watching to close out the Ted Lasso chapter (which feels inextricably tied to the pandemic), but it was no longer an easy breezy watch this season.
Summer House - Season 7 (Bravo)
What more is there to say about this season of “Summer House”? It had its moments, but ultimately the fallout of Lindsay and Danielle’s friendship not only made the season a bit too dark, but it also divided the cast in a way that feels irreversible. I have hope that this coming season (which is filming right now) can right the ship a bit, but it’ll be a tall task to get back to top form.
Vanderpump Rules - Season 10 (Bravo)
The most must-watch season of any Bravo reality show since the Erika Jayne scandal on “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.” There has never been a season like this, rocked early on by Scandoval, after which cameras went back up to film the fallout and viewers were forced to operate on two timelines: pre- and post-Scandoval. It was a thrilling and exhausting and endlessly entertaining season that brought “Pump Rules” back from the brink of death. I’m ready for a break, but what a time to be alive. (Thankfully, everyone seems to be back for season 11.)
Shiny Happy People: Duggars (Prime)
This four-part docu-series does an excellent job at walking us through the rise and fall of the Duggar family, who were at one point reality TV royalty over at TLC. I thank my lucky stars that I never tapped into that world, which always felt a little too dark for me, but “Shiny Happy People” provides extensive context for why and how they became so popular and the religion that informed their lifestyle choices.
Top Chef - Season 20 (Bravo)
I loved watching this landmark season of “Top Chef,” which brought together contestants from international iterations of “Top Chef” to compete for the ultimate title in London. While the end result was frustratingly predictable, it was still a formidable season of Bravo’s cooking competition series. Host Padma Lakshmi revealed that it would also be her final season of the show, so it truly marks the end of an incredible era. (If you already watched this season, check out this thought-provoking conversation published on Vulture contemplating the state of “Top Chef” and how it moves forward from here.)
RHONJ - Season 13 (Bravo)
While this season of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” aired on Bravo this spring, it seemed as though everyone was complaining about how it was yet another season centered around the Teresa and Melissa feud. Which, fair! But, to me, after the previous reunion when the sisters-in-law finally admitted after years of back and forth that they didn’t like each other, this season represented a new dynamic for Mel and Tre. It felt more real, them navigating being in a friend group while also disliking one another and having that be out in the open — and I enjoyed watching it, for the most part. The reunion capped it off, providing an epic culmination of a one-of-a-kind family saga, with Melissa in particular delivering her best reunion performance ever that was thrilling to watch. We now know that the entire cast is returning for season 14 (this should surprise no one, considering how high this year’s ratings were), so people might as well just accept that we have more Melissa vs. Teresa in our futures (hopefully with a paired-back Louie presence).
Never Have I Ever - Season 4 (Netflix)
This is the perfect example of a show whose run was the complete right amount of time. Mindy and co. wrapped up Devi’s story with a season that was just as delightful and funny and poignant as the previous three, and I’m so happy they stuck the landing. The finale was incredibly satisfying, and I’m so excited to see what Maitreyi Ramakrishnan does next.
The Curious Case of Natalia Grace (Max)
If you’re looking for a true crime docu-series that will actually capture your undivided attention and rope you in, this is it. It follows Natalia Grace, who was adopted at the alleged age of 6 before her adoptive parents start to suspect that she’s secretly much, much older than that. This is a truly bizarre story that first made headlines several years ago, but seeing all of the footage and interviews from this series brings it to a whole new level of unbelievable.
Past Lives (in theaters)
A perfect film. Just as good as people said it was going to be. Greta Lee is a force of nature. “Past Lives” follows Nora and Hae Sung, two childhood friends whose lives diverge when Nora and her family emigrate from South Korea to the United States when she’s still young. It tracks them over the court of 20 years as they reconnect, compare differences and can’t help but think, “what if?”
Queer Eye - Season 7 (Netflix)
While I know a lot of people’s tolerance for the Fab Five has gone down, I can’t help but tap in every time a new batch of “Queer Eye” episodes drop — I just love the “heroes” that they find, and I think the show does a tremendous job at telling their stories. I also cry during almost every single episode, so. There’s that.
No Hard Feelings (in theaters)
I’ll watch Jennifer Lawrence in anything, but this was one that I’ve been excited to see ever since the first trailer came out. Finally, J.Law in a raunchy comedy! The press tour alone for this movie was an absolute blast, and the movie was, too. While it wasn’t as uproariously hilarious as I maybe wanted it to be, I still freaking loved it. She’s our last movie star, and she’s just endlessly watchable.
Break Point (Netflix)
The second batch of episodes of this tennis docu-series dropped last month, and they were even better than the first. This covers Wimbledon, the US Open and the tour championships on the men’s and women’s tours. The producers of this show got incredibly lucky with who they chose to focus on for this series, particularly when it came to the storylines at the US Open: Ajla Tomljanovic, who beat Serena Williams in her epic final match there, and Francis Tiafoe, the American player who beat Rafael Nadal on his way to the semi-finals. Seeing behind-the-scenes of these two players’ experiences genuinely felt like a peek behind the curtain of sports history.
Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard (Bravo)
The best new show on Bravo since “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” premiered. Over the course of eight episodes, this friend group goes through major ups and downs of drama, kicks people out of the house, welcomes in multiple new additions, argue over a dog, have genuinely moving conversations about being young and Black in America and prove that they have what it takes to deliver a top-notch reality show. Jasmine and Silas’ relationship woes were difficult to watch and sparked a lot of conversation online, which gave the show a big hook, too. Bravo confirmed that they’re filming a second season this summer, so get into it!
The Bear - Season 2 (Hulu)
No doubt that this will go down as one of the best shows of the year. This second season was as good of a follow-up that we could’ve hoped for after its breakout first season, and I loved that it did that while not playing it safe. It took away a bit of the manic intensity that dominated its first season (not all of it, to be sure) and gave some time for a few fantastic episodes centered around secondary characters that became some of the most memorable of the series. Add in some unexpected cameos, an incredible love interest in Molly Gordon and an epic needle drop of Taylor Swift’s “Love Story,” and you have a pretty perfect second season of one of the best new shows on TV.
The Other Two - Season 3 (Max)
The third and final season was hilarious and inventive, but also felt like it had run out of ideas for Cary and Brooke Dubek, the two older siblings of superstar singer Chase Dreams who are still desperate to find their place in the industry. I felt as if this season was a little too rigid in the tracks that it put Cary and Brooke on, which resulted in them interacting less than you’d hope. Overall, though, what a run for one of the funniest show to be on TV over the past few years!
Reality (Max)
Sidney Sweeney stars as Reality Winner, an intelligence official accused of leaking classified information. All of the dialogue in the movie is based upon the real recordings taken during the FBI’s initial interrogation of Reality, and the movie really slowly ramps up the intensity in a clever way.
Being Mary Tyler Moore (Max)
A wonderful documentary about the life and career of Mary Tyler Moore and the impact that she had on women and culture in this country. It features some incredible talking heads and great footage from throughout her life. I learned a lot about a very important figure in pop culture from watching this, so I highly recommend giving it a watch.