Everything I Watched Last Month (August 2024)

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 August. Heads up that this list is shorter than usual because of how much I traveled last month and being absolutely Olympic-pilled the past two weeks.

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.

RELATED: Everything I Watched in July 2024

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 August 2024 (and here’s the list from July if you’re new here or just want more ideas for things to watch):

Ren Faire (Max) 👍

This was a fascinating 3-episode docuseries about the largest Renaissance festival in America and the succession battle that erupted when its king announces that he’s retiring. There are a slew of unique characters involved here, and the playful framing often used by the documentary makers helps to highlight their quirkiness in a way that I appreciated. Oh, and that ending? I could’ve seen it coming from a mile away.

It Ends With Us (in theaters) 👐

Sigh. Was this adaptation of the Colleen Hoover novel entertaining? Yes! Is Blake Lively totally watchable as an on-screen star? No question. Was the movie good? Not really. I went into an early screening of this movie having absolutely no idea it was about domestic abuse, so I was a little shook by it and its handling of such a serious matter. There were some bizarre character and plot choices made in this one, and ultimately the drama surrounding the cast usurped any other discussion about this film.

The Bear - Season 3 (Hulu) 👎

Just like everyone else, I loved the first two seasons of this show, but this third season just did not do it for me — at all. It felt like very little happened, there were way too many time jumps, some of the episodes just felt like 30-minute montages and there was simply not enough Molly Gordon! The season’s saving grace was the one episode that centered on Tina and how she started working at the restaurant. Otherwise, this was a big miss.

RHONJ - Season 14 (Bravo) 👍

Contrary to popular opinion, I very much enjoyed this season of “RHONJ,” which ended up being the end of an era. I thought that Teresa and Melissa largely agreeing to simply coexist during filming actually worked and made room for other dynamic shifts to occur, like Jackie jumping ship, the Fudas feuding with Louis and Teresa and Danielle’s fallout from Jennifer. The finale was also pretty instantly iconic. Let’s forget about that watch party special, though. Who knows what’s in store for the future of the franchise, but this cast had a damn great run and they should be commended for that.

Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam (Netflix) 👐

This is one of those Netflix docuseries that isn’t necessarily that good, but it does rip back the curtain on a pertinent pop culture story that feels important specifically to Millennials, so it’s still worth watching. It focuses on the rise and fall of Lou Pearlman, an evil genius of a music mogul whose house of cards ultimately crumbles, but not after he builds up the careers of some of our generation’s biggest pop arts.

Emily in Paris - Season 4a (Netflix) 👍

I can never quit this silly little show! I’ve always had this sense that people wanted this show to be something that it’s not, and it goes down much smoother if you just embrace its frivolous, escapist nature. I enjoyed the first part of season 4, and I’m looking forward to part 2, which drops on Thursday.

Also, highly recommend this interview with the series’ creator, Darren Star, which illuminated a lot around how he thinks about some of the show’s biggest critics.

We Are Lady Parts - Season 2 (Peacock) 👍

There was a long break between the first and second seasons of this fantastic show, which is about a punk band made up of Muslim women in the UK. It’s a groundbreaking series that brings Muslim womanhood to the forefront in ways that are rarely seen in order corners of pop culture. Season 2 is really about the band’s increasing success and how that complicates their collective and individual identities — come for the great storytelling, stay for the “Oops! I Did It Again” cover.

American Murder: Laci Peterson (Netflix) 👍

As a Millennial growing up in America, of course I remembered the Laci Peterson case, but I remembered it very broadly and never knew many of the specifics. So, this 3-episode series that tells the story of her disappearance, murder, and the subsequent trial of her husband, Scott Peterson, taught me a lot about the headline-making case. It’s a heartbreaking story, and I think they did a solid job at telling it via the people closest to Laci and Scott.

Side note: I never watched the Peacock series that came out at the same time as this one, which I think tells his side of the story. Has anyone watched that? Is it worth it? Let me know.

Clipped (Hulu) 👍

This mini-series tells the ripped-from-the-headlines true story of Clippers team owner Donald Sterling’s leaked recording scandal from the 2013-2014 NBA season. It’s technically an adaptation of ESPN’s “30 for 30” podcast series “The Sterling Affairs,” and it does an excellent job at telling the complex story, which involves Sterling’s fame-hungry “personal assistant,” his bewildering wife, coach Doc Rivers and the players who have to continue playing games through all the drama.

Daughters (Netflix) 👍👍

I can’t stop thinking about this documentary, which centers on a father-daughter dance for men who are incarcerated in a Washington, D.C. prison. It follows the lead-up to the dance (the men have to take a 10-week course to prepare), the dance itself and the aftermath of the emotional affair. It’s heartbreaking and beautiful and complicated, and you can’t help but fall in love with the girls that they spotlight throughout the film. I couldn’t recommend this enough, but make sure to have your tissues at the ready.

Love Is Blind UK (Netflix) 👍👍

This first season of the “Love Is Blind” expansion into Britain was stellar. The decision to cast “older” contestants (more were in their early 30s versus mid 20s, like in the US version) really paid off and delivered a season full of promising couples who seemed genuinely ready for their next chapter. Did they all follow through on that promise? Well, no. Listen to my end-of-season deep dive here.

Cowboy Cartel (Apple TV+) 👍

The premise of this 4-episode docuseries is riveting: A rookie FBI agent uncovers a money laundering scheme tied to horse racing and the deadliest drug cartel in Mexico. They do a pretty great job at telling this story via those involved, though it gets a little difficult to follow later into the retelling.

A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder (Netflix) 👎

I honestly don’t even know why I decided to commit to this show about a teenager who investigates a local girl’s unsolved disappearance as a school project (?), but it just never clicked for me. There were a few too many cliché twists and a few too many extremely convenient reveals to make this a believable crime drama.

In The Arena: Serena Williams (ESPN+) 👍👍

Serena Williams means more to me than I could ever express. I started following her career back in 2001 when I was 9 years old, and I’ve been tapped in ever since. So, to get this 8-episode docuseries that goes deep into the intricacies and behind-the-scenes of her legendary career was truly so special. It features first-hand interviews with Serena, Venus, their family members, her team and more, and it does a phenomenal job unpacking some of the more complicated moments in her life, like the racist incident at Indian Wells in 2001 that kickstarted Serena and Venus’ boycott of the tournament for over a decade before Serena decided to return, which gets an entire episode.

There were countless unaddressed moments, to be sure — none of her rivalries are really unpacked (other than her complicated one with Venus) and a few of her biggest on-court controversies are completely skipped over — but with a life and career like Serena’s, it would take more than eight episodes to discuss everything. Here’s to hoping we get another project like this from her in the future, with even more space and perspective from her tennis career.