Everything I Watched in July 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 July.
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 July 2023 (and here’s the list from June if you want more ideas for things to watch):
Take Care of Maya (Netflix)
One of the better Netflix docs I’ve seen lately. This one tells the story of a girl with a rare illness who is taken away from her parents after an emergency hospital visit. It’s a nightmare scenario, and the film highlights some really shameful corruption.
Rock Hudson: What Heaven Allows (Max)
Definitely one of the best things I watched this month. This HBO documentary focuses on Hollywood icon Rock Hudson, who very much lived a double life — to the public, he was a heartthrob and straight-presenting leading man, while in private he was living as a gay man. The movie is told almost exclusively through archival interviews and footage and commentary from those that knew him, and it’s a really special watch.
Wham! (Netflix)
This is a great documentary about the British pop sensation Wham! — from its origins to achieving global success before George Michael broke off to go solo — and includes some incredible footage of the peak of their powers.
The Idol (Max)
No comment. But I am still listening to that Lily Rose-Depp bop, so it did give us at least one good thing.
Joyride (in theaters)
It makes me sad that this hilarious movie didn’t perform better at the box office last month, so definitely catch it when it hits streaming. It stars Ashley Park from “Emily in Paris” as a young lawyer who travels to China with her best friend and her cousin to close a business deal. There, they meet up with her friend and end up searching for her birth mother in a hilarious and poignant journey through China. It had me laughing and crying, sometimes both at the same time.
Burden of Proof (Max)
The set-up for this true crime doc was instantly compelling: The man at the center of the show’s sister disappeared from her family home in the ‘80s, and he’s still searching for the truth, having insisted for years that his parents are involved in her murder. The four-episode series features interviews with him, his mother and various investigators, and it’s full of revelations.
1000% Me: Growing Up Mixed (Max)
W. Kamau Bell is quietly emerging as one of my favorite documentary storytellers. He executive produced and narrated that fantastic Bill Cosby docu-series last year, and he does the same here for this one-hour special that spotlights a bunch of young children who are growing up mixed race in America, interviewing both them and their parents about what their experiences have been like and how they think about their identities. It’s a fascinating and enlightening watch.
Platonic (Apple TV+)
Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen have incredible on-screen chemistry, and “Platonic” is proof that their characters don’t even need to be romantically involved for that to hold true. I loved this show about two best friends who reconnect later in life, rekindle their friendship and help one another figure some shit out along the way.
Smiley (Netflix)
I really enjoyed this cute and quirky Spanish series about two gay men who couldn’t be more different from one another but ultimately fall in love. While their story is at the center of the eight-episode series, it was nice that a few other relationships in their orbit share some of the screen time.
Barbie (in theaters)
There’s not much to say about “Barbie” that you haven’t heard already, but I fucking loved this movie and am so happy it exists. The whole Barbie explosion this summer has created a perfect storm for this movie to thrive (it just passed $1 billion at the box office!), and it’s an incredible achievement for Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie and team. I can’t wait to see it again.
The Kardashians - Season 3 (Hulu)
This was the best season of the Kardashian-Jenners’ show since their move to Hulu and gave me hope that they’re finding their footing on what works for this newer incarnation of their reality TV journey. The Kim and Kourtney drama was delicious (Kim’s “dolce vita lifestyle” monologue is instant reality TV canon), they were very candid about some serious topics, Kim was super vulnerable about the Kanye stuff and everyone felt fairly engaged. Their chokehold on me continues.
Angel City (Max)
This three-part doc series about the creation of a new women’s soccer team in LA with big celebrity ties was fine. I love that it put a spotlight on female sports and the assorted hurdles that female athletes and the infrastructure around them have to overcome to even just be taken seriously, but ultimately this felt like a vanity project that serves as a nice background show.
Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York (Max)
This four-part documentary tells the harrowing tale of the hunt for a serial killer who preyed on gay men in New York City in the early ‘90s. In addition to tracking the murders and the investigations around them, the doc does an excellent job of weaving in discussion around the AIDS crisis, the rise of hate crimes and the precarious relationship between the LGBTQ community and the police. Well worth the watch, especially if you’re gay and/or live in NYC.
Cruel Summer - Season 2 (Hulu)
The second season of this Jessica Biel-produced Freeform show centers on a completely new story with all-new characters. While it wasn’t as gripping as the first season and could’ve benefited from being a couple fewer episodes, ultimately it was still an entertaining season full of solid twists and a killer soundtrack.