Everything I Watched Last Month (May 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 May.

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 April 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 May 2024 (and here’s the list from April if you want more ideas for things to watch):

The Fall Guy (in theaters)

I really enjoyed this movie! To me, it’s what summer blockbusters are all about, and it was so fun to see in theaters. Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt have fantastic chemistry, it’s cheeky and entertaining, and it had a nice balance of romance and action. The plot got a little convoluted and silly, but whatever.

The Real Housewives of D.C. - Season 1 (Peacock)

I rewatched “RHODC” for the first time in 14 years after Peacock made it available to stream for the first time last month. It’s such a solid season of early “Housewives,” so if you haven’t seen it, definitely add it to your list (it’s only 11 episodes). It’s simultaneously a time capsule to early Obama years and a show that was absolutely ahead of its time. Listen to my reaction to the rewatch here.

Palm Royale (Apple TV+)

Kristen Wiig doing comedy again? Alongside an all-star supporting cast? In 1960s Palm Beach? Sign me the fuck up! Sure, this series could’ve been two episodes shorter and some of the plot was a little wonky, but ultimately I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It feels like what Ryan Murphy tries to do with his shows. It had a delicious aesthetic, but also substance.

Selling The OC - season 3 (Netflix)

Just an incredible season of reality TV. There’s something about the co-ed cast that really takes this “Selling” franchise to the next level. Most of them are pretty unlikable, but the duo of Polly and Alex Hall think they’re coming off so, so differently than they actually do and it’s fascinating to see. This season was evidence that two things can be true: Sean is pretty unhinged and desperate for camera time, but he’s also probably telling the truth about that other guy and his wife wanting to have a threesome with him. That scene where they almost got into a physical altercation at the office over that? Phenomenal television.

The Iron Claw (Max)

Finally watched this one from the fall, and what a film it is! Zac Efron absolutely should’ve gotten more awards recognition for his performance in this. He’s such a star and incredibly talented, but I feel like people still don’t take him completely seriously, which is a shame. This true story about a family of cursed wrestlers is emotional and captivating. Don’t sleep on it like I did.

Black Twitter: A People’s History (Hulu)

An awesome three-part docu-series that essentially doubles as an oral history of Black Twitter, as well as Twitter itself. The story of Twitter cannot be told without acknowledging and giving credit to Black Twitter for originating so many of its most viral moments and memes. There’s a great group of talking heads here that help to tell those stories and recount those moments, and it’s a fun trip down memory lane that will transport you back to some of the most fun nights you’ve ever had on the internet.

Big Mood (Tubi)

I wanted to love this show more than I did, particularly because the two leads are fantastic rising stars. Lydia West first captured my attention as the beating heart of the 2021 series “It’s A Sin,” while Nicola Coughlin obviously broke out on “Bridgerton.” The series had its moments, but ultimately it was just much darker than I expected, and I didn’t think that it gave us enough levity to balance out the tone of the show.

Babes (in theaters)

I really enjoyed this movie! Ilana Glazer and Michelle Buteau star as best friends who are on very different parenting journeys, and it paints a refreshingly warts-and-all picture of pregnancy and parenthood. It’s hilarious and poignant and sweet. It’s certainly not perfect and some of the gags didn’t land for me, but there are whiffs of “Bridesmaids” in here that make it absolutely worth the watch. A great Summer movie night pick.

Going Home with Tyler Cameron (Prime)

I love me a good home renovation show, but one of the reasons why I never really watch HGTV anymore is that all of the couples who renovate homes on those shows all blend together. They’re all the same. This show solves that problem by putting Tyler Cameron at the center as he builds his contracting business in his hometown of Jupiter, Florida, while also renovating his late mother’s home that he grew up in. Is the home and interior style for me? Not really, but he’s so charming and fun to look at that it doesn’t really matter. I found this to be super watchable and great background TV.

Bridgerton - Season 3a (Netflix)

This season of “Bridgerton” is, so far, the best since season 1, in my opinion! I’m loving it, and I cannot wait for part two to drop this weekend. I fucking love Penelope/Lady Whistledown, and I’m so curious where they take it from here given that (SPOILER ALERT) she’s already gotten what she’s wanted from Colin.

Survivor - Season 46 (Paramount+)

One of the better seasons of “Survivor” from its “New Era.” I still think there are way too many twists and advantages, and this cast in particular was embarrassingly obsessed with building resumés and how things appeared to the jury instead of just playing the game, but ultimately it was entertaining and twisty and enjoyable to watch. I’ve already forgotten most of their names.

Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal (Netflix)

Another fine docu-series about a fairly recent ripped-from-the-headlines story, this one about the affair website Ashley Madison and the infamous leak that aired out the lives of several high-profile men. The part about the Christian YouTube couple was interesting until the husband confessed to not just being on the website but also having carried out a bunch of affairs that we just… never got any details about. Overall, it was interesting and sexy enough for background watching, but the lack of resolution kind left me giving this one a shrug before immediately moving on to something else.

Abbott Elementary - Season 3 (Hulu)

If there’s a better sitcom on television, I haven’t heard of it. Quinta Brunson and the rest of the “Abbott” cast/writers continue to deliver the laughs and the tears, a delicate balance that its perfected through three incredible seasons.

Summer House: MV - Season 2 (Bravo)

Despite knowing now that “Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard” was put “on pause” by Bravo after its second season, I still love this show and thoroughly enjoyed season 2. This is a fun cast, it felt in many ways like a step up from their first season and seemed like they were primed to find even more of a groove moving forward. It’s sad to me that they won’t be getting that chance this summer, but hopefully they do sooner rather than later!

Rather (Netflix)

There’s no embeddable trailer that I can find online for this one, but you can watch one here on Netflix’s website. It’s a perfectly solid 90-minute doc about the life and career of Dan Rather, one of the preeminent newscasters in history. By tracking his life, you also get a bit of a history lesson and a peek into the evolution of modern media.

Vanderpump Rules - Season 11 (Bravo)

Enough has been said about this season of “Vanderpump Rules,” the post-Scandoval rollercoaster that kept the show’s ratings high, but made a lot of viewers mad. It’s very much needed that this show is on an extended hiatus, but I hope it’s not the last we’ve seen of our favorite SURvers! (And I would be shocked if it was.) Listen to my end-of-season deep dive here for more of my thoughts.

Hacks - Season 3 (Max)

To me, this is a perfect season of television. Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder’s comedic chemistry is off the charts, and my feeling is that the show has progressed at the perfect speed all while keeping everything more or less realistic. Every single one of their finales has flipped the show on its head, which makes the anticipation for its next season that much more difficult to keep at bay. Here’s to season 4!