May is a bumper month for everyone who loves TV, with some seriously exciting stuff coming to streaming this month. The Queen Charlotte-focused Bridgerton spin-off is finally releasing and Netflix is bringing a new J-Lo starring thriller to our screens, plus hoards more to come. We’ve put together a guide of what to watch this weekend and beyond, from cringe-comedies to political dramas.
What To Stream This Weekend & Beyond…
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
Definitely the biggest Netflix release this month, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is a prequel to the main Bridgerton series, telling the origins of Queen Charlotte, played both by Golda Rosheuvel reprising her role as the older Charlotte and India Amarteifio will play the younger version. The plot will see the young Charlotte “betrothed to the mysterious King of England against her will, Charlotte arrives in London only to realise she was not exactly what the royals were expecting”, and beginning the rise to eventually become monarch.
Watch it on: Netflix
Release date: 4.5.23
The Mother
It’s been teased for a long time, but J-Lo’s new thriller The Mother is nearly here. The premise sees the star step into the role of an assassin on the run trying to protect her daughter. Having been in hiding for years, J-Lo’s protagonist (only known as the Mother) is forced to come out of her hideout to save her daughter from several fellow assassins out to kill her. It looks like it’ll be a Bourne-style action thriller, with the trailer showing Lopez in some death-defying stunts and trying to stay in the shadows to protect the person most close to her. The Mother is set to arrive this month at last on 12th May, and also stars Joseph Fiennes, Omari Hardwick, Gael Garcia Bernal and Paul Raci.
Watch it on: Netflix
Release date: 12.5.23
Silo
Silo is a new dystopian thriller on Apple TV+, led by Mission Impossible and Dune star Rebecca Ferguson. In the not-too-distant future, changes in the Earth’s atmosphere lead to humanity moving underground to survive, inside a massive structure called “The Silo”. Anyone who leaves the structure will die within minutes, and it’s forbidden to talk or even think about trying to get out. When the sheriff and several other residents of the building die in mysterious circumstances, Fergurson’s hardworking engineer Juliette begins to investigate. As she unravels shocking truths and conspiracy, she finds her own life in serious danger.
Watch it on: Apple TV+
Begins: 5.5.23
Platonic
Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne buddy up for this comedy Platonic. It’s about friendships and their ups and downs. The pair star as Will and Sylvia, who had long been lovingly close but platonic friends. But the previously inseparable duo suddenly had a rift and a falling out, and each went their separate ways. Years later, Will and Sylvia are now in middle age and start reconnecting and trying to piece their friendship back together. The issue is, their separate lives and responsibilities mean that things start to get tricky when their repaired friendship becomes all-consuming, and destabilises their lives- albeit with hilarious results.
Watch it on: Apple TV+
Begins: 24.5.23
American Born Chinese
This Disney+ series is based on the acclaimed and beloved graphic novel of the same name, and also acts as something of an Everything Everywhere All At Once reunion. Both Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan, who nabbed Oscars for their roles in last year’s multiverse romp, will appear in the new series along with Stephanie Hsu. It follows a high school student, Jin Wang (Ben Wang), who’s struggling with his time at school, home life, and identity. He meets a new foreign exchange student at his school, Wei-Chen (Jim Liu) and becomes his guide. Things get pretty out of this world as Jin becomes involved in a battle of the gods of Chinese mythology, namely Guanyin (Yeoh) and Sun Wukong (Daniel Wu).
Watch it on: Disney+
Begins: 24.5.23
The Coronation
This one is a bit of a no-brainer, but the biggest TV event of the month is the coronation of Charles III, which will be broadcast and streamed live on 6th May. Charles becomes the first monarch of the UK to be crowned in 70 years, and the historical event will likely last around three hours, with the service beginning at 11am. There will also be the coronation procession, a 1.3 mile journey toward Westminster Abbey prior to the service. The Coronation Concert, featuring the likes of Katy Perry, Take That and Lionel Richie will be broadcast the next day. You can watch it all on BBC One and iPlayer.
Watch it on: BBC One and iPlayer on 6.5.23, live from 11am, with coverage from 6am
White House Plumbers
HBO’s historical political drama takes you to the heart of Washington in the 1970s, as the Watergate scandal that engulfed President Richard Nixon and caused him to resign begins to unfold. Woody Harrelson and Justin Theroux star together as E. Howard Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy, two political operatives tasked by the doomed President with plugging as many leaks about the government’s secret plans as possible. Unfortunately, as this satirical miniseries shows, the two accidentally manage to topple not only the presidency but also themselves and their families, despite trying zealously to protect it. As their plots of bugging and deception unfold, the two find themselves fast becoming less skilled saboteurs and more bungling criminals.
Watch it on: Sky Atlantic, NOW
Begins: 1.5.23
For what to stream this weekend, check out our culture section
