April showers bring May—wait, was that a snowflake? If strange weather patterns have you bundling up one minute and frustratingly shedding sweaty layers the next, there’s no shame in occasionally retreating to the climate-controlled comfort of your couch and indulging in an entertaining show or two. Or three.
So get cozy with a mug of hot cocoa—or lemonade, what season is it? Here’s what to stream in May when you’re feeling indoorsy.
Workin' Moms (Netflix)
This comedic drama gives a glimpse into #momlife from the perspectives of four 30-something working mothers who become friends while attending a mommy group. Though their lives are strikingly different, their struggle to find work-life balance, love, and a sense of self bring the women together. At turns moving, cringe-worthy, irreverent, and laugh-out-loud funny, the show is based on the personal experiences of starring actor and co-creator of the show Catherine Reitman ("Blackish," "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia").
Hollywood (Netflix)
Set in post-World War II Hollywood, the series follows a group of aspiring actors and filmmakers as they attempt to blaze their own paths to stardom; at times going to extremes. Though critics have called the show unrealistic and an overly dramatic look at the film industry’s history (is there another way to do it?), who can resist the glitz and glam of old-school Hollywood, or really anything co-created by Ryan Murphy (“Nip/Tuck”, “Glee”, and “American Horror Story”)?
I Know this Much is True (HBO)
If you’re feeling down and out, this might not be the series for you. But if you love a grim-yet-thrilling drama, especially one that was filmed locally, “I Know This Much is True” checks all the boxes. The series—a six-part adaptation of Wally Lamb's 1998 best-selling novel of the same name—follows the parallel lives of identical twins (played by Mark Ruffalo). What unfolds is a string of tragedies, betrayal, and ultimately, forgiveness. Filming for the mini-series took place last year in Delaware, Dutchess, Orange, and Ulster counties and generated $15 million in local spending.
Upload (Amazon Prime)
“That’s Mohonk!” you’ll exclaim, as we all have done, during the opening scene of this satirical comedy, as the camera pans across the beloved New Paltz resort. In the futuristic world of “Upload,” people on their deathbed have the option to pass away normally or upload their consciousness into a digital heaven and carry on “living.” “Good Place” meets “Maniac,” this show follows the choose-your-own-afterlife adventure of a recently deceased man who gets a second chance at finding love, purpose, and friendship. As expected from creator Greg Daniels (“Parks and Rec), witty cynicism abounds.
Mrs. America (Hulu)
Unless we understand history, we are doomed to repeat it, the adage goes. Enter “Mrs. America”, a refresher on the 1970s cultural battle for gender equality surrounding the Equal Rights Amendment—a proposed addition to the constitution making gender equality a law. The story is told from the perspective of Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan, Shirley Chisholm, and other activists, but also of Phyllis Schlafly, the opposing conservative lawyer who doomed the ratification of the amendment, played to perfection by Cate Blanchett.
Devs (Hulu)
Who doesn’t love the occasional conspiracy-driven thriller? “Devs” follows the story of Lily Chan, a software engineer at a Silicon Valley tech company who suspects her boyfriend’s alleged suicide was actually foul play. Her investigation takes her down a rabbit hole of sinister secrets and a conspiracy that could impact the world. If the “Parks and Rec” reunion left you hungering for more Nick Offerman screen time, gobble up his unexpected turn as a Silicon Valley tech genius/wackadoo in this dark drama.
The Plot Against America (HBO)
Based on the wildly popular novel by Philip Roth and starring Winona Ryder, “The Plot” is set in an alternate-reality WWII-era in which famed aviator and suspected Nazi sympathizer Charles Lindbergh becomes the US president, stirring up fascism in his rise to power. The story follows the lives of a working-class Jewish family in New Jersey and the struggles they endure during this trying time.