The 5 Best Shows of May, Hands-Down

When I round up the best shows from month to month, it's kind of a mixed bag. For example, April was stacked with great shows—so much so that I had to expand my list from five choices to nine. However, as I revisited the May 2026 offerings, it became clear that there were five standouts (not quite nine, but still respectable).

And while I know everyone is talking about Off Campus (yes, I watched the first episode and, yes, star Belmont Cameli looks great in the Heated Rivalry-coded shower scene), it sadly didn't make this list. Please don't @ me.

But as for what did make May's top shows list? Guys, these are really good streaming options. From The Boroughs on Netflix to Dutton Ranch on Paramount+, here are the five best shows of May, hands-down.

No exaggeration, I binged this charming, spooky, thrilling, fun, star-studded new Netflix series so fast. Episode one drops us into a retirement community that's giving major Don't Worry Darling vibes. Its residents? A who's who of famous faces, including Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Denis O’Hare and Bill Pullman. The latest arrival is a grumpy and grieving Alfred Molina who just lost his wife (played in flashbacks/dreams by Jane Kaczmarek). Sure that's quite a cast, but that's not even the best part.

The Boroughs is basically Stranger Things but featuring retirees instead of kids (makes sense since the show is executive produced by the Duffer Brothers). It doesn't take long for several of the residents to figure out that something sinister is going on involving monsters and a deep conspiracy.

This show is so great—it's fast-paced and features a lot of exciting twists. It's like if the Goonies were all grown up! And don't worry if you're squeamish, as the humor throughout keeps it from feeling at all like traditional horror.

Confession: Yellowstone wasn't my thing. I watched a few episodes, but it never really stuck for me. Even so, I gave Dutton Ranch—a Yellowstone sequel spinoff featuring Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Rip (Cole Hauser)—a shot, and I'm so glad I did.

Things kick into high gear almost immediately as a giant fire forces Beth and Rip to relocate to Texas. There's a lot of talk of wanting to find "peace," but it quickly becomes clear that the duo will find anything but peace at their new home, Dutton Ranch. Their main new antagonist? A fabulous Annette Bening, who runs a nearby (read: rival) ranch. Another famous face added to the mix? Ed Harris, a local veterinarian who takes a liking to Beth.

As I said, plot points move quickly in the new series, and it's not long before we get a murder—and an episode one twist ending. Something tells me longtime Yellowstone fans will love this one, and newbies like myself will be just as enthralled.

One of the best shows of 2025 was undoubtedly Adolescence, which was co-created by Jack Thorne. Now, Thorne is back with this new four-episode book-to-screen adaptation on Netflix—and it's a serious must-watch.

A group of school children crash land on a deserted island. What they do next is the stuff of nightmares, and it makes you question if our kids are really okay. The limited series is action-filled and surprisingly well acted (considering the cast is comprised of only children).

Like the book many of us read back in high school, this iteration is thought-provoking, holding a lens not only up to society (anyone else find this show strangely relevant today?!), but to our primal instincts as humans. Fans of the book and strangers to the original will enjoy this story, which was a precursor to shows like Yellowjackets and The Wilds.

The second season of hit comedy-drama Rivals has finally arrived. Set in 1980s England and starring the iconic Scottish actor David Tennant, the show follows a set of rival television execs as they battle it out for ratings and the love of the public. The show is drama-filled, but it's also sexy and steamy. Honestly, it gives Heated Rivalry a run for its money when it comes to sex scenes and, ya know, butts.

I seriously missed out on this series the first time around (I never saw season one), but I'm fully invested now that I dove right into season two. It took about five minutes to catch up, though I fully intend to go back and binge the first season after this one concludes.

In addition to the quick-wit and soapy writing, much of the fun of the show comes from just how '80s-tastic it is. The hair, the outfits, the constant smoking—I love it all. Believe me when I say this show took me by surprise in the best way possible.

You may recognize the star of this new AppleTV series Tatiana Maslany from Orphan Black and She-Hulk. But this role is a huge departure from either of those. Here, Maslany plays a divorced mom with a penchant for online sex-chats and showing up late to pick up her daughter from her ex-husband.

From the get-go, it's clear our lead character is flawed but desperate to pull her life together for the sake of her kid. But when the man she's been sex-chatting with is attacked during one of their video chats, her life is turned upside-down.

No spoilers here, but the show quickly becomes a thriller (with plenty of humor as well). And the twist at the end of the first episode? I hit play on episode two so fast!

And if the all of these streaming options aren't enough for you, you can check out the top options from even earlier this year. Happy binge-watching!

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