Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

5 TV shows you need to watch in May 2023

There are several shows returning with new seasons in May. including The Other Two on HBO Max (soon to be known simply as Max), The Great on Hulu, Stillwater and Prehistoric Planet on Apple TV+, and Mayans M.C., which will premiere its fifth and final season on FX on May 24.

But there are also exciting new shows coming to your favorite streaming services this month. From a prequel to Bridgerton to the return of The Muppets, a new dystopian drama, and a hilarious comedy starring Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne, there’s a diverse selection from which to choose.

Recommended Videos

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (May 4)

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story | Official Trailer | Netflix

Fans of Bridgerton will deem Queen Charlotte a must-watch. The limited series drama serves as both a prequel and spinoff of Bridgerton, focusing on the story of a young Queen Charlotte before her rise to power.

Golda Rosheuval returns in the role of Queen Charlotte while India Amarteifio (The Midwich Cuckoos) will play a younger version of her. With just six episodes, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is a quick binge that will quench your thirst for the historical fiction/romance series until Bridgerton returns for its third season (a fourth has also been confiemed).

Stream Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story on Netflix

Silo (May 5)

Silo — Official Trailer | Apple TV+

Another dystopian drama to add to the growing list, Silo is a sci-fi series with a unique twist: what remains of the world after an apocalyptic situation is toxic and deadly. Only 10,000 people are left on Earth, all residing in a mysterious silo underground. No one knows who, when, or why the silo was created, but it’s the only thing that stands between them and certain death. They live by a set of strict regulations that are supposedly for their own protection. Nonetheless, one engineer named Juliette (Rebecca Ferguson, Dune) needs answers, not only about the situation, but also the murder of a loved one. As she seeks truths, she uncovers a dark mystery and a web of lies.

Silo is based on the series of novels of the same name by Hugh Howey. In addition to starring in the series, Ferguson is also counted among its executive producers. The series also stars rapper Common, David Oyelowo (Star Wars Rebels), Iain Glen (Game of Thrones, Titans), Rashida Jones (Parks and Recreation), and Tim Robbins (Here and Now).

Stream Silo on Apple TV+

Class of ’09 (May 10)

Image of 4 people's heads in two different timelines in a promo photo from Class of '09 on FX on Hulu.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Kate Mara (Fantastic Four) and Brian Tyree Henry (Atlanta) star in this limited series suspense thriller about FBI agents dealing with different changes in the U.S. criminal justice system as the result of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Taking place at three distinct points in time across multiple decades, the show looks at justice, humanity, and choices that can define our paths when it comes to both.

Henry stars as Tayo, a brilliant yet unorthodox agent, and Mara as Poet, an unlikely law enforcement officer who becomes central to one of the most pivotal changes in the system.

Stream Class of ’09 on FX on Hulu

The Muppets Mayhem (May 10)

The Muppets Mayhem | Official Trailer | Disney+

Who doesn’t love The Muppets? Travel right back to your childhood with Jim Henson’s furry friends who return in this comedy musical. The series stars YouTuber Lilly Singh, Tahj Mowery (Smart Guy), Saara Chaudry (The Mysterious Benedict Society), and Anders Holm (Workaholics), along with the Muppet performers.

The Muppets Mayhem follows a music executive named Nora (Singh), who wants to help the members of Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem reinvigorate their music careers. However, as much as these guys are admired for how ferociously they rock out, navigating today’s complicated music business is easier said than done. With a long list of cameos from actors, musicians, and comedians ranging from Paula Abdul to deadmua5, Tommy Lee, Cheech Marin, and Jack McBrayer, The Muppets Mayhem is bound to be a fun watch for the whole family.

Stream The Muppets Mayhem on Disney+

Platonic (May 24)

Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen raise a glass to one another sitting in an apartment in a scene from Platonic on Apple TV+.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Seth Rogen (The Super Mario Bros. Movie) and Rose Byrne (Physical) team up again with creator Nick Stoller (the trio previously worked together on Neighbors and Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising) for this comedy about two once=estranged best friends who reunite while simultaneously dealing with their own personal midlife crises.

Through the first season of 10 half-hour episodes, the pair reconnect after an argument drove them apart. But it might not be good news for either of them as their friendship begins to consume their entire lives.

Stream Platonic on Apple TV+

Topics
Christine Persaud
Christine has decades of experience in trade and consumer journalism. While she started her career writing exclusively about…
3 underrated Netflix shows you should watch this weekend (February 7-9)
The Haunting Bly Manor on Netflix

It can be comforting to watch the same shows over and over again, but sometimes, you might be looking for something that breaks up the tedium. Netflix is filled with interesting shows, but knowing where to start can be a challenge.
Hopefully, that's where we come in. We've compiled a list of three underrated Netflix shows that are well worth checking out this weekend. Even better? Each show is relatively bite-sized, meaning you can get through it in a single weekend or savor it a little bit longer to make it last.

We also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.
Penelope (2024)

Read more
3 underrated Netflix shows you should watch this weekend (January 31-February 2)
Joseph Gordon-Levitt raises his arms in an office in Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber.

Streaming has led to a wild array of choices, but it's also led to the possibility that you never actually watch anything at all. If you're spending all your time on Netflix scrolling, looking for the perfect thing, then we've got you covered.
We've pulled together a list of three very different shows available on Netflix for you to watch now. Whatever you might be looking for, you're likely to find something intriguing among these choices.
We also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.
1899 (2022)
1899 | Official Teaser | Netflix
One of the most unsung series Netflix has ever produced, 1899 follows the multinational immigrants aboard a passenger ship in the open ocean who are confronted by a second ship floating near them. This second ship's origins and destination are mysterious, as is what happened to everyone on board.
As the immigrants search for answers, they question the nature of their own reality and whether their fates are truly in their own hands. 1899 is riveting precisely because it knows how to dole out its mystery and keep you hooked through the entirety of its eight-episode season.
You can watch 1899 on Netflix.
Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber (2022)
Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber (2022) Official Trailer | SHOWTIME
The early 2020s were the peak era of shows about various startups launched a decade earlier, and Super Pumped got somewhat lost in the shuffle. Chronicling the chaotic rise of Uber and its quest to become a profitable company, Super Pumped stars Joseph Gordon Levitt as Travis Kalanick, the company's volatile CEO who is ousted from the company after a variety of internal and external fissures become too wide to cross.
Levitt is genuinely excellent in the lead role, and Super Pumped ultimately becomes a story about the way all of these companies can continue to exist without actually making money.
You can watch Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber on Netflix.
Documentary Now! (2015-)
Documentary Now! | Official Trailer (ft. Fred Armisen & Bill Hader) | IFC
One of the greatest parody series ever made, Documentary Now! feels a little bit like a show about a bunch of friends trying to make each other laugh. Each episode is a parody of a different famous documentary, which may make the series sound niche, but part of the joy is reveling in the specificity of each episode.
Even if you haven't seen the documentary that's being lampooned, there's plenty to admire about the jokes in every episode and the way the show's creative team, led by Bill Hader and Fred Armisen and often featuring a variety of other comedic geniuses, chooses to format each episode.
You can watch Documentary Now! on Netflix.

Read more
7 best TV shows of the 2020s so far, ranked
Two dragons roar behind Rhaenyra in "House of the Dragon" season 2.

Television continues to fill the airwaves with top-tier programs that rival cinema in terms of quality and acclaim. Shows on regular television networks and streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV+, and Max have recently delivered several outstanding new shows and seasons that achieved record-breaking ratings, amassed significant awards, or both.
Though the world is only halfway into the 2020s, these seven TV shows have established themselves as the best of the decade so far.

7. The Bear (2022-present)

Read more