As spring turns to summer, May 2025 offers a garden of fresh premieres and returning favorites. From Tina Fey’s sitcom comeback to dystopian cyborgs and beach-sized waves, the small screen is bursting with storytelling brilliance. Here’s our curated guide to this month’s most compelling TV offerings.
The Four Seasons (Netflix, May 1)
Tina Fey steps back into the spotlight with The Four Seasons, a reimagining of Alan Alda’s 1981 romantic comedy. This miniseries follows six longtime friends whose seasonal vacations become emotionally turbulent when one couple announces their breakup. Fey, alongside Steve Carell, Colman Domingo, and Will Forte, brings depth and comedic chemistry to the ensemble.
The drama unfolds across scenic getaways as the group grapples with change, loyalty, and love in middle age. With its witty dialogue and heartfelt moments, The Four Seasons serves as a refreshing modern portrait of friendship tested by time.
100 Foot Wave, Season 3 (HBO, May 1)
Garrett McNamara returns for another heart-racing chapter of HBO’s breathtaking docuseries. In 100 Foot Wave, the fiftysomething surfer confronts bigger swells and greater risks, with wife Nicole questioning how many more wake-up calls lie ahead.
This season expands its lens beyond Nazaré, Portugal, reaching what surfers call “the most dangerous wave on Earth.” Blending stunning cinematography with existential stakes, the series remains a riveting exploration of human ambition against nature’s fury.
Poker Face, Season 2 (Peacock, May 8)
Natasha Lyonne’s Charlie Cale is back—and murder still can’t escape her. The lie-detecting drifter hits the road again for 12 new episodes in Rian Johnson’s Poker Face. Each case brings a fresh mystery and an even fresher guest star lineup, including John Mulaney, Cynthia Erivo, and Giancarlo Esposito.
The anthology format keeps the narrative agile while Charlie’s journey deepens emotionally. Smart, stylish, and brimming with noir flair, Poker Face remains one of the most inventive crime dramas on TV.
Forever (Netflix, May 8)
Based on Judy Blume’s frequently banned YA classic, Forever captures the intensity and awkwardness of first love. Track star Katherine (Lovie Simone) and basketball standout Michael (Michael Cooper Jr.) embark on a relationship that tests their ideals and identities. Handled with care by a diverse ensemble cast, the adaptation brings Blume’s controversial honesty into the present. This coming-of-age series invites both teen and adult viewers to reflect on vulnerability, consent, and emotional growth.
Duster (Max, May 15)
J.J. Abrams and Josh Holloway reunite for Duster, a gritty ’70s-set crime drama infused with stylized cool. Holloway plays a getaway driver roped into a conspiracy by Nina, the first Black female FBI agent (Rachel Hilson).
Their cat-and-mouse journey through the American Southwest explodes with pulp energy and retro swagger. Co-created by Into the Badlands’ LaToya Morgan, Duster revives the heist genre with flair and fire.
Overcompensating (Prime Video, May 15)Comedian Benito Skinner co-writes and stars in this sharp, college-set dramedy produced by Charli XCX. Benny, closeted and chaotic, teams up with his rebellious roommate Carmen for a semester of fake IDs, vodka-fueled parties, and cringe-worthy hookups.
Anchored by vulnerability beneath the laughs, Overcompensating dissects the pressure to perform adulthood before you’ve figured out who you are. Connie Britton, Kyle MacLachlan, and Mary Beth Barone bring seasoned depth to the supporting cast.
Murderbot (Apple TV+, May 16)
Alexander Skarsgård stars as the rogue security android at the heart of Murderbot, adapted from Martha Wells’ bestselling The Murderbot Diaries. Programmed to protect humans—but increasingly curious about their absurd behavior—Murderbot just wants to watch TV in peace.
The series leans into deadpan comedy as much as sci-fi spectacle. With direction by the Weitz brothers (About a Boy), it offers action, heart, and existential humor, echoing the tone of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy with a darker edge.
Sirens (Netflix, May 22)
White Lotus meets psychological thriller in Sirens, a dark comedy starring Meghann Fahy as Devon. When she suspects her sister Simon (Milly Alcock) has fallen under the spell of a cultish boss (Julianne Moore), Devon infiltrates the idyllic seaside estate where manipulation and control fester.
Created by Maid’s Molly Smith Meltzer and featuring Kevin Bacon and Glenn Howerton, Sirens explores family, identity, and the blurry line between care and coercion.
Adults (FX, May 28)
Set in a messy Brooklyn apartment and armed with dry wit, Adults tracks five friends fumbling through early adulthood. From Tonight Show alums Rebecca Shaw and Ben Kronenberg, this ensemble comedy paints a hilarious, heartfelt portrait of delayed coming-of-age.
Starring Amita Rao, Jack Innanen, and Lucy Freyer—with cameos from D’Arcy Carden and Julia Fox—the series nails the chaotic sweetness of twenty-something friendships in transition.
The Better Sister (Prime Video, May 29)
Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks headline The Better Sister, a chilling domestic thriller. When one sister’s husband is murdered, long-buried secrets force them into an uneasy alliance.
Directed by Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya) and based on Alafair Burke’s novel, the show balances mystery with emotional depth. With a strong supporting cast—Corey Stoll, Kim Dickens—it’s a sharp exploration of sibling rivalry and trauma.
More May must-sees
The Walking Dead: Dead City, Season 2 (AMC, May 4)
Miss Austen (PBS, May 4)
Harry Wild, Season 4 (Acorn TV, May 5)
Criminal Minds: Evolution, Season 18 (Paramount+, May 8)
Conan O’Brien Must Go, Season 2 (Max, May 8)
Bad Thoughts (Netflix, May 13)
Love, Death + Robots, Season 4 (Netflix, May 15)
Nine Perfect Strangers, Season 2 (Hulu, May 21)
Big Mouth, Season 8 (Netflix, May 23)
Rick & Morty, Season 8 (Adult Swim, May 25)
And Just Like That…, Season 3 (Max, May 29)
From sitcom revivals to sci-fi revelations, May 2025 is a month of TV reinvention and rediscovery. Grab the remote—it’s going to be a binge-worthy ride.
