My Most Anticipated Streaming Show Releases of Spring 2022 by Ri Wescott
My Most Anticipated Streaming Show Releases of Spring 2022 by Ri Wescott
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These are, in my opinion, some of the most exciting and anticipated new releases of shows on streaming services in the next couple months. From teen romances to intense action-comedies, I have something on this list for everyone. I would recommend any of these shows to anyone looking for something fun to watch. I could only find exciting new releases for HBO-max and Netflix in the next couple months, so I apologize to any avid Hulu, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, or Disney+ watchers. Enjoy streaming!
March 3rd: Our Flag Means Death on HBO Max
Synopsis: The year is 1717. Wealthy landowner Stede Bonnet has a midlife crisis and decides to leave his comfortable life with a wife and kids to become a pirate. His misadventures with his crew aboard “The Revenge” turn sideways as they cross paths with the infamous Ed “Blackbeard” Teach who seemingly enjoys the quiet life of the Gentleman Pirate.
Cast: Rhys Darby, Taika Waititi, Nathan Foad, Vico Ortiz, Samson Kayo, Con O’neill
My Opinions: Taika Waititi goes above and beyond his previous works for a wonderfully funny and incredibly dramatic historical fiction about gay pirates. As an avid Taika Waititi fan, I was a little apprehensive beginning the show because I had no interest in pirates; but after viewing it for the first (and second time), the show has totally won over my heart. It has beautiful queer representation, the on-screen chemistry between Rhy’s Stede and Taika’s Ed is apparent through their amazing improvised comedy, and it is one of the best ensemble cast pieces I’ve ever seen.
April 22nd: Heartstopper on Netflix
Synopsis: Charlie Spring is an openly gay teenage boy at “Truham School For Boys,” where he is picked on by popular kids for his sexuality. On the first day back from break, Charlie is sat next to Nick Nelson: the rugby king of Truham and certified popular boy. A friendship blossoms between the two leading to an eventual relationship as Nick figures out his sexuality and Charlie just tries to survive this new found crush.
Cast: Joe Locke, Kit Connor, Yasmin Finney, William Gao, Corinna Brown, Kizzy Edgell
My Opinions: Heartstopper is a lovely story filled to the brim with beautifully executed queer representation and teen romance. It not only features gay and bi representation, but also lesbian and trans representation as well. The show is based on a fantastic graphic novel series by Alice Osman who was well involved with the creation of the show so that the writers, directors, and actors would stay true to her artistic vision for her story. The actors play the book characters so well that you would know exactly which character they were just by seeing them. On the first weekend it came out, I watched it twice in the first three days which shows you just how great this show really is. It’s one of my main comfort series and I recommend to anyone who has questioned their identity before, anyone who identifies as a part of the queer community, or anyone who enjoys a cute teen romance show! I am incredibly excited for a second season.
April 24th: Barry Season 3 on HBO Max
Synopsis: Barry Berkman, a discharged Marine, who works as a hitman for a family friend. Lonely and dissatisfied with life, he takes a job in Los Angeles to kill a target that is a regular at an acting class. Barry ends up finding an accepting community in a group of eager amature actors within the L.A. theater scene. He struggles with moving away from his life of killing and moving toward a new life of acting.
Cast: Bill Hader, Anthony Carrigan, Henry Winkler, Sarah Goldberg, Stephen Root
My Opinions: This is the best example I can think of when talking about a drama-dy (drama-comedy). It is so action packed, almost thriller-esque with all the hitman and war scenes; it leaves me at the edge of my seat every single episode. I find myself genuinely screaming and cheering while watching. Right when you think Barry’s life is going well for once, everything hits the fan not soon after. The show is hilariously funny with No-Ho Hank (played by Anthony Carrigan) definitely being the star of the show; it’s not often that you see a flamboyant Chechen mob boss with violent tendencies cracking jokes every other sentence. Bill Hader really goes for it as a writer, director, and main actor of the show and succeeds with flying colors. One of the best shows I’ve seen on HBO and definitely one of the best comedies and dramas of the decade.
May 4th: The Circle Season 4 on Netflix
Synopsis: The Circle is an American reality-tv competition show presented by Michelle Buteau. The series follows contestants who attempt to guess who is a catfish or not for the grand-prize of $100,000. Each contestant tries to be the most popular of the group to rank high during the week's “rankings.” There are a series of games, random twists and turns, and a lot of conversation to help contestants pick out the reals from the fakes. In the end, friendships, enemies, and even romances are created through the magic of The Circle.
Cast: Michelle Buteau (host), cast to be announced
My Opinions: I usually dislike reality television, but this one is more complex, interesting, and entertaining than the common-man's Bachelor or Real Housewives. They tend to pick a pretty diverse cast with people ranging from age 19 to the late 50s and they're from all over the country. Allowing every contestant to choose to either play as themselves and see if they can make it far with their own attributes or create a completely new persona is such a fun element to the show; anybody could be anyone in the circle. Literally anyone could be going home each week so it leaves you on the edge of your seat rooting for your favorites to be safe. One thing I really enjoy about the show as a whole is that the creators keep changing the show as the seasons go on so each season can add new elements to it that weren’t there in seasons past, such as the joker in season 2 or the blue/orange Michelle situation in season 3. It is a reality show for people who prefer game shows over reality television.
May 27th: Stranger Things Season 4-Part 1 on Netflix
Synopsis: During the fall of 1983 in Hawkins, Indiana, a young boy named Will seemingly vanishes into thin air. His friends search for him as they come upon a strange girl with extraordinary powers. As his family & the local police search for answers, they are drawn into a mystery involving top-secret government experiments, terrifying supernatural forces, & portals to another dimension. This love letter to the '80s encapsulates the wonder of being a teen during one of the most exciting decades of the 20th century & some of the most terrifying science fiction you can think of.
Cast: Millie Bobby-Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Sadie Sink, Joe Keery, Natalia Dyer
My Opinions: Since the first season, this has been one of my favorite television shows and definitely one of the biggest Netflix releases of all time. It has such an amazing ensemble cast of incredibly talented child actors and amazing veteran actors alike. The way the Duffer brothers are so good at their world building that it truly feels like you are reliving the 80s is impressive. The story is chilling, fun, and nostalgic; I am sure the final season will not disappoint. As long as there's a lot of Steve and Dustin, it’s good.
June 11th: Umbrella Academy Season 3 on Netflix
Synopsis: On October 1st 1989, 43 women around the globe unexpectedly gave birth without having any signs of pregnancy beforehand. Eccentric billionaire Sir Reginald Hargreeves goes around adopting as many of these babies as he can find. With seven kids born with powers under his belt, he trains this dysfunctional group to be superheroes. Years later, the siblings reunite to solve the mystery of their father's death and the threat of an imminent apocalypse.
Cast: Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher, Justin Min, Elliot Page
My Opinions: This show is such a wildcard that I never expected to like but fell in love with right from the first episode. Adapted from comics by Gerard Way, the show is such an odd outlyer to the genre of superhero media. The 7 main siblings work so perfectly together despite each having their own deep rooted trauma causing a lot of hatred. The show’s soundtrack is genuinely one of my favorite soundtracks of all time; I recommend listening to a playlist of all of the songs whenever you can, they’re great. The confusing storylines are made up for by great writing, acting, and all around fun. Though season 2 was a bit of a bust for me, I am hopeful for 3 to be just as good as 1.
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