The best new streaming shows this week: The Boyfriend, Sunny, and more

We’re back this week with an odder list than usual, but still a great nevertheless. We’ve got a gay dating reality set in Japan, and a show about God and Satan and…cats, and that’s just us getting started. Let’s dive in.

The best new streaming shows this week

Feel free to click on any links that pique your interest.

• The Boyfriend
• Exploding Kittens
• Mastermind: To Think Like a Killer
• Sunny
• Sausage Party: Foodtopia
• Mayonaka Punch

The Boyfriend – July 9, Netflix

• Release date: July 9, 2024
• Genre: Reality, Romance
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Keisuke Hishida
• Cast: Ell, Yuuki Luna, Seth Fuentes

In a groundbreaking move for Japanese television, Netflix presents the country’s first gay dating reality series. Nine young men, each stylish and hoping to make a sincere connection, gather at a picturesque beachfront villa for four weeks. Quiet glances and budding feelings take root as they navigate the uncharted waters of same-sex courtship in the public eye for the first time.

With organic conversations about life, love, and coming out, these unforced romances unfold against the dreamlike backdrop of the Japanese countryside. Part travelogue and part social experiment, The Boyfriend provides a tender, unfiltered look at queer men searching for partnership and acceptance in a culture where their stories have rarely been told. Heartwarming, groundbreaking, and brimming with hope, it’s a touching portrait of love quietly fighting for a place in the spotlight.

Exploding Kittens – July 12, Netflix

• Release date: July 12, 2024
• Genre: Animation, Comedy
• Rating: TV-14
• Director: Matthew Inman, Shane Kosakowski
• Cast: Tom Ellis, Ally Maki, Mark Proksch, Sasheer Zamata, Suzy Nakamura, Kenny Yates

God and Satan find themselves stripped of their powers and trapped on Earth in the bodies of feuding house cats. A little ironic that God is voiced by Tom Ellis who played Lucifer….on, well, Lucifer. Coincidence? Adopted by an endearingly oddball family, these not-so-divine felines lead their hapless humans through an increasingly bizarre parade of misadventures.

Vampire pug takeovers, time-traveling sharks, condemned cetacean souls reincarnated as theme park overlords — no plot point is too weird or random for this whirlwind of comic fantasy. With dizzying non-sequiturs, genre parodies, and groan-worthy gags whizzing by at a breakneck pace, Exploding Kittens takes the anything-goes absurdity of animation to delirious new heights. Supremely silly, slyly smart, and purr-fectly profane, it’s the cat’s meow for fans of over-the-top humor.

Mastermind: To Think Like a Killer – July 11, Hulu

• Release date: July 11, 2024
• Genre: Documentary, Crime
• Rating: TV-14
• Director: Abby Fuller
• Cast: Ann Burgess

This gripping three-part docuseries chronicles the pioneering career of Dr. Ann Burgess, the brilliant and unassuming godmother of criminal profiling. A longtime consultant for the FBI, Burgess helped revolutionize law enforcement’s approach to tracking violent offenders and understanding their victims. With empathy, insight, and an uncanny ability to analyze the darkest corners of the psyche, she brought critical advances to bear on such notorious cases as the Ski Mask Rapist and the Menendez brothers.

Now, through intimate interviews and evocative reenactments, Mastermind puts you inside the investigation right alongside this unlikely hero. The series is a must-watch for true crime aficionados. In a genre so often focused solely on the perpetrators, it’s a powerful reminder of the woman who spoke for the survivors.

Sunny – July 10, Apple TV Plus

• Release date: July 10, 2024
• Genre: Drama
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Katie Robbins
• Cast: Rashida Jones, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Joanna Sotomura, Judy Ongg

In the near-future metropolis of Kyoto, recently widowed Suzie grapples with the mysterious disappearance of her tech mogul husband and young son. Consumed by grief and desperate for answers, she reluctantly accepts the gift of Sunny — an uncannily advanced homebot encoded with secrets about Suzie’s marriage and programmed for far more than domestic duties.

The inquisitive robot draws Suzie down a rabbit hole of corporate espionage and personal revelations. Sunny uses sleek sci-fi world-building to explore the very human question of how well we can ever truly know those closest to us. Thoughtful, suspenseful, and anchored by Rashida Jone’s finely-tuned lead performance, it’s a quietly engrossing meditation on memory, technology, and the messiness of modern love.

Sausage Party: Foodtopia – July 11, Prime Video

• Release date: Jul 11, 2024
• Genre: Animation, Comedy
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
• Cast: Seth Rogen, Kristen Wiig, Michael Cera, David Krumholtz, Edward Norton, Will Forte, Sam Richardson

Having gained sentience and started an all-out war with their human oppressors, a group of foul-mouthed food items attempt to establish an edible utopia free from the tyranny of consumption. But as Frank the sausage and his fresh-produce pals quickly discover, building a perfect union isn’t easy — especially when you’re constantly worried about expiration dates.

With an appetite for crude laughs, groan-inducing puns, and sneaky social commentary as its big-screen predecessor, Sausage Party: Foodtopia serves up a gleefully immature satire of societal structures. It’s a salty, irreverent, borderline experimental feast that will leave open-minded comedy fans happily diving into the dumpster for more.

Mayonaka Punch – July 8, Crunchyroll

• Release date: July 8, 2024
• Genre: Animation, Comedy
• Rating: N.A.
• Director: Shū Honma
• Cast: Ikumi Hasegawa, Fairouz Ai, Yuina Itō, Hina Yomiya, Hitomi Ueda, Ai Kayano, Chika Anzai

In a bid for viral fame, disgraced NewTuber Masaki recruits an aspiring star with a secret: Live, her enthusiastic new partner in content creation, is actually a vampire. With Live’s supernatural abilities and Masaki’s burning ambition, the two aim to skyrocket into social media superstardom. The only catch?

Once their channel reaches a million subscribers, Live gets to drink Masaki’s blood. A high-concept twist on both the girl-meets-girl and found family formulas, Mayonaka Punch so far promises a fresh, fantastical spin on millennial hustling and the quest for online relevancy. Balancing influencer culture with a core relationship radiating real warmth, Mayonaka Punch is primed to take a bite out of viewer’s hearts. Whether it sinks its teeth fully into comedy, drama, or an addictive blend of both, it’s a series to keep on your “must-watch” list.

What was new and worth watching over the last month

In case you missed our previous lists, here’s a quick recap. Check out our list of streaming movies if you’re in the mood for something longer this weekend. 

Star Trek: Prodigy (Season 2) – July 1, Netflix

• Release date: July 1, 2024
• Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure
• Rating: TV-Y7
• Director: Dan Hageman, Kevin Hageman
• Cast: Brett Gray, Ella Purnell, Jason Mantzoukas, Angus Imrie, Rylee Alazraqui, Dee Bradley Baker, Kate Mulgrew

After their heroic deeds in season one, the young alien outcasts-turned-Starfleet trainees cannot wait to move on. Admiral Janeway invites them to join her on a new starship Voyager to study a mysterious wormhole. While aboard, they find a cloaked shuttle aboard the ship and realize Janeway hasn’t been completely honest with them. They’re actually on a secret rescue mission, en route to a war-torn planet.

Watch their journey through treacherous alien territories that challenge them at every turn. Do they stay true to their principles? Do they solve the mystery of this phenomenon that threatens not just space but time itself, and manage to explore self-identity and personal sacrifice at the same time? 

Barbecue Showdown (Season 3) – July 4, Netflix

• Release date: July 4, 2024
• Genre: Game Show, Reality
• Rating: TV-G
• Director: Daniel Calin
• Cast: Kevin Bludso, Melissa Cookston, Lyric Lewis, Rutledge Wood, Michelle Buteau

It’s time for intense grilling, as Barbecue Showdown returns for another mouthwatering season. Nine of America’s greatest pitmasters will convene for ultimate dominance in barbecue and with $50,000 worth of jackpot money at stake. Hosted by charismatic Michelle Buteau and judged by the greats Melissa Cookston and Kevin Bludso, each episode has unique challenges designed to push pitmasters to their limits.

Flavors and presentation must impress judges, with guest appearances by Matheson from the popular TV show The Bear, adding an extra layer of anticipation. At the end of it, two survivors will face off during a massive cook-off, be crowned Barbecue Champion, and walk away with life-changing prize money.

Barnwood Builders (Season 18) – July 3, Max

• Release date: July 3, 2024
• Genre: Documentary
• Rating: TV-G
• Director: Matthew Bennett
• Cast: Mark Bowe, Johnny Jett, Sherman Thompson, Graham Ferguson, Tim Rose

In this captivating 18th season, Mark Bowe and his passionate crew of West Virginia craftsmen continue salvaging historic barns and cabins turning them into something completely different. The team’s love for the unique structures they find takes them to places across the nation, with challenging projects and time constraints.

From Ohio’s German-style barns to cabins made from logs within Appalachian regions, this bunch encounters a wide range of building designs and techniques. They reuse salvaged materials to create beautiful modern homes, with heartwarming stories about their work, accompanied by typical wit and resourcefulness.

Red Swan – July 3, Hulu

• Release date: July 3, 2024
• Genre: Action, Romance
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Park Hong-kyun
• Cast: Kim Ha-neul, Rain, Jung Gyu-woon, Seo Yi-sook, Yoon Je-moon, Ki Eun-se

In this interesting and thrilling Korean series, former professional golfer, Oh Wan-soo, who has become a UNICEF ambassador finds herself tangled in danger, forbidden love, and intrigue. After ISIS threatens her life because she supports humanitarian work, Oh Wan-soo is almost killed while on duty in Manila.

While Oh Wan-soo continues to engage in international diplomacy, she must deal with her difficult marriage with Kim Yong-guk, who has problems of his own. From posh Seoul social echelons up to slum side dirty underbelly abode of criminals and gangsters inside Manila itself the show is full of picturesque action and romance. If you enjoy romantic thrillers or a good redemption tale, this one’s for you.

Land of Tanabata – July 4, Hulu

• Release date: July 4, 2024 
• Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Mystery
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Hitoshi Iwaaki
• Cast: Kanata Hosoda, Ryoko Fujino, Shuhei Uesugi, Mai Kiryu, Narumi Yui, Tatsuomi Hamada, Reika Nishihata

Based on a popular manga series by Hitoshi Iwaaki, this series combines supernatural horror elements, dark humor, and gritty crime drama. Yoji Minamimaru is a troubled student at university who has an amazing talent, he can create small holes in any material using his mind. Yoji’s mentor, Professor Ito, disappears while conducting research in the remote village of Marukami, so Yoji and a group of his classmates set out to investigate.

Upon arriving in Marukami, they discover that the village is in the midst of an unsettling and out-of-season Tanabata festival, a traditional celebration that honors the legendary love story of two celestial beings. They soon find themselves in a series of bizarre and terrifying events that defy explanation. Expect gruesome murders, eerie supernatural occurrences, encounters with eccentric locals, and sinister cultists.

Supacell – June 27, Netflix

• Release date: June 27, 2024
• Genre: Action, Adventure
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Rapman
• Cast: Tosin Cole, Nadine Mills, Eric Kofi Abrefa, Calvin Demba, Josh Tedeku, Adelayo Adedayo, Rayxia Ojo

Five ordinary people in South London suddenly gain superpowers. Michael can travel through time, Rodney has super speed, and that’s about it for the spoilers, you’re gonna have to watch to find out what the others can do. Despite the focus on the (very cool) superpowers, Supacell is not merely a superhero show, we have enough of those.

It offers a grounded, thought-provoking take on the superhero genre. The characters deal with these new abilities while facing personal challenges, relatable challenges — not the massive tragedies singularly reserved for Marvel favorites. There are themes around identity, community, systemic issues, second chances, and sure some of that action too. Brand new characters, a fresh perspective, and social commentary make this a compelling watch overall.

The Bear (Season 3) – June 26, Hulu

• Release date: June 26, 2024
• Genre: Comedy, Drama
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: Christopher Storer
• Cast: Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Lionel Boyce, Abby Elliott, Liza Colón-Zayas, Matty Matheson

Talented chef Carmy is working to turn his family’s struggling sandwich shop into a high-end restaurant with his ambitious sous chef Sydney. Following Carmy’s meltdown in the season 2 finale, season 3 finds him on shaky ground mentally while dealing with strains in his relationships with Sydney and best friend Richie.

The high-stress kitchen atmosphere continues to drive much of the tension and drama. But the season also takes time for quieter character moments. Honestly, even if you haven’t watched the preceding seasons, you can dive right in. If you secretly like Gordon Ramsay and have watched Jon Favreau’s Chef one too many times, you’re bound to enjoy this.

Land of Women – June 26, Apple TV Plus

• Release date: June 26, 2024
• Genre: Comedy, Drama
• Rating: N.A.
• Director: Ramón Campos, Gema R. Neira, Paula Fernández
• Cast: Eva Longoria, Carmen Maura, Santiago Cabrera, Gloria Muñoz, Ariadna Gil, James Purefoy, Pep Anton Muñoz

Gala, a wealthy New York mom and empty nester, must suddenly flee to a rural Spanish village with her teenage daughter and forgetful mother when her husband’s financial crimes catch up with him. After a chaotic journey, they move into Julia’s old family home, which she still co-owns with her estranged sister.

But soon Gala runs into Amat. Sparks fly. You know the rest. There are lots of sub-plots with interesting supporting characters to look forward to in this show. The is a fish-out-of-water story, an intergenerational family drama, and a romance all in one. The gorgeous setting, charming characters, and veteran actress Carmen Maura’s captivating performance make it an enjoyable and escapist watch.

My Lady Jane – June 27, Prime Video

• Release date: June 27, 2024
• Genre: Adventure, Comedy
• Rating: N.A.
• Director: Gemma Burgess
• Cast: Emily Bader, Edward Bluemel, Jordan Peters, Jim Broadbent, James Corrigan, Malachi Ferdinand, Robyn Betteridge

The best historical dramas are the irreverent ones. This is the story of Lady Jane Grey, the “Nine Days Queen” who briefly ruled England after King Edward VI died in 1553. But there’s more to the show than just being a retelling. It adds a fantastical twist: certain people called “Ethians” can shapeshift into animals, while “Verities” cannot. It’s just…..absurd, and you’d be missing out if you didn’t watch it this weekend.

This is royal drama meets romantic comedy meets magical fantasy mash-up. Pure silly and fun that isn’t too on the nose. What’s interesting about My Lady Jane is you’d enjoy it if you’re a typical history buff who isn’t offended easily, someone who enjoyed watching The Other Boleyn Girl. You’d also enjoy it if you’re big on Harry Potter or Vampire Diaries.

Breaking New Ground – June 27, Max

• Release date: June 27, 2024
• Genre: Reality
• Rating: N.A.
• Director: Robert Hartwell
• Cast: Robert Hartwell

In 2020, Broadway actor and dancer Robert Hartwell bought a dilapidated 200-year-old house and spent the next nine months renovating it, documenting the process on Instagram where his posts went viral. The show follows Robert’s journey restoring the property into a family home while exploring its complex history and his identity as a gay Black man.

Each episode focuses on a different room’s renovation and stories of people who once lived there. Through interviews with family, friends, historians, and renovation experts, the show reflects Robert’s infectious energy, positivity, and flair for design as he tackles termite damage, uncovers vintage newspapers within the walls, and adds bold modern touches to the historic property.

That ’90s Show (Part 2)- June 27, Netflix

• Release date:
• Genre: Comedy, Romance
• Rating: TV-14
• Director: Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Gregg Mettler, Lindsay Turner
• Cast: Kurtwood Smith, Debra Jo Rupp, Callie Haverda, Ashley Aufderheide, Mace Coronel, Reyn Doi, Sam Morelos

It’s the summer of 1996 and Leia is back in Point Place, Wisconsin to spend another season of mischief and self-discovery with her grandparents Red and Kitty Forman. She’s excited to reunite with her eclectic friend group. But Leia’s hiding a secret that could blow up her social life. The truth soon threatens to detonate like a pipe bomb of teen angst, jeopardizing romances and friendships.

Faces both familiar and fresh inject unpredictable fun to the cozy Point Place drama. And fans can expect subtle callbacks to the original show, I mean isn’t that why we’re watching? The heart of the show remains, with the usual bonds between friends and family in the Forman house taking center stage. It’s a summer of growing pains and gains for Leia as she figures out who she is, who she wants, and how many scrunchies one wrist can hold.

The Victims’ Game (Season 2) – June 21, Netflix

• Release date: June 21, 2024
• Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
• Rating: TV-MA
• Director: David Chuang, Chen Kuan-chung
• Cast: Joseph Chang, Tiffany Hsu, Wang Shih-Sian, Moon Lee, Ruby Lin, Ding Ning, River Huang

The Victims’ Game: Season 2 is a Chinese-language crime thriller series returning to Netflix on June 21, 2024, following a four-year wait since its first season. This new installment centers around a series of interconnected murder cases tied to an incident from 15 years ago, delving into themes of belonging and the value of life.

Chang Hsiao-chuan reprises his role as Fang Yi-jen, a forensic detective with Asperger’s syndrome who finds himself as the prime suspect in these new cases. The series explores Fang’s character development as he navigates complex situations, including mending his relationship with his estranged daughter and learning to socialize more.