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Arts & Entertainment

Need the perfect show to binge this summer? Here's what critics recommend

A male presenting figure with dark skin tone and orange golden colored eyes stands looking series
Supacell is streaming on Netflix.
(
Courtesy Netflix
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Listen 19:26
TV Talk: ‘The Bear,’ ‘Supacell,’ ‘The Boyfriend’ And More
Have you felt completely overwhelmed when deciding what new show to watch these days? Us too. There’s just so much content out there between network TV and numerous streaming platforms. Each week, we will try to break through the noise with TV watchers who can point us to the must-sees and steer us clear of the shows that maybe don’t live up to the hype. This week, listeners will get the latest scoop on what’s worth watching with Roxana Hadadi, TV critic for Vulture, and Danette Chavez, who’s with the pop culture publication, The A.V. Club. Today’s shows include: The Bear [Season 3] (FX on Hulu) Supacell (Netflix) No Scope: The Story of FaZe Clan (ESPN+/Hulu) The Boyfriend (Netflix)

There are so many television series to choose from right now. It can be a little overwhelming. That’s why we have esteemed TV critics join us each week on AirTalk, LAist 89.3’s daily news program, to help you decide what to watch.

This week, Danette Chavez of The A.V. Club and Roxana Hadadi, TV critic for Vulture, are recommending some shows that could be perfect for summer binging.

New shows

  • Supacell

The series uses superpowers to capture how Black millennials feel navigating life in London.

"A great ensemble, not just because the performers are great, Tosin Cole in particular, but because they each really have a role to sink their teeth into." —Danette Chavez, The A.V. Club

When & where: episodes are streaming on Netflix.

  • The Boyfriend

Japan’s first gay dating series and an ode to reality throwbacks like The Real World.

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"The producers decided not to remove the contestants entirely from their regular lives. I think it's something unusual for dating shows because it also allows everyone to see each other for who they actually are." —Danette Chavez, The A.V. Club

When & where: episodes premiere Tuesday, July 9 on Netflix.

  • No Scope: The Story of FaZe Clan

The latest installment of ESPN's 30 for 30 documentary series tells the story of the FaZe Clan, an influential e-sports team.

"I thought it was really fascinating, just in terms of how it looked at the new ways that sports and the online world overlap." —Roxana Hadadi, TV critic for Vulture

When & where: There’s a whole summer slate of episodes. Two others are already available — one that examines a massive Vancouver riot following the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals when the Canucks lost to the Boston Bruins. Another tells the story of track and field star Butch Reynolds. Two more episodes will be released within the next month on ESPN + and Hulu.

Throwback series worth binging

  • The Wire
"One of the best written and most novelistic and strongest portraits of a city in change and an America in change.” —Roxana Hadadi, TV critic for Vulture
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Where to watch: The show ran for five seasons from 2002-2008 and is available on Max.

  • Girls
“A great example of character development. You won’t like any of these characters, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t evolve.” —Danette Chavez, The A.V. Club

Where to watch: The show ran for six seasons from 2012-2017 and is available on Max.

Listen

Listen 19:26
TV Talk: ‘The Bear,’ ‘Supacell,’ ‘The Boyfriend’ And More

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