The recent Olympic Games had us not only convincing ourselves that we could be world-class athletes, but it also had us utterly glued to our screens. In the wake of the Games, I’d like to share my non-sporting summer watches, and what I have been wanting to dive into next, so that you too can continue your journey to being square-eyed!

Watched:

I Kissed a Girl: Whether it’s drooling over Fiorenza – who I’m not into, but many, many others would disagree – laughing with Amy, or gasping at Priya’s absolutely scandalous post-show behaviour (my jaw was on the floor), this show has something for everyone. Watching this with my girlfriend was also very validating, to see lesbian relationships represented on screen (but also to reaffirm once again that ours is better).

Derry Girls: Many of you will know Nicola Coughlan from her role in Bridgerton and from viral camp club remixes, but before this came Derry Girls. I’ve watched the whole thing twice now, and it does such a good job at combining humour with hooking storylines. It has brilliant acting as well, and it’s easy to get into; as someone who’s grown up mostly in Britain, it showed me how little I knew about recent Irish history and politics. Derry Girls brought that to me and kept me very entertained.

“As someone who’s grown up mostly in Britain, (Derry Girls) showed me how little I knew about recent Irish history”

We Are Lady Parts: Season 2 – while not as consistently good as the first season – was still a reminder of the strength of We Are Lady Parts as a show. It’s centred around five young Muslim women in London and their punk band ‘Lady Parts’, and this season shows them reaching new dilemmas as they reach new heights of success. We are Lady Parts highlights this in its classically funny way, as well as weaving it with characters’ individual storylines.

To watch:

Bojack Horseman: Bojack Horseman seems so completely different to what I usually watch, but in an enticing way. I enjoy understated and dry humour, which Bojack seems to have, but I’m curious to see how this will translate in an animated show. The horse who miraculously walks upright like a human (unless I have terribly misunderstood) has been at the back of my mind for a while.

Bohemian Rhapsody: In the midst of pretty mediocre biopics coming out, (Back to Black, I’m looking at you) I want to be reminded that the entire genre is not doomed. Bohemian Rhapsody, please do that for me. Rami Malek also seems brilliant.

“In the midst of pretty mediocre biopics coming out, I want to be reminded that the entire genre is not doomed”

The Boyfriend: This queer Japanese dating show has a pretty mysterious trailer. The premise of the show seems to be that nine very good-looking queer guys spend some weeks in the same house, Big Brother style, and try to find love. It’s not entirely clear how they get there but what is clear is that the show seems more wholesome than some of my recent reality watches (like Too Hot to Handle) with an emphasis on their emotional journeys, including some of them coming out to their families. There also appears to be beautiful views of Japan in the show (as if Instagram Reels hasn’t given me enough reason to want to go).

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder: Unconvinced by the allegations against a murdered girl’s boyfriend, Pippa Fitz-Amobi is the next aspiring teen detective in her town of Fairview in this new show on BBC iPlayer, based on the book by Holly Jackson. I have officially watched 15 mins of the first episode and never gotten back to it. I wasn’t immediately hooked but I liked the book, so I do want to properly give it a try.

Euphoria: After an unexpected announcement that filming will recommence in January 2025, (we all thought Zendaya and co were onto bigger things after Challengers) I am already looking forward to Season 3. With the Hollywood actors’ strikes last year as well as Sam Levinson’s tendency to constantly rewrite his scripts, there have been a lot of bumps in the road but it seems like it’s finally here. I’m personally curious to see what Lexi is now up to (and will she become a more prominent character?) and looking forward to Euphoria’s usual stunning cinematography and score. A lot of recent teen shows (think Australian show Heartbreak High) have very much tried to emulate the aesthetic and complexity of Euphoria, but none have done it quite as well.