May streaming highlights: the films and series you just can’t miss
New month, new streaming recommendations. Here’s which series and movies you can stream on Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+ and Prime Video this May.
«Can you be punished for something you didn’t do?» my teacher once echoed. «No, of course not,» he then said. «Good», I replied, «because I haven’t done my homework.» Even back then, I preferred watching cartoons. It’s exactly this passion which helps me create my movie and series highlights today for the month of May.
And if I’ve still missed something, then let me know in the comments.
Tokyo Vice, Season 2 (Series)
Heard the story of journalist Jake Adelstein in the eight-part first season? It’s apparently true. Gloomy. Almost unbelievable. So unbelievable, in fact, that many are speculating. At least the form that Adelstein presents in his memoirs. Back then, in 1999, he reported for the Japanese newspaper The Yomiuri Shimbun, which is still the world’s highest-circulation daily newspaper. Adelstein wasn’t only the paper’s first non-Japanese reporter. It was also he who, with his reports, for the first time seriously damaged Japan’s organised crime network, the Yakuza. However, only Adelstein himself knows how much he embellished the story around the chronicle.
That doesn’t change the fact that the first season produced by HBO was simply great. I’m all the more excited to see how things will continue with Adelstein in the second season. Personally, I think it’s a fictional story – and despite this, or perhaps because of it, I really enjoy this exciting underworld thriller.
When: starts 1 May
Where: Sky Show (until May 27 only with Entertainment Pass)
Tales of the Empire (miniseries)
After Tales of the Jedi now comes Tales of the Empire, an anthology series that tells self-contained short stories. I like this format. It gives us an insight into the careers and motivations of well-known and lesser-known characters from the Star Wars universe without having to design an entire series around them.
This time, two evil characters take centre stage: Morgan Elsbeth, a former witch of Dathomir who will one day side with the brilliant tactician Thrawn, and Barriss Offee, a fallen Jedi who was once imprisoned by Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano – only to later be trained by Darth Vader as a Sith Inquisitor. My Star Wars fan heart beats rapidly.
When: starts 4 May
Where: Disney+
The Tattooist of Auschwitz (miniseries)
In the concentration camp Auschwitz, Lali is randomly chosen to be a tattoo artist whose job it is to tattoo identification numbers on the arms of fellow prisoners. A place that contributed significantly to the Nazi genocide of over six million Jews – around two thirds of all Jewish people living in Europe during the Second World War. It’s in this terrible place that Lali meets Gita, the love of his life, for the first time.
Decades later, Lali shares his story with the young writer Heather Morris. In his old age and after the loss of his beloved wife, Lali finds the courage to share his moving past with the world. But the deep-rooted traumas of his youth are also brought back to life as he once again confronts the painful memories. An important, albeit sad, story.
When: starts 8 May
Where: Sky Show (until May 27 only with Entertainment Pass)
Dark Matter (miniseries)
Science fiction and Apple TV – a perfect match. Shows like Severance and Silo have already proven this. This science fiction series revolves around Jason Dessen (Joel Edgerton), a physicist, professor and family man who is kidnapped one night. Where to? Another life. Literally. Because from the infinity of the multiverse, an alternative version of him has decided to live Jason’s life in his place. But before Jason can find his way back into his own life, he has to ask himself what he really wants: family or career?
The miniseries is based on the New York Times bestseller of the same name by Blake Crouch, who also wrote for the series and acts as showrunner. Critics are talking about a unique mix of thriller and science fiction. I’m curious! Admittedly, the trailer is still a bit of a turn-off: it seems to give away far too much of the plot. But, so does the synopsis of the book. Without having read it, perhaps there’s much more to it than meets the eye.
When: starts 8 May
Where: Apple TV+
Bridgerton, season 3 (series)
Bridgerton is one of my guilty pleasures. It’s a series that I’m a bit embarrassed to admit I like. Ok, maybe not «like». I love it! Gripping story. Great humour. Intrigues. Sex. Beautiful people. Secrets. And lots of gossip. Soap opera at its finest, albeit with an infinitely higher budget and production value. And I mean «finest» the way I said it. But I’m not normally into that kind of thing. Yet here I am.
So now Netflix’s no-longer-so-unexpectedly big hit series is entering its third round. Once again, the story revolves around a member of the Bridgerton family. And it’s all about finding the perfect husband or wife. All this while the characters go against social conventions in the visually stunning England of the early 19th century. Of course, Lady Whistledown gets wind of this and writes about it in her column. The exciting thing about it all? Lady Whistledown is just a pen name. Nobody knows who she or he really is. Only at the end of the first season do we viewers, at least, learn the truth.
Start part 1: May 16
Start part 2: June 13
Where: Netflix
Outer Range, Season 2 (Series)
Not least thanks to Yellowstone, the western genre is currently experiencing a revival. Perhaps because it represents the antithesis to our rushed, performance-oriented society. A moment to pause. An escape from the ever-turning hamster wheel, when breathtaking landscapes and cowboy romance take over and contribute to the longed-for deceleration.
Outer Range strikes a similar chord. The difference here is that the western genre is mixed with mystery and science fiction. Avengers and Dune star Josh Brolin plays Royal Abbott, a simple rancher who leads a modest life in the wilderness of Wyoming. At least until one day he discovers a mysterious black hole that seems to have opened up out of nowhere. I won’t give any more away if you want to catch up on the series and start with the first season (released in 2022). I think they’re great, even if I was late to the party.
When: starts 16 May
Where: Prime Video
Atlas (movie)
It’s impressive how many clichés Netflix can squeeze into a two-minute trailer. So there’s Atlas Shepherd, played by Jennifer Lopez, a brilliant data analyst who not only doesn’t take kindly to humans, but doesn’t take kindly to artificial intelligence either. Then, for the love of God, she wants to join a team hunting a dangerous AI. How original.
«You need me on that mission!», she says firmly in one scene, because she’s obviously got what it takes, only in the next scene to scream a helpless «What do I do?» when everything goes wrong. Sensational.
But there’s more. After crash-landing on an alien planet, she saves herself in combat armour operated by an AI – of all things. «I don’t need your help. I don’t trust any AI,» she says. Yes, got it. Next scene, the AI says in its battle armour: «Atlas, this won’t work if you don’t trust me.» Atlas replies: «Okay. Let’s do this.» Haha. The trailer just saved me two hours of character development. On a side note, I fancy playing Titanfall now. The same story. And presumably told much better. At least the action looks solid. Maybe it’s still enough for a fun, slightly drunken evening with mates and a good old bad movie.
When: starts 24 May
Where: Netflix
Header image: «Outer Range» / Amazon Prime Video
Luca Fontana
Senior Editor
Luca.Fontana@digitecgalaxus.chI'm an outdoorsy guy and enjoy sports that push me to the limit – now that’s what I call comfort zone! But I'm also about curling up in an armchair with books about ugly intrigue and sinister kingkillers. Being an avid cinema-goer, I’ve been known to rave about film scores for hours on end. I’ve always wanted to say: «I am Groot.»
