A long weekend is the perfect opportunity to unwind, put your phone on mute, and dive into a new binge-worthy series. But with so many options, how do you choose? While we’re only halfway through April, several new releases — along with a few gems that slipped in at the tail end of March — have already captured the spotlight across platforms, making them must-watch hits.
To help you figure out which shows are worth spending your precious vacation time on, we’ve come up with a list of some of the most talked about shows you won’t want to miss this weekend.
‘The Last of Us’ (Season 2, Max)
Release date: April 13
After kicking off its highly anticipated second season with a gut-wrenching bang on April 13 (Don’t worry, no spoilers here!), The Last of Us is most definitely back. Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) try to survive in a world that is still overrun by parasite-infected zombies, and fans are both excited and terrified to see how the duo’s bond will be tested in the aftermath of last season’s bloody finale. Trailers for this latest season have also teased how new antagonist Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) is on a violent revenge journey to make Joel pay for what he did to her family last season (If you know, you know).
Episodes of The Last of Us will be released weekly and are available for streaming on Max.
‘Black Mirror’ (Season 7, Netflix)
Release date: April 10
The latest installment of the Black Mirror anthology series has been met with praise from fans and critics alike, with many arguing that this latest season marks a return to form for the dystopian meditation on technology, humanity, and the ugliness in between. With a number of major A-listers giving stellar performances this season — including Rashida Jones, Awkwafina, and Cristin Milioti — Season 7 delivers the dark, unsettling stories fans have come to expect, while also pushing the envelope with new, devastating twists (Plus, a surprising follow-up to the fan favorite Season 4 episode “USS Callister”).
All six episodes are now available for streaming on Netflix.
‘Doctor Who’ (Season 2, Disney+)
Release date: April 13
He’s back! The delightful and ever-charming Ncuti Gatwa returns as the Fifteenth Doctor for this latest season of the beloved BBC sci-fi series, along with new companion Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu, who you may know from her roles in Andor and Jurassic World: Dominion). The season starts with the Doctor meeting Belinda, who’s been kidnapped and brought against her will to an alien planet to become its ruler (Classic Doctor Who stuff). The main narrative of the season revolves around how the Doctor can’t seem to figure out how to bring Belinda back to her proper time and place on Earth.
There are nine episodes in total for this season, and each will be aired weekly every Sunday on Disney+.
‘Hacks’ (Season 4, Max)
Release date: April 11
Legendary Las Vegas comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and young protégé Ava Daniel’s (Hannah Einbinder) return to the small screen with their problematic rollercoaster of a relationship. The latest season of Hacks picks up from Season 3’s blackmail-filled finale, with the two “friends” locked in a dirty, over-the-top catfight, all the while trying to make their new late-night show a hit.
Two episodes are already out on Max, with a weekly drop for each episode this season.
‘The Studio’ (Season 1, Apple TV+)
Release date: March 27
If you’re a fan of crazy Hollywood lore and existential crises centered around making art versus selling art, this is the show for you. Created by long-time collaborators Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, The Studio follows newly appointed movie studio head Matt Remick (Rogen) as he tries to balance artistic integrity (Matt wants to make classy, classic films with a capital F) while meeting the demands of the studio’s business-minded overlords (His first task as studio head is to make a movie about Kool-Aid). With a stellar cast including Catherine O’Hara (Schitt’s Creek) and Kathryn Hahn (Agatha All Along), as well as movie legend cameos from Martin Scorsese and Ron Howard, The Studio offers both a refreshing sit-com and a fast-paced look at the insanity of movie-making.
The series airs new episodes weekly and is available for streaming on Apple TV+.
‘How to Cheat Death’ ( Season 1, Netflix)
Release date: April 2
Created by showrunners Mike and Macy Mendoza, How to Cheat Death follows Lara (Gabbi Garcia) and Miguel (Khalil Ramos), two people struck by lightning at exactly the same time who then gain the power to see the future. Wanting to use their newfound power for good, the duo band together to use their abilities to help people cheat death.
All six episodes are available for streaming on Netflix.
‘The Pitt’ (Season 1, Max)
Release date: January 9
While not technically the latest show on Max, the first season finale of this harrowing, stress-inducing medical drama aired on April 10, delivering a rollercoaster of tension and emergency room (ER) terror, from the creator of the classic TV show, ER, Noah Wyle, who also stars here as Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch, the senior attending of the department. The first season follows one day in the lives of several healthcare professionals in a Pittsburgh hospital, particularly focusing on the challenges they face in an always-busy ER. From a terrifying subway hate crime to severe fentanyl overdoses, the ER team takes on some of the worst cases the city has to offer, all while navigating their personal loves, fears, and anxieties.
All twelve episodes are now available for streaming on Max.
