Best shows coming out in May: Stranger Things season 4, and 11 more to watch

The month of May begins to see a decrease in network TV as many shows are either going on hiatus, ending, or getting canceled. But there is still plenty of shows to watch! For starters, we can’t forget about streaming platforms, those dish out content year-round. If you need a quick guide to know what to watch, we share a list of the best shows coming out in May, including the highly anticipated fourth season of Stranger Things. 

What is your go-to streaming service or network? I have enjoyed a little bit of both for years, but, lately, streaming platforms have been keeping most of my attention. Apple TV+ is a personal favorite. The service has truly stepped up its game when it comes to quality content and clever storytelling. HBO Max has also been a winner in my book with the recent releases of We Own This City and The Staircase. What have you been watching?

Whether you need to add more to your list or simply are not sure what is coming out this month, we’ve got you covered! Now, not everything coming in May is going to be worth watching, so we’ve only selected a number of May 2022 releases.

The best shows coming out in May

No. 1 The Staircase

Release date: May 5
Where to watch: HBO Max
Cast: Colin Firth, Toni Collette, Michael Stuhlbarg, Dane DeHaan, Sophie Turner, Patrick Schwarzenegger, and others. 
Synopsis: This miniseries follows married couple Kathleen and Michael Peterson before and after the death of Kathleen, who was found at the bottom of the home’s staircase. Documentaries and specials have been made around this case before, but showrunner Antonio Campos shared that The Staircase is also family drama, which is one of the ways the limited series stands out from other works that have explored this case.

No. 2 Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Release date: May 5
Where to watch: Paramount+
Cast: Anson Mount, Ethan Peck, Jess Bush, Christina Chong, and others.
Synopsis: The series, a spin-off from Star Trek: Discovery, continues to grow the Star Trek universe. Strange New Worlds follows Captain Christopher Pike and his crew.

No. 3 Candy

Release date: May 9
Where to watch: Hulu
Cast: Jessica Biel, Melanie Lynskey, Pablo Schreiber, Timothy Simons, and Raul Esparza.
Synopsis: The true-crime drama explores the real-life case of Candy Montgomery, a woman accused of brutally murdering her best friend, Betty Gore.

No. 4 The Lincoln Lawyer

Release date: May 13
Where to watch: Netflix
Cast: Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Neve Campbell, Becki Newton, Jazz Raycole, and others.
Synopsis: Love a good legal drama? You’ll have to check out The Lincoln Lawyer. The series is based on the novel “The Brass Verdict” by Michael Connelly and centers on a defense attorney who works exclusively out of a chauffeur-driven Lincoln Town Car.

No. 5 The Essex Serpent

Release date: May 13
Where to watch: Apple TV+
Cast: Claire Danes, Tom Hiddleston, Frank Dillane, Hayley Squires, and others.
Synopsis: The star studded period-drama is based on the novel of the same name by Sarah Perry, the story follows Cora Seaborne, a widow in London who moves to Essex to investigate reports of a mythical creature.

No. 6 Conversations with Friends

Release date: May 15
Where to watch: Hulu
Cast: Sasha Lane, Alison Oliver, Joe Alwyn, and Jemima Kirke.
Synopsis: The limited series follows Frances, a college student who struggles to balance school, friends, love, marriage, and everything in between.

No. 7 The Time Traveler’s Wife

Release date: May 15
Where to watch: HBO
Cast: Rose Leslie and Theo James.
Synopsis: Adapted by Steven Moffat from the novel of the same name, the series centers on the love story between Clare and Henry. The two are passionately in love, but they have one problem that stands in their way, time travel.

No. 8 Obi-Wan Kenobi

Release date: May 27
Where to watch: Disney+
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, Joel Edgerton, Bonnie Piesse, and others.
Synopsis: The Star Wars franchise continues to grow with Obi-Wan Kenobi, a series on Disney+ that takes place a decade after Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. 

No. 9 Stranger Things season 4

Release date: May 27
Where to watch: Netflix
Cast: Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, David Harbour, Joey Keery, and others.
Synopsis: Fans finally return to Hawkins in Stranger Things season 4. The series, one of Netflix’s most popular shows, sees Eleven returning to visit her friends, but not everything is as it seems. The world of the Upside Down has returned and it’s stronger than ever.

No. 10 Tom Swift

Release date: May 31
Where to watch: The CW 
Cast: Tian Richards, LeVar Burton, Marquise Vilson, April Parker Jones, and others. 
Synopsis: Based on the book series of the same name by Melinda Hsu Taylor, Noga Landau, and Cameron Johnson, Tom Swift follows Tom after the shocking and mysterious disappearance of his father. Determined to learn the truth, Tom leaves his lavish lifestyle to hit the road in search of answers.

No. 11 LEGO Masters season 3

Release date: May 31
Where to watch: FOX
Cast: Host Will Arnett is joined by judges and LEGO designers Amy Corbett and Jamie Berard.
Synopsis: I love this unique competition series! It sees teams competing to create the most impressive LEGO masterpiece. The challenges are a lot of fun to see. And at the end of each episode, a team is eliminated until one team is declared the LEGO Masters and take home a cash prize.

No. 12 Pistol

Release date: May 31
Where to watch: FX on Hulu
Cast: Toby Wallace, Anson Boon, Louis Partridge, Jacob Slater, Massie Williams, and others.
Synopsis: The limited series will be the latest from FX to join Hulu. Pistols follows Steve Jones, widely known as the guitarist from Sex Pistols, and his band’s rise to fame.

From our list of best shows coming out in May, what will you be watching? Did we miss a great May series you believe needs to be on the list?