Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
With everything happening on television these days, it’s easy to drown in a sea of premiere dates, specials, DVR alerts, binge-watching appointments, and invitations to Frank Underwood’s campaign events. So we’ve put together a handy list of what’s happening in May that we are most excited for. Which isn’t to say that it’s everything we’re excited for (we have a vast reservoir of excitement available here at Decider.com). Runners-up to our top 10 include:
- The final episode of the 4-part Real Housewives of Atlanta reunion that is promising to actually set Phaedra’s wig on fire on May 7th.
- The Grey’s Anatomy season finale — where it is rumored that at least one regular character will bite the dust — on May 18th.
- The season finale of The Americans on May 30th.
- The second-season premiere of TNT’s family crime drama Animal Kingdom on May 30th.
But without further ado, here are the ten things on TV that we are THE MOST excited for (presented in chronological order):
'Sense8' Season 2
When? Friday, May 5th
Where? Netflix
Why? Lana and Lilly Wachowski’s series about eight strangers from different parts of the world who suddenly become mentally and emotionally linked to each other returns for its second season, almost two years after its first one dropped. This season, now that the Sensates have come together, they’re on the run from Whispers and forced to question their very identity as they try to survive.
The 2017 MTV Movie and TV Awards
When? Sunday May 7th
Where? MTV
Why? This year, for the first time, MTV’s annual movie awards are muddying the waters significantly by adding TV into the mix. MTV, after all, is for the Youngs, and the Youngs don’t seem to find much use in the distinctions between TV and movies anymore, so why not just throw them all into the same bucket? So get ready for the Best Kiss category (the only one that really matters) to be a toss-up between Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard (Empire) and Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling (La La Land). We’ll be voting for Ashton Sanders and Jharrel Jerome from Moonlight. Adam Devine hosts.
'Riverdale' Season Finale
When? Thursday May 11
Where? The CW
Why? The best new teen soap we’ve had in a long time wraps up its first season with (we hope) the resolution to the Jason Blossom murder mystery and (we hope not) the possible return of Miss Grundy. Questions abound: will Veronica’s father get out of prison? Will Betty’s sister birth her twins while captive in the Blossom mansion? Will Betty and Jughead’s romance go on? And what does Molly Ringwald’s sudden presence in Riverdale as Archie’s mom have to do with these things? We’ll find out soon enough.
'I Love Dick' Series Premiere
When? Friday May 12
Where? Amazon Prime
Why? Kathryn Hahn is one of our greatest comedic treasures, and one of her best gifts is for the way she’s able to combine lunatic comedy and genuine pathos. That makes her perfect for this current era, where comedies are also depressing or sad or challenging. In this show, she plays a married woman who’s become obsessed with a man — played by Kevin Bacon — named Dick. Thus far, Amazon’s done well with the moddy half-hour dramedy — Hahn was so great on Transparent, after all — and with Jill Soloway at the helm of this one, too, it stands a great chance of being one of Amazon’s best-received shows.
'Master of None' Season 2 Premiere
When? Friday, May 12
Where? Netflix
Why? It’s been a year and a half since we last got new episodes of Aziz Ansari’s acclaimed comedy series. When last we saw them, Dev and Rachel had considered marriage and then broke up, leaving Dev with a crisis of purpose that he solved by going to culinary school in Italy. As you do. As the above trailer suggests, there will be some fun Italian stylistic choices to be had before, at some point, Dev ends up back in New York.
'The Keepers' Premiere
When? Friday, May 19th
Where? Netflix
Why? If you’re looking for the next Making a Murderer — and Netflix is sure hoping you are — you should probably check out this 7-part true-crime series about the 1969 murder of a nun, Sister Cathy. The trailer promises a dedicated investigation that digs into parochial corruption and abuse within the Catholic Church. This may well be the show everybody’s talking about this month.
'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt' Season 3 Premiere
When? Friday, May 19
Where? Netflix
Why? Kimmy’s grand adventures in New York continue this season. And now that she’s gotten her GED, where else is there left to go but college? This means the return of Xanthippe Voorhees, Kimmy trying to get divorced from Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne, and Titus Andromedon trying to pick up his poor broken heart and put his life back together through Beyoncé.
'The Wizard of Lies'
When? Saturday, May 20
Where? HBO
Why? The much-anticipated HBO film about the downfall of infamous Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff sees Robert De Niro playing Madoff while Michelle Pfeiffer plays his wife, Ruth. Directing this whole endeavor is Oscar-winning filmmaker Barry Levinson, making this a true all-star affair. Pfeiffer’s in the midst of a big comeback this year, so she could be the show here.
'The Bachelorette' Season 13
When? Monday, May 22
Where? ABC
Why? The summer’s big reality obsession is back again. Like most seasons, this season’s Bachelorette was a fan favorite on the last season of The Bachelor. Rachel Lindsay escaped the clutches of Nick Vial last season, and her reward for that is she now gets to deal with a whole bunch of guys to weed out on her own. Rachel is the first black Bachelorette in 13 seasons of the show, which is both worth celebrating and shameful at the same time.
'House of Cards' Season 5
When? Tuesday, May 30
Where? Netflix
Why? In the months since we last saw President Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey), the American political landscape has gotten much more like the lunatic Washington D.C. of House of Cards. It will be very interesting to see how House of Cards feels now that we’ve had a few months to marinate in Trump’s America.
