10 Shows/Movies That Ooze Summer — Fearless & Favoured

It’s summer, and it’s time to take that after-pool day shower (a top-tier human experience) and sit down to watch a binegable show. It can be hard to find shows that capture the season, but look no further because I have compiled a list of ten shows that express June-August perfectly!

Stranger Things (Netflix) (Horror/Sci-fi)
If you haven’t watched Stranger Things at this point, it’s probably a choice, so I am here to convince you to give it a try. While it’s on season 4, you’re actually catching it at the perfect moment. As a person who has waited several years to watch the most recent season, it truly is a gift to watch it all at one time. It’s a complex story, but at its heart it’s about a group of young outcasts who find themselves thrust into a world of sci-fi horror, when their friend, Will goes missing. Will’s mother is the only adult who believes something supernatural has happened to her son and everything becomes more complicated with the arrival of a girl with mysterious powers. Besides its glorious 80’s aesthetic and its captivating soundtrack, Stranger Things has a knack for illustrating what made summer so electrifying as a kid through its cinematography. You’ll find yourself entranced by the imagery of sunset bike rides, Dungeons & Dragons nights with friends, and summer jobs at the mall. Seriously, at this point it’s getting weird—just watch already.
On My Block (Netflix) (Drama/Comedy)
On My Block is another show about a group of kids taking on adult problems. Maybe you can tell by now, I really love this trope. Set in Los Angeles, a group of friends enter their pubescent years and grapple with all the problems that come with growing up in the hood. For Caesar, in particular, it means having to continue the family business and join the Santos gang. The rest of the members of the friend group, who are privileged to not carry such a heavy burden, but have seen gang violence firsthand, decide to find a way to protect Caesar from gang membership. They decide the best way to do this is to buy him out of his obligations by finding the hidden treasure from a neighborhood legend, The Rollerworld Money. Hijinks and shenanigans ensue, but just below the surface is an emotional story about friendship and breaking generational cycles. After four seasons, it is truly one of my favorite shows of all time! Plus, a spinoff about the next generation is filming now, so catch up before its release sometime next year.
Sweet Magnolias (Netflix) (Romance/Drama)
This show is as sweet as pie! Sweet Magnolias sets us down in Small Town, South Carolina with three friends, (Maddie, Helen, and Dana Sue) navigating large changes in their lives. Maddie is separated from her high school sweetheart and husband, who we discover early on has been unfaithful. The mother of three is clearly heartbroken, but her heart becomes confused when her son’s new hunky baseball coach offers her a new start. Helen, seemingly the town’s only attorney, really is the rock of the group and the community. She is single and successful, but her heart still belongs to someone from the past. She is also given a fresh start by a new love interest, but viewers want to know—is she ready for it? Dana Sue, the mother of one and a wonderful chef, has major trust issues after her separation from her husband Ronny, who seemingly brought a lot of chaos and hurt to her life. She and her daughter struggle with their different versions of the events leading up to the separation, causing a lot of friction. These lovely ladies only complicate life more when they decide to open a spa in town together, utilizing all of their talents, but putting a strain on their familial relationships. If you love rom coms, you will love Sweet Magnolias. Its southern charm is truly magical and presents an idealized version of the American South over the course of two seasons. The show has been renewed for another season, so start watching!
Summertime (Netflix) (Romance/Drama)
The name says it all. This Italian beauty is a show about an Italian beauty, Summer. Summer has a lot going on to be honest, but she meets and falls in love with a motorcycle racer. The show has a bit of a Romeo and Juliet-vibe as Summer comes from a more modest background, while it is clear that her love interest, Alessandro is very well-off. They struggle to date coming from different worlds and when both of them are presented with easier options for romance, it becomes more and more difficult to stay together. Outside of the main love interests, this show focuses on the ensemble cast. Summer and Ale’s friends have their problems too, including struggles with sexuality, finances, and jealousy of the main couple. The plot is angsty and slow-paced (as is the nature of love, eh?), but it drops you right into an italian summer. The beach scenes alone are swoon-worthy! If you’re looking for Italian summer vibes, this three-season show is perfect for you. I forgot to mention: Summer is a black girl, so yeah, add that onto the list of reasons for why this is a must watch!
Haters Back Off (Netflix) (Comedy)
This show which provides the backstory to the infamous YouTube personality, MirandaSings, truly is one of the funniest shows on Netflix. The show captures the chaotic energy of Miranda, who truly believes she is destined to be a star. There is only one problem, she has zero talent across the board. What’s more, her ambitious, live-in uncle is behind her 100%, feeding into her delusion that she is made for the main stage. Her aloof, but caring mother is just there most of the time, attempting to find love. And her sister, Emily, seemingly the only normal one in the family, serves as the reluctant chaperone, always cleaning up the messes of the rest of the family. It truly is hilarious, mostly because it captures and bottles up awkward energy. You’re cringing, but you’re also laughing. My favorite part was the slow, blossoming relationship between Miranda and ice-cream delivery boy, Patrick. (The actors, who met and fell in love on the show, now have 3 kids!) If you were a fan of Fred on Nickelodeon or The Office on TBS, you will probably find this two-season show endlessly funny.
Ophelia (Netflix) (Romance/Drama/Period Drama)
If you read Hamlet in high school like I did, you probably similarly felt like Ophelia’s death was super unnecessary and slightly random. I love Shakespeare’s work, but the miscommunication between his characters makes my eyes roll. This movie imagines what would have happened if Ophelia didn’t die. I won’t spoil how and why she remains alive, but I will say this movie takes the powerless Ophelia from the play and makes her a girlboss hero. So if you loved the original play, or you just love period dramas like me, then you’ll love Daisy Ridley (Rey from Star Wars) in this retelling of one of Shakespeare’s tragedies. The visuals are chef’s kiss and totally put you into a summer cottagecore vibe. It’s all flowy dresses, summer love, and swims in the nearby pond.
The Durrells in Corfu (Amazon Prime) (Comedy/Drama)
Speaking of aesthetics, this show takes the cake! The costumes, the views, the homes! Everything is screaming summer in Greece. Think about the most enviable TikTok you’ve seen portraying the most romantic, gorgeous views of a Grecian summer, make it hours long, and you have The Durrells in Corfu. This show is about a 1930s British family, headed by a strong-willed matriarch, who comes to live on the island of Corfu. The family features four, distinct Durrell children, who attempt to navigate their new lives on the island and learn to take in the beauty of the nature surrounding them, inspiring their individual passions. Each character has a romantic plot at some point, but the show is more about a family learning to make space for each other and band together for the greater good of their family. This is the perfect show to watch on lazy summer day. The four season show is not intense, but it is very moving.
The Summer I Turned Pretty (Amazon Prime) (Romance)
Ok I don’t have much to say about this one yet because it premieres on June 17th. I will say it is at the top of my watchlist because it is based on a novel by Jenny Han (the same author who wrote To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before). If that doesn’t key you into how dreamy and romantic it probably will be, then you need to go watch the three TATBILB movies on Netflix. I should also mention Taylor Swift released her dreamy re-recording of her song, This Love, just for this show’s soundtrack! Seriously swoon. I can tell you already the show is about a girl having a summer like no other when the boys she grew up with start seeing her in a different light. Not to mention the boys are brothers, so it’s giving love triangle, with additional prospects, so perhaps another shape. I’ll be watching and so should you!
Crazy Rich Asians (HBOMax) (Romance/Comedy)
So not sure if this one takes place during the summer specifically, but something about the bright colors, beautiful locations, romance, and wealth just screams summer to me. This is another pretty well-known movie, but I’m so jealous of anyone who hasn’t seen it yet because the opportunity to watch this movie for the first time is a golden one. It centers around a couple, Rachel and Nick, who are clearly in love but haven’t taken the big step of meeting the parents yet. Nick decides to finally introduce Rachel to the world he left behind in Singapore—one of glamour and wealth because it turns out Nick is rich….like really really rich—for his best friend’s upcoming nuptials. Rachel is super enamoured with understanding Nick’s past life and why he kept it secret for so long. Quickly, Nick’s old life starts to feel a bit too claustrophobic for Rachel, especially when family members and old flames are happy to have their prince back, but not the extra baggage he brought along with him. This film should be considered a classic. It has everything—romance, comedy, and drama. And if I had to think of a theme for it, I would say the movie stresses the importance of chosen family. Please, please watch if you haven’t already. If you have, girl, just go ahead and watch again!
Austenland (Hulu) (Comedy/Romance)
I had to save the best for last. This movie, stars Keri Russell, as Jane Hayes, a Jane Austen fanatic. (Sound familiar lol?) Jane is bored with the modern world and dreams of being transported to the 19th-century, Regency world of romance and chivalry. She stumbles upon a theme park of sorts called Austenland, where for a week she can live in the world of Jane Austen and is promised a true Austen story, including an Austen love interest. Using all of her savings, she takes off for England and finds that perhaps Austenland isn’t what she thought it would be. Jane has to grapple with the fact that the choreographed, Regency love she was promised might pale in comparison to the true love that exists in the modern world. I won’t say anything more, but wow, this is a comfort film for me. It’s dreamy and feels like a summer movie night option. Since the main character goes on vacation, it feels fitting to include. Please watch this lovely film. I’m going to watch it again after I finish writing this post!

That’s all folks! I hope some of these recommendations were new for you. If you saw some oldies, I hope you felt inspired to pick them up again for the nostalgia because what is summer without nostalgia? Also, if you have any other movies that scream summer, please put them in the comments. I am always looking for new things to watch!

As always, I love everyone who takes the time to read my musings and continues to be a part of the Fearless & Favoured community! Have a beautiful day.

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