Your friends, neighbors, and favorite R-rated superheroes are among the popular characters returning in must-see TV shows in April. They’re joined by teens in love, wealthy criminals, and prisoners of a mysterious town, plus a beloved sitcom family from the early 2000s. From East Highland High School to the Vought Cinematic Universe, here are the seven streaming series you should catch up on before they continue this month.
What it is: Anna Cathcart stars as the title character in this teen romance streaming series spun off from the To All the Boys movies. Kitty is an American girl studying abroad at a Korean boarding school that her late mother attended, and the show follows her emotional journey through various crushes and relationships. XO, Kitty: Season 3 premieres in full on Netflix on Thursday, April 2, with eight new episodes.
Why you should watch it: XO, Kitty continues the appeal of Jenny Han’s To All the Boys novels and their adaptations as a sweet romantic YA series for a maturing teenage audience. The show is also culturally inclusive and LGBT friendly. The main reason to watch, though, is for Cathcart’s performance, as the former child actor (known for Odd Squad and Disney’s Descendants movies) proves her growing star power.
Where to watch: Netflix (subscription, seasons 1-2, plus the movies To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You, and To All the Boys: Always and Forever)
Commitment: Approx. 14 hours (for seasons 1-2, plus the three To All the Boys movies)
What it is: This darkly comedic crime drama stars Mad Men’s Jon Hamm as a hedge fund manager who turns to robbing his wealthy neighbors when he loses his job. The series also stars Amanda Peet as his ex-wife, Corben Bernsen as his former boss, and Olivia Munn as his current sometime lover. The second season ofYour Friends & Neighbors premieres on Apple TV on Friday, April 3, and runs weekly through early June.
Why you should watch it: Following in the footsteps of Breaking Bad and Ozark, this would seem to be just another show where a down-on-his-luck husband/father turns to a life of crime to continue providing for his family. However, Your Friends & Neighbors benefits from Jon Hamm’s charisma in another role where he’s otherwise occasionally unlikable, and a sharp script that has fun with schadenfreude aimed at the uber-rich.
Where to watch: Apple TV (subscription, season 1)
Commitment: Approx. 8 hours (for season 1)
What it is: Based on the Wildstorm comic book series of the same name, The Boys follows the titular team of CIA-sponsored vigilantes and their superpowered adversaries in a world where “Supes” aren’t really the heroes they seem to be. Throughout the show’s first four seasons, The Boys have fought to take down The Seven, which consists of some of the most corrupt Supes. The first two episodes of season 5 premiere on Prime Video on Wednesday, April 8.
Why you should watch it: The Boys isn’t for everyone, as it can be crude, graphically violent, and politically divisive, but it’s still consistently among Amazon’s most popular and acclaimed series. Most of the watercooler chatter about the show centers on its most shocking moments. Still, it’s a superhero satire that’s as smart as it is sensational, maintaining very high Tomatometer scores and billions of streaming minutes from fans around the world.
Where to watch: Prime Video (subscription, seasons 1-4, plus the spinoffs Gen V and The Boys Presents: Diabolical); buy the main series and Gen V on Fandango at Home, Google Play, and Apple TV
Commitment: Approx. 42 hours (for seasons 1-4, plus the two spin-off series)
What it is: Before his iconic turn as Walter White, Bryan Cranston co-starred in this uniquely stylish sitcom as the goofy father of the eponymous teen and four other sons. Frankie Muniz plays Malcolm, a fourth-wall-breaking genius who has trouble fitting in at school and at home. The four-episode revival series Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair, which revisits the character as an adult estranged from his family, premieres in full on Hulu on Friday, April 10.
Why you should watch it: The original run of Malcolm in the Middle was one of the most memorable family sitcoms of the early years of this century. That was thanks to its hilarious ensemble cast, including Cranston, Muniz, and Jane Kaczmarek, a consistent Emmy nominee for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for every one of its seasons. Its fresh writing and directing, unlike anything else on TV at the time, were also deservedly well-honored.
Where to watch: Disney+ and Hulu (subscription, Seasons 1-7)
Commitment: Approx. 57.5 hours (for Seasons 1-7)
What it is: Adapted from an Israeli miniseries, Euphoria is a teen drama for mature audiences, as it famously contains a lot of nudity and heavy storylines concerning sex, drugs, and violence. Zendaya leads the show as Rue, a queer high school student and recovering addict, while Maude Apatow plays her best friend, Lexi. Season 3 premieres on HBO and HBO Max on Sunday, April 12, with new episodes debuting weekly through May.
Why you should watch it: Euphoria has faced controversy for its disturbing content involving teenagers, but it’s also been praised for its realistically darker look at high school life. The series has also been significant for spotlighting the talents of certain Hollywood stars on the rise, including Sydney Sweeney and recent Oscar nominee Jacob Elordi. Of course, Zendaya’s twice-Emmy-winning performance is the driving force of the show.
Where to watch: HBO Max (subscription, seasons 1-2, plus two special episodes); buy on Fandango at Home, Google Play, and Apple TV
Commitment: Approx. 17 hours (for Seasons 1-2, plus the two special episodes)
What it is: Steven Yeun and Ali Wong star in the first season of this anthology series about quarrelling individuals. In those first 10 episodes, two strangers develop an out-of-control feud following a road rage incident. The second season of Beef, which features a fresh storyline involving country club employees and a cast of characters led by Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan, premieres in full on Netflix on Thursday, April 16, with eight new episodes.
Why you should watch it: The original series has a near-perfect Tomatometer score, and it dominated awards season after debuting three years ago, winning Emmys, Golden Globes, and Critics Choice Awards for the show and the lead performances by Steven Yeun and Ali Wong. The pair were also honored at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. With an acclaimed new cast also including Cailee Spaeny and Charles Melton, season 2 is sure to be as successful.
Where to watch: Netflix (subscription, season 1)
Commitment: Approx. 5.5 hours (for season 1)
What it is: Lost’s Harold Perrineau stars in this sci-fi horror series with its own mystery box scenario. The show is set in a small town that traps all who enter, with nocturnal creatures terrorizing the residents from the surrounding forest. Oscar-nominated actress Catalina Sandino Moreno and The Stand’s Eion Bailey co-star as a couple with kids who are new to the town as the series begins. Season 4 of From premieres on MGM+ on Sunday, April 19.
Why you should watch it: If you loved Lost and want another curiously enigmatic series starring the guy who played “Michael,” then From will be right up your alley. While not an awards darling, this spooky, mind-bending show has been a hit with critics and popular enough with genre-loving viewers to be renewed year after year. Its third season was its best-reviewed yet, giving hope that it’s getting even better with each return.
Where to watch: MGM+ (subscription, seasons 1-3); buy on Fandango at Home, Google Play, Prime Video, and Apple TV
Commitment: Approx. 25.5 hours (for seasons 1-3)
Thumbnail image by Amazon MGM Studios
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