The monthly list of the best releases aims to provide perspective on the number of series made available every week and to update viewers on productions they might be missing. Since no one can keep up with the hundreds of new seasons released each month, the selection highlights the 10 premieres that deserve the most attention. The list doesn’t always feature the most popular titles, so it can also serve as recommendations for what to watch.
June brought the finale of “Round 6,” the most-watched streaming series of all time, the return of “The Bear,” one of today’s most awarded productions, and the debut of Marvel’s new superhero story, “Iron Heart,” in addition to highlighting impactful Brazilian releases: the comedy “Pabro e Luisão” and the miniseries “Raul Seixas: Eu Sou”—not to mention the novel “Guerreiros do Sol,” which didn’t make this list only because it’s not exactly a series. There’s also a donghua. Don’t know what that is? Check it out below.
📺 PABLO AND LUISÃO | Globoplay
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One of the best Brazilian comedy series in recent years, “Pablo e Luisão” turns the real-life stories of Paulo Vieira’s father into a sequence of warm and unpredictable episodes. Revisited by the comedian, these stories reveal the mishaps of Luisão (Aílton Graça) and his friend Pablo (Otávio Müller), who constantly come up with elaborate—and often disastrous—plans to help their family, especially their mother Conceição (Dira Paes) and their sons, Paulo and Neto (Yves Miguel and João Pedro Martins). Their misadventures range from building an electric fence that becomes a neighborhood-wide problem, to taking out loans from loan sharks to sell savory snacks, and even dealing with a rooster that causes chaos at home.
The humor is balanced with family affection. The narrative gains depth by addressing themes such as male friendship, responsibility toward children, and solidarity in absurd situations—features highlighted by Paulo Vieira’s own voice, who takes on the role of narrator. However, the highlight is the performance of Aílton Graça (“Mussum – O Filmis”) and Otávio Müller (“Galeria Futuro”), who display a unique chemistry, while Dira Paes (“Pantanal”) strengthens the family core with her presence. The cast also includes special appearances by names such as Miguel Falabella (“Sai de Baixo”), Lima Duarte (“O Outro Lado do Paraíso”), and Karine Teles (“Manhãs de Setembro”), who enrich the atmosphere of improvisation and lightness that permeates each episode.
📺 RAUL SEIXAS: I AM | Globoplay
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The trajectory of Raul Seixas, one of the greatest figures in Brazilian rock, is reconstructed across different phases throughout the eight episodes of the miniseries, which delves into both his musical legacy and his personal contradictions and conflicts. In the leading role is Ravel Andrade, who previously portrayed young Paulo Coelho in “Não Pare na Pista” (2018), embodying key moments from the life of the singer behind “Sociedade Alternativa” and “Maluco Beleza.”
The production highlights clashes with repressive agencies during the military dictatorship, historic performances at the Song Festival and Phono 73, and behind-the-scenes creative partnerships, especially with Cláudio Roberto (João Vitor Silva) and Paulo Coelho (João Pedro Zappa), as well as the impact of his recordings on the national scene. The pursuit of authenticity and artistic freedom runs throughout the narrative, showing how Raul combined rock, baião, and mystical elements while facing resistance from the market and censorship. Completing the script, it also addresses the singer’s intimate world, revealing the influence of addictions and the complexity of family and emotional relationships, and how these experiences shaped his personality and work.
The series was created by Paulo Morelli (“Cidade dos Homens”), who shares directing duties with Pedro Morelli (“Irmandade”) and production with 02 Filmes. Father and son had previously worked together on the film “Entre Nós” (2013). Their joint work on the show was selected for the official competition at the Series Mania festival in France, where it became the first Brazilian production to compete for the event’s television series award.
📺 ROUND 6 | Netflix
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The third and final season of Netflix’s most-watched series promises to conclude the journey of Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), who faces the consequences of his decision to return to the games. The plot resumes from where it was left off in the second season, when Gi-hun’s rebellion is contained and the insurgents are recaptured by the game organizers.
With a darker tone, the narrative highlights the psychological impact of the deaths on the main character, exploring his feelings of guilt after everything went wrong in the previous ending. The confrontation between Gi-hun and the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) becomes central, escalating after the execution of Park Jung-bae/Player 290 (Lee Seo-hwan) as a warning to the protagonist. After winning the competition in season 1 and attempting to dismantle the system in the second year, Gi-hun finds his plans thwarted, dragged into even more brutal games that make up the final stretch—including the return of the giant “Red Light, Green Light” doll, now accompanied by a partner in a new deadly competition.
The production once again features a screenplay, direction, and executive production by Hwang Dong-hyuk, who was responsible for all episodes of the series.
📺 The Bear | Disney+
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The fourth season of the drama series, which has been awarded as a comedy, shows the evolution of the restaurant business that gives the show its name. Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) faces new challenges in keeping the restaurant open amidst negative reviews and the threat of budget cuts imposed by his uncle Jimmy. The tension rises when Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) considers accepting an offer from another establishment, putting their partnership at risk while the team deals with constant pressure to achieve excellence.
Created by Christopher Storer (producer-director of “Ramy”), the series has already followed the initial effort to save the failing restaurant, its reopening with a new concept, and the difficulties in keeping the business running. The new season intensifies the threats that could lead to permanent closure, maintaining focus on daily conflicts and the pursuit of excellence within the professional kitchen.
Faced with the need to rethink strategies after unfavorable reviews, Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and the rest of the kitchen staff find themselves forced to confront increasingly demanding challenges. The dilemma between tradition and innovation sets the pace for the season, putting the restaurant’s survival at risk.
📺 IRON HEART | Disney+
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The new MCU series follows Riri Williams, a young inventor with extraordinary talent introduced in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” After gaining notoriety for her brilliance, the protagonist’s path takes another turn when she is expelled from MIT and must seek alternatives to fund her research, forming alliances with dubious characters in the tech underworld.
Produced by Ryan Coogler, who is responsible for “Black Panther,” the story maintains its connection to the established universe by featuring appearances from characters such as Shuri, the Black Panther portrayed by Letitia Wright. The cast includes Dominique Thorne (“Judas and the Black Messiah”) as Riri, Alden Ehrenreich (“Solo: A Star Wars Story”), Lyric Ross (“This Is Us”), Regan Aliyah (“Love, Simon”), Manny Montana (“Good Girls”), and Harper Anthony (“Vulture City”), along with Anthony Ramos (“Twisters”) playing the investor with shady intentions regarding the young inventor’s creations.
The series expands the Marvel universe by contrasting potential and social circumstances, following Riri’s journey through academic and financial obstacles that lead her to navigate moral dilemmas while building her own legacy as an inventor.
📺 THE GOLDEN AGE | Max
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The third season of the series created by Julian Fellowes, creator of “Downton Abbey,” intensifies the power struggles, status battles, and ambition in late 19th-century New York. Thanks to her husband’s money, Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon) has become one of the most influential figures within the elite, taking on a central role advocating that marriage can serve as a tool for social transformation, in dialogues that highlight her pursuit of upward mobility and dominance—while her husband George (Morgan Spector) makes a high-stakes bet on railway expansion, a risky business venture that could jeopardize the family.
The imminence of strategic marriages turns the marital core into a field of tension. Bertha seeks to establish influential alliances for her daughter Gladys (Taissa Farmiga), while Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) insists on prioritizing love, even in the face of traditional expectations from aunts Agnes (Christine Baranski) and Ada (Cynthia Nixon). The relationship with Larry Russell (Harry Richardson), hinted at the end of the previous season, resurfaces, bringing new possibilities for the young woman.
Peggy Scott (Denee Benton) also appears with a new romantic partner, described as a “handsome Newport doctor,” whose family disapproves of her profession. And Ada Forte, formerly known as Ada Brook, continues experiencing shifts in status. Since inheriting a fortune, she has become the household’s provider, while her nephew Oscar (Blake Ritson) has lost his mother’s entire inheritance through gambling.
The new season introduces issues such as divorce— a theme beginning to emerge among the elites of the time—while also expanding narrative settings, with scenes filmed in Newport and England, as well as appearances by historical figures such as J.P. Morgan and leaders of the suffrage movement (for women’s voting rights). The delicate interplay of financial ambition, political tensions, and personal convictions, highlighted by contrasts between tradition and modernity, offers a season aiming for both thrilling twists and a more complex historical representation.
📺 THE BUCANEERS | Apple TV+
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The second season maintains the historical charm and atmosphere of cultural conflict that marked the premiere. Adapted from Edith Wharton’s (1862-1937) eponymous and unfinished work, the series is set in the 1870s and follows five wealthy young American women who cross the Atlantic to London’s society in search of aristocratic husbands, aiming to elevate their social status. In this context, the marriage of Conchita Closson (Alisha Boe, from “13 Reasons Why”) to Lord Richard Marable (Josh Dylan, from “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again”) is merely the beginning of a series of events that challenge the cultural and social norms of the time.
The plot resumes with the American women Nan, Conchita, Jinny, Lizzy, Mabel, and Honoria already established in the British setting. Nan (Kristine Froseth, “Who Killed Sara?”) assumes the title of duchess, Conchita stands out as a leader among young American women, while Jinny (Imogen Waterhouse, “The Outpost”) faces the consequences of her pregnancy and a turbulent marriage. The arrival of a new character, Nell, played by Leighton Meester (“Gossip Girl”), adds personal tension: she appears as Nan’s birth mother, expanding the family drama and exploring themes such as identity and belonging.
Developed by Katherine Jakeways (“Tracey Ullman’s Show”), the series takes a modern, “Bridgerton”-style approach, going beyond period romance to depict the young women’s struggle for autonomy and acceptance within a rigid social context. Their presence in British high society causes both excitement and admiration, and their experiences range from discovering sexual identities to confronting domestic abuse, portraying a narrative that transcends typical genre conventions with a modern, feminist tone—and a contemporary soundtrack.
📺 SMOKE SCREEN | Apple TV+
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The crime series created by Dennis Lehane, author of the novels that inspired “Gone Baby Gone” and “Shutter Island,” focuses on police suspense and psychological tension while following the hunt for a serial arsonist. Taron Egerton (“Rocketman”) plays Dave Gudsen, a fire expert who finds himself at the center of an investigation involving devastating attacks and suspicions within his own professional circle.
The plot gains density with the arrival of police officer Michelle Calderone (Jurnee Smollett, “Birds of Prey”), determined to capture the criminal despite the firefighter’s resistance to working in a pair. As the case progresses, clues emerge suggesting the arsonist might be closer than expected, raising doubts about the innocence of the investigators themselves.
Inspired by the true crime podcast “Firebug,” the production reunites Lehane with Egerton following their successful collaboration on “Black Bird,” a miniseries that was also a hit on Apple TV+. The cast also includes John Leguizamo (“Waco: The Final Judgment”), Greg Kinnear (“House of Cards”), Rafe Spall (“Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom”), Adina Porter (“The 100”), Hannah Emily Anderson (“Saw: Jigsaw”), Ntare Mwine (“The Chi”), and Anna Chlumsky (“Veep”).
📺 ST. DENIS MEDICAL | Universal+
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The new sitcom is a “mockumentary,” in the style of successful productions in the genre such as “The Office” and “Parks & Recreation,” where the actors speak directly to the camera as if they were in a documentary. The episodes take place in a poorly managed hospital in Oregon and revolve around frustrated patients, hierarchical differences, bureaucracy, interpersonal relationships, and, as usual, an out-of-touch boss.
The protagonist is Alex, the head nurse played by Allison Tolman (“Fargo”), who must deal with the absurd decisions of director Joyce (Wendi McLendon-Covey), the inexperience of the clumsy newcomer Matt (Mekki Leeper), and the bad mood of senior doctor Ron (David Alan Grier).
The series is created by a veteran of “The Office,” Justin Spitzer, in partnership with Eric Ledgin. The two worked together on the scripts and production of “Superstore,” another successful workplace comedy.
📺 LORD OF MYSTERIES | Crunchyroll
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Acclaimed Chinese fantasy work by Cuttlefish That Loves Diving, considered a literary phenomenon with more than eight published volumes and millions of readers worldwide, receives an adaptation by studio B.CMay Pictures. In the isekai style, the protagonist, Zhou Mingrui, mysteriously awakens inside the body of recent college graduate Klein Moretti, who died from an apparent suicide, and soon finds himself in an alternate universe characterized by Victorian aesthetics, Lovecraftian atmosphere, and steampunk technology, filled with secret societies, supernatural mysteries, airships, spells, and tarot cards. In this new world, people known as Beyonders possess magical abilities. Klein is a Beyonder, and consequently, Zhou becomes entangled in intrigues, having to fight against monsters straight out of a horror movie to discover how he ended up there.
The first season, which adapts Volume 1 of the saga into 13 episodes, rapidly covers a surprising amount of content, as the first episode alone spans 14 chapters of the novel, while the second reaches chapter 44. Unsurprisingly, the pace is frantic, especially compared to traditional Japanese anime, and the excitement surrounding its release should help give donghua, animation produced in China, the popularity boost this genre has yet to achieve in the West.
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