Must-Watch: Top 5 Summer 2024 TV Shows & Films You'll Love
As the summer days fade, I reflect on the meaningful shows and films I've enjoyed during this season. Media, much like music, plays a significant role in our culture. These artistic pieces have influenced me deeply, and I’m eager to revisit them. They would also make great conversation starters to share with friends and family, sparking engaging discussions we can all enjoy and learn from together.
Queenie Season 1, On Hulu
Queenie on Hulu is a show about a woman in London in her twenties trying to manage her job and personal life after a tough breakup. Saying "managing" is a stretch because, for most of the series, she spiraled into self-destructive habits both at work and in her personal life. This led to her emotional and mental struggles. What many will find relatable, is how messy and toxic her twenties are. People who have reached their thirties and found stability can look back and acknowledge just how chaotic those years were. Watching Queenie's journey might feel like seeing a disaster unfold, but it's one that many have experienced and learned from.
In the final episodes, Queenie stops avoiding her deep-seated issues and begins to confront them directly. A significant part of this journey involves her complicated relationship with her mother. By facing these problems with her therapist's guidance, Queenie has tough talks with her mom, which helps her address feelings of abandonment. This enabled her to overcome commitment issues and stop sabotaging her relationships. As a result, she starts to open up to the possibility of a healthy, caring partner, different from the unsuitable ones she was involved with earlier in the series.
While Queenie’s journey is full of ups and downs, it’s these struggles that make her story so genuine. By confronting her past, she sets herself up for a better future. That’s a message many viewers, especially those who have survived their twenties, can find hope and inspiration in.
Unprisoned Season 2, On Hulu
As a longtime supporter of Kerry Washington, I was disappointed in myself by how late I started this series. However, I wrapped up the first season just a week before the second season premiered on Hulu and then began to dive into season 2. Unprisoned tells the story of Paige, played by Kerry Washington, and her family's journey after her father Edwin gets out of prison. The show dives into the lingering trauma Paige carries from her father's repeated incarcerations and its impact on raising her son Finn and her romantic relationships.
Season two was my favorite. It shows the family going through counseling, confronting their issues, and dealing with unresolved trauma and old wounds. We witness Paige taking more responsibility for her past mistakes and how this has damaged her relationships. She also starts being more open with her son and father, which helps improve these connections.
In today's TV and film, exploring the flaws in personal relationships and unhealed family issues is important because these are relatable and shared experiences. Many of us lack the tools to manage these situations that we deeply care about and want to improve. The writers did an excellent job of highlighting the complexities in African American father-daughter relationships because these are often the most strained or absent bonds. This series does a great job of portraying that.
Bel-Air Season 3, On Peacock
Bel-Air is a modern reimagining of the beloved series Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and just wrapped up its third season on Peacock. Set in Bel Air, California, the story follows a wealthy African American family as they navigate the challenges of work, love, friendship, and family ties. This season highlighted several significant themes such as recovery from addiction, marital infidelity, substance abuse recovery, and exploring sexual fluidity in adolescence.
One major storyline involved Uncle Phil and Aunt Viv struggling with their relationship after Aunt Viv learns (from another woman) that her husband kissed a coworker and hid it from her. Similarly, their daughter Hillary faces her own issues as she prepares for marriage to LaMarcus while struggling to let go of her previous boyfriend, Jazz. This creates tension that challenges her upcoming commitment.
A touching aspect of this season was witnessing Phil and Viv come together after a painful revelation. They engage in honest conversations about unmet desires and expectations, which rekindles the flame in their marriage. Additionally, it was refreshing to see Hillary eventually being truthful with LaMarcus (after talking to both of her parents about imperfections and unmet expectations in a long-term partnership), allowing him to decide whether he wanted to commit to a life that included her past indiscretions. Â
These narratives matter because they acknowledge that no relationship is without flaws. They reflect real-life challenges that many couples face. How couples adapt to each other during tough times truly shapes the quality and longevity of their bond. Uncle Phil, Aunt Viv, Hillary, and LaMarcus dealt with their struggles respectfully, giving each other the space to heal and grow.
I was also excited to see Carlton navigate recovery this season. Substance use disorder is widely seen in society, often overlooked despite damaging effects on health and relationships. Recently marking two years of sobriety myself, I understand how tough his shift from rehab must have been. Forming new intimate relationships during this time is not recommended. Carlton's new relationship with Amira, also revealed how individuals with addictive tendencies may latch onto newcomers in recovery, and form new addictions. Carlton and Amira, became dependent on each other, rather than focusing on building the tools and inner strength, independently, necessary for sustainable sober living.
Sing Sing, in Theaters
Sing Sing, featuring Colman Domingo, captures the lives of prisoners at Sing Sing prison who engage in a theater arts program. Colman Domingo, playing Divine G, is both the lead actor and writer in the program, serving time for a crime he didn’t commit. Interestingly, many of the actors who played theater members in the film were previously incarcerated at Sing Sing, and were portraying themselves in the film. This detail, revealed in the credits, adds a sentimental layer to the story.
Throughout the movie, the theater serves as a way for the inmates to escape their harsh reality. It gives them a secure setting to share their feelings and build strong bonds during rehearsals. This film shows how powerful the imagination can be, illustrating that even though the body may be confined, the spirit can find freedom through creative outlets like theater. It's a reminder of the strength and resilience of the human mind in finding ways to seek liberation despite physical constraints.
One of the most touching elements of the film is the connection formed through tension, between Divine G and the newcomer, Divine Eye. Divine G played a key role in assisting Divine Eye with his appeal for an early release but ultimately faced the setback of losing his own appeal and having to resubmit. The film's final scene, showcasing Divine Eye joyfully picking up Divine G upon his release, along with their emotional embrace outside the prison gates, stands out as one of the most poignant moments in the film. It beautifully represents a journey of hope not lost combined with remarkable cinematography.
Daughters, On Netflix
After watching Daughters, I can truly say I haven't shed more tears watching any movie or documentary in the past five years. Daughters follows the journey leading up to a Daddy-Daughter dance of fathers who are inmates in a DC jail. Many of whom they've been separated from for years. It also recounts the ten-week course the fathers had to take together before the dance, along with footage of the daughters and their mothers who discuss the void and emotional toll of their dad's absence over time.
The most touching moments happened during the dance itself. Fathers and daughters reunited, sharing stories, hugs, laughs, and tears by the end. This documentary offers a different perspective on these fathers, who are also inmates, highlighting their most vulnerable and honest sides.
Moreover, it underscores the crucial part fathers play in their daughters' lives, regardless of their capacity to provide financially or be physically present. The girls confessed it wasn’t about money or material things, but about time spent and the bond shared, that was missed most.Â
In essence, Daughters provides a powerful look at the bonds between fathers and daughters, their struggles, and the long-lasting impact of absence and reconnection. The film serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of paternal presence, love, and emotional ties, transcending beyond economic contributions. This is a valuable watch for anyone seeking both understanding and empathy in the context of father-daughter relationships.
Kerry Washington, a fellow GWU Alum, shines not just as the lead in Unprisoned (a series exploring a daughter's bond with her dad, recently released from prison) but also serves as an Executive Producer for the documentary Daughters (focused on a group of fathers in DC jail preparing for a Daddy-Daughter dance). Since She Hate Me I've admired her, but the work she unveiled this summer, has me appreciating her on a deeper level.
I'm uncertain if Queenie, Unprisoned, or Bel-Air will receive additional seasons. However, I eagerly anticipate what the Fall and Winter will offer in terms of urban entertainment and storytelling.
Easy Listening (And Viewing), The Urban Music Enthusiast.