Did you know it’s the last day of May next week? Yep, that means we’re basically heading into summer, and a new month only means one thing: more shows dropping on the biggest streaming service. Netflix is probably the most consistent platform when it comes to releasing original content, but that also makes it the hardest to keep up with. And this week alone brought several binge-worthy new shows.
To help narrow down your options, I’ve chosen three Netflix shows worth checking out. That includes a new sci-fi drama packed with cosmic mystery from the executive producers behind “Stranger Things,” a three-part miniseries about the 16th president of the United States, and a wild adult animated comedy from the team behind “Big Mouth.”
If your weekend plans involve Netflix, these are the three new series you should start watching.
‘The Boroughs’
Netflix’s biggest release this week is “The Boroughs,” a new sci-fi mystery series produced by the Duffer Brothers, who, if you didn’t know, created the streaming sensation “Stranger Things.” This new series, however, doesn’t follow kids on bikes but instead centers on residents in a retirement community. Having watched all eight episodes, I can confidently say it’s Netflix’s best original series of 2026 so far, largely thanks to it feeling like a love letter to classic Spielberg films, with much of its heart coming from its charming characters and nostalgic visuals.
“The Boroughs” takes place in a retirement community in the New Mexico desert, where newly arrived resident Sam Cooper (Alfred Molina) is still grieving the loss of his wife. After a terrifying late-night encounter with an unknown alien threat, Sam begins to suspect there is something deeply wrong beneath the community’s peaceful surface. Teaming up with a group of fellow residents, he starts investigating the strange disappearances.
Watch "The Boroughs" on Netflix now
‘Abraham Lincoln’
“Abraham Lincoln” is a three-part docuseries event that originally aired on The History Channel in 2022. Clocking in at seven and a half hours across three consecutive nights, the project was designed as a definitive, contemporary biography of the 16th U.S. president. The series was executive produced by presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin, and is based on the ideas explored in her 2018 New York Times bestseller Leadership: In Turbulent Times.
Graham Sibley portrays Abraham Lincoln across multiple stages of his life. The docuseries follows Lincoln from his early years in rural America through to his presidency and assassination, charting his rise from a poor upbringing to becoming a lawyer, politician, and eventually president during the Civil War. It also explores his leadership throughout the conflict, his relationships with key figures in government and the military, and the major decisions he made while trying to hold the country together.
Watch "Abraham Lincoln" on Netflix now
‘Mating Season’
If you’re in the mood for a raunchy adult animated series, “Mating Season” should be on your watchlist. Produced by animation studio Titmouse, the show is being positioned as a spiritual successor to “Big Mouth.” It leans into similar raunchy humor and fast-paced comedic storytelling, with a large ensemble cast of well-known comedy voice actors. The series explores the messy, complicated world of modern dating and relationships, all through a distinctive stylistic approach that sets it apart from typical adult animation.
“Mating Season” is set in a forest where a group of anthropomorphic animals are trying to work through dating, relationships, and finding partners. The story follows a central group of characters including Ray the raccoon (Nick Kroll), Josh the bear (Zach Woods), Fawn the deer (June Diane Raphael), and Penelope the fox (Sabrina Jalees), each dealing with different romantic situations. Across the season, they explore connection, commitment, and the chaos of modern dating, all told through a comedic, exaggerated animal world.
Watch "Mating Season" on Netflix now
