Summer ‘21 is nearing, and with so much uncertainty in the world around us, watching TV is the perfect escape. Whether you’re looking for a light, mindless reality show or an exciting drama, here are 5 TV shows to binge this summer: 

• Outer Banks

A wildly popular TV show that blew up on TikTok last year, Outer Banks is set on an island in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Season 1 follows protagonist John B and his friends as they go on a summer treasure hunt in search of a legendary heap of gold. Along the way, John B and his friends find out they’re not the only ones searching for the gold, and after a few near-death experiences, realize they’re in for more than they ever expected. Outer Banks tells an unforgettable story of friendship, family, and summer love, filled with twists, turns, and alliances you’d never expect. Season 2 is set for release sometime this summer. 

• The Circle

The Circle is one of Netflix’s new reality shows. In this competition, each contestant creates a social media profile on a program called the Circle, where they can choose who they want to be. Some use their real identity, while others “catfish” and pretend to be someone else. The players interact with one another through text messages. Competitors get “blocked” (kicked out) when they are voted out by the other contestants, and the winner receives $100,000. Season 2 of The Circle was just released in April 2021, and it’s the perfect show to watch and relax during the hot summer days.

• Love Island

Love Island UK, with its spinoffs in Australia, Germany, Sweden, and most recently, USA, remains one of the most popular summer reality shows season after season. The contestants, a group of single people hoping to find love, move to an extravagant villa. Each week, contestants “couple up,” and whoever ends up single gets sent home. Throughout the summer, new contestants enter the villa, stirring up trouble for existing couples. At the end of the summer, whichever final couple gets the most votes from the public receives the cash prize. Love Island is a funny, addicting, and heartfelt show to add to your summer watch list. 

• Cruel Summer

A slightly darker show, Cruel Summer tells the thrilling story of a teenage girl who was kidnapped, and eerily, of another girl who took her place. The show takes place over three summers in the 90s, and it dives deep into the lives of everyone around the girls. What makes this show so interesting is each episode shows the same day over the three years—1993, 1994, and 1995— with viewpoints alternating between the two girls. New episodes come out each week on Freeform and Hulu, so no one knows how the mystery will end yet.

• H2O: Just Add Water / Mako Mermaids

H2O is a fun summer show, and it follows the lives of three girls who turn into mermaids after a trip to a mysterious pool. The thing is: they only become mermaids when they come in contact with water. Rikki, Emma, and Cleo try to return to their normal lives, but they struggle to keep their powers a secret from everyone else. H2O and its spinoff, Mako Mermaids, are both available to watch on Netflix.