So many of us turn to television to escape from the everyday grind. That may be why shows like HBO’s White Lotus — which, following Hawaii- and Italy-set seasons, took its wealthy and morally questionable characters to Thailand for its third go — scratch such an itch. Not only do vacation-vibes shows like The White Lotus dive into juicy, scandalous drama, they also take audiences to a place with gorgeous backdrops and luxe vibes. Sure, White Lotus fans were eager to learn who died in the finale, but they just as much enjoyed watching resort guests sunbathe by the pool, cocktails in hand.
Of course, not everyone’s idea of a perfect vacation is the same. For everyone who dreams of lounging on a Sicilian beach, there’s someone who prefers cozying up by the fire in a ski lodge, or leaning into the R&R at a high-end spa. And others just want to look at the foliage in New England.
No matter what your speed, there’s a vacation-worthy show for you to watch. Some offer brand-new “out of office” vibes — while others are returning to provide that same escapism we know and love. Here’s what to check out:
The Four Seasons — Netflix, out now
Will Forte and Tina Fey play a married couple in The Four Seasons. (Francisco Roman/Netflix)
Group trips: Love ’em or loathe ’em, they’re great for drama — and The Four Seasons, based on the 1981 film of the same name, has it in spades. The series follows a group of longtime pals (which includes comedy icons like Steve Carell and Tina Fey, as well as Oscar nominee Colman Domingo) as they navigate the ups and downs of midlife while on their multiple yearly vacations together. What could go wrong? Well, a lot, as it turns out — like a divorce announcement upending a surprise wedding renewal ceremony.
Drama aside, there’s a little something for every type of vacationer in The Four Seasons. Filming locations for the series include a Hudson Valley lake house, an eco-resort in Puerto Rico and a ski resort in upstate New York. For those who love leaves, the gang also takes an autumnal trip to their alma mater, which is filmed at the real Vassar College.
Nine Perfect Strangers, Season 2 — Hulu, out May 21
The cast of Nine Perfect Strangers is heading to a wintery resort. (Hulu)
Nicole Kidman, who is literally everywhere all the time, somehow managed to squeeze in a second season of her culty Hulu series, which premiered in 2021. Now, the show is coming back with a brand-new star-studded cast that includes Henry Golding, Annie Murphy, Christine Baranski and even The White Lotus’s Murray Bartlett.
Just don’t expect a sun-soaked retreat this year — per the show’s trailer, the sophomore season of Kidman’s psychedelics-loving guru Masha is bringing a crop of “broken people” on a snowy retreat, where they’ll dive into their core memories. (“This is not a spa?!” one of the guests asks in the trailer.) While there will certainly be some dark shenanigans afoot, Bartlett’s white cable-knit sweater certainly evokes luxe ski lodge vibes.
Sirens — Netflix, out May 22
Meghann Fahy plays Devon, a woman looking to reconnect with her sister, on Sirens. (Macall Polay/Netflix)
Sirens stars White Lotus alum Meghann Fahy as Devon, a woman who grows concerned about her sister Simone (played by House of the Dragon’s Milly Alcock) after Simone gets a little too invested in her job with Julianne Moore’s socialite Michaela. It turns out that Simone’s job is to tend to Michaela’s every need — as well as help her throw lavish parties — at her luxury beach estate. Of course, it’s not all fun and games — Michaela’s definitely got a few dark secrets — but the scenery? A+.
We Were Liars — Prime Video, out June 18
Emily Alyn Lind, Esther McGregor, Joseph Zada and Shubham Maheshwari star in We Were Liars. (Prime Video)
Need one more example of why beach houses spell trouble? Enter We Were Liars, an upcoming series based on the popular E. Lockhart YA novel of the same name. The show follows the ultra-wealthy Sinclair family, who summer every year on their private Beechwood Island — until something goes terribly wrong. The less said about that, the better — the book’s well known for its jaw-dropping twist. But before everything goes to hell, there’s lots of summer fun to be had: Think boat trips, tennis matches and lounging in the sand.
The Summer I Turned Pretty — Prime Video, out July 16
Tung and Casalegno in The Summer I Turned Pretty. (Erika Doss/Prime)
If you’re shell-shocked by the ending of We Were Liars, allow another summer-fun show to bring back the fun. The Summer I Turned Pretty is back for a third and final season, and with it, an answer to the question dividing fans: Will Belly (Lola Tung) end up with longtime crush Conrad (Christopher Briney) or new boyfriend Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno)? Oh, and did I mention that Conrad and Jeremiah happen to be brothers?!
The third season of The Summer I Turned Pretty, which thus far has spent most of its time in the fictional beach town of Cousins, will explore outside of its seasonal home for the final season, with Belly attending college with her probably-not-forever love Jeremiah. But they’ll always have summer … and the only thing harder than keeping Belly away from the Fisher boys is keeping the characters away from their beloved beach house.
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