Nearly every anxious Netflix subscriber is counting down to the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender season two, coming June 25, but there’s plenty else to watch while we wait. As for what other top streaming films or series there are, the mileage will vary depending on tastes.
The former service is running a bit light right now. Stranger Things carried it for years, and Tales from ’85 didn’t really fill that gap. The Boroughs is here. Both debuted last month, and tried as I might to watch, they didn’t hold my attention that well. Also, without the Duffer Brothers in the director’s chair, since they’re producing, not directing, it doesn’t have the same pull. It’s also more sci-fi than supernatural, which changes the vibe considerably.
So here are my top five picks for June. The streamers seem to know better than to drop heavy hitters in summer heat, which works out fine for us.
I Am Frankelda
(Netflix) June 12
This dark fantasy stop-motion feature feels like a bizarre love child of del Toro’s nightmarish aesthetic and Tim Burton’s stop-motion sensibility, and that’s absolutely a compliment. Part gothic fairy tale, part horror-lite, the scares hit just right. It’s “just a film,” sure, but anyone who falls for Frankelda is going to want more. Worth your evening.
Dragon Striker
(Disney+) June 9
A farm boy with a hidden dragon raging inside him discovers a talent for a strange sport called Dragon Striker. Created by Sylvain Dos Santos and Charles Lefebvre, this one wears its influences openly. The Naruto DNA is obvious, and there’s a fair bit of My Hero Academia in the “gifted kids at a prestigious academy” setup. Harry Potter and Galactik Football also come to mind. How original it ends up being depends on what the creators are actually going for, and whether they resist the urge to have someone say “chosen one” out loud. Aimed at tweens, but worth a look.
Lord of Mysteries Specials
(Crunchyroll) June 20
Chinese donghua is still pretty rare on Crunchyroll, so this one stands out. The series blends steampunk and the occult around Klein Moretti, a man caught up in Church politics while carrying someone else’s soul inside him. It’s strange and dense in the best way.
The specials expand on the thirteen episodes already available. The first, City of Silver, debuts this month and follows Klein as he makes contact with Derrick Berg, a man trapped in a sunless city called the Forsaken Land of God. Derrick’s situation is grim, and his people need help. He ends up pledging himself to Klein’s alter ego, The Fool, and taking on the mantle of The Sun. It’s heavy mythology delivered with real atmosphere.
The second special, The Marked Hunt, shifts to a more political kind of danger. The dates have yet to be announced, and may be offered later during Q3. Here, Alger Wilson, aka The Hanged Man, puts a target on one of the seven Pirate Admirals, and Audrey Hall gets pulled into the hunt. The web tightens as Klein quietly works behind the scenes through his mentor, Mr. Azik. It’s a slower build, but the payoff lands.
If you haven’t started the main series yet, now’s the time to catch up before these drop.
Adventure Time: Side Quests
(Hulu and Disney+) June 29
Not much is known about this prequel that will get streaming dibs first. As Adventure Time is definitely not over in one sense, this prequel will watch Finn and Jake dealing with threats that first threatened the duo.
In what’s known so far is that The Ice King will be one big bad everyone will have to worry about! Instead of long serialized tales, what’s made will be episodic. This return to the roots will no doubt be welcomed!
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