The best new shows to download before your next flight

As a technology journalist and entertainment writer, I always have something in my queue that needs watching. What I don’t always have is the time to get through a couple of episodes to see whether the newest shows are worth continuing.

On my upcoming international flight, I’ll be digging into Bait (Amazon Prime Video), Lord of the Flies (Netflix), and Margot’s Got Money Troubles (Apple TV). I’m hopeful that at least one of these, if not all, will be a future show recommendation. But until then, I do have other shows that debuted this year that are perfect for watching on your next flight.

From the goofy comedy of The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins to the ultra-suspenseful Widow’s Bay, there should be something here that you haven’t seen yet. Plus, starting a show on a flight is the best way to get hooked. There’s not much else to do besides relax and keep hitting play. 

Mockumentary comedy: The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins (Peacock)

When people think of modern mockumentary series, The Office immediately jumps to mind. The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins isn’t too far off, but it’s much closer to 30 Rock, which makes sense since it stars Tracey Morgan. Daniel Radcliffe joins in on the action show, where his character is a filmmaker following Dinkins, making a movie about the former football star and his desire to make a comeback to public life.

It’s often silly, but it's good for some genuine laughs. The first season is streaming in full, with a second season coming at some point.

Comedy horror thriller: Widow’s Bay (Apple TV)

Don’t dismiss Widow’s Bay before giving it a shot, even if you don’t care for the horror genre. I don’t like horror movies, but I found Widow’s Bay episode’s 35-minute runtime to keep the tense parts to a minimum, while the mystery elements were sufficient to keep me hooked. The other half of this show is dry comedy that keeps it from ever getting too intense. It’s a special kind of genre.

College comedy: Rooster (HBO Max)

Steve Carell goes back to college in Rooster. He plays a successful novelist who visits his daughter, who works at the school and is going through a breakout. Through lucky circumstances, he gains a temporary gig at the same school, and it becomes a family affair in a hilarious way.

Carell carries this show initially, across the first few episodes, but it’s the full supporting cast that makes it a winner. Each person plays their character perfectly, from the overly academic type to the weird students still finding themselves.

The think-piece: The Pitt (HBO Max)

On the surface, The Pitt is, of course, about an emergency room and is a medical drama. The thing that keeps it moving at a rapid pace, however, is that it’s constantly dealing with all the timely topics that the patients are dealing with, too.

From bills and money problems to immigration and AI, The Pitt isn’t shy about broaching lots of subject matters. Mostly, the show likes to bring these things to the surface and then let the viewers determine how they feel about them. You could read a bunch of think-pieces, or you could just watch The Pitt.

Sentimental heart: Shrinking (Apple TV)

Want a feel-good series that might also make you reexamine your friend and family relationships? Shrinking follows Jason Segel’s character, who is trying to continue his therapy practice as he grieves his deceased wife. Harrison Ford is his grumpy co-worker who helps him along the way. The whole cast of characters is lovable, and those two specifically play off each other perfectly.