July was a pretty light viewing month, but what I did watch covered a surprisingly strange range of subjects: a frantic emergency department, a heartbreaking hot-car case, one of the oddest missing-person stories imaginable, and people who keep lions as pets. Here’s everything that made it to my screen this month.
The Pitt
HBO Max · 2026 · Season 2 · Episodes 1–9
This show is absolutely addictive and wild. I love medical dramas, and The Pitt is easily one of the best. I got through the first nine episodes this month, all of which take place on the Fourth of July in the emergency department.
Dr. Robby, the head of the ED, is leaving for a sabbatical the next day, and this season introduces his temporary replacement, Dr. Al-Hashimi, whom he immediately butts heads with. She is a great new character. She brings tension, a different approach to the department, and a completely different energy to the team.
So far, the season has included an abandoned newborn, a massive IT shutdown, a prison inmate, an uninsured diabetic patient, and an upcoming deposition for Dr. King. Everything in this show moves fast. There is always something happening, but the characters and storylines are consistently compelling. I’m completely hooked.
Fatal Distraction ★★★☆☆
Prime Video · 2020 · Documentary Film
This documentary examines the case of Justin Ross Harris, whose toddler son died after being left in a hot car, and the murder prosecution that followed. The entire situation was remarkably sad. Cases like this seem to happen far too often, and it is still mind-blowing every time.
It was especially interesting and heartbreaking to hear from the mother in this case and to see how the tragedy affected her life. I would have been interested in hearing more directly from the father as well. The documentary moved a little slowly at times, but overall it was an eye-opening and unsettling watch.
The Imposter ★★☆☆☆
Prime Video · 2012 · Documentary Film
This documentary tells the bizarre true story of Frédéric Bourdin, a 23-year-old French man who convinced a Texas family that he was their missing 16-year-old son, Nicholas Barclay, who had disappeared several years earlier.
This was just plain odd. How did these people fall for this scam? Why did this guy go to such elaborate lengths to pull it off? Something felt off about every single person involved in the situation, and the documentary itself was presented in such a bizarre and disjointed way that it made the whole thing feel even stranger.
Was the story interesting? It absolutely could have been. But the way it was told kept me at a distance, and I never found the documentary especially engaging.
The Elephant in the Living Room ★★★☆☆
Prime Video · 2010 · Documentary Film · Finished July 17, 2026
I’ve always been intrigued by people who keep wild animals as pets. It’s both sad and completely crazy to me, which made the subject of this documentary immediately interesting.
The film focuses primarily on Tim Harrison, a police officer dedicated to protecting both wild animals and the people who own them, and Terry Brumfield, a man who keeps pet lions. It also wanders into a few other side stories along the way. Terry’s story was incredibly sad, both for him and for the animals, while Tim was an especially likable and intriguing person to follow.
The documentary was quite interesting, although it felt a little all over the place and moved more slowly than I would have liked. It also definitely feels dated by now, but the subject matter was fascinating enough that I still found it worth watching.
By the Numbers
Titles Watched: 4
Documentary Films: 3
Shows: 1 • 9 episodes
Streaming Services: 2
Average Rating: 2.7★
Most-Used Streaming Service: Prime Video
Oldest Release: The Elephant in the Living Room (2010)
Newest Release: The Pitt (2026) • Fatal Distraction (2020)
Star ratings are reserved for completed movies, documentary films, and completed seasons or docuseries. Shows still in progress aren’t rated until I finish the season.
Superlatives
Favorite Watch: The Pitt
Least Favorite: The Imposter
Most Fascinating: The Elephant in the Living Room
July was not a huge viewing month, but it certainly wasn’t a boring one. The Pitt was easily my favorite, while the documentaries ranged from heartbreaking to fascinating to downright bizarre. Apparently, this was the month for stories that left me with far more questions than answers.
No comments