Surviving Summer

Surviving Summer has built a devoted audience in Australia on Netflix, and in the US on Netflix among viewers who want their drama to earn its emotional beats. 2 seasons in, and the quality has not slipped. 125 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Watch it for Sky Katz — one of the stronger performances out there right now. Available now on Netflix — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

There is a reason Surviving Summer keeps coming up in conversation. Character-driven storytelling at its most effective — Surviving Summer earns every emotional beat it goes for. Rebellious Brooklyn teen Summer Torres is sent to live with family friends in the tiny town of Shorehaven on the Great Ocean Road, Victoria, AUS. Despite her best efforts, Summer falls in love with the town, the people and the surf. The performances from Sky Katz and Kai Lewins give it more weight than the premise alone would suggest. Across 2 seasons (2022–2023), it never lost the thread that made it worth starting. The writing trusts the audience to sit with ambiguity rather than wrapping everything up in a tidy conclusion — it is the approach that separates good drama from great. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Drama fans who appreciate slow-burn storytelling will feel right at home with Surviving Summer. The tonal similarities to Degrassi are real, though Surviving Summer carves out its own identity quickly. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch if your schedule allows. Sky Katz anchors a cast that never overplays its hand. The kind of drama that stays with you well after the finale.

Surviving Summer was cancelled in 2023, created by Josh Mapleston and Joanna Werner — and 2 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.