Stream It Or Skip It: ‘June Farms’ on Prime Video, a reality series about a Hudson Valley farm that hosts elaborate weddings
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Prime Video‘s new reality series June Farms takes place on a “gentleman’s farm” in upstate New York. And, while there is a bunch of livestock there, the farm’s main business is hospitality and agritourism. Founder Matt Baumgartner established himself as a restauranteur before selling it all and opening the farm, and its main business is holding elaborate weddings. Of course, a reality series like this wouldn’t be complete without a young, attractive staff that has the hots for each other.
JUNE FARMS: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?
Opening Shot: Some pastoral shots of June Farms, which is near Albany, NY.
The Gist: June Farms is a “gentleman’s farm” in West Sand Lake, NY, founded by Matt Baumgartner. He was a successful restauranteur, owning a number of bars and restaurants in both New York City and the Capital Region around Albany. But he sold it all and put it all into building a farm that’s an agritourism destination.
June Farms’ main business is to host weddings, but they have events during the week, as well. A restaurant/bar is open year-round. And Baumgartner has recently built themed “wellness huts” where people can stay overnight — one is a yurt, for instance, and one looks like a Hobbit house.
Matt’s staff is, as you might expect because this is a reality series, young and good-looking. There are hook-ups, but Matt doesn’t seem to care as long as the work gets done. One pair, bartender Ellie and jack-of-all-trades Leighton, are actively dating each other.
The first wedding we see is Saffiya and Justin, who requested an “Enchanted Forest” ceremony; a platform needed to be built and a large amount of wood chips spread in the seating area. But Josh, the general manager, is tasked with getting it ready, and when the couple shows up to look at the site, the bride is horrified by the muddy seating area and the platform that’s only about half done. Matt, of course, is mortified, and he is further annoyed when he tells Leighton to lay out some stumps where some candles will be placed, and it doesn’t get done.
What Shows Will It Remind You Of? June’s Farm feels like Below Deck or the early years of Vanderpump Rules crossed with Clarkson’s Farm.
Our Take: June Farms is what you might expect from a reality show that features a relatively young, good-looking cast working together in a loose hospitality environment where alcohol flows. Baumgartner is a detailed-oriented boss who can be tough on his people when he needs to be, which is why June Farms has become a popular argritourism destination. But, as he also mentions to his staff during their meeting to kick off wedding season, he will knock back a shot or three if asked, and he needs to do that less this season.
So you can imagine what the season is going to be like. Every episode will feature at least one wedding that is a logistical challenge, whether it requires some complex planning or construction or it butts up against other massive events that are being held on the grounds. At the same time, there is going to be romantic sparks between members of the staff, and tension between other staffers.
The first episode already sets up an issue between Matt and Leighton, as the once-reliable Leighton biffs a request his boss made at the “Enchanted Forest” wedding site. Matt has no problem cursing on the phone to Leighton, letting him know in no uncertain terms that he screwed up. Will this come to a head later in the season? Probably, because without a dramatic storyline like this, the season becomes a repetitive series of “Will they get the venue ready on time” montages.
Performance Worth Watching: Ellie and her buddy Jill both work as bartenders at the farm, and one recommended the other for her job there. They’re funny together, and Ellie also has good chemistry with Leighton.
Sex And Skin: Right now it’s all talk.
Parting Shot: The newly-married couple toast the staff during the reception, with everything being pulled off perfectly, albeit at the last possible second.
Sleeper Star: Michelle is one of the older staff members, and has known Matt for almost his entire career. She’s likely one of the people who likes to do shots with Matt during events.
Most Pilot-y Line: For some reason, it feels like Josh’s efforts to build the platform went backwards the wedding day approached. When the couple saw the site for the first time, there appeared to be boards on the platform, but a couple of days later, it was just a frame.
Our Call: STREAM IT. June Farms is one of those reality series that draws you in with the pretty scenery and wedding planning stories, but keeps you around because of the interpersonal drama. Let’s hope that it can balance both of its elements well.
How To Watch June Farms
Joel Keller (@joelkeller) writes about food, entertainment, parenting and tech, but he doesn’t kid himself: he’s a TV junkie. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, Slate, Salon, RollingStone.com, VanityFair.com, Fast Company and elsewhere.
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