Good Fortune is sort of a mix of supernatural, comedy, while looking at the gig economy and its negative impact on gig economy workers.
Written a& directed by Aziz Ansari in his feature directorial debut. Alongside Ansari, Seth Rogen, Keke Palmer, Sandra Oh & Keanu Reeves all star.
Good Fortune, follows an angel named Gabriel (Reeves), whose failed attempt to show Arj (Ansari), a struggling man, that money does not solve one's problems—by body swapping him with his wealthy employer Jeff (Rogen)—results in Gabriel losing his wings, while the work he did as an angel begins to unravel around them.
Good Fortune had its premiere last month at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film received positive reviews from critics. What about me?
So I am mega anti food delivery and the slave like conditions the drivers operate under. This film does well to shine the spotlight on the gig economy and its negative impact on society as a whole.
Making it a little less comedy and a little more drama. I didn't laugh out loud a lot. And I have loved Rogan's recent work on Platonic and The Studio. Both on Apple TV.
Some of the jokes about the state of economy and eating the rich just missed the mark.
I did however enjoy the 1.5 hour comedy/drama/angel film. I did appreciate the film stuck to a solid runtime and didn't out stay its welcome.
Also refreshing seeing Keanu Reeves in something slightly different.
Didn't really give me the Thursday belly laughs I was after, however it was fun and shined the spotlight on dodgy operators like Uber, Menulog and Hungry Panda. 3 Stars.
Multi Logie Award winner back in 2024, the three time Logie award winning reboot of Mother and Son returns with more misadventures as mischievous Maggie continues to derail the life of her neurotic son Arthur, who’s still stuck at home and struggling to grow up.
Mother and Son on ABC & ABC iView is sitcom reboot of the series of the same name, starring Denise Scott & former Triple J host Matt Okine as Maggie and Arthur, respectively.
Last August, it was confirmed that the series would be renewed for a second series which began airing last month, with all episodes appearing on iView.
New to the party (like Austin recently) I decided to just smash both series back-to-back. I don't think the first time around I hear about the first season in 2023, I was 100% sold. Now I'm a big fan! Even hoping a third season will be announced at ABC's 2026 presentation next month.
As Arthur flounders through freelance journalism, dating apps, and spicy snacks, Maggie sets out to make her 70s unforgettable, whether it’s joining a rogue knitting group or chaining herself to a fig tree.
Meanwhile, their scheming sister Robbie has big plans for Maggie’s nest egg and the family home.
Filming for the series began in Sydney in March 2023. Unlike the original series which filmed on a sound stage with a multi-camera setup with an audience, the series is filmed as a single-camera setup.
The series starts off, following a breakup from his long-suffering girlfriend, Arthur puts his future on hold to move back home with his widowed mother, Maggie. Arthur and his older sister, Robbie, attempt to care for Maggie, who may recently have almost burnt down the kitchen, but still runs circles around her children.
The series is warm, joyful and sweet. I even laughed out loud multiple times. Both seasons had their fine moments, while seeing Sydney on the big screen is always nice.
I would highly recommend this if you want a laugh and something light to have on. It's a joy to watch.
Well done Denise Scott, Matt Okine, all writers and all involved. Fingers crossed the ABC has a solid 2026 line up to announce next month. Cause 2025 has been a cracker. Optics, The Family Next Door, Austin, Mystery Road: Origin and Return to Paradise's second season incoming!
Chad Powers is an American version (well, set in the US) of Ted Lasso from Hulu/Disney+.
Powers was created by Glen Powell and Michael Waldron, starring Powell in the titular role.
The sis episode first season (not yet renewed at the time of this post. Side note, Only Murders in the Building has just been renewed) follows Russ Holiday after he disgraces himself on the field while serving as a star quarterback at a major college program.
After ruining his reputation, Holiday undergoes a physical transformation, with the help of prosthetics and a wig, to disguise his identity in order to join the floundering football team at a small school under the name of Chad Powers.
Alongside Powell, Steve Zahn, Toby Huss, Perry Mattfeld, Clayne Crawford, Wynn Everett, Frankie A. Rodriguez, Colton Ryan, Keese Wilson, Xavier Mills & Quentin Plair all star in this first season comedy.
Disney+/Hulu is really firing on all cylinders right now. With Reasonable Doubt, High Potential (going on break tonight, returning early January) and Only Murders in the Building, currently streaming. With All's Fair by Ryan Murphy and a stellar cast incoming, along with returning seasons of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Tell Me Lies, Paradise and Deli Boys.
Chad Powers though is fun, light hearted and at times laugh out loud funny! Spoilers below the trailer from the cliffhanger episode six!
While Coach Hudson suffers a heart attack, Chad realises he must drive him to the hospital in his Cybertruck.
Ricky, upon seeing the vehicle, realises that Chad is really Russ Holiday. At practice, Ricky removes Chad's armband, revealing an arm tattoo that Russ is known to have. Chad leaves practice and tells Danny that he's been caught and is leaving the team. Danny convinces Chad to drive to Atlanta, where his dad his working on a movie.
After finding his dad in Atlanta, Russ's father is impressed by his hard work to pull off the disguise and encourages him to show up for the game against top-ranked Georgia. Ricky goes to the hospital to visit Hudson, who remains excited that they are contenders for the National Championship because of Chad.
Russ, in his Chad persona, shows up to the game and attempts to talk to Ricky. Ricky does not forgive him and threatens to expose Chad unless he quits the team. Russ calls her bluff, stating that revealing him as Chad would ruin her father's career.
Chad shows up for the game, which encourages the team, except for Gerry, who is furious.
The episode concludes with the game yet to begin.
I feel Hulu will renew this. With a very open ending to its first run, Powell's sex appeal, this is a no brainer.
The world needs more comedy now, meaning the world needs more shows like Ted Lasso. I mean Chad Powers.
The fifth season of Only Murders in the Building, concluded this afternoon.
Steve Martin, Martin Short, & Selena Gomez return as a trio of friends producing true crime podcasts that investigate murder cases in their apartment building, often assisted by their neighbour (Michael Cyril Creighton).
This seasons murder (in the building, or courtyard) is their beloved doorman, Lester, dies under suspicious circumstances, Charles, Oliver, and Mabel refuse to believe it was an accident.
The trio uncovers a dangerous web of secrets connecting powerful billionaires and old-school mobsters.
The ten episodes flew past this time around. Usually starting a late winter, the later start didn't really matter with a triple episode premiere.
This season Keegan-Michael Key, Christoph Waltz, Renée Zellweger, Logan Lerman, Jermaine Fowler, Beanie Feldstein, Dianne Wiest & Bobby Cannavale also joined the all-star cast.
This season though, it literally ended on a cliffhanger, with no word on a sixth season. With the "building" outta trouble with the sixth season be the final murder? The ending does leave it all wide open!
SPOILERS ALERT dear friends.
Nicky's mother reveals that Sofia recognized that the finger belonged to her lover. Realising that the lover killed Lester, the trio call the billionaires to the casino room on the day of Camila's press conference, before the Arconia gets demolished.
When Mayor Beau Tillman comes down for Camilla, Mabel realizes that it's his finger, as Howard's phone auto-corrects "Beau Tillman" to "beautiful", just as Lester's did.
Beau confesses that the billionaires would invite him to their games to gain permits and favours. On the night of the murder, Nicky knew about the affair and attacked Beau. Lester then attacked Nicky, then took the finger. After learning the security cameras belonged to Bash, Lester grabbed his bird whistle and headed to the fountain, where Beau killed him.
Beau's corrupt cops lock the trio in the secret passage, but while THÉ stalls the conference, the trio break out, and publicly reveals Beau’s confession. Jay confesses to the police that Tillman demanded the finger in exchange for a casino permit, and the billionaires used Bash’s cryogenic chamber to hold Nicky's body for a week before relocating it to the cleaners, making them accessories to the murder, thus saving the Arconia.
Three months later, Howard is dating Vinny, Sofia is vacationing in Italy, and Lorraine is living in the Arconia.
While the trio listens to a new Cinda Canning podcast, Cinda herself arrives just outside the Arconia before dying, grabbing the gate so that she’s a "murder in the building".
So who killed Tina Fey AKA Cinda Canning?
This has been one of Hulu's biggest shows. Airing yearly for the last five years. Super consistent, buzz worthy, with huge guest stars. I feel it's almost outta gas, however. I do reckon one more season would be fitting to see the trio off in style.
Tomorrow, Chad Powers has also finished on Hulu. Then Slow Horses wraps and finally Watching You concludes on Stan.
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere is the latest biographical musical drama film starring Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen. Allen White is absolutely killing it right now.
From his past long-term role in Shameless, to the huge success of The Bear. He looks like his usual rat boy. However at times he looks like Springsteen.
The film also stars Succession's Jeremy Strong, Paul Walter Hauser, Stephen Graham, & Odessa Young.
Based on the 2023 book Deliver Me from Nowhere by Warren Zanes, as well as some elements from Springsteen's autobiography Born to Run, it chronicles Springsteen's personal and professional struggles during the conception of his 1982 album Nebraska. It was a lot sadder in parts than I imagined. It went back to his childhood, covered his depression, along with the musical geniuses behind his 1982 album.
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere might not reach the heights of previous biographical musical films, however I really enjoyed it. It was only just under two hours, with solid pacing.
Over the weekend I was lucky enough to head off to Northeast Party House's farewell tour, where Adam Hyde (AKA Keli Holiday) was also at. He happened to cover a track from "the Boss" too late last week. Good timing brother!
Either way, if you love music like me, then this will be for you. If you have personal struggles, this will be for you. I enjoyed the film.
The second season of Gen V, commenced last month, concluding mid this week.
This is the third series in The Boys franchise, based on The Boys comic book story arc We Gotta Go Now by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. Another series Vought Rising is currently filming for Amazon. However, there is no sign of a third season for Gen V yet. It also appears at the end of this season, a possible MAJOR crossover is coming with the parent series.
Which will return for a fifth and final season in due course.
The season stars Jaz Sinclair, Lizze Broadway, Maddie Phillips, London Thor, Derek Luh, and Asa Germann returning from the previous season, along with Hamish Linklater.
Following the fourth season of The Boys, Marie Moreau (Sinclair) and the rest of her friends return to Godolkin after months of suffering where a new dean (Linklater) trains Supes to be soldiers.
On the brink of war between humans and Supes, the team discovers a program that could change everything.
Don't want spoilers, don't read on past the trailer.
The final episode, Trojan kicks off in 1967, as Thomas injects himself with "V-1", the version Soldier Boy and Stormfront had, just before being burned in a laboratory fire.
We quickly move to the present, the group tends to an injured Doug, whom Marie cannot heal, as she is too weak.
When I mean quickly, this season finale moves fast. It's also only 45 minutes or so. Or if you like me have the free-ad version, around 50 odd minutes.
Polarity drives Doug to a hospital, talking about Andre's kindness and bravery, when Black Noir II attacks, killing Doug and capturing Polarity.
Marie reconciles with Cate and heals her.
Thomas prepares seminars with the students to eliminate the weak and enhance his powers, hoping to control Marie and eventually Homelander, who he blames for the Supes' decline and weakness to not be overshadowed by others.
When Sage disapproves of his plan, she secretly frees Polarity. Marie arrives at the seminar, while the rest of the group infiltrates inside Black Hole; they subdue Thomas after Harper controls him, and evacuate the students.
Thomas manages to control Marie and, through her, tries to kill them.
Polarity arrives and manages to remove Thomas's control, allowing Marie to kill him.
Afterwards, Polarity tells the group to flee while he stays as a scapegoat. As fugitives, they are recruited by Annie to her resistance against Homelander and Vought, which includes A-Train.
Does this set up season five of The Boys hard? Absolutely, does it leave Gen V fully open for a complete reboot - absolutely. As it feels like the current class of Gen V, have all matured to the adult version of the show.
I must say, Vought Rising does interest me too. Amazon is on a winner with this franchise.
From Brad Ingelsby, who previously gave us Mare of Easttown back in 2021, also on HBO.
So HBO gave him a three year deal, so Task is his latest offering.
Another crime/drama miniseries, where no doubt people will request a second season.
Mark Ruffalo gives a brilliant performance, alongside Tom Pelphrey, Emilia Jones, Thuso Mbedu, Raúl Castillo, Jamie McShane, Sam Keeley, Fabien Frankel, Alison Oliver, Silvia Dionicio, & Martha Plimpton.
Similar to his previous HBO series, Task is only 7 episodes long. But what is this about you ask? It's not your usual Hollywood glossy look at America. It's bleak, slow to start, but packs a punch.
Philadelphia-based FBI agent Tom Brandis is put in charge of a task force investigating a string of violent robberies against stash houses run by outlaw motorcycle gangs.
Spoiler alert for the seventh and final episode ahead. This did stream Monday on HBO Max (the latest and hopefully LAST streaming service to launch down under) which will launch It – Welcome to Derry next week.
Tom and Aleah look for evidence to prove Grasso is the source of the leak in the task force, Grasso struggles to deal with his feelings of guilt, Perry is under pressure to turn on Jayson, and Jayson tries desperately to find the money, unaware that the Dark Hearts are hunting him.
So how does it all go down?
Well it is full on, following a huge, action packed episode six.
I really enjoyed this series after a slow start. Like episode one was real slow. The build was real, but the episode was long and at times super drawn out. I did end up smashing episodes 2-7 back-to-back not week to week.
In, A Still Small Voice, Tom tells Aleah that Grasso was accused of leaking information to the Dark Hearts several years ago.
He says he believes Grasso was the source of the leak to the Dark Hearts about their current investigation as well, but that their options are limited because they have no real evidence. She persuades Tom that the two of them should go to Wissahickon Park to look for such evidence. When they visit the park the next morning, they find the stolen car Cliff was driving when the Dark Hearts attacked him. In the car they find the phone he was using at the time. They ask Kathleen to get them Ray Lyman's phone so that they can prove it was used by Grasso to direct Cliff to that location. Kathleen obliges.
They discover that a different phone has been substituted in evidence for Ray's phone, and that this different phone made calls from Grasso's neighborhood.
Meanwhile, Eryn's body is found in the lake where she was drowned by Perry. A chain with Perry's initials is clutched in her hand.
Grasso visits his sister Frankie. He tells her that "some things are going to come out" about him because he has been involved in wrongdoing that got a young woman killed. To her dismay, he admits that this wrongdoing is the source of the money he has provided to help their family, including her, in recent years. He says he can no longer live with his actions and plans to turn himself in.
Vincent meets with Chief Dorsey. He tells Dorsey that due to the killing of an FBI task force member in the shootout, they must "cut ties" with anyone involved in the task force's investigation. Dorsey agrees and indicates he plans to kill Grasso and make it look like suicide.
Perry, hiding with Jayson at an isolated house owned by Donna's late mother, calls Vincent to find out "where I stand." Vincent tells him that he must kill Jayson by the next morning if he is not to face retribution from the Dark Hearts. Perry arms himself with a knife for the purpose, but cannot bring himself to kill his protege.
Vincent visits Donna. She discloses that she overheard Breaker talking with Jayson about going to see Maeve, who is Billy's daughter and Robbie's niece. Pressed by Vincent, Donna tells him where Perry and Jayson are hiding, and Vincent sends his henchmen to deal with them.
Breaker calls Jayson to reveal that Eryn's body has been found, along with evidence that Perry killed her. Perry, swimming nearby, sees Vincent's people approaching and tries to warn Jayson, but Jayson stabs him to death and then flees.
Chief Dorsey goes to Grasso's house to carry out his plan, but Grasso surprises him and holds him at gunpoint. As they talk, Vincent appears and shoots both Dorsey and Grasso, killing Dorsey and wounding Grasso. Grasso returns fire, killing Vincent. Dorsey told Grasso that the Dark Hearts would seek out Maeve. Grasso drives off to intervene, unaware that Kathleen is monitoring his phone and has alerted Tom.
Grasso arrives at Maeve's house, bleeding badly from his wound but able to warn her to leave immediately with the children. She is intercepted by Jayson and Breaker, who force her to reveal where she has hidden the money. Tom and Aleah arrive and enter the house looking for Maeve. Aleah is attacked by Breaker but after a prolonged struggle manages to shoot him. Jayson tries to escape with the money by using Maeve to shield himself from Tom and Aleah. The wounded Grasso has hidden in Jayson's car; he surprises Jayson and shoots him dead, saving Maeve.
Grasso is taken to the hospital to recover. Kathleen is told by her boss in no uncertain terms to close the case.
Tom visits Grasso, who asks whether Tom, the former priest, will give him "a penance" for what he has done. Tom replies that he has never given anyone a penance because he believes people punish themselves enough for their sins. Tom decides not to tell anyone about the bag of money he found when Jayson was killed. Weeks later, Maeve takes Harper and Wyatt and they leave town to start a new life.
At home, Tom makes peace with Emily, promising he will always keep her safe. Tom, Emily and Sara attend Ethan's sentencing hearing, where Tom has decided to make a "family impact statement." He states that despite the many challenges of dealing with Ethan's mental illness and despite Ethan's actions that caused his wife's death, he forgives and loves him and will welcome him back to their home when his sentence is over. Ethan listens silently, tears running down his face.
Some time later, Tom is informed that a foster family has taken an interest in Sam. Father Daniel urges him to think about whether it would be best for Sam to remain with the Brandis family, given the problems they may have to deal with in the future. Tom decides that it is best for Sam to have a new family. After Sam leaves, Tom repaints Ethan's room, where Sam has been staying, making it ready for the time when Ethan will come home.
What a ride. This could be one of HBO's best series of 2025. I look forward to seeing It – Welcome to Derry's first episode next Monday at a special screening. I may even do a special post for that.
I loved the recent It films, so I am excited for their final one hour series of 2025.
Until next time. At least it's not 40 degrees today. I clearly knew bad weather was coming early with my new series title, Scorchin' Summer Streamin' 25.
