April TV Finales - Married at First Sight - Season 8

Australia's biggest show in 2021 is Married at First Sight. You may have heard of the toxic couple Melissa & Bryce or the fame hungry Rebecca & Jake?

If not you avoided the insane eighth season of MAFS. Yeah it's much better known around the office water coolers as MAFS

Samantha & Cameron, Booka & Brett, Coco & Sam were all destined to fail as couples however Alana & Jason had some serious sexual energy.

Joanne & James ended up rather toxic at the end whilst Belinda & Patrick were perfect reality TV gold.

Beth & Russell were random and never really stood a chance, whilst the main couple set up for success were Kerry & Johnny.

Georgia & Liam ended on a super sour note whilst Jaimie & Chris never really took off after there were questions (rightfully so after COVID) about washing their hands.

The show is ghetto AF and I have avoided it for the past seven seasons, however I got super into it around the midway point.

I missed a number of the early episodes but I saw enough dinner parties and drama to talk about the show like a seasoned viewer. Reality TV is king on network Australian TV. Maybe that is why so many of us are now drawn to streaming services. Disney is slaying, Stan is a great local option whilst Netflix will also pull a crowd.

MAFS had some serious duty of care moments towards the end, the contestants however should also know eight seasons in this show is a train wreck where your life may end up in disarray. However these Instagram influencers wannabes might not care either way now the final episode has aired.

MAFS will be back in 2022 for sure. The show was heads and tails ahead of its competition. Sadly the Amazing Race Australia or Dancing with the Stars have suffered due to the shows massive success.

So like wise people say. If you can't beat the masses join them. With MAFS I joined the masses to be included in casual workplace chit chat as I try and avoid the C word as much as possible. I mean Covid, not cunt.

April TV Finales - The Falcon & The Winter Solider

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is yet another miniseries from the streaming powerhouses Disney+. Netflix is sliding in new members, however Disney+ following the finale of The Falcon & The Winter Solider, killing it!

Based on the Marvel Comics characters Sam Wilson / Falcon and Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier. It is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, sharing continuity with the films of the franchise. The events of the series take place after the film Avengers: Endgame.

Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie reprise their respective roles as Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson from the film series. 

Also starring in the blockbuster series, Wyatt Russell, Erin Kellyman, Danny Ramirez, Georges St-Pierre, Adepero Oduye, Don Cheadle, Daniel Brühl, Emily VanCamp, Florence Kasumba, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier premiered back in March, 2021, running for a short and sweet six episodes.

It concluded just ahead of Anzac Day, so sorry for the last post. Above I linked to the great recap here on my favourite TV blog TV Line. 

They also have a load more The Falcon & The Winter Solider content. The series is also part of Phase Four of the MCU, with Loki coming soon to Disney+. Hawkeye is also set to air in 2021, making Disney+ hosting some of the biggest series in 2021.

With the Oscars flopping hard this week, streaming is officially the new king. With the main Oscar films extremely depressing, maybe the world is craving more Disney and Marvel escapism in their lives. The Falcon & The Winter Solider is a really great place to start, it's amazing TV.

Return to Cinema 2021 - Every Breath You Take

Every Breath You Take starring Casey Affleck (Triple 9), Michelle Monaghan (True Detective - season one) and Sam Claflin (The Hunger Games). Basic plot of the film is, a therapist finds his family life disrupted after the death of a patient, once her brother introduces himself.

While the twist is something my man saw coming, I was slightly surprised. It has had bad reviews which is sad as I actually had high hopes for this film.

Some of the dialogue was second rate, whilst Casey Affleck at times looked bored out of his brain.

The scenery in Vancouver is sensational for the filming. Yes it's set in Washington state, but from my year in Vancouver I could tell that beautiful scenery belonged to the city close to my heart. They even talk about holidaying in British Columbia in the film.

Every Breath You Take is an old school thriller with some sexy twists and psychological turns, however it does suffer from a poor script substandard casting.

The second half sees the film improve slightly, however I can only pass this one due to my high expectations. 2.5 Stars.

Return to Cinema 2021 - Mortal Kombat

Mortal Kombat is back in 2021! Starring Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Tadanobu Asano, Mehcad Brooks, Ludi Lin, Chin Han, Joe Taslim, and Hiroyuki Sanada.

This film serves as a reboot to the Mortal Kombat film series last seen in 1997.

Production for this HBO Max US title, took place in Adelaide, South Australia. So it looks like Australia is the place to film in 2020/201.

In Australia the film is rated R meaning younger audiences will have to sneak into cinemas or find another way of seeing the film. Now honestly I don't believe this film was that violent.

I have seen a lot worse, actually to be honest Nobody, the John Wick style revenge film was way more violent!

The fight scenes are well done whilst some of the biggest moves in the video games actually translate well on the big screen.

Mortal Kombat will not win any awards, however from the ending I really see a new film series being set up here. 

3 Stars

Return to Cinema 2021 - The Unholy

The Unholy is one of the first films I have seen filmed post COVID-19. One of the main killers of the big screen is the lack of quality films being consistently released at present. In 2021 there has been some stellar films. French Exit, The Father, The Dry, Promising Young Woman, Minari, High Ground and Penguin Bloom. But with the good comes the forgettable like Chaos Walking and Cosmic Sin.

The Unholy is neither good not bad.

A supernatural horror film written, produced, and directed by Evan Spiliotopoulos based on the 1983 novel Shrine by James Herbert. Starring the Walking Dead's most deadly bad guy, Negan AKA Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

There was some jump scares that got me, however over the film shot and based in Boston is a bit of a flop.

Released by Sony Pictures The Unholy has received generally negative reviews from critics. Here is a non professional critics panning too, 2 Stars. B Grade religious horror at best. For more scares check out The Nun.

Black Lightning Season 4 Returns with Painkiller

but more importantly it returns with hunk Aussie Alexander Hodge!

Returning after around a month off, Black Lightning or rather Painkiller is back for the remainder of season four. The final season.

However like Arrow last year, a spin off lead by Jordan Calloway as Khalil Payne / Painkiller could be in the works. Last year the Green Arrow and the Canaries aired as the second last episode in Arrow's long running story.

So with this episode dropping in viewers maybe Painkiller will also be passed on. The CW already has a packed roster for the 2021-2022 TV season with all major series (excluding the OG Black Lightning and Supergirl) returning for future seasons.

With Kung Fu following Walkers strong ratings, Kung Fu looks almost certain to return for a second season.

Jordan Calloway is handsome AF but I don't know if that will be enough to get this next DC series off the ground. Maybe Alexander Hodge however will save the futuristic looking Black Lightning off shoot.

April TV Finales - Pennyworth - Season 2

Pennyworth has not yet been renewed for a third season, however season two left the series wide open. Not only that by Alfred ain't that old dude serving Bruce Wayne just yet. 

The series finale has a sneaky "six months later" final moments in which (SPOILERS) Thomas Wayne and Martha Kane give birth to a girl, not BRUCE. They also get married.

Finally in the final scenes Alfred and the remaining main character lead a surge against the New Raven Alliance army.

It was an action packed 50 minutes of TV, also an inspiring season of a show I uncovered just as the first four episodes of this season aired.

I think season two was a little violent than season one, however there were still some fairly hairy scenes.

Waiting for a third season renewal will hopefully not be a long wait, I have a feeling this show is not done quite yet.

April TV Finales - Shameless - Season 11

The eleventh and final season of Shameless is now done and dusted.

The American series based on the British series of the same name by Paul Abbott, starting late last year, concluding today.

In Australia the show airs on Foxtel (the latest season is apparently coming soon) as well as past seasons streaming on Netflix.

I started watching season one on DVD's (yes DVD's) possibly in 2012 when the first season was released on DVD in Australia.

Now in 2021 it's time to say goodbye to the Gallaghers.

After 11 seasons, 134 episodes Lip, Fiona (well she left earlier), Debbie, Liam, Carl and Ian have left our screens. Along with Frank, Veronica and Kevin, the series has had some wonderful moments. 

It's been funny, real, raw whilst dealing with real life issues.

Ian has been a gay fan favourite for portraying a different gay character, a non stereotypical gay.

The show was always a fan favourite for Sunday night (US screening time) on HBO rival Showtime. Outlasting so many series, surviving longer than Dexter and getting the series done and dusted through COVID has all been one of many big achievements for the series.

If you have Netflix and have never watched this series maybe rug up this winter and get into it. It's well worth the big investment. You'll laugh, cry whilst also finding some scenes and/or characters extremely wrong.

I will be sad to see this one of my TV dance card. It's a year of long standing series ending. Like Supergirl over on the CW, Black Lightning will also wrap in the Arrowverse whilst Claws will also have its final curtains drawn. Last but not least Queen of the South which also just returned will also end its five season run.

Tomorrow a look at the season two finale of Pennyworth.

April TV Finales - Q Into the Storm

Q: Into the Storm is for me this years Tiger King. With bat shit characters (real life Americans) and even crazier followers. Just look at Marjorie Taylor Greene! Fuck me there is a reason in itself not to visit Georgia.

The HBO miniseries/documentary is directed and produced by Cullen Hoback. Exploring the QAnon conspiracy theory, consisting of six episodes that concluded this past week.

I think I have only come across one person who reads into QAnon but I imagine there are some closet Q fans out there.

Even here in Australia this bat shit mob terrifies me. 

You don't get many answers from this six part series, but you do learn about the weird online world of 8chan or the attraction to people with similar ideas when those ideas are just so, so strange.

I am not here to shame QAnon followers, but to pled to them to get out there and realise Donald J Trump is no hero. He is not the guy going to put all the bad guys/gals away. He is a former president. He is a sad old, failed businessman who is behind failed casinos, Trump university as well as Trump steaks.

He is big talk, all talk, no substance. How is that wall? How is the swamp? Seems pretty murky to me?

All those promises, all that bravado. It just left America more divided, more of a joke to the rest of the world and China becoming the worlds biggest super power.

If you want to understand what lockdowns and social isolation can do to gullible people, this is for you. As Australia continues to live a little more freely than other nations, embrace your community, talk to people, don't believe everything online.

An interesting and addictive six part series proving HBO is not just the king of high production dramas. Streaming on Binge in Australia now.

Return to Cinema 2021 - The Courier

The Courier stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Greville Wynne, a British businessman who was recruited by the Secret Intelligence Service to deliver messages to secret agent Oleg Penkovsky (played by Merab Ninidze) in the 1960s.

The Courier had its world premiere under its original title Ironbark at the Sundance Film Festival on 24 January 2020, whilst landing in Australia cinemas just before Easter.

The film received generally favorable reviews from critics, but what do I think. Watch the trailer below and find out!

A truly traditional spy film, with Benedict Cumberbatch caught in the middle of all the action. Based on true events, however not sure how close to the facts the film is.

In a tense film, the movie travels between the UK and Russia with the Americans getting into the mix.

Over on Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 86%, my review is fairly solid too, 3.5 Stars.

April TV Finales - The Walking Dead - Season 10

The tenth season of The Walking Dead, really hobbled to a sad ending. No cliffhanger, no drama and six bonus episodes that were such super slow burns. Bring on the final season in August.

Yes the 11th and final season will be for the final 24 episodes from August 22, 2021. 

Making it the first season of the series to start before October.

This season adapts material from issues #145–174 of the comic book series and focuses on the group's preparation and war against the Whisperers. Set several months after the massacre perpetrated by Alpha (Samantha Morton) during the community fair, the season focuses on the united communities as they initiate a fight in order to end the threat of the Whisperers.

The tenth season is the final season for series regular Danai Gurira, who has portrayed Michonne since the third season.

As the OG cast and earlier fan favourite cast members are dropping like flies the Walking Dead is relying on Carol and Daryl (a spin off show with the two has already been announced, so expect them to live through the 24 final episodes) to carry the show.

Negan (one of the best villains and overall characters) is almost dull now, however the finale with his back story was almost the best part of the entire series. However the recent back story/solo cast member episodes have been fairly awful. Clearly filmed during COVID times, the days of big ambitious zombie sequences scenes are gone.

Episodes have sparse numbers of characters featured and the dialogue is limited.

Once the biggest show on cable TV in the USA, like Game of Thrones one could see this completing limping to its final episode.

I for one am looking forward to seeing how they will wrap this one up.

Return to Cinema 2021 - Nobody

Nobody is the latest action film which has some serious John Wick vibes. The film has also just done something that doesn't happen much in 2021, it has made it's budget back. Grossing $21 million worldwide along with generally positive reviews praising Odenkirk's performance.

Nobody stars Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen, RZA, Aleksei Serebryakov, and Christopher Lloyd.

Nobody follows a man who helps a stranger being harassed by a group of men, only to become the target of a vengeful drug lord.

The film is directed by Ilya Naishuller and written by Derek Kolstad. Naishuller discussed the potential of a crossover film featuring Nobody and the John Wick franchise, of which Nobody screenwriter Derek Kolstad was the screenwriter for the first three films, and of which Nobody producer David Leitch previously co-directed the first John Wick film, expressing interest in the possibility based on the films' similar tones.

I am a huge John Wick fan, so it was no surprise I enjoyed this 92 minute action ride. Of course Nobody gave us a car chase, of course there was blood, or course there were interesting ways to break bones. Its Hollywood action right.

The film took a little bit to get into action, but then it goes HAM.

Nobody is probably one of the best films to be released since the cinemas went dark. If you need an escape from the school holidays or the Easter show, Nobody rates a violent AF 3.5 Stars.

March TV Finales - Riverdale - Mid-Season Finale

Like Superman & Lois before it, Riverdale is also at a Mid-Season Finale. However rumour has it, it's not returning until July! Shock horror! What will we do without the show that completely jumped the shark this season thus far!

Season five has been bat shit crazy! OK they are out of high school, but the series is nuts AF!

Already confirmed for a sixth season the madness of Riverdale will live long into 2022. This season basically started with the remaining episodes of last seasons abrupt ending. Now with a flash forward we see Riverdale run by the former students.

There are UFO rumours, partner swapping parties, serial killers and a few new faces.

Apparently it's still huge internationally on Netflix, whilst on its US broadcaster The CW the show is flatlining on live viewers.

Season five we have continued to have scenes built around Archie with his shirt off. Look I love to see KJ Apa's abs as much as the next viewer, however some of these scenes are just gay baiting now.

Fangs and Kevin's mature relationship is also a little annoying this season, whilst I see the producers trying to work in Katy Keene stories despite the show being killed off after one season.

Riverdale is a show me and a neighbour consider our lame Thursday night (Australian airdate) event TV moment.

So until July when the remain 9 (episode count TBA) episodes air we wait for the next situation where Archie needs to have his shirt off.

Return to Cinema 2021 - The Father

The Father reminds me of French Exit I saw recently. No frills but a real acting masterclass. The film lends itself to being a one set play. So it's no surprise it is based on Florian Zeller, based on his 2012 play Le Père. Florian Zeller co-wrote and directed the film starring screen icons Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman.

The Father follows an Hopkins who must deal with his progressing memory loss. Colman is sublime as Hopkins daughter, Anne.

In theatre release news Australia is getting this months ahead of the UK. With a June 11 release in the UK.

The film was acclaimed by critics, who lauded the performances of Hopkins and Colman, as well as its portrayal of dementia. 

The film earned six nominations at the 93rd Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Hopkins), and Best Supporting Actress (Colman). 

Whilst at the 78th Golden Globe Awards, the film received four nominations, including Best Motion Picture – Drama, and at the 74th British Academy Film Awards received six nominations, including Best Film.

The Father is an interesting watch, it also plays a bit with the viewers mind. Highly enjoyable Good Friday/Easter viewing. 4 Stars.

March TV Finales - Snowpiercer - Season 2

Snowpiercer is one of those shows I discovered on Netflix during the craziness of 2020. The TNT (Netflix in Australia) series is based on both the 2013 film of the same name, directed by Bong Joon-ho (yes the Parasite guru).

Rowan Blanchard, Steven Ogg and Sean Bean also joined Jennifer Connelly and Daveed Diggs in the second season.

Prior to studio shutdowns that occurred due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, most of the second season's production was completed. The second season premiered late January, concluding late March. Hence my post title March TV Finale. I know it's April Fools/April already.

The series has also been renewed for a third season, set to air in 2022? Well maybe who knows. There was barely six months between seasons one and two. Which is almost a miracle given how little can be filmed at present.

I'm a little lost with this series, it was easier binging all ten season one episodes. Watching it week to week followed by a random week off then a double finale week was tougher to keep up with the plots.

I can't say I am on the edge of my seat waiting for season three. TNT has some fine programming Animal Kingdom, Claws and formerly the Dallas remake. 

Snowpiercer is one of those shows you sometimes pop on, then find yourself buried deep, deep in your phone.

It looks good, despite most episodes being shot in tiny confined train carriages. If you are looking for a good binge over Easter, this might not be the best, but it's a show you should really just go back to back episodes with.

A COVID discovery was maybe more interesting the first time around given how bored we were in 2020. I will still give season three a go. I can't guarantee I won't be more focused on my phone though.