OK real talk, 2022 could be the worst year for cinema for this film buff. From awful superhero films to very average action, reboot films, it hasn't been a great year. There were however some damn fine diamonds in the rough like Good Luck to You, Leo Grande.
BEST hyped film of 2022 - Elvis
BEST jump out of the seat film - Barbarian
BEST Teen drama/coming of age/comedy blah - Where the Crawdads Sing
BEST films of 2022 - Good Luck to You, Leo Grande/The Batman
BEST small (budget) film - Everything Everywhere All at Once
BEST Aussie Movie - Bosch & Rockit
BEST Music films (TIE) - Elvis/I Wanna Dance with Somebody
BEST controversial film of 2022 - I actually don't think there were any controversial films I sat through this year. Better luck in 2023.
BEST Drama - Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
Notable The (Non) Masked (Home) Cinema 2022 mentions.
BEST Aussie Movie/BEST Music film - 6 Festivals
BEST Teen drama/coming of age/comedy blah (TIE) - Senior Year/Do Revenge
Bump is back on Stan for a third season. Boy was season three an express, easy watch! I was done in two days! Like the second season, the third landed on Boxing Day 2022.
Another ten episodes down concluding with No Fairytales, which in my mind opens the series up for Stan to green lit a fourth season. Off the top of my head that would be the longest running Stan series to date.
Moving on from the high school days in the Inner West of Sydney of Oly & Santi. Their daughter Jacinda (think NZ) now attends the school that Oly & Santi did. Or at least I think so. It's the one, where the school scenes are filmed on and around Sydney Secondary College Blackwattle Bay Campus
Last year we had the good news the show was already returning for a third season, this year we now need to wait. However with the show sold to the USA to air on The CW network, here is hoping there is enough interest in the series here and abroad to keep it going.
From episode one First Day to season finale No Fairytales, I was hooked on the Sydney based drama.
Claudia Karvan is divine as always, however Ioane Sa’ula as Vince (Santi's mate) really steals the show this season. He is a killer nice, with cheeky lines and fun storylines!
Honestly if you need a good drama this summer, look no further than the third run of Bump on Stan. Or if this is all new to you, no spoilers, just start from episode one. It's a hoot!
God I loved this look at a summer of Australian music festivals!
As I have recently got back into festivals, this film was an instant favourite of mine. Streaming on Paramount+, this Australian original film is a little, hidden gem.
Three teen besties go to extremes to attend six music festivals in an uplifting film by Macario De Souza (Bra Boys) featuring some of Australia’s hottest acts performing live.
Maxie, Summer and James share a deep bond and love for music. James (Rory Potter) is the entrepreneur of the trio, his sights set on a career as a promoter. Summer (Yasmin Honeychurch) has an incredible singing voice.
Maxie (Rasmus King, Bosch & Rockit) is the maestro of mischief. When James receives a devastating diagnosis, the friends – each with burdens to bear – throw themselves into a whirlwind of festivals in an attempt to escape reality.
Featuring Dune Rats, G Flip, Bliss n Eso, B Wise, Peking Duk, Ruby Fields, Jerome Farah, Kobie Dee plus more! There is also fantastic footage shot at actual festivals.
6 Festivals is a moving love letter to young friendship and the life-altering power of live music.
I do love me some G Flip, so this was a good old time at the home cinema this summer. Also a perfect summer film with some big festivals incoming.
I must say this would be one of my favourite Aussie films of 2022. You will soon see my "Best Of" 2022 list for the cinema. This year including the The (Non) Masked (Home) Cinema 2022 films for the first time.
Yes streaming films are here to stay. Not to mention the quality is on the up and up!
If you have Paramount+ this is a great little, local 90 odd minute film. 4 Stars.
I Hate Suzie is back for a three episode season run titled, I Hate Suzie Too. Landing on Stan right before Christmas this one pushed me back on starting the third run of Jack Ryan.
Three episodes what an easy binge! I discovered this one part of the whole COVID era. It wasn't my favourite series, however it was a bit different.
Created by Lucy Prebble and Billie Piper. Suzie Pickles (Piper) is a former teenage pop star and television actress. However she has now tried to get back into the spotlight by starring in a Dancing with the Stars style show.
Like the first season, some episodes are frantic AF!
Suzie continues to struggle with her ex-hisband Cob (Daniel Ings) whilst looking after her deaf son Frank (Matthew Jordan-Caws).
Naomi (Leila Farzad), Suzie's manager and friend, also tries agin this season to help Suzie keep on track. Despite the dancing show being a totally wild ride. Not what a woman with a load going on needs in her life.
Stan has some interesting content this summer. Bump is back for a third run in the Inner West whilst new series Black Snow is being advertised everywhere. Black Snow is a US co-production so I will be excited to watch this in the new year.
I Hate Suzie Too (season two of I Hate Suzie) streams right now on Stan. Until next time...
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody is the latest biographical musical drama following films about Elton John and Queen. Directed by Kasi Lemmons, based on the life and career of American pop singer and actress Whitney Houston. Houston is played by the talented Naomi Ackie, while her manager/friend is played by Stanley Tucci. Also joining the cast is Ashton Sanders, Tamara Tunie, Nafessa Williams, and Clarke Peters.
I Wanna Dance with Somebody was released against the ridiculous number of screenings for Avator 2. There is a big focus on the early years/relationship with Robyn Crawford (Nafessa Williams). This has always been a controversial part of Houston's history.
Also in the mix is her marriage to Bobby Brown (Ashton Sanders) and her relationship with her daughter. Which if you know your Whitney history ends tragically.
By the critics, the film received mixed reviews, who praised Ackie's portrayal of Houston and the musical sequences, but criticized McCarten's screenplay.
I really enjoyed this film. Maybe as a music lover, I saw how she was played by the label, her family and Bobby. Whitney was a HUGE talent. Her music is timeless. I Wanna Dance with Somebody will always get folks on the dance floor. Gay or straight.
This was a fun, whilst tragic film. Whitney is incredible. Was incredible. Her music will always live on.
I enjoyed the two hour plus look at her very short life.
Well we made it to Christmas Eve. What a year 2022 has been. There has really been the good, the bad and the ugly in TV this calendar year. For me the spring released series were either awesome or fucking shit. That is a truth bomb right there.
There really was some quality releases, both local and abroad. With the top two shows of all 39 being Australian productions.
Netflix really got its groove back this season with two of the top 5 series this season being Netflix Originals. I feel in love with Disney+ with some real quality releases like Reboot and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law easily being the best Marvel series in months!
Ok so if you need something to watch this holiday season, the below 39 series might tickle your fancy. Or you can review previous RATED posts, HERE.
Until next time, happy holidays besties!
1. Colin From Accounts - Season One (Early December) 2. Fisk - Season Two (November) 3. Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story - miniseries (September) 4. Wednesday - Season One (November) 5. The Handmaid's Tale - Season Five (November) 6. Reboot - Season One (October) 7. Heartbreak High (2022 Reboot) - Season One (September) 8. Elite - Season Six (November) 9. The White Lotus - Season Two (Early December) 10. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law - miniseries (October) 11. Dead to Me - Season Three/Series Finale (November) 12. The Watcher - miniseries (October) 13. This England - miniseries (September) 14. Smiley - miniseries (Early December) 15. Andor - Season One (November) 16. Upright - Season Two (November) 17. Bali 2002 - miniseries (September) 18. Cobra Kai - Season Five (September) 19. Wedding Season - miniseries (September) 20. The Patient - miniseries (October) 21. House of the Dragon - Season One (October) 22. The Cleaning Lady - Season Two (Early December) 23. City on a Hill - Season Three/Series Finale (September) 24. Pennyworth - The Origin of Batman's Butler - Season Three (November) 25. Sort Of - Season Two (Early December) 26. Ramy - Season Three (September) 27. Power Book III: Raising Kanan - Season Two (October) 28. Industry - Season Two (September) 29. Reservation Dogs - Season Two (September) 30. Chucky - Season Two (November) 31.American Gigolo - Season One (October) 32. Atlanta - Season Four/Series Finale (November) 33. One of Us Is Lying - Season Two (October) 34. Monarch - Season One/Series Finale (Early December) 35. Stargirl - Season Three/Series Finale (Early December) 36. Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin - miniseries (November) 37. American Horror Story: NYC - Season Eleven (November) 38. First Wives Club - Season Three (Early December) 39. The Walking Dead - Season Eleven/Series Finale (November)
Wednesday posted on Thursday marks the end of Spring Season/Series Ender post series.
I was never a huge fan of the Addams family, however the Wednesday Addams by Charles Addams, created by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, is loads of fun. Reminds me a little bit of a better Sabrina also recently on Netflix.
Jenna Ortega plays the titular character, with Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzmán, Isaac Ordonez, Gwendoline Christie, Riki Lindhome, Jamie McShane, Fred Armisen, along with Christina Ricci also starring in the hit series.
Four out of the eight episodes are directed by Tim Burton, who also serves as executive producer.
The first season revolves around Wednesday Addams, who attempts to solve a monster mystery at her school.
Filming took place in Romania between September 2021 and March 2022. Wednesday premiered on mid-November, so I am still playing catch up a little. However this was one, easy watch.
Within three weeks of release, it became the second-most watched English-language Netflix series. It received two Golden Globe nominations: Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy and Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy for Ortega.
Spoilers ahead, here is a brief plot before a guide to episode eight below. Wednesday Addams is expelled from her school after dumping live piranhas into the school's pool in retaliation for the boys' water polo team bullying her brother, Pugsley.
Consequently, her parents, Gomez and Morticia Addams, enroll her at their high school alma mater, Nevermore Academy, in the town of Jericho, Vermont, a private school for monstrous outcasts.
Wednesday's cold, emotionless personality and her defiant nature make it difficult for her to connect with her schoolmates and cause her to run afoul of the school's principal. However, she discovers she has inherited her mother's psychic abilities which allow her to solve a local murder mystery.
Fast forward to episode eight, it's an easy watch so you are there before you know it. Just wait for that Lady Gaga dance sequence!
Wednesday and her classmates kidnap Tyler, and Wednesday starts torturing him to make him confess. Disagreeing with her methods, her classmates alert Weems, and Wednesday is arrested.
At the police station, Tyler finally confesses to being the monster. Fed up with Wednesday's behavior, Weems expels her from Nevermore.
Wednesday visits Eugene at the hospital, whose description of the figure he saw at the monster's cave matches Ms. Thornhill, a teacher at Nevermore. Weems, disguised as Tyler, and Wednesday get Thornhill to confess that she is Laurel Gates and manipulated Tyler into killing the victims as part of her scheme to resurrect Joseph Crackstone and wipe out all outcasts.
However, Gates manages to kill Weems and subdue Wednesday. Using Wednesday's blood, Gates resurrects Crackstone and leaves Wednesday to die, but Goody appears to heal her. Enid, having transformed into her werewolf form, defeats Tyler in his Hyde form while Crackstone breaches Nevermore. With help from Bianca, Wednesday destroys Crackstone, and Eugene helps defeat Gates.
Xavier is released from prison, Tyler is detained, and Wednesday departs Nevermore, which is closing for the remainder of the semester.
The episode closes with some serious questions to be answered. I am almost positive after the success of this series it will 100% be back for a second run. This was really good TV. Honestly after an average year for the movies, TV is really shining with series like this.
Tomorrow the RATED list will be posted for the Spring Season/Series Ender post series. See you then.
2022 has really not been a great year for film. Hear me out. We had two years of movies, on, then off, streaming services now releasing films like Poker Face with big Hollywood names and singers, like RZA.
So in 2022, we had so many ways to consume films. Either on premium demand, Netflix, Disney+, even Australia's own Stan. That's where this Australian-American thriller film written, directed and starring Russell Crowe.
Crowe is not the only big star in this film. Also featuring in Poker Face is Liam Hemsworth (Hunger Games franchise), RZA (The Man with the Iron Fists), Aden Young (Rectify), Steve Bastoni (Fires), Daniel MacPherson (Neighbours), Brooke Satchwell (upcoming Stan Original Series Black Snow), Paul Tassone (The Code), Matt Nable (upcoming Stan Original Film Transfusion, The Dry), Benedict Hardie (Joe vs. Carole), Jacqueline McKenzie (Stan Original Series Bloom) and Molly Grace (Savage River), with Elsa Pataky (Fast and Furious franchise) and Jack Thompson (High Ground).
The plots super basic with a random flashback sequence which is where I started and paused the film from when it was released until, just now. Jake Foley, a tech billionaire, holds a high stakes poker night with his childhood friends. As the night goes on, it is revealed Foley wants his friends to reveal secrets they've held their entire lives. Things go awry as thieves try to rob the game, and the friends must band together to survive.
Poker Face premieres November 22, on Stan. This was after a very short cinema release.
The film was shot in New South Wales and marks Crowe’s second directorial outing following 2014’s AACTA Award-winning The Water Diviner.
However this will not be an AACTA award winning film. It was fairly average at best. Making me think, have these streaming exclusive films, also made the movie going experience? After the long, drawn out Black Panther sequel on the weekend, I see the argument for now chilling out at home, ordering Uber Eats and then switching on your selected streaming service for the evening. Or morning. We all know I used to love a morning film.
Either way Poker Face is just not a great film. It seems to be shot in a post COVID world with many scenes featuring limited cast.
I can't pass this film, even though it was a free film, with only my monthly Stan direct debit setting me back for this 90 minute dud.
Smiley is yet another Spanish romantic comedy series, starring the hunk of spunk Carlos Cuevas. Also starring Miki Esparbé & Cedrick Mugisha.
It's hunk central in Smiley which is based on the play of the same name by Guillem Clua. It landed on Netflix early December, hence it being one of my last in the Spring Miniseries/series/season Ender post series.
Set in Barcelona, the plot revolves around the love story between two guys (bartender Àlex and architect Bruno), who meet upon a misdirected voicemail.
All eight episodes are super enjoyable. Lot's of sexy skin, good times and romance along the way.
With other couples, straight (married with kids), lesbian and older couples also have moments with their couple life. It is interesting to see Alex and Bruno connect over a misdirected voicemail.
Not 100% confirmed as a miniseries however there is very little detail on whether there would actually be a second season.
So if you are looking for some hot, Spanish romance, Smiley on Netflix could be an easy, breezy summer slack watch.
First Wives Club is another series ready to get rested. Three seasons in, where is this series headed? With one of the three wives vanishing between seasons 2 and 3, the third season felt a little forced, while lacking direction.
Streaming on BET+ stateside, it streams on Stan in Australia.
The tenth episode of this season really felt like a series ender. With SPOILER ALERT! Hazel and Regina reconcile and solidify their partnership with a Grammy. Then Bree & Gary find the answers they were looking for in each other and hit the open road in an RV. Hitting the road in an RV? Yep that sounds like some series finale shit right there!
No announcement of season four yet, however I am sure Jill Scott is far to busy to play Hazel again in another season.
Until next time, hopefully I get to see a good film or conclude the cute Netflix Spanish series, Smiley. Check it out now, FUN!
Oh dear. 2022 has served up some rather average films, however Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is one of the longest, most frustrating films of the year thus far.
Serving as a sequel to Black Panther (2018), it feels a long way away from the OG film with a great soundtrack and amazing action scenes.
Starring Letitia Wright as Shuri / Black Panther, alongside Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Florence Kasumba, Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Tenoch Huerta Mejía, Martin Freeman, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Angela Bassett.
A brief plot of the film is the leaders of Wakanda fight to protect their nation in the wake of King T'Challa's death.
There is some touching moments though for the OG Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman. The start of the film was super moving. By the end though, you are less than moved by emotion, rather the mood to move out of the cinema after close to three hours.
Yes it's way too long, I saw this late in its run. Opening November 11, 2022, the film has somehow received positive reviews from critics. Look, it looks great, its just WAY, way, way too long. Drawn out, overlong useless scenes after scene. Why is Julia Louis-Dreyfus even in this movie?
It has also grossed over $774 million worldwide, becoming the fifth-highest-grossing film of 2022.
I wanted to like this so much! I had barely been to the movies this month, which makes this even more disappointing.
Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin is Peacock (Stan in Australia) television series spinoff of the film series Pitch Perfect.
Developed by Megan Amram and Elizabeth Banks based on characters created by Kay Cannon. The six part series/miniseries landed late November. So as I said earlier I am catching up.
Adam DeVine (The Righteous Gemstones) stars as lead, Bumper. Flula Borg joined the main cast to reprise his role from Pitch Perfect 2. Sarah Hyland, Jameela Jamil, and Lera Abova also joined the cast, with filming on the series began in March 2022 in Berlin.
Americans by nature don't travel well so am an American series based in Germany has some of those random comments, generalisations you would expect. I much prefer DeVine in his is he gay or isn't he in The Righteous Gemstones on HBO.
I was told by a co-worker episode one was cringe. It totally was, she was 100% right. However it was a super easy watch. I did love the first Pitch Perfect film. The second was not great, the third from 2017 was downright awful.
I can't see any future spin off's coming anytime soon, however this was an easy watch, fun for the background while wrapping secret Santa presents.
Anyway this lives on Stan if you are keen. Also soon on Stan, Yellowstone will continue its latest series, Bump will return for its third season along with some more exciting titles. Until tomorrow when we head into another film turned TV Stan title, The First Wives Club. Spoiler alert, it was awful.
Dead to Me has just concluded its final, third season. Executively produced by Feldman, Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, and Jessica Elbaum.
First showing up on our Netflix, May 3, 2019, it's been a rather long wait till the third and final run.
Starring Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini, the third season had some delay issues. Including the COVID-19 pandemic, while then further delayed by Applegate's multiple sclerosis diagnosis.
Eventually the third season was released mid November. Hence me running the Spring Series/Season Ender post series until the years end.
Season three opens up with Jen (Applegate) and Judy (Cardellini) visit a tropical location, though it is revealed to be a dream after the hit-and-run accident.
An intoxicated Ben arrives at Jen's house only to be greeted by Charlie; Charlie drives Ben to the hospital in Ben's busted up SUV. Jen and Judy are being treated for their injuries at the same hospital as Ben.
Judy fakes a seizure, swipes a nurse's identification badge, and steals pain relievers for Jen just as Judy used to fake seizures as a girl so Judy's mom could steal drugs.
After Steve's buried body is found, Detective Perez tries to convince Nick that the Greek Mafia is responsible for Steve's death; Nick is skeptical of the story. Detective Perez tries to call Jen, but poor cellphone signals prevent them from speaking.
Judy runs into Ben in a hospital corridor where Ben tells Judy that Steve's body has been found. Jen accidentally receives the results of both women's scans and realizes that Judy's scan reveals the possibility that Judy may have cancer.
So there is a lot to unpack in the final season. It's emotional, funny, bold while giving us a fitting end to one of the best Netflix comedies of all time. Well so far in the history of Netflix originals.
I haven't been too keen on Netflix of late, however it's shows like Dead to Me which draw me back in.
If you have ever watched this show Applegate drops a monster number of F bombs, whilst at 49 James Marsden is still a total BABE! He went from playing Steve Wood to Ben Wood across seasons one to two to three. He still looks damn fine shirtless! YASS Daddy!
Anyway Dead to Me now streams its entire run on Netflix. I wish Christina Applegate all the best. Applegate has had a tough run of health issues over the year, which is why you have to give it up for her this season. She totally shines. Love a good comeback, Applegate has really had her moment with her youth, Married with Children to Bad Moms and now Dead to Me. Geddit GIRL!
The Cleaning Lady has just concluded its double episode, season two finale.
A third season is not yet on the cards, however with Monarch already cancelled the Fox network in the USA needs some dramas on their books. My bet is Fantasy Island will wrap up early next week, with some more underwhelming new series to launch next TV season.
The series developed by Miranda Kwok, is based on the 2017 Argentinian television series La chica que limpia. Commencing mid September, we got a bonus two episodes for the second run. The first season only concluded in March of 2022, so there was a very short wait between seasons. This could be a good or bad thing.
The Cleaning Lady AKA Thony De La Rosa, continues to get in more trouble this season, all of which is now streaming on Binge.
Naveen Andrew's joins the cast as a new bad dude, Robert Kamdar. No spoilers but the body count builds in season two. Fairly quickly and consistently.
Las Vegas has never been so dirty!
I enjoyed this season, maybe a little less than season one. However this was an easy watch. If we do get a third season on the Fox network in the USA I would say that'll be a wrap. There is not much else that can help to Thony and her family. Poor Luca can only take so much!
Until tomorrow when I finally caught up on the final season to Dead to Me. Is it Christmas yet?
The White Lotus was intended as a six-part limited series, the show's success led to HBO renewing it as an anthology series; a second season premiered on October 30, 2022. Last month, the series was renewed for a third season. The American Film Institute named it one of the ten best television programs of 2021 and 2022.
Created by Mike White streaming on HBO/Binge in Australia, the comedy-drama-horror series follows the guests and employees of the fictional White Lotus resort chain, whose stay is affected by their various psychosocial dysfunctions. The first season is set in Hawaii and the second season is set in Sicily.
The second season was a wild ride, however was it as good as that stay in Hawaii? Oh and I know you're like it's summer in Australia. Well I am behind in my shows, most of these shows had the majority of their episodes in spring, so I will conclude this series at the end of December. With my Spring RATED report landing early January, 2023.
So over to episode seven, Arrivederci. Yes one episode longer than season one. So you are warned SPOILERS AHEAD!
After Harper admits to him that Cameron kissed her, a furious Ethan attacks Cameron, nearly drowning him before a bystander intervenes.
Ethan shares his suspicions with Daphne, who repeats the advice she gave Harper, to do whatever makes him feel better; she then invites him to join her on a walk to a nearby island, though it is not revealed whether they have a sexual encounter there.
An invigorated Ethan later has sex with Harper, reigniting the passion in their marriage. Albie convinces Dominic to wire €50,000 to Lucia to save her from Alessio, in exchange for Albie's help in salvaging Dominic's marriage.
Valentina gains a newfound sense of confidence and hires Mia as the resort’s permanent piano player, to the anger of the returning Giuseppe.
Portia becomes anxious when she wakes up and finds that her phone is missing, while Jack insists everything is fine. She takes his phone and calls Tanya, telling her she feels something terrible is about to happen as Jack has said that Quentin is broke and about to come into a large fortune that will help save his palazzo.
Remembering the framed photo of Quentin and Greg again, Tanya deduces that Greg hired Quentin to kill Tanya so that he can inherit her fortune. Jack coerces Portia into his car, where she confronts him about his relationship with Quentin; he angrily drives off saying he will take Portia back to Taormina. He later drops her off near Catania–Fontanarossa Airport, warning her not to return to the White Lotus for her own safety.
On Quentin's yacht back to the hotel, a panicked Tanya retrieves Niccolo's gun and kills him, Quentin, and their other associates but, while attempting to board a dinghy to escape, falls off the yacht to her death.
Her body washes up to shore the next day and is discovered by Daphne, and the other bodies on the yacht are found soon after. Lucia leaves Albie and celebrates her successful scam with Mia and Alessio, who had been working with them.
Albie and Portia run into each other at the airport, where Albie confirms Tanya's death to Portia and nonchalantly mentions that Lucia had played him. They exchange numbers as they wait for their flights home.
I may not of loved it as much as season one, however it was a lot of fun. There was a lot more sex in season two. Will Sharpe is WAY too sexy while Aubrey Plaza was outstanding this season. Some of those resting bitch faces were insanely amazing.
So if you need a summer, Christmas series to smash out! The White Lotus seasons one and two stream now on Binge. Catch it all while you can as HBO Max is on a cancellation spree in the USA. Love/Life, Minx (even though it was renewed already) and The Nevers have all now been cancelled. I feel Pennyworth and The Flight Attendant will join them soon. Also I am not super confident about a third season of the rebooted Gossip Girl.
For now The White Lotus will hopefully be back in 2023, where will it be located? Who knows? Hopefully Ethan will be back. Please!
Another DC series bites the dust, so farewell Stargirl. In October, it was announced that the third season will be its last. The third season was titled, Frenemies, with Chapter Thirteen: The Reckoning marking the end of the road for yet another The CW series.
Two days in a row of series enders.
Spoilers ahead y'all. Ahead of that if you want to watch all three seasons, head to Binge.
Pat escapes and reveals the truth about Sylvester before joining Barbara, Mike's group, and the JSA in fighting Sylvester and the Mahkents at the junkyard.
Lily is crushed to death by a falling car, Courtney takes back the staff, Jakeem has Thunderbolt turn Dragon King into a stuffed animal, Pat leaves Sylvester brain-damaged, and Cameron shatters Jordan before leaving with Sofus.
Afterwards, Rick apologizes to Beth's family and Beth lets her parents become her sidekicks. Pat keeps Sylvester on life support, Mike meets his mother, Courtney delivers Sharpe's letter to Rebecca and later reunites with Cameron, Grundy reawakens, and Yolanda tells her mother the truth.
Three months later, Artemis burns Jordan alive in Copenhagen. Over the following ten years, Sylvester's brain is found and he is revived, the JSA rescues the other Seven Soldiers of Victory from Nebula Man, and Rick and Beth get engaged.
While working as a tour guide for a JSA museum, Shade is interrupted by Jay Garrick, who tells him that the JSA is needed and that the adventures are not over.
So another superhero series bites the dust. The Flash has confirmed its final season commences in February 2023. I have always wanted to watch HBO Max's Titans, so maybe one day when I am not fatigued by superhero series I may give that a go.
No word on the return of Superman and Lois for their third season.
Until then its the weekend, Christmas shutdown is almost here so expect a binge FEST! Laters!
Monarch is another one and done series. Meaning this week its Monarch and Stargirl all ending on network TV for good. Are TV dramas in the USA heading down the same path as the Australian drama market? More cheap reality crap for America like here in Australia???
The main problem with the series was Susan Sarandon stars as Dottie Cantrell, but only in episode one. Spoiler alert, Dottie goes bye-bye in episode one. However my favourite was and generally is when they are in a series, Beth Ditto.
Alongside Sarandon & Ditto, Trace Adkins, Anna Friel, Martha Higareda, Iñigo Pascual + Joshua Sasse star in the former Fox series. Streaming in Australia through on Paramount+.
The series premiered September 11, after a slight delay from originally set for a January, 2022 launch. Maybe the nine month delay was a sign the series was doomed from the start.
So what's it all about you ask? Dottie and Albie Roman lead a country music dynasty at the center of a multigenerational family drama. Daughter Nicky Roman does all she can to protect the dynasty's reign in country music while ensuring her own stardom.
With some fun musical acts (all covers, no originals) the series had some fun moments, however after the short lived Queens, Empire and Glee tapping out, is there still room for musical dramas on network TV?
Well that is another series I don't need to worry about for the 2023-2024 series. Tomorrow I will take a look at the final ever Stargirl episode too. Until then, sleep tight. BYE!
Colin From Accounts was technically released on the 1st day of December, however I am including this in my Spring Season Ender series. Let's face it summer is not yet here, I am still sleeping with blankets and no air con.
Created and written by, and starring, Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer, the series is Binge's second original production after Love Me. Please Binge keep up the local release. Cause damn, your on fire, two from two!
Premiering on Binge + Foxtel services on 1 December 2022, with all eight episodes dropping.
Set in Sydney, Australia and centred on Ashley (Harriet Dyer) & Gordon or Flash (Patrick Brammall), two singles who are brought together by a car accident and an injured dog.
Flawed, funny people choosing each other and being brave enough to show their true selves, scars and all, as they navigate life together. It's a modern-day romantic love story.
Critics are digging the series thus far. So I am to be honest!
Kylie Northover from SMH gave the show 4-stars stating "Yes, that's right: it's a romcom. But Australian romcom offerings, particularly on television, are something of a rarity, so to see one executed well, and with particular emphasis on the 'com', is a genuine treat."
Film and TV critic Luke Buckmaster from Guardian Australia also gave the series 4-stars, praising the writing efforts of co-stars Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall: "Here we're in good hands, with Dyer creating the show and co-writing it with Brammall, the pair developing their roles from the inside out – creating personalities that slowly reveal layers, nuances and virtues in ways that feel genuine and germane to the narrative."
I was hooked on this series following the other local Foxtel comedy series Upright. I smashed this in like 24-36 hours. All eight (roughly) less than 30 minute episodes were so raw, honest, but more importantly funny.
Dyer was a real highlight. With sexy support act Tai Hara being a good addition as Dyer's ex. Helen Thomson as Lynelle is also a series highlight. Episode six, Good Room is pure gold!
So happy for these excellent late Australian TV entries. FUN! Get amongst the excellent Colin from Accounts NOW!
Upright has just aired its second season on Foxtel's Showcase along with Binge. Season one follows the story of Lucky and Meg (Tim Minchin and Milly Alcock), who are trying to get an upright piano across the country. Season two commences years after his adventure with Meg, Lucky struggles to adjust to his new life as a successful musician and its not long before Meg comes bursting back into his chaotic world.
Episode one is literal chaos!
With some fine supporting cast this season, it was a super fun, wild little ride!
Queenie van de Zandt was a total highlight!
All of season two's eight episodes premiered on November 15, 2022. So it's pretty fair to say i smashed through them quick smart.
Streaming on Binge, it streams alongside new Aussie sensation Colin From Accounts, which I am also loving sick! You can also catch Upright on Foxtel streaming services.
In the last couple of episodes (SPOILERS) the dymanic duo are trapped at the Wellfulness Commune, Lucky starts to unravel its secrets as Meg finally gets the chance to speak to her mother. With a big finale wrapping up with the duo, escaping the commune, Lucky and Meg race back to Sydney hoping to make it in time to meet Billie at the airport.
I liked Upright a lot this time around. I forgot the first season aired all the way back in 2019. Where it aired week to week unlike this total drop.
If you need some adventure, comedy, original Aussie story telling, this might be the right vibe for you now.
All two seasons now streaming. A season three announcement is yet to be announced. However I never thought a second season would be possible, so who knows?
What is The Menu all about? Well it's described as a dark comedy horror. What does that even mean? Grim comedy with some gruesome murders?
No spoilers here team. Just a brief overview of one of the most original films I have seen in 2022.
Starring Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen's Gambit), Nicholas Hoult, Hong Chau, Janet McTeer, Reed Birney, Judith Light & John Leguizamo.
The Menu has received largely positive reviews from critics, who praised the screenplay, direction, production design, and cast performances. It's a really wild ride, where at some points you really don't know what is actually going to happen.
Ralph Fiennes is equally terrifying and brilliant all at once whilst Anya Taylor-Joy is as intriguing as she was in The Queen's Gambit.
Nicholas Hoult could play the most annoying character, however sometimes these characters get there just deserved.
It's weird, bold and at times deeply disturbing. Like the White Lotus does with annoying rich people at fancy hotels, this takes the wealthy to a fancy AF restaurant where all hell could and maybe does take place.
The Menu was an interesting Friday evening watch. I think it was all too much for me after a long ass week. That said, I did enjoy parts of it, the themes, 3 Stars. Until next time!
Sort Of had its second season land on Stan recently. I binged season one back in April of this year.
The Canadian series had its second round of eight real episodes show heartbreak, love, loss and humour all in the neat 20 minute or so episodes.
I really enjoyed the second season, even with the heartbreaking last couple of episodes. I smashed all eight episodes in the one week. Such an easy watch.
Bilal Baig as Sabi Mehboob, is so refreshing to watch. With smart wit, a can do attitude the show is like Fisk, a warm blanket. Funny, but real, touching and relatable. Also interesting to see an original, fresh show stream.
If you are looking for a show about young love, building on a dream, trying to keep the family happy. Sort Of is totally for you. Both seasons can be streamed now on Stan. Good job acquiring this title Stan.
Wow how quick did the six episodes of season two's Fisk go by?
ABC, you've done it again! Another great little thirty minute sitcom, which first commended airing on 17 March 2021. Sadly at the 2023 ABC Upfronts there was no mention of a third season of Fisk... Well yet.
The show has been a ratings goldmine for the ABC, whilst the iView catch up numbers are even more impressive! The life of lawyer Helen Tudor-Fisk, is slightly less impressive. From having a photocopier dumped in her office to a library riot. It was quite the blast for season two.
Kitty Flanagan is outstanding as Helen Tudor-Fisk, whilst Julia Zemiro as Roz Gruber is my absolute favourite. The high hair, the relatable office all-rounder nightmare. So good.
Aaron Chen as George is also pure gold, whilst we all know a Ray Gruber (Marty Sheargold) right?
This could easily be one of my favourite series of Spring. I do love comedy. Fisk is miles ahead of some of the recent same-same dramas. Even Yellowstone is a little dull this season.
Oh well for a laugh, a but of good hearted fun, Fisk streams both seasons one and two NOW on ABC iView.
Pennyworth moved to HBO Max for its third season, which also gained the clunky title of The Origin of Batman's Butler.
The season concluded last week, however there has been so much TV to whiz through, plus Canberra, it's been a week.
Jack Bannon plays lead Alfred Pennyworth, a younger version of the iteration of the character previously portrayed by Sean Pertwee in Heller's and Cannon's Fox series Gotham (2014–2019), with the series serving as a prequel to both Gotham, & V for Vendetta.
No fourth season is currently in the works with HBO Max, with a number of DC comic books on shaky ground.
Season three really got a little more back to basics after a rather bat shit (mind the Batman pun) crazy season two.
With a fair amount of action and Pennyworth finding and falling out of love, season three whizzed past after dropping the first three episodes all in one go.
I think I enjoyed this season a lot more than the past one, however I don't know how much longer this can go on for?
With HBO Max and DC cutting titles, it could be the end of the road for Pennyworth. We may just need to wait for the next Batman film to get our next fix of Alfred.
Next up it's off to Canada for sweet comedy Sort Of streaming on Stan. Speaking of streaming, Pennyworth - The Origin of Batman's Butler, streams in Australia on Binge.
It's the sixth season so let's jump in. A few months after the death of Samuel and Benjamin's arrest, siblings Ari, Patrick and Mencía are forced to return to Las Encinas for their final year, which have to repeat, where they meet again also Iván and Isadora.
They are greeted by some new students: Nico, Rocío, Dídac and Sara, along with Sara’s boyfriend, Raúl.
Watch out spoilers below the trailer!
Some tragic events occur in the season, in particular the death of Ivàn’s father, Cruz, as well as Ivàn himself goes into a coma after he is hit by a car.
Filming for the seventh season has already began this month. With Netflix not only renewing the series for a seventh season, it has been announced a returning cast member from season 1-4 is coming back!
With season five only streaming/ending in early April, this season landing mid-November, maybe we will get season season in the second quarter of 2023. Here is hoping!
Up next Pennyworth, was it a series finale or will a fourth season be granted by HBO Max?
It's back to the cinema, the local cinema to be clear. Seriously Red is star studded, Dolly Parton loving romantic comedy film directed by Gracie Otto.
Red or Raelene is played by Krew Boylan, like most people of an age, she is at a crossroads in her life. A vivacious and hilarious redhaired woman grappling with high expectations and low self-esteem, she pours herself a cup of ambition and trades her 9-to-5 career in real estate for a life under the spotlight as a Dolly Parton impersonator.
After misreading her work party's dress code, Red tumbles outta bed into a new world of tribute artists and impersonators in her wild and messy journey that includes romancing a Kenny Rogers impersonator.
Red has to lose herself in order to find herself. There are some nice moments in this cute, fun filled film. The laughs are a little few and far between, however when they got it right, they got it so right.
Daniel Webber joins Boylan as Kenny/Kenny Rogers while Rose Byrne plays and Elvis while her husband is the impersonator manager Wilson. Bobby Cannavale does join a wild, large, diverse cast. Celeste Barber is the mix alongside handsome Todd Lasance, Jean Kittson is Red's mum, Viv with her later in life boyfriend played by Wayne Blair.
We also get some smaller roles by Dustin Clare as George Michael, Blair McDonough as Tom, Dannii Minogue as herself and I have a funny feeling Trevor Ashley also makes an appearance.
I wanted to really love this. Like Sissy. However it felt like something was missing. I enjoyed the high moments of the film, some of the cringe, however Jean Kittson was not just annoying as Red's mum but sometimes just plain mean.
Like Sissy, I will be kind, this is a 3 star film at best.
Next up I am desperate to see The Menu. Plus so much TV ending or heading to a break this week. Get ready for plenty of TV posts!
Simon Says Game Over is the season two finale for One of Us Is Lying.
One of Us Is Lying streams in Australia on Stan, US on Peacock, however I believe that wider NBC deal is coming to a close with Stan, moving to Foxtel.
The second season picks up seconds after Bronwyn, Nate, Addy, Cooper, and Janae receive an ominous text from Simon Says, letting them know their secret is not as well kept as they thought it was. So who is Simon? No spoilers here for a show I only binged season one back in September. So yeah this teen version of How to Get Away with Murder was fairly fresh in my over filled TV brain!
Murder Club are played by Annalisa Cochrane, Chibuikem Uche, Marianly Tejada, and Cooper van Grootel.
This season was renewed/ green lit in January 2022, it landed late last month.
So I was fairly quick to catch up on all eight episodes for a second (while in my mind, final) season.
One spoiler, it did end on a bit of a cliffhanger, however Peacock original titles don't seem to have much luck in reaching third seasons. For example musical comedy series Girls5eva is headed to Netflix following its second run.
I did want to enjoy the second season of the book turned series, however it could have been one of those shows that remained as a one season wonder/miniseries.
You can however judge for yourself by streaming it on Stan right now. Until tomorrow where we head back to the movies!
Spring is rapidly wrapping up. It's Thanksgiving in the US of A so some shows are done or resting. The second season of the American horror series Chucky, which in Australia airs on a Channel Nine platform, airs in the US on Syfy and USA Network, concluding this week. Also wrapping this week was The Walking Dead (sort of forever), Pennyworth (finale tonight on Binge) and Andor. So it's been a big week of TV finales.
Chucky is based on the Child's Play film franchise.
A flashback reveals that Chucky Prime was able to perform the ritual to swap bodies with Dr. Mixter before Andy killed the doll.
Now in her body, Chucky retrieves a new Good Guy doll from her office, which he transfers himself into (resulting in the police finding Dr. Mixter's body).
With Glen's condition worsening, Glenda and Tiffany decide to save them by transferring them into the Glen/Glenda doll. A
fter killing a suspicious cop, they perform the ritual - transferring both twins into the doll, now calling themselves G.G. Tiffany ships G.G. to England, so they can learn more about their origins.
Weeks after returning home, Jake and Lexy enlist in group therapy, and Lexy invites Jake and Devon to stay at her house for Christmas. On Christmas Eve, Jake and Devon, along with Lexy and Michelle, mend their respective relationships.
Chucky arrives at the house, as does Tiffany, who is searching for Caroline's Belle doll. Chucky murders Michelle when she comes down the stairs, and Tiffany doesn't intervene when Lexy arrives and kills Chucky.
Jake and Devon wound Tiffany, but Caroline, whose mind has been fully corrupted by Chucky, claims Tiffany is her real mother and leaves with her and the Belle doll.
The next day, Jake, Devon, and Lexy are visited by Miss Fairchild, who believes their stories about Chucky.
Three weeks later.... after Tiffany and Caroline have moved to New York, Tiffany receives a threatening phone call from Nica (who is in New York as well), who swears revenge. Tiffany attempts to transfer her soul into the Belle doll, but it fails when Chucky reveals he has already transferred himself into the doll; he attacks Tiffany as Caroline smiles.
Finally at end of the slightly longer episode, Chucky recaps the gory second season's kills. This was also a feature of the first season finale.
The eight episodes ran quickly week to week, but will a third season be required after all the movies and 16 TV episodes? USA Network now only have Chucky as an original series, which is a co-pro anyway with the Syfy network.
Next up, the Pennyworth season three finale. No news on a fourth season for Pennyworth two. Is a USA cancellation spree on the way?
Andor, is the fourth live-action series in the Star Wars franchise streaming now on Disney+. It is also a prequel to the spin-off film Rogue One, which was released back in 2016.
The series follows thief-turned-Rebel spy Cassian Andor during the five years that lead to the events of the film.
Diego Luna reprises his role as Cassian Andor, the lead character, alongside Kyle Soller, Adria Arjona, Joplin Sibtain, James McArdle, Rupert Vansittart, Stellan Skarsgård, Fiona Shaw, Alex Ferns, Gary Beadle, Genevieve O'Reilly, Denise Gough, Faye Marsay, Varada Sethu, Elizabeth Dulau, Kathryn Hunter, Alastair Mackenzie, Anton Lesser, Alex Lawther, Sule Rimi, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Gershwyn Eustache Jnr, Stanley Townsend, Ben Miles, Andy Serkis, Duncan Pow, Forest Whitaker, and Richard Dillane.
The first season of Andor commenced late September, with a three-episode premiere, concluding November 23. Already renewed for a second twelve-episode season, with filming to begin this month. It will conclude the series, and lead into the events of Rogue One.
Spoilers below for episode 12, season 1, Rix Road.
Cassian returns to Ferrix for Maarva's funeral and learns of Bix's imprisonment from Brasso. Meero and the local Imperial garrison prepare to use the funeral to take Andor alive for questioning regarding Axis, whilst Luthen plans—with Vel and Cinta's assistance—to kill Cassian using the Imperial ambush as cover.
Mon Mothma continues being surveilled by the ISB, who succeed in stopping Kreegyr's attack but leave no prisoners, angering Meero. Mothma's 13-year-old daughter Leida is introduced to Davo Sculdun's 14-year-old son.
During the funeral, B2EMO displays a recording of Maarva, who rallies the populace to attack the Empire, creating a riot in the main quarter. During the confusion, Cassian rescues Bix, whilst Syril Karn saves Meero from being attacked.
Meeting with B2EMO, Brasso and several others in a shipyard, Cassian convinces them to take Bix somewhere safe away from Ferrix. Moved by the rebellion on Ferrix, Luthen returns to his ship where Cassian is waiting. Knowing that Luthen was there to assassinate him, Cassian offers Luthen the choice to either kill him or take him in, to which Luthen smiles.
In a post-credits scene, droids assemble the machinery produced by the Narkina 5 prisoners on the firing dish of the Death Star. Leaving viewers ready for season two, whenever that will stream.
I enjoyed Andor despite the first few episodes being a little slow. The series however was so well done while it's a great edition to one of the best Star Wars films of recent times, Rogue One.
You can stream all episodes right now on Disney+. Happy binge viewing!
WOW! Airing its first episode all the way back on October 31, 2010, episode 177 simply titled "Rest in Peace" aired November 20, 2022. The eleventh and final season of The Walking Dead, has now officially ended! Can you believe it. After so many ways to kill zombies the once biggest show in the world has now moved aside to allow Yellowstone run Sunday streaming evenings.
AMC premiered the final season back on August 22, last year. The final season consisted of a mammoth 24 episodes. The longest season of the series overtaking last seasons overly long 22 episode season.
Based on the eponymous series of comic books by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, & Charlie Adlard. This season adapts material from issues #175–193 of the comic book series and focuses on the group's encounter with the Commonwealth, a large network of communities that has advanced equipment and over fifty thousand survivors living in their different settlements.
While the season also focuses on the group's confrontation with the Reapers, a mysterious faction of hostile survivors that attacked and took Meridian, the former home of Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and her new people, the Wardens.
BIG SPOILERS BELOW, you have been warned the episode commenced streaming a few hours ago on Binge along with other Foxtel services.
Jules is devoured escaping from the horde while Luke is fatally bitten and dies shortly thereafter. Rosita, Gabriel and Eugene successfully rescue Coco, but Rosita is bitten on the left shoulder while escaping.
After getting Judith to a safe house, she is treated by Tomi and reveals to Daryl and Carol that Michonne had left in search of a still-alive Rick.
Princess and Max break Mercer out who leads his men and the Coalition forces in confronting Pamela as she barricades herself in the Estates.
With the people outside about to be devoured, Daryl gives a rousing speech that causes Pamela's men to turn on her and allow everyone inside.
Mercer arrests Pamela for her crimes, but she tries to feed herself to a zombified Lance instead.
Recognizing that prison is a worse fate for Pamela, Maggie puts Lance down and saves her. United and joined by Aaron, Lydia, Jerry and Elijah, everyone lures the herd into the Estates and blows it up, destroying the herd and saving the Commonwealth.
In the aftermath, Rosita peacefully succumbs to her bite while Negan apologizes to Maggie who is unable to forgive him, but decides to try moving past her anger.
A year later, Ezekiel is the governor of the Commonwealth while the communities remain united in creating a better future.
Now aware that Rick's alive, Daryl sets out on his own to find him. Elsewhere, Michonne continues her search for Rick. On Bloodsworth Island, where Michonne would eventually find his belongings, Rick writes a message for Michonne before being found by a CRM helicopter and forced to surrender.
It has been a wild ride season 11, however it's now all over. I never knew this show would run for so long, spawn Fear the Walking Dead, The Walking Dead: World Beyond, Tales of the Walking Dead while Daryl Dixon and The Walking Dead: Dead City will begin in April 2023. That's one successful franchise right there!
The Walking Dead started out great, got tired, tried over and over to reinvent the wheel, in the end the wheels had completely some off the wagon.
Season five was the peak with season seven getting back on track. Then it just hit a steep decline. Either way, 177 episodes, 11 seasons, it's a BIG TV effort in a crowded TV landscape.
The show is not really ending so much with Rick Grimes, Daryl, Michonne as well as Negan + Maggie's stories continuing. We will still have a fair whack of The Walking Dead on our TV's one way or another.
This week, Chucky, Andor and Pennyworth will also end their respective runs. Only Andor is renewed thus far, so time will tell for the Chucky and Bruce Wayne's butlers prequel series, Pennyworth. Seeya then!
Barbarian could be the most original horror film of 2022. However is it a great film?
Written and directed by Zach Cregger (in his solo directorial debut), starring Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, and Justin Long.
The basic plot of Barbarian sees a woman find out that the rental house she reserved has been accidentally double-booked with a man, while not knowing of a dark secret within the home. Based in the terrifying deserted back streets of Detroit, this female tackles social issues like the collapse of large American cities along with me too moments too.
For this I applaud the film. Cause it's not done in an in your face manner, it's subtle like some of the scares. However once the "beast" of the film is revealed the film is a little less spooky.
The film received positive critical reviews, with praise aimed at Cregger's screenplay and direction as well as the cast performances (particularly that of Campbell). The film was a success at the box office, grossing under $45 million worldwide against a $4.5 million budget.
With a lot of films falling flat at the cinema in 2022, this is a rare original, interesting film. Yes parts of the horror have done before. However with creative flashbacks, plot shifts along with good pacing this film was a bit of a winner in the highly crowded horror film field this year.
Look out for the hero Georgina Campbell, she is 100% one to watch.
What the hell was American Horror Story: NYC? Now in its eleventh season, the FX horror anthology series streaming on Binge in Australia. Over five weeks, I have no idea what I have been watching.
Another series created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, it launched on October 19. Concluding with another double episode run this week. Over five weeks, two episodes a week Billie Lourd, Isaac Cole Powell, Zachary Quinto, Sandra Bernhard, Patti LuPone, Denis O'Hare, Leslie Grossman, and Rebecca Dayan starred in NYC.
New to the AHS family were Russell Tovey, Joe Mantello plus Desperate Housewives, Charlie Carver.
You can read a full recap of the finale, complete with spoilers HERE.
However to keep it brief this could have been the worst AHS thus far. I know a lot of people online were saying how emotional it was, how devastating it was. But really is that a horror story? It feels more like one of Ryan Murphy's true life series. Like Monster recently or an American Crime Story with maybe an American Health Story spin.
I may have missed something, however this just painted us gays (again) as sex hungry harlots who just chase either leather days or twinks around Fire Island or city streets.
Really hoping the American Horror Stories (if renewed) along with the next season of American Horror Story really lifts it's game.
Atlanta only concluded it's "Euro-Trip" season three back in May after a long ass break. Season three was a wild watch, however season four returns to Atlanta for some more weird.
Donald Glover is a boss, he leads as Earnest "Earn" Marks along with rapper Paper Boi (Brian Tyree Henry).
The fourth & final season premiered on mid September, concluding on SBS on Demand late this week. I have given SBS on Demand a smashing over the last bit. With two seasons of Atlanta and the brilliant fifth season of The Handmaid's Tale.
Sadly I cannot say this is as brilliant as Elizabeth Moss's stellar series.
Atlanta tackles social issues, sometimes in a funny way like when Deadra Moore as Christine, a woman in a mobility scooter who relentlessly pursues Darius after falsely accusing him of looting.
Or there was random episodes like the one, Soulja Boy starred as himself. Who is forced to go on the run after the "Crank Dat Killer" starts targeting those who posted videos doing the “Crank That” dance.
So after 41 episodes of Atlanta, what did I learn take from this FX produced drama/comedy? I am not sure. I still love Donald Glover, however this show was a bit hit and miss. Some episodes worked and slayed, whilst some just totally missed the mark. For me anyway.
Until next time. And seriously there are a lot of shows set to conclude before summer officially starts. Chucky, the awful American Horror Story: NYC, The Walking Dead finally ends while Andor also ends it's first season run on Disney+.
Black Adam breaks up the horror rampage at the cinema. It's rare to get excited for a superhero film, after a long run of horror films in 2022.
However Dwayne Johnson (Young Rock) stars in this spin-off from Shazam! (who remembers that film?) and the eleventh film in the DC Extended Universe.
The film also stars Aldis Hodge, Noah Centineo, Sarah Shahi, Marwan Kenzari, Quintessa Swindell, Mohammed Amer, Bodhi Sabongui along with former Bond, Pierce Brosnan.
The loose plot is around Adam, an ancient superhuman who is released from his magic imprisonment by a group of archeologists in order to free the city of Kahndaq from the crime syndicate Intergang.
Black Adam has grossed $326.3 million worldwide, and received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for its visual effects and Johnson's performance, but criticism for its screenplay. I had heard good things about the film, however still went in fearing the worst. My score below.
This wasn't the worst superhero film, however it was far from the best. The Rock tries hard with what he has to work with, however it's just not that much to work with. DC has a bit of a problem now. Shelving Batgirl, four films potentially scheduled for 2023, the majority of DC TV shows being cancelled whilst most projects (other than the great Peacemaker) getting average at best reviews.
After watching Stargirl the Justice Society references made some sense to me, Viola Davis also made her way back as Amanda Waller from the Suicide Squad films. Where the first was way better than the average second.
Of course there is a big surprise at the end credits, however does that make up for the other two hours of crashing through buildings and explosions? No.
I'll pass this cause I like Dwayne Johnson in the recently returned Young Rock. 2.5 Stars. Come on DC, give us Batgirl, can't be much worse than this right?
The Handmaid's Tale returned for its highly anticipated fifth season mid September. It has now concluded on SBS Demand with some massive week to week numbers in Australia.
Weekly total numbers have risen above 500K! Huge! It's a bit behind Home & Away, however still for a cult show on SBS, this is a big win.
Good news came before the fifth season premiere, the series was renewed for a sixth and final season. The good news is the series also goes out on its own terms.
Based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Margaret Atwood, the fifth season stars Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski, Alexis Bledel, Madeline Brewer, Ann Dowd, O-T Fagbenle, Max Minghella, Samira Wiley, Amanda Brugel & Bradley Whitford.
OK so series five seasons in can get a little long in the teeth. However no the The Handmaid's Tale. You can read a full in-depth finale breakdown HERE. No spoilers here, well for today.
This season was excellent. From scenes in Toronto back to Gilead. The Canadians turning on refugees. There was so much of our real world here in season five.
I enjoyed this season so much. I really couldn't believe it came to an end so quickly. The ten episodes went by so gosh damn fast. Every week I couldn't wait to get onto SBS On Demand to watch an episode on Wednesday evenings.
With Yvonne Strahovski doing Australia proud, Serena went to widow, to mother, to fellow refugee like June (Moss).
Elizabeth Moss of course is completely exceptional. The facials, the anger, the rage. I love it. I will be very sad when this series comes to an end in 2023. With so many shows coming to an end, this is one that is still getting better and better. Let's hope season six is an EPIC conclusion. Catch up on all season five right now FOR FREE on SBS on Demand. Night, Night.
Back in November 2020, I started the Raised by Wolves journey. It was peak COVID, so I was catching up on literally anything. There was a TV shortage, so the Aaron Guzikowski HBO Max series commenced back on September 3, 2020.
The second season premiered on February 3, 2022, however now that TV is back to normal, Disney+ is serving up hit after hit etc, I was behind, so I sat on the second and final series. It was cancelled after two seasons back in June, so I knew the androids, Father and Mother were coming to a complete close.
In the series finale, titled Happiness which aired back on St Patricks Day (March 17) this year here is what went down. SPOILER ALERT - below the trailer!
Mother uses Grandmother's veil to block out her emotional attachment to No. 7 (the serpent).
Mother kills the serpent and chooses to temporarily retain the veil, leaving the children under Grandmother and Father's care.
Mother discovers that Grandmother intends to devolve this human colony into fish creatures of the sea, as her group of androids did to the previous generation of humans on Kepler-22b.
Understanding this, Mother becomes emotionally unstable and the veil envelops her and shuts her down. Grandmother uses this opportunity to store her in a hibernation pod.
Meanwhile, in search of the source of Sol, Marcus tries to return underground but Lucius, influenced by Sol's voice, disables and captures Marcus. Lucius then crucifies Marcus on the tree that shot out from No. 7's dead corpse. Later, Marcus appears floating in the air above the tree, in an inverted crucified state, released from his bonds and with blood dripping from his palms.
Honestly when the eighth and final episode of this series ended I had no idea or no care factor what happened, that the show concluded or why I ended up watching the rather average final second season.
HBO Max tried with some high end sci-fi mixed with big name Ridley Scott, however like Westworld I think the cost of the series was just to great compared to the demand or interest in the show.
If you are keen after reading this, Raised by Wolves streams on Binge in Australia.
Sissy is the latest Aussie film (along with horror film) to hit the big screen as part of my The Masked Cinema 2022 series.
Teen best friends Cecilia and Emma, after a decade run into each other. Cecilia is invited on Emma's bachelorette weekend where she gets stuck in a remote cabin with her high school bully with a taste for revenge.
Aisha Dee is Cecilia or Sissy depending on who you ask. She was bullied as a child, which leads to a horrific incident. As an adult though she is Cecilia the 200K wellness influencer.
Wellness influencer! If you like me are thinking, fucking hell, how qualified do you need to be? How does one get 200,000 followers? Well by living in a dodgy apartment somewhere near Canberra with dishes piling up in your sink while having a green screen set up in the living room. All amongst empty pizza boxes.
A wellness influencer eating pizza? Yes Sissy pokes fun at the Kardashian, bullshit of our modern 2022 world. Where everyday people think they know these "celebrities"/influencers.
Sissy is absolutely far from perfect, it's also almost way to woke. I know call me a right winger but having a gay, disabled character saying Yass Queen along with any other gay stereotype saying, the film filmed/set somewhere outside Canberra really ticks the diversity boxes.
The gore is a little bit too much at times, however maybe that's what horror streaming platform Shudder wanted for their audiences.
I love to support Aussie films, so I will pass this. It's slightly original, it's very dark but at times a little funny.
2022 is really the year for the horror genre. 3 Stars. I'm being overly kind, however the first half of the film really did shine, maybe a shorter run time may have also benefited the couple behind me who left in the last twenty minutes of the film.
This England was originally titled This Sceptred Isle is a docudrama miniseries based on the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
It is based on testimonies of people in the Boris Johnson administration, on the various intergovernmental advisory groups (including the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies), and in other affected British institutions such as care homes and hospitals.
In the UK, it premiered on Sky Atlantic and Now on 28 September, whereas in Australia all six episodes stream now on Binge.
Kenneth Branagh is unrecognisable as Boris Johnson whilst Ophelia Lovibond plays Carrie Johnson. The story picks up after Boris Johnson wins a landslide victory in the December 2019 general election.
This follows the whole, Get Brexit Done slogan. Then it happens. Within a few months the UK faces the COVID-19 pandemic, for which he is ultimately hospitalised, and the birth of his first child with his then partner Carrie Symonds.
It's very pro fear of COVID-19 whilst being here in Australia was interesting to see how March 2020 unfolded for another country.
It's easy to reflect back on what we know now, however this was a rough as guts time for everyone, all around the world.
COVID-19 changed the world (most likely for the worst in most cases) however will definitely be one of the most full on things our generation will face.
I enjoyed episodes one to three, however four to six become a bit much. It was a rough AF two years, reliving it through "entertainment" is a little tough. Big props to Kenneth Branagh, he was truly outstanding. Happy to have watched it, however this will not be everyone's cup of tea!
Do Revenge is my second Netflix film in one weekend. Yep delayed posts a go-go this week!
I do love a teen dark comedy film! Especially when it's free on someone else's Netflix log in. Dropping mid last month, I was a little late to the teen drama starring Camila Mendes, Maya Hawke, Austin Abrams, Rish Shah plus Sarah Michelle Gellar.
Yes SMG!
So good seeing her back on the screen.
Do Revenge is loosely inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's 1951 film, Strangers on a Train.
Receiving generally positive reviews from critics, an 84% on review sit, while Coleman Spilde of The Daily Beast called the film a "generation defining masterpiece", saying that "Once a decade, there comes a high school comedy so stylish, so witty, and so instantly influential that it cannot be topped. Netflix's colorful new romp is that movie."
Riverdale's Camila Mendes excels outside of the lame CW, finally getting some decent lines! My score below the fun AF trailer!
So Netflix have had some hits lately, The Watcher, Dahmer, The Good Nurse and now Do Revenge. This was actually a wee bit of fun, 3 stars. FUN!
Reboot is the reason why I will continue my Disney+ subscription.... for now.
The excellent new comedy commenced on September 20 on Hulu or here in OZ Disney+. Reboot is about the dysfunctional cast of an early 2000s hit sitcom, Step Right Up, who must face their unresolved issues and navigate a vastly different media and entertainment environment when a young writer successfully pitches a reboot of their show.
Keegan-Michael Key, Johnny Knoxville, Judy Greer, Rachel Bloom, Paul Reiser, Krista Marie Yu and finally Calum Worthy as Zack.
The cast all works so well together, there are some classic one liners, the scenes in the writers room are by far the standout.
If you like your comedy slightly dirty, mostly drama free Reboot is 100% for you!
I smashed this eight episode first season run. I totally hope the series returns for a second. It's an interesting peek behind the curtains, poking fun of streaming platforms (by a streaming platform) whilst also just making a damn funny little comedy.
The Good Nurse is actually a good Netflix film. Y'all heard me right the Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne true crime film is actually a hit!
As two nurses (Chastain + Redmayne) one who suspects the other of being responsible for a series of patient deaths.
Based on the 2013 true-crime book of the same name by Charles Graeber about the serial killer Charles Cullen. Eddie Redmayne is excellent as Cullen while the under two hour film also stars Nnamdi Asomugha, Kim Dickens, and Noah Emmerich.
The Good Nurse landed on Netflix, October 26, where is has received positive reviews from critics. My star rating and thoughts? Below the trailer folks!
I am impressed by this Netflix film. It was deeply disturbing (nothing as bad as Dahmer, but still disturbing) with Cullen being a complete psycho.
It even had a good Rotten Tomatoes score, at just over 80%! So if you have a Netflix log in, need something to watch while a few US shows are on Halloween break, give this one a crack.
American Gigolo is not the best Showtime original. I much preferred The Chi, Billions or even Your Honor.
The television series developed by David Hollander, based on the 1980 film is written and directed by Paul Schrader.
The American Gigolo is Jon Bernthal as Julian Kaye. Also starring in the eight episode run is, Gretchen Mol, Lizzie Brocheré, Gabriel LaBelle, Leland Orser, and Rosie O'Donnell.
It premiered on Stan on September 11, for eight Fridays. Yep Friday is the new day for premium drama.
Julian Kaye (Bernthal) is exonerated 15 years after being arrested for murder and struggling to find his footing in the modern-day Los Angeles sex industry. He seeks the truth about the frame that sent him to prison all those years ago, and hopes to reconnect with his one true love, Michelle.
Bernthal is sexy AF, he would be an ultimate fantasy fuck for men and women. However the story is rather dull. A secret son, a long stint in prison after being falsely sent there by detective Rosie O'Donnell.
I would be very surprised if this Showtime series returns for a second run. With Rotten Tomatoes only giving a 35% approval rating so far, there is too much competition for a low rated series such as American Gigolo to return. Unless like American Rust (former Showtime one and done series) the series gets a second life somewhere else.
Reboot's, movie spin-offs etc are now super common, which is why I am loving sick the new Disney+ comedy series, Reboot.
If over summer you need something to watch, American Gigolo is an easy watch, most likely not the best series though you'll see in 2022.
Bros is the latest in a long string of sex comedies from Judd Apatow, along with Nicholas Stoller who co-wrote the screenplay with Billy Eichner.
Starring alongside Eichner, Luke Macfarlane, Ts Madison, Monica Raymund, Guillermo Díaz, Guy Branum, and Amanda Bearse.
It is one of the first gay romantic comedies released by a major studio, and features an openly LGBTQ+ principal cast.
Bros had its world premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2022. Getting a comedy release date of Halloween is not ideal in Australia, however it is a nice break to see a comedy at the movies in place of a horror film.
For me Eichner stars as a 40-something gay man in New York, who has a successful podcast along with creating a LGBTQ+ history museum. So his career is on track however his love life isn't.
It does tackle a lot of the issues with gay relationships in 2022. Open relationships, Grindr, hook ups, clubbing, partying, gym culture along with playing masc for masc!
I enjoyed a real life look into gay culture. Films often pop gay characters into the background or supporting "fun" roles.
Fire Island from Hulu recently gave us another look into gay culture. However for an Australian in Sydney, Fire Island didn't mean to much to me. A 40 year old in a big city however, did.
Bro's has sweet moments, however it also points out how very hard us gays make it for ourselves. Like really we do. From the body images in porn and mens health magazines to the faceless torsos on dating/fucking apps.
Bro's was a breath of fresh air at the cinema. It wasn't groundbreaking, the laughs were a little few and far between, some popular culture references were very niche, however it did a good job. It landed at a perfect time for me to enjoy this. 4 Stars.
Back in August 2020, I discovered Ramy. I smashed both seasons back to back on Stan. It's one of those random Hulu titles that slipped through the cracks, got a deal outside of Disney+ and streams on a competitors platform.
The third season premiered on September 30, 2022. All ten episodes landed on Stan, giving me another show I discovered through the fog of COVID to catch up on.
These shows are building up, whilst some are being cancelled, there is a lot more content out there now, that I first discovered through the fogs, the large amounts of home life during 2020/2021.
Ramy has been praised for its portrayal of American Muslims when most Western pop culture depictions are "usually as the bad guys"
Ramy follows "a first-generation American Muslim who is on a spiritual journey in his politically divided New Jersey neighborhood.
It explores the challenges of what it is like being caught between an Egyptian community that thinks life is a moral test, and a generation that thinks life has no consequences."
I compared it to Insecure in my first post. There is some random sex in season three, however it is more about a young guy, trying to find love, faith and purpose. Something we can all relate to. It gives viewers a different point of view.
A series that is based in New Jersey but tackles problems all 30-somethings have in this modern world. Love, lust, faith, meaning. Yeah it's a comedy, but it is also deep.
It was a fine third season, it does end on a possible final ending, however I could see Hulu renewing this for a fourth and final or possible many more seasons to come.
In Australia you can get back into Ramy (if like me you watched it previously) or you could be discovering for the first time. Like a number of series there was over a two year gap between seasons two and three. However this is a damn easy watch. I was done quick smart, even with all my weekly shows continuing.
Praise be, it's Halloween today, allowing me to catch up!
Merlí: Sapere Aude was one of those pandemic series I watched when there was nothing else to watch. Season one landed at the convenient pandemic viewing time of 5 December 2019.
The series is a sequel and spin-off of the Merlí series which I also binged during years of on and off again lockdowns. Snap or otherwise.
Pol Rubio (Carlos Cuevas), is the main character from the original Merlí series. Pol enters university to follow in the footsteps of his idolized professor at high school, Merlí.
On Netflix the second and final season, consisting of 8 episodes, just landed, so I totally smashed it over the weekend on the Central Coast. For context "Sapere Aude" is Latin for "Dare to be Wise".
Cast members from the previous series include: Carlos Cuevas as Pol Rubio, David Solans as Bruno, Ana María Barbany as Carmina Calduch, Boris Ruiz as Alfonso, Assun Planas as Glòria, and Francesc Orella as Merlí.
Some new faces also join, Pablo Capuz as Rai, Pol's classmate, Azul Fernández as Minerva, María Pujalte as María Bolaño, and Gloria Ramos.
Season two was less sexy, but more in the feels with Pol getting some health news. Like Dynasty airing its last episode in no man's land, not really a seasonal finale or a binge. Merlí: Sapere Aude 100% has amazing eye candy with Carlos Cuevas, however it also has real life issues explored in a raw and honest way.
The sexual health, alcohol abuse, romance/relationships all feel more real than a US series. Definitely a US Network series that's for sure.
It's bold, much more original than an American college drama. So if you have Netflix, want some college drama, Merlí: Sapere Aude has 16 easy to consume episodes.
The Patient is another adult drama streaming on Disney+ in Australia, Hulu stateside.
Premiering back in late August, the series concluded October 25. Consisting of ten episodes, The Patient stars Steve Carell, Domhnall Gleeson, and Linda Emond.
Basically, a therapist (Steve Carell) is held captive by a serial killer (Domhnall Gleeson) who seeks help to curb his homicidal urges.
Episode ten, The Cantor's Husband was one tense TV episode. The series which could have been a stage show, basically all set in the one basement of Gleeson, come to an epic conclusion.
No spoilers here, however the finale really made me happy I sat through all ten episodes. It's no secret Carell is not my favourite actor of all time. However this was an interesting concept with an interesting conclusion.
Disney+ has really got some great content, making it a hard decision to see if I will keep my subscription past the three month trial end date next week.
So if you need a miniseries to see you through Halloween, The Patient maybe for you.
House of the Dragon SOME SPOILERS ALERT (below the trailer) ! It did air yesterday afternoon Australian time. What y'all been doing!
The independent prequel to Game of Thrones, which starting airing back in 2011 until 2019.
The HBO series is set about 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen, descendant of the eponymous royal house, and 100 years after the Seven Kingdoms is united by the Targaryen Conquest. It portrays the beginning of the end of House Targaryen, the events leading up to and covering the Targaryen civil war of succession, known as the Dance of the Dragons.
House of the Dragon premiered on August 21, 2022, with the first season consisting of 10 episodes. 5 days after its premiere, the series was renewed for a second season.
Episode one was watched by over 10 million viewers, the biggest in HBO's history. This is a huge effort for HBO now there is so much streaming compeition.
So where did season one leave us?
On Dragonstone, Princess Rhaenys announces King Viserys's death and Prince Aegon's usurpation.
Shocked, Rhaenyra suffers a miscarriage. Prince Daemon, believing Viserys was murdered, urges war.
Ser Erryk brings Viserys' crown and Rhaenyra is declared queen; Ser Otto arrives to present Aegon's terms for Rhaenyra's concession; she prevents Daemon from killing Otto and delays answering. Privately, Daemon is angered by Rhaenyra's desire to negotiate peace, and dismisses the dream about the "promised prince".
Rhaenys persuades a still-recovering Lord Corlys to pledge House Velaryon's allegiance to Rhaenyra's "Black" faction; Daemon plans to recruit more dragonriders, and he awakens Vermithor, a large dragon.
Rhaenyra sends Princes Jacaerys and Lucerys as envoys to secure Houses Arryn, Stark, and Baratheon as allies. At Storm's End, Lucerys meets Lord Borros Baratheon, who refuses to support Rhaenyra for offering him nothing.
Prince Aemond is also present, who at Aegon's arrangement would marry Borros' daughter. Aemond demands an eye from Lucerys as retribution. Borros allows Lucerys to leave on his dragon, Arrax, but Aemond pursues him on Vhagar.
The fractious dragons defy their riders' commands, and Arrax burns Vhagar. Incensed, Vhagar kills Lucerys and Arrax, stunning Aemond. Daemon informs Rhaenyra of Lucerys' death, devastating and enraging her.
Like all other HBO titles House of the Dragon streams on all Foxtel platforms including Binge. With ad's coming soon. FML, Foxtel will never learn! Ad's on a streaming service! GROSS!
