Servant served up one hell of a season finale! Lives in the balance, a stair case push/fall? It was a big final episode ahead of the fourth and final season next year.
Created by Tony Basgallop and executive-produced alongside M. Night Shyamalan, season three has just wrapped up on Apple TV+.
Lauren Ambrose from Six Feet Under stars along side Toby Kebbell, Nell Tiger Free and Rupert Grint.
The ten-episode fourth and final season will hopefully land early 2023 similar to the last two seasons. Its actually enjoyable watching a 30 minute horror/thriller season week to week.
This season has whizzed past. It really went super fast from its debut back in late January.
Will the park people finally get answered in the fourth season? What on the earth will be the end game for baby Jericho?
So many questions ahead, so many M. Night Shyamalan vibes throughout the season.
Apple TV+ will see one of its longest running series concluded next year. With an ever building line up of series coming to Apple TV+ it could be in the streaming game for the long haul.
You can check out seasons one - three now on Apple TV+. Its raining again so have a binge why don't you?
X is the latest slasher film written, directed, produced, and edited by Ti West. Before the blood starts to flow. We follow a cast and crew who gather to make a pornographic film on an old couple's rural Texas property but get caught and find their lives at risk.
Starring Mia Goth, Jenna Ortega, Martin Henderson, Brittany Snow, Owen Campbell, Stephen Ure, and Scott Mescudi.
Martin Henderson is on home soil as the film is filmed in NZ, while Scott Mescudi AKA Kid Cudi shines as the porn star with a rather large....
The film received critical acclaim, with praise aimed towards the homage to classic slasher films.
In March 2022, it was revealed that a prequel film was shot back-to-back in secret with the first film.
Written and directed by Ti West, photography took place in New Zealand, and upon official announcement was already in the post-production stage.
Goth will reprise her role as a younger-aged Pearl. A24 produced the project, with Jacob Jaffke, Harrison Kreiss, and Kevin Turen serving as producers, and West, Goth, Mescudi, and Sam Levinson to executive produce.
Pearl, will be set during WWI in 1918 and explores the origins of Pearl, the villainous character from X. The events take place prior to the previous film, and explore how the cabin, where the "massacre of X" takes place, was once used as a boarding house during the war.
I enjoyed the film, violent, camp, 70's porn vibes. It continues a long running number of horror films making it to the cinema of late.
I enjoyed this trip to the cinema. It both was sexy whilst being gory (but not to gory). I am not sure this will top box office records or win awards, however it was a decent film. 3.5 Stars.
The Afterparty concluded at the start of this month. I basically binged it in between all the other American series that have recently been returning, coming back from lengthy breaks or just plain hitting the Australian streaming platforms.
This latest series aired on Apple TV+. Early March, 2022, the series was renewed for a second season.
The series takes place at a high school reunion after party with each episode a different character's perspective of what happened that night.
Take a look at the trailer below.
Tiffany Haddish leads an all star cast of Sam Richardson (Veep), John Early (Search Party), Ben Schwartz, Ike Barinholtz, Ilana Glazer and Dave Franco.
Upon the second season renewal announcement, it was reported that Haddish is set to reprise her role as Detective Danner, but a new cast of suspects for the second season.
I will give season two a go. Halfway through the season I found myself playing with my phone a little more than I was at the start of the eight episode run.
It was a super easy watch. Along with Servant (concluding Friday) Apple TV+ are really starting to churn out the content right about now.
The Afterparty might not be as gossip worthy as MAFS however it's a little distraction from ScoMo, Floods, War, Killer flies, the Rona year III etc etc
Sweet movies don't come along everyday, so when they do, rush out and seem them. With everything going on in the world, sometimes it's nice to zone out, unplug, get out of the 24/7 news feed and head back to the The Masked Cinema.
So in NSW masks are not required at the gym, however if you are in Mark McGowan's WA, you must still mask up. So my series for films in 2022 is still kind of relevant as we head out of the first quarter.
So what did I see on this sunny Sunday? Sunny on Sunday in NSW? What?
Dog is my first road film in quite some time. I lost my dog several years ago, so I was hoping this wasn't too painful.
Spoiler alert it wasn't. It was actually sweet AF.
Directed by Channing Tatum and Reid Carolin, both making their respective feature directorial debuts. The film also stars Tatum as an Army Ranger who must escort the dog of his fallen commander to the funeral.
Tatum also solo stars along side Lulu in this film. U.S. Army Ranger Jackson Briggs (Tatum) is tasked with bringing Lulu (Tatum almost solo stars alongside Lulu throughout the duration of the film), a Belgian Malinois military working dog, down the Pacific Coast from Joint Base Lewis–McChord in Washington to Nogales, Arizona, in time to attend her handler's funeral.
Along the way, Briggs has to come to terms with his post-traumatic stress disorder as well as his difficulty with making emotional connections.
It received generally positive reviews from critics and has grossed over $59 million against a budget of $15 million. Which in the current streaming VS cinema world, is a box office hit.
2022 has been a rocky year for film. Few have impressed me (although the Batman was fun) so for this sweet, tender film, I was hooked. In my eyes this could be Channing Tatum's best work.
The Cleaning Lady is really a no brainer for a season season. The FOX drama is based on the 2017 Argentinian television series La Chica Que Limpia. The series commenced early January, 2022. A brief ten episode season run basically ran straight through the end of the Australian summer.
The Cleaning Lady is a drama that centers on Thony De La Rosa, formerly a Filipina medical doctor who is currently working and living in Las Vegas. Her reason for being in the US on an expired visa is her five-year-old son, Luca.
Luca has a rare and life-threatening medical disorder for which he needs a cutting-edge bone marrow treatment, which is only available in Las Vegas. Until she gets treatment for her son,
Thony makes a living not as a trained doctor but as a cleaning service worker, alongside her sister-in-law, Fiona. After Thony accidentally witnesses a serious crime and is discovered hiding by the perpetrator, Arman Morales, she is offered a job both as a cleaner and a doctor within their criminal organization that could pay well enough to help her son and her family.
Crossing into a moral gray zone, Thony begins to live a double life, keeping secrets from her family, all the while cleaning up murder scenes and dodging the law.
The season ends with a family cliffhanger along with tidying up a few loose ends. I enjoyed the finale along with the entire ten episode run.
Élodie Yung as Thony De La Rosa is a great leading lady. The story of helping her son, mixed with crime on the side was an interesting mix.
The Cleaning Lady has aired week to week on Binge. This is a little gem amongst some of Binge's other bigger titles.
So if you are looking for a new drama to consume now Euphoria has ended, give The Cleaning Lady a red hot go.
Until next time, here is a full recap along with the season two gossip!
Pam & Tommy based on that tape, featuring Pamela Anderson and Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, played by Lily James and Sebastian Stan. James is exceptional, Stan is equally great, however the 8 eight miniseries belongs to James.
The miniseries chronicling the marriage between actress Pamela Anderson & Tommy Lee, during the period their unauthorized sex tape was made public.
Based on the 2014 Rolling Stone article "Pam and Tommy: The Untold Story of the World's Most Infamous Sex Tape" by Amanda Chicago Lewis.
The first three episodes of Pam & Tommy premiered on Hulu (Disney+ in Australia - honestly Disney for a story about porn WTF?) on February 2, 2022.
The eight episode run of Pam & Tommy depicts the turbulent three-year marriage between Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee, with particular emphasis on the theft and illegal distribution of an infamous sex tape the couple recorded privately during their honeymoon.
The theft by Rand Gauthier (Seth Rogans first role for a while, or maybe I have missed some of his work) was a part of the story I never knew. As a horny teenager I remember vaguely seeing it on the dial up internet or somewhere.
It's crazy to think how viral some things have gone in the past, compared to now. This would have been up on Porn Hub in a matter of minutes in 2022. The series has a wonderful 90's soundtrack whilst concluding with Dolly's version of I Will Always Love You. Sweet. Very sweet.
It really was an interesting love story between Pam and Tommy. The series was enjoyable for the most party whilst equally confusing this was on Disney+ in Australia.
I can't believe the miniseries is done and dusted. It's been a busy few weeks of TV with a number of series returning. Kung Fu today on Binge, Shining Vale starting on Binge this week with a double episode and The Walking Dead really stumbling all the way to the finish line of the series. Whilst already announcing one spin off. Another is apparently coming in 2023. This time Negan and Maggie. Oh boy!
Pam & Tommy is a fun, sad (for Pam) whilst an easy binge. Stream it all now. Welcome to Autumn y'all!
It's been a long, hot (at times), (extremely) wet, COVID isolated summer. So here are a number of series I regularly watched, concluded the season over summer (or just outside of the traditional Australian Dec-Feb summer months) season 2021-2022.
So this is a long ass list of BIG TV hits some shows have now concluded, there are a couple of TV movie wrap films. It's a bit of a mixed bag really.
So let's get it. Either discover your favourite show(s) aired over summer, you could have missed it. Or discover a brand new show via my recommendations. Or on the other hand avoid a show at the bottom of the list I wasted my time on, saved you the time on watching.
1. Somebody Somewhere - Season One (FEB 2022) 2. Total Control - Season Two (DEC 2021) 3. Love Me - Season One (DEC 2021) 4. Insecure - Season Five/Series Finale (DEC 2021) 5. Succession - Season Three (DEC 2021) 6. The Righteous Gemstones - Season Two (FEB 2022) 7. Bump - Season Two (DEC 2021) 8. Gossip Girl (2021 TV series) - Season One (DEC 2021) 9. After Life - Season Three/Series Finale (JAN 2022) 10. PEN15 - Season Two/Series Finale (DEC 2021) 11. Yellowstone - Season Four (JAN 2022) 12. Emily in Paris - Season Two (JAN 2022) 13. Batwoman - Season Three (Early MAR 2022) 14. Chucky (TV series) - Season One (DEC 2021) 15. 1883 - Miniseries, sequel series 1932 coming soon! (FEB 2022) 16. The Tourist (miniseries) (JAN 2022) 17. Cobra Kai - Season Four (JAN 2022) 18. Power Book II: Ghost - Season Two (FEB 2022) 19. Five Bedrooms - Season Three (JAN 2022) 20. The Book of Boba Fett - Season One (FEB 2022) 21. Hightown - Season Two (DEC 2021) 22. Dexter: New Blood (miniseries) (JAN 2022) 23. Queens - Season One (FEB 2022) 24. Euphoria - Season Two (FEB 2022) 25. Landscapers (miniseries) (DEC 2021) 26. Claws - Season Four/Series Finale (FEB 2022) 27. Wolf Like Me (miniseries) (JAN 2022) 28. Guilty Party (DEC 2021) 29. Ray Donovan: The Movie - Series Finale Film (JAN 2022) 30. Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist (Zoey's Extraordinary Christmas) - Series Finale Film (DEC 2021) 31. Firebite - Season One (FEB 2022) 32. Fistful of Vengeance - Wu Assassins potential Series Finale Film (FEB 2022) 33. The Sinner - Season Four/Series Finale (DEC 2021) 34. The Walking Dead: World Beyond - Season Two/Series Finale (DEC 2021) 35. Legends of Tomorrow - Season Seven (Early MAR 2022)
The Batman has been considered a reboot of the Batman film franchise.
Starring Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne / Batman alongside Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro, Peter Sarsgaard, Andy Serkis, with an unrecognisable Colin Farrell as Penguin.
Set after two years of fighting crime, the film sees Batman uncover corruption in Gotham City while pursuing the Riddler (Dano), a serial killer who targets Gotham's elite. Full marks for the portrayal of the Riddler. Never have I seen the Riddler in such a terrifying take. In previous Batman films, this villain has always been a bit lame in previous films.
Jim Carrey was a bit of a lunatic in previous Batman & Robin whilst Frank Gorshin was super camp in the camp 1966 film. So many bad outfits in the 1966 film.
Critics praised the performances, cinematography, direction, visual style, action sequences, and story, though some criticized the length. And you all know I hate a long film, this film, just under 3 hours.
It is intended to launch a Batman shared universe, with two sequels planned and three spin-off television series in development for HBO Max.
What do those sequels look like. Well, The Batman is intended to be the first of a new Batman film trilogy. Pattinson and Reeves expressed interest in introducing Robin and featuring the Court of Owls, Calendar Man, and Mr. Freeze as villains in a sequel.
The Spin-off series
1. Gotham City Police Department series - The series was intended to expand on the universe of the film and its exploration of Gotham City corruption. During the DC FanDome event in August, the series was revealed to be set during Batman's first year of crime-fighting, from the perspective of a corrupt GCPD officer.
2. Penguin series - By September 2021, HBO Max was developing a spin-off series focused on the Penguin. Farrell had been approached about reprising his role from the film, though no deal had been made. Farrell signed on to reprise his role in December, also serving as an executive producer.
Arkham Asylum series - In March 2022, Reeves confirmed that a third spin-off revolving around Arkham Asylum was in development. Explaining both the Penguin and Arkham Asylum shows, Reeves told The Toronto Sun, "We are talking and thinking about the next movie, but to be honest with you, at the moment, I really want the audience to connect with this. And I really believe they will because I think Rob is an incredible Batman."
So there is a lot more Batman on the way with sequels, spin offs and HBO Max getting a pile more programming on the way.
I really enjoyed Kravitz as Catwoman, whilst I had no expectations for Robert Pattinson taking over Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne AKA the Batman. I also loved the Riddler in this film. He actually was scary.
This was maybe the best film I have seen in 2022 thus far. It's been a rather random year for films thus far. So this gets a solid AF 4 stars.
Like Batwoman, yesterday, the seventh season of Legends of Tomorrow, felt like its last.
Consisting of just 13 episodes, This makes its the shortest season since its TV debut back in 2016.
Set in the Arrowverse, LOT is a spin-off of Arrow and The Flash.
Following a number of cast changes over the seasons, Caity Lotz, Tala Ashe, Jes Macallan, Olivia Swann, Adam Tsekhman, Shayan Sobhian, Lisseth Chavez, Amy Louise Pemberton, Nick Zano, & Matt Ryan all star in the CW DC series.
The 13th episode goes something like.... Gary lands in 30,000 B.C. while blending in with the cavepeople and creates a door to return to the manor. He tells the others about Alun.
They learn that Gwyn traveled to 1916 Mametz Wood, France and died at the fixed point. As Ava considers insemination, Gary deduces that Sara is pregnant (due to her part-Kriblix biology) and her regenerative abilities transfer to the baby.
The Legends travel to before Gwyn's death, but are intercepted by an apathetic Gideon who tells them to leave. Astra and Spooner convince Gideon to turn against Computer Gideon and she disables the Waverider's cloaking, making Computer Gideon an anomaly, so she self-destructs in the Temporal Zone.
Astra uses her magical abilities to shield all of them in the Zone and successfully puts the Waverider back together again. Meanwhile, the others meet with a Fixer named Miker. Gwyn states that anyone attempting to change the battle would be erased in a time paradox making Mike feel useless. So he freezes time, destroys Gwyn's machine, and escapes alone in the Waverider to talk to his superiors.
In the ensuing battle, Nate rescues Alun, but is hit with mustard gas and loses his steel abilities. That night, Sara reveals her pregnancy and Nate retires to the Wind Totem.
Mike (who reveals himself as Booster Gold) returns with the Waverider, but he and the Legends are then arrested for their time-related crimes by the Time Police.
With Nate departing AKA Nick Zano, some happy/closing endings, the series really did feel like it was winding up.
To be honest the last three seasons felt like the end was here. Is it finally time for the Legends to hang up their boots? Will The CW continue their love of DC series? With Batwoman, Stargirl, The Flash and the latest Superman and Lois all with their fates up in the air, I may get back some time on my TV dance card.
Time will tell.
Until next time, I may be seeing a movie in the DC world next!!!
PS - Batwoman (yesterday) and LOT air/stream on Binge/Foxtel in Australia
With the sale of The CW looming, the third season of Batwoman, could be the last.
It was tied up very neatly in the final episode (the unlucky 13th) We Having Fun Yet. Continuing in season three Javicia Lesliereprises her role as Ryan Wilder / Batwoman, with Rachel Skarsten, Meagan Tandy, Nicole Kang, Camrus Johnson, Robin Givens, Victoria Cartagena, and Nick Creegan.
Dougray Scott did not return as Jacob Kane. New series regulars for the third season, as Jada Jet, Renee Montoya, and Marquis Jet, respectively; Cartagena had previously played Montoya on Fox's Gotham.
The final episode of the potentially ill fated third season finale.
At Amusement Mile, Marquis enters Joker's old hideout. He broadcasts to Gotham City that he will be namedropping Batwoman's identity later tonight.
Ryan works with Jada to use the bar as a temporary lair to counter Marquis' plot. After Mary's visit to a destabilizing Alice, Ryan visits her as Alice mentions the information that was previously mentioned between the inmates.
Luke and Mary find out that Marquis is going to dispense Joker's acid on the city using the Batblimp. As Batwoman goes to confront Marquis, Luke and Sophie sneak into the Batcave where they use the hypnotic umbrella used by Penguin to get everyone away from the target area. Batwoman fights Marquis where they fall off the Batblimp.
With help from Alice, Batwoman uses the joy buzzer on Marquis. Luke redirects the Batblimp to a desolate part of Gotham City with the Lucius Fox A.I. sacrificing itself to do so. Marquis is now acting normal. Alice ditches her blonde hair and leaves Gotham City.
At the sight of the explosion, a hazmat suit-wearing Dana DeWitt advises the citizens to stay away from the area as her news crew is attacked by a mangled figure with exposed bones.
TVline does a nice recap of the finale too. Also who is the new bad guy/creature at the end of the episode?
Season three was (like season two) and improvement on season one, however the show is not rating well, The CW usually announces its shows future in January/February. Plus the growing number of shows have ended already. Legends of Tomorrow, the 4400, Nancy Drew along with Batwoman. All shows overnight get less than 500,000 viewers an episode.
We will soon see if Batwoman continues for a fourth season by the end of May. I for one would continue watching, however I am not sure how many more will be?
1883 consisted of ten episodes, concluding on February 27, 202, The Yellowstone prequel (now confirmed) as a limited series, but will be followed by the sequel series 1932. Which in my mind is a much better idea than 1883 season two.
Like the upcoming 6666 spinoff, the 1883 series is created by Taylor Sheridan, airing on Paramount+.
Yellowstone (along with its spin offs) has some star pulling power. Getting Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Sam Elliott, Isabel May, LaMonica Garrett, Marc Rissmann, Audie Rick, Eric Nelsen and James Landry Hébert to star in the pre 1900's western.
1883 is the story of how the Duttons came to own the land that would become the Yellowstone Ranch.
The finale really did tie up a number of loose ends. However any questions pending can be addressed when 1932 continues. I would love Yellowstone in the 1980's, so where will Yellowstone OG stories go next? 1950's, 1960's or 1970's?
6666 still has now premiere date, whilst Yellowstone may return late 2022, however who knows. Mr Taylor Sheridan is a busy man.
Paramount+ is starting to build a decent library of stories. With Sheridan on the books, the Showtime originals along with other acquisitions, the latest Australian streaming platform is actually worth getting excited about.
1883 had its moments. It packed a lot into 10 episodes. True grit, romance, determination and violence. If you liked Yellowstone or westerns, this will be for you. It's also a one and done season so you should be able to binge this in one full wet weekend. Happy Mardi Gras Sydney. As Gaga/Ariana said, Rain on Me!
Euphoria is the biggest series right now. I mentioned it in the office today, talk about a water cooler moment. Like MAFS this is the show literally everyone is watching right now.
HBO has a wildly huge hit on their hands here. Recently renewed for a third season, the series follows a group of high school students through their experiences of identity, trauma, drugs, friendships, love, and sex.
Starring a very different Zendaya, to the Spiderman Zendaya. She also serves as the series' narrator.
Indie musician Dominic Fike joined this season whilst Maude Apatow, Angus Cloud, Eric Dane, Alexa Demie, Jacob Elordi, Barbie Ferreira, Nika King, Storm Reid, Hunter Schafer, Algee Smith, Sydney Sweeney, Colman Domingo, Javon "Wanna" Walton & Austin Abrams also star.
The series premiered on June 16, 2019. In July 2019, the series was renewed for a second season, preceded by two one-hour specials broadcast in December 2020 and January 2021.
The second season premiered on January 9, 2022, following two one-hour specials broadcast in December 2020 and January 2021.
There were moments of the second season I had no idea what was going on. Episodes 7 & 8 were interesting as a very raw school play.
Rue & Jules really are in for a rough ride ahead of season three. Lord knows when that will air. It has been a long time between drinks of season one and two. With COVID restrictions now easing worldwide, maybe a third season can get filmed a lot sooner than this second season.
Of all the three HBO finales from Sunday I think this was my least favourite. I still liked Somebody, Somewhere a lot more.
Euphoria airs on Binge/Foxtel. Tomorrow it's time for Paramount Plus to shine with my fourth Sunday finale write up, 1883. That marks the end of the Summer Slack TV Finales series.
I was pumped for The Righteous Gemstones back in 2019. Season two took a little longer to arrive than once thought but on January 9, 2022 we got that killer double episode.
The series follows a famous yet dysfunctional family of televangelists. Starring McBride, John Goodman, Edi Patterson, Adam DeVine, Cassidy Freeman, Tony Cavalero, Tim Baltz, Skyler Gisondo, and Walton Goggins.
Last month the series was renewed for a third season by HBO. Thank god I say. The series like all HBO gems airs on Binge/Foxtel down under.
For me Edi Patterson is the scene stealer. As Judy, Patterson is sensational as the middle child with serious issues with her brother, her standing in the family, but also much of life in general.
The Righteous Gemstones like Somebody, Somewhere ended far too soon. I will be desperate for this A grade HBO comedy to return to our screens. The world needs comedy right now. So bring on season three. Make sure Judy has more killer lines in 2023!
