Hacks was renewed on the buzzer. Season four is coming baby!
Season three began streaming early May, with double episodes on Stan each week, until this morning when episode Bulletproof streamed.
Season three continued in Vegas with dynamic duo, lead by Deborah Vance (Smart) riding high off the success of her stand-up special, while Ava (Einbinder) pursues new opportunities back in Los Angeles.
However Deborah and Ava are quickly reunited, kickstarting a new chapter of the women’s complicated personal and professional relationship.
The cast was on point this season. Joining Smart and Einbinder, Megan Stalter, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Kaitlin Olson, Jane Adams, J. Smith-Cameron, Helen Hunt, Mark Indelicato, Rose Abdoo, Lorenza Izzo and Christopher McDonald.
Season 3 also saw some fun guests, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Hendricks, Dan Bucatinsky and Tony Goldwyn.
I have loved the series since it started. Stan did well to pick up this Las Vegas romp!
It had been a long wait since HBO Max renewed the series for a third season back in June 2022.
By September 2022, the showrunners revealed that a time jump would take place between the second and third season.
Production began for the third season in November 2022 and production paused near the end of February 2023 for a few weeks before resuming in March due to Jean Smart recovering from a successful heart procedure.
Then, production shut down in May 2023 due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike.
So here is hoping we don't have to wait as long for the fourth season.
HBO Max have been a bit guilty of killing comedy series after two seasons, so maybe Hacks will be around for a while.
Helen Hunt really was a fun addition to the series too. Honestly Hacks is brilliant TV. The ups and downs between Smart and Einbinder is so addictive. Oh and that last twist, scene at the end of Bulletproof, MEOW!
Loot is one of Apple TV+'s best shows currently streaming. Season two just concluded, so pleas for the love of Steve Jobs renew it for a third!
We continue to follow 45-year-old Molly Wells (Maya Rudolph), whose divorce from her tech billionaire ex-husband has made her the third-wealthiest woman in the world, as she decides to run the day-to-day of the charitable foundation she forgot she founded, much to its employees' chagrin.
Alongside Rudolph, we have Pose superstar, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, the brilliant plus handsome AF Joel Kim Booster, Ron Funches, & Nat Faxon.
The second season, only commenced at the start if last month, however the ten episodes have whizzed past again!
The feel good hit has even got my mother and 89 year old father on board as fans. This season has been a lot of fun.
We had the Handmaid's Tale O-T Fagbenle join as Isaac, while seeing Benjamin Bratt play himself, at a wellness retreat. Also a love interest for Molly!
Tony Hawk also made a cameo whilst, in the final couple of episodes, Ana Gasteyer as was brilliant as fellow billionaire Grace .
In a Cozzie Living crisis of such, it's hard watching billionaires on the small screen, however this show is so warm and fun, you can't help but return each and every Wednesday.
Apple TV+ is building a nice little library of good series right now. They could be the small streamer to watch!
In the finale, Molly and the Wells Foundation are on the precipice of major success; the team faces big personal decisions. Sadly the series has not yet renewed, however the ending completely leaves the series open for more fun with Molly Wells and her motley crew.
Please Apple TV+ renew this hoot of a series! Brilliant!
The Veil is another thriller/spy limited series, starring Elisabeth Moss and Yumna Marwan.
The series premiered on FX/Hulu in the USA, while in Australia it came to Disney late April.
The Veil is about a potentially deadly game of truth and lies as two women travel from Istanbul to Paris and London, with one of them possessing a secret that the other needs to expose.
Episode one kicks off with Adilah El Idrissi (Yumna Marwan), first seen at a refugee camp, faces imminent danger due to her alleged ties to ISIS.
Imogen Salter (Elisabeth Moss), posing as an NGO worker, forms an unexpected alliance with Adilah, aiming to protect her from a mob seeking revenge.
Meanwhile, suspicions arise about Imogen's true motives, leading to tension with her UNICRI contact, Guy.
As Imogen and Adilah embark on a perilous journey, their backgrounds and motivations come to light, revealing a complex web of personal and political intrigue. Adilah's identity is questioned by French intelligence, setting the stage for a high-stakes confrontation.
So the stage is set for Moss to shine whilst we wait for the final season of the Handmaid's Tale.
In the end, Imogen hopes to get some answers by taking Adilah to England to see Michael (James Purefoy). By the end of the six episodes though I had tuned out of this Homeland style, who is good, who is bad spy thriller.
Aussie Dan Wyllie also has a a starring role in the first few episodes as Guy, Imogen's United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) contact.
The globe trotting spy romp looks amazing, however this wasn't my favourite miniseries/limited series of the year (or even quarter).
The open ended ending, also made me think, was FX thinking this could be Moss's next role once the final season of The Handmaid's Tale finally lands?
Either way The Veil streams now on Disney+ right now!
The Sympathizer (Vietnamese: Cảm tình viên) is a miniseries based on the 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Viet Thanh Nguyen.
Cảm tình viên premiered on HBO (following previous miniseries The Regime) mid-April .
Produced by the powerhouse team A24 and Rhombus Media.
Cảm tình viên is based on the story of the Captain, a North Vietnam plant in the South Vietnam army. He is forced to flee to the United States with his general near the end of the Vietnam War. While living within a community of South Vietnamese refugees, he continues to secretly spy on the community and report back to the Viet Cong, struggling between his original loyalties and his new life.
So has HBO had a strong start to 2024? Well I wasn't 100% impressed by the long awaited return of True Detective: Night Country. The Regime missed the mark for me with it's attempt at comedy while The Sympathizer aimed high, impressed critics but I am sure HBO are excited that mid next month, the House of Dragon returns for it's long awaited second run.
The Sympathizer aimed for the heights, event getting Robert Downey Jr. in several roles. Some more bizarre than others. There was Claude, a CIA agent who mentors the Captain. Professor Robert Hammer, the Captain's Orientalist grad school professor along with Ned Godwin, a Congressman in Southern California trying to appeal to the local Vietnamese American population.
Lastly there was Niko Damianos, an auteur filmmaker making a film on the Vietnam War, based on Francis Ford Coppola.
Australian Hoa Xuande as the Captain, really was the centre of the entire series. From the end of the war, fall of Saigon to his trip to the USA.
The fall of Saigon, airport, runway scene at the start of the seven episode run, was truly epic.
This was the best miniseries/short running series HBO has given us this year. You can catch all episodes streaming now on Binge.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga opened on Thursday. Lucky I had a day off Friday, so I could head to one of Sydney's busiest suburbs, Burwood to catch the post-apocalyptic action adventure film.
This is the fifth instalment in the Mad Max franchise, serving as both a spin-off and prequel to 2015 film, Mad Max: Fury Road.
Focusing on the character Imperator Furiosa, (portrayed by Charlize Theron in the 2015 film), now played by Anya Taylor-Joy and Alyla Browne as younger versions of Furiosa.
Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Lachy Hulme, John Howard (not that Australian tracksuit wearing little Johnny), Angus Sampson, Charlee Fraser, alongside piles of talented extras and stunt folks.
Principal photography took place in Australia from in 2022. The film received highly positive reviews, with critics praising Miller's direction, screenplay, action sequences, musical score, cinematography, and the performances of the cast (particularly Taylor-Joy, Hemsworth, and Browne).
First up though, this film is long. You all know my thoughts on long films!
However the action sequences are wild, eye catching, large in scale, the kind of sequences that must be seen on the big screen. Hemsworth playing a villain was wild. He seemed to have so much fun in this role.
Not to mention how fit as hell he is.
Australian made pure big budget action powerhouse Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga might well save the US summer/Aussie winter film season, after fellow Aussie filmed, The Fall Guy has been less than successful.
I enjoyed this film, however the run time was an issue. 3 Stars.
I was late to Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire (or simply Interview with the Vampire), I have had a break from vampires since the conclusion of True Blood and the Twilight film series.
Airing in the USA on AMC, however in Australia, you can stream it for free now on iView. That's the ABC.
Based on the 1976 novel and elements from The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice. Starring hunky AF Jacob Anderson as Louis de Pointe du Lac and Aussie (fellow ABC The Newsreader star) Sam Reid as Lestat de Lioncourt.
The first season begins with the vampire Louis recounting his past life and tumultuous relationship with the vampire Lestat. Embracing the queer elements of Rice's work, which are only insinuated in the 1994 film adaptation of the novel, and deals with themes such as race and abuse.
This is the first series set in the Immortal Universe, a shared universe based on Rice's novels. I am also looking into starting the Mayfair Witches this winter.
The AMC Networks also purchased the rights to intellectual property encompassing 18 of Rice's novels in 2020.
Interview with the Vampire was renewed for an eight-episode second season in September 2022, ahead of the premiere of its first season on October 2, 2022. The second season just commenced. I am desperately hoping it lands on ABC iView once it's done on whatever streaming platform it lives on for it's first play.
The first season centres on the life story of vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac, as told to veteran journalist Daniel Molloy, to whom he previously gave an unpublished interview in 1973.
An affluent black man in the 1910s New Orleans, Louis is romanced and later made a vampire by the charismatic Lestat de Lioncourt. But Louis struggles with his humanity, and the introduction of Lestat's newest fledgling, the teenage vampire Claudia, only strains their relationship further. At present, Daniel begins to doubt the veracity of Louis' story, noting differences from the earlier version.
In the first seasons finale, The Thing Lay Still, the vampires' eccentricity and agelessness have attracted increased attention, so Lestat decides they should leave New Orleans.
Claudia manipulates Lestat into throwing an elaborate Mardi Gras ball before they leave. In the present, Louis explains to Daniel that there are several ways to "kill" a vampire, including starvation, decapitation, fire, and drinking the blood of the dead.
At the ball, the vampires choose a handful of guests to be slaughtered and drained afterward. Claudia tells Louis that she has drugged one of them with laudenum and arsenic.
As Lestat is poised to drink from the tainted man, he reveals that Antoinette, now a vampire, has warned him of their plan, but he suddenly collapses.
A triumphant Claudia explains that she knew Antoinette was trailing her, and that she also poisoned Tom Anderson, from whom Lestat has already drunk. Louis slits Lestat's throat, and he and Claudia leave Lestat's corpse in a trunk to be thrown in the city dump.
In the present, Daniel accuses Louis of leaving Lestat somewhere full of rats as a means to save him. Louis reveals that Rashid is actually the ancient vampire Armand and the love of his life.
So bring on season two in my opinion! So excited. I loved how racy this season was as well. Aussie Sam Reid really was lucky getting to pash on with Jacob Anderson. Anderson is a total babe!
I almost thought this was more sexy than True Blood with Ryan Kwanten being all gay bait. I have to say I didn't imagine I would enjoy another vampire series, this much!
The Cleaning Lady dodged a bullet before Fox announced it's 2024-2025 lineup. However there is a twist. We won't see the series until at least early 2025. That said, Fox rested 9-1-1: Lone Star along with Accused. I am however looking forward to the new Fox series, Rescue: HI-Surf next TV season. Which does sound like a fresh reworking of Baywatch.
Speaking of apparently Baywatch is getting rebooted. Oh boy!
This third season, was one of the longest of all the US network series I watched this disjointed, post writers/actors strike season. At 12 episodes it did feel bloated. The season premiered early March, concluding with a double finale, streaming last night on Binge.
So fingers crossed Binge scores the rights to fellow Fox series, Rescue: HI-Surf towards the end of the year.
With a fourth season coming in the future, we will have some new cast members joining. Following mid season Arman (Adan Canto) perishing in a car crash, following lead star Adan Canto passing away before the season began.
In Fight or Flight the first half of The Cleaning Lady‘s third season finale, we get get another casualty,
Arman’s wife, Nadia (Eva De Dominici).
Nadia was stabbed by cartel bo$$ Ramona, her demise came just as she was finally getting out from under the cartel’s thumb and starting a new life somewhere else.
Also, Thony and Fiona helped Nadia hide from the cartel and got her the resources she’d need for a truly successful fresh start; Thony even revealed to Jorge that Nadia was still alive, and Jorge agreed to transfer Nadia the money that she would have collected from their joint business venture if her death hadn’t been faked.
Nadia now, with her substantial fortune, a passport with the name Natalie Vasquez and identity-concealing blonde wig, Nadia drove out to an open field with Thony.
A helicopter arrived for her to begin new life. But the helicopter that touched down wasn’t Nadia’s ride, after all. Instead, Ramona stepped out of the chopper, having discovered that Nadia was in fact still alive.
Ramona reminded Nadia that she’d given her quite a few chances to be part of the cartel and, by extension, Ramona’s family. But Nadia replied that she had no interest in that life once she knew Ramona was responsible for Arman’s fate.
Ramona drove a knife into Nadia’s stomach, and Thony was pulled away from Nadia as she attempted to save her.
Before Nadia bled out, she urged Thony to get revenge on Ramona.
As the second episode for this seasons finale House of Cards begun, we could have potentially been watching the finale ever episode.
In which, Ramona was ultimately arrested at a major charity gala she was hosting, leaving Jorge to run the cartel in his sister’s absence. Having worked more closely than ever with Thony during the final two episodes of season three, Jorge offered her a position within the cartel, since she’d no longer have to worry about her or her family’s safety.
We leave season three with Thony & the extended family at home, rightfully enjoying some hard-earned relaxation. Camila was also reunited with her mom, both rescued from the cartel’s workforce.
Finally, Luca handed Thony a gift box he’d found addressed to her at the back door. In a separate room, Thony and Fiona opened the box to find a cell phone sitting inside; the attached note read, “Thony, I have a job for you,” and came from a man named Derek, who we’ve yet to see on screen but was repeatedly mentioned by Ramona as one of her close contacts.
“What are you going to do?” Fiona asked Thony, who dropped the phone back in its box as it rang with a call from an unknown number. Thony shook her head and replied, “Not this time.”
So should The Cleaning Lady called it a day following Adan Canto's passing along with declining storylines? It should ideally wrap up next season when it returns in 2025. The series started out fun, however I feel its storylines are now coming to run their course. We will see where the series ends up when it returns.
The Equalizer's Shattered, the season finale, for me, almost felt like a series finale. With main stars leaving New York City or The Equalizer group of crime fighters.
However last month the series was renewed for a fifth season. The renewal post on the TV site I read, had some very unexcited comments for the return of the Queen Latifah lead series.
Most people were curious why NCIS: Hawaiʻi was cancelled and The Equalizer was saved. Look it's a solid question. This series has been on cruise control for a minute.
The short sharp ten episode season was refreshing following the last two drawn out 18 episode all filler, hardly any killer seasons.
Robyn McCall (Queen Latifah) has only one cliffhanger leading into (in my mind) the fifth and it's gotta be final season. Will see train Delilah (Laya DeLeon Hayes) to join her squad, given Mel has essentially handed in her notice.
With zero cliffhangers, a love interest heading to the West Coast after seasons of heat between Robyn and Dante (Tory Kittles), it really feels like post strike, the writers knew CBS has a packed schedule, this show has been dipping in ratings following 60 minutes, then the numbers/ratings go back up for Tracker, the new series screening later on a US Sunday evening.
Now I will see any show to the bitter end, however CBS, come on with Fire Country getting a spin-off, SWAT uncanceled, with a big online fan base, if you need to clean house next season, maybe do the right thing, and give The Equalizer a rest. The film series is done. Maybe it's time the TV series follows and calls it a day.
61st Street is a sleeper hit that now lives on Stan. The second season commenced streaming last July, 4, on Stan, while the series is yet to air in the USA. The CW is set to screen the now dropped AMC series, as part of cost-cutting measures announced in December 2022.
This comes after a solid first season which aired originally in April 2022.
The legal series created by Peter Moffat (Your Honor) begins with Moses Johnson, a promising, black high school athlete, is swept up into the infamously corrupt Chicago criminal justice system.
Taken by the police as a supposed gang member, Johnson finds himself and his lawyer Franklin Roberts in the eye of the storm as police and prosecutors seek revenge for the death of an officer during a drug bust gone wrong.
The series stars Courtney B. Vance in the lead role, while also starring Tosin Cole, Bentley Green, Holt McCallany, Aunjanue Ellis, Killian Scott, and Andrene Ward-Hammond, Jerod Haynes and Mark O'Brien as Officer Logan.
The first season goes deep into the death of the officer while season two goes deep into another court case investigating the misconduct of the Chicago Police Department.
Why AMC decided to ditch this after a solid first season, is beyond me, however it will need to be heavily edited to appear on The CW. With some rather fruity language along the way.
AMV has longed ridden on the coattails of The Walking Dead franchise, with little other programming. Now getting a bump with the Anne Rice novels, with Interview with the Vampire just entering its second season. I am currently watching the seven episode first sexy season, free on ABC iView.
Along with Interview with the Vampire, Mayfair Witches also airs now on the network. Let's hope they continue to branch out a little wider after relying on zombies for way too long now.
Good on Stan though for seeing value in 61st Street. Like The Chi and Shameless before it. We get to see all sides of Chicago. This series however focuses on the mistreatment of black folks in the Chicago suburbs, which was clearly inspired by George Floyd.
The USA is more divided than ever. After watching multiple series from Chicago (including hit series, The Bear) it is a proud city, with multiple issues facing it.
61st Street is way more high brow than the previous LA legal series I binged, Reasonable Doubt, with Courtney B. Vance delivering a solid leading performance.
Fire Country has just concluded its second season on Paramount+ in Australia. The week to week series lands on a Saturday afternoon. Providing easy on eye and brain viewing. The series stars the hunky Max Thieriot as Bode Donovan.
This (shortened) season we also were served a proposed spin-off of Fire Country would be introduced via back-door pilot episode.
Morena Baccarin plays Mickey Fox in the Alert the Sheriff episode. CBS now have a jump start on their 2025-2026 season with the series heading into production. The series was later titled Sheriff Country. So keep an eye out for that in the future. So it's a given in March 2024, the series was renewed for a third season. Most likely a longer season (like the first) of 22 or so episodes.
Dynasty's, Rafael de la Fuente joined the cast in a recurring capacity for the second season. This has created a real love triangle to continue through the third season.
I Do is the season finale, where Bode Donovan now free from the Three Rock, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire program. Leaves the wedding requesting to be a full time firefighter.
We had minimal cliffhangers with this sweet wedding ending season ender, however the third season is set with a love triangle, a child to be returned to her legit baby daddy and the father of the bride possibly heading to prison. I know it's a SOAP firefighting drama right!
Alert the Sheriff maybe was the best episode of the season, however overall as a show I was late to, this is easily one of the best network series currently airing. Therefore I expect it to rate fairly OK in my Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24' RATED post coming in early July. Yes Winter is Cumin', it's now fully jumper season. So why not warm up with a soapy, sexy, fire fighting drama series with a healthy side of romance. Kinda sounds like a Mills & Boon novel right?
Based on the original 2008 film, The Strangers: Chapter 1 is relaunching a new standalone trilogy.
Starring Riverdale's Cherry Blossum, Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez star as a couple who come into contact with the three psychopathic masked strangers while on a road trip.
With a very B grade cast, Gabriel Basso and Ema Horvath also star alongside the Riverdale alum.
So I hate a film, leaving with the words, to be continued, however Chapter 2 is expected to be released later in 2024, while Chapter 3 is still awaiting a release date.
Maya drives across the country with her longtime boyfriend, Ryan, for their road trip celebrating their five-year anniversary. Along the way, their car breaks down in Venus, Oregon and they are forced to spend the night in an isolated Airbnb home. Through the night, they are terrorized by three murderous masked strangers.
It is all by the number jump scares alongside tension builders for the entire 90 minutes. Yes it does not over stay it's welcome. It's short, sharp while not being to the point. As we leave the cinema with zero conclusion.
Madelaine Petsch is set to star in the next two chapters, however her onscreen boyfriend Ryan, may not return.
Horror is still king on the big screen in 2024, however how many more remakes and sequels can we, the audience take?
This wasn't perfect, I vaguely remember seeing the 2008 Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman original film, but never caught the maybe straight to DVD sequel, The Strangers: Prey at Night.
Now it's a huge TV finale week ahead, so there will likely be no cinema posts. We have Fire Country, The Cleaning Lady, The Equalizer while Abbott Elementary's third season concludes too, hopefully meaning it lands on Disney+.
Tomorrow, first up you will read about Fire Country's explosive season two finale, ahead of it's third season landing later in 2024, while in 2025 a spin-off will also land.
For now though, The Strangers: Chapter 1, gets a passable 2.5 stars. I had a good sleep and feel generous LOL
What on Earth was Sugar on Apple TV+? Well it concluded only yesterday, whereas I started watching the eight part first season earlier in the week.
It's described as a mystery drama series, however as the episodes roll on, things get trippy. Like really trippy. Spoilers below the trailer, so be warned if you haven't watched this Colin Farrell series.
Elsewhere it has been described as "a genre-bending contemporary take on the private detective story set in Los Angeles". It also has an element of a love story to Hollywood kinda vibe. So in the finale titled Farewell, we get some closure, however will there be a second season? I kinda felt like this had miniseries vibes? Also Colin Farrell is in demand right?
So in Farewell, Sugar (Colin Farrell) finds Olivia in the cabinet, hurt but alive. He returns her to Melanie and her father and grandfather, and notifies the police.
Afterwards, Miller is stopped by a cop while driving and is shot and killed. Sugar meets Ruby and Henry, asking the latter for a CD player, and starts listening to the senator's son's recordings about his torture and murder sessions.
Sugar visits Jonathan, and apologizes to David's mother. Jonathan wants to hire him as chief of security, but he politely declines, and gives him the photos.
Jonathan admits that he had a short relationship with Rachel, Bernie's first wife, confirming that Olivia is his daughter, not Bernie's. After leaving his dog with Melanie, he says goodbye to her, and breaking rules, briefly reveals his alien eyes to her. He also reveals he became a PI after his sister has been taken, and never found.
As he continues to listen to the recording, he suddenly realizes that the killer was not alone. Talking to Olivia, she says she never saw the second person's face, nor heard him talk, but he has been writing notes all the time.
This makes Sugar realize the accomplice was Henry. He drives back to Ruby's place, where Henry calls him on the phone, confirming this. He states he did it to learn from humans, and decides he will stay on Earth.
Before breaking the call, he tells Sugar he left rose petals for him - the petals lead to a cupboard which contains the clothes of Djen, Sugar's sister. Sugar meets Ruby at the departure point, who confirms they knew about the experiments with the killer, which was Henry's idea, but not about Djen.
Despite the likelihood that his sister is already dead, Sugar decides to stay behind as Henry is their people's responsibility, and departs to find him.
Sugar also stars Kirby, Amy Ryan, Dennis Boutsikaris, Alex Hernandez, Lindsay Pulsipher, Anna Gunn, James Cromwell, Nate Corddry, Sydney Chandler, Miguel Sandoval, Elizabeth Anweis and Jason Butler Harner. It's a big cast with James Cromwell stealing scenes he appears in.
Apple TV+ has really given us some quality shows over the past few months, with Loot wrapping it's brilliant second season real soon.
Till next time. Stay dry Sydney, yes it's raining AGAIN!
Shelved is a sweet little Canadian sitcom that just landed on Binge. Despite premiering in O Canada back in March, 2023 on CTV. Oh CTV how I miss you from my Vancouver days!
Back in the day I was lucky enough to intern on the Vicki Gabereau show on CTV, in downtown Vancouver.
Anyway that is history.
Shelved is a fun, little workplace comedy that follows the employees and patrons of the fictional Metropolitan Public Library's Jameson Branch.
Not located in Vancouver, but in the working-class neighbourhood Parkdale, Toronto, Ontario.
The eight part first series stars Lyndie Greenwood as branch head Wendy. Paul Braunstein as assistant branch head Bryce de Laurel, the toxic male figure in a very woke series, Dakota Ray Hebert as junior librarian Jacqueline "Jaq" Bedard, Chris Sandiford as senior librarian Howard Tutt, Robin Duke as Wendy "Unhoused Wendy" Brown, a regular library patron and self-described "wackadoo", Taylor Love as Sheila Boyd, a caring community leader and law student working part time at the Settlement Desk along with less frequent Varun Saranga as Alvin Canada, an entrepreneur and freelance business consultant.
When I say woke, this series also tackles social issues such as drag story time, homelessness, where Wendy is referred to as unhoused. Now back to Vancouver, homeless folks lined the streets, I worked for AIDS Vancouver at a food drop in. Like in Sydney where I have done Youth off the Streets, however the Vancouver drop in, was busy day in, day out, every shift.
In Sydney it's more seasonal.
So that is enough reflecting on my time in Vancouver. CTV will you give this well meaning, social aware, very Canadian series a second season?
It's been over a year since the Toronto based series aired, so I am nervous this is a one and done. Also Canada what's happening with Sky Med?
Shelved currently streams on Binge. It actually just landed. So thanks Binge for giving this Canadian, light and fluffy comedy a go!
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is the fourth installment in the Planet of the Apes reboot franchise. Acting as a standalone sequel to War for the Planet of the Apes (2017).
Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon, and Shameless king, William H. Macy all star in this king sized adventure film.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes takes place 300 years after the events of War and follows a young chimpanzee named Noa, who embarks on a journey alongside a human woman named Mae to determine the future for apes and humans alike. Many generations after Caesar's death, apes have established numerous clans, while humans have become feral.
Noa, a chimpanzee from a falconry-practicing ape clan, prepares for a coming-of-age ceremony by collecting eagle eggs with his friends Anaya and Soona.
However, a human scavenger follows Noa home and inadvertently cracks his egg during a scuffle before fleeing.
While searching for a replacement egg, Noa encounters a group of ape raiders using electric weapons. As Noa hides from them, the apes follow his horse back to his clan. Noa hurries home to find his village burning; the raider leader Sylva kills Noa's father before knocking Noa unconscious.
Filming occurred in October 2022 in Sydney, concluding last February.
The sequel/reboot, lead film for a new trilogy has received generally positive reviews. However the run time for me was completely off. I found myself looking at my watch a little too much.
The latest Apes film has grossed over $141 million worldwide. However the session I was in on a nicer Thursday evening in Sydney, only had 8 people in it. Is the cinema in trouble? Has the quality of films, along with streaming, post COVID, cozi living issues, really starting to bite now?
Or was Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, just not a great film.
I will pass it for the emotions you feel and see on the Apes, however it just wasn't as good as previous films. Maybe a new trilogy is just not required. Or maybe rest the franchise for a bit.
Such Brave Girls is now officially a BAFTA award winning show!
The UK are delivering a number of little comedies right now on Stan at present. Unlike Big Mood, this sitcom is laugh out loud funny. Sadly for Big Mood, these series both landed on Stan around the same time, which makes it easier to compare them.
Such Brave Girls is about a dysfunctional single-parent family created by Kat Sadler for BBC Three.
Starring Sadler, alongside Louise Brealey and Lizzie Davidson.
The brilliant studio A24 also has a hand in this series, whilst in the USA it streams on Hulu. Great news for me, as I watched the entire six episodes in one weekend, it is renewed for a second series already! Praise Be!
Creator, Sadler has described the series as being a “family sitcom about trauma”, but that it’s also about “being narcissistic losers who are pathetically obsessed with what people think about us.”
This was such an easy watch. From in between Mother's Day events to concluding this early Monday morning before work, Such Brave Girls is officially one of the funniest laugh out loud comedies of 2024.
If you look raw, say it has it is comedy, give this one a red hot crack. So log onto Stan right now, get streaming! So get cracking, let's hope season two lands later this year. Brilliant!
After the Party is currently airing 8:30pm Sunday on ABC, or all episodes are now streaming on iView.
The New Zealand six-part drama TV series co-created by Robyn Malcolm and Dianne Taylor, also stars Malcolm as the lead with Peter Mullan.
The miniseries/one season wonder series aired back in October last year in the NZ, on TVNZ.
After the Party follows, partly through flashbacks, a family crisis that evolves following a drunken party, at which mother and grandmother Penny Wilding (Robyn Malcolm) sees something which causes her to accuse her husband, Phil (Peter Mullan), in front of all of the guests, of inappropriate behaviour.
The show begins when Phil returns to town after having been overseas for five years, to see his daughter, Grace, and grandson Walt.
The series also stars Tara Canton, Dean O’Gorman and Catherine Wilkin. Malcolm has said that there will not be a second series.
After the Party gives the viewers a question to answer across the six episodes. Do you believe Penny or not? You shift your opinion across the episodes, however episode six drops a real truth bomb! No spoilers here.
This was absolutely terrific! For my RATED post (coming in July) for the Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24' series, After the Party will feature definitely in the top 10!
Across the six episodes, flashback scenes are used to explore with the at the party, leading toe Penny's stubborn, hot-tempered, flawed behaviour across the season.
Robyn Malcolm really delivers a killer performance. This was brilliant. I was hooked, powering through all six episodes easily. The ending was truly intense. Could this be the best drama out of the NZ ever?
BMF (Black Mafia Family) was one of my binges a while back, so when the third season commenced back at the start of March. At the very end of February, ahead of the third season premiere, the series was renewed for a fourth season. So possibly in 2025 there will be some more BMF on Stan.
2 Chainz and Ne-Yo landed in the third season, joining Demetrius Flenory Jr. as Demetrius "Meech" Flenory, Da'Vinchi as Terry "Southwest T" Flenory, Russell Hornsby as Charles Flenory and Michole Briana White as Lucille Flenory.
The season saw more bodies pile up across Atlanta and Miami. With a new villain, Henrietta (Ren King) alongside her father, former narcotics detective-turned-kingpin, Frank “Blaze” Andreas (Christoper B. Duncan).
It did become a little by the numbers, with so many characters just being shot, or worse right after being introduced to viewers.
Hopefully the potential move to Mexico, will bring back some more excitement across the fourth run of the US crime series.
BMF streams on Stan alongside the other Power series.
Until next time where I travel across the ditch to the Kiwi series After the Party.
I Love That for You could be the final ever half an hour comedy series on Showtime.
Starring Vanessa Bayer as Joanna Gold, an aspiring host for shopping channel SVN, who lies that her childhood cancer has returned in order to keep her job.
The story is inspired by Bayer's personal experience with childhood leukemia.
I clearly missed I Love That for You when it premiered in mid-2022.
Sadly last June, the series was canceled after one season. This was A grade workplace comedy at its finest. With an all-star cast alongside Bayer as Joanna Gold. We had Molly Shannon as Jackie Stilton, Paul James as Jordan Wahl, Ayden Mayeri as Beth Ann McGann, Matt Rogers as Darcy Leeds, Punam Patel as Beena Patel and queen bee, Jenifer Lewis as Patricia Cochran, CEO of SVN.
I throughly enjoyed all 8 episodes of this series buried amongst content on Stan.
I Love That for You will totally making this rain in Sydney feel a tiny bit better. It's fun, laugh out loud comedy that is over all too soon. Unlike a number of US shows, this totally did not stay long past it's used by date.
If you like comedy, like Molly Shannon, this is totally for you! Plus Paul James is hot AF!
Back in mid-April I saw this brilliant film for the first time. I gave it 4.5 stars back then. However I did miss the start of the film. Who was the president? Why was there a war in the USA? Who was I supposed to be rooting for? Was the president based on Trump?
So what did I miss? I know a lot of you have probably seen this by now. It's also the $12 movie of the week for Hoyts members. No excuses not to go now!
So in the parts I missed, a civil war has erupted between the United States government and regional factions. The president, in his third term, claims victory is close at hand. Renowned war photographer Lee Smith saves aspiring photojournalist Jessie Cullen from a suicide bombing in Brooklyn.
OK this movie (calling it early) may be my film of 2024. I have seen no other film thus far, I'd sit through for a second time.
Kirsten Dunst is incredible. The final scene at the White House is EPIC!
This film has it all. The action, the tension, the all star cast lead by Dunst. I have revisited my star rating below. Go geddit below the different trailer than my previous post.
Yep this film deserves, 5 solid stars. A terrifying look at a divided America which is currently (thanks to January 6th) showing signs of further fractions between Republicans and Democrat voters. Don't even think of adding the Independent voters into the mix. Or Robert Kennedy Jr fans.
Max (formerly HBO Max) has been pushing out content of late. While HBO is kinda dragging the chain with less than exciting titles this year, Max have given us Velma's second series recently (as a binge, also on Binge) while also giving us The Girls on the Bus finale this week.
Created by Amy Chozick and Julie Plec, inspired by Chozick's 2018 memoir Chasing Hillary. The series commenced mid-March on Binge. In Australia that is.
What's the hip, fictional take on Chasing Hillary all about? The 10 part first season, chronicles 4 female journalists who follow every move of a parade of flawed presidential candidates, while finding friendship, love, and scandal along the way.
Former Supergirl, Melissa Benoist stars as the lead Sadie McCarthy, a journalist for The New York Sentinel.
She is joined in this girl power series by, Natasha Behnam, Christina Elmore, Brandon Scott, Scott Foley, Griffin Dunne, Carla Gugino and Riverdale's Mark Consuelos.
Is a political comedy-drama really necessary in an election year? Maybe, maybe not, but it was actually a little bit of fun.
This could be one of the best pieces of work Greg Berlanti has done in recent years. Well Found was actually a bit of fun.
I must say, the way episode ten The Everydays ended really made me feel Max could have a second season in mind. I originally thought this would be a great idea for a miniseries.
That said, I enjoyed this week to week on Binge. It was heartwarming whilst wildly different from the other election/political/journalist moment of 2024. That is the brilliant film Civil War. Which in fact I saw again last night, so expect a new review soon.
When I said Max were pushing out content, as I type this I am almost halfway through season three (could it be the last?) of Hacks. The Sex Lives of College Girls is apparently coming back soon, while the Batman spin-off The Penguin is also landing later in 2024. While speaking of spin-off's, the Dune one, is also incoming.
So Max is performing way better than the OG parent, HBO. Well that is until The House of Dragon returns next month.
Palm Royale was said to be a ten-part period miniseries, however episode ten Maxine Throws a Party, ends on a Ricky Martin level cliffhanger.
Based on the 2018 novel Mr. & Mrs. American Pie by Juliet McDaniel, Palm Royale commenced late March, with the first three episodes on Apple TV+.
Apple TV+ is completely slaying of late. With Loot still screening weekly on Wednesday's, Sugar sounding sweet (next in line for me to watch) and Presumed Innocent incoming!
Palm Royale is in 1969, outsider Maxine Dellacorte-Simmons (Kristen Wiig) strives to attain a place in the high society of Palm Beach, Florida through the town's most exclusive country club, in the process learning what she will and won't do to achieve this.
Alongside Wiig, Laura Dern, Allison Janney, Leslie Bibb, Ricky Martin, Josh Lucas, Carol Burnett, Amber Chardae Robinson, Jordan Bridges, Kaia Gerber and Julia Duffy all star, in this comedy series.
Now I was truly hooked on this series when it first launched with three episodes at the end of May. Would it have worked better as a 30 minute, short, sharp comedy? Yes. Would a second season be watchable? Yes, but maybe take learnings from season one and make the second run a shorter running time.
Also the episode about the whale was a little random.
All that said Apple TV+ are doing brilliant work. Loot, Bad Sisters (where is season two?), Hijack, Shrinking, Platonic and my recent binge of Ted Lasso, makes this streaming service one of the most consistent across all streaming platforms.
Seriously decent content of late Apple TV+, great job! Palm Royale, may not be their best work, but Allison Janney, was a standout and Ricky Martin can actually act. Shake ya bon, bon or not!
2024 the year of supernatural/horror films continues with Tarot. Now if either there was a straight to DVD, straight to Paramount+ streaming, it would be Tarot.
Based on a 1992 novel, Horrorscope, by Nicholas Adams. Tarot stars Harriet Slater, Adain Bradley, Avantika Vandanapu, Wolfgang Novogratz, Humberly González, Larsen Thompson, and Jacob Batalon.
Tarot was so short and sweet. Roughly 90 minutes, which I will give it points for. However the ending was so abrupt, it was like the entire cast and crew contracted covid and they called the shoot.
With a small budget of only eight million, they will surely make some cash, however this was not a good film. Yes I jumped a few times at some jump scares, however some of the Tarot card characters coming to life was just too much.
Star rating below.
After The Fall Guy being a little disappointing, this was disappointing to have wasted my Tuesday evening. I did second guess seeing this film, I would have preferred Abigail, but with limited sessions, you can only do what you can only do.
Hopefully some more quality films like Civil War land soon. I am excited for the next Planet of the Apes. For now though, Tarot can only score, 1.5 lonely stars. The extra half a star is for the short and sharp running time!
Conversations with Friends is an Irish TV miniseries, however there are some Americans in the mix. Following Stan's Normal People in 2020, a series I watched deep in the thick of COVID times, this is another series based on the 2017 novel of the same name by the Irish author Sally Rooney.
Partnering with BBC Three & Hulu in association with RTÉ, Conversations with Friends was first broadcast on 15 May 2022. I have struggled to keep up with content on Amazon in Australia, so after a slow start, I smashed through all 12-episodes.
Using most of the creative team behind the adaptation of Rooney's second novel, Normal People, including Element Pictures, director Lenny Abrahamson, and co-writer Alice Birch, would be returning for this adaptation. The level of male nudity though dropped. Like a lot!
Never fear though, there is still sex galore. Male to female and lady on lady.
Starring Chad Michael Murray look-a-like Joe Alwyn, Girls queen, Jemima Kirke, Sasha Lane, and Alison Oliver.
Filming began in April 2021, in Northern Ireland. Locations include Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and Hvar, Croatia.
Notably the production included an intimacy coordinator, Ita O'Brien. After watching it, some of the scenes seriously needed this role!
So before I get into a quick summary of the 12th and final episode, is it worth a watch? Yes and no, it can be a little depressing but also romantic and beautiful all at once. If you enjoyed Normal People, you'll probably enjoy this.
In episode twelve, Frances (Alison Oliver) calls Melissa (Jemima Kirke) and realises the damage she has done to other people. She apologises to Bobbi (Sasha Lane) and says she loves her. They get back together again. Nick (Joe Alwyn) (accidentally) calls her. He misses her. She says "come and get me".
Then it just ends with another moody indie hit to close out the series.
Next up, this week we farewell the camp Palm Royale, the gangster BMF and political The Girls on the Bus. That will leave me loads of time next week to stream away! Tomorrow The Veil returns on Disney+. I am not sure about it, however I do love me some Elizabeth Moss!
The Fall Guy is a loosely based on the 1980s TV series about stunt performers. This time starring box office kings and queens, Ryan Gosling & Emily Blunt. Ted Lasso legend Hannah Waddingham joins the duo, alongside Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Teresa Palmer, Stephanie Hsu, and Winston Duke.
Directed by David Leitch and written by Drew Pearce, the film follows a stuntman working on his ex-girlfriend's directorial debut action film, only to find himself involved in a conspiracy surrounding the film's lead actor.
Sydney filmed The Fall Guy, has received generally positive reviews, and set a Guinness World Record for the most cannon rolls performed in a car.
Coming on the back of the school holidays, ANZAC Day, Easter and generally a holiday filled Easter, this film is the type the studio has high hopes to bring the big box office bucks in. Does it succeed though?
I just read a 2 star review on The Guardian, however it's honestly not that bad. It's just not as great as recent Sydney based rom-com Anyone But You. That film had real heart and a killer soundtrack. This film just has a Taylor Swift tune and that annoying I Was Made For Loving You, playing over and over again.
All in all though, The Fall Guy has some fun moments, a load of pop culture references while providing an insight into the behind the scenes legends who make films actually look real!
It wasn't my favourite film of this strange post strike, horror filled 2024 at the cinema. However it could have probably been better. The soundtrack for me was a real let down. Hannah Waddingham's wig/hair was also nowhere near as striking as the blonde bombshell she rocks in Ted Lasso.
I'm going to be kind and pass this film. 2.5 Stars for a locally made hit with loads of Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge shots. Literally this is a Destination NSW wet dream!
Velma is back for a second season. After the first season's overwhelmingly negative audience reception, season two landed (in its entirety) on Anzac Day.
Yes I am catching up after a number of seasons like HBO Max's fellow series Hacks just returned, along with Disney+ giving us The Veil with Elizabeth Moss.
So will HBO Max (or is it just Max now?) continue the adult animated series based on the character Velma Dinkley from the Scooby-Doo franchise?
Featuring the voices of Mindy Kaling, Sam Richardson, Constance Wu and Glenn Howerton.
So how's the plot wrap in the second season? SPOILERS AHEAD!
Knowing Uncle Scoobi is watching her every move, Velma and Daphne swap bodies and pose as each other for the remainder of the investigation, getting a feel for how they're perceived by other people.
Uncle Scoobi sees through this ruse and incapacitates both, threatening to shoot Daphne after they escape. Velma deduces that their true identity is Sophie, who has been an undercover soldier the whole time and concealed her identity so her male superiors would take her seriously.
Meanwhile, Norville and Lola discover that Dr. Purdue has the popular girls' bodies, and is planning to implant her brain into one to get out of hiding in exchange for doing the same for Scrappy.
Having a change of heart, however, she puts the girls' brains back in their bodies. Upon being betrayed, Scrappy crashes the double wedding and fatally wounds Velma, but ends up dying after Velma's ghost possesses his body.
Dr. Purdue is unable to restore Velma's body, but Amber reveals they can revive her with magic, albeit only on Halloween night after finding a spell that works.
It ends (sort of) on a cliffhanger, however I would be highly surprised if Max (yep it is just Max now) gave this a third run. So many previous Max comedy titles got two seasons then the chop. The Flight Attendant, Love Life, Made of Love (that's a lot of love titles), Minx (technically one season, one season on Starz), Rap Sh!t from HBO darling Issa Rae and recently Our Flag Means Death. Only Hacks, the upcoming return of The Sex Lives of College Girls and the change of And Just Like That... from a miniseries to a series, have made it to season three.
So the odds are on a cancellation for little old Velma.
Either way it streams on Binge in Australia. The Sex Lives of College Girls returns this year on Binge, while And Just Like That... like a number of mothership HBO titles returns in 2025.
Stay dry this weekend Sydney. I currently have three pairs of shoes out due to the wet weather LOL
Chucky continues as the eighth main instalment of the Child's Play franchise. Serving as a sequel to Cult of Chucky, the seventh film in the franchise, and stars Brad Dourif reprising his role as the voice of the title character.
Starring across the two-part season are regulars, Zackary Arthur, Björgvin Arnarson, Alyvia Alyn Lind, and Devon Sawa. Yes Sawa returns (again) this season, as the fictional President of the United States (his fourth character in the franchise). While Lara Jean Chorostecki joins the series, playing the President's wife, while Comedian Kenan Thompson guest stars in the third episode of this season, playing a taxi driver who soon gets killed by Chucky with an umbrella.
Back in January 2023, the series was renewed for a third season. Due to all the Hollywood labour strikes, the series was spilt into two four episode blocks. We saw the first four back in October last year. With the second half commencing mid-April. While concluding this past week.
Like American Horror Story that came before it and The Chi coming soon, these spilt seasons, really lose momentum.
So warning! Spoilers about the weird ass season three finale below. Note the series hasn't been renewed for a fourth season yet. After seeing the finale, I really feel Chucky should depart the small screen, maybe do one more big screen number.
Is episode eight's title a nod to Devon Sawa or also a statement about the series concluding? It's called Final Destination!
In episode eight, Jake wakes up on the other side, he finds his dad's spirit destroying his doll sculpture with a bat. Lucas chases him when he learns of his boyfriend but Jake tells him he forgives him for what he did.
He finds the spirit of Charles who takes him to the White House's movie theatre, where all of his different soul fragments are inside watching different scenes of Chucky's life. While Charles argues with his younger self, Jake notices Good Chucky running out of the movie theatre.
He follows after him to the president's bedroom, where Good Chucky tells Jake that Caroline is safe with a man named Wendell Wilkins. Taking a knife out from under the blankets, Jake explains that to forgive what he did in Season 2 (killing Nadine), Good Chucky must sacrifice himself.
Before he can convince him, the other fragments of Chucky's soul enter the bedroom, trying to convince Good Chucky not to go through with it. Although Jake believes he's gotten through to Good Chucky, he soon realizes that all the Chuckys were distracting him so Chucky Prime could possess Jake's body.
Meanwhile in Texas, just as the needle is inserted into her arm, one of the prison guards Tiffany brainwashed rushes in and frees her from the table and she is escorted out with the help of the other brainwashed guards. Nica tries to follow after her but is knocked down. Tiffany escapes driving off in her getaway car.
Back at the White House, Devon counts down the minutes until he can wake up Jake. During this Pryce and the other agents set up various bombs to go off in one minute. With the five minutes up, Devon brings Jake back from the Spirit Realm, unaware that he is possessed by Chucky.
Jake lies, telling them all that he killed Chucky, and that he knows where Caroline is being held. At that same moment, the CIA's bombs go off and explode throughout the White House.
Devon, Lexy, and Grant make it down the staircase but Jake and Timmy are trapped upstairs. The two of them get on the elevator, allowing Chucky to beat Timmy to death. Devon and Lexy escape from the building as Grant locks Pryce in the White House, leaving him to die. Charlotte arrives just as Grant escapes, hugging him.
Devon and Lexy are soon reunited with Jake, who leads them to Wendell Wilkin's address. At the house, they discover that he is a doll maker and he created the Good Guy dolls. He shows them the prototype Good Guy doll he created in 1987, divulging that the Good Guy dolls bankrupted him after the murders started.
But a few weeks earlier, a new child, Caroline, came into his life to show him the beauty of what Chucky had done. Chucky then reveals himself to Devon and Lexy, and with Caroline's help, he transfers his soul back to the Good Guy doll. Wendell and Caroline then reveal that they're going to transfer their souls into marionette dolls.
Tiffany meets up with Chucky who expresses that she wishes they could be a real family again, when Wendell reveals that they have a prototype Wedding Belle doll waiting for her to possess.
Caroline transfers her soul into the doll, allowing Chucky and Tiffany to reunite. With the dolls in the backseat, Caroline drives away in Tiffany's car. As Caroline drives away, Nica wheels herself into Wendell's estate, leaving the front door open.
Hearing muffled screams coming from a display cabinet, she discovers the trio's fate. Just then, Nica screams as Wendell approaches her from behind. Chucky is shown in a burning White House announcing his candidacy for a fourth term. Is this a random ass call for USA Network and Syfy to renew series?
As I said earlier, I would be surprised if the series comes back for a fourth run. I mean how many different characters can Devon Sawa return as? Also I read something about a potential fourth season being based in space, WTF?
High Country started strong, however I am not sure how much we need a second season.
Wentworth's Leah Purcell did shine, however it all became a little same, same, just another crime drama on our many streaming services right now. The eight part first season streams now on Binge, alongside a number of HBO miniseries like the current The Sympathizer.
Created by Marcia Gardner and John Ridley, the series launched mid-March, concluding this week.
Alongside Purcell, Ian McElhinney, Sara Wiseman and Aaron Pedersen star in the Victorian crime/mystery series.
So what's the drum? What is it all about?
When detective Andrea 'Andie' Whitford (Purcell) is transferred to the town of Brokenridge, located within the Victorian High Country, she is assigned to the mysterious case of five missing persons, who have disappeared into the wilderness.
As she delves further into the investigation, she begins to uncover a complex web of murder, deceit and revenge.
Sort of like a more fancy, modern Blue Heelers, High Country is beautifully shot while also underutilising Aaron Pedersen. His role is so tiny, you wonder why was even cast.
As Andie also learns her truth whilst solving the crime, we find out there is a whole lot of bad juju in this small Victorian town.
Not the best Aussie cop/crime show of late. However it looks beautiful, with a fairly talented cast.
The eight episodes flew past week to week. Speaking of Chucky also concludes its two part run this week. Then next week miniseries Palm Royale, The Girls on the Bus and BMF call it a day.
Stay dry Sydney! Or just stay home and watch some telly.
Baby Reindeer is the miniseries everyone is talking about right now. If we were still all working in offices, it would totally be a water cooler moment!
Created by & starring Richard Gadd, this is Netflix's adaptation of Gadd's autobiographical one-man show of the same name.
So why all the fuss? It's raw, real and terrifying AF. The seven episode run is based on Gadd's real life experience of being stalked and sexually assaulted in his twenties.
Landing earlier last month on Netflix, this is really a return to form for the streamer. Following the flop revival of Girls5Eva and the less than bumper second season of Heartbreak High, Baby Reindeer is a breath of fresh streaming air.
So this needs a massive content warning. The show goes deep, dark and real. Below the trailer you will find spoilers of episode seven. However if you want to go in like me ditch the trailer and just start the series ASAP! If not beforehand! SPOILERS below!
In the final gripping episode, a video of Donny's confession goes viral, earning him a significant boost in his career. He thoughtlessly sets an out of office message on his email that includes his phone number, leading to Martha gaining access to his phone for the first time.
She calls him and threatens to tell his parents about his rape and sexuality. Hoping to pre-empt her, he travels to Scotland and tells his parents everything. His father confesses that he too was sexually abused, and Donny spends a week with his family.
These scenes were highly emotive. It was so raw, so emotional, it was TV well done.
Martha begins calling Donny incessantly, leaving him hundreds of voicemails. The police suggest he listen to the voicemails and report any threats. Over months, his habit of listening to Martha's voicemails becomes an obsession as he once again begins to pity her and catalogs her messages. However, after she threatens to stab his parents, he finally reports her and she is arrested. Martha is sentenced to nine months in prison and five years of probation. Donny never sees her again.
Donny struggles to adjust in a world without Martha's constant presence, shuts himself away at home, and continues building a sequence of events of his relationship with Martha.
His roommates call Keeley, who, worried for his mental health, asks him to move back to Liz's house. As he moves back in, he finds the screenplay he was writing for Darrien.
In an attempt at closure, he goes to Darrien's apartment, but instead of confronting him, politely chats with him. Darrien, who has seen Donny's video, offers him a writing job. Donny accepts, but has a panic attack after leaving.
Stopping at a pub, he listens to a voicemail where Martha explains why she calls him "Baby Reindeer": it is because he reminds her of a stuffed animal she would hug when her parents would fight, the only positive memory from her childhood. Donny begins to cry, gets his drink, and realizes he has forgotten his wallet. The barman, feeling sorry for Donny, gives him the drink on the house, in a mirror of Donny's first encounter with Martha.
This was TV excellence. Wait for the awards season, as Baby Reindeer may steal the show. Netflix has really done well with this truly gritty, addictive series. Excellent.
