Summer Streamin' 24 - Cruel Intentions - Season One

Cruel Intentions (tv series) is the latest in the franchise of the same name, it is based on the 1999 film by Roger Kumble, which in turn was a modern retelling of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos' 1782 novel Les Liaisons dangereuses

Landing on Amazon Prime Video, the other week, the series, set in a Washington D.C college among rich students, follows two manipulative step siblings who are ready to do anything to maintain their status. It features a cast led by Sarah Catherine Hook, Zac Burgess, and Savannah Lee Smith.

Now this TV version of the franchise has been a long time coming. Originally planned for a television adaptation of the film started in 1999 at Fox with a prequel series that was later retooled as the 2000 direct-to-video film Cruel Intentions 2 following its cancellation due to creative concerns. 

Then in 2015, NBC picked up a television pilot for a continuation of the film's storyline with Sarah Michelle Gellar returning but later passed on the project. 

Amazon announced a new project's development for Amazon Freevee in 2021, with Neal H. Moritz returning as an executive producer. It was given a series order in April 2023, and moved to Prime Video several months later. Filming for the series occurred last June in Toronto. Now it has had generally negative reviews, however let's be honest, it is just another horny college drama, with a bit of sex and scandal here and there.

Unlike the sexy Ryan Phillippe & Reese Witherspoon film of the late 90's. This take was slightly more woke (less than the equally horny (from a female perspective) Sex Lives of College Girls) with a modern take with social media and smart phones. Oh with a side of revenge porn.

Brief plot please? The latest version for TV, revolves around two step siblings at a Washington D.C. college have worked hard climbing the Greek life social ladder on campus. After a hazing incident goes wrong, however, the two will do anything it takes to maintain the status they have achieved and set their sights on seducing the Vice President's daughter.

Starring Sarah Catherine Hook, Zac Burgess, Khobe Clarke, Brooke Lena Johnson, Sara Silva, John Harlan Kim, Myra Molloy, Sean Patrick Thomas, Laura Benanti, Jon Tenney, Claire Forlani, Nikki Crawford, Isabella Tagliati, and Zeke Goodman.

Overall this was an average, easy, not that sexy watch. I haven't watched a load of Amazon of late, so I gave this a whirl. I would really love to watch Cross next which also landed this month.

Next up, network TV says goodbye to one of the first series for the 2024-2025 season. Superman & Lois will conclude next week. See you then. Or maybe before!

Summer Streamin' 24 - Emily in Paris - Season Four

Emily in Paris is one of the silliest shows on any streaming platform. However it is addictive AF! Particularly the later episodes in the recent fourth season.

Streaming on Netflix, the series stars Lily Collins as Emily Cooper, who may have to change her Instagram in season five. Yes this has already been renewed following, the fourth season being spilt in two parts: the first premiered on mid-August, followed by the next five episodes in mid-September.

Alongside Collins, Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, Ashley Park, Lucas Bravo, Samuel Arnold, Bruno Gouery, Camille Razat, William Abadie, & Lucien Laviscount, all star in this ridiculous comedy-drama.

In partnership with the fourth season, Netflix also released a video game adaptation, Netflix Stories: Emily in Paris, based on the series. The game was released in September 2024 for iOS & Android.

So how does season four wrap up? Will the show change to Emily in Rome? Read on, but be warned, there are SPOILERS below. However I did take a minute to catch up with this season.

In the season four finale, Agence Grateau lands an account with the Umberto Muratori cashmere company but for only for six months. Sylvie opens an office for Agence Grateau in Rome, appoints Emily as its manager and finds an apartment for her. 

Emily opens the window of her new apartment to a beautiful view echoing the beginning of the series when she first moved to Paris. Marcello visits her at her new apartment and they happily ride off together on a scooter to tour the city. 

Gabriel's restaurant receives a Michelin star but at the same time he obviously misses Emily. Also, he clarifies his relationship with Geneviève by telling her he does not want it to be romantic. She is disappointed. Mindy tells Antoine, Alfie, and Gabriel that Emily has moved to Rome. Later Gabriel asks Mindy where exactly in Rome Emily is, suggesting he intends to visit her.

This season we realise sadly, Alfie is not in Emily's sight anymore and Camille became very dull. Hopefully with the site relocation, there may be some new characters roll into season five.

Samuel Arnold as Julien is definitely (as usual) one of the highlights of the series. He has some cracking lines. Plus the show really is just all about the fashion!

Creator Darren Star has given us such great trash over the years, Melrose Place, Younger, 90210 and the Sex & the City series.

If you need to escape from all the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, get into some mind numbing Emily in Paris. It's the cheapest vacation you will have in 2024!

Summer Streamin' 24 - The Franchise - Season One

The Franchise is the latest satirical comedy series, by Veep creator Armando Iannucci. The series landed on Binge (AU) and HBO elsewhere.

Now Veep was a hoot, iconic, this sadly is neither of those things. The Franchise depicts a behind-the-scenes look at a film that's part of a larger superhero film franchise. 

Daniel, the first assistant director, as he deals with the day to day problems working on Tecto: Eye of the Storm, which is a minor film in the franchise compared to the higher priority "team-up" film, Centurios 2.

The latest HBO comedy stars, Himesh Patel, Aya Cash, Billy Magnussen, Jessica Hynes, Darren Goldstein, Lolly Adefope, Isaac Cole Powell, Richard E. Grant & Daniel Brühl.

The series opens with Dag (Adefope) beginning her first day on the chaotic set of the comic book movie Tecto: Eye of the Storm. 

Pat (Goldstein), a studio executive, is visiting, so first assistant director Dan (Patel) negotiates with the eccentric director, Eric (Brühl), about the film's lighting. 

Eric begins shooting a scene where the protagonist Tecto (played by Adam (Magnussen)) speaks with The Eye (played by Peter (Richard E. Grant)) in a meeting attended by "Moss Men" and "Fish People", only to be upset by Pat's news that during the production of Centurios 2, a tentpole team-up movie set chronologically prior to Eye of the Storm, the studio decided to massacre the Fish People. 

Eric's impulsive decision to include a new lighting rig has sunburnt the eyes of Adam and Peter. Eric's favored producer is fired and replaced with Anita, with whom Dan has history.

Now is this anywhere as good, or funny as Veep? 100% no. In my opinion this is a HBO one and done. Sadly it totally missed the mark in a world losing interest (fast) on superhero film franchises.

Just look at the latest Joker film, Venom: The Last Stand and Madame Web. Only Deadpool & Wolverine and on TV, the Penguin (fellow HBO series) have bucked the trend.

Sadly for HBO this was a massive fail in my books. I'd be highly surprised if this returns in 2025 (or beyond) for a second season. No spoilers here, however it does leave the story open for a future The Franchise story.

The worst thing for this series is, during my Summer Streamin' 24 viewing, comedy is strong. Fisk finished with a delightfully funny third run, fellow HBO Sunday show Somebody Somewhere is slaying in its swan song season and FX' English Teacher is easily one of the best series of 2024.

So if you like superhero films, you like niche comedies, The Franchise might be ideal summer viewing. If you don't tick those boxes, maybe give it a miss.

Summer Streamin' 24 - Based on a True Story - Season Two

Based on a True Story is back on Binge (Peacock in the USA) for a second season. Starring Kaley Cuoco & Chris Messina, along with a talented ensemble cast. 

The series only landed all eight of its fairly short new episodes last Thursday. I ate this up. I did have issues remembering the what unfolded at the end of the June 8 2023 season one finale.

So where do we go in season two? Well after one and a bit new episodes, I was up to date, the memories of season one returned to find new parents Ava and Nathan Bartlett (Cuoco & Messina) three months into parenthood. 

Focused on taking care of her family, Ava is determined to resist her true crime obsession and return to work as a real estate agent while Nathan trains private tennis clients. But a series of new murders pulls her back in – is Matt behind the slayings? Is Tory, now entangled in a relationship with Matt, in danger? 

Ava’s TikTok habit and her new friend Drew provide a welcome distraction, and Nathan’s all in on reigniting his tennis career as well as his friendship with Matt until danger comes knocking, literally.

Watch out dear readers, SPOILERS below.

Now no third season have been announced yet, however I feel the way things left off, it's in the bag!

In the finale, it's revealed that the copycat killer is none other than Sara Paxton’s Paige, the sister of Westside Ripper victim Chloe Lake (Natalia Dyer), whose brutal murder played out in the series’ very first episode. 

Paige traps Ava and Nathan in the Lipinski Sisters’ podcast studio, and she’s prepared to kill them for profiting off of Chloe’s death, before Matt shows up in the knick of time, and Nathan knocks her out cold.

This Week's Guest episode is full of drama, edge of the seat killer comedy. Yes with laughs and a deep look into societies new obsession with short run TikTok videos.

I like they went from podcasts in season one to the new medium of TikTok in season two. It does feel like Cuoco is just playing a similar character to the one in The Flight Attendant. However this was an enjoyable, super easy binge, on Binge.

Yes I started it over the weekend, finishing it within the same 48 hours. Gives me time to catch up on Cruel Intentions, Interior Chinatown, Cross and all the other series that recently dropped bingeworthy seasons.

Tomorrow, Brisbane, so posts may be light like last week. Yep it's that time of the year!

Summer Streamin' 24 - Fisk - Season Three

Sadly this week the ABC announced their 2025 lineup. Fisk was missing in action. However season four is not dead in the water yet. First up let's chat season three.

In the third series, Tudor-Fisk is a partner in the rebranded Gruber & Fisk, while Roz is continuing with her career in mediation. 

Ray has a new romantic interest, Melissa, a fashion psychologist, while George is engaging in "side hustles" with his grandmother.

Kitty Flanagan of course is back as Fisk, joined by Julia Zemiro, Marty Sheargold, Aaron Chen, Glenn Butcher & John Gaden.

This season goes next level with guest appearances. Check out this list of guests, Justine Clarke, Sam Campbell, Claudia Karvan, Glenn Robbins, Carl Barron, Gabrielle Chan, Menik Gooneratne, Tom Ballard, Mel Buttle, Jane Clifton, Anne Edmonds, Christine Johnston, Ting Lim, Stephen Lopez, Ray O’Leary, Dave O’Neill, Rhys Nicholson, Brian Nankervis, Danielle Walker, Bronwyn Kuss & John Marc Desengano.   

Season three was seriously fun. Lot's of laughs, a great who's, who of Australian TV. Gosh I am so hopeful a fourth season of Roz and Helen running the show is on the way.

The ABC unveiled loads of returning titles with a few new ones too. Sadly Fisk was missing for 2025, Kitty is touring, Aaron Chen has loads of other projects and Julia Zemiro, who wouldn't want her in their projects!

With Fisk done it's down to Somebody Somewhere for those end of years LOL's. 

For now, the silly season is well and truly on the way. The Summer Streamin' 24 will totally ramp up, now the heat is well and truly on. Finally the series earns its title. It's summer and I am streaming.

Post Strike Cinema 24' - Wicked (2024 film)

I have seen the musical Wicked, a few times. I missed it last time it toured Australia. However with the film version did box office gold at present, I am sure it will be back in years to come.

Directed by Jon M. Chu & written by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, today was only the first of a two-part film adaptation of the stage musical Wicked by Stephen Schwartz and Holzman.

It is also loosely based on the 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire.

So for cinema you need some big stars and big voices for those big songs! We all know the big songs I am talking about!

Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande play the two killer lead roles. They are joined by Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum.

So we all know the story right? Set in the Land of Oz, largely before Dorothy Gale's arrival from Kansas, the film covers the musical's first act. It follows the story of Elphaba beginning her path to becoming the Wicked Witch of the West, and her unlikely friendship with her classmate Galinda, who becomes Glinda the Good.

Wicked actually got its premiere, here at the State Theatre in Sydney, on November 3.

Thus far, part one, has received critical acclaim for its direction, performances (particularly Erivo, Grande and Bailey), emotional weight, production values, and faithfulness to the source material. 

So the big question is, when will Wicked Part Two land at the cinema? Well, it is scheduled release November 21, 2025.

One whole year after the big act one closing number. Defying Gravity is one of those modern musical songs, that has snuck into popular culture.

Both Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande were awesome. Grande has given me one of my favourite songs of 2024, Yes And?. Will I listen to this soundtrack? Maybe not, Kendrick Lamar does have a new record out today after all.

I usually don't love musicals on the big screen, I prefer them live. Recently Hamilton was simply brilliant at the Lyric Theatre, the Star. Next up Jesus Christ Superstar at the stunning, Capitol Theatre.

This was easily my favourite musical on the big screen. It has heart, humour and those amazing show tunes, we all know and love.

I am feeling generous in the lead up to the holidays, 4 Stars.

Summer Streamin' 24 - Tulsa King - Season Two

Tulsa King was one of those shows, I just embraced the first season. However the second season of this Taylor Sheridan series, just didn't quite grab me as much as the first.

Streaming on Paramount+, the series stars Sylvester Stallone as Dwight "The General" Manfredi. Episode one kicks off with in jail, Dwight meets Harlan, who has been incarcerated for an energy scam in which he gambled away $12.7 million grant money for a wind farm he owns. 

The next day, in the courthouse Dwight manages to negotiate a bail for himself, with Tina paying $300,000 for his bail. Back at the casino, Mitch introduces Dwight to his cousin, Bigfoot, who Dwight hires as his bodyguard. 

Dwight also tells the group about Harlan's wind farm scam, and decides to invest in it to power up a new weed farm, to which everyone agrees. While visiting the ranch, Margaret tells Dwight about a charity function organized by Cal Thresher, the biggest medical marijuana supplier in Tulsa, and invites Dwight to meet him. Dwight then visits Stacy at her home and tells her that he doesn't hold grudges over how she had him arrested. The next day, Dwight and the gang attends the function. 

However, when Dwight meets with Thresher, Thresher shows Dwight disdain for encroaching into his business and even intimidated Dwight. Dwight, now feeling hostile, decides to leave the function. Cal then calls upon Bill Bevilaqua and inquires about Dwight, also telling him that Dwight has now officially stepped into Bevilaqua's territory of Tulsa.

The series rolls on with violence, pot selling and a few new enemies.

Dana Delany stars as Stallone/Dwight's lady friend, Margaret Devereaux, the owner of Fennario horse ranch.

Season two also adds singer, Jelly Roll alongside, Annabella Sciorra as Joanne Manfredi, Dwight's younger sister, Neal McDonough as Cal Thresher, corrupt businessman, large producer and distributor of marijuana, an oil tycoon and Frank Grillo as Bill Bevilaqua, boss of the Bevilaqua family of Kansas City.

Shortly after premiering, Tulsa King was renewed for a second season, which premiered mid-September. Apparently a third season and a spin-off series are both in development. With Sheridan's success across the Paramount Network & Paramount+, I don't doubt this is more than just a Wikipedia edit.

Sheridan has also just launched, yet another series on Paramount+, Landman with a double episode. This alongside Lioness, means Sheridan is almost single handedly programming the streaming platform.

Next up the finales of Fisk alongside a large number of "Fall" finales. Yep the US series are going to sleep for a bit. Found, Doctor Odyssey and Greys Anatomy all go on break this week.

Meaning Summer Streamin' 24 will all be about the catch ups. The series I have missed in the past, the recent series I hadn't gotten around to. So keep your eyes peeled as 2024 is seriously heading towards a close. Bring on 2025, where the highly originally Summer Streamin' 25 blog series will launch.

Summer Streamin' 24 - Plum - Season One

Plum is another Aussie series that has just streamed all six episodes on ABC iView. Landing on iView last month, the six part series created & written by Brendan Cowell. Plum follows Peter Lum, a retired former rugby league player who is diagnosed with a brain disorder following years of concussions he suffered on the field. All while being filmed in the Shire, in Sydney.

The story is inspired by Cowell's novel of the same name. After a career in rugby league career, Peter Lum is diagnosed with a brain disorder, but does not reveal it to family and friends. 

However when his wife becomes very concerned with erratic behaviour and his son Gavin, who loves the game being head hunted by rugby league teams, he starts to realise his father is not the same person he used to be, and the game might be to blame.

It kicks off its short run with Peter ‘Plum’ Lum (Brendan Cowell) a living legend in Australian sporting terms. Now retired and reeling towards 50 with all the back pain and ailments a footy player can expect, he lives a humble life in Cronulla. 

The simplicity of this life is exactly what he wants - kicking the ball with his teenage son Gavin (Vincent Miller), dinner on the deck with girlfriend Charmayne (María Dupláa), followed by a few too many beers at the local pub with his mates Brick (John Tui), Squeaky (Josh McConville) and Magic Matt (Wayne McDaniel). 

It looks like Plum is living the dream until an accident at work reveals he has a brain disorder as a result of the hundreds of head injuries and concussions he’s suffered on the field. The new diagnosis doesn’t have its intended effect, as Plum would sooner hide, run and head to the pub for drinks with the boys and pretend everything is peachy than confront things. 

But hiding from the truth isn’t easy when your ex-wife (Asher Keddie) cares too much and your son comes to realise the father he worships is falling off his mantle and the game they love might be to blame.

And just as you'd expect Asher Keddie slays as Plums next of kin.

Keddie has had a top notch run of Aussie shows. Strife and Fake were outstanding. Her reconnection with Cowell, following their run in the excellent Love My Way. Keddie is a smaller player in this series, however with every scene she is in, she steals it.

Susie Porter also has a small role as Plum's sister.

This was A grade ABC drama. Let's hope in their up fronts later this month they have a healthy serve of new drama in 2025. SBS failed to deliver much in the way of drama at their recent presentation. Not surprisingly the three free to air commercial networks also opted for reality over drama in 2025 too.

Channel Nine actually canned one of their few ideas, Blood on the Tracks.

Last of the ABC's programming to conclude, Fisk. Which concludes it's week-to-week run on Sundays. Sadly for fans of the show, its popular appeal means it gets dragged out to weekly. Plum was a little more niche, but very important viewing. With a similar theme to the recent, American Sports Story.

Next up, Tulsa King and we head to the movies for the film version of Wicked!

Summer Streamin' 24 - American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez - Season One

Ryan Murphy season continues with, American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez.

American Sports Story serves as the fourth instalment in the American Story media franchise, streaming on Disney+ in Australia, on FX in the former democratic states of the USA.

The first season, is focused on the rise and fall of former NFL player Aaron Hernandez. The series started off mid-September, with the season being based on the podcast Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc. from The Boston Globe and Wondery.

Over ten episodes (might have been tighter storytelling with eight episodes), the series explores the disparate strands of Hernandez's identity, his family, his career, his suicide and their legacy in sports and American culture.

With principal photography beginning in April, filming was suspended in July due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, then later resuming in December. Filming continued further in March 2024 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

The latest American Story, stars, Josh Andrés Rivera, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Lindsay Mendez, Tony Yazbeck, Jake Cannavale, & Catfish Jean.

Whilst the show does focus on NFL and sports, it really does have a lot of crime across the ten episodes.

It is also rather sexy at times. It wouldn't be a Ryan Murphy show without a bit of spice right?

Overall the show does deliver some strong messages. Injury occurring during contact sports are rough. The implications for a players future are vast and varied.

Josh Andrés Rivera as Aaron Hernandez is excellent. However where will Murphy go after this first season? Will American Sports Story return for a second run? Now this has finished I have jumped straight into a similar series with less crime, Plum on ABC iView.

See how they compare at the end of the year, early 2025 in RATED for Summer Streamin' 24.

Summer Streamin' 24 - Sweetpea - Miniseries

Sweetpea AKA Rhiannon Lewis (Ella Purnell) is a downtrodden wallflower, ignored and neglected by many people in her life. 

The six part miniseries that streams on Binge, it is a British dark comedy/drama, created by Kirstie Swain. The series is an adaptation of the book of the same name by CJ Skuse.

In episode one, Rhiannon also suffers from the psychological effects of childhood bullying by classmate Julia Blenkingsopp (Nicôle Lecky).

As a result, Rhiannon occasionally entertains murderous thoughts. Her father, Tommy, is the only person who recognises her attributes and encourages her to stand up for herself. However, Tommy suddenly dies, leaving Rhiannon bereft. 

In the aftermath of his death, Rhiannon suffers a series of setbacks - she is passed over for a promotion at work by her ignorant boss, Norman; her sister Seren informs her she's selling their family home; and Julia, now an estate agent, returns to town. 

Rhiannon is distressed upon learning Seren has asked Julia to handle the property sale. Furthermore, Rhiannon's dog Tink dies in a hit-and-run when Rhiannon is distracted by a billboard of Julia's face. 

Angry and drunk, Rhiannon goes to confront Julia but is rudely rebuffed. Afterwards, Rhiannon gets into an argument with a stranger and finally snaps about being invisible, resulting in her stabbing the stranger to death in a rage. Disposing of the body, Rhiannon leaves the scene, finding that murder has inspired her with newfound confidence.

Ella Purnell as Sweetpea is exceptional. This series landed last month from Sky Atlantic in the UK, while airing on Starz in the USA.

I liked the headline for this series, a coming of rage story. A tight six, action packed episodes. It shows, after a childhood of bullying, Rhiannon/Sweetpea's quiet life as an admin assistant at a local newspaper, living with her father and dog. 

However, her father's death leads to a chance encounter with a stranger that changes everything. Once the change happens, it is all drama and violence.

This was a highly enjoyable watch, with a banging girl powered soundtrack. From Billie Eilish to Icona Pop/Charli XCX, Labi Siffre and the Spice Girls.

If you need a new binge, go to Binge for Sweetpea!

Summer Streamin' 24 - The Penguin - Miniseries

The Penguin is a direct spin-off from the 2022, The Batman film.

The HBO series (moved from HBO Max) that explores the Penguin's rise to power in Gotham City's criminal underworld. 

Colin Farrell stars as the Penguin, reprising his role from The Batman, alongside Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Deirdre O’Connell, Clancy Brown, Carmen Ejogo, Michael Zegen, Berto Colón, Scott Cohen, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Theo Rossi, James Madio, Nadine Malouf, Joshua Bitton, David H. Holmes, Daniel J. Watts, Jared Abrahamson, Ben Cook, Jayme Lawson, Aleska Palladino, Craig Walker, Tess Soltau, Marié Botha, Michael Kelly, and Mark Strong. 

The film's director, Matt Reeves, supervised the writing and was involved in hiring the creative team. 

The Penguin commenced it's short, eight episode miniseries, mid-September, concluding at lunch today.

The series has received positive reviews for its performances, writing, and direction. It also acts as a promo vehicle for the sequel to 2022's The Batman with Robert Pattinson.

Before I get into the finale (SPOILERS AHEAD), the Penguin is far from my favourite Batman villain. And in the recent The Batman film, I loved Selina Kyle AKA Catwoman.

That said Colin Farrell is remarkable in this series. HBO have also (across all platforms) reported massive ratings for the Batman spin-off.

So how did things wrap up in the finale in this miniseries ahead of the next film in 2026. Where Farrell will return!

In, A Great or Little Thing, using EMG therapy, Rush learns that Francis already knew about Oz drowning his brothers and tried to have him killed but could not bring herself to do it. Oz is brought to Sofia, who makes Francis confess the truth. 

When Oz fails to show any remorse for his actions, Francis disowns him before suffering a stroke. 

Oz escapes, kills the detective, and brings Francis to the hospital. Meanwhile, the local bosses abandon Oz for Sofia, who puts out a bounty for Oz as she prepares to leave Gotham. 

Victor arranges for the bosses to be murdered. Oz abducts Sofia, seemingly to murder her, but instead has his police contacts return her to Arkham. 

Oz and Victor visit Francis to celebrate, only to learn that she entered a vegetative state, causing Oz to break down. Deciding that Victor has seen too much, Oz strangles him to death. 

Meanwhile, Rush, who has returned to Arkham to care for Sofia, hands her a letter from her half-sister, Selina Kyle. 

Oz takes the vegetative Francis to a new penthouse suite, where he dances with Eve dressed as Francis, as the Bat-Signal shines in the sky.

It all ends in one tidy manner. This opens HBO open to showcase their 2025 programming. Let's just say it'g going to be huge. With returning favourites, shows returning after a year or so off, across Max and HBO, Foxtel better hope they get to keep this content on their streamer.

Returning next year, you ask....

The White Lotus, Peacemaker, Hacks (streams on Stan in Australia), The Last of Us, And Just Like That, The Righteous Gemstones, The Rehearsal and The Gilded Age.

Summer Streamin' 24 - Joan - Miniseries

Joan is a British crime drama miniseries, which had a rough broadcast in the US of A. Created by Anna Symon for ITV, Game of Thrones star, Sophie Turner plays real-life character Joan Hannington.

So this is like an English Underbelly with Hannington, a figure known as the Godmother by certain aspects of the British criminal underworld. 

Joan features Hannington's journey from housewife and mother, to petty offender, to diamond thief and criminal mastermind in 1980s London. Being the 80's it makes for a kickass soundtrack. Not to mention the fashion, FASHION! Joan Hannington however really gives me Princess Di vibes for some reason though.

In Australia Joan streams on Stan, alongside of the return of Yellowstone today! Yay!

Joan takes you on a wild ride of crime, the mother's love of a daughter and a jewellery store robbery gone wrong, ending with dire sequences.

I don't understand why The CW (in the USA) ever thought this was something their viewers would enjoy.

However this was a very fine, little English series, where you actually feel sorry for the crimminal. Joan is a real life Taylor Swift, Anti-Hero.

Post Strike Cinema 24' - Heretic

Heretic has been called the horror film of 2024. That is a big call since this year, we have had horror film after horror film land at the cinemas.

This however is in the niche sub genre of psychological horror, with a splash of religion in the mix for good measure.

Heretic was written + directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods. 

Starring Hugh Grant, in a very, very different role to the usual rom-com affair. Honestly this could be the role of his career.

Grant was joined by, Sophie Thatcher & Chloe East.

The film follows two Mormon missionaries who attempt to convert a reclusive Englishman, only to realise he is more dangerous than he seems.

Getting its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, this A24 horror had advance screenings in Oz last Friday. 

Filming took place in Vancouver over 30 days from October 3 to November 16, 2023. However as it's largely filmed within a creepy AF house, it could have been filmed in any US or Canadian city.

Now with such a large volume of horror films getting released this year, Heretic goes up against strong competition this year.

However this does feel original, Grant's performance is excellent and I love questioning religion any day of the week.

This will not be everyone's cup of tea, however I was sold, the lady two seats down from me made a large scream at one point and jumped sky high. So it does scare audiences.

3.5 Stars. Hugh Grant, the unlikely new king of horror!

Summer Streamin' 24 - Territory - Miniseries

Territory is most likely a miniseries. It is listed online as an Australian six-part neo-Western drama television series. Neo-Western, WTF?

Well it stars Anna Torv, Michael Dorman, Robert Taylor, and Sam Corlett, along with a rather large local supporting cast.

Territory was released on Netflix, late last month. Following Heartbreak High and Wellmania, Netflix really haven't done that much in the way of local productions. Considering how many Aussies subscribe to the streamer in Australia. Particularly during COVID and the hey days of Stranger Things, The Crown and the earlier Cobra Kai seasons.

So what is Territory all about? Well firstly it is set in Australia's top end, the Northern Territory. Where a few other Aussie series are headed. Both on Amazon, Top End Bub and Deadloch's highly anticipated second season.

So what is Territory all about? Is it a Succession x Yellowstone, Australian rip off? Watch the trailer and read on below.

The world's largest cattle station, Marianne Station, has been owned for generations by the Lawson family dynasty.

It becomes a prize to be sought after by rival cattle farmers, various gangsters, Australian Aboriginal elders, and mining magnates after the Lawsons son, Daniel dies on the land, due to inherit the property in a suspicious riding accident. 

Episode one, unfolds a major battle for succession beginning at his funeral. 

The second centres on the search for a wayward and thieving grandson of the current owner Colin, who bears several grudges against the family but is plunged into the limelight when Colin impetuously announces him as an heir to the property instead of his alcoholic son, Graham. 

There is also a vote for the 'Territory Cattlemen's Association' that is powerful in controlling subcontracting and export, lost by Graham Lawson in favour of an ambitious rival.

So is it worth the six hour watch? Well yes and no. It's not as landscape sweeping as the Baz Luhrmann film, then miniseries, Australia. However there is romance and a love triangle. Actually or two. So as summer approaches and the temperature warms up, if you do need a new local series to give a crack, this isn't half bad. Is it the best Australian series of the year? No, but is it entertaining and good to look at, absolutely.

Enjoy the weekend. Christmas is almost here!

Summer Streamin' 24 - Thou Shalt Not Steal - Season One

Thou Shalt Not Steal is just another Australian series which has recently landed on streaming platform Stan.

Created by Dylan River and Tanith Glynn-Maloney, the series follows a pair of teenagers as they are chased across the desert by a sex worker and fraudulent preacher. 

Starring some newcomers, Sherry-Lee Watson, Will McDonald, along with local favourites Miranda Otto, and Noah Taylor.

Thou Shalt Not Steal is a 1980s-set road drama that follows young Aboriginal delinquent Robyn, who escapes juvenile detention and visits her terminally ill grandfather, Ringer, in the hospital. 

Ringer demands to be taken back home, where he claims to have an important errand.

After being unable to pay for a taxi, Robyn is confronted by the driver, Maxine, a madam who tries to recruit her as payment. After a scuffle, Robyn steals the taxi and flees with her Grandfather. Ringer's condition worsens during the drive and he tells Robyn her father is still alive and that he wants her to return a trophy to him. He passes away shortly before they reach the town.

Meanwhile, a fraudulent preacher, Robert, and his son, Gidge, hold court throughout the town, conducting sermons and secretly selling booze. Gidge desperately wants to leave his father and return to his mother in Adelaide.

Shortly after finding the trophy, Robyn discovers that police have come looking for her and she makes a plan to escape in the stolen taxi. Sensing an opportunity to go home, Gidge hides, stowed away under the backseat. Unaware of his presence, she sets off to find her father in Coober Pedy.

The next day, Maxine arrives in the town and begins making enquiries about the whereabouts of her taxi. Robert offers her the use of his car to track the teenagers down and they set off in pursuit.

The episodes are short, sharp with lot's of lip.

It is another Aussie on the road series, story. We do love a road movie, however the longer form (series or this could be a miniseries) is becoming popular too.

I wasn't the world's biggest fan of this series, however gym friends have enjoyed it.

I just didn't believe it was Stan's best local output. I am very excited for the return of Bump and Black Snow!

With so much local content out there at the moment, it makes for stiff competition. Next local series up on my streaming, Territory.

Summer Streamin' 24 - American Horror Stories - Season Three (B)

Well yes I have already blogged about American Horror Stories, third season back here. However at the time, we didn't know (like a number of strike impacted series) it would be released in two parts across October 2023 and October 2024.

It definitely is Ryan Murphy season! Only issue for Murphy is, Doctor Odyssey is not getting the ratings a second season renewal may need. That said a third 9-1-1, this time based in Hawaii (sounds like Rescue: HI-Surf right?) has been put into the works.

That said the OG spin-off 9-1-1: Lone Star is set to conclude next month.

But one series has been missing this scary season. American Horror Story. So I guess at least we get five (solid) episodes of the spin-off American Horror Stories.

When I say solid, I mean solid. The last four episodes last year were grand, these were an easy, scary (at times) watch. And we can all agree 2024 just got scary yesterday!

The next installment was first reported in May 2023, when it was affected by the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike.

In August, it was announced that the episodes would premiere on October 26 as a four-episode "Huluween" event.

The next instalment of five episodes was first reported on in September 2024 with an expected premiere date of October 15, 2024, as another "Huluween" event, with The Hollywood Reporter referring to it as the fourth season.

So is it still season three or four? Who actually cares, cause this was actually a decent watch in Australia on Binge.

So who and what are these five episodes about?

First up is, Backrooms, starring Michael Imperioli, Matthew Maher, David Pittu & Natalie Gold. A screenwriter begins slipping in and out of backrooms, eerie locales inhabited by strange hostile masked entities, his missing son being among them. 

Upon returning for the first time he discovers that he had been missing for three weeks and that his son's body was found. After more time lost in a backroom, he finds a video of a man who has documented travels to the backrooms and visits the man in prison, where he learns that only those with self-guilt and sufficient isolation from reality experience this phenomenon and the only way to make it stop is to clear one's conscience. 

After yet another leap in time, he returns to find the police closing in on him for the murder of his son and he is shot down when he goes for a gun. As he dies he remembers his frustration that reached a breaking point in which he strangled the boy to death. 

Awakening in hell, he is confronted by a demonic version of his son who gives him the option to exit instead of being tormented by the masked entities. He enters into an empty waiting room with only a stack of magazines on being a good father and learns he will be stuck waiting there for billions or trillions of years.

Then we have Clone, starring Victor Garber, Guy Burnet, Casey Thomas Brown, Dagmara Domińczyk & David Deblinger. Clone revolves around tech billionaire David being put into a medically induced coma after suffering a stroke, his boyfriend John learns that he has no say in the man's affairs. 

This one is slightly spicy!

He discovers that David has been working on an AI version of himself, which is then sent home to be a lifelike companion to John. While at first taken aback by the differences and technical hiccups, John eventually warms to the new David but soon he hears news that the real David has made a full recovery and is returning home. 

He bids the AI goodbye and welcomes back the real David, but David murders him, proclaiming he had realised that he deserved someone more worthy of his last remaining days than John - himself. Later after having sex with his AI likeness, it's revealed that David had completely wiped John from its memory.

Then we head into maybe my favourite, the black and white, X. Featuring Mia Isaac, Dyllón Burnside, Jennifer Ferrin, Kate Eastman & Henry Winkler

This was dark set in a creepy hospital. With nurse Claire Michaels begins to investigate a mysterious unsettling patient, Alice Taylor when she appears at the hospital and stabs one of the orderlies, painting an X on the wall in his blood. 

She uncovers an unethical experimental program on cancer patients which implicates several of her colleagues, including her friend Nurse Mulling who later commits suicide out of remorse for her involvement. She discovers Ward X, where survivors of these experiments like Alice are being caged. She is sedated and along with a fellow staff member, tied to operating tables to become new experiments but she is saved by Alice and kills the doctor and nurse. 

She awakens in a hospital bed and leads a detective down to Ward X, where she is betrayed by him and the accompanying nurse and once again tied down, locked inside of Ward X to become a new test subject.

So good! Like this season was a solid, easy binge!

We get a little Irish in Leprechaun. This one stars Jessica Barden, Henry Eikenberry, Hudson Oz, Daniel Zolghadri, Angel Bismark, Billy Carter, Michael Cyril Creighton & June Squibb. Yes June Squibb, from Getting On and one of my favourite small films of 2024, Thelma!

In 1851, a man is pulled down a well for gold. That same well remains over the years til present day. A down on his luck small town man is upset to be unemployeed while his pregnant girlfriend works as a manager of a small town bank. 

After being asked out for drinks with an old friend, he is talked into joining his high school friends into breaking into his girlfriend's bank to steal bars of gold which had become larger due to COVID-19.

Despite being warned of leprechauns and mentions of missing townspeople, that is ignored and the plan continues on. With the help of a newcomer, Declan, they are able to break into the bank, by coming in during business hours and helping the others sneak inside once it was closed. 

However once inside, things go terribly wrong as one by one they are attacked by an unseen figure. It is revealed that the girlfriend is part leprechaun and its due to touching the gold that everyone dies.

And finally, the short and sweet (like literally just over thirty minutes), The Thing Under the Bed. Starring Debby Ryan, Melanie Field, Jeff Hiller, Melonie Diaz, Matthew Del Negro, Frank Pando & Matthew Holcomb.

This one wasn't the best, but still creepy. Honestly this is one of Murphy's best efforts in a while. No news on a fourth run of the American Horror Stories episodes, however you can stream all season three episodes (finally) now on Binge. Along with seasons one and two. However this entire package of nine episodes in the third season was the best. By far!

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon - The Book Of Carol - Season Two

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, has just concluded its second season titled, The Book of Carol, featuring Melissa McBride as a series regular in a return to the show's original concept. The second season landed on Stan late September, concluding this Monday. These short and sharp six episode seasons are an easy watch.

In July 2024, the series was renewed for a third season. We will see what next season is titled soon enough I'd say. They are already filming the series in Spain this time around.

So maybe the series will include some Spanish in place of French for the first two seasons of this spin-off.

The fifth spin-off and overall sixth television series in The Walking Dead franchise, sharing continuity with the other series and set after the conclusion of the original The Walking Dead television series.

Norman Reedus is back as Daryl Dixon joining returning TWD family member Melissa McBride as Carol.

In the finale, Au Revoir les Enfants, Daryl and Carol argue about which one of them will stay behind, although Daryl convinces Ash to take Laurent to the Commonwealth. 

While on a supply run, Fallou, Codron, and their new friend Akila are attacked by guerriers searching for the plane while Jacinta ambushes Anna, eventually making a deal to give her the plane and pilot.

However, Anna, who remembers Laurent kindly, betrays Jacinta and leads her into a parking garage full of burners, causing Jacinta to lock Anna in to be devoured, but not before Jacinta is bitten. 

The Union and Pouvoir attack the race track, but Daryl, Fallou, and Codron buy time for Ash and Laurent to escape, joined by Carol who chooses to stay behind at the last minute as well. 

Devastated, Jacinta commits suicide. Daryl finally reveals the truth about Michel's death to Codron while Fallou decides to stay in France with Akila, having fallen in love with her. Fallou's friends, Scottish couple Angus and Fiona, lead Daryl, Carol, and Codron to attempt to cross to England using the Chunnel; they encounter a group of dead English soldiers and walkers who, like much of the Chunnel, are bioluminescent. 

The psychoactive effects of bat guano cause everyone to hallucinate: Codron hallucinates Michel, eventually running off after him after fighting with Daryl who he thought killed Michel as a walker, while Carol hallucinates herself as a walker, and also her daughter, finally helping Carol to come to terms with her death; Daryl hallucinates Isabelle, who encourages him to fight, and his grandfather. 

Daryl is forced to kill the treacherous Angus and Fiona in self-defence, and he and Carol put on gas masks and finally leave France, heading for England.

So how do they wind up in Spain for season three? No doubt it will be back in 2025 on Stan. Yes these Walking Dead series live on Stan not Binge like the parent series and OG spin-off Fear the Walking Dead.

Oh Australia and too many streaming services.

Stan however has done well to get these Walking Dead spin-offs. They may be short in run time but there has already been three.

Up next more Ryan Murphy with American Horror Stories.

Summer Streamin' 24 - The Office - Season One

The Australian Office landed mid last month on Amazon. Landing after a large number of negative comments following the upload of the trailer. Now that made we want to watch it more. Could this version of the British series of the same name created by (and starring) Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant, be that bad?

Felicity Ward is the boss in the office. With the eight episodes set around the hot button issues of 2024, WFH. 

Also starring in the workplace comedy, Edith Poor, Steen Raskopoulos, Shari Sebbens, Josh Thomson, Jonny Brugh, Susan Ling Young, Raj Labade, Lucy Schmidt, Zoe Terakes, Pallavi Sharda, Claude Jabbour, Jason Perini, Christian Manon and Olga Tamara.

We have had a sea of Australian content over the past couple of months. Plum, Fisk over on ABC, Last King of the Cross on Paramount+ with NCIS Sydney set to return in the new year. Thou Shall Not Steal over on Stan (post to come) and Territory landing on Netflix.

So it's a good time for Australia, homegrown stories.

This (Australian) version of the series, is the first female-led series in The Office franchise, and the 13th overall adaptation. It is the third English-language version of The Office, after the British and American iterations.

Hannah Howard (Felicity Ward) is the managing director of Sydney's branch of Australia's fourth largest packaging company Flinley Craddick. When she gets news from Head Office that her Rydalmere-based branch will be shut down and everyone will go remote, she goes into survival mode, making promises she can't keep in order to keep her "work family" together.

This issue is playing out in offices all across the nation. People are either digging in their heels to stay at home, or getting off their asses and heading back to either the CBD or new CBD's like Parramatta.

I actually really enjoyed these bite sized twenty something minute episodes.

The supporting cast were great. We have also all had a boss like Ward. If you are in a workplace struggling with the "hybrid" ways of working. Corporate speak, a dodgy office, this is for you.

Don't believe the hate, this was actually fun. Good on Amazon for pumping some money into local content. Bring on Top End Bub and Deadloch next year!

Summer Streamin' 24 - Teacup - Season One

Teacup gives massive Under the Dome vibes as yet another Halloween horror series came to a close last week in time for Halloween. It just gets bigger and bigger every year right!

Teacup is created by Ian McCulloch and inspired by the novel Stinger by Robert R. McCammon.

The latest Peacock series commenced earlier last month, with two episodes weekly. Featuring a tight eight half-hour episodes. I originally thought this was a miniseries. However the eighth episode left us on a massive cliffhanger.

For this new series, no spoilers will be found here. So what's the drum? On an isolated ranch in rural Georgia, several people are forced together to face a mysterious threat.

Australian and former Dexter legend, Yvonne Strahovski stars as Maggie Chenoweth. alongside Scott Speedman, Chaske Spencer, Kathy Baker, Boris McGiver, Diany Rodriguez, Caleb Dolden, Émilie Bierre , Luciano Leroux, Rob Morgan and Bill Heck as Lt. Olsen.

The series was an easy watch. Along with Under the Dome vibes it has a real Stephen King feel.

For the most part it's not too scary (particularly when you get a better understanding of what is really going) but the rural setting along with the isolation that comes with being distant, is a little creepy.

Overall, Peacock is starting to be a bit of a player in the streaming game. I am hoping for more Dr. Doctor (which will stream on Stan), Poker Face , Twisted Metal and Bel-Air which will actually all stream as legacy titles on Stan. Poker Face and Twisted Metal are all set to return, however decisions seem to be slow to be announced at the NBC adjacent streamer.

Teacup and newer titles however all stream on Binge.

So if you can't wait for the final season of The Handmaid's Tale for Yvonne Strahovski, all eight (short) episodes of Teacup stream now!

Post Strike Cinema 24' - Venom: The Last Dance

Venom: The Last Dance is the final instalment of the Venom trilogy. But is it as bad as people are saying? Yes and no.

Apparently this is the final time we will see Marvel Comics character, Venom. 

Following Venom (2018) and Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021), starring Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock and Venom, alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Rhys Ifans, Stephen Graham, Peggy Lu, Clark Backo, Alanna Ubach, & Andy Serkis.

So it has a solid cast, right?

The film premiered at the Regal Times Square theatre in New York City late last month. Being released the following week, receiving mixed reviews from critics & has grossed $194 million worldwide. That is as of today 3 November 2024.

I did say this was the last time we would see Venom on the big screen. However. ahead of the film's release in October 2024, Kelly Marcel said that while The Last Dance concludes with the story arc of Eddie Brock and Venom, it sets up the character Knull for future appearances within the SSU and is the beginning of the character's story.

While the film was intended as the conclusion of the Venom trilogy, Hardy expressed interest in reprising his role in the future and having his character cross over with Spider-Man, saying "never say never".

So what's good about the film? The run time, a superhero under two hours, brilliant! The action scenes were great! The story as well did move along very well too. You could tell it was coming to an end of the series and it times it did rush there. However at least it wasn't a drawn out bore fest.

The bad. It was a bit all of the shop. We jump around from one character to another. The dialogue is shit.

But overall it was not the worst superhero film of all time.

I will pass this one as the run time won me over. No 3 hour super shit hero film here. 2.5 Stars

Summer Streamin' 24 - Grotesquerie - Season One

Ryan Murphy is a busy man! Murphy works with Jon Robin Baitz, and Joe Baken for a new horror series, Grotesquerie.

In the USA it streams on FX, however in Australia, it's just another Disney+ title I have been watching for the past month or so.

Starring Monster/Claws legend Niecy Nash-Betts stars as Detective Lois Tryon, so it seems Nash-Betts is now a Ryan Murphy staple.

Nash-Betts stars alongside Courtney B. Vance, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Micaela Diamond, Raven Goodwin, and Lesley Manville.

Only commencing late September, the series almost ran for five weeks airing double episodes weekly. However there were some weeks with a solo episode, others leading up to Halloween with doubles.

Also some episodes were short!

The series also stars Mr Taylor Swift, Travis M. Kelce as Ed Laclan! But what's it all about?

Detective Lois Tryon must work with Sister Megan, a local nun, to figure out the source of a series of heinous crimes that is affecting both their community and their personal lives.

There is an episode where it all flips on its head. Before then it was my favourite of Murphy's current series. That said I am not one of the gays who has watched the Menendez Brothers Monster series.

This was definitely a step up from the Nip/Tuck on a boat, Doctor Odyssey, however the twist made me think twice of how highly I could recommend this series.

Its horror, thriller with a touch of camp and racy storylines.

Murphy definitely has a bit of a sick mind with gruesome crimes along with horny nuns. All ten episodes of Grotesquerie, stream now on Disney+.

Summer Streamin' 24 - Agatha All Along - Miniseries

Halloween strikes again!

Agatha All Along is a miniseries streaming now Disney+, based on Marvel Comics featuring the character Agatha Harkness. 

It's a spin-off (a comic book spin-off, what! SURPRISE) from the series WandaVision (2021).

Agatha All Along is also the 11th television series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The series is part of Phase Five of the MCU. 

Kathryn Hahn reprises her role as Agatha Harkness from WandaVision, with Joe Locke, Debra Jo Rupp, Aubrey Plaza, Sasheer Zamata, Ali Ahn, Okwui Okpokwasili, Patti LuPone, Evan Peters, Maria Dizzia, Paul Adelstein, and Miles Gutierrez-Riley.

Agatha commenced mid-September, with its first two episodes. Then the final two episodes were released in time for Halloween. It was a short, sharp run for this Marvel/Disney+ series. Watch out - SPOOKY! Spoilers below the trailer.

We flashback to 1750,  in episode nine with Agatha giving birth to Nicholas, but is warned by Death that she will eventually take him. 

Agatha spends the next six years absorbing other witches' essences while raising Nicholas. Together, they create what will eventually become the Ballad of the Witches' Road, a simple children's song. Eventually, Nicholas grows sick and Death takes him, greatly saddening Agatha. 

With nothing to hold her back, she spends the next centuries absorbing other witches' magic by tricking them into gathering covens to open the Road then aggravating them into attacking her.

Then we land in the present, Agatha, now a ghost, tells Billy that he created the Road. He despairs, blaming himself for the deaths of Lilia, Alice, and Sharon, but Agatha tells him that she was going to kill them anyway and that he did rescue Jen. 

Billy returns to the house and tries to banish Agatha; she reveals that she is afraid of dying because she cannot face Nicholas. Billy allows Agatha to remain as a ghost. Deciding to take her on as a guide, closing the door of the Road and recording the names of Sharon, Alice and Lilia, Billy and Agatha set out to find Tommy.

So next up in this world of witches and WandaVision, Vision Quest is set to stream on Disney+ in 2026. Yes that's right Marvel are plotting and planning well into 2026.

Marvel are currently referring to the series as Vision Quest, though this was reported to not be its final title. The series is intended to conclude a trilogy of series that includes WandaVision and Agatha All Along.

Filming is expected to begin in early 2025 in England. The Blacklist's James Spader is set to reprise his role of Ultron from Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Till next time, I'm off to Hamilton. FINALLY!