Winter Warmer Watchlist - Murderbots - Season One

Murderbot just finished streaming on Apple TV+ & is based on All Systems Red, the first book of the series The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells.

Starring Alexander Skarsgård as the titular character., the first season commenced mid-May, concluding yesterday.

Days before the finale, the series was renewed for a second season.

A media-obsessed private security construct (manufactured from cloned human tissue and mechanical parts), calling itself Murderbot, must hide its newly acquired autonomy, while completing dangerous assignments and being simultaneously drawn to humans and appalled at their weakness.

Alongside Skarsgård, David Dastmalchian and Noma Dumezweni, Sabrina Wu, Tattiawna Jones, Akshay Khanna, and Tamara Podemski also star.

So how'd Apple TV+ set up the second run?

Just when Murderbot's systems reboot, Corporation Rim technicians delete its memory and install a new governer module. 

At the same time, the PresAux team negotiates with company representatives in order to find the SecUnit. 

They offer to buy it and threaten with a lawsuit, but the company refuses and tells them that its memory has been wiped anyway. 

So Pin-Lee files an injunction to seize Murderbot for evidentiary reasons, while Gurathin manages to get access to the data that has been downloaded during the memory wipe. 

He locates Murderbot's personality files among Sanctuary Moon episodes. The team can keep Murderbot from being melted down, and Gurathin uploads its personality. 

The team invites Murderbot to live as a free agent on their home planet. Later that night, Murderbot attempts to leave but is intercepted by Gurathin, who tries to make it feel welcome. Murderbot insists that it needs to check the perimeter. When Gurathin relents, Murderbot thanks him. 

Posing as an augmented human, it boards a cargo ship as Mensah awakens and realises that it has left.

I for one, like Murderbot just wants to be alone and watch my shows LOL

Happy mid-winter!

Winter Warmer Watchlist - Poker Face - Season Two

Poker Face returned to Stan for its second season.

Ceated by Rian Johnson and starring Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale, a woman with the innate ability to detect when people are lying, who finds herself solving murders as she travels across the United States.

This could be US streamer Peacock's biggest series. Well Twisted Metal returns later this month, so the Anthony Mackie lead series will continue their solid winter programming.

Back in February 2023, the series was renewed for a second season, however we have no news on a third season as yet. Spoilers below about the finale, The End of the Road.

Alongside Lyonne, this episode stars Justin Theroux as "The Iguana" / Todd Tolocci, Lili Taylor as Agent Darville, Patti Harrison as Alex, Haley Joel Osment as Kirby Kowalczyk, Taylor Schilling as Agent Annie Milligan, Simon Helberg as Agent Luca Clark, Rhea Perlman as Beatrix Hasp & Adam Arkin as Mark Getzler.

Some of the finales casting did actually appear in previous episodes.

The twelfth episode & season finale is the 22nd overall episode of the series and was written by co-executive producer Laura Deeley, and directed by main lead actress Natasha Lyonne.

The series follows Charlie Cale, a woman with the ability to detect if people are lying, who is now embarking on a fresh start after criminal boss Beatrix Hasp cancels a hit on her. In the episode, Charlie and Alex reach Indiana to try and save Beatrix Hasp from a deadly assassin.

The episode received critical acclaim, with critics praising the episode's plot twist, performances, tone, directing, and set-up for next season.

So how does it all go down, While traveling to Greenville, Indiana to meet with Beatrix Hasp (Perlman), Charlie (Lyonne) and Alex (Harrison) are called by Luca (Helberg), who warns him that "The Iguana" might be following them, and it could be anyone. 

Charlie hangs up the phone before the FBI can trace her precise location; while Luca and Milligan ( Schilling) deduce she is heading for Indiana, there are over 50 safe houses in the state.

Charlie and Alex stop at a diner to eat. Charlie notices a suspicious man. When he yells at Alex, calling her "oyster girl", they flee the diner and he is tackled by other patrons. As they reach Hasp's house, Charlie investigates the area. Hearing Alex scream, she returns to the car, but finds her missing. In the house, she discovers the bodies of multiple federal agents and of Hasp. Alex appears, and Charlie deduces she is the Iguana.

Alex explains that she had killed powerful people across different circles in the world, but felt depressed and stagnant in her career until her agent told her about Charlie, who cannot be lied to and is the only one with a connection to Beatrix Hasp. Through meticulously controlling her reactions, she has been able to lie to Charlie and earn her trust. 

When she found that Kirby (Haley Joel Osment) was going to get married, she hired another assassin (Theroux) to kill him and find a patsy. Alex then killed the other assassin to cover her tracks, and framed herself to gain Charlie's sympathy. At the diner, she attacked a man in the bathroom by offering an oyster so that he would later recognise her, making Charlie believe he was the Iguana.

Alex prepares to kill Charlie, but the latter reveals that she caused a small fire in the kitchen, which alerted the authorities and allowed the FBI to find the safe house. Taking Charlie hostage at gunpoint, Alex flees in the Barracuda with the FBI in pursuit. Charlie goads Alex into playing Two Truths and a Lie: if Charlie wins, they both live and become nemeses, but if Charlie loses, Alex will drive them both off a cliff. Charlie wins the game, but the car's brakes fail. Charlie is able to jump out of the car and is pulled over the cliff by Luca.

Luca tells Charlie that she will be hunted by the FBI. Nevertheless, he lets her go with a warning that he will arrest her if he finds her again. At the bottom of the cliff, Milligan finds the Barracuda empty. Charlie and a stray dog are picked up by a trucker (Steve Earle) on the way to Wichita, Kansas.

Also starring in the second season, Giancarlo Esposito, Katie Holmes, Gaby Hoffmann, Kumail Nanjiani, Kathrine Narducci, Ben Marshall, Kevin Corrigan, Sherry Cola, Cynthia Erivo, Margo Martindale, B. J. Novak, John Mulaney, Ego Nwodim, & Sam Richardson.

So here is hoping for a third season? Well maybe, it did get a little tired throughout this season.

I must say I enjoyed the first season a little more. Both seasons however stream on Stan, NOW!

Winter Warmer Watchlist - Warm Props - Miniseries

Warm Props is another one of those SBS/NITV Digital Originals. It's NAIDOC week, so step into the world of Warm Props. The six episodes takes audiences behind the scenes with Charlie (Tehya Makani), who returns to a chaotic film shoot in her hometown in Western Australia and must then face her past as her narcissistic boss threatens the stability of her career and personal life. 

The heartening series is brought to life by acclaimed creator and writer Jub Clerc (Mystery Road: Origin, Sweet As), co-writer Kimberley Benjamin (Our Medicine, Big Backyard Quiz), directed by Clerc and Benjamin, and produced by Jodie Bell for Ramu Productions. 

Alongside Makani, the series stars Rarriwuy Hick (True Colours, Erotic Stories, Wentworth, Redfern Now) & Jillian Nguyen (Apple Cider Vinegar, Hungry Ghosts). 

When Charlie returns home to Broome and runs into someone from her past while she is in the middle of a chaotic film shoot and it threatens her career and her relationships with those on set. You can catch up on Warm props on NITV and SBS On Demand.

Rarriwuy Hick is a total legend. Her role as Ruby Mitchell on Wentworth, spanned 42 episodes across the final few seasons.

Next up for Hick, she will appear in the second prequel season of Mystery Road: Origin on ABC TV. Hopefully that will land later in 2025.

Until next time, hopefully I get off to see Jurassic Park or Superman soon. Yep, it's blockbuster season.

Winter Warmer Watchlist - Moni - Season One

The third and final new drama from SBS / NITV Digital Originals, Moni, is a gay Samoan man, returns to Sydney determined not to miss his sister Hana's wedding. But an unexpected arrival throws things into disarray.

After a decade living in the UK, Moni turns up at his sister Hana's wedding rehearsal in Western Sydney, where he is welcomed by the whispers of the Samoan community he escaped from.

Starring super sweet, Chris Alosio as Moni, Tina Leaitua - Moni's mother Tina, Ilaisaane Green as Moni's sister,  Hana, Maiko Taukafa, Maila Latukefu, Maua Fuifui, Julian Maroun & Ella Ganza.

Along with Moni returning home from London for his sister's wedding, but he is also arriving six months after the death of his mother, Tina.

Tina then appears to him,  first as an apparition, giving him life advice ahead of his sisters wedding.

This can be a bit awkward, but overall this is a sweet family drama with some hard hitting themes across the short six episodes. These new mini digital series could be a way forward for some more local content. Good news on that front though, The Twelve will finally return to Binge on August 4th! Hooray! That's a Monday streaming services folks!

Right now though, Moni streams on SBS on Demand.

Winter Warmer Watchlist - Such Brave Girls - Season Two

The BAFTA-winning dark comedy returns. Such Brave Girls streams on Hulu today in the USA, here in Australia we got six new episodes last week on Stan.

The easy UK watch returns with Josie (Kat Sadler) is on a never-ending quest for meaning, Billie’s (Lizzie Davidson) chasing a fairytale romance, and Deb (Louise Brealey) is hoping for a financial miracle. Expect bigger disasters, terrible choices, and more harrowing love stories as this family continues their impossible journey for a better life.

This show was really a wild watch the first season around. It's a little less shocking when you have an idea of what is coming. However it is still loads of fun. Not to mention a quick and easy watch!

If this winter you need comedy to warm up, look no further than Such Brave Girls. If you missed season one, its easy as to catch up and binge both all at once.

Coming up some even shorter SBS new series have just landed. I cannot wait to share my thoughts with you.

Almost halfway (officially) through winter!

Winter Warmer Watchlist - Gangs of London - Season Three

The gruesome Gangs of London landed on Stan back in March, however I just sat down to all eight bloody episodes of the third season.

Across three seasons, the British action/thriller series has received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its performances, narrative, and action sequences, though some criticism was aimed at its excessive violence.

So what are we (the viewers) in for in season three?

Anyone can fall as chaos erupts in London after a spiked shipment of cocaine kills hundreds, fan-favourite characters collide with new faces bound by blood ties, sparking brutal power struggles, unexpected alliances, and fierce rivalries.  

Former undercover cop turned gangster Elliot navigates his new role as a top-level criminal alongside the Dumanis, but the spiking throws their operations into disarray. The Wallaces, Luan, Lale, and the street gangs face devastating consequences as personal vendettas collide with professional power struggles bleeding into violent turf wars.  

In the ruthless fight for control of London’s criminal underworld, no one is safe. This was no accident — it was a calculated attack. But who’s pulling the strings? 

The main players are back, Sean Wallace (Joe Cole), his mother, Marian Wallace (Michelle Fairley), and brother Billy(Brian Vernel), while hunky Elliot Finch (Sope Dirisu), also stars.

Newcomers to season three include Andrew Koji as Zeek Kimura, Richard Dormer as Cornelius Quinn , T'Nia Miller as Simone Thearle, who is actually also, the mayor of London who targets organised crime in the city by starting a war on drugs.

Across eight episodes the bodies pile up sky high. There is loads of violence, guns and guts. There is even one scene (which if you watch it, you know) that is the most wild kill scene, I've seen in a minute.

Stan have done well to keep this little UK nugget on their service as an exclusive.

There is no word on a fourth season, however the ending leaves you on a mega cliffhanger!

This week Murderbot and Poker Face conclude, along with me catching up on some other series I missed earlier this year! Have a good (NAIDOC) week ahead. 

Winter Warmer Watchlist - Nine Perfect Strangers - Season Two

Why is Nine Perfect Strangers back you ask? Wasn't it a miniseries shot in Australia over Covid? Or is this another is Liane Moriarty novel turned miniseries going further than the book would on the small screen.

Created by TV royalty, David E. Kelley who brings nine new strangers connected in ways they could never imagine are invited by mysterious guru, Masha Dmitrichenko (Nicole Kidman), to join a transformational wellness retreat in the Austrian Alps. 

Over the course of a week, she takes them to the brink. Will they make it? Will she? Masha is willing to try anything in the interest of healing everyone involved, including herself.

Back in June 2023, it was announced that the initial miniseries had been renewed for a second season as an anthology series, which premiered back in May.

The second season received €10m from the German Motion Picture Fund (GMPF), which accounted for almost 25% of the €44.8m distributed by the Berlin-based fund in 2023. Furthermore, the production secured the maximum allocation of €7.5 million from Austria's FISA+ program, designed to attract international productions to the country. 

The second season is being developed as a collaborative effort between the United States, Germany, and Austria, with production led by the US' Fifth Season alongside Germany's Supernix and Austria's Supernix Austria.

Upon the second season renewal announcement, it was reported that Kidman is set to reprise her role with a new ensemble cast. Liv Ullmann, Murray Bartlett, Annie Murphy, Christine Baranski, Dolly de Leon, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, King Princess, Aras Aydın, Lucas Englander, Henry Golding, Mark Strong & Lena Olin also joined the cast.

I love King Princess and her tunes, however acting, not so much.

So will a third season be on the cards?

The eighth episode, which landed on Prime in Australia, ends on a whopper of a cliffhanger, leaving room for Kidman and Mark Strong’s characters to potentially return.

Mark Strong’s David Sharpe is the central focus of the sophomore ender, as he’s revealed to be the Zauberwald guest that’s linked to all of the others: His company, Signal Op, has damaged the lives of all the other retreat-goers in some form, like when Signal Op’s “smart bomb” killed Matteo’s entire family, or when Signal Op’s broadcast news channel aired the video of Brian’s meltdown on the Crabapple Clubhouse set. 

And when David is forced to confront all of these transgressions while under the influence of Masha’s new psychedelic technology, he promises to make things right by getting Signal Op out of the bomb-building business entirely and redirecting all of the company’s military-focused resources to charity and other wholesome endeavours.

To no one’s surprise, David backtracks on those promises once he’s sobered up the next day, telling Masha that it would be “laughably drastic” to divest Signal Op of its military contracts. “What a shame,” Masha replies — and she’s not done holding him accountable. 

Later, after all of the guests have left Zauberwald, Masha leaks the security camera footage of David’s night-before “I’ll never work with the military again!” breakthrough, and it takes no time at all for the footage to land on the news. (“Billionaire Acquires Conscience?” reads one chyron.) David’s furious with Masha, but she has no plans to rescind the videos.

One month later, Masha (who has since left Zauberwald in Martin’s possession) and David (who’s still very much a billionaire, despite the initial fallout from Masha’s footage) meet up at a McDonald’s in Bavaria, where David reveals that he wants to devote part of his company to psychedelic therapy… which requires Masha to sign a nondisclosure agreement. 

She’ll get a measly $100,000 out of it, but no equity or meaningful control in Signal Op’s psychedelic endeavours, so she’s not inclined to sign. David, though, has acquired some damning security camera footage of his own: Thanks to Martin, he’s now in possession of several video clips of Masha’s psychedelic therapy sessions going awry, including some incidents from Nine Perfect Strangers‘ first season, and he plans to release them if Masha doesn’t acquiesce. Plus, he assures her she doesn’t want a lengthy legal battle. He’ll win.

Masha does eventually sign the NDA, but she’s almost gleeful as she does so. She reminds David that they’re family — they’ll always share a daughter — and even if you don’t like your family, you can never truly get rid of them. So, she signs her name to the document, then pulls David in for a long kiss across the table. “I do,” Masha says with a smile.

The second season die tie up all its loose ends with this finale, the other Zauberwald guests, who I didn’t get into much here, left the retreat sufficiently healed, and maybe Masha and David’s new business entanglement can be left unexplored. 

Masha and David’s deal, could end up being a real possibility for a third season. I think in the States Hulu after renewing The Bear this week (also meant to be a miniseries) there is a real chance we will see Liane Moriarty's novel live on, on the small screen.

Until next time.

Winter Warmer Watchlist - Mix Tape - Miniseries

Binge's MIX TAPE stars Australian actress Teresa Palmer (The Clearing, The Fall Guy) as Alison and British actor Jim Sturgess (Across The Universe, Cloud Atlas) as Daniel. British actress Florence Hunt (Bridgerton, Cursed) and newcomer Rory Walton-Smith play the younger versions of Alison and Daniel.

This is the latest Aussie miniseries to stream on the now UK owned streamer, Binge.

Moving between their teenage romance in Sheffield, England in 1989 and the modern-day reality of their adult relationships, MIX TAPE follows Daniel (Sturgess) and Alison (Palmer), now living on opposite sides of the world, as they reconnect through a song from their shared past and explore their burning curiosity to understand if this is the love, and life, they were meant to have.

As it's an Aussie/Irish film, the ensemble cast also boasts a stellar lineup of international and Australian talent, including Sara Soulié (Conflict, The Man Who Died), Ben Lawson (Bombshell, Designated Survivor), Julia Savage (The Clearing, Blaze), Conor Sánchez (Hope Street, Ellis), Mark O’Halloran (Mary & George, The Virtues), Helen Behan (Malpractice, The Virtues), Jonathan Harden (Time, Blue Lights), and Siobhan O’Kelly (The Tourist, The Hardacres), Jacqueline McKenzie (Force of Nature: The Dry 2, Savage River) and Chika Ikogwe (Heartbreak High, Land of the Bad).

With the use of music, Mix Tape is adapted from a novel of the same name by Jane Sanderson and has a couple who fell in love in the late 1980s reconnect decades later whilst on opposite sides of the world.

The project was announced in August 2023, as a collaboration between Screen Australia, Screen Ireland and Binge.

The four-part series has been a fairly delightful watch over the past few Thursdays.

Mix Tape is produced by Australia's Foxtel Group and Aquarius Films, and the Irish company Subotica, with filming taking place in Sydney in May 2024 & Dublin and County Wicklow in Ireland in June and July last year.

Binge has served us some delightful Aussie content lately. Strife's second season was wonderful and I need to finish the Last Anniversary.

The Twelve is also hopefully due to return really soon.

For now, that concludes the first Aussie series for Winter Warmer Watchlist series.

Winter Warmer Watchlist - Ironheart - Season One

Ironheart has some damn good music throughout and it's also the first in the Q3, Winter Warmer Watchlist TV blog series.

Welcome along.

Disney+,/Marvel Comics are at it again. This time streaming a new series over just two weeks. Three episodes a week, a total of six quick episodes finished streaming last night.

This is the 14th television series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) produced by Marvel Studios, via its Marvel Television label, alongside Proximity Media. 

Ironheart shares continuity with the films of the franchise. It sees MIT student Riri Williams return home to Chicago, following the events of the film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), where she discovers secrets that pit technology against magic. 

Dominique Thorne reprises her role as Riri Williams / Ironheart from Wakanda Forever, starring alongside Lyric Ross, Manny Montana, Matthew Elam, Anji White, Jim Rash, Eric André, Cree Summer, Sonia Denis, Shea Couleé, Zoe Terakes, Shakira Barrera, Anthony Ramos, & Alden Ehrenreich. 

This is last television series and the conclusion of Phase Five of the MCU. How many phases are there can I ask? OK spoilers below the trailer, so only read on if like me you are done and dusted with Ironheart.

Years before, Robbins attempted to rob his father's mansion with John before escaping and splitting up, where he meets a hooded figure. The man assures Robbins that he can help him achieve his desire for power, respect, and wealth for himself, and Robbins accepts the deal and becomes the Hood. 

In the present, Robbins stands as the head of his family's business and mansion, although he only has a controlled Zeke as a companion. Unable to recreate N.A.T.A.L.I.E., Riri resists her family and friends' advice and goes to Robbins to find answers through his hood. 

Feeling empty, Robbins meets up with the stranger and accuses him of not fulfilling his end of the deal, which the man replies that he had given what he needed. 

Riri arrives at the headquarters and battles a reluctant Zeke, who allows her to hit him in his crotch, where he can reset and be free of Robbins' control. 

Riri confronts Robbins and demands his hood, but he warns her that what would cost her is not worth it.

The two battle, with Riri managing to take off Robbins' hood, leaving him wallowing in a pained state. As she is about to leave, Riri meets the stranger. 

The man introduces himself as Mephisto. Having observed her, Mephisto manipulates Riri by exploiting her grief towards Natalie, and she agrees to his deal as long as he does not go after her loved ones. 

At her garage, Riri sees a revived Natalie and hugs her, albeit with the marks of Mephisto crawling through her skin. 

While in a post-credits scene, Robbins asks Zelma for "Supreme-like help". So will there be a second season? On Wikipedia it's listed as a miniseries and the Marvel series have been going down the miniseries road for a while.

So will we see Riri and the great tunes return to Disney+ again soon? Time will tell. Two more finales today, one local, MixTape, along with the wild (maybe unnecessary) finale of the second season of Nine Perfect Strangers.

Stay dry team!

#RATED - Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25'

My summer streaming was off the chain, however my Autumn, into winter streaming went into catch up mode, following three weeks of bliss in Japan, Paramount+ ended up being the top dogs of the last three months.

The last few months saw a serious number of series finales. Planned or otherwise. Following their last respective episodes, several key network shows also fell victim to the axe.

Just yesterday Doctor Odyssey joined Rescue: HI-Surf as one and done network shows from the 2024-2025 TV season.

The Bondsman over at Amazon also fell victim to the axe quickly after it streamed.

So how did Aussie content fair these past three months?

Well Strife's second season on Binge was a mega easy watch with Asher Keddie excelling again!

Good Cop/Bad Cop was a surprisingly good little Stan/The CW co-production filmed in Queensland, whilst Stan continued to deliver with Scrublands: Silver and Ten Pound Poms.

The Survivors on Netflix may not be their Apple Cider Vinegar or Boy Shallows Universe for the next Logies, however if you liked The Dry, you'll enjoy this.

The Handmaid's Tale also wrapped with a sequel series already in the works, with HBO farewelling outrageous series, The Righteous Gemstones. Fresh comedy this season was in fine form, with Apple TV+'s The Studio being one of my series of the season. Overcompensating over on Amazon was also a surprising hit. Even getting some Charli XCX onboard!

So as winter settles in, its even more catch up TV ahead, along with a few finales this week. Irish/Australian miniseries Mixtape and Nine Perfect Strangers wrap this week, with Poker Face and Murderbot calling it a day next week.

So go waste your time with my previous quarterly RATED's!

Mega Summer 2023-2024 master list

#RATED - Fall Finales 2023

#RATED - Summer Slack Streaming (2023)

#RATED - Spring 2022 TV Finales

#RATED - Winter 2022 TV Finales

#RATED - Summer Slack (Dec-Feb) TV Finales (2022)

#RATED - Autumn 2022 TV Finales

#RATED - Autumn/Winter Binged 2022

#RATED - Sizzlin' Summer Streaming 23'

#RATED - Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24'

#RATED - New Financial Year 2024/2025 Streaming

#RATED - Summer Streamin' 24

#RATED - Summer Streamin' 25

#RATED - Summer Streamin' 24/25

Anyway, here are my top 45 shows following my post Japan blues streaming, below.

1. MobLand - Season One

2. The Studio - Season One

3. The White Lotus - Season Three

4. The Handmaid's Tale - Season Six/Series Finale

5. Overcompensating - Season One

6. Hacks - Season Four

7. Strife - Season Two (AU)

8. The Righteous Gemstones - Season Four/Series Finale

9. High Potential - Season One

10. Fallout - Season One

11. Good Cop/Bad Cop - Season One (AU/USA)

12. Abbott Elementary - Season Four 

13. Rescue: HI-Surf - Season One/Series Finale

14. Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue - Miniseries

15. Scrublands: Silver (AU)

16. The Survivors - Miniseries (AU)

17. Ten Pound Poms - Seasons One-Two (AU)

18. The Real Housewives of Sydney - Season Three (AU)

19. NCIS: Sydney - Season Two (AU)

20. Adults - Season One

21. SkyMed - Season Three

22. Sullivan's Crossing - Season Three

23. Doctor Odyssey - Season One/Series Finale

24. Dying for Sex - Miniseries

25. Mid-Century Modern - Season One

26. Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes - Miniseries

27. Yellowjackets - Season Three

28. Heartstopper - Season Three

29. Daredevil: Born Again - Season One

30. We Were Liars - Miniseries

31. The Rehearsal - Season Two

32. The Residence - Miniseries

33. Andor - Season Two/Series Finale

34. Power Book III: Raising Kanan - Season Four

35. The Equalizer - Season Five/Series Finale

36. Found - Season Two/Series Finale

37. Happy Face - Miniseries

38. Deli Boys - Season One

39. The Cleaning Lady - Season Four/Series Finale

40. 1923 - Season Two/Series Finale

41. The Stolen Girl - Miniseries

42. Bondsman - Season One/Series Finale

43. All American - Season Seven

44. The Walking Dead: Dead City - Season Two

45. The Ex-Wife - Season Two

Film Influencer 2025 - 28 Years Later

28 Years Later is the third instalment in the 28 Days Later film series, following 28 Days Later (2002) and 28 Weeks Later (2007).

Featuring Killing Eve's Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Alfie Williams, & Ralph Fiennes.

Plans for a third film began shortly after the release of 28 Weeks Later. The project had numerous delays over the years regarding conflicts over the franchise film rights, stalling it into development hell.

Development gained traction in 2024, when series producer Andrew Macdonald bought the rights to the first film back from Searchlight Pictures, which he then sold to Sony Pictures on the provision the studio agreed to fund sequels. 

28 Years Later marks the returns of Boyle, Garland and cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle to the series, all of whom worked on the first film, with original star Cillian Murphy also serving as executive producer. 

It was shot back-to-back with its sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, set to be released in January 2026.

28 Years Later has received positive reviews from critics and has grossed $73.6 million worldwide against its budget of $60 million. So that is a rare profit at the cinemas these days!

So what is 28 Days Later about? It’s been almost three decades since the rage virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory, and now, still in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amidst the infected. 

One such group of survivors lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily-defended causeway. When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the dark heart of the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors as well.

It is slightly gory, it feels at times like a video game, but it's actually gone some heart behind it.

Young Alfie Williams was excellent. I was impressed by this film after maybe missing the sequel, 28 Weeks Later, however I am sure I have seen the OG film.

I will look forward to the sequel film coming in January next year.

If you need to escape the school holidays madness, this gets a solid 3.5 stars.

Film Influencer 2025 - M3GAN 2.0

So after after a week or so off the cinema, I'm back and so is the murderous doll who captivated pop culture in 2023.

The original creative team behind that phenomenon—led by horror titans James Wan for Atomic Monster, Jason Blum for Blumhouse and writer-director Gerard Johnstone—reboot an all-new wild chapter in A.I. mayhem with M3GAN 2.0. 

Two years after M3GAN, a marvel of artificial intelligence, went rogue and embarked on a murderous rampage and was subsequently destroyed, M3GAN’s creator Gemma (Allison Williams) has become a high-profile author and advocate for government oversight of A.I. Meanwhile, Gemma’s niece Cady (Violet McGraw), now 14, has become a teenager, rebelling against Gemma’s overprotective rules.

Unbeknownst to them, the underlying tech for M3GAN has been stolen and misused by a powerful defense contractor to create a military-grade weapon known as Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno; Ahsoka, Pacific Rim: Uprising), the ultimate killer infiltration spy. But as Amelia’s self-awareness increases, she becomes decidedly less interested in taking orders from humans. Or in keeping them around. 

With the future of human existence on the line, Gemma realizes that the only option is to resurrect M3GAN (Amie Donald, voiced by Jenna Davis) and give her a few upgrades, making her faster, stronger, and more lethal. As their paths collide, the original A.I icon is about to meet her match.

Also starring the wonderful lead of the English Teacher, Brian Jordan Alvarez and Jen Van Epps as Gemma’s loyal tech teammates, Cole and Tess, and new characters played by Aristotle Athari (Saturday Night Live, Hacks), Timm Sharp (Apples Never Fall, Percy Jackson and the Olympians) and Grammy winner and 11-time Emmy nominee Jemaine Clement (Avatar: The Way of Water, What We Do in the Shadows). 

So is this camp, Chucky meets Terminator any good for a second time? Well my partner hated it, Rotten Tomatoes gives it a score in the high 50's. But for me...

I liked it. It is no longer a horror film, more an action-comedy.

M3GAN has some seriously brilliant one-liners. The action scenes look fairly well done with CGI.

This film honestly gives a full Kylie or Madonna era change with the genre bending (and body bending, dancing) M3GAN. It is not going to win any awards, get critics loving it, but take it for what it is.

A fun little escape from the 24/7 news headlines.

M3GAN 2.0 gets a solid 3 Stars.

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - We Were Liars - Miniseries

We Were Liars is the latest teen psychological/thriller series based on the 2014 novel of the same name by E. Lockhart. 

This is yet another Amazon Prime Video original, that landed earlier this month. I'm listing this as a miniseries. There is a clear conclusion at the end of the series.

So what is We Were Liars about? The eight episodes, follows Cadence Sinclair Eastman and her tight-knit inner circle, nicknamed ‘the Liars,’ during their summer escapades vacationing on their grandfather’s New England private island. On the surface the Sinclair family is known for their good looks, generational wealth, and close familial bond, but after a life-altering accident, everyone, not just the Liars, seems to have something to hide.  

Starring Emily Alyn Lind as Cadence Sinclair Eastman,  Shubham Maheshwari as Gat Patil, Esther McGregor as Mirren Sinclair Sheffield, Joseph Zada as Johnny Sinclair Dennis; alongside Caitlin FitzGerald as Penny Sinclair, Mamie Gummer as Carrie Sinclair, Candice King as Bess Sinclair, Rahul Kohi as Ed Patil and David Morse as Harris Sinclair. 

So how'd it end? Maybe you read the book from ten years ago? If not SPOILERS BELOW! However this was an easy binge, if you start it, you just push through and finish it.

In episode eight, My Friends Are Lying in the Sun, though Cadence remembers the fire, she still does not know how the summer of 2016 ended. 

For her 18th birthday, Harris gifts her the black pearl necklace, which triggers an episode of flashbacks.

The Liars arrive to comfort her, but Cadence confronts them about abandoning her after the accident. 

Reluctantly, the Liars tell her the truth, that the three of them died in the fire and that she has been speaking to their ghosts. Horrified, Cadence tries to return the necklace to Harris, but he calls her entitled and tells her that he lied about the cause of the fire to protect the family. 

Instead of indulging his wishes and speaking to a reporter for a puff piece about their family, Cadence leaves the island, stating that she was once a Sinclair, but will always be a Liar.

OK sounds random? Well it was. It gives Gossip Girl, I Know What You Did Last Summer, any other teen drama with rich kids vibes. However it was a very simple watch. The Liars island and house is incredible. Of course they are all good looking, with one looking a lot like Sabrina Carpenter.

Maybe not Amazon's best series. But an OK watch all the same. Maybe the last Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' post for the series, happy EOFY!!!

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - Sullivan's Crossing - Season Three

Sullivan's Crossing just concluded with a double episode Monday evening.

The Canadian romantic drama series, From CTV, streams exclusively on Stan in Australia. It is a popular little series, very similar to Virgin River on Netflix. There are reasons behind this. Both shows are based on different series of novels by Robyn Carr, set in small towns, and feature female protagonists in the medical field who move to those small towns to process the trauma of their past – and, along the way, find love.

Earlier this month, the series was renewed by CTV for a fourth season! Praise be!

Season three of Sullivan’s Crossing picked up where season two ended with the fire at Rob's (Reid Price) diner and Maggie (Morgan Kohan) losing the baby.

Season three has placed a big focus on Rob rebuilding his life and Maggie getting over her grief to grow closer to Cal (Chad Michael Murray) - but not without tension. 

As for Cal, he finally made peace with his past, and his father. Elsewhere in the town, new romances were kindled with Sully (Scott Patterson) striking up a love connection with Helen (Kate Vernon), and Lola (Amalia Williamson) finding a potential match in Jacob Cranebear (Joel Oulette). 

Spoilers ahead if you didn't get to finish both episodes this Monday. Which to be honest I wasn't expecting a second episode this week. However after some research, it appears the trend is always ending on a double episode finale.

 

With a shocking cliffhanger that will obviously be the big storyline of Sullivan's Crossing season four. 

No one knew that Maggie had a husband - not even, it seems, her own father. Surely, had anyone else known, it would have come up previously. It's especially odd considering the fact that Maggie had been engaged to Andrew for the first two seasons and is now in love with and living with Cal in Sullivan's Crossing season three.

It seems as though this man, Liam, was someone to whom Maggie had been married briefly, and perhaps she didn't even know they technically were still married. S

he had mentioned earlier this season that he was just a summer fling, so maybe it was a wild night in Vegas she doesn't remember. It sure seems like it's something she should have mentioned to Cal before, though. Liam's sudden appearance is bound to cause problems. Likewise, there are those aforementioned questions about the other relationships.

It also seems as though Sullivan's Crossing season four may see a bit of a time jump. 

Nothing has been confirmed yet, however, it's hard to imagine the show without Scott Patterson's Sully being around. So, unless the upcoming season splits storylines between Timberlake and Ireland, it seems most likely that season four will pick up after he returns from his trip. 

My mum was completely shook at the finale. I thought the husband was her American ex, so it took me to reading an episode recap to figure out what the big shock was!

Either way, all is well that ends well is usually the case at Sullivan's Crossing. Yes there is drama, however, a resolution is always just around the corner!

Until next time, the Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' series is almost done and dusted! Seeya soon, bye!

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - The Walking Dead: Dead City - Season Two

The Walking Dead: Dead City is the first sequel to The Walking Dead television series, and the fifth series in The Walking Dead franchise

Airing on AMC in the USA, and Stan back home, The Walking Dead characters Maggie and Negan return to slay more zombies and meet fucked up humans along the way. Also a bear this season WTF. 

OK season one was better, season two has been a trainwreck. Like I mean the last few seasons of the Walking Dead & Fear the Walking Dead bad!

Lauren Cohan and Jeffrey Dean Morgan reprise their roles as Maggie and Negan from the original series.

Joining them in this eight episode slog, Kim Coates, Keir Gilchrist, Dascha Polanco, Jake Weary, and Pooya Mohseni were added to the cast for the second season.

There is no news on a third season yet, which may not be good news. As fellow spin-off The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon has announced its return in September. Watch out for the spoilers below.

In the eight episode, The Dama and Hershel convince Maggie to finally kill Negan in order to finally move on; the Dama reveals that she had faked her death in the fire. 

Joined by a reluctant Perlie, Bruegel's gang attempts to ambush the Burazi, only to fall into a cleverly laid trap by Negan. 

Everyone aside from Bruegel and Perlie are killed by the Burazi and a herd unleashed by Negan. 

Negan captures the pair and brutally executes Bruegel after playing a game of eeny, meeny, miny, moe similar to the one that Negan played before killing Abraham and Glenn. 

Maggie stabs Negan to save Perlie, but is stopped from finishing the job with Lucille by the discovery that Ginny has died of her infection and reanimated. 

A devastated Negan puts the girl down while Maggie finally accepts that she needs to let go of her revenge and move forward. 

In the aftermath, Hershel remains with the Dama to continue her plans while a second wave of New Babylon forces arrives and is led to the methane by Benjamin Pierce. 

Maggie, Negan and Perlie vow to build a better future, recognising that the only way forward is together.

The ending and dying moments monologue is either setting us up for a third season or seeing the spin-off disappear into the sunset. I have a feeling the Walking Dead is totally running out of lives. Including zombie lives.

Tomorrow we will stay with Stan for the Sullivan's Crossing third season finale.

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - The Ex-Wife - Season Two

Yet another another English trashy series, about missing kids, scandal, drama, this miniseries ended up continuing, it's The Ex-Wife, season two.

The British drama/thriller based on Jess Ryder's book of the same name, streams on Paramount+. 

The series stars Céline Buckens, Tom Mison, Jordan Stephens, Clare Foster, Adam Drew, Sam Hoare & with Katie McGrath replacing Janet Montgomery.

Again the second season consisted of four episodes. 

Again the series revolves around, Tasha (Buckens), Jack (Mison) & Jen (McGrath). 

The Stolen Girl was super trashy with this being equally almost as trashy.

The nicest thing about the second season is, it mostly revolves around Cyprus.

After three UK short series back to back, it's time to return to some US programming and hopefully find another Aussie series to watch. With Mixtape being a bit of an Aussie/Irish co-pro, it doesn't super feel like a regular local series. Can Channel Seven just hurry up and screen the third season of RFDS?

Like the second season finished early October 2023! Also the third season was filmed last year!

Anyone all eight series of The Ex-Wife now stream on Paramount+, alongside the brilliant MobLand, 1923, Tulsa King and Landman.

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - The Stolen Girl - Miniseries

The Stolen Girl is trashy little UK miniseries based on the 2020 novel Playdate by Alex Dahl.

Starring Denise Gough, Holliday Grainger and Ambika Mod. With Aussie Xavier Samuel starring the handsome, Marcus Turner.

The five episodes dropped on Disney+ in mid-April.

Elisa (Gough) allows her daughter Lucia to go for a playdate with her new friend Josie. Josie’s mother Rebecca/Nina (Grainger) is charming, affluent, and her house is spectacular – Elisa instantly feels at ease and agrees to Lucia staying overnight for a sleepover. 

The next morning, when she goes to pick her daughter, she finds the house empty with no sign of Nina, Josie or Lucia. What started out as her daughter’s first ‘playdate’ turns into every parent's worst nightmare.

SPOILER ALERT! In the fifth episodes, we get a flashback to five years earlier, Turner and Elisa are shown starting their affair. She explains her difficult upbringing in the commune and that her father is now terminally ill. 

They agree to visit him together with Lucia. At the visit, it is revealed that Elisa suffered sexual abuse at the hands of her father when young and in an angry confrontation, he falls down the stairs and dies. The collision is then shown: Nina and Josephine had got out of the car because Josephine was ill and the Range Rover driven by Turner to the commune earlier is seen hitting the Thibault's parked car and then driving away. 

In the present the UK police are now aware that Selma and Elisa have flown to France, who are in Toulon and searching for where Nina lives. They start looking around the local schools for Josephine but realise that she is likely to be homeschooled and go to the Mayor's office to find out, where they find Nina's address. Nina gets the fake passport but has been spotted and reported to the local police. 

Lucia opens Nina's lockbox and sees photos and that they had been artificially altered. She leaves the house and discovers the well containing Matkovic's body. She meets a neighbour on the way back, whom she asks for help, but they are intercepted by Nina. 

Lucia runs out of the house again, then Elisa and Selma arrive. Nina and Elisa meet and argue; it is revealed that it was Elisa, not Marcus Turner, who was driving the car which killed Nina's daughter and husband, and Turner had taken the blame because Elisa was pregnant with George, their son. 

Elisa searches for Lucia and finds her safe and well. Nina and Josephine are seen driving away together.

Three months later Fred and Elisa meet at and discuss her pending sentencing; she has told him about George. Elisa is sentenced to six years in prison for her crimes.

It all wraps up nicely, after the we start to see Elisa as maybe not the innocent victim we thought she was from the earlier episodes.

Rebecca AKA Nina also has a very different side. This was an easy, yet forgettable watch. One more UK miniseries to go before I move onto to something new. Enjoy the weekend, stay warm dear readers!

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes - Miniseries

Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes is a British miniseries based on the 2005 killing of a Brazilian electrician by London police. 

Written by Jeff Pope, starring Edison Alcaide, Daniel Mays, Russell Tovey, Laura Aikman, Alex Jennings, Conleth Hill, Emily Mortimer & Max Beesley. 

The four episodes landed on Disney+ on late April. June - September is my TV catch up peroid, so expect some serious catch up posts for the next few months.

Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes documents the killing of Jean Charles de Menezes by officers of the Metropolitan Police Service at Stockwell station on the London Underground after he was wrongly deemed to be one of the fugitives involved in the previous day's failed bombing attempts.

This is not the first series based on Jean Charles de Menezes.

Back in 2006, the Panorama episode "Stockwell – Countdown to Killing" was shown on BBC One. The shooting was the subject of an hour-long factual drama titled Stockwell, first broadcast in 2009 in the UK on ITV1.

More recently in 2024, a two-part documentary titled Shoot to Kill: Terror on the Tube, first broadcast on Channel 4, seeks to set the shooting in the context of the fear-filled atmosphere in London in July 2005 and includes an interview with the police officer who killed Menezes.

While Line of Duty creator Jed Mercurio has said the series, which starts with armed police shooting an unarmed man, was inspired by the shooting of Meneze.

This was a shocking event in history. The series was a full on watch. However the performances were incredible and this is a story that needs telling. All four episodes stream on Disney+ now.

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - SkyMed - Season Three

I really vibed seasons one and two of Canadian medical series SkyMed, however season three was a little patchy. Life, death, and drama at 20-thousand feet. A new medical adventure about a group of young first responders in the remote North, where help - and survival - are thousands of miles away.

Nicola Correia-Damude joined the series as Chief Nurse Marianne Fereira, a nurse who and PR expert who comes to head up the SkyMed nurses and runs them strictly. Marianne was one of the main plot points of this season.

Also interesting to point out, earlier this month, the series was renewed for a fourth season only on Paramount+. But with how the ninth episode wraps, who will return?

Joining Nicola Correia-Damude, Natasha Calis (Nurses) as Hayley, Morgan Holmstrom (Day of the Dead) as Crystal, Praneet Akilla (Nancy Drew) as Chopper, Mercedes Morris (Ghosts) as Lexi, Thomas Elms (The Boys in the Boat) as Nowak, Kheon Clarke (Riverdale) as Tristan, Sydney Kuhne (Ginny & Georgia) as Stef and Aaron Ashmore (Ginny & Georgia) as Wheezer. 

The recurring cast was comprised of “Ace” Aason Nadjiwon (The Twilight Zone) as Bode, Emilia McCarthy (Zombies) as Madison, Anthony Grant (V-Wars) as TJ & Braeden Clarke (Outlander) guest-starred as Jeremy.

Th season starts with the arrival of a new Chief Nurse Marianne Fereira, who throws the whole SkyMed flight crew off-balance, until an unexpected accident causes a shocking loss.

Now a brief spoiler alert following this trailer.

In the last episode, things wrap up fairly nicely, as Bodie's wedding celebrations take an unexpected turn, forcing the SkyMed flight crew to race to save one of their own.

However the finale also could double as a series finale, with lots of loose ends being wrapped.

Episode six, Wheezervision is the most cringe, however with bombs on board planes, a random camping trip and the SkyMed documentary storyline, things do get a little silly from time to time across this nine episode drop.

Fingers crossed the next eight episode fourth season drop is stronger. This is not my only Canadian series I have jumped into, with Sullivan's Crossing also screening currently on Stan.

Until next time, see you soon!

Logies 2025 - My Picks

Yesterday, The Logies nominations were announced. Here is my yearly tradition of "My Picks" in Red + BOLD, let's see how I go. 

The ABC plus streaming (particularly Netflix's Apple Cider Vinegar) did exceptionally well with the nominations yesterday.

Stan were the real streaming losers with very few nominations across multiple shows. Randomly US series Good Cop/Bad Cop got a few more nods than the final run of Bump or the recent gay drama Invisible Boys. Was Ten Pound Poms, Scrublands and Black Snow all released too late too?

Binge did well with the return of crowd favourite Colin From Accounts, which luckily has already been renewed for a third season. The Twelve also scored a couple of nods.

Voting is now open, so get cracking people! The ceremony will be broadcast on Sunday, August 3. A little earlier than last year.

Here we go, my picks below!

TV Week Gold Logie – Most Popular Personality on Australian Television

Ally Langdon, A Current Affair, The Olympic Games Paris 2024, 9Network

Hamish Blake, Lego Masters Australia, 9Network

Julia Morris, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Network 10

Lisa Millar, Back Roads, ABC News Breakfast, Muster Dogs: Where Are They Now, Muster Dogs: Collies & Kelpies, ABC

Lynne McGranger, Home and Away, Seven Network

Poh Ling Yeow, MasterChef Australia, Network 10

Sonia Kruger, The Voice, Dancing With The Stars, Logies Red Carpet Show, Seven Network

Bert Newton Award for Most Popular Presenter

Hamish Blake, Lego Masters Australia, 9Network

Julia Morris, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Network 10

Ricki-Lee, Australian Idol, Seven Network

Sonia Kruger, The Voice, Dancing With The Stars, Logies Red Carpet Show, Seven Network

Todd Woodbridge, Tipping Point Australia, Australian Open, The Olympic Games Paris 2024, Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, 9Network

Zan Rowe, Take 5 With Zan Rowe, ABC New Year’s Eve, ABC

Graham Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent

Guy Montgomery, Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee, ABC

Hailey Pinto, Home and Away, Seven Network

Jenny Tian, Taskmaster Australia, Network 10

Kate Miller-Heidke, The Voice, Seven Network

Kylah Day, Territory, Netflix

Sofia Levin, MasterChef Australia, Network 10

Ray Martin Award for Most Popular News or Public Affairs Presenter

Ally Langdon, A Current Affair, 9Network

David Speers, Insiders, ABC

Michael Usher, 7News, 7News Spotlight, Seven Network

Peter Overton, 9News, 9Network

Sarah Ferguson, 7.30, ABC

Tara Brown, 60 Minutes, Dangerous Lies: Unmasking Belle Gibson, 9Network

TV Week Silver Logie – Best Lead Actor in a Drama

Lloyd Griffith, Return To Paradise, ABC

Michael Dorman, Territory, Netflix

Robert Taylor, Territory, Netflix

Sam Corlett, Territory, Netflix

Sam Neill, The Twelve, Binge / Foxtel

Tai Hara, Return To Paradise, ABC

TV Week Silver Logie – Best Lead Actress in a Drama

Alycia Debnam-Carey, Apple Cider Vinegar, Netflix

Anna Samson, Return To Paradise, ABC

Anna Torv, Territory, Netflix

Ayesha Madon, Heartbreak High, Netflix

Kaitlyn Dever, Apple Cider Vinegar, Netflix

Lynne McGranger, Home and Away, Seven Network

TV Week Silver Logie – Best Lead Actor in a Comedy

Aaron Chen, Fisk, ABC

Ben Miller, Austin, ABC

Clancy Brown, Good Cop/Bad Cop, Stan

Luke Cook, Good Cop/Bad Cop, Stan

Michael Theo, Austin, ABC

Patrick Brammall, Colin From Accounts, Binge / Foxtel

TV Week Silver Logie – Best Lead Actress in a Comedy

Harriet Dyer, Colin From Accounts, Binge / Foxtel

Jenna Owen, Nugget is Dead: A Christmas Story, Stan

Kitty Flanagan, Fisk, ABC

Leighton Meester, Good Cop/Bad Cop, Stan

Sally Phillips, Austin, ABC

Vic Zerbst, Nugget is Dead: A Christmas Story, Stan

TV Week Silver Logie – Best Supporting Actor

Ashley Zukerman, Apple Cider Vinegar, Netflix

Darren Gilshenan, Colin From Accounts, Binge / Foxtel

Glenn Butcher, Fisk, ABC

Mark Coles Smith, Apple Cider Vinegar, Netflix

Matt Nable, Apple Cider Vinegar, Netflix

Sam Delich, Territory, Netflix

TV Week Silver Logie – Best Supporting Actress

Aisha Dee, Apple Cider Vinegar, Netflix

Chloé Hayden, Heartbreak High, Netflix

Julia Zemiro, Fisk, ABC

Marg Downey, The Newsreader, ABC

Michelle Lim Davidson, The Newsreader, ABC

Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Apple Cider Vinegar, Netflix

Best Drama Program

Bump, Stan

Heartbreak High, Netflix

Return To Paradise, ABC

Territory, Netflix

The Newsreader, ABC

The Twelve, Binge / Foxtel

Best Miniseries or Telemovie

Apple Cider Vinegar, Netflix

Critical Incident, Stan

Fake, Paramount+

How To Make Gravy, Binge / Foxtel

Human Error, 9Network

Plum, ABC

Best Entertainment Program

ABC New Year’s Eve, ABC

Australian Idol, Seven Network

Countdown 50 Years On, ABC

Dancing With The Stars, Seven Network

The Voice, Seven Network

Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight, 9Network

Best Current Affairs Program

60 Minutes, 9Network

7.30, ABC

7NEWS Spotlight, Seven Network

A Current Affair, 9Network

Australian Story, ABC

Four Corners, ABC

Best Scripted Comedy Program

Austin, ABC

Colin From Accounts, Binge / Foxtel

Fisk, ABC

Good Cop/Bad Cop, Stan

Melbourne International Comedy Festival, ABC

Optics, ABC

Best Comedy Entertainment Program

Gruen, ABC

Hard Quiz, ABC

Have You Been Paying Attention?, Network 10

Sam Pang Tonight, Network 10

Thank God You’re Here, Network 10

The Weekly with Charlie Pickering, ABC

Best Competition Reality Program

Alone Australia, SBS

Australian Survivor: Brains V Brawn II, Network 10

Lego Masters Australia, 9Network

MasterChef Australia, Network 10

My Kitchen Rules, Seven Network

The Block, 9Network

Best Structured Reality Program

Farmer Wants A Wife, Seven Network

Gogglebox Australia, Network 10

Married At First Sight, 9Network

Muster Dogs: Collies & Kelpies, ABC

Shark Tank Australia, Network 10

The Real Housewives of Sydney, Binge / Foxtel

Best Lifestyle Program

Better Homes and Gardens, Seven Network

Do You Want To Live Forever?, 9Network

Gardening Australia, ABC

Grand Designs Australia, ABC

Restoration Australia, ABC

Travel Guides, 9Network

Best News Coverage or Public Affairs Report

Betrayal of Trust, Four Corners, ABC

Building Bad, 60 Minutes, 9Network

Courage & Science, A Current Affair, 9Network

Cyclone Alfred, 7NEWS, Seven Network

Melbourne Protests, Sunrise, Seven Network

Trump Assassination Attempt, 7News, Seven Network

Best Factual or Documentary Program

Big Miracles, 9Network

Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story, Seven Network

Miriam Margolyes Impossibly Australian, ABC

The Assembly, ABC

Tsunami: 20 Years On, 9Network

Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story, 9Network

Best Sports Coverage

2024 AFL Finals Series, Seven Network

2024 State of Origin, 9Network

2025 Australian Open Finals, 9Network

Australia v India: Border – Gavaskar Trophy, Kayo Sports / Foxtel

CommBank Matildas V China PR, Network 10

The Olympic Games Paris 2024, 9Network / Stan Sport

Best Children’s Program

Bluey, ABC

Ginger and the Vegesaurs, ABC

Hard Quiz Kids, ABC

Little J & Big Cuz, NITV / ABC

Play School, ABC

Rock Island Mysteries, Network 10

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - Good Cop/Bad Cop - Season One

Good Cop/Bad Cop is The CW/Roku/Stan co-production, whilst filmed in QLD, Australia.

The first eight episodes follow Lou (Leighton Meester) and Henry (Luke Cook), a sister and brother detective team in a small Pacific Northwest police force who must contend with colourful residents, a serious lack of resources, and their very complicated dynamic with each other and their police chief, Big Hank (Clancy Brown) – who happens to be their father.

Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester as Det. Lou Hickman, a 7-year veteran of the Eden Vale P.D. who was the sole Detective of her small town police force until she convinced her father, the Chief of Police, to hire some help. Due to her department's small budget, Lou leans on her sunny disposition to solve the varied crimes in town. She harbours feelings for Shane, played by Devon Terrell.

Det. Shane Carson, a member of the Sheriff's Department who frequently works with Lou when she works outside the Eden Vale city limits. He is separated from his wife and fancies Lou. He is able to help Lou and Henry's investigations due to his better budget.

Then there is Luke Cook as Det. Henry Hickman, Lou's younger brother and Big Hank's estranged son who left home after writing an editorial criticising his father. 

He returns to Eden Vale after being offered a promotion to Detective by his father–a promotion he was unable to secure while working on the Seattle Police Department due to his lack of interpersonal skills and terrible bedside manner. He is still in love with his ex-girlfriend Dr. Marci Laine who he left in the town to pursue his career in Seattle.

Clancy Brown as Big Hank Hickman, the Chief of Police in Eden Vale and father of Lou and Henry. He freely admits to redrawing the town borders to ensure that his town is considered low-crime, as well as routinely providing favours for his friends. Lastly, Blazey Best plays Nadia Drozdova, Big Hank's Russian girlfriend.

This is a very sweet series filmed locally which I do really hope gets a second season. Given the CW hasn't made announcements about how its October - December 2025  lineup will look.

Given this show has a famous face and former CW Gossip Girl legend, Leighton Meester, the fact it is filmed down under, here is hoping they can make a second season.

I know cash is strapped in the USA for network TV. Particularly The CW and FOX.

Good Cop/Bad Cop is one of the best things I have seen on Stan (or The CW for that matter) for a while. Stan needs more local content, actually more content in general.

This was a super easy watch in under around 7 hours! That's an entire day in the office, shit!

Film Influencer 2025 - Dangerous Animals

Dangerous Animals is a 2025 

What is with Aussie survival horrors in 2025? Bring her Back, the rebooted I Know What You Did Last Summer, Ok so it's a US film, however filmed here, with an Aussie crew, including my neighbours GF.

So back to Dangerous Animals.

The film directed by Sean Byrne and written by Nick Lepard. Starring Hassie Harrison, Josh Heuston, Rob Carlton, Ella Newton, Liam Greinke & new villain energy by Jai Courtney.

Dangerous Animals had its premiere at the Directors' Fortnight section of the Cannes Film Festival last month, then landing on Aussie screens this Thursday.

Dangerous Animals has received generally positive reviews from critics. With Hassie Harrison as Zephyr playing a solid lead with Jai Courtney as Tucker, almost giving Mick Taylor (John Jarratt) backpacker hater energy.

Heartbreak High hunk and real life model, Josh Heuston as Moses is a sweet real estate agent come hero, while Ella Newton as Heather & Liam Greinke as Greg star in the terrifying opening scene.

Aussie legend, Rob Carlton (who recently was spotted on the third White Lotus scene) plays Dave. Who is usually drunk on a boat next to Tuckers.

Basic plot? Trapped on a killer’s boat with hungry sharks circling below, a surfer must outwit a predator more dangerous than the ocean itself. Thi is Sean Byrne third visceral feature.

OK so part shark film, part crazy ass Aussie killer horror film. This was actually way better and more crazy than I expected.

It also doesn't out stay it's welcome at just over an hour and a half.

For anyone who needs more local horror after Bring Her Back. This is fairly damn good.

Dangerous Animals rates a heart stopping 3 Stars. Yes I jumped in my seat multiple times. Great to see a few good local films at the cinemas back-to-back!

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - Heartstopper - Season Three

Heartstopper's third season I have been waiting to catch up on, originally streamed last October.

So while I look after my neighbour's cat, it's time to catch up on my Netflix stories, as I completely dropped this streaming service!

Back in April, Netflix ordered a feature-length Heartstopper film that would act as the series finale, in place of a fourth season.

Season three explores some dark issues for Charlie (Joe Locke), while Nick (Kit Connor), does his best to be a sweet, supportive boyfriend throughout the season.

The rest of the friendship group Tao Xu (William Gao), Elle Argent (Yasmin Finney), Isaac Henderson (Tobie Donovan), Tara Jones (Corinna Brown) & Darcy Olsson (Kizzy Edgell) have a lot going on!

In the finale, Charlie's mother apologises to him and shares her difficult relationship with her overbearing mother. 

Nick, Elle, Tara, and Imogen take a road trip to visit university options. At the University of Oxford, Imogen tells Nick she does not like boys and has been struggling with compulsory heterosexuality. 

Tara realises she does not like Oxford and ponders her future. Having preferred the University of Leeds to schools closer to home, Nick expresses his fears of being away from Charlie to the girls, who encourage him to branch out. 

Charlie prepares to play the drums with Sahar's band at a summer fete. Charlie encourages Tori to share love with others, especially Michael. Nick and the girls fight traffic to see the band's performance. Elle tells Tao she wants to study elsewhere in Europe. 

Charlie's parents let him sleep over at Nick's, where Charlie takes his shirt off and the two have sex.

I have a feeling the finale/film will possibly land this year concluding another one of Netflix's legacy series. With Cobra Kai & You already concluding, Stranger Things ending later in three parts, and Squid Game ending this month, the streaming service is saying goodbye to some of their most successful series.

So expect a You catch up, along with a quick Squid Game binge. Damn those two shows were particularly addictive!

Catch ya soon dear readers!

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - The Cleaning Lady - Season Four/Series Finale

The Cleaning Lady returns for an action-packed season fourth and finale season. Streaming in Australia a little later than last week's double finale on FOX. This in fact is the last show I watch on the FOX network! Rescue HI-Surf and 9-1-1: Lone Star also ended this season.

The later, I am waiting for the final few episodes to land on Disney+, then I will post my verdict.

I watched a number of episodes in Japan, and man it was so much better than the poor Cleaning Lady.

Sadly this show had tragedy strike ahead of the third season with Adan Canto passing. Losing main lead, Arman Morales was felt through season three, which really went a bit off the rails.

Season four continued to go a little more off the rails, while having a declining viewership. So I sort of saw the writing on the wall for this series.

For the final season, Yancey Arias, Daniel Bonjour, Alain Uy, Patricia De León & Robert Cicchini joined the cast in a recurring role, while Khalen Roman Sanchez came onboard as Luca De La Rosa in a recasting, replacing the LaSalle twins for the final season. While Lea Salonga joined as a guest star.

After three seasons of being a pawn caught between the FBI and the world of organised crime, Thony (Élodie Yung, Daredevil, The Defenders) makes the bold decision to take charge of her own destiny — by exchanging her cleaning lady uniform for the scrubs of a surgical intern at a small community hospital.

Thony's return to the medical career she sacrificed for her son, Luca, opens a new path to citizenship for them both. 

But to make this happen, she must continue her service to the Sin Cara cartel — not as a cleaning lady, but as the new mob doctor — bringing her ever closer to Jorge (Santiago Cabrera, The Flight Attendant, Big Little Lies), the cartel's brooding new leader. 

Under the watchful eye of the hospital's brusque yet handsome chief resident, Thony straddles the line between two worlds until they inevitably come crashing into each other.

Yes there is a random love triangle in the final season, with a brother/sister good cop/bad cop situation going down throughout the season.

Did this show maybe need to end on Binge after the second season? Probably. Sadly it went on a little too long, however by the ending I feel they knew it was coming to an end. The finale did have one of those The Equalizer moments, with most (maybe not Kate del Castillo as Ramona Sanchez) getting a happy ending.

Network TV (for me) only has one show on the bubble. Doctor Odyssey. So time will tell on that one!

Until next time, stay warm!

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - The Survivors - Miniseries

The Survivors is the latest local Netflix series, created by Tony Ayres. From the author of The Dry (book/now film series), Jane Harper's, this miniseries is based on her 2020 novel.

The six episodes follows Kieran Elliott (Charlie Vickers) and how his life changed forever when three people close to him died in the coastal town of Evelyn Bay, Tasmania following a terrible storm. He returns home 15 years later with his family, to find both the community and Kieran himself, still haunted by memories of the past.

The community is desperate for answers and they are forced to uncover the mysteries that continue to haunt and daunt them all those years on.

Alongside Vickers, the local production stars, new and old local stars. Yerin Ha, New Zealand's finest, Robyn Malcolm, Thom Green, George Mason, Don Hany, Jessica De Gouw, Damien Garvey, the original Blue Heeler, Martin Sacks & Catherine McClements.

Watch out, if you unlike me binged this over the recent long weekend, spoilers are below. Or maybe like my dad you read the book!

In the finale, George Barlin is identified as Bronte's stalker, but he has an alibi for the time of the murder.

Amongst Bronte's pictures is one of Gabby's name carved into the caves, suggesting that she had drowned there. 

Kieran returns to the caves with Sean in the hopes of finding proof. Sean reveals that he had taken Gabby to the caves where he had tried to kiss her, only to be rejected. Embarrassed, Sean ran out and Gabby got lost and drowned. 

Bronte found Gabby's carving and while trying to delete the picture, Sean killed her and framed Brian.

Sean attacks Kieran, but he escapes. Having linked Sean to Bronte's camera, the police arrest him for her murder, find Gabby's body and exonerate Toby, Finn, Liam and Brian. 

Kieran makes amends with Mia, and they decide to stay in Evelyn Bay. At the memorial for those who died in the storm, Trish is finally able to make peace with the loss of her daughter.

This was a solid watch and a decent Netflix series amongst the vast library of content. The streamer is turning out so much content of late, with the latest series to lead discussions, Dept. Q. I must catch up on this soon.

I still need to do the recent Adolescence, which also was a Netflix water cooler moment. In the age of TV cutting costs, cancelling news programs, Netflix sure is turning out their fair share of content still. I am happy they have at least attempted to make a few Aussie series.

Bring on the final season of Heartbreak High!

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - The Real Housewives of Sydney - Season Three

The Real Housewives of Sydney are back! The bitches from the East are back with all their claws completely out. No one was playing this season!

This season was packed with luxury getaways to New Zealand and Noosa, next-level fashion, all while being set against Sydney’s stunning skyline & iconic harbour. 

The 10-part BINGE original series commended earlier this year, concluding last month. However with holidays, life and other shows in my way, It took a while to catch up on all ten plus one reunion episodes from season three.

Caroline Gaultier’s feud with Dr. Kate Adams erupts into a social media ‘blocking war,’ all while she balances caring for her ailing mum and a whirlwind romance. 

Sally Obermeder debuts a stunning transformation but is pushed to her limits during a tense girls’ trip to Noosa. 

Meanwhile, Nicole O’Neil faces empty-nester blues and mounting tension with the Terry Biviano. 

Newcomer Martine Chippendale stirs the pot, clashing with the outspoken Krissy Marsh. The drama peaks during an adrenaline fuelled NZ, where tempers flare, and one housewife makes a dramatic exit. 

But as alliances shift, rivalries heat up and the bonds of sisterhood are tested!

However it wasn't all roses developing this third season for Binge. Production on the third season was interrupted multiple times. In May 2024, Marsh, O'Neill and another cast member reportedly threatened to quit, after objecting to Biviano returning to the series midway of filming.

In December 2024, reports of an alleged physical altercation saw production abandon filming. Unedited rushes were subsequently sent to NBCUniversal, owner of Matchbox Pictures, following complaints from several cast members. 

Then came the reunion special hosted by Osher Günsberg was filmed, with O’Neil again not in attendance, instead appearing from the UK. This was after refusing to fly economy home to film the special episode. So not surprisingly, last month O'Neil announced her departure from the show after three seasons.

We also had a bit of a crossover from Jackie Gillies. Originally from The Real Housewives of Melbourne, she made a guest appearance during the fourth and fifth episodes, and additionally the reunion. Where the fireworks really went off. The healing session, obviously involved, zero healing!

Also last month, anAustralian spin-off of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip was revealed to be in development by production company, Matchbox Pictures. 

The series is set to combine cast members from both The Real Housewives of Melbourne and The Real Housewives of Sydney franchises. So does this kill the hopes of a fourth season?

I hardly think there is much new ground to cover for a potential fourth season. Even with the addition of Martine Chippendale, you can hardly just keep adding new housewives, till something sticks.

That said the drama, the wild comments and the big bitch energy was a hoot. A really wonderful distraction from everyday life. Well done to Binge for continuing to bring a variety of local content. Here is to Mixtape starting this week!

Film Influencer 2025 - Karate Kid: Legends

Following the woeful last few seasons of Cobra Kai on Netflix, I had very low expectations for Karate Kid: Legends. However to my surprise, the cheese factor was low, the action came fairly thick and fast and the run time, a swift 94 minutes.

Lead by icons Jackie Chan and Cobra Kai lead, Ralph Macchio, Ben Wang from American Born Chinese joins, as the main lead, Li Fong.

This is the sixth film in The Karate Kid franchise, serving as a continuation of The Karate Kid (2010) and the above mentioned series, Cobra Kai (2018–2025).

Both Chan and Macchio reprise their roles from the franchise—the latter's first involvement in a film from the franchise since The Karate Kid Part III (1989). 

The story follows Li (Wang), a kung fu prodigy who, after moving to New York and confronting with a local karate champion, receives help from his former master Mr. Han (Chan) and karate sensei Daniel LaRusso (Macchio). 

When Li Fong relocates to New York City with his mother (Ming-Na Wen from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D) to attend a prestigious new school, he finds solace in a new friendship with a classmate and her father. 

But his newfound peace is short-lived after he attracts unwanted attention from a formidable local karate champion. Driven by a desire to defend himself, Li embarks on a journey to enter the ultimate karate competition. Guided by the wisdom of his kung fu teacher, Mr. Han, and the legendary Karate Kid, Daniel LaRusso, Li merges their unique styles to prepare for an epic martial arts showdown.

There is a lot of heart in this film. This heart and emotion replaces the cheese and tacky nature of the last few seasons of Cobra Kai. While Ralph Macchio plays a small(ish) part, there is a brief cameo too from William Zabka reprising his role as Johnny Lawrence.

Sometimes going in with low expectations means you leave the cinema pleasantly surprised. That is exactly how I felt today.

My second film of the June long weekend, and by this session and the John Wick Friday session, the cinema's are back baby!

This session on Monday at lunchtime was sold out. Honestly I think this will be a fan favourite. The wonderful sweeping aerial shots of New York from drones, made the city look extremely inviting. Maybe New York will be next after LA with riots.

Ben Wang has loads of heart and really brought it as the lead in this film.

I enjoyed this, 3.5 Stars.

Post Holiday Blues 25' - Memory #9 (Final)

Welcome to the final Post Holiday Blues 25' photo memory series. A few more images from teamLab Borderless Tokyo, Azabudai Hills.

Honestly this place was AWESOME! So I hope you have enjoyed all nine memories. And yes more of my friends have run off to Europe. Sad face. 

Anyway its the long weekend, praise be!

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - Deli Boys - Season One

Deli Boys on Disney+ kicks off with Arshad "Baba" Dar, a Pakistani-American immigrant and head of the successful deli chain ABC Deli, is struck by a stray golf ball on a family golf trip and killed. 

Following the funeral, his sons Raj (Saagar Shaikh) and Mir (Asif Ali) visit the headquarters of DarCo, ABC Deli's parent company, in a bid to have Mir instated as CEO. Their pitch is interrupted by a raid by the FBI, who arrest interim CEO Lucky (Poorna Jagannathan). 

Agent Mercer informs the brothers of DarCo's two-decade history of tax fraud among other white-collar crimes. 

All company accounts are frozen and Mir and Raj's possessions are confiscated. With no other sources of income, they return to the first ABC Deli, Baba's sole business not owned by DarCo and the only deli still operating. 

Lucky arrives and shoots a staff member, Hamza, in front of the brothers before advising them to leave town. At Raj's insistence, she shows them a video from their father in which he bequeaths the family business to them. Lucky reveals that DarCo is a front for organised crime far beyond what the FBI knows about and blackmails them both into participating. 

Later, Hamza wakes and flees the store pursued by Raj and Mir. Mercer begins her surveillance.

The ten part comedy series stars, alongside Ali, Shaikh & Jagannathan, Alfie Fuller, & Brian George. 

The Hulu season starting streaming early-March to positive critical reception.

With the crew attempting to take up his mantle in the underworld, all hell breaks loose during this fresh new comedy series.

Deli Boys is another new comedy series, that tries to push boundaries with loads of swearing, the odd bit of violence but this time with Pakistani-American leads.

It is nice to see a some diversity on screen, however the jokes are mostly the same as recent comedy TV series.

So it's the winter TV catch up period. With so many choices, so many streaming services, Max, Binge, Stan, Paramount+, Disney+ (where Deli Boys streams), ABC iView, SBS on Demand, so there are so many watchlists that I have been adding to the last few months.

So in the new series, next quarter, expect loads of catch up series.

Until then, see you soon.

Film Influencer 2025 - From the World of John Wick: Ballerina

Ballerina or the long winded full name of the film, From the World of John Wick: Ballerina is my latest 

Ballerina is fifth instalment in the John Wick franchise, serving as a spin-off set between the events of 2019's John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum & 2023's John Wick: Chapter 4.

Ana de Armas in the lead role, alongside Gabriel Byrne, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and TWD's Norman Reedus combined with John Wick royalty, reprising their roles from the previous films include Anjelica Huston, Lance Reddick (in his final screen appearance), Ian McShane, and Keanu Reeves.

So if you have seen a John Wick film before, you know the body count gonna be high. After a fairly long-winded set up, the two hour action film goes into hyperdrive.

We see Ana de Armas's origin story, as Eve the daughter of two assassins. Then she becomes a serious killer!

Ballerina has received generally positive reviews from critics, the almost full session last night, also loved it, reacted to some of the wild death scenes and the hand grenades. Oh boy!

At just over two over two hours, we go through night club scenes, to wild fight scenes and then to Europe.

John Wick appears around twice, but all eyes are really on Eve.

The best thing about these revenge films, is there is always some random twist. If you need a good popcorn film this weekend, need some action, this is the film for you.

With a slow start, the pace really begins to pick up, real fast. Then goes into turbo drive! If you enjoyed the previous John Wick films, you'll love this.

3.5 gun blazing stars.

Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' - Strife - Season Two

Strife recently returned. This time not as a binge (well it streams on Binge ironically) but week-to-week. Mostly with double episodes on Thursday's.

Starring Asher Keddie as Eve, the second series commenced last month produced by Lorelle Adamson for Made Up Stories and Fifth Season, with executive producers for the second season including Bruna Papandrea, Steve Hutensky, Katie Amos, Mia Freedman, Sarah Scheller, Alison Hurbert-Burns, Lana Greenhalgh and Asher Keddie.

The story of Mia Freedman and MammaMia continues across season two with tech bro's moving in, expansions and competition in the media market.

Strife season one (also on Binge) was set around year 2012 and follows Eve (Keddie), who is running Eve, a new women's web site. 

Her personal life is beset by problems; she has abandoned her marriage and marital home, but is struggling to pay the rent on her city apartment. Meanwhile, she navigates co-parenting teenage children with her estranged husband, Jon (Day).

Her fortunes and those of the nascent website change when she writes a confessional column, "I ended my marriage over a flat white" that goes viral.

Binge was done well with this easy-breezy Aussie comedy continuing in season two.

There have been rumours of an Asher Keddie series getting another season. Will that be for Fake or Strife? I feel like Fake on Paramount+ was more a miniseries vibe, whereas Strife could easily continue as Eve's media empire grows.

This season the podcast was launched! Next season more social media viral moments?

Strife is a quality series that may have been released too late for this year's Logie nominations landing in a few Monday's. However I am happy while Binge lost HBO content, they have continued with some solid Aussie content. Next up the co-pro Mix-Tape from Thursday.

Happy long weekend dear readers!