My three week long Japan trip is over. Did I keep up/catch up on sometime. Yass sir.
Fallout was a full one season binge for me.
Ceated by Graham Wagner & Geneva Robertson-Dworet, streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Fallout is based on the role-playing video game franchise created by Tim Cain and Leonard Boyarsky.
Jonathan Nolan directs the first three episodes, with me being late to this Amazon party. As the series landed around a year ago, receiving generally positive reviews, with praise for the performances (particularly of Purnell, Moten, and Goggins), writing, visuals, production design, and faithfulness to the source material.
Thankfully, the series was renewed for a second season. No streaming date has been provided by Prime as yet.
Fallout was also nominated for 17 Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Goggins.
Giving Westworld/end of times vibes, this was a perfect and easy eight episode binge whilst overseas.
Randomly I watched this series after attending the sad memorial for an actual atomic bomb. Now if you are late to the Fallout party, well watch out, there are spoilers about the finale below. However like me, you have had a year right! So are they really even spoilers?
Lucy and Norm, independently, learn the truth of the war, while the Ghoul also reminisces about that truth.
Pre-War, Cooper eavesdrops on Barb and her colleague, Bud Askins, to his horror learning they are explicitly managing Vault-Tec's plans to start a nuclear war to eliminate its competitors.
Cooper also meets young Betty Pearson and Hank MacLean.
Norm discovers Vault 31 contains the cryogenically stored junior executives of Vault-Tec, overseen by the cyborg brain-on-wheels of Bud, who traps Norm in Vault 31.
Lucy turns the head over to Moldaver, who reveals that Rose had fled Vault 33 with her children years earlier.
Hank tracked her down and was responsible for the nuclear bombing of Shady Sands, turning Rose into a feral ghoul.
Maximus is forgiven by the Brotherhood and joins the battle against Moldaver's forces. Lucy convinces Hank to give Moldaver the code activating her cold fusion reactor. Maximus frees Lucy's father but attacks him after learning Hank's role in Shady Sands' destruction.
Lucy disowns Hank for his actions after he attacks Maximus. The Ghoul, believing his family might still be alive, invites Lucy to travel with him and Dogmeat to find Vault-Tec's leaders.
Lucy kills Rose and takes the Ghoul up on his offer. Moldaver activates the fusion reactor, powering Los Angeles just before she dies from her wounds.
The Brotherhood forces assume that Maximus is responsible for Moldaver's death and acclaim him as Knight Maximus.
Hank flees to the remains of New Vegas.
Can I wait for season two? Hell no! Finally Amazon has some worthwhile content. Just in time for MAX to launch in Australia. Oh that's right, this also gives The Last of Us vibes. Season two will officially only stream on MAX. Poor Binge.
Mickey 17 sees the return of Bong Joon Ho. The science fiction black comedy film is written, produced, and directed by the Parasite legend! Not to forget Snowpeircer (the film, not the series).
The film is (of course) based on the 2022 novel Mickey7 by Edward Ashton.
Starring Robert Pattinson as various (spoiler alert) Mickey's. The film also stars Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun (HOT!), Australia's favourite daughter, Toni Collette, & Mark Ruffalo as a Trump figure. That may or may not be true.
OK so it's raining for maybe the third day in a row in Shinjuku, hence me seeing three films across all Japanese cities and not hanging out with the Cherry Blossoms. Well I did one day, then the rain came.
Honestly was lucky to get so much in before the weather turned. Like Snowpeircer Shinjuku station has to be seen to be believed. Hectic AF!
Mickey 17 is set in the year 2054, the plot follows a man who joins a space colony as an expendable, a disposable worker who gets cloned every time he dies for research purposes.
The film deals with many social issues (like Parasite and previous Bong Joon Ho films) which is great in this current world we live in.
Like Mark Ruffalo's Trump like dictator, this film explores Elon's plan to just give up on Earth and relocate to another planet to fuck it up. Well basically.
Mickey 17 has received generally positive reviews from critics but was a box office bomb, grossing $121 million worldwide, losing Warner Bros. an estimated $75–80 million during its theatrical run. Now following Snow White, the box office is not having such a good time.
It feels a little like after COVID when cinemas were desperate to get us back but the content wasn't right and people generally over that two year period moved to Netflix (and chill) and Uber Eats. It's had socially engineering people to go back to the cinemas, now every streaming service seemingly offers you box office films a lot quicker than we got them back in the video store or DVD days.
Times have changed, the cinema game has to as well.
I have received countless emails for cheap cinema tickets/vouchers while I have been away, which usually means the upcoming movies are average, at best.
However back to Mickey 17, I liked it. It wasn't great, it was way too long, but it was decent. Robert Pattinson has come along way since Twilight.
Summer still lingered on well through March. The humidity, the heat, the tropical rain showers. Fuck me with a chainsaw. What an unpleasant few months. Then that mid-March heatwave! FUCK! Are you sure climate change isn't real Rowan Dean?
With US network series back on the streamers, a number of shows are getting ready to wrap up their latest (or last, depending on the networks mood) seasons.
Again there were loads of Aussie series returning or new titles across the last three months. ABC was going off with the final season of The Newsreader, while Netflix gave us the brilliant Apple Cider Vinegar. Black Snow also delivered for QLD and Bump wrapped, with a movie to come this year.
HBO has also finally returned with the brilliant Thai based season of The White Lotus. Look out for that next quarter, along with The Last of Us returning and the final season of the hit and miss The Righteous Gemstones.
Paramount+ has also been busy with a Dexter prequel, the brilliant Landman wrapping it's first season and new spy series The Agency scoring an early renewal.
Back to HBO real quick though, this is the last quarter HBO series will stream on Binge. Yes MAX is coming to Australia. Not another fucking streaming service I hear you say! Yes another fucking streaming service. While Binge will lose a shit tonne of PREMIUM content. This should be worrying for Binge bosses!
Anyway, here are my top 33 shows of Summer Part II below.
For a full double summer list, keep an eye out. If you need more series to catch up on, below are my previous RATED's:
So live from Japan, Australia has delivered some top notch content this past quarter. I will from April till June catch up on Ten Pound Poms, NCSI: Sydney, The Last Anniversary and maybe even Darby and Joan LOL. Sorry Star Wars, but Skeleton Crew was the WORST!
1. Apple Cider Vinegar - Miniseries (AU)
2. Landman - Season One
3. Big Boys - Seasons One - Two
4. The Newsreader - Seasons Three/Series Finale (AU)
5. Black Snow - Season Two (AU)
6. Paradise - Season One
7. Dexter: Original Sin - Season One
8. Bump - Season Five/Series Finale (AU)
9. Optics - Season One (AU)
10. On Call - Season One
11. Squid Game (Korean: 오징어 게임) - Season Two
12. Clean Slate - Season One
13. Invisible Boys - Season One (AU)
14. The Chi - Season Six
15. Human Error - Miniseries (AU)
16. The Sex Lives of College Girls - Season Three/Series Finale
17. Disclaimer (stylised as DISCLAIMER*) - Miniseries
18. How to Die Alone - Season One/Series Finale
19. Reacher - Season Three
20. Bookie - Seasons One - Two/Series Finale
21. Tokyo Vice - Season Two/Series Finale
22. Hysteria! - Season One/Series Finale
23. Extraordinary - Seasons One - Two/Series Finale
In the recent third season of Reacher, this is based the novel from the series, Persuader. Where Reacher hurtles into the dark heart of a vast criminal enterprise when trying to rescue an undercover DEA informant whose time is running out.
There, he finds a world of secrecy and violence and confronts some unfinished business from his own past.
Reacher has streamed weekly on Amazon Prime Video for the past few weeks. Based on the Jack Reacher book series by Lee Child, it stars Alan Ritchson as Reacher.
Who is a self-proclaimed hobo and former U.S. Army military police officer with formidable strength, intellect, and abilities. During his travels, Reacher crosses paths with dangerous criminals and battles them.
Ahead of the third season premiere, the series was renewed for a fourth season. While, a spinoff series, Neagley, is currently in production. Aimed to stream in 2026. No news when Reacher's fourth season will stream.
However from all accounts this is a popular title streaming on Prime. One of few services you can continue to stream without issues when travelling. Disney+ sometimes gives you titles Australia cannot access yet, while Apple TV+ and Prime are mostly similar. That is what I have noticed anyhoo.
Now to that BIG finale. Titled, Unfinished Business, read below for spoilers and that's a wrap on my Summer Streamin' 25 blog series. SPOILER ALERT! Below the trailer.
Quinn's henchmen ambush the ATF team and eliminate them all, but Reacher, Duffy and Villanueva eliminate the henchmen and save Zachary, while sparing one of Quinn's drivers to sneak back into Zachary's home.
Reacher fights Paulie until he gets Paulie to kill himself after rigging the LMG at the front gate.
Duffy saves Teresa from the buyers, while Villanueva finds Richard. Reacher eliminates Quinn's henchmen in the house one by one, leading Quinn to kill the buyers, take their money and take Richard hostage.
Quinn is confronted by Zachary holding him at gunpoint with the toy gun, which falls apart, leading Quinn to fatally shoot Zachary before escaping without the money or Richard.
Quinn is confronted outside the house by Russian mafia debt collectors. Reacher and Neagley offer them the buyers' money in exchange for Quinn and they accept.
Reacher reminds Quinn about Kohl before executing him. In the aftermath, Reacher says farewell to Neagley and Duffy, Richard takes his father's leftover cash before disappearing, Duffy returns Teresa to her grandmother before resigning from the DEA, she and Villanueva pay their respects to Eliot's parents, Villanueva reunites with his wife, and Reacher rides off on a motorcycle from Zachary's garage.
The main event in the finale was that Racher/Paulie biff. It was a HUGE ongoing fight scene, that went for a large chunk of the episode. It has been hugely popular online with it becoming its own WWE moment.
For me this was pure escapism. Prime seems to love its macho male action series like this, Jack Ryan and The Boys. With The Boys and Upload wrapping soon and Citadel in production hell, Amazon will most likely stick to Reacher (and potential spin-offs) for sometime.
I do look forward to seeing Neagley's first season land next year.
For now that is Summer Streamin' 25 all wrapped up. I also caught up with Fallout but will save that for my next TV blog series. Man that was a wild ride!
Flow could very well be my favourite animated adventure film of all time!
Directed by Gints Zilbalodis, written and produced by Zilbalodis and Matīss Kaža. The Latvian, French, and Belgian co-production, features no dialogue and follows a cat trying to survive along with other animals in a seemingly post-apocalyptic world as the water level dramatically rises.
As the world seems to be coming to an end, teeming with the vestiges of a human presence. Cat is a solitary animal, but as his home is devastated by a great flood, he finds refuge on a boat populated by various species, and will have to team up with them despite their differences.
In the lonesome boat sailing through mystical overflowed landscapes, they navigate the challenges and dangers of adapting to this new world.
Know I assumed the cat was a lady, however according to Madman's YouTube post for the trailer, the cat is a he!
Production of Flow started in 2019, and lasted five-and-a-half years with the animation done using the free and open-source software Blender.
Jacques Tati and Future Boy Conan served as inspirations for the film. No storyboards were used for the production and there are no deleted scenes.
Flow premiered last May, at the Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section, and was released in Latvian theaters last August.
The sweetest, most wholesome film has received critical acclaim and broke several Latvian box-office records, becoming the most-viewed film in Latvian theaters in history.
At the 97th Academy Awards, Flow won Best Animated Feature and also nominated for Best International Feature Film as Latvia's submission, becoming the first film from Latvia to win and receive a nomination at the Academy Awards, and also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film; both statuettes were later put on display at the Latvian National Museum of Art.
This was an exceptional 84 minutes in the cinema. I honestly highly recommend this if you can find it these school holidays.
Avoid the drama of the woke decline of Disney's live action red hot messes and see a real, beautiful and unique film.
Flow is outstanding, so beautiful, so sweet, so refreshing. AMAZING
Severance has finally returned for season two. Where Mark (Adam Scott) and his friends learn the dire consequences of trifling with the severance barrier, leading them further down a path of woe.
The second season reunites its ensemble cast of stars including Emmy Award nominee Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Tramell Tillman, Zach Cherry, Jen Tullock, Michael Chernus, Dichen Lachman, Emmy Award winner John Turturro, Academy Award winner Christopher Walken and Academy and Emmy Award winner Patricia Arquette, and welcomes new series regular Sarah Bock.
I was late to the blockbuster Apple TV+ series. However by catching up late there was little wait for me to go from season one to season two.
The first season received 14 nominations at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards and Creative Arts Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series and acting nominations for Scott, Turturro, Walken, and Arquette; it won for Main Title Design and musical score.
The second season finally landed mid-January, concluding yesterday. When it was renewed for a third season. So what went down in this mind blowing Apple TV+ original? SPOILERS BELOW the season trailer.
This may very well also be the last in my Summer Streamin' 25 series. Unless I can finish Reacher season three on a bullet train whilst here in Japan, living my best life LOLZ!
Through video recordings, Mark's outie asks his innie to rescue Gemma from the testing floor after he completes the Cold Harbor file; otherwise, Gemma will die.
Mark's innie storms off after he realizes he is being asked to sacrifice himself and Helly.
Dylan returns to read a letter from his outie deferring his resignation request to his innie. Mark arrives on the severed floor, completes the Cold Harbor file and receives a celebration from Milchick and a marching band. Helly distracts Milchick and traps him in the bathroom while Mark searches for the hallway to the testing floor.
In the Cold Harbor room, Gemma is tasked with disassembling the crib Mark built for their baby. She responds without emotion, to the delight of Dr. Mauer and Jame Eagan.
Drummond summons Lorne to sacrifice a lamb, but discovers Mark attempting to break into the exports hallway. He tries to kill him but is stopped by Lorne. Mark takes Drummond hostage with him in the elevator to the testing floor but accidentally kills him during the transition.
Mark finds Gemma and they escape to the severed floor. Mark guides Gemma through the exit door but returns to Helly.
In Cold Harbor, the tenth episode and season finale of the second season along with 19th overall episode of the series we finally got some answers, a big cliffhanger, then finally the news the show would return for a third run.
Mark (Adam Scott), Devon (Jen Tullock), Cobel (Patricia Arquette), Gemma (Dichen Lachman), Helena Eagan AKA Helly (Britt Lower), Dylan (Zach Cherry), Mr. Milchick (Tramell Tillman), Dr. Mauer (Robby Benson), Jame Eagan (Michael Siberry), Lorne (Gwendoline Christie) & Mr. Drummond (Ólafur Darri Ólafsson) will all return.
Find out where the series ranks in my Summer Streamin' 25 RATED in a few days time. Can you believe that's almost a wrap for Q1, 2025? WTF!
Oh it's amazing in Japan too right now. Kyoto full day one today. Tokyo and more to come. Might share some photos if they are cute enough.
September 5 is a film I have been dying to see. With great reviews and a film I missed due to limited sessions back in Sydney. Lucky in Okinawa, the film releases were a little behind. Allowing me to see this 2024 historical drama thriller film directed, co-produced, and co-written by Tim Fehlbaum.
September 5 stars Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro, Ben Chaplin, & Leonie Benesch, chronicling the Munich massacre of 1972 from the perspective of the ABC Sports crew and their coverage of the events.
Along with great reviews, the film has received several accolades, including nominations for Best Original Screenplay at the 97th Academy Awards and Best Motion Picture – Drama at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards.
The tension that builds throughout the entire 90 odd minute run is intense. Mainly being set in the make shift ABC studios at the Munich games.
The pace is fast and furious. The entire cast is excellent, archive footage was specified in the script, setting the tone for onscreen playback in the control room.
Drama ping-pongs back and forth between four principal excellent characters. Peter Sarsgaard as producer Roone Arledge, John Magaro as newbie coordinating producer Geoffrey Mason, Ben Chaplin as Marvin Bader, VP of Olympic Operations, & Leonie Benesch as Marianne Gebhardt, the German assistant who larges assists the men in getting the main elements of the story pieced together.
Not only does she translate police radios and news reports, she is critical in bringing the story back to the USA, via ABC.
It is drama on large scale, with exceptional performances by all.
Ahead of the credits rolling, text reveals that the event was the first time a terrorist attack had been broadcast on live television and was viewed by an audience of approximately 900 million, making it one of the most viewed broadcasts in history. Which in this time we are in, is truly scary.
It's maybe not the best time for this film to be floating around, however it's a damn horrific tale of the world watching on in horror. Kind of like now with everyone watching the war in Gaza on their respective devices.
Oh dear god. The golden age of Marvel/superhero films is now long gone.
Three or four weeks in I decided to see Captain America: Brave New World, to a near empty cinema. People were more excited to see Anora or just not go to the cinema.
Based on, Sam Wilson / Captain America, it is the fourth instalment in the Captain America film series, a continuation of the television miniseries The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021).
This is also the 35th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). FUCK!
Starring legend, Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson / Captain America alongside Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Carl Lumbly, Xosha Roquemore, Giancarlo Esposito, Liv Tyler, Tim Blake Nelson, and Harrison Ford. So the cast is damn fine, like really good, but the movie!
The plot is paper thin, with Wilson investigating a conspiracy involving U.S. president Thaddeus Ross (Ford). Honestly no even the action scenes were that good. It all felt old and done before. I left before the post-credits scene, I'd seen enough by then.
That said, this wasn't as long and drawn out as previous films, it was under two hours!
Captain America: Civil War (2016) ended the Captain America trilogy starring Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, and Wilson becomes the new Captain America in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Captain America: Brave New World premiered mid last month, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, while it has currently grossed $371.2 million worldwide, becoming the third-highest-grossing film of 2025.
The film received negative reviews from critics, who took varying stances on the political commentary, story, characterisation, and visual effects, but praised Ford's performance.
Honestly that negative reaction is fairly similar to my take on the film.
The action scenes were nothing out of the ordinary, Mackie while great should maybe stick to his new found role in Twisted Metal, as this Marvel thing is getting old!
One of Them Days stars singing sensation, SZA, along with Keke Palmer & Katt Williams.
It gives Insecure vibes, which is interesting as Issa Rae is listed as one of the producers, in this buddy tragicomedy. One of Them Days follows two friends who must scramble to find rent money after one of their boyfriends blows through it.
One of Them Days has received positive reviews from critics and has grossed $48 million. That is huge when the budget was only $14 million!
SZA & Keke Palmer star as aspiring artist Alyssa & waitress Dreux Jones, live together along with Alyssa's boyfriend Keshawn in a rundown apartment complex under a strict landlord.
When the first of the month arrives, their landlord demands their rent money of $1,500, stating that they will be evicted unless they pay by 6 PM, even though both Dreux and Alyssa thought it was already paid.
We have dramas, car issues, NIKE shoe sales, a wild blood donation scene with Janelle James from Abbotts Elementary and great music along the ride.
One of Them Days was a super short, fun, fresh ride at the cinema. It was a refreshing watch after superhero and horror films dominate the big screen of late!
If you need a new film to see, give this a shot. Issa Rae can literally do no wrong. Well unless it was the random second season of Rap Sh!t. That said SZA is a total star. Anything se touches, GOLDEN!
The Way Home, the multi-generational family drama series, has just concluded its third season yesterday lunchtime on Binge.
In the USA the series streams on the Hallmark Channel & Hallmark+. Binge is lucky to retain this title with all things MAX coming soon. As the series was renewed for a fourth season right before the season three finale.
Now to the finale, titled, If You Could Read My Mind. Hello disco tune!
We began the swan song, with a montage of Alice’s trips to 1999 from the first season, mixed with snippets of her visit to 1974, as adult Colton started to become curious about the teenager who’d befriended his daughter. When Alice made a new trip to 1999 in the finale, Colton confronted her at the pond about being the same Alice that he met in 1974. She warned him not to bring up the topic with the Alice that he’ll get to know over the summer of ’99 because time travel is brand new to that earlier version of Alice, so she won’t have the answers that he needs.
We then travel to Feb. 17, 2000, Colton received an envelope with money from Evelyn to help him in his search for missing Jacob, prompting Colton to go to Lingermore.
While there, he gazed at the portrait of “My Katherine”, named just like his daughter, Evelyn noted and started to realise the truth of who Katherine/Rose was, and that Jacob fell into the pond and he’d met him in the 1800s.
Meanwhile, in their time, Alice and Kat jumped into the pond with Del, but while Kat and Del ended up witnessing Del and Colton’s wedding in 1975, Alice resurfaced in 2000 and was greeted by Colton, who wrapped her in his sweater.
Colton shared that the pond never worked for him again after 1974, and it didn’t work for the kids either, so he didn’t mention it to Del. When Jacob disappeared, he was miles from it, and his stuffed animal was found in the ocean. Alice reassured Colton that Jacob will come home one day, but Colton realised from her silence that he will not get to see him again.
In an emotionally charged moment, Colton marvelled at the fact that he got to sing with his granddaughter in two eras, and urged Alice to jump back in the pond. Once she did, he took his own dive and ended up at the Landrys’ summer kickoff party, where he told a young Jacob to remember that he loves him no matter what will happen.
As for Alice, she landed back at the night of the dinner party from the Season 3 premiere, and was the one who pushed herself into the pond that evening. When she eventually returned to her time, Alice told Kat and Del that Colton knew everything when he died.
Del realised that Colton was about to tell her the truth that fateful night, while Kat registered that Colton was on his way to grief group in the hopes of seeing her when he crashed. He knew, and he still loved her, Kat tearfully marvelled.
But what you really want to know is who is the baby that was left by the pond in the Season 3 opener, right? Well, as the finale came to a close, Elliot read a letter from his mother that Vic mailed to him, along with the Augustine ring.
A line from the letter rang a bell for Elliot: It came from a T.S. Eliot poem that was also inscribed on the clock from inside the house wall, but the wall went up before that poem was ever written.
Alice realised that she met Elliot’s mom in ’74 in last week’s episode, while Kat and Elliot theorised that his mom’s line “I jump for love” means she leaped into the pond. But she can only do that with a Landry.
Once again, we were presented with a flash of someone leaving a letter in a baby basinet, then a girl and boy jumped into the pond. A mysterious figure picked up the baby and left him at Del and Colton’s door. As the couple discovered the child and letter, Del, cradling baby Katherine.
Then Casey showed up and gave Jacob proof that Susanna left Lingermore to the Landrys, which should get Lewis Goodwin to drop the charges against him. Casey also let slip a tidbit about the threatening letters Del was getting, and after Jacob discovered them, he decided it was best if he disappeared.
Del relayed the bad news to Sam, who told her, as he stood by the pond, that he just knew it was going to OK. Curious!
Casey also ran into Alice and ruled out that Alice is their mom. But when Alice pressed Casey about being a Landry and a Goodwin, Casey didn’t want to break any more rules.
So we will now have to wait until (possibly) January 2026 to get some more pond time travelling madness.
Yes I said it, the Hallmark, Andie MacDowell as Delilah "Del" Watson Landry lead series is a bit bat shit crazy. MacDowell is supported by Sadie Laflamme-Snow as Alice "Ali" Dhawan, Chyler Leigh as Katherine "Kat" Landry Dhawan & Evan Williams as Elliot "Eli" Augustine.
I sort of get the feeling this series can only go on for so long. Maybe the fourth will be the fourth and final for this pond fantasy series.
That concludes the big week of TV finales we had last week.
With my holiday incoming there will be limited posts for the next lil' bit. I will be back early April, before Easter, however I may share some snaps, insights, or any series I manage to complete whilst in Japan.
Let's be fair, Reacher and Severance will conclude their latest runs, so maybe I will get onto those.
We also have a number of shows hanging in the balance ahead of the US networks present their Upfront presentations in May.
My shows I watch, I am predicting:
CBS:
Swings the axe on THE EQUALIZER, maybe entertains the spin-off for next season. However I think Queen Latifah's series has run out of lives.
NBC:
I am convinced with the NBA coming to NBC, FOUND will also end its run despite, Shanola Hampton being a queen.
ABC:
9-1-1 will 100% be back, with new 9-1-1 location, Nashville landing next TV season. DOCTOR ODYSSEY, could really go either way. Do ABC need Ryan Murphy to be happy or just sub in one Murphy show for the new 9-1-1. Doctor Odyssey has failed to live up to the hype. It also can't be cheap to make.
The CW:
I'm also convinced, new station owners will see ALL AMERICAN as a liability. It's the last remaining original series on the troubled network. Season six ended perfectly. This season with a bunch of randoms has been patchy at best.
FOX:
Last but not least, the other network that was on-sale. But never sold. I feel when THE CLEANING LADY returns to Vegas later this month, it'll be the last 12 episodes we see. Like All American, it felt like it could have ended nicely last season.
Poor RESCUE HI-SURF has also struggled to find it's feet, however I feel with a shorter season next year, this might live to see another day. The network has limited series now the other 9-1-1 (Lons Star) has called it a day.
Time will tell, however I think the axe is being sharpened as we speak, by the respective networks!
The Chi has finally had part 2 of the sixth series land in Australia, on Disney+. This second batch of eight episodes landed back on Showtime in May last year.
I have been eager to conclude the solid sixth season for months now. The longest of all The Chi seasons. Consisting of 16 episodes split into two parts. This was largely due to the Hollywood labour strikes. With Part 1 commending August, 2023, and part 2 the following May. Concluding late last June.
So it had been a long wait for me to check in with my favourite Emmett, and his wild ride with multiple kids to multiple baby mommas. Emmett and Kiesha underpinned a lot the final eight (short) episodes. Taking the spotlight off the crime on the Chicago streets, bringing it back to real life family struggles.
Back in May last year, the newly named Paramount+ With Showtime renewed the series for a seventh season. Production warped early October 2024, so here is hoping like previous seasons we will get it June-August like previous seasons.
Warning: This post contains spoilers from Season 6 finale from here on in....
The South Side of Chicago just got a little less populated. With the exit of three cast members, via two deaths and a long-time-coming departure from the city.
When we saw the credits rolling, two characters — Curtiss Cook‘s Otis “Douda” Perry and Iman Shumpert’s Rob — were dead, and one — Tyla Abercrumbie’s Nina — had said goodbye to friends and family and moved out of town with girlfriend LaPorsha.
Both murders were related. After a season-long battle for power between Douda and Alicia (played by Lynn Whitfield, being promoted to series seven regular this year), the former mayor/crime kingpin was taken out instead by Nuck (Cortez Smith), his former henchman.
And when Nuck announced to Douda’s staff that he was the new boss in town, Rob refused to fall in line. So Nuck shot him several times as he was walking away, then dumped his body on the steps of his mother’s townhouse for Alicia to find.
The Chi is now Showtime's longest living dramas. The show has survived the new naming of Paramount+ With Showtime, out lived Billions, Shameless and any of the former 30 minute style sitcoms from Showtime.
The Chi has a lot to offer, I just hope for season seven Disney+ delivers it to Aussie viewers in a timely manner.
School Spirits is a series I caught up on last winter. It then entered my week-to-week dance card during a super busy US network TV period.
The series returned with three episodes back at the end of January, making it's eight episode run ending quickly, wrapping up yesterday morning.
Streaming on Paramount+, the series like many of recent (Taylor Sheridan) titles Lioness, Landman and Tulsa King awaiting renewal. When on Earth will they renew their recently concluded series.
The second season, opens with Peyton List as Maddie Nears realising Mr. Martin was there when she became a ghost and Janet took over her body, confronting him, making him run away into hiding.
Meanwhile, Janet; inhabiting Maddie’s body, takes a journey to her family’s now-crumbling farmhouse, starting a trip down memory lane. Simon wrestles with his desire to help Maddie and the possibility he had been hallucinating.
The ghostly gang finds traces of Janet's captivity in the school's basement. Xavier wakes up, but not in the land of the living.
Across the second season, death is just the beginning.While Maddie is still trapped in the afterlife, and time is running out. Now, she must work together with her friends in the spirit and living worlds to find a way back before it’s too late.
In the finale, Mr. Martin revealed that, at an extremely low point in his personal and professional life, he did consider doing something rash, even detaching the hose in the lab to create a gas leak. He changed his mind at the last minute, but it was too late; unbeknownst to him, Janet was testing flint torches, causing an explosion when exposed to the gas.
Back in their shared scar, an exit door appeared to the world beyond. Not only did Janet prevent Mr. Martin from going through it, but she also allowed it to close before she entered herself, saying that she had “unfinished business” to attend to before moving on.
Catching Mr. Martin in the first place required the spirits to reenter their scars, generating an enormous amount of energy within the walls of the school and triggering a mysterious change.
The next day, all seemed well enough, at least for Maddie, who woke up in her own body at the hospital, where Xavier revealed that he had spoken to her father. But Janet’s mission wasn’t over.
In the season’s final moment, she confronted Mr. Martin in their scar with more questions. He countered with a question of his own, gesturing to Simon, who had gone back into the school to find Maddie the night before.
We do get some cliffhangers at the end of the season, with Simon's fate not the only one, that remains uncertain after the Season 2 finale. When we last saw Wally, he was facing an exit door in his own scar, presenting the opportunity for him to finally cross over.
The we have Janet, who chose to stay behind and help her fellow spirits!
Let's see of Paramount+ finally start revealing a large number of their shows fates. However for me this one could go either way. The supernatural teeny booper series does feel a little 2000 and late....
Anora was named one of the top ten films of 2024 by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute. On Monday, at the 97th Academy Awards, the film won a leading five awards out of its six nominations: Best Picture, Best Actress (Madison), Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and Best Director
Anora is considered a comedy-drama film written, directed, produced, and edited by Sean Baker.
Starring Mikey Madison as Anora Mikheeva, a stripper who marries the son of a Russian oligarch, played by Mark Eydelshteyn.
Alongside Madison and Eydelshteyn, Yura Borisov, Karren Karagulian, Vache Tovmasyan, Darya Ekamasova, & Aleksei Serebryako star.
I am late to Anora, only seeing it last night. The film premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival back in May last year, where it received critical acclaim and won the Palme d'Or. Later it was theatrically released in October. So it isn't a new film by any measure.
OK so I had been warned about the sex. Whilst not super graphic, its constant for the first half of the film.
Also the film is LONG AF! Almost 2.5 hours LONG!
It really needed some strong editing. However the film has grossed $41 million worldwide, against a $6 million budget, making it Baker's highest-grossing film. Also that is damn fine for a film about a Russian oligarch finding. a pretty NY stripper who also speaks Russian.
Anora was wild and fun for the first act.
However the second half of the film really lost its way. Was it also the best film had to offer in 2024? I'm not sure or sold.
My friend also thought it was random AF as did the younger kids around us.
With Oscars hype, this film is an interesting one. Its more like a modern Pretty Woman less Julia Roberts/Richard Gere, with way more sex and drugs. Plus a banging soundtrack!
A wild ride, some NY to Las Vegas party vibes, this is definitely a film for the younger generation.
Prime Target is a maths (yes 1+1 = 2 maths) thriller miniseries starring The White Lotus and Bridget Jones (the latest one) Leo Woodall as a mathematician.
This was a really low quality Apple TV+, which gave US procedural network TV vibes. It was super basic, but tried to be complex. Whilst being mega fucking dull.
Even a gay(ish) lead storyline was not even to keep any of the 8 episodes interesting.
Basic plot, and I mean BASIC! A post-graduate mathematics student discovers an effort being made to destroy his work in finding a pattern in prime numbers that would allow him to access every computer in the world.
Leo Woodall is Edward Brooks, a mathematics student at Cambridge University, the lead who works with Quintessa Swindell as Taylah Sanders, an NSA agent remotely spying on various academics.
The weakest link had to be bad girl, Martha Plimpton as Jane Torres. So bad man. Like so bad!
If this wasn't a miniseries and easy to have on in the background, I might even have dumped this. Which is weird cause Apple TV+ originals of late have been great.
Bad Sisters had a solid second series. Not as good as the first, but still solid. Bad Monkey was a bit of fun whilst Severance still airing its second series is one of the weirdest things on TV.
Prime Target just doesn't fit the regular Apple TV+ thang. Maybe give this one a hard pass. Its not great.
Paradise is the latest political thriller on Hulu/Disney+ in Australia.
Created by Dan Fogelman & starring Sterling K. Brown, Julianne Nicholson, and James Marsden.
The eight part first season commenced streaming late January, concluding last night.
Receiving generally positive reviews from critics, the series was renewed for a second season ahead of the finale.
Set in a city-sized underground bunker in Colorado three years after a doomsday event, the series follows United States Secret Service agent Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown) as he seeks to discover the truth behind the killing of the President of the United States(James Marsden).
As Xavier comes under suspicion for President Bradford's death, he searches for answers about what really happened, and is unsure of who he can trust as his questions lead to many shocking revelations.
Paradise is set in a serene, wealthy community inhabited by some of the world's most prominent individuals. But this tranquility explodes when a shocking murder occurs and a high stakes investigation unfolds.
So how does it all end... SPOILER ALERTS!
Twelve years before the present day, a project manager demands that the bunker construction be shut down due to arsenopyrite poisoning of the workers and gets locked out of the site. Disgruntled and aware of the prediction, he infiltrates a press conference in the White House lawn to assassinate the President but fails, shooting Collins instead.
In the present day, Collins, Robinson and their team surrender and return the weapons. Driscoll assures Redmond that Presley will stay quiet, but is denied the Wii as a reward for her loyalty. Robinson and Dr. Torabi examine the arrival list and confront the diner waitstaff Maggie who confesses that she infiltrated with Trent.
Meanwhile Collins finds notes hidden by Bradford in library books; Trent knocks him unconscious and steals the notes. When Collins awakens, Trent recounts the story how he and the waitstaff stole the identities of the real Trent and his wife Maggie.
Initially comfortable with life in the bunker, the false Trent's desire to assassinate the President resurfaced upon meeting him; Trent snuck in Bradford's bedroom, then killed him with a construction tool on display.
Trent leaves the library, then commits suicide in front of Robinson and Collins, jumping off the skylight's maintenance station.
Collins confronts Redmond and demands his daughter back, while Driscoll shoots her non-lethally. Presley and Robinson encourage Collins to find his wife and other survivors using Bradford's notes.
Redmond is in recovery, Driscoll enjoys the Wii, Jeremy gathers supporters, and Collins pilots an aircraft out of the bunker to search for his wife.
With some answers, some questions and a search for Collins wife, season two of Paradise will be a must watch!
Disney+ has done well with content of late. Sadly that came with a price hike. With streaming services running out of ways to generate income, a year CPI price hike seems something we streamers sadly will need to live with.
Tonight, the finale of Prime Target. The big finales week has just started!
Spit is my first Aussie film for 2025! I never saw the OG Gettin' Square, however through brief flashbacks, recaps throughout the film, you get the gist. It was a heist film gone wrong with bad cops.
After 20 years on the run overseas, Spit returns home with a super fun airport scene.
The small-time ex-criminal Johnny Spitieri (Spit) slips back into Australia on a false passport only to find himself locked up in an Immigration Detention Centre with a massive target on his back as old enemies come looking for him, determined to settle old scores.
As he struggles to stay one step ahead, the resourceful Spit finds new friends in detention, teaching them his version of mateship, and what it means to be truly Australian.
Starring David Wenham as lead Spit, this film has a hell of a lot of heart. Even rounding things off with a dance sequences to one of Australia's biggest bands, Amyl and the Sniffers. There is also a classic Frenzal Rhomb song thrown into the soundtrack. While the chaotic opening scene is set to the legendary Genesis Owusu.
The Genesis Owusu song is also now doing the rounds for KFC. Will it be the next I Love It!
Alongside Wenham, David Field, Lewis Fitz-Gerald, Bob Franklin, Sofya Gollan, Arlo Green, David Roberts, Pallavi Sharda, Gary Sweet and Helen Thomson from Colin from Accounts all star.
This was a solid effort. There are heart warming moments, laugh out loud moments, all with a load of Aussie swearing!
This was a fun night out at the cinema. If only more people would see this as I read Gettin' Square was a flop back in the day. And that had Sam Worthington in the cast!
Spit is as Aussie as you get. While also showing the wonderful diversity this country hosts in 2025.
I enjoyed this a lot. It's getting a random star rating though, 4.25 locally created stars. Yep. Can't quite give it 4.5, but close enough. Excellent. Well done all invovled!
Heart Eyes is considered a romantic comedy slasher, is that a new Valentine's Day genre? So no longer does Hollywood need to reserve their horror films for Halloween.
Starring a fun duo, Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding as a pair of coworkers who are mistaken as a couple by a serial killer. Gigi Zumbado, Michaela Watkins, Devon Sawa (what a comeback he is making, first the Chucky series, now another horror film!), and Jordana Brewster also star.
Heart Eyes landed earlier in February, with the romantic notion that, for the past several years, the Heart Eyes Killer (AKA HEK) has wreaked havoc on Valentine’s Day by stalking and murdering romantic couples. This Valentine’s Day, no couple is safe!
This is the second horror film I have seen this week. It's the second horror film to not take itself too seriously and have fun! The kill scenes are still intense, it almost begs for a sequel with Gooding already a scream king, starring in the Scream series, with a seventh film to come out.
Surprisingly the "Seattle based horror was actually filmed across the ditch, in New Zealand last year.
For a horror film, Rotten Tomatoes, scores the film high at 82%, with the film also grossing $30 million worldwide. That is against a modest $18 million (USD) budget. Not bad.
This film was decent. It was also, short, sharp and 100% to the point.
Good job all involved. You even managed to make NZ look like Seattle. One of my favourite US cities to visit in my youth.
It's been a quiet TV week this week. However next week will make up with that with finales galore. Tuesday Paradise on Disney+, Wednesday Prime Target on Apple TV+, later in the week it's School Spirits on Paramount+ and the soon to be HBO less The Way Home on Binge.
See you next week for a massive TV week. I am also seeing another Aussie film tomorrow night too. So many films before Japan! Cherry Blossoms here I come!
Apple Cider Vinegar is set for all sorts of Boy Shallows Universe awards in coming months/2026. The Netflix Aussie limited series starring Kaitlyn Dever and Alycia Debnam-Carey as wellness guru Belle Gibson and Milla Blake, respectively, who both use their platforms to promote alternative medicine is excellent.
Gibson fools her following and the world with a fake cancer diagnosis, while Milla convinces her mother to join her in eschewing scientifically prescribed medical treatment. Following the series the famous Channel Nine 60 Minutes interview has again being doing the rounds and documentaries and news stories are flooding in around Gibson.
So who remembers Belle Gibson?
Across the six excellent episodes, the local Netflix production follows Belle Gibson as she commits fraud by pretending to have cancer to promote alternative medicine.
Gibson launches a wellness recipe app and cookbook, but soon her lies are uncovered. Alongside Dever and Debnam-Carey, it's an all-star outstanding local cast.
With Aisha Dee as Chanelle, Milla's friend and Belle's assistant, Tilda Cobham-Hervey as Lucy, cancer patient and fan of Belle, ABC's Mystery Road star, Mark Coles Smith as Justin Guthrie, Lucy's husband with Ashley Zukerman as Clive, Belle's partner.
Smaller roles are covered by Phoenix Raei as Hek, crisis manager, the incredible Susie Porter as Tamara, Milla's mother, Matt Nable as Joe, Milla's dad, an Aussie icon, Catherine McClements as Julie, Belle's book publisher, the unstoppable, Essie Davis as Natalie, Belle's mother, the beautiful Chai Hansen as Arlo, Milla's partner, Five Bedroom's Doris Younane as Dr. Chidiac, Sibylla Budd as Tara Brown, Jeremy Stanford as Dr. Walsh and Kate Lister as Jordan.
The finale is titled Tapeworm. Spoilers below. Read at your risk. However I was late to this series and most people absolutely smashed it!
In 2015, Belle lies in an interview, and Hek uses that to remember a suspicious story she had told about expelling a tapeworm from her nose after drinking apple cider vinegar.
In 2014, Belle arrives late at Milla's funeral, making a scene that makes everyone uncomfortable. During the funeral, Hunter's mother Fiona calls Belle charging her for the donation, and her excuses lead Fiona to realise the journalists were correct about the fraud claims.
Belle tries to manipulate Milla's widower Arlo, who kicks her out of his room. Justin publishes a story on Belle's charity frauds. Belle victimises herself online, and while she starts with public support, the tide turns against her once people start questioning her finances.
Lucy and doctors request proof of Belle's cancer, leading Sean to publish an exposé about her faked disease. Julie takes The Whole Pantry book off the shelves, Belle is expelled after trying to invade Apple's headquarters, and Clive decides that in spite of all that happened he needs to stay with Belle, afraid of what would happen if she tries raising her son alone.
Desperate, Belle decides to do a fresh start in Beverly Hills and schedules an interview with 60 Minutes Australia, where she has a disastrous, contradictory performance. Justin comforts Fiona, who cannot afford further treatment for Hunter, and decides to fully support Lucy as she goes after traditional cancer treatments.
Okay it's HOT but its apparently Autumn. Hope Nuclear power fixes this Dutton. Or should we saw Monopoly Dutton with 26 properties to his trust, that's right 26!
OK sorry an election is around the corner and God help us if we get the kings and (occasional) queen of Liberal fake news. Like Belle Gibson we live in an alternative facts world now. This series exposures how desperate people, will do and believe almost anything.
In a world of scams, Belle Gibson is the OG local queen of scam!
Brilliant work Netflix. Now produce more local content since you are charging Aussie's more for shit like sub-par Cobra Kai.
The Monkey does what horror films should always do. Not take themselves too seriously.
The short AF latest horror film written and directed by Osgood Perkins, produced by Aussie horror God James Wan, The Monkey is based on Stephen King's 1980 short story.
Starring the White Lotus hunk, Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, Christian Convery, Colin O'Brien, Rohan Campbell, Sarah Levy, Adam Scott, and Elijah Wood.
Yes Severance's Adam Scott, The White Lotus Theo James and Yellowjackets creep, Elijah Wood, all star in this $10–11 USD million buck film.
It follows twin brothers whose lives are turned upside down by a cursed toy monkey that causes random horrific deaths around them.
Released just after Valentine's Day, horror films are all in right now. Heart Eyes (which I think I've sadly missed) and Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare are always at the cinemas right now!
I thought horror was the genre leftover at the cinemas from everyone's Covid years nightmares. But no it continues to grow, shapeshifter and have an obsession with weird toys.
The Monkey felt slightly fresh, with actual laugh out loud moments and Final Destination style deaths. It was whack, over the top and Theo James is really easy on the eye.
My second short film in February. Following Presence at 85 minutes, The Last Showgirl clocks in at 89 minutes. While short though, the Pamela Anderson led Las Vegas drama packs a punch.
Directed by Gia Coppola and written by Kate Gersten. Alongside Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Billie Lourd, Dave Bautista, Brenda Song, & Kiernan Shipka all star.
With a super small budget of USD two million, 18 days to shoot, this film was solid. With that all star cast. From Baywatch to a middle-aged Las Vegas showgirl. Anderson really excelled in this role. So raw, so passionate.
The Last Showgirl focuses on a middle-aged Las Vegas showgirl who is faced with an uncertain future after learning that the revue she has performed in for three decades is scheduled to close.
The screenplay was adapted by Gersten from her own play, Body of Work, which she based on her visits to the Jubilee! show shortly before its closure in 2016.
The Last Showgirl has received generally positive reviews from critics, with Anderson's performance garnering critical praise. The film received two nominations at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama (Anderson) and Best Original Song for "Beautiful That Way", and two at the 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role (Anderson) and Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role (Curtis).
Curtis additionally received a nomination at the British Academy Film Awards for Best Supporting Actress for her performance.
Jamie Lee Curtis as Annette, Shelly's waitress best friend and former showgirl was exceptional too. I saw a friend telling me she was recording a country, concept album of songs outlining it's a hard being a woman in a man's world. This film showcased exactly that. Anderson looking at a future with fading looks and little income, while the male lead (Dave Bautista as Eddie, producer of the revue) would just bounce onto the next show.
Watching this film in my early 40's showed me, how fast time can go. If you are doing some you love (even if it's work) time just flies. When I worked on event ticketing and live events, it was hard work, but I loved it. Time flew in my mid-20's to 30's.
The pay was average, but it was good times. It was something you couldn't do forever, however I look back at my memories fondly. There were lot's of life lessons and wisdom from the grown, mature women in this film.
The sixth and final season of Cobra Kai (also known as Cobra Kai VI) was the legacy Netflix series longest (spilt) season, consisting of 15 episodes.
Originally a YouTube series, the blockbuster film to TV show moved to Netflix in 2021. Right when the world went nuts.
Unlike previous seasons, the sixth season was released in three parts of five episodes each. The first was released on last July, the second mid-November, & the final part on Valentine's eve.
The series is a direct sequel to the original four films in The Karate Kid franchise, focusing on the characters of Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence over 30 years after the titular film.
The season was originally set to be released in 2023, but experienced delays as a result of the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes.
The season features 13 starring roles, all of which returned from previous seasons, including Gianni DeCenzo who was a series regular in seasons 2–4, but was demoted to a recurring cast member in the previous season.
With such a big cast, so many storylines to wrap the finale starring Ralph Macchio, William Zabka,
Courtney Henggeler, Xolo Maridueña, Tanner Buchanan, Mary Mouser, Peyton List, Jacob Bertrand
Gianni DeCenzo, Dallas Dupree Young, Vanessa Rubio, Martin Kove & Thomas Ian Griffith.
SPOILER ALERT
Johnny prepares for his fight against Sensei Wolf with Daniel and Chozen; Daniel explains that whether he wins or loses the fight, he already has a family and has already won in life and they begin training. On the day of the fight, Wolf berates Johnny in the locker room and Johnny tries to hit him but Wolf easily subdues him and distracts him by talking about defeating him and his family.
In the match between senseis, Wolf bests Johnny winning two points while performing illegal moves that weaken Johnny. Daniel gives Johnny a Cobra Kai style speech that makes him confident and face Wolf. Johnny and Wolf have an exchange of blows in which Johnny scores the winning point proclaiming Cobra Kai the champion of the Sekai Taikai.
Some time later, Johnny moves into a new house with Carmen and her daughter while Miguel, Sam, Demetri, Hawk, Robby, Tory and Chozen continue their respective paths. Johnny and Daniel collaborate with their students as senseis to train them in Cobra Kai and Miyagi-Do at the same time.
Truthfully this show was an escape during the COVID period. It was an easy to watch, guilty pleasure to watch.
Overtime though the show got even more cheesy than it started off.
In the end the first ten episodes of this bloated season were just a little too lame.
The last five, with all the action, were an improvement. However I feel like this should have ended on a high around, season four. Airing 65 episodes in total, Cobra Kai had a damn good run.
Apparently Karate Kid: Legends will land at the cinema too this year. So maybe there is a touch more Cobra Kai on the way.
Until then, enjoy the last weekend of (offical) summer. Yes February is coming to an end. The Summer Streamin' 25 continues though till March 31, 2025 when I will be away in Japan! Bring it on!!!
Clean Slate is the latest US (streaming) sitcom I have gotten into. Streaming all eight episodes now on Amazon Prime Video. This twenty something minute (very PG) comedy is a mega easy watch.
OITNB's Laverne Cox & George Wallace star as a father/daughter (nee son) duo in the US south. Centring around a woman (Cox) reuniting with her father (Wallace), who she has not seen since her gender transition.
Streaming from the start of February, Clean Slate has so far received positive reviews from critics.
When Desiree returns to her small town in Alabama to reunite with her father Harry after 23 years away. Harry is excited to reunite with his son, and he has no idea that son is now Desiree—a proud trans woman.
Yep it kinda sounds corny, however it is super warm, big hearted and full of soul.
In the first episode, after 23 years away living as an artist in New York City, Desiree returns home to Alabama to repair her estranged relationship with her old-school father, Harry. Together, they must process their new reality as father and daughter.
There are highs, lows and religion.
The show showcases acceptance, love and the power of family and a good circle of friends. Honestly the world right now needs more simple, cut the special effects and sci-fi/superhero shit, give us loving dramas of forgiveness and love.
Invisible Boys is the latest Aussie drama to land on Stan. Which apparently has just turned ten. Happy birthday Stan! The commitment to high quality Aussie series and films, is (almost) second to none.
Invisible Boys premiered all ten episodes last Thursday.
Created & directed by Nicholas Verso, adapted from the novel of the same name by Holden Sheppard. The series follows the challenges of teens in the coastal city of Geraldton in Western Australia following the 2017 same-sex marriage plebiscite, it focuses on finding friendships, solace and understanding on what makes them invisible.
Set against the backdrop of Australia’s 2017 same-sex marriage plebiscite (what an awful time that was! remember), Invisible Boys explores the challenges faced by a group of gay teens in the remote coastal city of Geraldton, Western Australia after one of them is outed on social media following an encounter with a married man.
As they form a tight-knit friendship, the boys find solace and support in one another, exploring their desires and identities in a world that often renders them invisible.
Starring Joseph Zada (East of Eden), Aydan Calafiore (The Voice 2018), Zach Blampied (New Gold Mountain) and Joe Klocek (Territory), alongside Pia Miranda (Looking for Alibrandi) & David Lyons (Truth Be Told).
Some new stars with Pia Miranda playing an incredibly different role from the lead in Looking for Alibrandi.
Invisible Boys is an interesting look at four (very) different gay stereotypes. While also being from various backgrounds.
It's a tough watch at times. Sexy at other times. A bad reminder about the 2017 same-sex marriage plebiscite. Don't forget how much of a turkey Peter Dutton was back then when voting this year people!
Dexter: Original Sin is the third in the Dexter TV series created by Clyde Phillips.
Continuing from Dexter: New Blood, the series' frame story sees vigilante serial killer Dexter Morgan on his deathbed thinking back on his youth, starting in 1991, fifteen years before the first season of Dexter.
Landing on Paramount+ (or in the USA Paramount+ with Showtime, great name by the way!) mid-December. The first run concluded Friday (night) with a cliffhanger.
Sadly no news of season two as I write this.
Set in 1991 Miami, Dexter: Original Sin follows Dexter (Patrick Gibson) as he transitions from student to avenging serial killer. When his bloodthirsty urges can’t be ignored any longer, Dexter must learn to channel his inner darkness. With the guidance of his father, Harry (Christian Slater), he adopts a Code designed to help him find and kill people who deserve to be eliminated from society without getting on law enforcement’s radar.
This is a particular challenge for young Dexter as he begins a forensics internship at the Miami Metro Police Department. Patrick Dempsey, Molly Brown, James Martinez, Christina Milian (yes the popstar!), Alex Shimizu, Reno Wilson & Sarah Michelle Gellar also star in this new series, with Michael C. Hall returning to voice the iconic inner monologue in Dexter Morgan’s head.
So how did Code Blues go down on Friday? SPOILERS BELOW!
Talking with his therapist, Brian (Roby Attal) relates how after the Morgans sent him away, he was put into different foster homes. When his new family tried to take advantage of him, he fought back aggressively. As such, he was placed on Harbor Light Mental Hospital, where he was diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder. As he grows older, Brian confronts his nurse for hiding his medicine for the past months. The therapist, Paul Petrie, is content with Brian's progress, but warns him not to contact Dexter (Patrick Gibson). Upset, Brian brutally kills him and steals his car.
Dexter follows Spencer (Patrick Dempsey) to a ship in the docks, which is just half a mile off from the police station. Dexter intercepts Spencer and fight, but Spencer begins flooding Nicky's cell, suggesting to Dexter that Nicky might not be his son. Spencer flees, and Dexter is forced to let him go and jump into Nicky's cell to remove his chain. Nicky (London Thatcher) loses consciousness, but Dexter releases him from the chain and saves him. He takes him outside the ship, and uses a flare gun to alert authorities before fleeing the scene.
While visiting Bobby (Reno Wilson), LaGuerta (Christina Milian) tells Harry (Christian Slater) that Barbara has been murdered, and he realizes Brian is responsible. While checking the crime scene, Harry notices Brian in a nearby building, who is awaiting for Dexter's arrival. Harry confronts Brian at gunpoint, finally connecting him to the two other murders; they were bullies from his foster homes.
Brian reveals he already met Dexter, and is upset to know that Dexter has forgotten he had a brother. Brian confronts Harry for not telling Dexter over his affair with Laura, and how forcing her to become an informant led to her death. Brian refuses to surrender and asks Harry to kill him instead. Harry hesitates, and Brian seizes this to knock him unconscious and escape.
Spencer breaks into Becca's house and attacks her boyfriend Nelson, confronting her over lying to her about Nicky's true father. Dexter subdues Spencer again and takes him out of the house, seeing a report of Barbara's murder on TV. Dexter places Spencer again on the killing table, but this time in Camilla's boat. As Dexter taunts Spencer for ruining his legacy, Spencer claims that Harry has failed him, but Dexter does not give it importance. He murders Spencer and dumps his body in the ocean, having found a place to dispose of his victims.
When he returns home, Harry explains Nicky's case is his own fault; had he trusted Dexter, Nicky would have been rescued earlier. Dexter confesses killing Spencer, revealing he saved Nicky as well. Harry is shaken at realizing his lifelong friend was a monster, but Dexter reiterates he was not born like that, unlike Dexter himself. Despite knowing Dexter was affected by his mother's death, Harry comforts him.
The following morning, Debra (Molly Brown) and Sofia (Raquel Justice) reconcile. At Miami Metro, Harry and Angel (James Martinez) discuss Spencer's whereabouts, and Harry dismisses the serial killer case despite LaGuerta's report. Unbeknownst to them, LaGuerta overhears this, and walks away disappointed. Tanya (Sarah Michelle Gellar) informs Dexter that he has been approved to join forensics full-time, officially becoming part of Miami Metro.
After Bobby recovers, Debra tells Harry that she has enrolled in the police academy, which Harry approves. In private, Harry expresses pride in Dexter for prioritising Nicky's safety over pursuing Spencer, deeming that his Code belongs to Dexter. Dexter and Harry join Debra for a dance, with Dexter narrating that despite his fears, the one thing that could save him is family. Outside, Brian sees Dexter from afar.
Honestly this season was fire. A huge improvement on Dexter: New Blood which was awful. In episode one of this season, we learnt the BIG news Dexter.... lives!
Therefore up next is Dexter: Resurrection, which could potentially stream, this year!
So much Dexter, so little time!
But seriously this was such an improvement on New Blood.
Patrick Gibson as a young Dexter was great. If you need a new serial killer drama/thriller, get onto this now. Paramount+ you are on a good run right now, Dexter, Landman, Yellowjackets and NCIS: Sydney on the local front! Too much to stream pre-Easter! Summer Streamin' 25 RATED list is going to be fire!
How to Die Alone is a cute little one and done Hulu/Disney+ series that I just discovered after hearing it got the axe.
Ahead of The White Lotus returning, Belinda AKA Natasha Rothwell, is the series creator whilst starring as the lead Mel.
How to Die Alone follows a woman who has never been in love, and decides to change her life after a near-death experience.
Mel is a down-on-her-luck Black woman working at JFK airport. After a near-death experience, she decides to take control of her life and begins a journey of self-empowerment and personal transformation.
Alongside Rothwell, How to Get Away With Murder's Conrad Ricamora, Jocko Sims, & KeiLyn Durrel Jones also star.
II missed the show when it landed late September.
While receiving positive reception, earlier this month, Rothwell announced that the series had been canceled by Hulu after one season.
This was a mega easy watch, whilst being an interesting little work place comedy, it also had heart.
There were some really funny one liners. Natasha Rothwell is a real talent. Gosh I hope she slays in the upcoming run of The White Lotus in Thailand!
Yes The White Lotus returns to Binge, Monday afternoon. For now though, How to Die Alone lives in Disney+.
Maybe one of my shortest film reviews for 2025 (even this early on) and one of the shortest films of 2025, Presence.
Clocking in at 85 minutes, this fast & furious haunted house tale, hits fast and furious. Whilst also building pace slowly and surely.
As the tension builds with Presence, the supernatural thriller/drama directed by Steven Soderbergh, you see a haunted house, told by the house itself.
Starring Charlies Angels, Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan, & Callina Liang as The Paynes, a family of four, mother Rebecca, father Chris, elder brother Tyler, and younger sister Chloe.
They move into a large suburban house inhabited by a poltergeist. Presence is presented from the Presence's point of view in a series of long takes.
Presence has currently grossed $7 million on a $2 million production budget, and received positive reviews from critics. What was my reaction? Read on a brief report below the trailer.
So it builds, but does it deliver? There is a moment of climax, then a brief reaction by the family, then credits.
The film struggles to deliver a BIG finish, however from a different angle the tired haunted house story gets a new lease on life.
I'll pass this but it isn't the best horror film of recent times.
The third and final series of The Newsreader landed on ABC iView on Sunday. Last night I finished episode six, The Fall.
Episodes will continue to air weekly on ABC TV, Sundays at 8:30pm, meaning the time slot home of Australian drama will have no new material for me for five more weeks. Will Mystery Road Origins return next?
Either way here is what went down on the final season of this excellent Australian series.
We first met Dale Jennings and Helen Norville in 1986, when a fledgling Dale was desperate to be a star newsreader and Helen was fighting to be taken seriously as a journalist.
Now, in 1989, Dale Jennings has become the most beloved name in news, and Helen’s fearless international reporting has won her an opportunity to be the first woman to both anchor and produce her own current affairs show, ‘Public Eye with Helen Norville’.
Helen and Dale initially take pride in each other’s success, until an unexpected and cynical network move sees them pitted directly opposite each other in the cut-throat 6pm time slot.
Without warning, these former allies and lovers are plunged into the most ferocious battle in commercial television, and it becomes agonisingly clear that by year’s end, only one of them will maintain their long-
fought-for position.
Episode one highlights TV's night of nights, the Logies. Bob Hawke features in episode two, whilst the Tiananmen Square massacre episode is full on.
The series concludes with the fall of the Berlin Wall. The final episode is dramatic with Sam Reid, as Dale Jennings having a dramatic fall from grace. A place Anna Torv, as Helen Norville has been in almost the entire season.
Both excel in this final season with Mr everywhere, Stephen Peacocke, as Rob Rickards and Michelle Lim Davidson, as Noelene Kim excelling in their supporting roles too. Covering tough topics while bringing up a new child.
NCIS Sydney's (back today on Paramount+) William McInnes, as Lindsay Cunningham is so vile, with some incredible one liner take downs. He has always played the villain so well.
The Newsreader along with Total Control have been brilliant three season ABC TV dramas leaving on highs, not at all outstaying their welcomes on our TV's.
Australian drama is in a good place, but people need to watch these dhows to keep them coming.
So if you need something to watch this Brat Summer Laneway weekend. The Newsreader streams all three seasons now on ABC iView.
Human Error is another piece of Australian content floating around right now. It did air on the Nine Network, last September. However I waited for an ad-free six episode binge on Stan.
Of course it falls into the crime drama genre. Created by Greg Haddick, the Human Error is inspired by true events, Holly O'Rourke (Leeanna Walsman) begins investigating a gangland murder that turns her whole life upside down.
The murder appears to be a case of mistaken identity. The investigation threatens to destroy her career as a conspiracy and a deeper plot emerges, all whilst Holly's family life is crumbling around her.
The cast for the series was announced on 2 February 2023 as production commenced. Yes so I am late to the party on this one too. Joining Walsman as O'Rourke, there are some familiar Australian faces. Particularly Mr everywhere Steve Peacocke as Dylan McKenzie. Peacocke is also currently in ABC's The Newsreader and will appear on RFDS when it returns to Channel Seven later in 2025.
Matt Day plays Walsman's husband, Luke O'Rourke, Steve Bisley plays her father, Bear O'Rourke, while the rest of the cast include, Rahel Romahn, Anthony J Sharpe, Daniela Farinacci, Ethan Lwin, Emily Joy and Rosie Mitchell.
Stan has delivered loads of local content of late. Bump's final run, Black Snow and Invisible Boys lands next week. With Channel Nine as the parent company, they sometimes air previous Stan titles, while Nine titles eventually appear on Stan.
Sadly Nine has no Australian dramas planned for 2025 and in 2024, Human Error was the solo drama on free to air Nine. Stan got all the original, new Australian dramas.
2024 could have been equally as quiet for Nine as Human Error was originally set to lead the 2023 Nine Network drama slate but was ultimately pushed back until the following year, due to Nine airing the Warnie tele-movie.
Wow with MAFS killing it, in 2023 they didn't even have room in their programming slots for one tele-movie and one miniseries?
Miniseries may not be 100% factually correct as the finale ends with an entirely new case. The last episode does feel a little drawn out, so I understood why they dedicated the last few minutes to a new crime.
I think timing/pacing wise they could have easily done this in four episodes in place of two.
Either way this was a super easy watch. Leeanna Walsman deserves more credit. I will hopefully conclude the other half of The Newsreader this week, showing that Australian content is currently killing it!
Until then. OMG Charli XCX might also be in the country. It's LANEWAY, brat summer week! YASS!
