The third season of The White Lotus, concluded a wee few weeks ago.
The HBO series originally begun as a miniseries. However the show was so popular, HBO kept it on as an anthology series.
With the third season, filmed in Bangkok, Phuket, and Ko Samui from February to August 2024.
This season features an all-star cast, Leslie Bibb, Carrie Coon, HBO darling from the Righteous Gemstones, Walton Goggins, Sarah Catherine Hook, Jason Isaacs, Lalisa Manobal, Michelle Monaghan, Sam Nivola, Lek Patravadi, Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Tayme Thapthimthong, Aimee Lou Wood, Sam Rockwell and Scott Glenn, with Natasha Rothwell and Jon Gries reprising their roles from prior seasons.
The series follows the lives of the staff and wealthy guests at a wellness resort in Thailand. Following prior seasons in Italy and Hawaii.
The third season, received mostly positive reviews from critics, but many criticised the slow pacing and found the final episode disappointing. Well the eighth and final episode was long, slow to start, but packed a punch at the end. Spoilers below the trailer for those slower viewers like me. I still haven't started HBO's The Last of Us season two. That one (along with 9-1-1's) major deaths have been impossible to miss spoilers online.
So you have been warned below.
Piper admits to her parents that she cannot tolerate living without material comforts, relieving Victoria.
Valentin begs Gaitok not to report him and his friends for the robbery lest they be deported.
Zion negotiates a payout from Greg of $5 million; Belinda decides to leave Thailand, to Pornchai's dismay.
Laurie reconciles with Jaclyn and Kate. Lochlan tells Saxon that their sexual contact during the threesome was because he is a people pleaser.
Timothy nearly kills himself and his family (except Lochlan) with poisoned piña coladas, but stops them from drinking at the last minute; Lochlan drinks the leftovers from the blender the next morning and nearly dies before awakening in Timothy's arms.
Jim confronts Rick at the hotel, insulting Rick's mother; spiralling, Rick begs for another session with Amrita, but she is busy seeing Zion.
Rick shoots Jim dead with Jim's gun. Sritala reveals that Jim was Rick's biological father. Chelsea is killed in a shootout with Sritala's bodyguards, devastating Rick.
Gaitok obeys Sritala's order to shoot Rick dead. Later, Timothy tells his family their lives are about to change; Gaitok is promoted to Sritala's bodyguard, to Mook's delight; and Belinda and Zion wave goodbye to the White Lotus staff.
The season was a lot! Parker Posey and Patrick Schwarzenegger stole the show. A lot of the time Posey was just a dream to watch.
Lisa, from Blackpink was also a delight to watch on screen.
HBO (now MAX in Australia) have really taken their series to new heights. With another Game of Thrones spin-off incoming this year, IT's TV series and Harry Potter TV series incoming, along with the return of fellow Game of Thrones prequel, House of Dragon. They have all the content.
So if you were a fan of seasons one and two, you will eat this up. It's deliciously vile, in all the right ways. Expect this to appear high on my #RATED for the Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' list.
Tinā is written & the directorial debut from Miki Magasiva, brother of Robbie and Pua Magasiva. Robbie is an Aussie on favourite, formerly on Wentworth, currently on Rescue Hi-Surf
Starring Anapela Polataivao as Mareta Percival, a dissatisfied substitute teacher, recently bereaved after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake killed her daughter.
She begins to work at an elite private school and starts a student choir. Samoan teacher Mrs Percival, she and her students find unlikely connections and a new sense of purpose when they establish a school choir.
The film is heartbreakingly beautiful. with one of the most amazing final scenes in a film in ages. So much of this film explores grief, ugliness from small minded members of society, finding purpose after an unbearable loss and community.
Community is at the heart of this film, and this film has SO MUCH heart. Almost too much. You can honestly hear others in the cinema crying.
Opening this Thursday with preview screenings this past long weekend, Tinā is incredible.
Kiwi films and TV don't come along our screens as much as I'd like. Our closest neighbours present some incredible stories. This was truly incredible.
I loved this, from the school choir, to Anapela Polataivao as Mareta Percival. This was ace cinema.
Scrublands recently returned to Stan, in time for the Easter/Anzac holiday period. Good timing Stan!
In season two, Martin Scarsden returns home with his new partner, but when he finds his best friend dead, with his partner Mandy as the main suspect, he pushes to find the truth of what really happened.
Last March, Silver, the second season was announced. It was announced that filming would be moving from Victoria to Western Australia for this picturesque second season.
With Luke Arnold & Bella Heathcote are both reprising their roles from the first series. This season they are joined by Home & Away icon, Debra Lawrance as Denise Speight, Luke Caroll as Scotty Waaliti / Wesley Patten as Teen Scotty, Ezra Justin as Teen Martin, David Roberts as Vern Jones, Luke Pegler as Nick Poulos, the return of Joel Jackson as Garth McGrath, Hamish Michael as Jasper Speight / Griffin Zardo as Teen Jasper, Secret Life of Us star, Damian de Montemas as Tyson St Clair, Megan Hollier as Keira & Caroline Brazier as Jennifer 'Jay Jay' Hayes.
This season, it’s been a year since the life changing events of Scrublands and award-winning investigative journalist Martin Scarsden (Arnold) has returned to his coastal hometown, Port Silver, WA, to set up a new life with partner Mandy Bond (Heathcote).
When he arrives to find his childhood friend Jasper brutally murdered and Mandy the prime suspect, Martin struggles with doubts – about Mandy and about his own ability to recognise the truth. As he pushes forward to find the real murderer and absolve Mandy, Martin confronts secrets about Port Silver and his long-buried past.
The four episodes breeze by, set aside this beautiful beachside town. Like the ones Aussies have been flocking to these April holidays.
Scrublands gives major Black Snow vibes. There is a third book in Chris Hammers series called Trust. So fingers crossed we get a third season. Black Snow really set up another run, but Scrublands feels like one of those shows that could just continue on. Particularly when there is already a third book out there.
The Dry, Scrublands, Black Snow, Aussies love a crime drama. With a crime being solved, sorted, neatly over four episodes is a skill. The Scrublands team do an awesome job.
Let's hope Stan hurry up with their release of Sunny Nights. They are currently on a bit of a roll! More Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' with the final season of Big Boys soon. Along with the third season of Fire Country wrapping.
The Correspondent just landed at cinemas around the country.
Starring Richard Roxburgh in this biographical legal thriller directed by Kriv Stenders from a screenplay by Peter Duncan.
Joining Roxburgh, Julian Maroun, Rahel Romahn, Yael Stone, and Mojean Aria all star.
The story of Australian foreign correspondent and journalist Peter Greste, being arrested in Cairo and held in an Egyptian prison, was massive. This is the film version, adapted from Greste's 2017 memoir The First Casualty.
What I remember of this story was it was a big deal. It brought up issues of press freedom, press being detained and Greste not getting a fair trial.
The Correspondent is based on the real-life story of Australian foreign correspondent and journalist Peter Greste, who was arrested in Cairo after being accused of spreading false news and aiding the Muslim Brotherhood.
The film almost entirely shoot within prison cells and small court rooms makes for a tense viewer experience. Unfortunately in the cinema I attended the volume was a slight issue too, with the volume set to a dull roar.
That said, you are glued to your seat awaiting to see the next steps in the Greste case. Whilst the facts at the end of the film, 1700 journalists have died in conflict zones, and 779 were arrested in 2023 alone, is truly scary.
In a world of fake news, influencers also making news, it's a tough gig out there now.
With so many media mediums, the 24/7 news cycle it's a crazy world out there. Greste's story is truly interesting.
I enjoyed this Aussie picture. It's great seeing an Aussie film make the big screen. 3 Stars.
Abbott Elementary has just had its second batch of season four episodes uploaded on Disney+. I smashed them as quickly as they were loaded up.
The American mockumentary sitcom television series created by Quinta Brunson recently concluded its fourth run on the US's ABC network.
The fourth season commenced early October, last year. Concluding only last week. This season was supersized with 22 episodes! That said they hover around the 20 minute mark! Easy viewing. Like super easy.
One episode easily done on a bus ride from Chippendale to Balmain.
Starring previous season favourites and creator, Quinta Brunson, along with Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, William Stanford Davis and Sheryl Lee Ralph.
The fourth season featured a musical performance from the legendary Jill Scott, along with a crossover with It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Abbott Elementary was the first non-reality series to be renewed for a fifth season on ABC slated to premiere later this year. Most likely in 2026 on Disney+ here in OZ.
In the 22nd episode of the season, it features this year's field trip is to the Please Touch Museum.
Gregory (Tyler James Williams) is nervous as his father Martin has agreed to be a chaperone and this is his first time meeting Janine (Quinta Brunson). At first she tries to mimic his strict personality but her playful side comes out.
Martin engages with the children, shocking Gregory. Martin explains Janine reminds him of Gregory's mother.
O'Shon gives Ava some earrings she finds ugly. She eventually admits it and O'Shon shows her some cheaper ones he almost bought that Ava likes.
Jacob's eighth graders find the Museum boring and are disappointed this is their last field trip, until they are able to put on a play having the teachers imitate each other, scripted by the students.
Honestly this show just gets better and better. This was a mega easy binge, with Disney+ giving us ten episodes first up then the remaining twelve this week.
The show is so well written, so heart warming, it's a joy to watch! Like I did for previous network series finale, Rescue: HI-Surf, here is a list of current ABC series returning for later 2025. The only series on the "bubble" is Doctor Odyssey, also streaming on Saturday's on Disney+.
High Potential, joined Abbott Elementary, being renewed first on January 21, 2025. I am also currently watching High Potential which got off to a great start. Just a little stuck with all the finales and Scrublands landing on Stan.
9-1-1—Renewed for a ninth season on April 3, 2025.
ABC Hockey Saturday—Renewed for a twelfth season on March 10, 2021; deal will last into a fourteenth season in 2027.
Dancing with the Stars—Renewed for a thirty-fourth season on April 22, 2025. Aussie Robert Irwin is the first dancer announced!!!
The Great Christmas Light Fight—Renewed for a thirteenth season on November 1, 2024.
Grey's Anatomy—Renewed for a twenty-second season on April 3, 2025.
Monday Night Football—Renewed for a sixth season on March 18, 2021; deal will go to a thirteenth season in 2033.
The Rookie—Renewed for an eighth season on April 3, 2025.
Shifting Gears—Renewed for a second season on April 3, 2025.
Will Trent—Renewed for a fourth season on April 3, 2025.
9-1-1: Nashville will also landed later this year or in 2026. All return dates TBC. Possibly news on that next month.
Until next time, all four seasons of Abbott Elementary stream now on Disney+.
Ten Pound Poms has been streaming on Stan for some time. Well since mid-May 2023. I am late to the party, but watched seasons one and two back-to-back.
The Australian-British historical drama television series created by Danny Brocklehurst in partnership between BBC One & Stan.
Ten Pound Poms stars Michelle Keegan, Faye Marsay, Warren Brown, Mr everywhere, Rob Collins, Leon Ford, Declan Coyle, David Field, Stephen Curry, Hattie Hook, Finn Treacy & Emma Hamilton.
The title and term, Ten Pound Poms, refers to British citizens who migrated to Australia after the Second World War in a subsidised migration scheme. Poms in Australia & New Zealand, departing post-war Britain in 1956 for Australia, having been promised a better house, better job prospects, and a better quality of life for just £10 (equivalent to £260.58 in 2025)
On BBC One, the first episode attracted an overnight audience of 4.6 million viewers! No wonder it got a second series! This landed early last month.
The Poms soon learn that life in Australia is not as promised. Struggling with their new identity as immigrants, the series follows their triumphs and pitfalls as they adapt to life in a new country far from Britain and familiarity.
In the second season, we see the Brits return. After a challenging first year in Australia, this season follows our Brits into 1957 on their adventure down under, each determined against all odds to achieve their slice of the Australian dream.
As Kate (Michelle Keegan) and the Roberts Family (Faye Marsay and Warren Brown) settle into life down under, they each struggle to reconcile their hopes for the life they were promised with the harsh realities they face at Galgownie hostel.
There is a drama a plenty across all 12 episodes now up on Stan.
Sunny Nights is also upcoming on Stan. The series follows siblings Martin and Vicki Marvin, an American brother-sister duo who relocate to Sydney hoping to establish a spray tan business. They find themselves entangled with all the wrong people, trying to stay alive, out of jail, and in the black.
Invisible Boys, Good Cop/Bad Cop and Black Snow have also streamed recently, awaiting news on additional seasons. So Ten Pound Poms joins the list of shows awaiting its fate to be revealed.
Being a co-production (and popular) in the UK, should help this series along. It was a solid watch with a strong cast of UK and Aussie stars.
You can stream all 12 episodes, two seasons of Ten Pound Poms on Stan right now! Happy streaming this long weekend.
First up some highlights from Okinawa Island. Such a beautiful place just off Japan. A relaxed way to experience, all the culture and beauty Japan has to offer.
With solid public transport, great sights to see, Okinawa Island is a must see when (like many other Australians) you next visit Japan.
Black Bag is a film I really wanted to see. I thought I missed it, however with Easter being, long and carefree, I caught on the spy/thriller film Steven Soderbergh.
Starring Aussie icon, Cate Blanchett, fresh from his Showtime spy series, The Agency, Michael Fassbender, Marisa Abela, Tom Burke, Naomie Harris, Regé-Jean Page, & Pierce Brosnan.
Following British intelligence officer (Fassbender) tasked with investigating a list of possible traitors, one of whom is his wife (Blanchett).
Whilst the film has received critical acclaim, thus far it has been a box-office disappointment, grossing $37.8 million on a budget of at least $50 million.
This swift, gripping spy drama about legendary intelligence agents George Woodhouse and his beloved wife Kathryn.
When she is suspected of betraying the nation, George faces the ultimate test – loyalty to his marriage or his country.
Rocking in on just over 1.5 hours, this film has speedy dialogue along with a fast paced plot. This is cinema at 2025 at its best.
I really enjoyed this film. It got to the point, built tension while jet setting all across Europe. With a fun soundtrack and solid performances. This was choice cinema.
If its still showing near you, give it a chance. 3.5 Stars.
His back! Daredevil: Born Again is Daredevil back, this time on Disney+, not Netflix. This revival & continuation of the OG series Daredevil (2015–2018), Born Again sees blind lawyer and former vigilante Matt Murdock's fight for justice put him on a collision course with former mob boss Wilson Fisk who is elected mayor of New York City.
The season is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), sharing continuity with the films and television series of the franchise.
Charlie Cox reprises his role as Matt Murdock/Daredevil from Marvel's Netflix television series and prior Marvel Studios productions, starring alongside Vincent D'Onofrio (Fisk), Margarita Levieva, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Wilson Bethel, Zabryna Guevara, Nikki M. James, Genneya Walton, Arty Froushan, Clark Johnson, Michael Gandolfini, Ayelet Zurer, Kamar de los Reyes, Jon Bernthal, Mohan Kapur, & Tony Dalton.
Born Again was announced in July 2022 with a planned 18-episode first season. Due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, this turned the show into two nine-episode seasons. The first season filmed in January 2024 and wrapped in April of that year.
Season one landed on Disney+ early March, concluding during this short Easter week. Good timing Disney+. Not to forget they are following this up with the second and final season of Andor.
In streaming wars, Disney+ has lot's more ammunition (content wise) in the can and ready to come out on top above local streamers like Binge and Stan.
Back to the revival of Daredevil, this season received generally positive reviews from critics, who highlighted the character-driven storytelling and performances, particularly those of Cox and D'Onofri. But had mixed thoughts when comparing it to the original Daredevil series. So how'd the bloody, overly violent finale wrap? SPOILERS BELOW! You have been warned!
A year earlier, Vanessa asks Dex to kill Nelson, who is working on a case which could expose her activities in Red Hook, in exchange for his old life.
Meanwhile, in the present, Dex escapes the ball and Murdock is hospitalised. Fisk cuts off the power to New York City and orders Cashman to kill Murdock, who escapes to his apartment, finding Castle. Both fight AVTF officers, including North, revealed as Ayala's murderer. The pair reunite with Page, who asked Castle to protect Murdock after learning of Dex's escape.
Murdock and Page track down Nelson's case and discover the Fisks are trying to establish a city-state in Red Hook. Castle fights the AVTF in Red Hook but is defeated. Fisk's campaign director Sheila Rivera exposes Gallo's attempt to undermine Fisk, who brutally kills him.
Fisk offers Glenn the position of Mental Health Commissioner, which she accepts. Fisk declares martial law, outlaws vigilantism, and imprisons vigilantes, including Duquesne and Castle, and other dissidents in Red Hook.
Murdock recruits Cherry, Kim, and other honest police officers to save the city.
In rescue Marvel style, a mid-credits scene, Castle tricks a prison guard and begins to break free. Honestly the Punisher helped rescue this season for me. As Fisk acted such much like Trump (even being a New York businessman) it seemed Hollywood is really obsessed with the orange leader. Like the media its getting hard to escape the Trump impact.
For me, I can't even remember finishing the Netflix episodes, however Daredevil isn't the most interesting of Marvel characters.
I did for some reason like Iron Fist a little more, as well as Jessica Jones. Oh well, they will probably return in due course. Everything is old is new again.
1923 the second prequel (the sequel to the series 1883) to Yellowstone concluded whilst I was on holidays. One person however does return, Isabel May reprising her 1883 role, as narrator Elsa Dutton.
The second/final season commenced it's short (seven episodes with the final episode acting as a double episode) run a little earlier this month.
1923 follows a generation of the Dutton family in 1923, during a time of various hardships including Prohibition, drought, and the early stages of the Great Depression, which affected Montana long before the Wall Street Crash of 1929.
In the jumbo finale (SPOILER WARNING) Fossett discovers the aftermath of Teonna's confrontation with Renaud and arrests her following a short standoff. Feeling sympathetic after learning of Teonna's past, Fossett doesn't charge her for Renaud or Kent's deaths.
Teonna later goes to trial, but her case is dismissed due to a lack of witnesses. With no home or family to return to, she heads to California for a fresh start. Creighton has a personal crisis about working for Whitfield and flees with his family to the Livingston train station.
Dozens of Creighton's men begin their assault on the Dutton ranch, intending to kill everyone, while Cara and Zane lead the defence. They manage to hold them off initially, but the men later return in greater numbers with an automatic firearm.
Alexandra stays warm by creating a fire and uses it to signal a passing train. Spencer notices Alexandra from the window, jumps from the train, and they have a tearful reunion. After Alexandra is brought on board, she is treated for severe frostbite.
As the train reaches Livingston, a shootout occurs between Jacob and Creighton's men. When Spencer protects his family, Creighton saves Jacob by shooting his own men, but is killed by McDowell.
In his dying moments, Creighton reconciles with Jacob. In the aftermath of the shootout, Jacob and McDowell are wounded, but Spencer is forced to leave Alexandra and rushes to the ranch, where he almost singlehandedly kills the remainder of Creighton's men.
Jacob stays with Alexandra, and they are taken to the hospital, where Alexandra gives birth prematurely. Although born three months early, the baby survives, but Alexandra refuses to allow the doctors to amputate her limbs that are afflicted with gangrene.
Spencer and Cara soon arrive, and Alexandra dies hours later in her sleep. Seeking vengeance, Jacob and Spencer confront Whitfield in his mansion. Hoping to make an example of him, Spencer executes Whitfield and sets his home ablaze.
Jack's body is soon recovered, and both he and Alexandra are buried on the ranch. With no reason to stay, Elizabeth leaves for good. Spencer takes charge of the ranch while Jacob retires to help Cara raise Spencer and Alexandra's son, named John.
In a flash forward to 1969, an elderly Spencer visits Alexandra's grave and passes away peacefully.
So have we had enough Yellowstone yet? Well spin-offs galore continue to be on the cards.
The sequel series (less main cast) The Madison is due to stream later in 2025, 6666 is still on the cards, which was previewed through later Yellowstone seasons.
1883, 1923 continues with 1944, showcasing the Dutton's history. While the Dutton's future will be explored via an untitled Beth Dutton & Rip Wheeler series and a network TV (family friendly and on CBS) based on Kayce Dutton is also in the works!
That is a lot of Yellowstone!
Paramount/CBS love a spin-off, but hell, this is some next level spin-off Marvel universe shit!
Happy Easter! New feature album tomorrow, Daredevil wrapped and I'm catching up on network TV breakthrough hit, High Potential. Good news too, part II of season four of Abbott's Elementary lands next week, praise be!
Yellowjackets concluded it's third, twisty season last week. Streaming in Australia on Paramount+, the gender swapping Lord of the Flies story follows a group of teenagers involved in a 1996 plane crash, and follows the consequences of the event in their adult lives.
The third season landed in mid-February, with a double episode comeback. Following an almost two year hiatus (along with rumours of a "bonus" episode floating around) the hit Showtime original was back.
This return was a little slower than the gap between season one and two.
This season Hilary Swank was cast in a recurring role, joining Melanie Lynskey, Tawny Cypress, Ella Purnell, Christina Ricci, Lauren Ambrose, Steven Krueger & Sarah Desjardins.
Watch out spoilers below about the season finale, Full Circle. By the episode title, one could almost imagine this was the series finale. Well it could very well be. The series has not yet been renewed. However quick spoiler, the show did end on a cliffhanger, meaning we very much need a fourth season.
SPOILERS BELOW!!!
Natalie is furious with Misty for destroying the emergency transponder, but agrees to not tell the team if Misty helps her.
The livestock has mysteriously died, leading the team to declare a new hunt. Taissa and Van try to rig the card selection so Hannah is selected, but Shauna catches on and manipulates it so that Mari is chosen.
Mari is chased, but the hunt is largely a distraction to get Natalie the satellite phone. Mari springs the covered spike pit trap and is impaled.
After the feast, Shauna realizes Natalie is missing; Natalie has taken the satellite phone to the top of a cliff. A male voice on the other end of the phone responds.
In the present, Taissa buries Van's body, but not before carving out her heart and eating it.
Misty interrogates Callie. Callie admits to killing Lottie; Callie had pushed Lottie down the stairs in a moment of rage. Callie reveals this to Jeff, and they both flee the house and disconnect from Shauna.
Taissa and Misty meet to discuss what to do about Shauna next. Shauna finds the house empty and the discarded note that had accompanied the DAT tape. She rips it up and journals about her desire to claim her power back.
I do hope the series is renewed, as I really (need) want to know how the OG Yellowjackets were rescued. I felt like they might get there this season, however it never came.
I reckon a fourth season is a go, its easily Showtime's biggest show. Even all the Dexter spin-offs don't get the same attention as this survival series.
This week Daredevil concludes ahead of Easter and hopefully I finish the White Lotus third season over Easter. Catching up on all the holiday TV has been a mission LOL
OK so as of last Friday, it still felt like summer! However here is my definitive ultimate, double summer, six monthly top 84 series.
HBO, Paramount+ and Apple TV+ did well (as usual), the ABC (Australian) & STAN also did well on the local front. I have to say Disney+ had some damn fine content. While HBO ended up top dog, they also ended up bottom dog.
The Franchise, really came at the wrong time. It was also majorly unfunny. Talk about a misstep.
So as the US network TV drama season winds down, keep an eye on the Post Holiday Blues Streaming 25' series.
So if you want to visit all my previous lists click through the links HERE
1. Somebody Somewhere - Season Three/Series Final 2. Apple Cider Vinegar - Miniseries (AU) 3. English Teacher - Season One 4. Landman - Season One 5. Rivals - Season One 6. The Newsreader - Seasons Three/Series Finale (AU) 7. Fisk - Season Three (AU) 8. Black Snow - Season Two (AU) 9. Big Boys - Seasons One - Two 10. Cross - Season One 11. Paradise - Season One 12. Dexter: Original Sin - Season One 13. Grotesquerie - Season One 14. On Call - Season One 15. Optics - Season One (AU) 16. Bump - Season Five/Series Finale (AU) 17. American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez - Season One 18. Squid Game (Korean: 오징어 게임) - Season Two 19. Shrinking - Season Two 20. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives - Season One 21. The Sex Lives of College Girls - Season Three/Series Finale 22. Invisible Boys - Season One (AU) 23. American Horror Stories - Season Three (B) 24. Clean Slate - Season One 25. Reacher - Season Three 26. The Office - Season One (AU) 27. The Chi - Season Six 28. Human Error - Miniseries (AU) 29. Tokyo Vice - Season Two/Series Finale 30. Yellowstone - Season Five/Series Final 31. Disclaimer (stylised as DISCLAIMER*) - Miniseries 32. Four Years Later - Miniseries (AU) 33. Hysteria! - Season One/Series Finale 34. How to Die Alone - Season One/Series Finale 35. The Penguin - Miniseries 36. Reasonable Doubt - Season Two 37. Bad Sisters - Season Two 38. It's Florida, Man - Season One 39. Plum - Season One (AU) 40. Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story 41. Based on a True Story - Season Two 42. Tulsa King - Season Two 43. Last King of the Cross - Season Two (AU) 44. Power Book II: Ghost - Season 4/Series Finale 45. Lioness - Season Two 46. Laid - Season One 47. Last Days of the Space Age - Miniseries (AU) 48. Dating Naked UK - Season One 49. Slow Horses - Season Four 50. Bookie - Seasons One - Two/Series Finale 51. Cruel Intentions - Season One/Series Finale 52. Only Murders in the Building - Season Four 53. Sweetpea - Season One 54. Severance - Season Two 55. The Agency - Season One 56. Emily in Paris - Season Four 57. The Lake - Seasons One-Two/Series Finale 58. Bad Monkey - Season One 59. The Way Home - Season Three 60. Nacho - Miniseries 61. Territory - Season One/Series Finale (AU) 62. Tell Me Lies - Season Two 63. Silo - Second Season 64. Interior Chinatown - Miniseries 65. Teacup - Season One/Series Finale 66. Get Millie Black - Miniseries 67. Joan - Miniseries 68. Superman & Lois - Season Four/Series Finale 69. Thou Shalt Not Steal - Season One (AU) 70. The Sticky - Season One/Series Finale 71. Snowpiercer - Season 4/Series Finale 72. The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol - Season Two 73. Agatha All Along - Miniseries 74. Prime Target - Miniseries 75. School Spirits - Season Two 76. The Old Man - Season Two/Series Finale 77. Extraordinary - Seasons One - Two/Series Finale 78. Cobra Kai - Season Six/Series Finale 79. Nightsleeper - Miniseries 80. Dead and Buried - Miniseries 81. Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist - Miniseries 82. Dune: Prophecy - Season One 83. Star Wars: Skeleton Crew - Season One 84. The Franchise - Season One/Series Finale
NCIS: Sydney is BACK! Well it did finish yesterday morning, however for me, the best of the slightly longer second run was more like NCIS: Darwin. The final two episodes were based in Darwin with Mango Madness showing the USA the heat of our Top End.
The series streams on Paramount+ in Australia, where back in February, the series was renewed for a third season. Most CBS shows were all renewed early, with rumour of the next season being a longer 22 or so full TV season run.
We kick off season two with Mackey (Olivia Swann) confronting Colonel Rankin but he collapses after an apparent heart attack.
For allowing Niemus to escape, Mackey and Dempsey (hunky Todd Lasance) are suspended from active duty by NCIS Special Agent Ken Carter and the AFP respectively.
Jackson (hunky Sean Sagar) is placed in charge of the NCIS team. During the course of their investigation, Penrose (William McInnes) discovers that the comatose Rankin was fitted with a pacemaker that doubled as a listening device which was remotely detonated when he tried to expose the people he was working for.
While analysing his bank transactions, Penrose finds that Rankin was working for an unidentified party who had hired Utkin to assassinate Niemus.
Mackey and Dempsey secretly assist their colleagues and discover that Niemus had triggered Rankin's heart attack.
Niemus attempts to kill Rankin but is lured into a trap and captured by Dempsey and Mackey. Following Niemus' capture, Dempsey and Mackey are reinstated in the NCIS team. While the comatose Rankin is officially declared dead, the NCIS team resolve to find the true mastermind.
Season two does have some random episodes, including a truly bizarre vampire episode. That one could easily be skipped. For reference that's episode eight, Blood Is Thicker Than Vodka.
The Aussie procedural stars Olivia Swann as Michelle Mackey, Todd Lasance as Sergeant Jim "JD" Dempsey, Sean Sagar as DeShawn Jackson, Tuuli Narkle as Constable Evie Cooper, Mavournee Hazel as Bluebird "Blue" Gleeson & legendary William McInnes as Roy "Rosie" Penrose.
Whilst the show is super cheesy, it's an easy watch with a far amount of solid action. The final two episodes in the Top End were by far the most consistent.
I'll be interested to see how season three turns out. Particularly if they supersize the episode count. Currently around 8-10 episodes they mostly keep things tight. I do worry about more filler episodes (like this seasons vampire one) if the episode count grows too much.
Staying with Paramount+ tomorrow for the third season of Yellowjackets.
A new thriller film directed by Christopher Landon, and written by Jillian Jacobs and Chris Roach.
Starring Meghann Fahy, Brandon Sklenar, Violett Beane, Jacob Robinson, Reed Diamond, Ben Pelletier, Gabrielle Ryan, Jeffery Self, Ed Weeks, & Travis Nelson.
Drop had its premiere at the SXSW & has received positive reviews from critics. So a first date/thriller film anyone?
Violet (Fahy), a widowed mother, is on a date with Henry (Sklenar) when she is terrorised by a series of anonymous messages to her phone. The caller instructs her to tell nobody, and follow increasingly malicious instructions, or her younger sister, Jen, and her son, Toby will be killed, culminating with her being told to kill Henry.
The title is a reference to the AirDrop feature on Apple's iPhone, which allows you to share pictures and videos with other phones within your proximity.
With a 90 minute run, Drop keeps you guessing in this modern/tech bro whodunnit where everyone in the vicinity is a suspect or victim.
I enjoyed this bit of escapism. It was a fun escape from returning to work after three awesome weeks away in beautiful Japan.
Japan to Sydney, what a culture shock!
If you like me, needed a midweek film, Drop is totally a vibe.
I do love the thriller genre, I also like the violence is very limited in this film. There is some intense family violence, but no gore like other Blumhouse pictures.
Drop is a modern day, app hell. From dating apps, to tracking apps and more apps. Fuck our phones right?
Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue was a binge I started on my trip to Japan. The first two episodes were addictive AF!
Like an old school whodunnit, this thriller television series created and written by Anthony Horowitz was top notch.
Staring early March, concluding over the weekend on Stan. This might be my first MGM+ title I have watched.
So what's the drum? Following an air disaster, nine strangers are marooned in a Mexican jungle. However, when they start dying one by one, the survivors must solve the mystery of who is killing them off.
The tight six episode limited season stars Will & Grace's Will, Eric McCormack as Kevin Anderson, David Ajala as Zack Ellis, Lydia Wilson as Sonja Blair, Jan Le as Amy Maclean, Adam Long as Dan Maclean, Siobhán McSweeney as Lisa Davies, Peter Gadiot as Carlos García Méndez, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Travis Davies, Ángel López-Silva as Captain Gabriel Vega & Sebastián Capitán Viveros as second lieutenant Ignacio López.
As we get through the six episodes more and more bodies appear in Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue.
They arrive at the morgue, where the twists and turns come a plenty.
The finale offers a how did it, along with a why did it, with a pretty inclusive ending for a limited series, however it gives the viewer a bit of a, make the ending up yourselves.
This was addictive, easy viewing. I was hooked. I will 100% be taking more notice of MGM+ programming from now on. Most previous titles for now can be found on Stan in Australia.
Rescue: HI-Surf wrapped it's lengthy season one whilst I was off chasing cherry blossoms. So it was an easy pick to finish the final two episodes upon my return. Was there a cliffhanger? HELL NO!
Well unless you count someone driving off into the sunset, after a party? Like they literally just drove off as they left a dull party or had an early start tomorrow.
The party they left was fine, the episode was run of the mill, but nothing for me to scream at Shameless (USA) producer to write/create a second run.
Rescue: HI-Surf was originally piloted for HBO Max in 2021, the series was then picked up by FOX, premiering last September. FOX originally planned to air an episode of Rescue: HI-Surf following its coverage of Super Bowl LIX in February.
However (this is where we should question if a second season is coming) last November, FOX pushed the episode back to its normal time slot, and announced that it would air the third season premiere of The Floor in the post-Super Bowl slot instead. Way harsh!
However the new series for the 2024-2025 season, did premiere last September, following NFL coverage, before moving to its regular Monday-night time slot the following day.
Starring Arielle Kebbel, Adam Demos (Aussie), Robbie Magasiva (Wentworth legend), Kekoa Kekumano, Alex Aiono, Zoe Cipres, Tessa de Josselin, Andrew Creer, Ethan Rich, George Mason, Kekoa Scott Kekumano, Arielle Kebbel, Shawn Hatosy and Ian Anthony Dale
So is Rescue: HI-Surf, just a revamp/reworking of Baywatch? Well yes and no. The 19 episodes, follow a team of lifeguards in the North Shore of O'ahu, Hawaii.
It looks amazing, the male lifeguards are HOT! Particularly, Kekoa Scott Kekumano as Laka Hanohan.
Aside from the eye candy, with Binge losing all HBO content, almost overnight. Is this remaining US series worth watching on Binge? Yes and no. It looks great (both the beaches, scenery and the men) but honestly the character development has been noted for being rather lacklustre.
If the guys weren't good looking, they would be DAMN boring.
With limited series announced for the return of the 2025-2026 TV season on FOX so far, I suspect this might be given another shot. Even with a potential reboot of the show this may have been inspired by, Baywatch.
Here is what is currently set to return to FOX from September this year:
Bob's Burgers—Renewed for a sixteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth season on April 2, 2025.
Doc—Renewed for a second season on February 26, 2025.
Family Guy—Renewed for a twenty-fourth, twenty-fifth, twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh season on April 2, 2025.
Hell's Kitchen—Renewed for a twenty-fourth season on March 26, 2024.
Krapopolis—Renewed for a third season on March 1, 2023 and a fourth season on July 25, 2024.
Murder in a Small Town—Renewed for a second season on January 16, 2025.
Next Level Chef—Renewed for a fifth and sixth season on February 27, 2025.
The Simpsons—Renewed for a thirty-seventh, thirty-eighth, thirty-ninth and fourtieth season on April 2, 2025.
Universal Basic Guys—Renewed for a second season on May 13, 2024.
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
