Scorchin' Summer Streamin' 26 - Landman - Season Two

Landman's first season was exceptional. Top notch, easily better than Taylor Sheridan's ever expanding Yellowstone universe.

So the second season of this neo-Western drama series, created by Sheridan & Christian Wallace, had loads to live up to. So did it? Did we get Moore, Demi Moore this season? Oh yes we did.

Alongside Moore, Billy Bob Thornton leads as a landman for an oil company.

The second season, premiered mid-November and concluded on Sunday. Luckily in December, the series was renewed for a third season.

There really was no doubt we would get a third season. The show lives up to the hype. Ali Larter as Billy Bob's ex-wife is a damn standout.

Landman is set within the world of oilfields in West Texas, where "roughnecks and wildcat billionaires are fueling a boom so big it is reshaping our climate, our economy, and our geopolitics.

Lead character, Tommy Norris, can be abrasive, as is the out-of-town lawyer, Rebecca Falcone (Kayla Wallace ), who is investigating a fatal accident, early in the season.

Set in the boomtowns of Texas, Landman is a modern tale of fortune seeking amongst roughnecks and billionaires in the world of oil.

So how'd the excellent second run conclude? Read on under the trailer.

After Ariana’s attacker dies in the ER, the police accuse Cooper of murder. 

Rebecca, Tommy and Sheriff Joeberg highlight the negative optics of prosecuting a man saving his fiance, and convince the county attorney not to file charges. 

After Paigyn helps Ainsley in training, and Ainsley defends them from transphobic bullies, the two agree to try being roommates again. 

Tommy declines a job offer from competitor Bob Knowles, and reluctantly meets with Gallino. He convinces him to revive the original contract with Cooper for the new oil wells, much more likely to succeed than the gas venture, and cautions him on Cami's inexperience and M-Tex's considerable debt. 

Gallino warns if Tommy's venture fail he will take what he loves the most. 

Nate declines Cami’s offer to become interim President, and urges her to sell M-Tex before resigning. 

With M-Tex having covered the existing debt before he was fired, Tommy forms a new company, CTT Oil Exploration and Cattle, funded by Gallino, which will work the new wells and drill more. 

He appoints Cooper as President, Nate as Treasurer, Rebecca as COO and Chief Counsel, and also recruits Ariana, Dale, Boss and his crew and T.L.

Bring on season three is all I can say. Next up for Taylor Sheridan. Y: Marshals and The Madison, both Yellowstone spin-offs, both landing in March, on Paramount+, where Landman also streams all twenty episodes.

Scorchin' Summer Streamin' 26 - Squid Game 오징어 게임 - Season Three/Series Finale

The third & final season of the South Korean dystopian survival thriller television series Squid Game, marketed as Squid Game 3 & created by writer and director Hwang Dong-hyuk, was released on Netflix back in June last year.

I have finally caught up! Starring Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-joon, Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-shim, Jo Yu-ri, Lee David, & Roh Jae-won. 

In the final season, Seong Gi-hun and the players fight for survival in ever-deadlier games. In-ho welcomes the VIPs while his brother Jun-ho continues the search for the island, unaware of a traitor in their midst. 

A failed rebellion, the death of a friend, and a secret betrayal. Picking up in the aftermath of Season two’s bloody cliffhanger.

Squid Game stops for no one, so Gi-hun will be forced to make some important choices in the face of overwhelming despair as he and the surviving players are thrust into deadlier games that test everyone’s resolve. With each round, their choices lead to increasingly grave consequences. 

Meanwhile, In-ho resumes his role as Front Man to welcome the mysterious VIPs, and his brother Jun-ho continues his search for the elusive island, unaware there’s a traitor in their midst. 

So how'd one of Netflix's biggest ever series wrap up? Well with the body count continuing to rise with a very random Australian cameo at the very last moment!

After destroying the records room, No-eul considers suicide but finally doesn't. 

With only Gi-hun, Myung-gi, and the baby remaining, Myung-gi plans to win by taking the baby and throwing it off before Gi-hun can cross, but Gi-hun manages to cross. A struggle follows and Myung-gi falls to his death, which does not count since the game has not officially started. 

Gi-hun then begins the game and chooses to sacrifice himself, throwing himself off the platform. His death shocks the VIPs and leads In-ho to rescue the baby as the island is evacuated before its destruction, as the coast guard was approaching. 

Jun-ho, the VIPs, No-eul, and the staff escape in time. 

Six months later, Gyeong-seok reunites with his daughter and meets No-eul, who plans to travel to China to find her own daughter; Cheol reunites with his mother; and Woo-seok is released from prison and plans to reopen Gi-hun's fortified hotel. 

In-ho leaves the baby and the prize money with Jun-ho, then visits Gi-hun's daughter in Los Angeles to inform her of his death and give her his blooded tracksuit and remaining winnings, later witnessing an American recruiter playing ddakji, revealing the games' existence in America.

It's Australia's very own Cate Blanchett as the American recruiter.

This series was a massive cult sensation. Getting a Macca's burger and becoming a favourite Halloween costume. Squid Game has been huge! 

I enjoyed the previous two seasons. There was emotion, human connection and more realness than if this was a US series. Great job Netflix for having this shows back. It really was one of a kind!

Scorchin' Summer Streamin' 26 - Power Book IV: Force - Season Three/Series Finale

Power Book IV: Force, the latest Power series has now concluded. Force is a sequel and third spin-off to Power created by Courtney A. Kemp.

Last June, it was announced that the third season is going to be the final season. Premiering last November all ten episodes have now streamed on Stan.

Fan-favorite character Tommy Egan, played by Joseph Sikora, after he cuts ties and puts New York in his rearview mirror for good. 

As Tommy leaves New York after losing Ghost, LaKeisha and the only city he's ever known, he makes a quick detour to close an old wound that’s been haunting him for decades. 

What was supposed to be a quick stop turns into a labyrinth of family secrets and lies Tommy thought were long buried.  

One step leads to another and Tommy quickly finds himself in Chicago's drug game, inserting himself between the city's two biggest crews. In a city divided by race, Tommy straddles the line, ultimately becoming the lynchpin that not only unites them - but holds the power to watch them crumble. 

I did enjoy the first season a lot more. I can't really remember season two, however season three was beginning to feel like a chore. With Power now living on across the universe for over a decade, we still have the final run of prequel series, Power Book III: Raising Kanan to come. With Power: Origins currently filming.

So how did Book IV: Force come to its conclusion?

Well if you are not up to date on Stan, stop reading here.

Drug boss Tommy not only surviving but thriving in the hour's final moments. After fending off hits from a Jenard-led CBI and a Vic-hired assassin, Tommy and Miguel received intel about CBI's real whereabouts. So they ambushed the rival gang there. And though Miguel took a bullet in the leg, Tommy's men came out on top.

Later, the surviving CBI members voted no-confidence in Jenard by walking out and joining up with Tommy. 

Tommy called Mireya, who'd left town in order to keep herself and the baby safe, and let her know that everything had turned out OK. 

And Tariq, who'd come to Chicago when Tommy called for backup ahead of the ambush, presented his "uncle" with a proposition: "Come to New York and move your powder with me." 

Yep following Power Book II: Ghost conclusion a couple of years ago, Tariq is back baby. It almost looked like Starz was waiting to intro a brand new series. The finale really felt more like a pilot/launchpad for the Power series to live on.

Does it need to though? Power was a great series. Power Book II: Ghost was a good follow up, but I feel like the Power series is running low on gas.

In the age of no new ideas, spin-offs and constant sequels, prequels, I reckon there is way more of Power to come on Starz in the future.

In coming weeks, we will get to see the finale of horny, bloody, Spartacus: House of Ashur, whilst still waiting for those wild strippers from P-Valley to return for the third season.

NOT another streaming Movie - No Other Choice/어쩔수가없다

Back to the movies! After a pile of TV catch ups, let's get back to the big screen. NOT another streaming Movie is my 2026 series of all the cinema I take in, in 2026.

Next up, No Other Choice (Korean: 어쩔수가없다). The South Korean satirical black comedy thriller film co-written, produced, and directed by Park Chan-wook. 

Based on The Ax by Donald Westlake, the film stars Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran, & Cha Seung-won. 

It is the second film adaptation of the novel, after the 2005 French-language feature The Axe directed by Costa-Gavras, to whom No Other Choice is dedicated in the closing credits.

No Other Choice follows a desperate paper industry expert who decides to kill off his competition to be assured of the job he seeks to maintain his way of life.

The film had its world premiere in the main competition of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on 29 August 2025, where it garnered critical acclaim. 

At the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, it was nominated for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Foreign Language Film and Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (Lee Byung-hun). 

It was also selected as the South Korean entry for the Best International Feature Film category for the 98th Academy Awards, making the December shortlist.

No Other Choice had its domestic premiere as the opening film of the 30th Busan International Film Festival on 17 September, followed by its theatrical release in South Korea on 24 September by CJ Entertainment.

As I near the end of my Squid Game journey, it was good seeing Lee Byung-hun in another role.

This showed South Korea really delivers some sensational, original and thought provoking cinema.

Loved by critics, winning and nominated for loads of awards, the Friday evening (last night) session I saw was near full. Yes it was a smaller cinema, however people are wanting an alternative to Avatar or whatever the other Western blockbuster is screening right now.

With some quirky lines, some interesting themes explored, this was an interesting Friday watch.

Whilst it won't be everyone's cup of tea, I enjoyed this. 3 Stars. Stay safe Sydney, from last weeks heatwave on Saturday, to a stormy Saturday WTF climate change!

Scorchin' Summer Streamin' 26 - Palm Royale - Season Two

Palm Royale is based on 2018 novel Mr. & Mrs. American Pie. Originally set out as a miniseries, the Kristen Wiig lead comedy/drama just concluded it's second season. Apple TV usually has high standards, however this series is a little on the woeful side.

The second season continues to follow, Maxine Dellacorte (Wiig) in this wild romp. The cast is exceptional, Laura Dern, Allison Janney, Leslie Bibb, Ricky Martin, Josh Lucas, Carol Burnett, Amber Chardae Robinson, Jordan Bridges, Kaia Gerber, & Julia Duffy. Camp icon, Patti LuPone also plays, Marjorie Merriweather Post.

So with those names, it should be amazing right? Wrong! Very wrong. 

The season opens, in the aftermath of the disastrous Beach Ball, Maxine is temporarily institutionalised, believing she is at the Palm Royale. Linda is mistaken for the would-be assassin by Tom and arrested, but Virginia has her institutionalised to protect her, revealing she is an undercover FBI agent. 

Norma is restored as the grande dame of Palm Beach, and Evelyn reclaims the Rollins mansion with Eddie. With Linda's encouragement, Maxine escapes the facility and finds a comatose Robert at the hospital, hiding when Norma arrives. 

Realising that Norma wants her dead, Maxine is returned to the facility but warns Douglas. Discovering Mary hiding in the mansion's bootlegger tunnels, Evelyn promises to protect her, while Linda refuses to help Norma frame Maxine. Still in love with Perry, Dinah finds Axel dead, secretly murdered by Norma to conceal her own past, and Robert reawakens. 

Pressured by Norma to divorce Maxine and marry Mitzi — allowing their child to unlock the considerable Dellacorte generation-skipping trust — Douglas fails to bring Maxine home. She calls Evelyn instead, becoming unlikely allies against the rest of Palm Beach high society.

So if that sounds whack, you wouldn't be wrong. 

After all the other Bridesmaids alumni doing great things at Apple. Maya doing Loot, Rose doing Platonic. This is sadly just a fail.

Hopefully in the series finale, Maxine and Evelyn attempt to dispose of Jed's body, but when Douglas suggests waiting to reconcile until the baby turns 18, Maxine angrily reveals that he is not the father. 

Dinah discovers the fabergé egg among Norma's trophies, giving it to Marjorie in exchange for making Perry mayor. Realising the FBI have blackmailed Tom into assassinating the mole, who has framed Perry, Maxine and her friends trick Tom into shooting Jed's corpse instead. 

Douglas calls off his wedding to Mitzi, but Maxine refuses his furious demand to return to their old life. Making amends with Norma, Maxine generously marries Robert to help him gain custody of his son; Evelyn informs Eddie that she wants her independence; Dinah chooses to stay with Perry; Mitzi leaves with Eddie; and a grateful Norma disappears. 

With Rafael legally a Dellacorte born to a "legitimate marriage", Robert and Maxine win the trust and share the wealth with Eddie and Mitzi, who gives birth to her child. Marjorie, the real mole, remains at large, while Rafael may not be who he appears to be, and Evelyn and Maxine reopen the Palm Royale, as Linda and Norma reconnect in Paris.

Well its over for now. If I could stop watching shows I start. But I just need to know how it all ends.

Speaking of, this afternoon at 6pm, Power: Force ends.... for good. Another Power series wraps before we head into the final weeks of Spartacus: House of Ashur on Stan. So much nudity, so much gore! It's all there on the revival of the Spartacus franchise.

Scorchin' Summer Streamin' 26 - Sunny Nights - Season One

An Aussie series, starring US leads Will Forte & D'Arcy Carden. That is Sunny Nights.

One of the latest series on Stan. Landing ahead of the brilliant Dear Life. However I just couldn't get into episode one, when I first jumped into this.

The comedic drama follows straight-laced Martin (Forte), who teams up with his loose cannon sister, Vicki (Carden), to set up a spray tan business in Sydney called Tansform. 

As Martin and Vicki attempt to turn their company from a start-up operating out of the back of a van into a multi-million-dollar empire, the siblings become tangled up in Sydney’s criminal underworld, and when a ruthless gangster begins to catch up with them, the two must figure out how to stay alive, out of prison, and in the black. 

Landing on Stan, back on Boxing Day,Sunny Nights also stars Willie Mason, yes the former Bulldog! Along with Rachel House as Mony, Jessica De Gouw as Susi, Miritana Hughes as Kash, Megan Wilding as Nova, George Mason as Dreadlock Pete & Ra Chapman.

Rachel House was a total standout for me. Willie Mason wasn't half bad too.

So to be honest, once I got into the second episode, I got a little more hooked.

Episode one was a little dull, not a strong start. But the series did really pick up the pace. It also leaves it open for a second season. Nothing is confirmed. Much like the rest of Stan's ongoing dramas. No word on Black Snow, co-pro, Ten Pound Poms, the surprisingly good, C*A*U*G*H*T, Scrublands, Population 11, Thou Shalt Not Steal, Critical Incident, Invisible Boys and finally The CW co-pro Good Cop/Bad Cop.

Sunny Nights was a good little summer watch. Honestly there is some strong Aussie content right now. I just took a look at Run, that also looks decent. The F Ward, Co-pro also on Stan, Lord of the Flies & Gnomes.

Next up the dreadful finale of Palm Royale. Seeya!

Scorchin' Summer Streamin' 26 - Dept. Q - Season One

From the writer and director of The Queen's Gambit, Matthew Goode stars as DCI Carl Morck - a brash, but brilliant detective leading a cold case unit in Edinburgh. 

Dept. Q , a nine-part crime procedural series, created by Scott Frank and Chandni Lakhani, based on the book series Department Q by Danish writer Jussi Adler-Olsen. 

Another May 2025 series I missed when it originally streamed on Netflix.

Last August, it was renewed for a second season. Thank gosh, cause hot damn, season one was Scottish fire!

Top-rated detective Carl Morck is returning to police work. He has recently been involved in an ambush shooting, in which he was badly wounded, his colleague and friend James Hardy was paralysed and a young uniformed police officer was killed. 

Morck receives a muted welcome since his colleagues generally regard him as arrogant and asocial (which he is). Morck is also required (against his will) to attend therapy sessions for the after-effects of the shooting.

The Scottish government has decided to temporarily concentrate on unsolved crimes, believing that successful outcomes will generate good headlines that improve public opinion regarding the police force. Morck's hard-pressed and under-resourced commander, Moira Jacobson, is offered a substantial budget to set up a new unsolved crimes unit. 

Preferring to use most of the budget for her own department and current cases, she assigns Morck as the sole officer dealing with a large number of cold cases. Morck is given a semi-derelict basement office/bathroom to work in, the former Shower Quarters of the police station, thus the Q in the series title.

Civilian employee Akram Salim, a Syrian former policeman looking for more challenging work, quietly insinuates himself into Morck's basement and is tasked with organising case files. 

While doing that, he suggests investigating the missing Crown Office solicitor Merritt Lingard. Joined by a recovering Hardy and young constable Rose Dickson, the misfit team begin looking into Lingard's disappearance – the main case investigated during the first season of the series.

This season was totally addictive. A number of people recommended this to me, so now is my time to finally catch up!

If like me you are late to the Dept. Q party. Do NOT read on.....

In the ninth (and final episode) a video of the deeply disturbed Lyle's youth counselling sessions reveals that his unstable mother often locked her sons in the chamber. 

Cunningham, who always believed that Lyle killed Merritt, finds her and is furious to discover they have kept her in a hyperbaric chamber for four years. 

When Cunningham says he cannot let this go, Lyle bludgeons him to death. Dept. Q questions William, who identifies Lyle both as his attacker and the man in the cap. 

The real Sam found Lyle to make amends, but Lyle killed him, staged his death as a climbing accident, and assumed his identity. 

Lyle and his mother abandon Merritt in the chamber with rising pressure, but Carl and Akram return to Mhòr and search the Jennings' property. Finding Cunningham's body and the chamber, they are ambushed by Lyle, and Carl is shot protecting Akram, who disarms and kills Lyle. 

Merritt is rescued and reunited with William, while Ailsa shoots herself to escape police on the ferry.

Three months later: In return for his silence on Burns' corruption, Carl blackmails him into increased funding for Dept. Q, a new car, and making Akram an official detective. 

Carl meets Merritt, choosing not to reveal his identity to her. James returns to work, now walking on crutches, as Moira considers assigning him to the still unsolved Leith Park shooting.

So bring on season two. I haven't watched many Scottish series before, but this was fire! Tomorrow Palm Royale wraps its disappointing second season, while Power: Force concludes Tommy's Power tale. Then Sunday, Landman wraps its brilliant second season. With more Demi Moore, this season has had it all. Great!

See you soon besties.

Scorchin' Summer Streamin' 26 - It's Florida, Man - Season Two

Come here on vacation, stay on probation, that's a tagline for the second season of HBO's original comedy series It's Florida, Man .

Season two started late November on HBO Max, concluding a Friday or so ago. The second season guest stars an all-star line up across six episodes Adam DeVine, Edi Patterson, Tiffany Haddish, Haley Joel Osment, Bert Kreischer, Nick Swardson, Johnny Knoxville, Shea Whigham, Taika Waititi, Rita Ora, Holmes, David Koechner, Joel Kim Booster, Chet Hanks, Milan Carter, Nick Thune, Swoozie Kurtz, Johnny Pemberton, Ryan Mirvis, Brian Sacca, Ping Wu, Olivia Taylor Dudley, Frankie Quiñones, Hassie Harrison, Joseph Ruud, and Michael McDonald.

They really went jumbo on season two with the stars! Unlike most HBO series, this one has not yet been renewed.

Today Industry returns, next Monday, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms commences and here are the remaining new titles to drop in 2026. DTF St. Louis, Half Man, Lanterns, Rooster & War.  That's a stacked line up right! 

So hopefully, they have room on their late Friday night slot for more It's Florida, Man! Come on HBO, you just renewed more Bill Maher.

So how does the Joel Kim Booster starring finale wrap? After traveling to Orlando to meet her online goth prince, a sheltered Jacksonville girl narrowly survives a chilling mishap. Alongside Kim Booster, Frankie Quiñones, Ping Wu, Taika Waititi, & Rita Ora also appear.

This was a funny look at how real life is sometimes way madder than what Hollywood can come up with.

No wonder Netflix and Paramount want to buy Warner Brothers (which includes HBO) 

Scorchin' Summer Streamin' 26 - The Better Sister - Miniseries

The Better Sister is my last Fiji catch up series.

The limited series created by Olivia Milch, starring Jessica Biel & Elizabeth Banks, is on the 2019 novel by Alafair Burke.

This eight episode murder mystery, landed last May. Also starring, Corey Stoll, Bobby Naderi, Kim Dickens & Maxwell Acee Donovan.

So what's the series about? Well the terrible things that drive sisters apart and ultimately bring them back together. Chloe (Biel), a high-profile media executive, lives a picturesque life with her handsome lawyer husband Adam (Stoll) & teenage son Ethan (Acee Donovan) by her side while her estranged sister Nicky (Banks) struggles to make ends meet and stay clean. 

When Adam is brutally murdered, the prime suspect sends shockwaves through the family, reuniting the two sisters, as they try to untangle a complicated family history to discover the truth behind his death.

It gets a little sister wives realness, with the two estranged sisters, one married to and the other divorced from the same man, are forced together after he is murdered. However there is a positive score to report on, Rotten Tomatoes. So far it has reported a 70% approval rating! Not bad. Albo, Ley or the mad redhead from QLD would love that approval rating in the polls.

So if you have watched a Liane Moriarty series, you would possibly be able to see where this series is headed. Even early on it gives Big Little Lies and other recent miniseries vibes early on.

However Biel and Banks are great as the two, very different sisters!

I am not sure why my May was so busy that I let this one slide past me. However, like all the series I caught up on in Fiji, this was a good, easy watch. Down Cemetery Road was possibly my favourite series of my Fiji binge period.

Well it's back to reality tomorrow. I do however have HBO's whacky series, It's Florida, Man second season to catch up on. The finale for the second season streamed recently. Ahead of HBO's stacked January line up. Industry returns, whilst a new Game of Thrones spin-off commences shortly. News that a second season of Mare of Eastown is set to be filmed in 2027, shows HBO not only have a strong 2026 planned, but next year is stacked too.

Thus far True Detective, The Last of Us and possibly The White Lotus heading to France, will all stream in 2027. Alongside Mare of Eastown, that's a solid ass line up!

See you soon. BYE!

Scorchin' Summer Streamin' 26 - Down Cemetery Road - Season One

Down Cemetery Road is a British show so many people talked about last last year on Apple TV, which I have now managed to smash out in Fiji.

Based on the 2003 novel by Mick Herron, adapted by Morwenna Banks. The series launched on the fruity streamer (killing it with award noms this season) last October.

Last month, the second season was announced. Season one however is starts off as a woman hires an investigator after an explosion occurs and a girl goes missing on the same night in a quiet suburban neighbourhood.

The series comes from the team behind the Emmy-winning series Slow Horses comes a brand new mystery to solve. 

Down Cemetery Road, starring and executive produced by Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe & Emmy Award-winner Emma Thompson, & also starring Golden Globe and two-time Olivier Award winner Ruth Wilson.

Following the house explosion in a quiet Oxford suburb and a girl disappears in the aftermath, neighbour Sarah Tucker (Wilson) becomes obsessed with finding her and enlists the help of private investigator Zoë Boehm (Thompson). Zoë and Sarah suddenly find themselves in a complex conspiracy that reveals people long believed dead are still among the living, while the living are fast joining the dead.

Alongside the terrific Wilson & Thompson, BAFTA Award winner Adeel Akhtar, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Emmy Award nominee Tom Goodman-Hill, BAFTA Award winner Darren Boyd, Tom Riley, SAG Award nominee Adam Godley, Sinead Matthews, Ken Nwosu, Fehinti Balogun & Aiysha Hart.

The show is a serious hit from Apple. Much like Slow Horses, there is comedy, crime and drama! I loved all eight episodes. The comedic shift around episodes two and three, were mentioned to me. However I enjoyed the team of Thompson and Wilson, slaying in this government crime/conspiracy.

If you are like me and behind maybe don't read on, as the below contains a summary of the finale, What Will Survive.

Sarah & Dinah leave the island using Amos's boat, Amos finds Downey's boat and leaves and Zoe travels back to harbour on the Scottish captain's boat. Zoe, Sarah and Dinah leave the village on a bus to avoid the police hunt for Zoe but realise that Hamza has hijacked the bus. 

He crashes it into a church and takes Zoe, Dinah and Sarah hostages while he calls C for instructions. C says backup is on the way and calls Amos to eliminate everyone in the church. Amos throws in a grenade which destroys a lot of the church but Sarah and Dinah escape leaving Zoe and Amos to fight until Amos is killed. 

Hamza confronts Sarah and fires her shotgun which explodes in his hand leaving Zoe, Sarah and Dinah to leave Scotland on a sleeper train. 

On the train Wayne is told to publish on social media and the defence secretary is grilled on a TV interview about the testing on soldiers. Dinah is reunited with her cousins and C resigns and moves into the private sector.

I strongly recommend you getting into this series. Particularly if you are fan of Slow Horses. Apple TV had a seriously good year in 2025. The Studio, Pluribus, Severance & Platonic's second seasons, with Shrinking, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and Hijack all launching in Q1, 2026, Apple TV is killing it right now!

Actor Awards 2026 (foremly the SAG Awards) - My Picks

This morning the Actor Awards 2026 nominations were announced. My tradition of "My Picks" in Red + BOLD continues with as the SAG Awards, get renamed to the Actor Awards in 2026.

TV CATEGORIES

ENSEMBLE IN A DRAMA SERIES

"The Diplomat"

"Landman"

"The Pitt"

"Severance"

"The White Lotus"

FEMALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Britt Lower, "Severance"

Parker Posey, "The White Lotus"

Keri Russell, "The Diplomat"

Rhea Seehorn, "Pluribus"

Aimee Lou Wood, "The White Lotus"

MALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Sterling K. Brown, "Paradise"

Billy Crudup, "The Morning Show"

Walton Goggins, "The White Lotus"

Gary Oldman, "Slow Horses"

Noah Wyle, "The Pitt"

ENSEMBLE IN A COMEDY SERIES

"Abbott Elementary"

"The Bear"

"Hacks"

"Only Murders in the Building"

"The Studio"

FEMALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Kathryn Hahn, "The Studio"

Catherine O'Hara, "The Studio"

Jenna Ortega, "Wednesday"

Jean Smart, "Hacks"

Kristen Wiig, "Palm Royale"

MALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Ike Barinholtz, "The Studio"

Adam Brody, "Nobody Wants This"

Ted Danson, "A Man on the Inside"

Seth Rogen, "The Studio"

Martin Short, "Only Murders in the Building"

FEMALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIES

Claire Danes, "The Beast in Me"

Erin Doherty, "Adolescence"

Sarah Snook, "All Her Fault"

Christine Tremarco, "Adolescence"

Michelle Williams, "Dying for Sex"

MALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIES

Jason Bateman, "Black Rabbit"

Owen Cooper, "Adolescence"

Stephen Graham, "Adolescence"

Charlie Hunnam, "Monster: The Ed Gein Story"

Matthew Rhys, "The Beast in Me"

STUNT ENSEMBLE IN A TELEVISION SERIES

"Andor"

"Landman"

"The Last of Us"

"Squid Game"

"Stranger Things"

FILM CATEGORIES

CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE

"Frankenstein"

"Hamnet"

"Marty Supreme"

"One Battle After Another"

"Sinners"

FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Jessie Buckley, "Hamnet"

Rose Byrne, "If I Had Legs I'd Kick You"

Kate Hudson, "Song Sung Blue"

Chase Infiniti, "One Battle After Another"

Emma Stone, "Bugonia"

MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Timothée Chalamet, "Marty Supreme"

Leonardo DiCaprio, "One Battle After Another"

Ethan Hawke, "Blue Moon"

Michael B. Jordan, "Sinners"

Jesse Plemons, "Bugonia"

FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Odessa A'zion, "Marty Supreme"

Ariana Grande, "Wicked: For Good"

Amy Madigan, "Weapons"

Wunmi Mosaku, "Sinners"

Teyana Taylor, "One Battle After Another"

MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Miles Caton, "Sinners"

Benicio del Toro, "One Battle After Another"

Jacob Elordi, "Frankenstein"

Paul Mescal, "Hamnet"

Sean Penn, "One Battle After Another"

STUNT ENSEMBLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

"F1"

"Frankenstein"

"Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning"

"One Battle After Another"

"Sinners"

Scorchin' Summer Streamin' 26 - The Nowhere Man - Season One

The Nowhere Man is about to start streaming on the US cable network Starz. The home of the Power Universe, which streams in Australia on Stan.

Why do I mention Starz and the Power Universe when this streams on Amazon inOz? Well, there is a connection. Naturi Naughton-Lewis who stars in both Power and sequel, Power Book II: Ghost stars as, Ruby who helps Lukas (Bonko Khoz from The Woman King) get his life back together.

The six episode run starts as Lukas is drawn back into a world of violence when he witnesses a home invasion and has no choice but to intervene.

Besides starring in the series, Naughton-Lewis (formerly Tasha St. Patrick in the Power universe) serves as an executive producer on the show.

The Nowhere Man was filmed on location in South Africa, whilst also starring, Dineo Rasedile, the hunky Nathan Castle & Greg Kriek.

This series was what Amazon do best at. Macho action series with a fairly basic plot to follow. It gives Jack Ryan or Reacher vibes, just set in South Africa. Also with multiple storylines on the go. Not just one major bad guy across all six episodes.

We encounter a couple of bad guys for Lukas to take out.

It's a fairly simple watch, whilst being interesting to see something come out of Africa.

So with a heatwave hitting Oz, my blog series might be correctly titled as Scorchin' Summer Streamin' 26.

Hope you are having a good new year and catching up on as many 2025 titles as I am that seemed to get missed in the busy year that was 2025.

Next up, Down Cemetery Road on Apple TV. Giving massive Slow Horses vibes.

Scorchin' Summer Streamin' 26 - The Narrow Road to the Deep North - Miniseries

The Narrow Road to the Deep North is a savagely beautiful five-part series charting the life of Dorrigo Evans (played by Jacob Elordi as a young man, with Ciarán Hinds as the older Dorrigo), through his passionate love affair with Amy Mulvaney (Odessa Young), his time held captive in a POW camp, and his later years spent as a revered surgeon & reluctant war hero. 

The Australian drama is based on the novel of the same name by Richard Flanagan. 

It was written by Shaun Grant, directed by Justin Kurzel and stars Jacob Elordi, Odessa Young, and Ciarán Hinds. 

The series follows Dorrigo Evans across three periods: before his deployment to the Second World War, during his time as a Far East prisoner of war, and several decades after the war. Each period reveals different parts of Dorrigo's love affair with his uncle’s new young wife, Amy. 

This was Amazon Prime's first of two local (Aussie - the brilliant Top End Bub was the other) series from 2025. Released mid-April, this series received critical acclaim.

Euphoria's Elordi/Hinds, Young, are joined by Olivia DeJonge, Heather Mitchell, Thomas Weatherall, Show Kasamatsu, Charles An, & E-Street's own Simon Baker.

An all-star Aussie cast, with Elordi's star continuing to rise. This year, he will star as Heathcliff in Emerald Fennell's upcoming adaptation of Wuthering Heights; the film is due to be released next month. He will also star in Ridley Scott's science fiction film The Dog Stars, which is currently scheduled to be released late August. Not to mention returning to Euphoria in April.

The miniseries is also one of the most nominated local series at the15th Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards (generally known as the AACTA Awards).

The series follows Dorrigo Evans across three alternating timelines. In one, he is a young medical student in Australia who is preparing to ship out to war. He asks his girlfriend Ella to marry him. Meanwhile, he becomes close to his aunt, Amy. 

In the second timeline, Dorrigo is shown as a prisoner of war in a Japanese labor camp. In the third, he is an old man, and a respected surgeon. He is interviewed by a journalist who asks him about his time in the war. 

In the earlier timeline, Dorrigo is entertained by Amy at his uncle's suggestion when the uncle cannot meet. They get drunk and share an embrace and have an affair.

Episode four is a rough watch, however I can see why this show was loved by the critics. It tells a rough story of survival and and resilience.

This will not be for everyone, however it is well worth a look. I await Amazon's release of Deadloch's second run in late March. 

Gosh there is some good Aussie content to come. Not to mention the gems like this already out there!

Scorchin' Summer Streamin' 26 - Hostage - Miniseries

Hostage is another in my holidays Netflix series catch up blitz.

The British political thriller miniseries originally streamed back in August last year.

Starring Suranne Jones & Julie Delpy as the fictional British prime minister & French president respectively. An international summit between the French and British leaders goes awry when the husband of the British Prime Minister is kidnapped and the French president is blackmailed.

In this action-packed political thriller, the British Prime Minister (Jones) goes head to head with the French President (Delpy) and is forced to make an unimaginable decision. 

Fighting political pressures, with a husband held hostage and a country to defend, she’s left with nearly no choice - but she will not give in.

No I have said a lot recently about the US, not knowing how to edit out the fluff of a miniseries. The recently Ryan Murphy Monster series was a perfect example. Too much filler, not all killer.

Hostage literally just goes for it. Shorter running times on the five episodes. And just like that, five episodes. DONE! This also was way more addictive. As my catch up blitz continues this UK series lead by Vigil legend Jones, streamed in August.

I think at the time it had some heat around it. Not as buzz worthy as some of the series on the world's biggest streamer, but still it got some buzz. Now Stranger Things has also concluded, Netflix will surely be on the hunt for the next big thing.

Now back to Hostage. If like me you were hooked on something else in August, maybe don't read on till you have binged this little gem.

During her time as a junior Foreign Office minister Dalton (Jones) orders British civilians to be evacuated from Belize after Guatemala invades, leaving local support staff behind. 

General Livingston is revealed to be behind the conspiracy and giving Shagan his orders. 

Ogilvy, now acting Prime Minister, declares a state of emergency following the explosion and deploys the British Army to the streets. 

Dalton’s team discovered both Shagan and Livingston were stationed in Belize during the evacuation. With the help of Foreign Secretary Kathy MacIntyre, Dalton enters Ministry of Defence Headquarters and confronts Livingston, who is arrested after implicating himself in a fit of rage after criticising her military cuts. Shagan and Saskia kidnap Anderson, Sylvie and Matheo at a safehouse, killing two Protection Command officers. 

Shagan demands that Dalton take their place. Matheo secretly calls 999 and then fights Saskia, but allows her to flee. Shagan tells Dalton his pregnant Belizean fiancée was killed by invading forces after Dalton ordered only British staff to be evacuated. Before he can kill Dalton, Sylvie takes Saskia’s discarded pistol and shoots Shagan after he confesses to killing her grandfather. 

The no-confidence vote is voided, and Dalton is reinstated as Prime Minister. 

Three months later, she announces a general election and, in tribute to Toussaint, promises utmost honesty with the electorate.

I enjoyed this whilst escaping some of the Fiji sun. It was a super easy watch unlike the next series I'm going to tackle on Amazon. Australian critical acclaimed series, The Narrow Road to the Deep North.

Another miniseries, also on a streaming giant, creating very little local content. So it's good to catch up with this series from April last year. Interesting it streamed whilst I was in Japan, considering the nature of the series. 

Still to come, I finally jump into Down Cemetery Road and when I get home I'll continue Dept. Q! Till then, laters....

Scorchin' Summer Streamin' 26 - Dear Life - Miniseries

I tried, oh I tried with Stan's Sunny Nights just after Christmas. It was released Boxing Day, but could not get into it. This however, Dear Life, was gripping. One of the best Aussie TV shows on Stan in a long time.

Whilst He Had it Coming was fun, this was raw, emotional and beautiful. Brooke Satchwell was terrific.

I sadly missed Brooke in Kangaroo. I really wanted to see that late last year, however they only played it at family times whilst I was working. BOO!

That said, I never was a Satchwell fan whilst she was in Neighbours (RIP) or Wonderland. However she did pop up on the hugely underrated Mr Inbetween.

So what's the deal with Dear Life you ask? A woman (Satchwell), struggling to get over the death of her fiancé, finds comfort in seeking out the recipients of his organs, triggering a tangled chain of connection.

Alongside Satchwell its a solid Aussie cast including, Eleanor Matsuura, Ryan Johnson, Ben Lawson, Annie Maynard, Daniel Henshall, Kerry Armstrong, Megan Smart, & Khisraw Jones-Shukoor.

The series is written and directed by Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope. Filming took place across Victoria with locations including Ballarat, Melbourne and Yarra Valley.

With a far amount of Aussie content out right, it will be hard to top Dear Life. Sadly we will need to wait to the Logies in winter to see how this will fair at Aussie awards season.

This was top notch TV. Honestly Satchwell was incredible.

So whilst it's holiday season, if you are looking for a new drama to dive head foot into, then look no further than Dear Life. Just beautiful. 

Scorchin' Summer Streamin' 26 - Monster: The Ed Gein Story

Ryan Murphy had a hit and miss 2025. However this is the first season not helmed by Murphy, with Brennan serving as the sole creator and writer.

Monster: The Ed Gein Story is the third season of the American biographical crime drama anthology television series Monster, created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan for Netflix. 

This season focuses on convicted murderer, grave-robber, and suspected serial killer Ed Gein, portrayed by Sons of Anarchy Charlie Hunnam. The season incorporates meta commentary on the cultural obsession with true crime, exploring Gein's influence on Hollywood and pop culture.

The cast also includes Suzanna Son, Vicky Krieps, Laurie Metcalf, and Tom Hollander. 

It is the third instalment in the Monster anthology series, following Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (2022) and Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (2024). 

The series explores the life of convicted murderer and body snatcher Ed Gein through allusions to fictional cultural works inspired by his crimes, such as Psycho (1960), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), and The Silence of the Lambs (1991).

Now I am hella late to the third run of the Monster anthology. Upon its premiere, the season received negative reviews and was deemed inferior to its predecessors, with critics panning its meta commentary, subplots, runtime, excessive graphic violence, and factual inaccuracies. 

While critical responses to Hunnam's performance were divided, he ultimately received nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film and the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Movie/Miniseries.

But like All's Fair (which I liked WAY more than this) Murphy is a TV producing icon. So it's no surprise a fourth season (based on parricide suspect Lizzie Borden) will land on Netflix in the future. For every miss (or critical miss) Murphy has, there is always a MONSTER hit just around the corner. Like the first run of this series, The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.

So for those of you who have finished the eight episodes, read on. If not, come back when you have....

In the 1970s, Ted Bundy abducts, sexually assaults and kills his victims, cutting off their heads. FBI special agents Robert Ressler and John E. Douglas interview serial killers like Jerry Brudos for offender profiling and Ed, after many have expressed admiration for him. 

He theorises that Bundy seeks his mother in his victims and advises them on the kind of hacksaw Bundy might use. Imprisoned murderer Richard Speck forwards to Ed a letter which Bundy has written to Speck. 

Ed in turn gives it to the police, ultimately leading to Bundy's capture. After the arrest, Ed imagines meeting all serial killers who were inspired by him or idolise him.

In the 1980s, Ed is diagnosed with lung cancer and told he has only months to live. Roz, who has become a friend to him, encourages him to write his own story, saying that many people have distorted his story, but he refuses. 

Adeline visits Ed one final time, confessing her own instability and intent to harm others; Ed urges her to abandon revenge. He later dies peacefully, imagining a reunion with his mother Augusta, who tells him he has "made a name for himself".

In 2000, a group of young people vandalises and steals Ed's gravestone. 

One of the youths imagines the film characters inspired by Ed: Norman Bates, Leatherface, and Buffalo Bill.

Another series, that could have been halved. The last few episodes really felt like filler and overall the series did not reach the heights of previous seasons, Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story & Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.

Honestly I hope the next season is a lot better than this one. Critics were mostly right. This wasn't the best. Whilst I'm catching up on some Netflix content from 2025, they really do rely on their big titles to carry them throughout the calendar year.

Until next time. Bula - I'm off to Fiji!

Scorchin' Summer Streamin' 26 - Long Bright River - Miniseries

Long Bright River is one of those shows I had on my watchlist since its release last March.

I can now catch up, with my long summer shutdown. This Peacock miniseries, tells the story of Mickey (Amanda Seyfried), a police officer who patrols a Philadelphia neighbourhood hard-hit by the opioid crisis. When a series of murders begins in the neighbourhood, Mickey realises that her personal history might be related to the case.

Long Bright River is based on the 2020 book of the same name by Liz Moore. 

Seyfried follows up the three local women while seeking information about her own sister's disappearance across the eight episodes.

There are a few twists and turns, however I did guess who was the killer early on. That said, Seyfried's performance in the role was met with critical acclaim, receiving a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Television Film.

She also earned nominations for Best Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie at the 5th Astra TV Awards & Best Actress in a Miniseries, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television at the 30th Satellite Awards.

Whilst, the majority of Peacock content now lives on Binge (excluding some legacy series like, Poker Face and Twisted Metal) this series is located on Stan.

Alongside Seyfried, Nicholas Pinnock was cast as Truman Dawes, along with Ashleigh Cummings, Callum Vinson, John Doman, Dash Mihok, Britne Oldford, Matthew Del Negro & Harriet Sansom Harris also starring.

In preparation for the role, Amanda Seyfried took part in a ride-along with Philadelphia police officers in January 2024.

I recently really enjoyed Seyfried in The Housemaid, so potentially this prompted me to tackle this series over others on my watchlist.

However, I would recommend this. If you like cop/crime dramas, this could be your next binge. It could really be six episodes, with some filler included. Or if this was made in the UK it would have been a tidy four episodes.

January however is heating up with new series. Run, Dear Life and Goolagong all lead streaming for new local series. Whilst Power Book IV: Force closes another Power chapter ahead of Tommy (a younger Tommy) featuring in Power: Origins. With both 9-1-1's, High Potential all returning from breaks. Industry and the latest Game of Thrones spin-off on HBO Max, while Ryan Murphy gives us a new series, The Beauty and Tell Me Lies returns to Hulu/Disney+.

So overall January is a PACKED month. Less time for catch ups, like Long Bright River. Also BULA, I'm off to Fiji, later punks!

NOT another streaming Movie - Rental Family

Rental Family is a pure delight. Since I posted my best movies of 2025, the films I have seen have actually been a vast improvement on what I watched during January to late December last year.

So firstly happy new year!

Set against modern-day Tokyo, this film, follows an American actor (Brendan Fraser) who struggles to find purpose until he lands an unusual gig: working for a Japanese "rental family" agency, playing stand-in roles for strangers. 

As he immerses himself in his clients’ worlds, he begins to form genuine bonds that blur the lines between performance and reality. Confronting the moral complexities of his work, he rediscovers purpose, belonging, and the quiet beauty of human connection.

The comedy-drama film directed by Hikari, who co-wrote the script with Stephen Blahut. 

Alongside Fraser, Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Shannon Mahina Gorman, & Akira Emoto all star in this beautiful film.

An international co-production between the United States and Japan, the film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last September, then released in the USA by Searchlight Pictures in November. 

Thus far, Rental Family received positive reviews from critics, who have praised Fraser's performance. The National Board of Review named it as one of the top ten films of 2025.

I honestly also think this would have been one of the best films of the past 12 months.

This was emotional, sweet and heart warming. The perfect movie to kick start the new year. Good vibes, beautiful story telling and the return of Brendan Fraser. From blockbusters to serious films, Fraser is having a second chance at Hollywood.

Honestly this was top notch. 4.5 Stars. See it NOW!