Abbott Elementary just concluded its fifth season. Like the previous seasons, the season stars Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, William Stanford Davis & Sheryl Lee Ralph. This season contained 22 episodes. Back to normal following the COVID and writers strike.
Creator Brunson stars as Janine Teagues, a perpetually optimistic second-grade teacher at the underfunded Abbott Elementary, a fictional predominantly black public school in West Philadelphia. Back in March, it was announced that the series was renewed for a sixth season. Most likely to return later this year.
Like FOX, here is an update of where ABC (series stream in Australia on Disney+) are up to for their 2026-2027 season.
9-1-1—Renewed
9-1-1: Nashville—Renewed
Abbott Elementary—Renewed
Dancing with the Stars—Renewed
Grey's Anatomy—Renewed for a twenty-third season!
High Potential—Renewed
ABC Hockey Saturday—Renewed
Monday Night Football—Renewed
The Rookie—Renewed for a ninth season, a new spin-off The Rookie: North, looking good to commence, following The Rookie: Feds scrapped after one season in 2023.
Scrubs—Reboot renewed
Shifting Gears—Renewed
Will Trent—Renewed
The only series yet to be renewed, RJ Decker. Which will drop on Disney+ in full this coming week. Hopefully I can clear some space to smash that one. News of a second season, should drop the second full week of May.
Now back to the conclusion of season five of the wonderful, comfort viewing of Abbott Elementary. This is the best of network TV comedy.
When I say comfort TV, this is just like a warm hug. Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara Howard. Particularly in the April Fools episode.
This show has been a joy this fifth season. Honestly the show is not slowing down with the non-stop laugh out loud moments.
In the finale, the teachers head to Miami for the conference, all the various teachers are alarmed that the district plans on shutting down 20 schools, including Abbott.
The teachers panic abut what their next career moves could be, but rally everyone that night to have one last party. Gregory tells O'Shon he was getting ready in his life plan to propose to Janine.
The next morning Jacob tries to talk to the new superintendent, but is rebuffed. The district spares Abbott as Jacob pointed out they have a new furnace which means financially Abbott should stay open. To prepare for the influx of students coming, Ava will need an Assistant Principal and chooses Gregory, actualising his dream.
O'Shon offers to help get him a discount on a ring.
Meanwhile, at school, Mr. Johnson accidentally washes away the parking spot lines. Causing an entertaining last minute scene as the teachers return to Abbott Elementary ready for season six.
This show just gets better and better. I hope ABC announce its early return so as a Christmas gift, Disney+ delivers part one of season six for the holidays.
If you were late to the party, get onto Abbott Elementary NOW!
Australia does an action/revenge film. Like a Liam Neeson revenge film, similar to John Wick. Gender reversed of course!
Radha Mitchell is a retired sniper in hiding on an Australian ranch must reunite her elite kill squad when a vengeful warlord threatens her daughter.
After retiring from her lethal career, elite sniper Kris Hendricks (Mitchell) takes refuge on an Australian ranch with her rebellious 15-year old daughter, Anja.
But as a vengeful warlord named The Dragon (Tim Roth) tracks her down, she enlists her old team of elite killers to protect herself and her daughter to take out his deadly pawns one by one.
When the true reasons for The Dragon’s revenge become clear, the deadly game of cat-and-mouse reaches an excruciating climax with unimaginable consequences for Kris and Anja.
Alongside Roth & Mitchell, Ryan Kwanten, Ioan Gruffudd, Lee Tiger Halley, Annabel Wolfe, Bianca Wallis, Pacharo Mzembe, Charles Cottier, plus Damien Ryan all star.
This film was fairly edge of your seat style action.
On a remote property, the body count builds up over the 90 minute run time.
It was good seeing True Blood (former Home & Away) hunk Ryan Kwanten, back in something with bite.
I enjoyed the film. It wasn't too graphic with the violence, the plot twist was a little predictable, but isn't every plot in a revenge film.
This was a fun Saturday morning film. Also good to get out and see an Aussie picture, that isn't deep. OK, so to the score. I'm giving this a solid 3 locally sourced stars.
Till next time. Daredevil and 9-1-1: Nashville call it quits for their respective seasons next week. Bye!
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters just concluded its second run. Following two years off our screens, the Apple TV series stars Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Mari Yamamoto, Anders Holm, Joe Tippett and Elisa Lasowski, alongside Wyatt Russell and Kurt Russell in the shared role of Lee Shaw.
Based on the Monsterverse from Legendary, this dramatic saga — spanning three generations — reveals buried secrets and the ways that epic, earth-shattering events can reverberate through our lives.
There is no news yet on season three, however season two leaves us hopeful that in another two years, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters will return to Apple TV.
So how'd the season finale go down? Spoilers below the trailer. You have been warned!
In 2017, Kentaro explains Isabel's theory that he might be able to rescue the version of Hiroshi from 2014, when he was trapped in Axis Mundi. Keiko learns about Shaw's interaction with his younger self, before they meet up with Tim's team.
Cate escapes from Isabel's base as Kong arrives and battles Titan X. Keiko rescues Cate, while Tim and May enter Isabel's base; they are unable to deactivate the overloading neural implants, but are able to pacify Titan X and disable the implants by returning her egg, which ends the fight. Shaw steals one of Isabel's helicopters and picks up Cate, Keiko, Tim and May, while Isabel and Kentaro leave on another helicopter. Cate leads Titan X to the Hollow Earth tunnel entrance, and Titan X returns to Axis Mundi with her egg.
In the process, Shaw and Keiko have a brief vision of Shaw's younger self.
Six weeks later, Hiroshi is added to a memorial for deceased Monarch employees, while Barris recruits May, Keiko and Cate into Monarch alongside Tim, and assigns them to the task of tracking down Kentaro and Isabel. Meanwhile, Shaw is already following the pair; he meets up with an old friend, A-Wut, and is led to a volcano where he encounters Rodan.
So it really leaves everything up in the air. Or up in the volanco.
This show looks a million bucks. It has a real cinema feel.
Apple TV continue to impress. Bring on Cape Fear next month! Also how good is Margo's Got Money Troubles? It just gets better and better. Week on week. Right?
I'm also keen to try new series, Widow's Bay. So much to watch, so little time!
WOW! Apple TV delivers again. Based on Araminta Hall’s novel of the same name, Imperfect Women examines a crime that shatters the lives of three women in a decades-long friendship. The unconventional thriller explores guilt and retribution, love and betrayal, and the compromises we make that irrevocably alter our lives.
As the investigation unravels, so does the truth about how even the closest friendships may not be what they seem.
Elisabeth Moss, Kerry Washington, lead with an ensemble cast starring Kate Mara (House of Cards), Joel Kinnaman (For All Mankind), Corey Stoll (House of Cards), Leslie Odom Jr. (Hamilton), Audrey Zahn (Wildcat), Jill Wagner (Special Ops: Lioness), Rome Flynn (With Love), Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary), Violette Linnz (Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty), Indiana Elle (The Housemaid), Jackson Kelly (The Pitt), Keith Carradine (Madam Secretary), Ana Ortiz (Ugly Betty) & Wilson Bethel (All Rise).
So it's a damn strong cast, lead by the OG Handmaid herself Elisabeth Moss. This gives Liane Moriarty vibes. Big Little Lies, with some seriously badly behaved men.
Moss just slays on screen, whilst Kate Mara is truly fab, as we piece together the story of Nancy.
I enjoyed all eight episodes of this tasty, at times trashy miniseries.
It wasn't too hard to see where the finale was going. I did enjoy this though. It continues a solid year for Apple TV. Building on that, Ted Lasso's return was announced today. Returning in early August. Praise be, Apple TV, you have hits, hits and more hits.
Now this is done, Wednesdays will get my full focus on The Testaments (more Moss) and the other Apple TV hit, Margo's Got Money Troubles.
Animal Control is lead by hunky 50+ lead, Joel McHale, Michael Rowland, Grace Palmer, Vella Lovell & Ravi Patel. In season four, Kyla Pratt joined the series as Daisy Cannon.
I binged seasons one to three last year, so this was the first season I watched week-to-week.
This season had a weird release schedule with the first episode held in Australia to be released along side the second episode mid-January.
Was an interesting tactic in the USA to release one episode around Christmas, have a few weeks off then return. Only to then be off during the Winter Olympics. Then return for a bit, then be off for half of March.
By doing this, you lost rhythm of the whacky group of municipal animal control workers in Seattle, filmed in beautiful Vancouver.
Amid all the scheduled breaks and Winter Olympics, the series was renewed for a fifth season.
Which will most likely return in early 2027.
FOX will release their upfront details next month, with Baywatch their highly anticipated new series. Following the cancellation of Rescue: HI-Surf after one season.
Alongside Baywatch, FOX have another new spy drama scheduled to start next season, The Interrogator. Along with the list of series below.
American Dad!
Animal Control—Streams on Binge in Australia
Best Medicine
Bob's Burgers
Doc—Streams on Stan in Australia
Family Guy
Fear Factor: House of Fear
The Floor
Krapopolis
MasterChef
Memory of a Killer—Streams on Stan in Australia
Next Level Chef
The Simpsons
Universal Basic Guys—Streams on Stan in Australia
In coming days/weeks, I will release further details of the other big four US network plans for 2026-2027. The CW has completely dropped out with their final original series, All American streaming on Stan from July.
Nice to have a winter network series to binge.
ABC will have more finales soon with Abbott Elementary returning to Disney+ soon with a dump of new episodes, alongside new series, 9-1-1: Nashville wrapping in a couple of Saturday's.
CBS are continuing with the traditional network format of all series concluding mid-May. ABC, FOX have broken wraps and almost shut up shop early this TV season.
NBC have no current series which peak my interest.
So until next time, if you need a twenty minute workplace comedy to calm the nerves, Animal Control has cute animals and a hunky Joel McHale, who is no stranger to removing his shirt!
Enjoy another long weekend Australia. Next stop, the Kings Birthday!
In the thrilling second season of Idris Elba's Hijack, a Berlin underground train and its commuters are taken hostage, while authorities scramble to save hundreds of lives. Sam Nelson (Elba) is at the heart of the crisis on board, where one wrong decision could spell disaster.
Season two reunites its ensemble cast of stars including Elba, who was honoured with an Emmy Award nomination for his season one performance, Christine Adams, Max Beesley and Archie Panjabi, & welcomes Christian Näthe (“Ballon,” “Soloalbum,” “Schule”), Clare-Hope Ashitey (“Seven Seconds,” “Top Boy,” “Doctor Foster”), Lisa Vicari (“Django,” “Dark”), Toby Jones (“Mr Bates vs The Post Office,” “Detectorists,” “Empire of Light”), Karima McAdams (“Dune: Prophecy,” “Deep State,” “Soulmates”) and Christiane Paul (“Counterpart,” “FBI: International,” “Parlement”).
From planes to trains, Hijack returns after originally set out as a miniseries, the first seasons success, left Apple TV wanting more Elba, less plane, more train! In Germany too.
So yes, there is subtitles for season two. I know right. After a long day in front of endless Teams meetings, sometimes you just need to watch an episode of DMV or Animal Control.
So how'd it wrap up last month? Yes I am behind. I know right. So many shows, so little time! Apple TV is also on a roll! Imperfect Women, Shrinking, along with Monarch: Legacy of Monsters currently streaming.
SPOILERS AHEAD....
Sam tells Thatcher the handover must continue until Marsha is safe. Atterton is revealed to be the main orchestrator, wanting to eliminate Bailey-Brown so he can become head of the Cheapside Firm. He calls Lang and demands that Bailey-Brown be handed over or Lang will not get paid. The police identify Jess as a former Moroccan soldier.
Faber finds Linder's body and determines that Lang (ex-military who worked with Jess as a mercenary) is the orchestrator. At the Britz-Süd depot, Sam releases the passengers.
Lang and Bailey-Brown get on to complete the handover, but Sam and Otto drive the train away. Bailey-Brown tells Sam he did not kill Kai and that Lang has manipulated him. Lang incapacitates Sam, flees the train, and detonates the bombs. Believing Sam and Bailey-Brown dead, he calls Atterton to demand a higher share of the fortune made from the KA29 hijacking short. However, Sam and Otto survive. GSG-9 pursue Lang and shoot him dead when he makes a sudden movement.
Marsha makes a bonfire to signal a police helicopter, which finds her and forces Gold and Mansell to surrender. Atterton's machinations are discovered, and he is apprehended in prison, with O'Farrell confirming that Sam and Marsha are alive. Thatcher gives Sam his phone to call Marsha, confirming she is safe.
It doesn't end with all issues tied up. I wonder whether a third season will be announced by Apple TV? I feel this series was wonderful and original in its first season, however (like many shows) the second series struggles to deliver the same suspense and impact of the first season.
That said, it was highly addictive viewing again. Until next time. Bring on the long weekend!
undertone is a Canadian supernatural horror film written and directed by Ian Tuason, in his directorial debut.
Starring Nina Kiri as Evy, a woman who hosts a paranormal podcast with her friend Justin (Adam DiMarco), where she is the skeptic to his believer. After Evy moves back home to become the caregiver to her dying mother (Michèle Duquet), she and Justin are sent recordings of a married couple (Keana Lyn Bastidas and Jeff Yung) experiencing paranormal noises in their home, drawing Evy into fear and paranoia.
Evy and her mother are the only characters to be shown on-screen in the film. All other characters are heard as off-screen voices, thus conveying the film's horror through its sound design.
It's a unique idea if you ask me. Via creating horror via sound, rather than visuals. You still get the old fashioned jump scares though. As at times, this slow burn has some real tense, scary moments!
undertone premiered at the Fantasia International Film Festival on July 27, 2025, before getting a cinema release, recently.
It's another A24 success story, receiving generally positive reviews from critics, whilst being a box office success, grossing $20 million against a budget of $500,000.
That is one small budget!
undertone was an interesting take on horror. A seriously religious, dying mother upstairs. A horror podcast being recorded at 3am downstairs. I still hear the bumps in the night.
The movie also leaves you guessing a little. What actually does the ending mean?
I kinda like a film that leaves you thinking, long after you leave the cinema.
This won't be everyone's cup fo tea, however I enjoyed this. Another horror film in the bag for 2026. 3 Stars.
Big Mood is back on Stan! The British dark comedy-drama series returns after a two year break. However in the show... it’s been a year since Maggie (Nicola Coughlan) and Eddie (Lydia West) last saw each other, without any contact between the best friends.
When Eddie suddenly returns for a wedding, she isn’t alone – Maggie has competition, in the form of an infuriatingly positive spiritual healer named Whitney. Can Maggie and her special brand of chaos find space in Eddie’s new life? Or will Maggie lose Eddie forever?
Starring: Nicola Coughlan, Lydia West, Hannah Onslow, Rupert Everett, Robert Gilbert, Eamon Farren, Niamh Cusack, Amalia Vitale, Luke Fetherston, Rebecca Lowman, Stephen Sobal, Kate Fleetwood
The Channel 4 series confirmed the second season back in February 2025. This was released last week. Let's wait and see if a third season gets confirmed. I'm not putting bets on this returning or being cancelled.
This was one of those random shows I picked up on Stan when I hadn't nothing else really to watch. Also I was attracted to the interesting first season's premise. Now I feel this is one of the shows that has a great first season idea, however struggles to get out of first gear, in the second season.
That said, if you are fans of the leads, you may enjoy this.
Until next time, Animal Control concludes this week, plus tomorrow, I'm back at the movies. Yep, another horror film.
Get ready to get mucked! It's term 4 (aka final season) at Hartley High and things are getting out of hand.
As the students hit the final stretch toward graduation - chaos, secrets and mistakes look to get in the way between school and the real world. Heartbreak High, concluded on Netflix, late last month.
Over three seasons, Heartbreak High, was sort of Australia's answer to Euphoria (which is also back. Episode one sucked, hard) as well as a soft reboot of the 1994 series (itself a spin-off of the 1993 feature film The Heartbreak Kid).
Over three seasons, it has followed the students and teachers of Hartley High as they navigate racial tensions in Australia, high school romances, and all sorts of teen angst.
Starring some of Australia's upcoming (and current) new screen legends, Ayesha Madon, Thomas Weatherall, Bryn Chapman Parish, Asher Yasbincek, James Majoos, Chloé Hayden, Will McDonald, Gemma Chua-Tran, Sherry-Lee Watson, Josh Heuston, Brodie Townsend, Chika Ikogwe, Rachel House, Kartanya Maynard, & Ioane Sa'ula, Aki Munroe, William McKenna and Ben Turland joined in its third and final season.
Over its run Heartbreak High has received universal acclaim from critics, with performances and costumes in all three seasons were met with praise. It has received numerous accolades, including an International Emmy Award and six AACTA Awards (of 15 nominations).
All this said, the third season was a bit of a hard slog.
Season one was gold, season two kind of struggled to keep the standard of the first, then this one felt like the regular Netflix quantity over quality.
Sadly Netflix (of all the streamers) definitely churns out loads of content (including a load of B grade films, which in the old days would have been straight to video/DVD) some good, some awful. Some just to keep people's subscriptions.
Emily in Paris, is cruisey and an easy watch, however the quality is highly questionable.
Heartbreak High is one of few locally produced series that were longer than an Aussie miniseries. Boy Swallows Universe, Apple Cider Vinegar & The Survivors all were shorter runs and received solid reviews, plus loads of award nominations.
Sadly Heartbreak High went off on a low, not a high like HBO series Succession and Six Feet Under.
Sometimes some shows should just end on a high before they jump the shark. This series just got too woke and too diversity tick boxing. Much like Sex & The City sequel, And Just Like That...
I am all for diversity and inclusion, however come on, not EVERY box needs ticking. Please. This is why the better side of politics lost to people like Trump, or whoever is running Tasmania and the NT.
Well until next time. More Aussie content on the way from ABC, with Kitty and Anne Edmonds teaming up for Bad Company and an NZ favourite, Urzila Carlson show landing soon. Praise be. Speaking of, how good is the Handmaid's Tale sequel, The Testaments! Well done Hulu!
Fuze is my second NOT another streaming Movie post for a week, given there were no TV finales or time for binges this week. That said, I'm almost at the end of Heartbreak High's final season. So with less TV time, a 90 minute Friday film was perfect!
The British crime/thriller heist film directed by David Mackenzie and written by Ben Hopkins.
Starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Theo James, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, & Aussie Sam Worthington. Taylor-Johnson is such a rat bag! Also remember how hot Theo James was in White Lotus season two?
Such a thirsty cast! And also the return of Sam Worthington!
Set in contemporary London, Fuze unfolds after an unexploded World War II bomb is unearthed at a busy construction site, forcing a massive citywide evacuation.
Amid the escalating tension and chaos, a daring criminal operation is set in motion—one that uses the evacuation as cover for a meticulously planned heist. As authorities race against time to contain the crisis, alliances blur and moral boundaries are crossed, the film deftly propels audiences through a series of calculated twists delivering a wildly entertaining ride.
I really enjoyed this piece of escapism on a Friday night after a hectic week.
There was no time to waste in this action heist. With plot twists and turns. I was glued. Not just for the eye candy!
If you are looking to escape the real world this weekend. Fuze is a lot of fun.
Project Hail Mary is one of the most talked about films of 2026. People at work have been telling me to go for weeks. Given it was a combo of Easter/school holidays, there were limited films to see this previous weekend gone.
The science fiction film produced & directed by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller & written by Drew Goddard, based on the 2021 novel by Andy Weir.
Starring box office king, Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, James Ortiz, & Lionel Boyce.
Project Hail Mary follows Ryland Grace, a man who awakens on an interstellar spacecraft with no memory of how he got there.
Project Hail Mary has received positive reviews and has become a box office success, grossing $511 million, becoming the third highest-grossing film of 2026.
I feel it may still be one of the highest grossing films of 2026 by years end.
This film was long, but feel good. In a world full of instability, sometimes you need feel good entertainment. This is exactly that feel good, fun and well made.
Gosling is excellent in this lost in space, meets mission impossible film. Huge stakes, huge drama. Project Hail Mary was a good time.
If you are one of the few people I have talked to that haven't seen it, see it now. A friend also said it needs to be seen at the cinema. He was right. Speaking of I went to Lux at Broadway for a tasty late Sunday morning session.
They now have seat warmers (just in time for the cooler days/nights to arrive) and phone charging facilities. Wireless charging. Love it!
Project Hail Mary is a rocky (get it) ride it. 4 Stars. Fun.
High Potential, marks the second network series (I watch) to conclude, somewhat early. Usually these series end mid May, however this year. These shows are either starting later (like in October, rather than September) and ending around a month earlier.
The ABC series is based on the 2021 Franco-Belgian television series HPI : Haut potentiel intellectuel.
Starring Kaitlin Olson as Morgan Gillory, an intellectually gifted cleaning woman who becomes a police consultant. Also starring are Daniel Sunjata as Morgan's partner Adam Karadec and Judy Reyes as Selena Soto, the head of their unit.
Last month, the series was renewed for a third season. We will find out next month whether it stays on Tuesdays or moves nights. In Australia this series streamed on Disney+.
Adding five episodes to its second successful run. The eighteenth episodes saw, a woman who is one half of a TV celeb couple is found dead by the pool of a hotel, which happens to be the same hotel that Lucia works.
Morgan is not sure that Karadec can stay objective when Lucia is suspected of being involved. It's later revealed the murderer was a con-artist and Lucia's ex-boyfriend; Lucia is arrested as an accessory due to hiding evidence of the murder.
Meanwhile, Morgan and Wagner meet with Quinn and Wagner Sr. to gain information on Roman. Quinn warns Morgan about what she's getting into, but gives her a file that Lyla Flynn, the FBI Agent that Roman worked with, was actually dirty, and planned on coming clean, but was killed by Roman.
At home, Ava needs an idea for an art project, and tears up pieces of Roman's art to make it. While at Ava's art show, Morgan gets called by Wagner to meet a possible informant.
A shadowy figure watches Ava from a distance, as Morgan goes to meet Wagner, only to find him bleeding from a bullet wound in his back.
Cliffhanger alert. Who murdered Shameless star Steve Howey as Nick Wagner? Why was he only in the show for one long season?
Time will tell when High Potential (maybe ABC's most successful drama) returns most likely later this year. Will it be September or October? Time will tell. CBC have their upfronts announcement next week. With the majority of their series concluding in October.
Shrinking has just concluded its (equally) longest season. Even though its once less episode than the previous season, episode one was close to an hour! For a comedy! That's lengthy!
Lead by Jason Segel, the grieving therapist who decides to become drastically more involved in his patients' lives.
Harrison Ford, Jessica Williams, Christa Miller, Michael Urie, Luke Tennie, Lukita Maxwell, & Ted McGinley also star.
Back in January, Shrinking was renewed for a fourth season. Apparently there will be changes to the story next season. However the cast will remain the same.
This was one of my favourite series when it first debuted back in 2023. However like all comedies, sometimes the main elements of the series just become a little stale. The acting is on point in this series. It also tackles serious, big issues, which at times makes it hard to laugh at Parkinson's. Or the death of Jimmy's (Segel) wife.
Season three opens up as Paul's Parkinson's symptoms have worsened; he befriends a patient, Gerry, while waiting in the neurology clinic. Paul's neurologist Dr. Sykes amicably ends her sexual relationship with Sean.
Jimmy has been regularly meeting Louis on a park bench to discuss their lives.
Liz and Derek's older son, Matthew, moves back home.
Brian and Charlie, preparing for their baby to arrive, have still not discussed what role Ava will play in their lives; Brian initially admits to wanting a closed adoption, but changes his mind after meeting with Ava and agrees to let her visit regularly.
Alice is visited by the Wesleyan University women's soccer coach at her latest game. The coach offers her a scholarship, but Alice turns it down, anxious about moving away from her loved ones; she later accepts the offer at Jimmy's encouragement.
As Paul and Julie get the former's affairs in order, Jimmy impulsively suggests they get married, which they realise will solve their problems; Gaby arranges a wedding ceremony for them in Jimmy's backyard, with Jimmy giving a heartfelt speech. Paul sees Gerry in his kitchen afterwards and talks with him, but Julie does not see him; Paul realises it was a hallucination.
So there was a lot going on in this first episode of the 11 episode run.
I enjoyed the show. The laugh out loud moments weren't the same as they were in season one. However, Harrison Ford continues to impress, embracing a role in comedy.
He also plays the role so well. Michael J. Fox as Gerry was also a realistic touch, to Ford's touching storylines. Which again make this hard to laugh sometimes. The show touches you and makes you feel, whilst also trying make you lol.
It did achieve this well in seasons one (and to an extent) season two. However I am hoping there is a nice refresh in season four. That said this is still one of Apple TV's shining gems.
Years in Apple TV is absolutely killing it. With a line up currently of Imperfect Women, Monarch, Shrinking just concluding and the returning, Your Friends & Neighbours, they truly do have a solid line up.
Memory of a Killer just got renewed by FOX on the buzzer ahead of the finale Tuesday night. Wow all this Easter viewing, finales, The Boys and The Testaments returning/starting wow! I need more public holidays.
The crime thriller/drama streaming locally on Stan, is based on the 2003 Belgian film De Zaak Alzheimer and the 1985 novel of the same name.
Patrick Dempsey leads, alongside Michael Imperioli, Richard Harmon, Odeya Rush, Daniel David Stewart, Peter Gadiot, Michaela McManus & 9-1-1 Lonestar queen Gina Torres all star.
Angelo Doyle (Dempsey) is a contract killer and family man struggling to keep his two lives separate. His worlds begin to collide when an attempt is made on his pregnant daughter's life. Angelo often visits his Alzheimer's-ridden brother in a memory care facility, while there are signs that the disease is starting to affect Angelo as well.
Angelo Ledda lives two totally separate lives — fearsome NYC hitman and sleepy upstate Cooperstown photocopier salesman and father. Both of them are threatened when he is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, a disease he already lost his older brother to.
Memory Of A Killer premiered on another public holiday earlier in the year, concluding on Easter Tuesday. The tight ten episode order worked well. I'm not sure how a 22 episode order network series would work. Come to think of it not sure how season two will work. Either way though, it's renewed, likely to stream next January. On Stan.
Network TV has been fairly safe this season in the US. Loads of returning series. Basketball heavy on NBC. The CW ditching dramas (almost entirely) and FOX (where Memory of a Killer) having limited dramas (one is a Canadian co-pro) with a large number of animated comedies, with a side of a few live action comedies.
Like Animal Control (which annoyingly) streams on Binge. It will conclude a little later this month. It has also been renewed.
Next week CBS will announce their upfront announcement with a solid returning roster. Including new Yellowstone spin-off Y: Marshalls. Which is damn fine. Also the production quality is a lot higher than most other network series.
Memory of a Killer started strong, however with the main characters storyline, I feel this could be limited. Like Found and a number of other network series of recent years.
For now, this was decent. My parents like it. It looks better than some of your run of the mill, budget network series. It feels (without the swearing and sex) like it could be a streaming series original. That's a compliment by the way.
OK so back on April Fools Day I posted my 2026 Q1 streaming favourites. Ranked and RATED.
Now I will combine the last, long six months of summer. Yes that's right. March was OMG hot, April has been warm again after some cooler days. November is shorts/t-shirt weather and October/May can be warm too.
US network TV drama season is wrapping up. Some early this year. FOX, ABC both have seasons wrapping up this month. CBS after a winter olympics break and March Madness, will continue with the old fashioned May finales. Some later than usual like NCIS: Sydney.
These will be covered in my new series, Public Holiday Fest Streaming 26'.
Move over HBO, Amazon takes out the top spot, with local series, Deadloch. Paramount+ is also strong at numbers three and seven. However Paramount+ also got the worse series of the last six months, with the forgotten miniseries, The Serial Killer's Wife.
ABC (Australian) & STAN did well again. Bot earning local titles in the top ten. It was also Ryan Murphy season with three titles in the top 20. Meaning Disney+ had a decent summer.
If you do however need some further shows to add to your watchlist, you can view all my previous lists click through the links HERE
1. Deadloch - Season Two (AU) 2. Heated Rivalry - Season One 3. Landman - Season Two 4. All's Fair - Season One 5. Dear Life - Miniseries (AU) 6. The Madison - Season One 7. Down Cemetery Road - Season One 8. Loot - Season Three 9. Dog Park - Season One (AU) 10. The Last of Us - Season Two 11. Malice - Miniseries 12. The Beauty - Season One 13. Platonic - Season Two 14. Steal - Miniseries 15. The Day of the Jackal - Season One 16. Slow Horses - Season Five 17. Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette 18. Industry - Season Four 19. Chad Powers - Season One 20. Black Bird - Miniseries 21. Gen V - Season Two 22. RFDS - Season Three (AU) 23. Blue Murder Motel - Season One (NZ) 24. Trigger Point - Season Three 25. Reasonable Doubt - Season Three 26. Paradise - Season Two 27. Task - Season One 28. Bel-Air - Season Four/Series Finale 29. Spartacus: House of Ashur - Season One 30. Reckless - Miniseries (AU) 31. The Assassin - Miniseries 32. Fallout - Season Two 33. All Her Fault - Miniseries 34. The Better Sister - Miniseries 35. Mother & Son - Seasons One - Two/Series Finale (AU) 36. Homebodies - Miniseries (AU) 37. Goolagong - Miniseries (AU) 38. Sunny Nights - Season One (AU) 39. Return to Paradise - Season Two (AU) 40. 9-1-1 - Season Eight 41. I Love LA - Season One 42. Run - Miniseries (AU) 43. He Had It Coming - Season One (AU) 44. Ghosts (Australian TV series) - Season One (AU) 45. Hotel Costiera - Season One/Series Finale 46. Dept. Q - Season One 47. Squid Game 오징어 게임 - Season Three/Series Finale 48. The Copenhagen Test - Season One 49. It's Florida, Man - Season Two 50. Hostage - Miniseries 51. The Night Manager - Season Two 52. The Narrow Road to the Deep North - Miniseries (AU) 53. The 'Burbs - Season One 54. Watching You - Miniseries (AU) 55. His & Hers - Miniseries 56. English Teacher - Season Two/Series Finale 57. The Chair Company - Season One 58. ted Season Two/Series Finale 59. Peacemaker - Season Two/Series Finale 60. Animal Control - Seasons One - Three 61. Long Bright River - Miniseries 62. Only Murders in the Building - Season Five 63. The Imposter - Miniseries (AU) 64. Morning Wars - Season Four 65. Happiness - Season One (NZ) 66. The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox - Miniseries 67. Tulsa King - Season Three 68. Power Book IV: Force - Season Three/Series Finale 69. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms - Season One 70. Sirens - Miniseries 71. The Nowhere Man - Season One 72. Murdaugh: Death in the Family - Miniseries 73. It – Welcome to Derry - Season One (Chapter One) 74. Agatha Christie's Seven Dials - Miniseries 75. Monster: The Ed Gein Story 76. Atomic - Miniseries 77. Red Eye - Season Two 78. The Rainmaker - Season One 79. Tell Me Lies - Season Three/Series Finale 80. School Spirits - Season Three 81. Talamasca: The Secret Order - Season One/Series Finale 82. Film Club - Miniseries 83. Wonder Man - Season One 84. Boots - Season One/Series Finale 85. Girl Taken - Miniseries 86. The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon - Season Three 87. Palm Royale - Season Two/Series Finale 88. The Lowdown - Season One 89. 56 Days - Season One 90. This City Is Ours - Season One 91. The Serial Killer's Wife - Miniseries
The Drama is selling out sessions over the Easter long weekend. If Project Hail Mary was already a box office supertstar, The Drama is the new romantic black comedy-drama film written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli that had sessions full this weekend at Broadway.
Starring Zendaya plus Twilight's Robert Pattinson, this has real star power ahead of the return of Euphoria and the second Pattinson Batman film.
The Drama has thus far received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics. It is really nothing like the trailer suggests.
I went in with fairly medium expectations. However when it was revealed what Zendaya as Emma Harwood, the film took a turn.
I mean, best friend Alana Haim as Rachel (yes from the hit band, Haim) was shocked! With the wedding incoming, Pattinson as Charlie Thompson had serious questions about his upcoming marriage.
This film went to some dark places. It tackled issues the US does not often like to talk about.
I was fully immersed for the near two hour run time.
I was loving the drama, plus how the film dealt with a real hot button issue. I am not sure this will go over with some Americans, however it needs to be discussed. I'm not telling you what the worst thing Emma ever did. However, it's not what you expect it to be.
This felt original, well acted and stuck to a good run time. I was impressed. 4 Stars.
If you are looking for a film this Easter, go on, support your local cinema.
Bait is yet another Amazon binge for me whilst being on Easter leave. Gosh pre-Easter, the full moon, it was a lot!
This British limited 6-part television series created by + starring Riz Ahmed. Now Ahmed was in one of the best miniseries of all time on HBO (in my mind). The Night Of was incredible. HBO at its best. In it's 2016 prime!
Now on Prime, or Amazon, Ahmed is a struggling British Pakistani actor as he auditions for the role of James Bond amid public backlash and family relationships.
Bait had its world premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, being released for streaming late last month. Thus far, Bait ha received positive reviews from critics. What did I think? Check out a brief public holiday/long weekend take below the trailer.
An actor (Ahmed) in London suffers an existential crisis while auditioning for the role of James Bond. Alongside Ahmed, Guz Khan, Sheeba Chaddha, Aasiya Shah, Ritu Arya, Weruche Opia & Sajid Hasan also star in the six episode limited series.
This is also a rare 20-30 minute series on Amazon. The last I loved was axed after one season. Dick Wolf's On Call.
I wanted to like this. Amazon has been on a roll. Deadloch was incredible. Cross was a fun ride. The Boys final season starts next week.
So I was a little sad to be disappointed by this.
I love Ahmed, I liked the meta concept, however I just didn't find it that funny.
That said, I may not be the target market. Either way, critics love it, so check it out now on Amazon. If you are keen for some long weekend streaming.
Public Holiday Fest Streaming 26' is the new TV series right up until the new financial year on July 1st.
Now I live in NSW. We have very limited public holidays. However, over the next three months we got:
Good Friday - Today
Easter Monday - Next week
Anzac Day make up day - Monday 27 April
Kings Birthday - Monday 8 June
So it doesn't seem like a lot but July - September, there are none. When I lived in British Columbia, Canada, we had like one a month! So April is exciting AF!
So this allowed me to catch up on some Amazon series (like back in Fiji). Cross (which concluded last month) was first up!
Based on the Alex Cross novel series written by James Patterson, starring Aldis Hodge, Isaiah Mustafa, & Juanita Jennings.
The second season was released back in mid-February, airing episodes weekly. Unlike most Amazon series which of late however been a binge affair.
Last month, the series was renewed for a third season. Upon the second season renewal announcement, Jeanine Mason. Along with Wes Chatham, Matthew Lillard & Michelle C. Bonilla.
Amazon does these Jack Ryan, Reacher, male lead crime/action series well. Cross has a few more twists, with less action sequences. However its still damn fine TV.
Aldis Hodge is hot AF! He fits into every outfit like a glove. Then when he has his shirt off. LORDY!
Season one was a big hit on the service. This is the third incarnation of Alex Cross in films or on television. Season two expands on that and gets deeper than season one did.
Season two gets more in-depth on Cross (Hodge), Kayla Craig (Alona Tal), and John Sampson (Mustafa).
Each of the three main characters in season two have their own agendas and storylines that they’re involved in. As always, each season of the show is based on an original that was inspired by the book series.
This season is based on another original story. Pieced together with story elements from season one. This serialised season is broken up to focus on all of the main characters. Each of their stories are very effective in helping to develop their characters and move them forward.
The main story featuring Alex Cross is about a corrupt businessman named Lance Durand (Lillard), the CEO of Crestview Industries. He has a seed that can grow anywhere so he can help people in any country grow food to help starvation and low income families in poor areas of the world. The problem is that he’s using child labor to do his work in his factories around the country.
To get such a lofty lifestyle, he had to leave some collateral damage in his wake. Which in turn, caused some people to want to seek revenge for that collateral damage. It’s an investigation he’s working on with Kayla Craig from the FBI once again. This is a far-reaching investigation that goes to Chicago, the Texas/Mexico border, and Sunrise, Florida. It’s the kind of story that I’ve loved regarding this character.
Two supporting stories revolve around Tal’s character and Simpson’s characters. One deals with something from her path that has creeped up through the cracks and could threaten her career. The other is about a family member who has come back into his life after thought gone for years. The problem is this thought gone family member was arrested for murder and her relative has to investigate said murder to try to prove her innocent, but that doesn’t change their relationship at all. Which is very complicated at best.
The two subplots support the main story very well. They all intertwine together to give the show a well layered experience. Throw in a third with Hodges’ character and the series ups the antenna from season one.
If you like crime thrillers, Cross is 100% for you!
See you for another Amazon series Bait real soon. Bye for now and drive safe, stay safe, this glorious long weekend!
Hows that humidity? Along with nearly 30 degree days everyday. So much for autumn in March. I'm happy with my Scorchin' Summer Streamin' 26 assessment for the last three months in TV.
Aussie content wise, the first three months of the new year have been big, with Sunny Nights and Dear Life on Stan, Goolagong and Dog Park on ABC & Run on Binge.
Q2 is looking big too, with catch ups on the final season of Heartbreak High, Bad Company and Urzila Carlson's sketch series both landing on ABC soon.
This quarter (helped along by Fiji streaming) was even bigger than part one of summer streamin'. 46 series this quarter! SHIT! Some catch ups but a lot of content dropping and smashing this summer.
Amazon has continued its dominance. Scoring another number one, with local series Deadloch's second NT based season. I am halfway through Cross and Bait, with a catch up lined up for Scarpetta and The Boys final season kicking off soon. Plus the Legally Blonde. Elle series incoming!
Australian titles from Stan, ABC, SBS and Binge did well making the top 20 this season. Apple TV, gave some of the best (Down Cemetery Road) and worst (Palm Royale) of TV these past few months. With the latter getting served a cancellation. It should have always been the proposed OG miniseries idea if you asked me.
Either way, here is my full list of this steamy, humid, nasty ass summer streaming below.
So until those series debut, here is a look at the past three months. Before that, go waste your time with my previous quarterly RATED's!
1. Deadloch - Season Two (AU) 2. Landman - Season Two 3. Dear Life - Miniseries (AU) 4. Down Cemetery Road - Season One 5. Dog Park - Season One (AU) 6. The Madison - Season One 7. The Beauty - Season One 8. Steal - Miniseries 9. Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette 10. Industry - Season Four 11. Black Bird - Miniseries 12. Blue Murder Motel - Season One (NZ) 13. Spartacus: House of Ashur - Season One 14. Homebodies - Miniseries (AU) 15. Paradise - Season Two 16. Fallout - Season Two 17. The Better Sister - Miniseries 18. Goolagong - Miniseries (AU) 19. 9-1-1 - Season Eight 20. Run - Miniseries (AU) 21. Sunny Nights - Season One (AU) 22. Dept. Q - Season One 23. The Copenhagen Test - Season One 24. It's Florida, Man - Season Two 25. Squid Game 오징어 게임 - Season Three/Series Finale 26. Hostage - Miniseries 27. The Night Manager - Season Two 28. The Narrow Road to the Deep North - Miniseries (AU) 29. The 'Burbs - Season One 30. ted Season Two/Series Finale 31. Long Bright River - Miniseries 32. His & Hers - Miniseries 33. Power Book IV: Force - Season Three/Series Finale 34. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms - Season One 35. The Imposter - Miniseries (AU) 36. Happiness - Season One (NZ) 37. Agatha Christie's Seven Dials - Miniseries 38. The Nowhere Man - Season One 39. Red Eye - Season Two 40. Tell Me Lies - Season Three/Series Finale 41. Monster: The Ed Gein Story 42. School Spirits - Season Three 43. Wonder Man - Season One/Renewed for Season Two, not a Miniseries 44. Girl Taken - Miniseries 45. Palm Royale - Season Two/Series Finale 46. 56 Days - Season One
Paradise just concluded its second run starring Sterling K. Brown, Julianne Nicholson, & guest James Marsden.
The post-apocalyptic political thriller has received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise for its premise, writing, and performances (particularly those of Brown, Nicholson, and Marsden). At the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, the series received a nomination for Outstanding Drama Series and acting nominations for Brown, Nicholson, and Marsden.
Earlier this month, the series was renewed for a third season.
Season two was never just about the bunker! Xavier searches for Teri out in the world and learns how people survived the three years since ‘The Day’. Back in Paradise, the social fabric frays and new secrets are uncovered about the city's origins.
I did love the first season. The second season was highly enjoyable, with a third season potentially planned as the finale. These shows with bir premises seem to have a short life span. Also unlike a lot of streaming series, this one was back after less than a year.
This is rare in this day and age. So how'd the big finale go down? Doom scroll below for more. Be warned! Season two also saw, Shailene Woodley, Thomas Doherty, Michael McGrady, Timothy Omundson, Ryan Michelle Bathe & Patrick Fischler joined the cast.
Before the disaster, Dylan presents Miller with an AI quantum supercomputer, which Redmond helps to develop. However, the AI, named after Miller’s ill wife Alex, begins to manipulate time and Miller requests for the project to be shut down.
In the present, Redmond learns that Alex has started to make correct predictions about events, with the next predicted event being her own death. With Redmond gone and the militia approaching, Torabi orders the doors to be opened in order to stabilise the reactors. However, the cooling systems explode, killing Anders and injuring Robinson, and Torabi is forced to order the bunker’s evacuation.
The militia enters and aids the evacuation, and Collins and Teri reunite with James. Dylan helps Redmond and Collins in rescuing their daughters, Geiger dies trying to fix the cooling system, and the militia rescues Robinson and Jeremy.
Dylan and Collins experience nosebleeds after seeing each other, and Collins persuades Dylan to abandon Alex after revealing that his and Annie’s daughter is with them. Redmond tells Dylan that she is his mother, and she asks Collins to head to a second bunker containing Alex, before sacrificing herself to contain the reactors’ explosion inside the bunker doors.
Collins narrowly avoids the doors closing and reunites with his family, while Dylan meets his daughter for the first time.
Bring on season three. Let's hope it continues the release flow and lands early 2027. Can you believe we are talking about 2027 already! Shit! That concludes the Scorchin' Summer Streamin' 26 series.
Homebodies is a bold, surprising and heartfelt Australian family drama that explores the courage it takes to accept the ghosts of our past.
Starring Bump favourite, Claudia Karvan, Luke Wiltshire & Jazi Hall.
Following Darcy (Wiltshire), a trans man who reluctantly returns to his regional hometown to care for his estranged mother Nora (Karvan). But home isn’t as he left it. Nora has been living with a secret housemate: Dee (Hall), the teenage ghost of Darcy’s pre-transition self.
Homebodies is another one of those short and sharp miniseries on SBS On Demand .
This six × 10 minute series was recently selected for the prestigious Series Mania festival in France. So being that short (compared to recent local series, Deadloch) this was a one night and done affair.
Lead, Luke Wiltshire is terrific, whilst Claudia Karvan brings a name to this SBS original. She will also soon star in The Airport Chaplin. This also takes us back to a shirt lived series on Foxtel, Sprited. Which also starred Karvan.
This felt, original, bold and eye opening. It was beautifully told and shot across NSW.
We have had a solid, diverse and fascinating first quarter of local TV in 2026. I managed to sneak this in ahead of Q2's new blog series.
Tonight Paradise wraps on Disney+, then the RATED for the last few HOT months lands.
They Will Kill You stars Zazie Beetz, Industry's Myha’La, Paterson Joseph, Tom Felton, Heather Graham, & Patricia Arquette.
The film unleashes a blood-soaked, high-octane horror-action-comedy in which a young woman must survive the night at the Virgil, a demonic cult’s mysterious and twisted death-trap of a lair, before becoming their next offering in a uniquely brazen, big screen battle of epic kills and wickedly dark humour.
The plot follows an ex-convict who answers an ad to be a housekeeper at a mysterious New York City high-rise, not realising she is entering a community that has seen a number of disappearances over the years.
They Will Kill You has received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $2 million thus far.
I see exactly why its had mixed reviews. It started OK, then it just went bat shit crazy!
Honestly by the end I was ready for bed. This was a lot.
So much blood, but a lot of the time the kills were for no reason. See the film and you'll get it.
Honestly I have seen some solid films in 2026, sadly this wasn't all that. I have to hold a standard here in 2026. This film sadly isn't going to pass.
Love Story is an American biographical romance anthology television series created by Connor Hines and executive produced by Ryan Murphy, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, D.V. DeVincentis, Kim Rosenstock, and Hines.
This is the fifth instalment in the American Story media franchise, streaming in Australia on Disney+.
The first season, John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette, charts the whirlwind courtship and marriage of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.
The limited series that explores the undeniable chemistry, whirlwind courtship and high-profile marriage of one of the most iconic couples of the 20th century.
The first instalment in Ryan Murphy’s “Love Story” anthology is inspired by Elizabeth Beller’s book “Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.”
The USA/the world, watched John F. Kennedy Jr. grow from a boy to a beloved bachelor and media sensation. She was a star in her own right. Fiercely independent and with a singular style, she rose from being a sales assistant to an executive at Calvin Klein, and became a trusted confidante of its eponymous founder.
As their love story unfolded on a national stage, the intense fame and media attention that came along with it threatened to rip them apart. The series charts the complex and heartbreaking journey of a couple whose private love became a national obsession.
It has undoubtedly been Ryan Murphy TV season. The Beauty just wrapped, 9-1-1 and the spin-off Nashville are currently also streaming on Disney+.
Ryan Murphy is TV royalty. This was back to his best. A short nine episode, highly glamorous season. High fashion, great soundtrack and loads of drama!
The finale was of course heartbreaking by Constance Zimmer, as Ann Messina Freeman, Carolyn's mother. Losing both her daughters in that plane crash.
Also starring Sarah Pidgeon as lead, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, local Naomi Watts as Jackie Kennedy, and Paul Kelly would lead the series as John F. Kennedy Jr.
This was a solid watch. Also a Disney+ title, Paradise season two will wrap early next week. The Scorchin' Summer Streamin' 26 series is almost done. Autumn also finally landed yesterday. Took a hot minute!
Oh Deadloch, Australia's is funniest black comedy crime mystery created by Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan.
Starring Kate Box, Madeleine Sami, Alicia Gardiner, and Nina Oyama. Deadloch's second season landed last week on Prime Video.
Returning home to Darwin to investigate Bushy's death Eddie and Dulcie are thrown into a murder case of a local icon.
Detectives Dulcie Collins and Eddie Redcliffe are in Darwin to investigate the death of Eddie’s former policing partner Bushy. However, their plans are soon diverted when a body part is discovered in a remote town called Barra Creek. With the Northern Territory police force focused on a large-scale search for two missing backpackers, Dulcie and a very reluctant Eddie are tasked with identifying the John Doe.
Sticky, sweaty and juggling comprehensive thrush infections, the detectives find themselves embroiled in a world of crocodile-fuelled tourism, overstretched Indigenous rangers, cagey locals, and seven-metre prehistoric predators – all of whom call Barra Creek’s stretch of land, and water, their home.
As the humidity builds, and Eddie and Dulcie dig deeper, more questions arise for our duo – not only about the case, but the many secrets that lie beneath the surface of this small town.
With season one favourites, Luke Hemsworth joins season two as Jason Wade, alsongside Mentos AKA, Jean Tong as Leo Lee, Genevieve Morris as Pat Heffernan, Steve Bisley as Frank McCallister, Sharri Sebbens as Miki Evans, Damien Garvey as Superintendent Col Culkin, Anthony J Sharpe as DJ Darrell, Ling Cooper Tang as Lynn, Bev Killich as Colleen Darrell & Talijah Blackman Corowa as Alira.
In the action packed finale, Dulcie finds herself in the centre of an illegal operation, and inches closer to the truth at the heart of the case. While at Don's funeral, tensions in the Darrell family erupt as the rains begin to fall.
This was excellent. I enjoyed the backdrop of the NT. The heat, the swearing, the Dulcie/Eddie duo. This needs to come back for season three. I can wait! This was gold!
Amazon needs local content. This and Top End Bub need to return to the NT, stat!
I reckon a Canberra series of Deadloch could be incredible. Or Adelaide. The options are endless.
This was TOP viewing. A late entry to the Scorchin' Summer Streamin' 26, however it is top notch! I didn't think all six episodes were to drop at once. I was imagining this series to land in my autumn TV series.
Q1 has had some solid content. A lot has been on Amazon. Well done Jeff!
The Madison has had one of the most random release schedules of recent times. The Taylor Sheridan/ Paramount+ series, gave us three episodes a week over two weeks, totalling six episodes.
The Madison follows the Clyburn family, originally from New York City, who relocate to the Madison River valley of southwest Montana for emotional recovery following a major life-changing tragedy that both shocks and permanently changes the family.
Michelle Pfeiffer & Kurt Russell lead as the heads of the family, alongside Beau Garrett, Patrick J. Adams, Elle Chapman, Amiah Miller, Alaina Pollack, Ben Schnetzer, Kevin Zegers, Rebecca Spence, & Lost's Matthew Fox.
Last August, (way) ahead of the series premiere, The Madison was renewed for a second season.
So production on this Yellowstone style drama kicked off a while back. The first season began in August 2024, with recording set to take place in Montana, New York, and Texas. Over six weeks was spent shooting in Three Forks, Montana before moving to Boulder in early November.
Crews then moved to Dallas & Fort Worth, Texas later in the month, with with Downtown Fort Worth eventually standing-in for the New York City-set scenes. Filming there continued into December before wrapping that year.
The second season followed a similar filming schedule in 2025. To accommodate Russel's availability all of his scenes in the first season were shot alongside the season two.
Filming started in September in Montana and shifted to Dallas, Denton, and Fort Worth in December. In Texas, the second season held soundstages at new studios co-owned by Sheridan and Glasser in Alliance.Shooting then wrapped shortly before Christmas.
The Madison has had mixed reviews, the SMH weren't kind with a two star review today. However I liked this.
Paramount+ has some solid series right now. Weekly Y: Marshals, a Yellowstone story, NCIS Sydney, with Unspeakable: The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey coming.
56 Days is a buzzy thriller series on Amazon Prime Video. Lots of media interest reporting "lot's" of sex. Realistically though, compared to Pornhub, this was nothing! So TAME
Developed by Karyn Usher and Lisa Zwerling, based on Catherine Ryan Howard's 2022 novel of the same name, and executive produced by James Wan. Yes that Aussie James Wan, who does like MEGAN, Saw, decent stuff. Well this isn't decent, it's trashy AF. Almost not in a good way trashy!
Starring hunky, Avan Jogia, alongside Dove Cameron, Karla Souza, & Dorian Crossmond Missick.
Over eight episodes, the series alternates between two timelines, following Oliver and Ciara's relationship after meeting in a supermarket, and 56 days later, when a corpse is found in their apartment with two detectives trying to uncover what happened.
Landing mid-February, I'm almost up to date with my Amazon series. Just have Cross season two and local series Deadloch to watch. The later only returned Friday with all six episodes.
So give me more info on this trashy, not that sexy series. Oliver Kennedy (Jogia) and Ciara Wyse ( Cameron) start an intense relationship after meeting in a supermarket but police fear it has ended in murder after an unidentifiable body is found.
This was LAME AF in my mind.
With hunky Avan Jogia, James Wan behind the scenes, I was expecting more. Not to mention the hype the series received online.
Amazon has had a CRACKING start to 2026. Steal, The Night Manager and Scarpetta all in the first quarter. Deadloch and Cross returning. The Boys next month! They are shitting on Netflix right about now!
This is a solid AF lineup!
So back to 56 Days, this gave solid, everything is wrapped up miniseries vibes, so I may change this when I publish RATED for Q1, 2026. Here's a line about the dreary finale.
Karl and Lee put together some final pieces to truly understand everything about Oliver and Ciara's intense, charged and fatal love affair.
Well that proved Amazon need to stick to their macho male series, teeny bopper Summer I Turned Pretty's or The Boys franchise. Cause this ain't it!
Before stepping into Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, I was sure I saw the OG at the cinema. And yes I did. It was back in a simpler time. The series that year was Cinema Slut #2019. Here is my review from back then.
This serves as a direct sequel to Ready or Not, with Samara Weaving reprising her role as Grace MacCaullay.
Alongside Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, David Cronenberg, & Elijah Wood all star.
Set immediately after the events of the first film, it follows Grace (Weaving) as she must protect her estranged sister while being hunted by four rival elite families in a high-stakes ritual to claim a seat of ultimate power.
Grace discovers she’s reached the next level of the nightmarish game and this time with her estranged sister Faith (Newton) at her side.
Grace has one chance to survive, keep her sister alive, and claim the High Seat of the Council that controls the world. Four rival families are hunting her for the throne, and whoever wins rules it all.
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come premiered at the 2026 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival earlier this month. The sequel has thus far received generally positive reviews from critics.
What did I think though? I gave the original 3.5 stars, how will the sequel fair?
Look this was a bit of Friday fun. The cinema was mostly packed too! Is cinema making a comeback? Is horror always going to dominate?
A lot of questions. No answers. Just this was a bit of fun. Samara Weaving is fab. Whilst getting TV legends on board for this. Iconic.
Scream queen, Buffy boss and recently Dexter recruit, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Animal Kingdom's moody brother, Shawn Hatosy and recent Yellowjackets, former teen hunk Elijah Wood! What a cast.
I liked this. Will there be a third? Time will tell. Hopefully not another 7 or so year wait.
ted has concluded its Seth MacFarlane created comedy on Peacock/Binge (AU).
ted is the third instalment in the Ted franchise, it serves as a prequel to the, first film and its sequel. Starring MacFarlane reprising his role as the voice of the titular character, alongside Max Burkholder, Alanna Ubach, Scott Grimes, and Giorgia Whigham.
Back in May 2024, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered earlier this month. MacFarlane also confirmed that there were no plans for a third season, citing the show's high production costs.
In the finale season, we land in 1994, and senior year of high school is underway for Ted the foul-mouthed teddy bear and his best friend, likeable but awkward John Bennett. Together they live in a working-class Boston home with John's parents (Matty and Susan) and cousin (Blaire).
Matty is a blustering, blue-collar Bostonian who sees himself as the unequivocal boss of the house and frequently clashes with his liberal niece. Susan is kind, selfless, and almost pathologically sweet when it comes to caring for her family. Blaire is an outspoken college student who often finds herself at odds with her more traditional-minded relatives.
To be honest, this was more enjoyable than the first season from two years ago. It's hard to believe its been two years since the series landed on Binge.
In the (now confirmed last ever episode) its four months after finishing high school, John fails to do anything with his life. Matty angrily calls him out on his laziness, but suffers a heart attack and is ordered to stay calm for a week while recovering from his artery stints.
When the O.J. Simpson verdict is decided, a guilt-ridden John is worried that Matty will die of another heart attack and decides to block him from seeing the actual news with the help of Ted and Blaire. After cutting the house's cable, they print a fake newspaper and rehire Bert to film fake news broadcasts to cushion Matty's worldview. Upon recovering, Matty goes outside and is ridiculed for defending the fake verdict and believing in the fake stories. Tired of lying, Blaire hands Matty the real paper, resulting in another heart attack.
John apologises for making Matty angry in the first place, but Matty reveals he's impressed by the amount of effort he put into his deception and tells him he can do whatever he sets his mind to.
In the end, John decides to hit the gym and become incredibly buff. Incoming Marky Mark to the two ted films.
Seriously a HUGE improvement on season one. What will Peacock stream next? Also Binge is really on the blink. Seriously, the limited new content is really making me consider, should I rest it for a bit.
If Colin From Accounts, High Country and a new version of Wentworth weren't incoming, this streaming service would be getting the axe ASAP.
Blue Murder Motel is a New Zealand murder mystery series which just landed on ABC iView.
All six episodes landed last Saturday. I concluded the final few episodes today on my most relaxing Friday the 13th.
Blue Murder Motel stars Australian actors Michala Banas and Brett Tucker, who previously appeared together in the Australian drama series McLeod's Daughters.
Two married Australian police officers have taken early retirement and have purchased the Blue Motel in New Zealand to run as a business.
Following a series of local murders, the couple being to investigate & to help hunky local sole-charge police officer solve the crimes.
At the end of the first episode, the advertising display for the motel is tagged, changing its name from Blue Motel to Blue Murder Motel. A later episode indicates that local residents also refer to it as that.
The series is located in the fictional seaside community of Mōwai Bay, which is described as being "somewhere near Auckland".
Filming took place at Orewa on the Hibiscus Coast north of Auckland. Locations included the Edgewater Motel as the Blue Motel, and Ōrewa Beach Holiday Park as the Shady Vista Holiday Park, which was featured in episode 3.
So this is the first series I couldn't find a trailer for, so you are stuck with the below promo picture.
Jayden Daniels as Constable Jamie Haira, a recently graduated sole-charge constable is my favourite. He is damn fine.
In the finale, a summer market turns deadly, when a local candy merchant dies in a freak accident. Vinny and Cole dig deeper and discover it was murder.
There is no cliffhanger, however this could easily be back for a second run of episodes. This was easy viewing, with some lovely Kiwi scenery and excellent Aussie leads. Bring on more Blue Murder Motel. Thanks ABC for screaming this one.
The Night Manager is a British spy thriller television serial based on the 1993 novel by John le Carré and adapted by David Farr.
The six-part first series, directed by Susanne Bier and starring Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie, Olivia Colman, Tom Hollander, David Harewood and Elizabeth Debicki, began broadcasting on BBC One on 21 February 2016. So it's honest to say, it's been a while between drinks between seasons.
The Night Manager's first season was nominated for thirty-six awards and won eleven, including two Primetime Emmy Awards (for director Bier and music composer Victor Reyes) and three Golden Globe Awards (for Hiddleston, Colman, and Laurie).
Back in April 2024, The Night Manager was renewed for a second & third series by BBC One and Amazon Prime Video, with Hiddleston and Colman reprising their roles, and Georgi Banks-Davies directing.
The second series concluded on Amazon early last month. Since it's been a number of years between seasons, I just waited till all six episodes streamed to jump back in.
There was a queer/bi baiting screen grab used of Tom Hiddleston (Jonathan Pine), Diego Calva as Teddy Dos Santos, a Colombian arms dealer & Camila Morrone as Roxana Bolaños in a sexy dance scene. This was short lived!
Shame.
Oh well, a third season is set up majorly in episode six, which I will go through below. Warning spoilers ahead!
Roxana, under orders from Roper, calls Pine claiming to have narrowly avoided capture. They arrange to meet, where Pine narrowly avoids being killed by Roper's men thanks to a tip-off from Teddy, who has learned that Roxana is compromised.
Carrascal becomes suspicious of Teddy, who subsequently kills him in an ensuing fight. Roper confronts Roxana, who suggests Teddy harbours feelings for Pine.
Sally facilitates the escape of Chief Justice Arbenz from armed supervision. They assemble a team of journalists to observe the arrival of the electromagnetic pulse bomb and reveal the plot of Roper and British Intelligence.
Meanwhile, Pine and Teddy head to Cabrera's military base, with Pine taking the guise of Teddy's prisoner. Teddy claims Roper and Pine are planning on double-crossing Cabrera by sending 50 armed men instead of the pulse bomb. Cabrera then agrees to divert the shipment to co-ordinates where Sally and Arbenz are waiting.
Roper arrives at the military base, where the group turns against him.
In London, Burr has gathered information against Mayra. The pair meet in a library where Burr announces the coup has been foiled. Back in Colombia, an aeroplane is heard overhead and it is revealed that Roper has sent two shipments.
The pulse weapon arrives at the military base while Sally and Arbenz receive a container empty, but for a red rose. Roper regains Cabrera's trust and Teddy and Pine's deceit is exposed. The unmoved Roper kills Teddy, but Martin and Octavo arrive. Martin shoots to disrupt proceedings, and in the shootout Pine is injured. Martin sacrifices his own life to provide a distraction to allow Pine to escape with Octavo.
Pine walks in the jungle with Octavo before collapsing.
In London, Mayra walks away from the meeting triumphant, and Burr is later killed at her home in France. The episode closes with Roper in England picking up Danny from boarding school, while news of the ongoing Colombian civil war plays on the radio, which Roper changes to play Odetta's version of Bob Dylan's "Masters of War" as they drive away.
Will we have to wait another ten years for the third season? I doubt it. This has been a big hit again for Amazon. Continuing their fine start to 2026. With Cross, Steal and The Boys final season incoming. Plus the erotic hit, 56 Days. Amazon has come out of the blocks stronger than HBO. In mu opinion of course.
That said, can they keep up this pace. Till next time. Stay outta the humidity FML!
The Moment is a 2026 mockumentary film directed by Aidan Zamiri, who co-wrote it with Bertie Brandes from an original idea by Charli XCX.
Starring XCX in her full blown brat era, Rosanna Arquette, Kate Berlant, Jamie Demetriou, Hailey Benton Gates, Isaac Powell, & True Blood's Alexander Skarsgård.
The Moment premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival in January, and was released in cinemas last Thursday.
So far, The Moment, has film received mixed reviews from critics.
I loved brat as an album. I loved Charli before the brat album. So this was a no brainer for me. Completely taking the piss out of fame, blowing up after years and years of working hard in the industry.
After years and years of hits, Charli XCX had her moment with the brat summer. The Sweat tour blew up! She brought a version to Laneway Festival back in 2025.
This was a fun insight into the world of brat! Of course A24 know how to back an indie film. My star score below for the queen XCX.
This was fun, intense, and manic.
Charli's life would have been a chaotic whirlwind following the release of the record. The press, the tour prep, the sponsorships, the lime green brat colour. It was a lot! Thank goodness it's all Wuthering Heights now!
I enjoyed this 3.5 Stars. Get it's not everyone's cup of tea.
School Spirits is one of the only non Taylor Sheridan series on Paramount+. But will they keep it around for a fourth season? Particularly now that apparently HBO Max will be merging into Paramount+. Which is good for subscribers like me! Maybe even Channel Ten too!
The series, adapted from the graphic novel by the Trinruds and Maria Nguyen, stars Peyton List, Kristian Ventura, Milo Manheim, and Spencer MacPherson. The first three episodes of the third season, premiered late January. With the season concluding midweek.
This season, Maddie Nears and her friends dive into a deeper, darker mystery as the veil between worlds grows dangerously thin, delivering twists that challenge everything they thought they knew. After clawing her way back to life, Maddie struggles with terrifying visions and the weight of protecting both the living and the dead while Simon – trapped in the afterlife – becomes obsessed with the secrets buried in Split River High’s scars.
Why have so many people died at Split River High? What was Mr. Martin warning them about? As they search for answers, new dangers and dark secrets begin to surface.
Honestly I don't think this series is aimed at me. I kind of thought the show had run out of ideas last season. This season for me felt like they were flogging a dead horse. However at the end of the season they did leave it (very) open for a possible fourth season.
However (to date) there is no news on a fourth season.
This season went Chucky mad too, introducing Jennifer Tilly as Deborah Hunter-Price. So random and a little trashy.
Paramount+ will soon be getting series like Heated Rivalry and The White Lotus. This is surely the time to jump into an annual subscription before they jack up the prices.
Goolagong landed right in time for the Australian Open at a quieter time in 2026. Sadly life got in the way, so I only finished the third and final episode last night.
The ABC series is based on the real life story of Aboriginal Australian champion tennis player Evonne Goolagong Cawley, played by Lila McGuire.
Directed by Wayne Blair & produced by Werner Film Productions. This is honestly the most wholesome series of the Scorchin' Summer Streamin' 26 blog series.
Goolagong tells the story of the rise of tennis star Evonne Goolagong Cawley, from her childhood through to becoming a champion at Wimbledon. It shows her drive to succeed and her path to the top of her game, including overcoming a career-threatening injury and beating her tennis rivals in the face of adversity.
Goolagong is based on the inspiring true-life story of world champion tennis player Evonne Goolagong, one of Australia’s most revered sporting heroes. From her Wimbledon debut in 1970, to becoming the first mother to win Wimbledon in the modern era in 1980, Evonne’s story is one of family, love, loss, and an unwavering spirit.
In the time of burgeoning black rights and women’s lib, Evonne proved to herself, her people, and the world that she was a true champion.
Alongside McGuire, the three part series stars, Felix Mallard, Marton Csokas and Luke Carroll.
Filming for the series took place across several locations in Victoria, including on location at the Kooyong Tennis Club and South Yarra Tennis Club, using a purpose-built Wimbledon Centre Court.
Other locations include Kyneton, Seaford, Seymour, Sunshine, Tallarook, and Woodend. The shoot brought in over 1,200 local jobs and 100 jobs for local crew.
Last November, it was announced at the ABC Upfronts that the series would go to air this year. The ABC is really punching above its weight for local content this year. With Dog Park also being a super sweet series.
I look forward to the ABC announcing its next Sunday series with some crackers promised. Tonight the ABC has acquired Amazon's Top End Bub streaming tonight, along with Kiwi series (with Aussies) Blue Murder Motel.
Well done to the ABC for bringing this beautiful homegrown story to our screens.
The Beauty is the latest Ryan Murphy series, this time teaming up with Matthew Hodgson.
The science fiction/body horror series is based on the comic book The Beauty, written by Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley.
Starring American Horror favourite, Evan Peters, alongside Anthony Ramos, Jeremy Pope, Rebecca Hall, and Ashton Kutcher. Yes Ashton Kutcher is making a comeback!
The series streams on FX/Hulu, Disney+ which commenced in January, concluding yesterday with a double (short) episode finale.
So what's the drum?
A sexually transmitted treatment known as "the Beauty" spreads rapidly, granting users physical attractiveness through aesthetic-based genetic makeup while concealing lethal side effects that begin to overtake their lives. As deaths and public panic escalate, an FBI investigation and competing interests converge on the forces behind the drug and the epidemic it sparks.
Spoilers for episode eleven, read on at your own risk!
Tig and Gunther (without) consent dose Franny with the Beauty in an attempt to please their father, leading her to attempt suicide, though Byron has doctors keep her body stable with the regenerative properties of the Beauty.
Meanwhile, Bella undergoes the Beauty procedure via sexual intercourse with a man named Conor, who had taken a second dose beforehand to increase the strength. Upon transforming, Bella's mother is horrified to find her with grotesque mutations.
After Byron learns that the public and government no longer support the Beauty as a result of widely reported side-effects, he decides to halt sales and close down the operation to reinvest in cures and fixes, while providing boosters for free.
Tig wishes to continue distributing the drug and inherit Byron's wealth, and enlists the help from Diana, Cooper, Jordan, the Assassin and Jeremy to assassinate him. In exchange, Cooper is given an untested drug to reverse the effects of the Beauty, and the others are startled when he emerges after transforming.
It leaves you on an Evan Peters cliffhanger that may or may not get resolved. Unlike All's Fair, there is no news of a second season as yet. However there are some reports of this being a miniseries.
Will we find out Evan Peters fate? Time will tell.
Either way I did enjoy these shorter episodes. It was a wild look at modern societies obsession with beauty. Who better after Nip/Tuck than Ryan Murphy to explore this world.
It's been a real Ryan Murphy season. Love Story is currently streaming on Friday's on Disney+, whilst The Shards is yet to stream.
Enjoy the weekend. It's the first full weekend of Autumn. A new blog series is incoming next month!
