Public Holiday Fest Streaming 26' - Citadel - Season Two

What if you lost your memory? What if a spy didn’t know they were a spy? Years ago, the top agents of Citadel, Mason Kane (Richard Madden) and Nadia Sinh (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), had their minds wiped. 

But, they’re called back to action as sinister forces emerge from the past. With the help of spymaster Bernard Orlick (Stanley Tucci), these former lovers must remember the past to save the future.

Citadel returns to Amazon Prime Video, with the Russo brothers acting as executive producers. 

The first season had production budget of US$300 million, the six-episode first season ranks as one of the most expensive television series ever made. 

The second season, returned with all seven episodes premiering last month. Around three years after the first season. Which aired week-to-week. Season two arrived with little fanfare, not much marketing and blown out of the water by young adult drama, Off Campus. The show stole all the attention and the chatter. Not to mention it was also another Amazon title.

Citadel was meant to spin-off to multiple non-English language series. Initially these were to be set in, the Italian Alps, India, Spain, and Mexico. The Italian series, Citadel: Diana, premiered on October 2024, while the Indian series, Citadel: Honey Bunny, premiered on November of the same year.

Both of these have now been cancelled, while the Mexico series is off the cards. For now. Season three of Citadel, may also be off the books, with an apparent drop in viewers from seasons one, to two.

Following a dramatic second last episode to the second season, Highlands, the finale sees the Citadel agents race to prevent Joana from assassinating President Aronov at the G8 Summit, where she plans to take control of Russian satellites.

No spoilers here, however I do see a third season a bit tricky. There was a small potential cliffhanger, however I think the world has moved on from Citadel.

This was easy, breezy holiday viewing, but nothing to write home about.

Album of the Week - SOUTH SUMMIT - {Run It Back}

NOT another streaming Movie - Power Ballad

Power Ballad is the third film I saw over the last long weekend until October.

Man its long haul until the next long weekend. Anyway the musical/comedy/drama film stars Paul Rudd, Nick Jonas, Havana Rose Liu, plus Jack Reynor. 

Power Ballad follows wedding singer Rick who bonds with boy-band member Danny; when Danny uses Rick's song to reignite his own solo career, Rick sets out for the recognition he believes he deserves.

When Rick (Rudd), a past-his-prime wedding singer, meets fading boy-band star Danny (Jonas) during a gig, the two bond over music and a late-night jam session. But when Danny turns one of Rick’s songs into the hit that reignites his career, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves - even if it means risking everything he cares about. 

Despite having US leads, the film is set largely in Ireland. At a beautiful property for the wedding meeting between Rudd and Jonas, moving to LA for the later scenes.

Power Ballad is a fun, crazy tale about the story of a songs creation. Also, at ageing. Ageing outta boy bands, ageing out of your dreams and playing cover songs to drunk randoms at weddings.

This is a small idea film. But damn. It is cute.

I really like Paul Rudd. I also really like Nick Jonas. His track Jealous is damn good. The Jonas Brothers not so much.

I saw three very different films over the long weekend. But this was one of my favourites. I think it's over now, however if it is screening somewhere, go check it out!

3 stars. Fun!

Public Holiday Fest Streaming 26' - Two Years Later - Season One

Two Years Later is the latest Australian romantic drama series. Landing on Paramount+ last week, this was a damn easy watch.

Following Emily and Ryan in a post pandemic world after the world came to a halt, they reconnect after two years in a series of brief encounters and see if they truly love each other.

When their work commute is interrupted by COVID-19, Emily and Ryan reunite two years later after a series of brief flirtatious interactions. Ryan proposes an idea: to go on a series of eight dates to decide if they are truly right for each other.

Phoebe Tonkin is Emily, whilst Brenton Thwaites is Ryan.

It's a small cast show, with Jada Alberts as Nat, Joey Vieira as Antonio, Ron Smyck as Mike, the divine Heather Mitchell as Lorna & Roy Billing as Morgan, Lorna's husband.

The show is intimate, warts and all real romance. I really enjoyed this eight episode first season. It is left open for a second season. However with the current TV climate, who knows if (or when) a second season would get made.

I really enjoyed all eight (short) episodes. The dates across each episode were cute.

I think this could easily be my favourite Public Holiday Fest Streaming 26' Aussie series of the last quarter. This was storytelling at its best, with real heart.

Heather Mitchell & Roy Billing's support story was a truly beautiful one.

I can't recommend this Brisbane based series highly enough. Please, beg, borrow or steal a Paramount+ log in and give this a watch. I want a second season!

NOT another streaming Movie - Masters of the Universe

Masters of the Universe, follows Barbie as the next Mattel venture into film. 

It is the second live-action film adaptation after the 1987 film. Thirst trap Nicholas Galitzine is Prince Adam / He-Man, alongside Riverdale's Camila Mendes, Jared Leto, Alison Brie, James Purefoy, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Charlotte Riley, Kristen Wiig, Sherriff Country's Morena Baccarin, & mr can do everything Idris Elba. 

Masters of the Universe, follows Prince Adam as he returns to his home planet, Eternia, to take his destiny as He-Man, and save his home from the evil forces of Skeletor.

Principal photography (most likely, largely in front of a green screen) occurred in London, England, from January to June 2025.

Surprisingly this is an Amazon MGM Studios film, meaning I actually could have watched this for free in a few months.

So was it any good? Scroll below the trailer for my verdict.

Nicholas Galitzine is sex on legs as a blonde. I honestly never really saw him as a total babe before. But now as a bulky blonde in minimal clothes - YASS!

The plot is fairly thin. The ending feels a little rushed, despite it being a fairly long film.

Despite some post credits scenes, a sequel is not yet being discussed or offical, however I think this had legs for a bit of a fantasy, comedy, action nostalgia film series. It's not like Amazon is short on cash.

A lot of the characters were a little lost on me. Particularly the poorly aged named ones like, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson as Fisto, & Jon Xue Zhang as Ram-Man.

Fisto had some interesting jokes.

Overall I will pass this. It was fun escapism. 2.5 Stars.

Album of the Week - SKRILLEX - {Soma}

Public Holiday Fest Streaming 26' - Deli Boys - Season Two

Turns out inheriting a criminal empire was the easy part… and more money really does mean more problems. 

The second season on Disney+'s Deli Boys, the Dars are drowning in dirty cash and Philly’s sketchiest crooks are circling. 

Enter Max Sugar: casino king, money launderer, and Lucky’s new crush who turns laundering into a chaotic situationship. 

Raj plots revenge on Ahmad, Mir tries to expand DarCo without blowing it up, and Philly D.A. Andrew Chadwater hopes one big bust will make him mayor.

Girls, Andrew Rannells joins as Andrew Chadwater, a district attorney, along with Kumail Nanjiani as Danyal, Max Sugar's attorney. So there is some star power in the shorter six episode second season.

There is currently no word on a third season for our favourite Deli Boys. However the series seems popular with critics and I'd say it's not the most expensive comedy to make.

Hulu has a decent supply of comedies unlike other streamers like Paramount+ and Starz. With Only Murders in the Building, Futurama, King of the Hill, Chad Powers, and Not Suitable for Work either currently streaming or returning.

Deli Boys was an express watch this season, but a fun little ride. I would say the way things leave off, a third season may stream sometime in the future.