Lanterns just concluded over that glorious long weekend! Based on the DC Comics Green Lantern characters Hal Jordan and John Stewart. Streaming on HBO Max, this sadly not HBO's best work. Thank god episode one of War, was pure fire!
It features experienced Lantern Jordan and new recruit Stewart as they team up with local sheriff Kerry Kane to investigate a murder in Rushville, Nebraska that leads to a wider mystery.
Kyle Chandler, Aaron Pierre & Kelly Macdonald respectively star as Jordan, Stewart and Kane.
Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan and Ulrich Thomsen join Chandler, Pierre & Macdonald in the eight episode run. Lanterns is part of the DCU's Chapter One: Gods and Monsters.
So how does it all go down? At time of posting, Lanterns is yet to be renewed.
Shortly before dying, Hal decides to stay in Rushville and his house is set on fire with him inside. He then awakens in a slaughterhouse, where Noah gave him new skin using alien technology and reveals that he is a Manhunter.
At the complex, John learns from Sinestro that Noah freed and brought him to the island to forge a lantern from its water, charged with will and fear energy. John then returns to Earth, where Noah ambushes him, seeking revenge for Zoe's death after discovering his nature as a Manhunter.
After a heart-to-heart, fearing his Manhunter side, Noah asks John to kill him after the game. During the game, John tells Kerry he knows she impulsively killed Hal to protect Noah, and reveals her Noah's request, but says he won't kill him and would instead stop him if he does ever succumbs to his Manhunter nature.
John then summons Guy and tells him that he will be taking over as Earth's protector. John charges the ring while reciting his own oath, gives Maggie her compensation, and reunites with his family.
Is it still superhero fatigue season? Yep. I reckon. Some people enjoyed this. I wasn't one of them. I did like Aaron Pierre though. MMMMMMHHHHHHHMMMMMMM
Ted Lasso and local Apple series Last Seen also wrap this week. See you then.
My Brilliant Career is my prediction for a record number of Logie Award nominations in 2027. I find that one Netflix Australian series that streams in the Logie voting/airing period. In the past, The Survivors, Apple Cider Vinegar, Territory, Boy Swallows Universe, you get the picture.
Well The Survivors and Territory were completed dominating forces, however, they did do well, considering they were both subpar in comparison to Apple Cider Vinegar and Boy Swallows Universe.
Not to mention how well Heartbreak High did over it's three season run.
The six-part Aussie period drama miniseries, is set in rural Australia in the early 20th century. Starring, Philippa Northeast in the lead role as headstrong aspiring writer Sybylla, and Christopher Chung as Harry Beecham, her love interest.
It is based on the novel of the same name by Miles Franklin, but includes additional plot lines and characters. It premiered on 13 August 2026, with two soundtrack albums released on the same day.
Northeast stars as Sybylla, a fiercely modern young woman with one burning ambition: to be a writer, even as her family pushes her toward marriage. In this new series adaptation of the classic Australian novel, Sybylla breaks every convention of 1900 Australia as she chases a story that could write her way to independence, until she falls in love. Will she marry, or risk it all for a creative life?
Alongside Slow Horses Chung and Northeast, Anna Chancellor, Genevieve O'Reilly, Kate Mulvany, Jake Dunn, Alexander England, Sherry-Lee Watson, and Miah Madden also star.
With an appearance by legendary singer, songwriter, Thelma Plum too. Music (local Aussie music) is a big part of this series too. With tunes from Plum, Kate Miller-Heidke, Isabella Manfredi, Julia Jacklin, Rainbow Chan and more.
I don't normally like period dramas, however, I did really enjoy this one over the long weekend.
It was nice to see Chung, back at home with his real accent, not being an English hood, Roddy Ho in Slow Horses. Which is actually also streaming now on Apple TV.
This is my first Netflix series for a while, and I was rather impressed. Particularly as it's a rare local production. Well done team involved.
A solid watch. My Brilliant Career is streaming now on Netflix.
Two Weeks in August feels a little like a poor man's British The White Lotus in Greece. Just not at a fancy hotel, full of rich folks.
Premiering on BBC One/BC iPlayer back in May, the series streams here in Australia on Binge. The streamer that just grabs all the leftover series. Sadly poor Binge has never recovered since losing the HBO deal.
Two Weeks in August focuses on Zoe, on holiday with friends and family in the Mediterranean, who finds herself trapped on a Greek island. A group of old university friends go on holiday together, 20 years after first meeting each other.
Zoe, a comprehensive school teacher, tries to hold the group together, putting her own needs aside. Her husband, Dan, is depressive. Nat is annoyed when the casual boyfriend of her gay best friend, Jacob, turns up at the villa.
There is a kiss between two members of the party, which splits the opinions of the group, and impacts the remainder of the holiday. Zoe also has visions related to Greek mythology throughout the series, which become increasingly odd.
Two Weeks In August is a black comedy/psychological drama about a group of friends holidaying on a Greek island who uncover more about themselves and each other than they ever expected...
Starring Jessica Raine, Damien Molony, Nicholas Pinnock, Antonia Thomas, Leila Farzad and Hugh Skinner.
Dylan Brady as Will is simply easy on eye and kept my interest over the eight episodes. Despite being English, this did have some filler episodes.
They really could have covered the main plot points in four, or at a push, five episodes. Some episodes felt way too drawn out.
This wasn't bad, but wasn't amazing. The El Niño Streaming 2026 series has just begun. As has daylight savings. Big series returns this month here.
This psychological (semi) erotic thriller is based on Colleen Hoover's novel of the same name. Alongside Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, & Josh Hartnett, star in this twisted thriller, which will no doubt be on Amazon streaming very soon. Disappointed to know it'll be free streaming soon. Yes, it's an Amazon MGM Studios film, which has received mixed reviews from critics.
Lowen Ashleigh (Johnson) is a writer in need of work when she is contacted by Jeremy Crawford (Hartnett), the husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford (Hathaway).
Due to a mysterious accident, Verity is unable to finish her successful book series, and Jeremy asks Lowen to complete the series. While working on it, Lowen discovers another manuscript, raising questions regarding Verity's psychological well-being and possible links to her publications.
This was honestly, super B grade. Maybe even C grade. Dakota Johnson has a way of being involved in some real stinkers. Remember Madame Web?
I wanted to like this. I wanted this to turn into a good old fashion thriller, with big twists and turns. Sadly it was just fucking lame.
Will we get a sixth Anne Hathaway film in 2026? Happy long weekend dear readers. Maybe give this one a miss.
Summer is just around the corner, with hot days, cold days, the weather is more bipolar than me going through a midlife crisis. Winter be Bingeing 26' has seen loads of new series, returning series and concluding for good series.
Now let's look at Aussie content for the past quarter. The Killings at Parrish Station was a bit of a letdown to be honest. It started off OK, then went downhill. Treasure & Dirt on the ABC was also slightly random. The ABC also dropped the ball a bit on local content this quarter. I did catch up on Ground Up, which was pleasantly surprising.
Colin from Accounts wrapped a sensational victory lap season. The Binge original was incredible! Binge has continued local content with High Country now streaming. At their upfront they announced more Real Housewives from Melbourne, Wentworth: Halfway Home: Golden Globe-winning Australian actor Rachel Griffiths has joined the cast of the highly anticipated next chapter of the global hit franchise. She joins Sophie Lowe, Alex King and Chenile Chandler in the new series, premiering on Binge in late 2026. Most likely following High Country in a few weeks?
And finally, Miranda Otto joins Tough Love: Multi-award-winning Australian actor Miranda Otto has joined the cast of new Binge Australian Original comedy Tough Love, which follows a family confronting the prospect of life without their mother.
Well done to SBS too, for The Airport Chaplain. Exciting news too for Stan with The F Ward, showing Australia can do hospital series too. It will also return for a second season!
HBO returned to quality 30 minute comedies, with Rooster being a real return to form. Apple TV have really taken over in the comedy space. So it was good to catch up on Stick, with Owen Wilson.
So, Colin from Accounts takes out the big prize of the best series of Q3, 2026.
Amazon was also a quiet achiever, with Reacher returning for its best season yet. Good news it's already been renewed for a sixth season. Ride or Die and Elle were also top ten series too!
For now see all 46 seasons below, RATED and ranked! When Ryan Murphy has a miss, he certainly does, with The Shards my less enjoyable show of the quarter.
1. Colin from Accounts - Season Three/Series Finale (AU) 2. Reacher - Season Four 3. Rooster - Season One 4. Furious - Season One 5. Ride or Die - Season One 6. Elle - Season One 7. Dalliance - Season One (AU) 8. Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed - Season One 9. The F Ward - Season One (AU)/Renewed 10. The Airport Chaplain - Season One (AU) 11. Ground Up - Season One (AU) 12. Adults - Season Two (plus prequel episode - Marathon Day) 13. Lioness - Season Three 14. 9-1-1 - Season Nine 15. Pluribus - Season One 16. You're Killing Me - Season One 17. Good American Family - Season One 18. The Chi - Season Eight/Series Finale 19. Stick - Season One 20. Dutton Ranch - Season One 21. Alice & Steve - Season One 22. Cape Fear - Miniseries 23. Chad Powers - Season Two 24. Lucky - Miniseries 25. All American - Season Eight/Series Finale 26. The Walking Dead: Dead City - Season Three 27. The Killings at Parrish Station - Miniseries (AU) 28. Interview with the Vampire - Anne Rice's The Vampire Lestat (technically - Season Three) 29. The Agency - Season Two 30. Trigger Point - Season Four 31. Ms. X - Season One/Renewed 32. The Audacity - Season One 33. Sugar - Season Two 34. The Bear - Season Five/Series Finale + Gary (prequel) episode 35. House of the Dragon - Season Three 36. M.I.A. - Season One/Series Finale 37. Fightland - Season One 38. Power Book III: Raising Kanan - Season Five/Series Finale 39. Curfew - Miniseries 40. Treasure & Dirt - Season One (AU) 41. Prisoner - Season One 42. The Five-Star Weekend - Season One 43. New Zealand Spy - Season One 44. Silo - Season Three 45. Not Suitable for Work - Season One/Series Finale 46. The Shards - Season One
The eighth and final season of All American picks up six months after the football cliffhanger at the end of last season and will span just one week in our favourite Beverly and Crenshaw crew’s life. A week that will have them wondering if everything they’ve been through over the course of their lives has prepared them for this moment. A week that will ultimately reunite old with the new, friend with enemy, and alter the course of each of their futures forever.
All American has just streamed its 132nd episode on Stan or The CW back in the USA.
With hunky Daniel Ezra returning for the series finale. Which we really needed. As he was only a guest for seasons seven and eight, the series could have easily ended back at the end of season six.
SPOILER - even Billy Baker (Taye Diggs) made a cameo at the tail end of the fairly well done finale.
With new cast members Osy Ikhile, Alexis Chikaeze, Nathaniel Logan McIntyre and Antonio J. Bell becoming regulars at the end of season six. It left a void following Ezra and others departing.
Bre-Z, Greta Onieogou, Michael Evans Behling stuck around for the long haul, after a mass departure at the end of the sixth season. Which truly did have a perfect series finale style ending.
So it was a tall order for this season, this last ever episode.
Which the season's golden moment focused on the issue of ICE agents and their work in the US right now. It was powerful. In my eyes, it saved the season.
At it's origin, All American is inspired by the life of professional American football player Spencer Paysinger and follows the lives of a group of people from both Crenshaw and Beverly Hills after teen Spencer James (Ezra), a rising star football player from Crenshaw whose dream is to make it to the NFL, is recruited by coach Billy Baker (Diggs) to play for his high school team in Beverly Hills.
The series was met with positive reviews from both critics and audiences, with praise being aimed in particular at the football sequences and performances of Ezra, Christian and Diggs. However, it initially got weak television ratings on its broadcast network, but was a sleeper hit when released on Netflix, which helped both to boost its linear ratings and prevent its cancellation, allowing it to stay on air and run for several seasons.
All American has never shone like Friday Night Lights, nor won any awards. However, the show has provided light entertainment since 2018.
It got me through COVID. At times (like the ICE story, this season) it tackled big issues. It is fitting this is the Winter be Bingeing 26' finale. Hopefully tomorrow I will have my RATED post for all series across the last quarter.
The CW has now lost its last original series. It really is in one way an end of an era.
Perfect timing as network TV in the US comes back from a summer break. All American streams all 132 episodes on Stan right now. I think Binge still hosts the (semi) short-lived spin-off All American: Homecoming.
See you in Q4! Wow how is it the end of 2026 already! Fuck!
And my predictions for the new era of US 40 (odd) minute dramas and shorter comedies.
It all started with the return of FOX's Animal Control for a fifth season. The series has moved to Sunday's or Monday's where it streams on BINGE alongside return Aussie crime series, High Country.
Animal Control is a quiet achiever. Lead by, Joel McHale as Frank Shaw, the series has entered its fifth season with no idea of an episode count. Nine episodes was the lowest episode count, with Twelve the highest. I reckon this series will head into 2027, with roughly ten or twelve episodes this run. I also predict a sixth season. Filmed in Vancouver, this seems to be a low production, sitting in nicely with The Simpsons, Grimsburg and Universal Basic Guys on FOX's Sunday.
My other two FOX series return in 2027. Memory of a Killer was a big surprise last TV season. The other is the new reboot of Baywatch. Unlike Animal Control, both will stream on STAN.
My prediction is Memory of a Killer has a limited storyline. Patrick Dempsey is a TV favourite, however, this show can't run forever if you know the storyline. Baywatch could be Rescue HI-Surf V2.0. Time will tell for both. But I am not hopeful for either. Apparently Baywatch launches in January.
The other poor performing network, The CW's last original concludes on STAN tomorrow. All American ends its eighth season run tomorrow night.
RJ Decker has started on ABC, however Disney+ seem to be holding it. Reason being, it's apparently only a seven episode second season. So bring on a Christmas binge.
ABC has filled its schedule to the brim with The Rookie, Will Trent and High Potential to return in 2027. High Potential is the most likely ABC series to secure another season. RJ Decker though, could be heading to the scrap heap if it doesn't get any buzz.
ABC also has long running 9-1-1 and spin-off 9-1-1: Nashville incoming next month. I'm not sure if the OG series, or the spin-off will call it a day this year. But with a new Grey's spin-off incoming, ABC needs to clear a spot on it's schedule, or reduce episode counts for one of it's Thursday series.
Successful ABC comedy, Abbott's Elementary, is almost guaranteed to return for another run too. Disney+ almost always release this in two batches. One at the end of the year, one at the end of the TV season.
Last but not least, CBS are holding NCIS Sydney to March (or so) next year. With Fire Country, Y:Marshalls, Sherriff Country and a pile of other series returning next month. Apparently Fire Country, has a reduced episode count to only thirteen episodes this season. Meaning it'll end earlier this season than previous. Another Country spin-off is in the works. This time a medical one. Maybe we will get a short run February/March 2027.
My prediction is NCIS: Sydney may solve its last Sydney based crime in the new year. The other three CBS series on my radar (all streaming on Paramount+) will most likely be renewed.
CBS have the most well rounded roster, with any underperforming series needing to make way for their one to two new series per new TV season.
Look out for my All American wrap tomorrow or Wednesday and potentially RJ Decker wrap in my next TV quarter series.
