Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24' - Heartbreak High (2022 series) - Season Two

Heartbreak High is back baby! In Term Two we get fresh hottie from Dubbo (with secrets), a new sports teacher (former Recovery host, Stan Bump star Angus Sampson) and a mystery assailant.

We also get into the election cycle on a school level scale. As race for school captain is a major storyline throughout the second season @ Hartley High.

Rebooted for Netflix, the first season received universal praise from critics, while the second season divided critics and audiences. I must say, season one was super woke, but season two with Sampson's character kind of went a little far.

We see a large number of season one's cast return. Ayesha Madon, Thomas Weatherall, James Majoos, Chloé Hayden, Asher Yasbincek, Will McDonald, Gemma Chua-Tran, Bryn Chapman Parish, Sherry-Lee Watson, Brodie Townsend, Chika Ikogwe and Rachel House. 

Sadly hunky Josh Heuston only has a very small role in this season. BOO!

With Sam Rechner, Kartanya Maynard and Angus Sampson joining the series as newcomers in the second season.

Season two landed earlier this month. But you all know I don't have Netflix anymore. Sadly. Lucky I was cat sitting for the neighbours who do.

So I binged all eight episodes filled with songs from The Veronica's, Tina Turner, Cub Sport, Mallrat, Nia Archives and more.

Yes some episodes are like one giant music video!

Season one won a pile of awards. Including an International Emmy Award, while receiving 15 AACTA Awards nominations, including Best Drama Series, winning six. How will season two fair at the next AACTA awards? I don't think it will do as well against a strong run of Aussie series. Total Control's final season, Binge's already renewed Strife, Prosper, the second big season of The Newsreader along with Amazon's The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart.

So the verdict on season two?

Well..... The season ended with a year 11 prom in flames with Flame Trees playing out by legendary Sarah Blasko. It also had an open ended finale with year 12 on the horizon. Will Netflix give this Aussie original another go? I think it will based on previous accolades.

Maybe without Angus Sampson trying to be a schoolyard Trump or Sky News after dark commentator.

Either way nice to see streaming giant, Netflix investing in Australian content. Even if it is just another reboot. Did you miss the news about incoming reboots? Melrose Place, Heroes, X Files and more may all be on the cards. Oh baby Jesus!

Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24' - The Swarm - Miniseries

The Swarm (German: Der Schwarm) is a German co-produced sci-fic miniseries, adapted from the novel by Frank Schätzing.

Der Schwarm depicts the struggle with aggression by a mysterious deep sea intelligence that is reacting to human-caused environmental damage.

With a huge budget of €40 million, making Der Schwarm the most expensive German TV production (produced in English) of all time. The series had its world premiere at 73rd Berlin International Film Festival in Berlinale Series back in February 2023.

I have to admit, I slept on The Swarm on Binge (in Australia), as it premiered on ZDF back in February to March, last year.

In an interview, Barbara Eder (one of the directors, alongside Luke Watson and Philipp Stölzl) confirmed that there are ideas already for a second season, but their implementation has yet to be decided after the figures for the first season have been evaluated. As when I watched the final episode, it does end on a bit of a, to be continued.... note.

The eight episode run features European actors, Cécile de France, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Jack Greenlees, Lydia Wilson, Krista Kosonen, Alexander Karim, Leonie Benesch and German star Barbara Sukowa with Japanese actors Takuya Kimura and Takehiro Hira. 

As the series got an airing on the new The CW, it also features american actors Rosabell Laurenti Sellers and Dutch Johnson, and Canadian Joshua Odjick. With a story on a global level, it's great to see so much diversity across the cast. Nice to also see Vancouver, BC get into the mix.

For me though the first six episodes were the series best. it did start to lose a bit of steam as the series continued.

As the US network 2023-2024 (shortened) TV season (which The Swarm was part of The CW's lineup) is coming to an end. I will 100% be getting though a number of my watchlist series.

I am also hoping to use my neighbours Netflix whilst cat sitting to smash the latest Heartbreak High season. So look out for that, alongside new local SBS series, Swift Street. An easy new binge bringing Melbourne's multicultural streets to the small screen.

For now though, it's Anzac Day, so while taking a minute/a break/a well deserved day off, The Swarm streams on Binge. Where High Country will conclude next week, The Girls on the Bus from HBO MAX is currently streaming alongside most likely the final season of The Cleaning Lady.

See you soon besties.

Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24' - Reasonable Doubt - Season One

Reasonable Doubt is just another show I slept on. Cause it landed all the way back in September 2022!

Created by Raamla Mohamed for Hulu, streaming in Australia on Disney+, the series stars Emayatzy Corinealdi as a corporate defense lawyer navigating challenging high-profile cases.

Reasonable Doubt stars McKinley Freeman, Tim Jo, Angela Grovey, Thaddeus J. Mixson, Aderinsola Olabode, and Michael Ealy. 

Reasonable Doubt was renewed for a second series back in April of last year. One year ago and still no word on the second series. However the first nine episodes were an easy ass binge. I did all nine this past weekend. Yes I watched a lot of TV and a few films in the mix this past weekend.

The first season has generally received positive reviews from critics. The series was created by former Scandal writer Raamla Mohamed, while loosely based on the experiences of celebrity attorney Shawn Holley.

Holley is also a producer for the show, with Kerry Washington directed the series pilot. Kerry Washington received a nomination for Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series at the 2023 Black Reel Awards for Television

So what's it about?

Jax Stewart (Corinealdi) is a successful defense lawyer at an up-scale Los Angeles law firm. She navigates difficult cases amid a separation from her husband (Freeman) and the reappearance of a former client (Ealy) she worked with in her previous job as a public defender.

What did other critics say? Daniel D'Addario of Variety asserted, Reasonable Doubt plays like the juicy soap Shonda Rhimes would never write; its excesses, often, grab and hold our attention. Yes it totally has Scandal and How To Get Away With Murder vibes.

Nina Metz of Chicago Tribune gave the series a grade of 3 out of 4 stars and said, "There's a lot to like about "Reasonable Doubt," which is sharp and fun and moves at a good clip. And it's smart about keeping things just this side of ridiculous." Yep the old HTGAWM six months earlier flashback after a cliffhanger we work towards, does keep you guessing, however there is some trashy side stories to work through across the nine episodes.

But Kristen Baldwin of Entertainment Weekly hit the nail on the head. She gave the show a B+, stating, "Reasonable Doubt is enjoyably Shonda-esque, in that it's a steamy, speed-plotted soap built around a morally ambiguous female power player whose life is filled with ridiculously attractive men. But Mohamed also weaves in frank and nuanced stories about marriage, parenting, and the importance of (and challenges with) female friendships," and complimented Corinealdi's performance.

Yep the men are sure attractive!

This was a fun, easy escape from the day-to-day working 9-5 life.

If you have Disney+ and need something new to watch, give Reasonable Doubt a try!

Post Strike Cinema 24' - Challengers

The 2024 IT girl is back. Zendaya is a queen! As we wait for Euphoria season three, this little romp might keep us hooked on her. Well Dune: Part II was Zendaya in sci-fi mode, in Challengers she is a glamourous former tennis champ, now her husband's tennis coach.

However with flashbacks we see a love triangle play out between Zendaya, Josh O'Connor, and Mike Faist.

Challengers comes from Call Me By Your Name director Luca Guadagnino and written by Justin Kuritzkes. 

Throughout the film, we follow a professional tennis champion who plots a comeback with the help of his wife, a former tennis prodigy who retired after an injury, as he goes up against another player, who also happens to be his former best friend and wife's former lover.

Challengers opened last week. An interesting school holidays film really. It has some seriously homoerotic imagery throughout. That sauna scene! So it is no wonder, the film received critical acclaim. While having a banging, brash soundtrack by legends Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross. 

Tashi Duncan (Zendaya), a former tennis prodigy turned coach after a career-ending injury, is married to a champion on a losing streak. Her strategy for her husband's redemption takes a surprising turn when he must face off against his former best friend, who is also Tashi's former boyfriend.

So if you are fans of tennis, love triangles and/or Zendaya, this film is totally for you!

I enjoyed it, even though it was a later Sunday evening session. The session was also largely packed into a smaller cinema. Even though it was a smaller cinema, it had engaged young things watching every full on scene without playing on their phones. That is a win for director Guadagnino if you ask me.

This last few weeks cinema has really picked up. The year started fairly bleak following the strikes on 2023. I am happy to say cinema has it's mojo back!

4 Stars.

Post Strike Cinema 24' - Monkey Man

Monkey Man is another fun, action packed revenge film. Think John Wick but in Mumbai. The film has some serious  political and social undertones. Monkey Man explores themes of societal challenges, including corruption, discrimination, caste system, poverty and the experiences of the Hijra community in India.

Dev Patel stars while this is his directorial debut. He even broke his hand in the process of filming this film in Indonesia.

Alongside Patel, Sharlto Copley, Pitobash Tripathy, Vipin Sharma, Sikandar Kher, Adithi Kalkunte, Sobhita Dhulipala, Ashwini Kalsekar, Makarand Deshpande, Jatin Malik, and Zakir Hussain all star.

Monkey Man has received generally positive reviews from critics. The banging soundtrack, hard hitting action sequences, makes this an intense, wild ride.

The pumping tunes, the lack of guns, hand to hand combat made this film standout from your everyday action film. I enjoyed this two hour full throttle combat film a lot more than I thought I would. The final showdown was insanely fun! BYO fireworks!

OK no spoilers, this film was fire. A lot of fun, glad some decent movies are finding landing. Also Dev Patel is looking fine! How much working out have you been doing, damn!

4 Stars.

Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24' - Big Mood - Season One

Big Mood commenced on Stan late last month while Channel 4 in the UK the same time. The six-part series is written and created by Camilla Whitehill, starring Nicola Coughlan and Lydia West.

Advertised as riotous comedy-drama that follows Maggie (Coughlan) and Eddie (West). OK episode one was funny, but it becomes much more of a dark comedy with more emphasis on dark than comedy as the six episodes roll on.

Maggie and Eddie have been best friends for 10 years, through thick, thin, and multiple eyebrow trends. But with their thirties looming and Maggie’s mental health spiralling, can their friendship survive? 

Also appearing in the series, Sally Phillips, Amy Gledhill and Freya Parker, with a guest appearance from Joanna Page, playing herself.

Now I wanted to like this as I love a UK short and sharp series now. But this was a little tough to watch.

If you are having a rough time right now, maybe give this one a miss. Stan really needs to work on getting some more content deals signed. Currently the content is a little inconsistent without any regular original series of their own dropping.

At least All American is back on week to week. I did also discover a random Showtime one and done comedy which I am also half way through, I Love That for You. Which is truly FAB! I cannot wait to finish that bad boy! Eight episodes of pure fun!

Sadly Big Mood, wasn't enough to put me in a good mood.

TV Update

So if you have missed it, my second quarters TV blog series is well and truly up and running. Yes from seasons to quarters, my TV posts will now be a little more structure. The latest series is Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24'.

Keep an eye out for posts related to American Horror Stories latest season, Delicate soon. Along with the third season of Chucky wrapping and new Aussie drama with serious The Dry vibes, High Country.

I am also scrapping the at home version of film reviews from streaming services. Meaning it's cinema or bust for my Post Strike Cinema 24' series.

I did love the Netflix Gillian Anderson/Billie Piper (Day and Night baby!) SCOOP film. I also watched the cute Aussie film FIVE BLIND DATES on Amazon. Fabulous. Townsville and Sydney, never looked so good!

The cast for this Aussie feature is ace too. Led by Shuang Hu, with Desmond Chiam, Tiffany Wong, Renee Lim, Tzi Ma, Yoson An and Rob Collins. I have to agree with the review that the film was "feel good and comforting". It definitely ticked my mothers film requirement boxes and mine. Even my 88 year old father liked it!

OK so all that out of the way, next month means business for the network series shows I watch from the US of A.

Following the strikes, it's been a short USA TV season. Nice short, sharp ten episode (or in some cases 12, 13) runs. None of the bullshit 22 episodes of filler, filler with the occasional killer episode. That said Shanola Hampton as Gabrielle "Gabi" Mosely's second season of Found (Binge, USA - NBC) unfortunately will be 22 episodes .

So of my (limited) US network shows I am awaiting on here is the current state of US play, before their upfronts and a number of season/series finales next month.

So May is D Day! Station 19 (already) confirmed to concluded with the shortened seventh season will end next month. New to the USA alphabet network, ABC 9-1-1 has already been renewed for an eighth season. I will be waiting for Disney+ to get the seventh season. Sadly Channel Seven has first run rights in Australia.

ABC has a strong number of shows returning next season, along with also saying goodbye to the Good Doctor next season. Making way for a new Ryan Murphy series, Dr. Odyssey. Speaking of Mr Murphy, will the other 9-1-1 show jump ship and move across? 9-1-1: Lone Star was postponed this year, so we are still waiting for season five. I have a feeling FOX might let it go to ABC. Time will tell.

Now to CBS, their lineup is stacked. Fire Country has been much better in its second season. That said the scripts and dialogue are still a little corny. This network has so many shows renewed already, I feel my Queen Latifah lead film version of The Equalizer might end next month.

The film series recently ended, so it could be good timing. Also this show has no real path forward. 

Now over to The CW. The trainwreck network! With the final season of Superman & Lois pushed back to the 2024-2025 season. The final ten episodes were announced last year. Alongside the fourth season of the caped hero pushed back, spinoff series All American: Homecoming will also return after a year or so break.

The OG series All American is currently airing its 13 episode sixth season. Which is limping along. The ratings have fallen with limited original programming on the network. The CW is really on struggle street.

I would not be surprised like The Equalizer, if All American calls it a day at the end of this sixth season.

Next station that is really struggling, FOX. Man O Man. They lost their biggest series 9-1-1 to ABC, where it has grown in popularity. The Cleaning Lady sadly lost its leading man Adan Canto mid filming of the current third season. In Australia it streams weekly on Binge.

While the show started strong, it's one of those shows that could have ended after two seasons. I really believe of all the network series I watch, this will be the one that gets the chop. If they lose 9-1-1: Lone Star to ABC, the station is in real trouble. New series Rescue: HI-Surf is getting some buzz, however will it get the viewers it needs.

The station really lags behind on ratings. CBS and NBC are really killing it. While ABC have some good nights, shows that makes them miles ahead of poor old FOX.

Speaking of NBC, as above, I enjoyed the short and sharp new series Found. However will it work over 22 episodes, with multiple breaks and September - May run period?

Found was a lucky find as all my previous NBC series (The Blacklist and Young Rock) have since completed their runs.

Well that was a long post! So until next time! BYE