Winter be Bingeing 26' - The Agency - Season Two

Betrayed, compromised, and haunted by the woman he couldn’t save, CIA agent Martian’s world unravels as a mole hunt plunges London Station into chaos. As loyalties fracture, the truth becomes a weapon – and Martian’s only way out is deeper in. 

Series stars Michael Fassbender, Jeffrey Wright, with Jodie Turner-Smith and Richard Gere. 

Streaming on Paramount+, This was a Showtime title, however now it appears to have dropped the Showtime tag. Also the second landed, with all ten episodes dropping at once.

The Agency is a remake of the acclaimed French television series The Bureau.

Season two really ramped up as the episodes continued along. With Christian Ochoa Lavernia, Keanush Tafreshi, Medalion Rahimi, Raza Jaffrey, and Tessa Ferrer joining for the second season.

Keanush Tafreshi is one handsome guy too. Mamma Mia!

With no news on season three yet, read on with care if you binged all ten episodes like me in the last month. Yes it landed a month ago. Let's hope we get news on the future of The Agency ASAP!

During King Sacrifice, the finale, Henry is released from custody and informed of both Martian’s confession and Richardson’s death. 

The CIA plans to exchange an imprisoned Quds Force financier for Danny. A conservative mullah who opposes the exchange orders the IRGC to instead stage an escape attempt and kill her. The attempt fails and Danny escapes on foot to a rural gas station outside of Mehriz and calls for extraction. She reluctantly kills the suspicious owner when he calls the police and is rescued by Mossad operatives. 

Martian adapts the plan to assassinate Viking and impersonates Jansen to fly to the CAR, threatening his colleague into playing along. Wanting Viking dead, the Director allows the mission to proceed. Instead of giving Viking a custom gift wristwatch packed with explosives, Martian plants C4 in a portable chess clock which detonates just as Viking determines he is an imposter at the end of a game of bullet chess. 

With Viking seemingly dead and without any backup, an injured Martian tries to shoot his way out of the Valhalla compound but is captured himself. 

An unidentified Russian confirms he is being kept alive as they know who he is. Bosko orders him to be recorded as dead, pending confirmation.

What will become of Martian AKA Michael Fassbender? With Showtime (or now just Paramount+) down to four series. Surely they will keep this alive. With The Chi about to wrap, Yellowjackets to wrap when it returns and apparently Dexter's latest spin-off is apparently to stream it's second season this year.

More TV incoming soon. Two new Aussie series have landed. The F Ward on Stan, whilst Treasure & Dirt is on the ABC.

NOT another streaming Movie - The Odyssey

The Odyssey is the film everyone is talking about, which also sits at just under 3 hours. Just.

Written and directed by Christopher Nolan, following on from his monster box office smashes. Following the fab, The Dark Knight trilogy (2005–2012), The Prestige (2006), Inception (2010), Interstellar (2014), Dunkirk (2017),Tenet (2020), plus the Barbie combo film, Oppenheimer (2023). 

An adaptation of Homer's ancient Greek epic poem the Odyssey the film stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the Greek king of Ithaca, as it chronicles his long and perilous journey home after the Trojan War and his encounters with mythical beings as he attempts to reunite with his wife, Penelope, portrayed by Anne Hathaway. 

Spiderman Tom Holland also stars, along with Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, Samantha Morton, Zendaya, & Charlize Theron. It's a blockbuster size cast!

Nolan depicted a realistic interpretation of Greek mythology, drawing inspiration from the epic historical films Andrei Rublev (1966) and Ran (1985), as well as the films of special effects artist Ray Harryhausen. 

With an estimated budget of $250 million, The Odyssey is among the most expensive films of Nolan's career, and the first to be shot entirely on IMAX's 70 mm film cameras.

So far, The Odyssey has received critical acclaim, with particular praise for Nolan's direction, despite sparking debate over its inaccurate historical design, casting choices, and controversy surrounding filming in the occupied city of Dakhla.

It has grossed $264 million and set numerous records for Nolan, including for some IMAX pre-sales that were released a year in advance.

So is the film worth three hours of your time?

Look I had a big Saturday before I sat in a Hoyts Lux session Sunday afternoon. So I was comfortable, with free popcorn and a nice cool soda water. It was warmer again on the weekend right? Is winter done already?

Anyway this is going to be the biggest film of 2026. It's epic, it's a must see on the big screen, IMAX sales are off the chain, Christopher Nolan is saving cinema all over again like, Barbie/Oppenheimer times in 2023!

Tom Holland/Zendaya's upcoming Spiderman, may do well at the box office later this month, but this is the film to beat.

3 Stars.

Winter be Bingeing 26' - Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed - Season One

Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed stars Tatiana Maslany as a divorced fact checker who falls into a web of murder, blackmail, and youth soccer.

Yet another, original, fun Apple TV title.

Paula Saunders (Maslany) is a divorced fact checker living in Sunnyside, Queens in a contentious custody battle with her ex-husband Karl. Amidst her legal troubles, she pays for the online services of webcam boy Trevor and vents to him about her personal life. One night, Trevor is beaten and kidnapped on-camera; soon, Paula is receiving calls for ransom money. Police detectives insist to Paula that this is likely a scam, but then Trevor is found dead. Paula is roped into the mystery of Trevor's death as secrets from her past come to light.

Joining Maslany are, Jake Johnson, Dolly de Leon, Charlie Hall, Kiarra Hamagami Goldberg, Jessy Hodges, Jon Michael Hill, Nola Wallace, Brandon Flynn and Murray Bartlett.

It's a damn fine cast and a super original tale. It goes all over the place, but this comedy/thriller is a load of fun.

Apple TV is getting ready to launch back into Ted Lasso, their biggest original title, whilst Cape Fear, Silo and Sugar all continue to slay on Friday's.

Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, takes you into the wild world of cam boys, crime and murder. This is an easy show for me to recommend. It is over too soon, I hope by the closing seconds of episode ten, we get a second season. Time will tell. Apple TV is usually good renewing their series, or letting you know where you stand as a viewer. However, I am still awaiting Loot's fate month's after it concluded.

Have a good weekend!

Winter be Bingeing 26' - Alice & Steve - Season One

Alice and Steve is created by Sophie Goodhart (writer on Sex Education) and is directed by Tom Kingsley. 

Starring Nicola Walker, Joel Fry, Yali Topol Margalith and Jemaine Clement.

Landing last month on Hulu/Disney+, this series ended with a bang!

A two and-a-half decades long friendship between Alice and Steve becomes strained when Steve starts dating Alice's daughter.

This was a fun English, six episode, comedy romp. What starts up as a friendship comedy, it quickly becomes a revenge comedy, with former best friends at war.

With some fun intergenerational laughs, this was a damn sight funnier than so called fellow Disney+ comedy The Bear. Still never get why that was classified as a comedy.

This had some good one liners, whilst joining Rivals as premium UK Disney+ content. Bring on November for more Rivals season two.

Alice & Steve has not yet been confirmed for a second season. Quick frankly it could have been a tidy one and done series, however the ending leaves you wanting more.

Apparently there is a second season storyline and plot ready to roll, with there being a two season plan for the series.

If you need an uplifting fun, quick six episode binge, this is fairly delightful.

Hulu/Disney+ are really giving us solid content right now. Chad Powers is set to return this year, with legal drama Reasonable Doubt also set to head back to court. Only Murders in the Building is yet to set their return date (usually it lands in August), whilst Paradise just got loads of nominations for the upcoming Emmy Awards.

Until next time, The Odyssey opens tomorrow! Hopefully I'll get back to the cinema ASAP. Lastly, Apple TV's, Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, just streamed its season one finale! 

Winter be Bingeing 26' - The Bear - Season Five/Series Finale + Gary (prequel) episode

The fifth and final season of FX’s The Bear picks up the morning after Sydney, Richie and Sugar discover that Carmy has quit the food industry, leaving the restaurant to them. With no money, the threat of a sale and a storm in their way, the team must band together to achieve one last service. Ultimately, they learn that what makes a restaurant perfect might not be the food, but the people.

The final season of The Bear premiered after a standalone prequel episode Gary. 

Gary was a special episode written by and starring cast members Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Jon Bernthal.

Gary is a flashback to early 2019, when Richie's pregnant wife Tiff (Gillian Jacobs) is close to her due date. Richie (Moss-Bachrach) and Mikey (Bernthal) get a job from Jimmy and take an emotionally charged road trip from Chicago to Gary, Indiana.

The 39th episode of The Bear was released as a surprise drop on May 5.

Delivered on Hulu and FX (Disney+ in Australia), streaming separately from the rest of the show's catalogue. Gary, received largely positive reviews from critics, who praised its tone, direction, and naturalism, while other reviewers found the episode meandering and self-indulgent. 

Jon Bernthal also had a standalone Punisher episode, The Punisher: One Last Kill. Which also landed in May. So it was a busy month on Disney+ for Bernthal. That said, I think the Punisher also arrives in the new Spiderman film. Well according to the trailer.

Back to The Bear's final season, with all eight episodes dropping late June. OG ratboy, Jeremy Allen White reprises his role as Carmy Berzatto, an award-winning New York City chef de cuisine, who returns to his hometown of Chicago to run his deceased brother Michael's failing sandwich shop.

The season features an original score composed by Christian Lundberg for Bleeding Fingers Music and produced by Hans Zimmer, eschewing the series' previous trend of using popular music for its soundtrack.

The season was met with critical acclaim, with reviewers praising it as a return to form for the series after the third and fourth seasons, and a fitting conclusion for the series.

Watch out spoilers ahead for the hour long finale.

Yes the first few episodes are short, then it gets long. But in all honestly, this season flew by!

The morning after the restaurant's successful service, Natalie reveals that the restaurant has enough money to continue operating, while Richie is invited to attend an international hospitality seminar in Japan. 

Cicero apologises to Carmy and endorses Ebraheim's franchising proposal, which Carmy immediately approves. 

After Richie experiences a panic attack over traveling abroad, Carmy reassures him. Carmy receives a call from the actual Michelin Guide representative—Peter Clark, who dined at The Bear months prior—that the restaurant has earned two Michelin stars, and he shares the news with a stunned Sydney. 

Weeks later, Luca returns to Copenhagen and bids farewell to Marcus, while Ebraheim begins developing the franchise. 

Carmy interviews for an internship at an architectural firm and gets emotional when recounting what The Bear meant to him. 

The Bear staff and their loved ones celebrate the birthday of Richie's daughter Eva at the restaurant. Richie leaves for Japan with Jess, the two now in a relationship.

It's a fitting finale, to one of Hulu's most celebrated series of recent times. The Bear has been a huge success. Jeremy Allen White has always been great. Now he is GOAT status.

Go ahead, give the last eight (plus Gary episodes) a go on Disney+. As always Disney+ are smashing the winter (or Summer in the US) releases. A new Ryan Murphy series, The Shards is coming next month. Adults also returns late next month (following another sneaky prequel episode) and American Horror Story returns for its 13th (possibly last) season.

See you next time! When it might be another Disney+ title. UK comedy, Alice & Steve!

NOT another streaming Movie - The Invite

The Invite is dram/comedy film directed by Olivia Wilde from a screenplay by Will McCormack + Rashida Jones. 

It is an English-language remake of the 2020 Spanish film The People Upstairs by Cesc Gay. 

Starring Wilde herself, alongside, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, & Edward Norton. With such a small cast, this could be a play, live on stage.

Thus far The Invite has received positive reviews from critics, whilst sitting at 96% on Rotten Tomatoes.

It opened on the weekend in Australia and I bloody loved this. Seth Rogan is on a winning streak right. His Apple TV series, The Studio is huge, Platonic is also one of their best comedies, whilst this was a damn fine performance was Wilde's rather unhappy husband.

The film resolves almost solely around a dinner party between two couples in the same apartment. We only leave the apartment very briefly at the start of the film, as Rogan is at work.

The whole film descends into chaos as the preparation for the dinner, goes sour with Wilde and Rogan trading blows.

When Cruz and Norton join, the party takes a different turn.

It was great seeing Edward Norton in something again. It's been a minute.

I really enjoyed this film. It was fun, simple and super well acted. With a sea of shitty kids films on, this was a rare gem.

Check this out before the Odyssey takes all the screens from Thursday.

4 Stars.

Emmys 2026 Nominations | Predictions

The Pitt, Paradise, Hacks & DTF St. Louis dominate as HBO (plus HBO Max, The Pitt title) reign supreme with this years nominations. 

I still need to watch DTF St. Louis on HBO, whilst I was happy the return to form fifth season of Slow Horses do very well for inform Apple TV+. Pluribus, Margo’s Got Money Troubles, Shrinking and Widow's Bay, join Slow Horses with a load of nominations, as Apple TV builds a solid library.

Here are my Emmys predictions in red & bold.....

Outstanding Drama Series

The Diplomat

The Gilded Age

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

Paradise

The Pitt

Pluribus

Slow Horses

Your Friends and Neighbors

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Carrie Coon

Chase Infiniti

Keri Russell

Rhea Seahorn

Zendaya

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Sterling K. Brown

Gary Oldman

Mark Ruffalo

Rufus Sewell

Noah Wyle

Outstanding Comedy Series

Abbott Elementary

The Bear

Hacks

Margo’s Got Money Troubles

Nobody Wants This

Only Murders in the Building

Shrinking

Widow’s Bay

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Quinta Brunson

Ayo Edebiri

Elle Fanning

Lisa Kudrow

Jean Smart

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Yahya Abdul Mateen II

Steve Carell

Matthew Rhys

Jason Segel

Martin Short

Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series

All Her Fault

The Beast in Me

Beef

DTF St. Louis

Love Story

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Claire Danes

Sally Field

Carey Mulligan

Sarah Pidgeon

Sarah Snook

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Riz Ahmed

Jason Bateman

Charlie Hunnam

Oscar Isaac

Matthew Rhys

Outstanding Variety Series

The Daily Show

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert

Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Reality Competition Program

Dancing With the Stars

RuPaul’s Drag Race

Survivor

Top Chef

The Traitors

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

Patrick Ball, The Pitt

Billy Crudup, The Morning Show

Shawn Hatosy, The Pitt

Gerran Howell, The Pitt

Jack Lowden, Slow Horses

Tom Pelphrey, Task

Carlos-Manuel Vesga, Pluribus

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie

Jason Bateman, DTF St. Louis

Richard Gadd, Half Man

David Harbour, DTF St. Louis

Richard Jenkins, DTF St. Louis

Charles Melton, Beef

Nick Offerman, Death by Lightning

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

Dale Dickey, Widow’s Bay

Hannah Einbinder, Hacks

Janelle James, Abbott Elementary

Kate O’Flynn, Widow’s Bay

Michelle Pfeiffer, Margo’s Got Money Troubles

Megan Stalter, Hacks

Jessica Williams, Shrinking

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

Taylor Deardon, The Pitt

Fiona Dourif, The Pitt

Allison Janney, The Diplomat

Katherine LaNasa, The Pitt

Sepideh Moafi The Pitt

Julianne Nicholson, Paradise

Karolina Wydra, Pluribus

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie

Linda Cardellini, DTF St. Louis

Dakota Fanning, All Her Fault

Laurie Metcalf, Monster: The Ed Gein Story

Joy Sunday, DTF St. Louis

Youn Yuh-jung, Beef

Constance Zimmer, Love Story: John F. Kennedy & Carolyn Bessette