Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24' - Queenie - Season One

Queenie is yet another decent find on Disney+. I feel like everything right now is on Disney+. But would they hurry up and load the remaining episodes of the Showtime series, The Chi! Like now. It has finished now in the USA. Please!

So, Queenie is a British (yes like from the UK and stuff) series, based on the novel of the same name by Candice Carty-Williams.

The series aired over there on Channel 4. The eight-episode series stars Dionne Brown set to lead the series as the titular character. Brown is joined by Samuel Adewunmi, Bellah, Sally Phillips, Jon Pointing, Tilly Keeper, Llewella Gideon, Michelle Greenidge, Cristale De'Abreu, Elisha Applebaum, Mim Shaikh, Joseph Marcell, Joseph Ollman, Melissa Johns, & Laura Whitmore.

The series was shot in April last year, in South London. No word on a series two yet, however all eight episodes of this season landed just the other week. So it's fitting it concludes my Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24' series.

A RATED posted will land very soon. So keep an eye out!

So is this as good as my recent sitcom reviews Abbotts Elementary and/or Colin from Accounts?

Well no. Unfortunately Amy Schumer beforehand has already done messy, female looking for love.

Not only does Queenie get messy, she has a lot going on. Like a lot of drama. In and out of love and at work. Sometimes these get blurred. Not to mention the lifelong issues of bad parents, parental anxiety from a harsh upbringing.

Whilst these are not new, Queenie is a great little character. Her life has moments of hope and in season two will she choose Tom or Frank. I am team Frank but that's just me.

Dating in your 20's now is messy. Even into your 30's. Don't even talk about couples doing divorce once they are 40 or older.

Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24' blog series has been fun. I have never watched so many English TV series in one quarter/season or the ABC before.

Here is to a new quarter of quality streaming entertainment. Look out for the return to the cinema next week too.

Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24' - Abbott Elementary - Seasons One to Three

Abbott Elementary is honestly so good, so wholesome and a totally easy binge!

So I found this on Disney+ recently. Smashed the 13 & 22 episode first and second seasons, created by Quinta Brunson for ABC (USA). 

Brunson stars as lead teacher, Janine Teagues, a perpetually optimistic second-grade teacher at the underfunded Abbott Elementary, a fictional predominantly Black school in Philadelphia. The handsome Tyler James Williams also stars along with, Janelle James as AVA, YASS!, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, William Stanford Davis, and Sheryl Lee Ralph.

Season three (more about this below the trailer) only landed late this week. I just smashed all 14 (13 as the putting the opening Career Day, Part 1 & 2 together as one) in like a day and a half. I can't believe it. I was hooked on Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara Howard all over again!

I seriously slept on this. Abbott Elementary started all the way back in December, 2021.

The series was met with critical acclaim and strong viewership numbers on Hulu.

The show has been nominated for 15 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning four including Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Brunson. Abbott Elementary has also won three Golden Globe Awards, with acting wins for Brunson and Williams and the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy in 2023. 

Earlier this year, three days after the third season premiere, it was also renewed for a fourth season. Most likely though, Disney+ in Australia will delay this till around a month after it airs in it's entirety in the USA. I am still waiting on 9-1-1's recent series too! Come on Disney+!

Now onto the third season of Abbott Elementary. Honestly, why did I sleep on this? It is a brilliant like 20 minute sitcom, with loveable characters and great one liners!

This season after the writers strike aired later than normal on ABC in early February.

The 14 episode run, while serving fewer episodes than the previous season, kept it tight!

There were guests galore too this season. Kevin Hart, Bradley Cooper, Questlove at Ava Fest 2.0, Philadelphia Eagles players Jalen Hurts, Brandon Graham and Jason Kelce. Plus appearances from 

Lana Condor, Keegan-Michael Key, Cree Summer, Tatyana Ali and Karan Soni.

Recently on Apple TV+ I discovered Josh Segarra (The Big Door Prize) who plays Manny in this season. He is also a standout addition to this season.

I honestly cannot wait for Abbott Elementary to return. 

I never watched the series prior using this mockumentary format similar to one of The Office and Modern Family.

Throughout the three seasons, the teachers/students are followed by a documentary crew recording underfunded schools including the fictional Willard R. Abbott Elementary School, a predominantly Black Philadelphia public school. 

I cannot recommend this strongly enough. Totally brilliant. Like yesterday's Colin from Accounts this will feature highly in my RATED for the Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24' series.

Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24' - Colin from Accounts - Season Two

Colin from Accounts is a winning series. Likely to top the Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24' list. Spoiler alert! This season has been near perfect. Concluding at noon yesterday on Binge, this little Sydney comedy, is honest, raw, laugh out loud funny and only getting better! Sadly it's over for another season, however that last scene at the wedding?

Season two became airing late May with a single episode, then double episodes, then Speedy Susans, the drama filled wedding finale.

Starring husband-and-wife team Patrick Brammall (also in a few Evil episodes on Paramount+ at present) & Harriet Dyer.

They are Gordon and Ashley. Now they have missed out the on Logie Awards this year, however last time, they won three Logie Awards! In the opening episode of the season, Blessings Ash and Gordon have moved in together and are trying to get their beloved special needs dog, Colin, back from his new owners.

The season really kicked into overdrive in episode four, Ethical Porn. This had one of the funniest bluetooth moments of TV history!

Yass King was a heartfelt but equally hilarious episode based in Yass with Gordon's family. Celeste Barber also gets a funny feature! John Howard (not the former PM) was equally excellent.

Wawam with series stand out, Helen Thomson as Lynelle was brilliant. Lynelle may be Ashley's mum, a supporting character, however this season she has been a total scene stealer.

If this was a movie review I would be giving a sold FIVE STARS for this season.

The finale was wild. Where all is going well after Ash had her wisdom teeth out, till Gordon and Ash's relationship is put to the test at Megan and Rumi's pop-up wedding.

So how it left off, PLEASE Binge/Foxtel give this a third run! It's easily your best series. I am looking forward to The Twelve heading to Perth, however this is just BRILLIANT!

If you are to watch one show from my Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24' list, watch this NOW! Both seasons all at once please!

Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24' - Dark Matter - Season One

Dark Matter is the latest Apple TV+ I wrapped up.

Based on his 2016 novel Dark Matter, the series premiered early May, concluding yesterday. As the sci-fi series in Chicago went on, it became more of a WTF experience.

The 9 episode first run series, stars Aussie Joel Edgerton, Snowpiercer favourite Jennifer Connelly, Queen of the South, Alice Braga, Jimmi Simpson, Oakes Fegley, Dayo Okeniyi and Amanda Brugel.

So what's the latest big budget, Apple TV+ series about? A physicist (Edgerton) in Chicago is warped into an alternate version of his life, leaving him to fight to return to his life to prevent the alternate version of himself from harming his family.

The series kicks off with Jason Dessen, a high school physics teacher lives with his wife Daniela and son Charlie in Chicago. 

When his friend Ryan wins the prestigious Pavia prize, Jason attends his celebration at a local bar. As he's walking back home, he is held at gunpoint and abducted by a masked man who forces him to remove his clothes and surrender his phone and then injects him with an unknown substance which renders him unconscious. 

When he awakes, Jason finds himself in a laboratory facility (Velocity Labs) where he meets lab psychiatrist Amanda Lucas and Velocity CEO Leighton Vance both of whom are delighted that he has "returned". 

Unsure about what is happening, Jason escapes the lab and returns to his home, where he again meets Amanda who says she lives there with him—the interior décor of the house is completely different, and there is no sign of Daniela and Charlie. Meanwhile, 

Jason's abductor is revealed to be a version of himself, who enters his house and seduces Daniela.

So spoilers ALERT for the next part as we get into, Entanglement the season finale. Please note this has not yet been renwed.

The Dessens may have finally reunited with the real Jason, however they’re still running for their lives.

As Daniela, Charlie and Jason drive out of town, Daniela and Charlie’s phones won’t stop blowing up with messages from all Jasons. 

They decides that Dad can’t pick where they go next because that would mean the others might have the same idea. So they head to Charlie’s friend’s summer home, lock the doors tight and prepare to live the life of squatters.

When Jason checks his email, he finds a folder titled Entanglement. There’s one message inside with the subject: “Welcome Home the Real Jason Dessen.”

 He opens it up to find a mysterious link which brings him to a group message board. All of the countless Jasons are chatting with each other in an attempt to track him down and plot their next moves. Jason37 sends him a private message, and soon many other versions are DMing him asking if he wants to partner up with them to take out the others. 

Back at their home, Jason In the Hat has Jason2 tied up to the banister. He’s on the computer tracking credit cards, phones and anything else that could possibly give him a clue to their whereabouts. A text message on his phone gives him a potential lead in Blair. She arrives to their house expecting to get her car back, only to find Jason2 tied up in a closet and Jason In the Hat looking rather menacing. 

He asks for her phone and she instead punches him in the face. She tries to escape, but he fires off a warning shot which stops her in her tracks. She agrees to fork it over, only to then mace him and grab his gun. 

Late one night at the squatters’ compound, Original Jason sees someone running outside the kitchen window. It’s another version of himself and he’s badly injured. Meanwhile, another version of himself is shot dead just yards away. 

He runs back inside, but a Jason with a shotgun makes him drop his fire poker. The guy with the gun demands to know Jason’s safe word, only Original Jason charges him and knocks him to the ground. 

They engage in fisticuffs until Jason (Jason2) fires and kills the attacking copy. But then he puts his gun down for Daniela to pick up. He claims he’s the one who built the box. The one responsible for “all this mess.” 

He tells them that Blair had a tracker on her car. He didn’t know that, and others followed him to their location. He tosses them keys and says he wants them to escape. Then, he returns Jason’s wedding ring. On their way peeling out of the driveway, they run over Jason With the Hat with their car.

I honestly at times had no idea what I was watching. It may not be my favourite series of the Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24'. However wait for tomorrow's big Australian finale of Colin from Accounts!

Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24' - School Spirits - Season One

School Spirits is my first binge on Paramount+ for a minute. I am watching Evil's final season week to week, however it is the streaming service I would give up first if they increased prices, or continued to deliver less content. Fake the new Australian drama will land on the service next week, however other than that it's finally slim picking.

Hence picking up this supernatural teen drama series. It started back in March last year, with a second season planned to land later this year. Or Fall as they say in the US of A. In Australia that is Spring y'all.

Like most shows, the series was adapted from the graphic novel by the Trinruds and Maria Nguyen.

Starring Peyton List, Kristian Flores, Milo Manheim, and Spencer Macpherson, this is not as star studded as shows like Tulsa King or 1923 on Paramount+.

So what's this teen series about? Set in the fictional town of Split River, Wisconsin, the show follows Maddie, a teen girl stuck in the afterlife investigating her own mysterious disappearance; she goes on a crime-solving journey as she adjusts to high school in the afterlife, but the closer she gets to the truth, the more secrets and lies she discovers.

So ready for some juicy reveals? SPOILERS ahead. Do I need say that, if the series is a year or so old?

Before the season ender, Maddie (Peyton List) was convinced her mother had killed her. She even struggled throughout the finale with coping with the idea that her own mother could have been behind her death. 

Earlier in the season, Maddie's ex-best friend Claire (Rainbow Wedell) seemed suspicious, as did Mr. Anderson (Patrick Gilmoe). However, both were proven innocent, and Maddie and her friends continued their search for her killer. What made things so difficult was Maddie couldn't remember how she died and didn't know how to jog her memory.

This was a crucial detail that hinted at the truth about Maddie's death, which came out in the finale.

Another crucial piece of the puzzle was the last episode when Dawn (RaeAnne Boon) crossed over, causing some strange technological effects on the school's lights. Wally (Milo Manheim), Charley (Nick Pugliese), and Rhonda (Sarah Yarkin) realized that didn't happen when Janet crossed over, leading them to wonder if Janet actually did cross over. 

Mr. Martin (Josh Zuckerman) brushes the events off when they bring it up, but by the end of the episode, it's obvious why Janet didn't trigger flickering lights, and many other mysteries are also solved.

The biggest mystery in School Spirits has been solved, and after how hard everyone worked to find out the truth about Maddie's death, it turns out Maddie never died in the first place. 

The School Spirits ending explains what happened to her. There were several hints throughout the season that suggested she might still be alive. One of them was when she was warned against using hypnosis to try and remember her death because it would allow a spirit to enter her body. This is seemingly what happened to her while she was still alive.

After getting into an argument with her mother, Maddie hid in the boiler room. She overheard an argument and followed the voices to a door. When she opened it, Janet, who clearly did not cross over, jumped out and possessed her body. Mr. Martin was the one arguing with Janet proving he knows a lot more than he claimed. Another hint was when Maddie showed up for support group and sat in Janet's chair, suggesting there was a connection between the two.

Logies 2024 - My Picks

Yesterday, The Logies nominations were announced. Here is my yearly tradition of "My Picks" in Red + BOLD, let's see how I go. 

The ABC plus streaming (particularly Netflix's Boy Swallows Universe) are the early big winners. Paramount+ were the real streaming losers with only one nomination. Stan had a mix across multiple shows whilst I thought Binge's Strife would land way more nominations. Just my personal observations.

Voting is now open for all awards this time around! The ceremony will be broadcast on Sunday, August 18.

Voting this year is a little different as they lose the Outstanding and Popular categories, grouping them together as "BEST". Meaning poorly written/acted series like Home & Away, that rate well are popular, no longer get any nominations. Sad face for Channel Seven. Not really.

Here we go, my picks below!

Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television

Andy Lee

Asher Keddie

Julia Morris

Larry Emdur

Robert Irwin

Sonia Kruger

Tony Armstrong 

Bert Newton Award for Most Popular Presenter

Hamish Blake, Lego Masters Australia, 9Network

Julia Morris, I'm A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!, Network 10

Larry Emdur, The Chase Australia and The Morning Show, Seven Network

Robert Irwin, I'm A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!, Network 10

Sonia Kruger, Dancing With The Stars, The Voice Australia and Big Brother, Seven Network

Tony Armstrong, ABC News Breakfast, ABC

Graham Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent

Alyla Browne, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, Prime Video

Ava Caryofyllis, Bay of Fires, ABC

Felix Cameron, Boy Swallows Universe, Netflix

Imi Mbedla, Bay of Fires, ABC

Lee Tiger Halley, Boy Swallows Universe, Netflix

Tristan Gorey, Home and Away, Seven Network

TV WEEK SILVER LOGIE for Best Lead Actor in a Drama

Felix Cameron, Boy Swallows Universe, Netflix

Hugo Weaving, Love Me, BINGE

Rob Collins, Total Control, ABC

Rob Collins, RFDS, Seven Network

Sam Reid, The Newsreader, ABC

Simon Baker, Boy Swallows Universe, Netflix

TV WEEK SILVER LOGIE for Best Lead Actress in a Drama

Aisha Dee, Safe Home, SBS

Anna Torv, The Newsreader, ABC

Deborah Mailman, Total Control, ABC

Phoebe Tonkin, Boy Swallows Universe, Netflix

Rachel Griffiths, Total Control, ABC

Sigourney Weaver, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, Prime Video

TV WEEK SILVER LOGIE for Best Lead Actor in a Comedy

Ben Feldman, Population 11, Stan

Bob Morley, In Limbo, ABC

Lincoln Younes, C*A*U*G*H*T, Stan

Matt Okine, Mother and Son, ABC

Rob Sitch, Utopia, ABC

Ryan Corr, In Limbo, ABC

TV WEEK SILVER LOGIE for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy

Celia Pacquola, Utopia, ABC

Danielle Walker, Gold Diggers, ABC

Denise Scott, Mother and Son, ABC

Kate Box, Deadloch, Prime Video

Kitty Flanagan, Utopia, ABC

Madeleine Sami, Deadloch, Prime Video

TV WEEK SILVER LOGIE for Best Supporting Actor

Bryan Brown, Boy Swallows Universe, Netflix

Guy Pearce, The Clearing, Disney+

Jay Ryan, Scrublands, Stan

Lee Tiger Halley, Boy Swallows Universe, Netflix

Stephen Curry, Bay of Fires, ABC

Travis Fimmel, Boy Swallows Universe, Netflix

TV WEEK SILVER LOGIE for Best Supporting Actress

Ariel Donoghue, Wolf Like Me, Stan

Kerry Fox, Bay of Fires, ABC

Leah Purcell, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, Prime Video

Mabel Li, Safe Home, SBS

Michelle Lim Davidson, The Newsreader, ABC

Sophie Wilde, Boy Swallows Universe, Netflix

TV WEEK SILVER LOGIE for Best News or Public Affairs Presenter

Ally Langdon, A Current Affair, 9Network

David Speers, Insiders, ABC

Liz Hayes, Under Investigation with Liz Hayes, 9Network

Michael Usher, 7NEWS and 7NEWS Spotlight, Seven Network

Peter Overton, 9News, 9Network

Sarah Ferguson, 7.30, ABC

Best Drama Program

Love Me, BINGE

NCIS: Sydney, Paramount+

RFDS, Seven Network

The Newsreader, ABC

The Tourist, Stan

Total Control, ABC

Best Miniseries or Telemovie

Boy Swallows Universe, Netflix

Erotic Stories , SBS

Safe Home, SBS

The Claremont Murders, Seven Network

The Clearing, Disney+

The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, Prime Video

Best Entertainment Program

ABC New Year's Eve, ABC

Australian Idol, Seven Network

Dancing With The Stars, Seven Network

Take 5 With Zan Rowe, ABC

The Voice Australia, Seven Network

Vision Australia's Carols by Candlelight, 9Network

Best Current Affairs Program

7.30, ABC

60 Minutes, 9Network

A Current Affair, 9Network

Australian Story, ABC

Foreign Correspondent, ABC

Four Corners, ABC

Best Scripted Comedy Program

Deadloch, Prime Video

In Limbo, ABC

Mother and Son, ABC

Population 11, Stan

Strife, BINGE

Utopia, ABC

Best Comedy Entertainment Program

Gruen, ABC

Hard Quiz, ABC

Have You Been Paying Attention?, Network 10

Thank God You're Here, Network 10

The Weekly With Charlie Pickering, ABC

The Yearly With Charlie Pickering, ABC

Best Competition Reality Program

Alone Australia, SBS

Australian Survivor: Titans V Rebels, Network 10

I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Network 10

Lego Masters Australia, 9Network

MasterChef Australia, Network 10

The Block, 9Network

Best Structured Reality Program

Farmer Wants A Wife, Seven Network

Gogglebox Australia, FOXTEL and Network 10

Married at First Sight, 9Network

Muster Dogs, ABC

Old People's Home For Teenagers, ABC

SAS Australia, Seven Network

Best Lifestyle Program

Better Homes and Gardens, Seven Network

Gardening Australia, ABC

Love It Or List It Australia, FOXTEL

Restoration Australia, ABC

Selling Houses Australia, FOXTEL

Travel Guides, 9Network

Best News Coverage or Public Affairs Report

A Silver Lining: Silverchair, Australian Story, ABC

Ben Roberts-Smith: The Truth, 60 Minutes, 9Network

Bishop of Broome, 7NEWS, Seven Network

Israel-Hamas War, 7NEWS, Seven Network

Old School — Louise Milligan, Four Corners, ABC

The Forever War — John Lyons, Four Corners, ABC

Best Factual or Documentary Program

Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles, Prime Video

John Farnham: Finding The Voice, Seven Network

Matildas: The World at Our Feet, Disney+

Nemesis, ABC

Revealed: Ben Roberts-Smith Truth on Trial, Stan

War On Waste, ABC

Best Sports Coverage

2023 AFL Finals Series, Seven Network

2023 NRL Grand Final, 9Network

2023 State of Origin, 9Network

Australian Open, 9Network

FIFA Women's World Cup 2023™, Seven Network

Fox League Las Vegas Week, FOXTEL and Kayo Sports

Best Children's Program

Beep and Mort, ABC

Bluey, ABC

Eddie's Lil' Homies, NITV and Netflix

Gardening Australia Junior, ABC

Ginger and the Vegesaurs, ABC

Play School, ABC

Album of the Year (2024) Update

My music posts will eventually move over here for another break at the very end of Winter 2024, however for now here is an update on the Album of the Year nominations for 2024. You can find them all here.

Now to the five nominees. We are almost at that midway, tax point of 2024, so let's listen/watch who is making waves in 2024.

PNAU hit the ground running with a greatest hits of big tunes from the past few years. Guests galore, beats galore, along with a load of sing-a-longs.

BEYONCE then went all country. Also bringing along a load of guests, this genre-bending album was a damn fine vibe.

Talk about amazing debut record. TYLA gave a killer release, with the horniest song of 2023, Water.

BILLIE EILISH returned, however did things her way. No lead singles, a different sound. This was a top release.

CHARLI XCX also gave us a killer sixth album, brat. The album was dope, then came an additional three dance floor filler tunes. 

So which one of these fine records will be the top dog of 2024? So get around these records this cool, winter weekend.

Related audio:

Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24' - Exposure - Season One

Exposure is dark AF. The Stan Original Series Exposure landed yesterday on the Aussie streaming service.

The series focuses on Jacs Gould (Alice Englert), a photographer, who is coming to terms with the death of her closest friend, Kel (Mia Artemis).

In the process of facing her grief, she becomes consumed with the details surrounding Kel’s death, convinced that Kel has suffered at the hands of a man. 

Australian TV needs more half-hour drama series, aside from ratings slayer, Home & Away.

Mr. Inbetween, The End, The Heights & Upright have all given it a go before Exposure, however these are few and far between.

This raw AF six part series set in Port Kembla, I wrote season one above, however not sure if it's a miniseries or not?

Jacs (Alice Englert) and Kel (Mia Artemis) are joined by Miss Fisher herself as Kathy (Essie Davis), along with Angus (Thomas Weatherall), Val (Victoria Haralabidou), Raffa (Sean Keenan),  Bronson (Thom Green),  & Mick (George Mason).

This Aussie drama comes with strong viewer discretion is advised, along with warnings per episode. It covers this some real full on topics.

This will not be for everyone. A lot of Stan views would most likely miss this, wait for Yellowstone to return in November.

Australian TV is brilliant right now. Colin from Accounts is outstanding, I only this week also smashed Ladies in Black.

Stan will most likely get a number of Logie nominations on Sunday. Will Exposure be more AACTA Awards than Logies 2025?

Exposure streams the entire series right now.

Enjoy the weekend.

Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24' - Ladies in Black - Season One

Ladies in Black is the second time around I have seen novel by Madeleine St John on screen. Following the 2018 film, episode one aired on the ABC on Sunday evening. With all episodes streaming on iView from Sunday night.

The series follows a number of period dramas which highlight women’s rights, social change and multiculturalism post World War II.

The year is 1961 in Goodes Department Store. Think Myer or David Jones, but more conservative.

The series features Magda (Debi Mazar), the bo$$ lady Mrs. Ambrose (Miranda Otto), Stefan (Russell Dykstra), Rudi (Thom Green), Fay (Jessica de Gouw), Lisa (Clare Hughes), Richard (Tom Wilson), Angela (Azizi Donnelly) and Dawud Mansour (Hazem Shammas).

In the finale we move in 1962, with a new collection of women's wear launched.

For some strange reason, the series gave me serious Love Child vibes. However the series is set in Sydney, but filmed in South Australia. Not sure why Sydney got the snub, however as a viewer you do spend most of the six episodes, in the department store.

I thought in the film there was much more drama with lead Mrs. Ambrose. However in the series she was very kind and took the "Ladies in Black" under her wing.

Alongside Otto and the cast above, they are joined by a rather large supporting cast. Including Huw Hugginson, as Goodes CEO Mr. Ryder, Todd McKenney as store manager Mr. MacKenzie, Julian Maroun as Visual Merchandiser Ellias, plus Sacha Horler, Carlos Sanson Jr., Ngali Shaw, Kate Box, Hamish Michael.

Thank goodness Bump's Carlos Sanson Jr. gets his shirt off a number of times. He is hot AF!

Bring on Stan's Bump season five later this year!

There is a good deal of good Australian drama around right now. Colin From accounts over on Binge, Exposure about to stream from tomorrow on Stan and likely another Australian drama on ABC's Sunday nights in a few weeks.

Oh I can't forget The Twelve returning mid-July on Binge. Along with Asher Keddie and David Wenham's Fake on Paramount+ early July.

Will we get a second season of this latest ABC drama? We will also likely have to wait till next year for the (potentially final) season of the Newsreader.

It's a great time for Australian TV. Just in time for the Logie nominations on Sunday! Bring it on baby!

Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24' - Under the Banner of Heaven - Miniseries

Under the Banner of Heaven is a top miniseries living on Disney+. I had it on my watchlist for sometime. Finally in the coldest of winter's getting to take on the seven episode true crime series, based on the 2003 non-fiction book by Jon Krakauer.

Landing on FX on Hulu back in April 2022, Andrew Garfield and Gil Birmingham star as two detectives investigating a brutal murder and its connections to Mormonism. 

The series, while reigniting controversy (rightfully so) in the Mormon faith, received acclaim, particularly for Garfield's and Wyatt Russell's performances.

The faith of police detective Jeb Pyre is shaken when investigating the murder of a Latter-day Saint mother and her baby daughter that seems to involve the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Andrew Garfield returns to form in this role, where he seeks a killer, whilst questioning his own faith.

SPOILERS BELOW if like me you are late to discover this hidden gem on Disney+.

In the climatic conclusion, Blood Atonement, Onias tells Taba that the power of being the "One" corrupted Ron. 

Flashbacks address the Mountain Meadows Massacre of 1857 and conflicting accounts of what occurred.

Pyre is asked to twist the law to save the LDS Church from bad publicity, but he refuses. Pyre's loss of faith causes a rift in his marriage. 

Allen tells Pyre that he and Brenda reconciled before her death. Jacob gives Dan's journal to the police, which Pyre uses to identify leads. 

Pyre and Taba go to Wyoming to interview Chip and Ricky, who recall Dan slashed Brenda and Erica's throats while Ron helped. 

Taba confronts Pyre about blindly believing the LDS Church's version of history. 

In Miami, Florida, Dianna's children are taken to a safe house. Dianna returns to the Lafferty home, finds Matilda, and they flee Utah. 

Pyre and Taba locate Ron and Dan in the Circus Circus Casino in Reno, Nevada. The brothers are arrested just as Ron attempts to murder Dan in a bid to become the true "One." Pyre returns home and reconciles with his wife, no longer a believing man but seeing his family as his faith like Allen before him.

So people of faith may have issues with the series, however as someone living in a region where the highest religion is people who identify with no religion, I just thought this was a more serious Book of Mormon.

No seriously, this was fucked up. Using religion to think crime is OK, is not OK. The USA is off my bucket list, Utah however even if I went back to the USA would never get a look in.

Disney+ has excelled with FX on Hulu miniseries titles. Currently airing is the fun, Clipped with Class of '09 (2023), A Murder at the End of the World (2023) & The Veil all concluding over the past months.

I would recommend this well acted, true crime series. It's brutal, frightening, but gripping. Next up Dark Matter on Apple TV+.

Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24' - Station 19 - Season Seven/Series Finale

Wow, after a delay of a few weeks from the USA screening of Station 19 (spin off of Grey's Anatomy) finally Australia gets to see how the seventh and final season ends.

The strike shortened ten episode season, commenced mid-March. With only ten episodes this season, the entire main cast from the previous season returned except for Pat Healy.

Airing in the USA on ABC, this was only one of two series I watch on the network. I recently discovered Abbott Elementary, which I am hooked on. Once season three lands in Australia, June 26, I will publish my post on seasons one to three.

This is Shondaland's second last series on the alphabet network in the USA. As Shonda moves more to Netflix, with little series like Bridgerton.

Station 19 has always centred around the professional and personal lives of the firefighters of the fictional Station 19 of the Seattle Fire Department. We have had crossover stories/dramas/romances with parent series Grey's Anatomy, while tackling so many social issues. Particularly this final season, there were so many social issues covered off.

Not limited to drag queens (including Symone was cast as Mary Mint), LGBTIQ+ community members  who is in a parade celebrating same-sex marriage in Washington which was protested by a toxic far right male group. This included lead Maya DeLuca-Bishop's brother.

Former ABC star of Mistresses, Yunjin Kim joined the cast as Jeonghee "Jinny" Lee, the full-Korean sister of Natasha Ross, who knows what people should do with their lives.

While during the series finale, former series regular Okieriete Onaodowan made a cameo as Dean Miller, whilst Miguel Sandoval was asked to make an appearance, but he declined. SAVAGE!

Other social issues tackled in the final run were firefighting funding, affordable and accessible healthcare and migrants crossing the border.

Climate change is also explored via wildfires in the final two episodes. This has been most likely inspired by recent fires in the USA and Canada.

So what happens in the swan song, One Last Time. And no they did not play the Ariana Grande track throughout this episode!

At Grey Sloan, Ruiz is about to go into surgery. Warren returns to duty, and Carina follows him because the victim is pregnant. Carina delivers a baby in the field while Warren performs a controlled burn.

Meanwhile, a helicopter performs a water drop, and Maya is rescued. A fire tornado appears and kills Kate. 

The firefighters are surrounded and deploy their fire shelters for safety. When they are safe, they notice that Andy is missing. They go for help and find that Andy had gone and returned with another crew to fight the fire. Once the fire is under control, Andy collapses. 

At Grey Sloan, they learn she was dehydrated and had severe burns. Andy tells them she abandoned her shelter to find help so she could protect them. 

Carina finds Maya and tells her that she is pregnant. Three months later, Warren tells Andy he is returning to surgical residency. Ruiz is undergoing rehab. Hughes leaves for D.C., and Travis joins her at the airport.

In the future, Maya is captain of Station 19 with Pru Miller-Warren as one of the firefighters. Chief Andy Herrera addresses them and tells them what it means to be part of this station.

It goes full circle. With Andy's dad the OG captain in the series, her promotion sees her look to her father's tribute in the last few minutes of the episode.

This has never been the most amazing series. Jay Hayden as Travis Montgomery was a lovely gay character on TV. Not only was he super good looking, but a layered gay character on TV. Not just a party boy or a twink.

The series always aimed to tackle social injustice. Sometimes it came off well, sometimes it felt like entertainment trying to preach too much. Overall though this has been a solid series for ABC. I am happy Disney+ have all episodes streaming now. Now just bring us the ABC acquired 9-1-1 please! I need to see this ASAP! It finished in the USA last month! Come on!

Only a few more weeks of Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24', what will the top RATED series be this quarter?

See you next time!

Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24' - The Big Door Prize - Seasons One to Two

Like Sullivan's Crossing, I jumped right in to two back-to-back seasons of The Big Door Prize.

This Apple TV+ comedy series is based on the book of the same name by M. O. Walsh.

Season one begun all the way back in March, 2023. The following month it was renewed for a second season which premiered on April this year. Concluding this week. So I caught up on all episodes in a quick binge.

Apple TV+ have been on a roll lately. They also love the Bridesmaids cast. With Loot concluding recently, likewise for Palm Royale (which has also just been renewed) now The Big Door Prize with Chris O'Dowd.

So what's this 28-30 minute Apple TV+ comedy about? In the quiet, unassuming town of Deerfield, life moves at a gentle pace until a mysterious machine appears in the local general store. This enigmatic device, seemingly arriving out of nowhere, promises to reveal each individual's "Life Potential" with just a simple consultation. 

As word spreads, curiosity and excitement ripple through the community, drawing townsfolk from all walks of life to test their fate.

The machine's predictions, delivered through cryptic messages or vivid imagery, range from specific career paths to more general pronouncements about happiness and fulfillment. This arrival brings profound changes to Deerfield, sparking both hope and chaos. 

Some residents find new purpose and direction, inspired to pursue dreams they had long abandoned, while others face unsettling revelations about their futures. Relationships are tested, secrets are unveiled, and the very fabric of the town is altered as people grapple with the machine's pronouncements.

In season two the machine allows Deerfield's residents a further look into their "Life Potential".

Alongside O'Dowd the series stars, Gabrielle Dennis, Damon Gupton, Josh Segarra, Sammy Forulas, Djouliet Amara, Ally Maki and Crystal R. Fox.

The series is filmed in Atlanta, Georgia. With a third season still in limbo. Apple TV+ also have Loot's future still up in the air, so hopefully we will have news soon.

This was a super easy watch of both seasons. All twenty episodes are streaming now on Apple TV+ which also just launched the buzz worthy series Presumed Innocent with Jake Gyllenhaal as Rusty Sabich, whilst Dark Matter with Aussie Joel Edgerton as Jason Dessen. So there is a lot to catch up on, on Apple TV+.

Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24' - Sullivans Crossing - Seasons One to Two

Sullivan's Crossing is a delightful Canadian series, in rural Nova Scotia. As a Stan exclusive, the series has been airing the second series week to week. However I had the entire first season to get through first.

The series originally commenced in March, 2023 on CTV. Oh CTV, how I missed you! See Shelved for my love of my old CTV home town love. So the second Canadian show for me to watch in two months.

The second season commenced its ten episode run back in April. Concluding with a double episode finale yesterday at noon.

Sullivan's Crossing is now co-produced by American broadcast network The CW. Meaning the network needs more cheap, half owned series from their bordering friends in Canada.

So whats the series all about? Based on the novel series by Robyn Carr, the series follows neurosurgeon Maggie Sullivan who finds herself in legal trouble and returns to her hometown in rural Nova Scotia to reconnect with her estranged father, Sully.

Starring One Tree Hill vet, Chad Michael Murray as Cal, along with Tom Jackson, Andrea Menard, Lynda Boyd, Allan Hawco, Amalia Williamson, Peter Outerbridge, Dakota Taylor & Lauren Hammersley.

Let me just say, Stan did well getting this Virgin River sister series. Like the Netflix series, sometimes the dramas aren't super spicy, however the series is like a warm blanket in winter.

I was surprised I got through all twenty episodes so fast. This was truly an easy watch.

There is some chatter online about a third series, however there is nothing solid yet, however I can also guarantee this series will be back for a third season. Let's just say the finale left us on a fairly sizeable cliffhanger.

With the camping grounds saved in the buzzer, the final five minutes has left me wanting another ten episodes! So come on CTV (and maybe The CW) let's give this solid Canadian romantic drama another run!

Post Strike Cinema 24' - The Watchers

OK, this will be short, cause this film was AWFUL.

The Watchers is another supernatural/horror film.

This time, written and directed by Ishana Night Shyamalan, produced by her father M. Night Shyamalan.

It's based on the novel of the same name by A. M. Shine, starring Dakota Fanning, Georgina Campbell, Olwen Fouéré, and Oliver Finnegan.

Filming in Ireland across some beautiful forests was definitely the highlight for me. 

Ishana had previously worked on the Apple TV+ series Servant (along with her father again) which wasn't half bad. This however just wasn't good. The Rotten Tomatoes score along is an eye watering 29%. My score below the trailer.

It didn't over stay it's welcome, however this was one hell of a waste of time. 1 Star.

Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24' - Wreck - Season Two

I binged season one earlier this year after having it on my ABC iView watch list for some time. So honestly season one was fairly fresh in my old mind.

The planned three season horror-comedy kicks off months after Jamie and his friends survive the bloodcurdling mayhem on the Velorum, the cruise-lining murder machine that claimed Jamie’s sister. 

In a daring and desperate attempt to bring the company down, the gang go undercover to infiltrate Velorum’s newest venture – an exclusive ‘wellness’ festival for millionaires in the remote Slovenian countryside. It’s going to be a cleansing experience. 

The second series returned to Northern Ireland for filming & lasted for four months.

Director Chris Baugh explained that the challenges of creating a realistic cruise ship in a warehouse was particularly challenging during production of series one, in contrast of the filming of the second series which was largely outdoors and more dependent on the weather.  The UK got the second series back in early March.

This season saw Aussie legend fresh from Dynasty, Alan Dale join the cast. Alongside Bradley Riches, Shaheen Jafargholi, Phil Martin, Orlando Norman, Sam Buttery, Greg Austin, Carolyn Bracken, Niamh Walsh, & Buck Braithwaite. 

So season two really does just set us up for the third planned season. However will it get renewed? I have never watched so much UK TV! Spoilers below about the finale You Can Let Go Now.

Kicking off with a flashback, Joseph and Devon survey their work on the island and anticipate the opening of Exodum. 

In the present, Jamie reconnects with Olly in the basement, and reveals that there is a bomb in the house. Joseph then has Jamie, Pippa, and Olly taken to the island. 

Upstairs, Owen chastises this children for their failures and tells Devon he wants Exodum to be shut down immediately before abandoning them. 

Billy reveals to Karen's group that the others are inside the house, so they storm the house and force Jean to release Cormac and the other prisoners while Karen confronts Beaker. She is unable to convince him to betray the Deveraux family and kills him before fleeing the house before it is destroyed. 

On the island, Joseph explains that the "Changemaker" package allows wealthy guest to work out their trauma on the prisoners, who are physically similar to them and wear masks to obscure their identities. He forces Jamie to choose between saving Olly or Pippa, but is distracted long enough for Vivian to arrive with Devon held hostage. 

Despite this, Joseph shoots Olly before the rest of the group apprehend him. Devon escapes and Olly dies from his injuries. Tom rescues Devon, and the siblings resolve to destroy the group to get back in Owen's good graces. A grief-stricken Jamie kills Joseph and abandons the others to go with Karen in pursuit of the Deveraux family.

So will we get a third and final run? How will this slasher/Hostel kinda series end?

Happy King's Birthday long weekend SYDNEY. Now can the rain fuck off already!

Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24' - We Are Lady Parts - Season Two

Not sure if We Are Lady Parts was one of my 2021 COVID TV discoveries, however it has been a while between drinks for the second season. Season one arrived in May 2021. Season two just landed on Stan, with all six episodes streaming immediately.

So We Are Lady Parts, jumped my TV queue. Like the first season this was a breeze to watch. The punk rock band, Lady Parts, are working towards getting their first record out.

In the mean time there is love, drama and music industry bad behaviour. Last season ended with Noor reconciling with Amina and resumes the hunt to find her a suitable husband. Bisma starts temping as a receptionist to fill the band-shaped hole in her life and Aisha finds new employment as a food courier after crashing her car. 

Lady Parts fans, however, start a grassroots campaign and Momtaz decides a gig is warranted to meet the demand. With the original members reunited the venue is revealed to be a builder's yard. Amina rejects the band's overtures and declines to rejoin. As the band prepare to perform without her, Amina has a change of heart.

The series streams on Channel 4, in the UK. while here in Australia we get it on Stan & the USA gets it on Peacock.

I have never watched so many UK series. Lately it has been high on my viewing list. I am also currently on the second series of UK horror series Wreck. It's a wild ride and yet another show I just picked up over the summer/end of year shutdown at work.

But back to We Are Lady Parts. It was a fun second season, even with a C word thrown in this season. The group goes through the different first album struggles, along with finding funding and making bad deals with record companies to get your music onto streaming services.

Music is so tough to get a break in 2024. When you're an all muslim female punk group? WOW!

Music Update

So y'all know by now I love my little music space online Flashing off the Record, I feature a record every week, whilst also bringing you my new Friday segment, Friday Flash(back).

May was a huge month, so I am here on my regular BLOG catching up with what I have missed during the month of May.

Friday Flash(back) launched late April with Pearl Jam kicking things off with their latest record Dark Matter.

Regurgitator also gave us Invaders, therefore they were also featured as part of the Friday Flash(back) series. WILLOW might not have been around for as long as Pearl Jam or Regurgitator, however six albums in, the daughter of huge stars herself, she gave us a laidback jazz album, we didn't know we needed.

The Northern Beaches chill brother/sister team Angus and Julia Stone were also back with new music, whilst Childish Gambino and legendary Lenny Kravitz rounded out the Friday Flash(back) series. It's been a big start to the new Friday posts. Who will be the Friday Flash(back) this Friday? Come back here to find out.

Now to some big feature albums last month. The locals were legends this past month. With DUGONG JR,  MILAN RING, BILLIE EILISH and COSMO'S MIDNIGHT all getting big features last month. Whilst BILLIE EILISH also became the fourth Album of the Year Nomination for 2024!

So that is what went down in May! Here is to a big June before a late winter break, where music posts will land here for a few weeks only. Singapore here I come!

Until then here are some highlights from yesterday's Listen Out lineup drop!

Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24' - THEM: The Scare

Set in 1991, THEM: The Scare centres on LAPD Detective Dawn Reeve, who is assigned to a new case: a gruesome murder that has left the most hardened detectives shaken. As Dawn draws closer to the truth, something malevolent grips her and her family.

Years after season one landed, The Scare does link to the first season, but how? With Deborah Ayorinde returning in a new role, this season landed on Anzac Day.

Deborah Ayorinde is Detective Dawn Reeve in The Scare, is joined by Pam Grier as Athena Reeve, Luke James as Edmund Gaines, Joshua J. Williams as Kelvin "Kel" Reeve and Jeremy Bobb as Detective Ronald McKinney.

The horror anthology series, created by Little Marvin and executive produced by Lena Waithe of The Chi fame.

THEM streams on Amazon Prime Video alongside the long awaited new season of The Boys. Coming June 13, two years after the third season.

Amazon Prime Video likes to keep us waiting for our stories, with THEM season two arriving over three years after the first.

The shortened eight episode season, starts strong, struggles a bit in the middle, while tries to tie it up all nicely at the end.

The link between Covenant and The Scare was fun, along with a potential look into a future series. But will it get renewed? With Amazon bringing in ad's shortly, maybe Jeff Bezos is running out of cash?

Let's hope Apple TV+ don't try that trick! Please!

Either way, THEM: The Scare is a little scary, but it won't give you nightmares. Season three, would I watch. Hell to the yes! Now Disney+ load Lena Waithe's second half of this season's The Chi!

Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24' - Mayfair Witches - Seasons One

OK, OK, OK, so Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire gave hot True Blood vibes, Mayfair Witches (returning for season two in 2025) was just a bit blah.

Based on the novel trilogy Lives of the Mayfair Witches by Anne Rice. Starring Alexandra Daddario as Rowan Fielding, Harry Hamlin as Cortland Mayfair, Tongayi Chirisa as Ciprien Grieve, and Jack Huston as Lasher.

Mayfair Witches is the second television series set in the Immortal Universe, a shared universe based on Rice's novels, which started in 2022 with Interview with the Vampire. How many more will AMC roll out I wonder? This series had a total of eight episodes, back when it aired in January last year. Now like Interview with the Vampire, it streams free on ABC iView.

So what are these witches all about? Neurosurgeon Dr. Rowan Fielding learns she is the heiress to a dynasty of powerful witches haunted by a sinister spirit.

Last February, the season one finale, What Rough Beast aired. So where did it leave off before returning some time in 2025? SPOILERS BELOW!

Commanded by a wounded Rowan, Lasher burns Keith alive. Cortland refuses to tell Jojo the truth behind his obsession with Rowan. Ciprien discovers that Cortland ordered Deirdre's murder, and any psychic trace at the crime scene was wiped by the Talamasca. Lasher draws Rowan into a vision, where she learns she can heal herself and others, and they have sex. 

So there is also a lot less sex in comparison to Interview with the Vampire.

After Odette calls the Talamasca looking for a missing Ciprien, they erase her memories of recent events. Ciprien touches a mask owned by Cortland, learning that Cortland raped Deirdre and fathered Rowan.

Jojo is horrified, and takes Ciprien to the First Street house. He touches the designee fetish doll, seeing a vision of Lasher's prophecy, "the 13th witch is the doorway". 

While Rowan is trapped in the vision counting down to midnight, "the witching hour", her pregnancy has accelerated and Cortland takes her unconscious body to the Mayfair mausoleum. 

Rowan awakens with the knowledge that Lasher will be reborn via her child. She goes into labor, and the spirit of Suzanne helps deliver the baby. Rowan turns Cortland to stone for raping Deirdre. Ciprien tries to take the child, but Rowan leaves with her baby.

So we have to wait till next year for season two to land on AMC. However AMC did recently commission a second season of 61st Street, then cut it. Will this also be cut? And to be brutally honest, that was a way better series.

Either way, season one of Mayfair Witches streams free on ABC iView.

Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24' - Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. - Seasons One to Two

Want an easy two and done season series this Winter? Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. is for you! Based on the 1989–93 ABC television series Doogie Howser, M.D, this updated Hawaii based version stars Peyton Elizabeth Lee as the title character of Lahela "Doogie" Kameāloha.

Also starring Kathleen Rose Perkins, Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, Jason Scott Lee, and the brilliant Ronny Chieng! Ronny mentioned this in a recent comedy show. He didn't mention how easy, breezy the series was.

It first landed on Disney+ back in September, while in February 2022, the series was renewed for a second season which premiered last March.

Sadly last August, the series was canceled by Disney after two seasons. However in these two seasons, we see love, beautiful Hawaii along with handsome Alex Aiono as Walter Taumata as the main season one love interest.

So what's it all about? Lahela "Doogie" Kameāloha is a child prodigy juggling her teenage life and family with an early medical career, as well as having to deal with balancing her relationship with her mother, who is also her boss. 

Lahela has the nickname "Doogie" from the television show Doogie Howser, M.D. that others have watched. So it's a spin-off/fan fiction on the little screen really.

The final episode sort of wrapped things up, however left us with one mother of a fourth child issue.

The show was just so joyful, wholesome, easy to watch, I would recommend this to also anyone. From my Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24' series I have watched so far, this was divine.