New Financial Year 2024/2025 Streaming - Clickbait - Miniseries

Clickbait is a series I always had on my Netflix watchlist. I never got to it, till this week. Before Singapore, a last minute pre travel binge.

The series landed on Netflix deep in a lockdown, so I have no idea why in August 2021 I never watched the eight park miniseries.

So what is Clickbait? Over eight episodes, it explores the dark side of social media. In one thread of the story, a father goes missing, only to appear in a viral video holding a sign saying that he will die if the video receives five million views.

My main issue with the show was it was set in Oakland, California, but was mostly filmed in Melbourne. That comes with Australian looking streets and Australian actors with some (at times) bad American accents.

It has an interesting and diverse cast. Starring locals and international stars like, Zoe Kazan, Betty Gabriel, Adrian Grenier, Phoenix Raei, Abraham Lim, Jessie Collins, Ian Meadows, Daniel Henshall, Motell Foster, Jaylin Fletcher and Cameron Engels.

The show also had those 2020/2021 setbacks, with principal photography beginning in December 2019. Production on the series was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Then in November 2020, the series resumed filming in Melbourne.

So I won't do my usual spoiler warning, as this series is old AF. However if like me you slept on this. Don't read ahead. Just know, it starts strong, but sadly ends a little flat. Just being honest, sorry Netflix.

In episode, The Answer, Ethan realizes that Kai was on his computer and saw the location that Alison sent. Kai knocks on the door of the catfish and Dawn answers. Kai believes that the location he found was an elaborate prank by Ethan and accepts Dawn and her husband Ed's invitation to come in before they drive him home. After learning how Kai found them, the two leave him in the dining room and Ed retrieves a gun.

In a flashback, 2 years ago, when Nick first began working at the college, he asked Dawn for help setting up his computer. During this process, she learned all of his usernames and passwords. Dawn also discovers messages from Mandy Harrison on a dating profile Nick made. 

That same night, Dawn uses Nick's password to login to his dating profile, and she begins to impersonate him. She then begins to set up multiple profiles using Nick's photos and is discovered by Ed who storms out. Sarah Burton repeatedly messages to ask why she is being ignored. Annoyed, Dawn goads her into committing suicide after Sarah threatened to do so.

Ed and Dawn pretend to drive Kai home as Sophie and Pia arrive at the now empty house and learn that Dawn was the catfish. Realising something is amiss, Kai attempts to contact his family, only for Dawn to throw his phone out of the car. They bring him to a ranch nearby and keep him inside a trailer. There, Kai learns that after Simon released Nick, he came to confront Dawn about using Nick's pictures to catfish women and drive Sarah to suicide. 

While Dawn attempts to deny doing so, Nick points out that Dawn is the only person he had told about Sophie's affair and she had access to his computer. Nick attempts to bring Dawn to police, but Ed kills him. Kai escapes the trailer but is almost shot by Ed. 

Ed and Dawn chase him and he attempts to hide in a stable. Roshan and other police arrive and search the ranch. Hearing Sophie call out for him, Kai comes out of hiding but runs into Ed. Roshan and the police find Dawn and arrest her, while Ed holds Kai at gunpoint. Dawn convinces Ed to let Kai go, but Ed refuses to be arrested and forces police to shoot him.

Sophie puts Nick's pictures back up. At Nick's funeral, Roshan tells Pia that Tara has decided to press charges against Matt. Sophie stands at the entrance of the funeral feeling overwhelmed but Pia reassures her that they will support each other.

Honestly, I was gripped in episode one and two, however with a twist, the series kinda lost me a bit. That said I am glad to have finally watched this Aussie made, but US influenced series. Off to Singapore I go tomorrow. Let's see if I can catch up on Silo whilst away.

New shows starting for everyone to get around. On Disney+ Reasonable Doubt and Only Murders in the Building return. Whilst on Apple TV+, I have been giving Bad Monkey a go. Just as I take off (sadly) the finale of The Twelve will stream on Binge. Season Two has been a big change of scene from Sydney to regional WA. Also on Binge Industry has been making headlines for new cast members and some sneaky nudity in the third season.

Honestly, yes seeing Joel Kim Booster fully nude was hot, but season three of Industry is a big improvement. I think the UK based series may land a fourth season.

See you soon!

New Financial Year 2024/2025 Streaming - Severance - Season One

Wow I have been all over Apple TV+ this blog series. Although I did honestly sleep on Severance. Like Ted Lasso, I was super late to this party.

The Adam Scott, Zach Cherry, Britt Lower, Tramell Tillman, Jen Tullock, Dichen Lachman, Michael Chernus, John Turturro, Christopher Walken, and Patricia Arquette drama is a very random workplace idea, which is freaky as fuck. 

As the viewer, we follow Mark S. (Scott), an employee of the fictional corporation Lumon Industries who agrees to a "severance" program in which his non-work memories are separated from his work memories.

Originally streaming in mid-February 2022, the series received acclaim from critics and audiences for its cinematography, direction, production design, musical score, story, and performances. 

Severance received 14 nominations at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series and acting nominations for Scott, Turturro, Walken, and Arquette; it won for Main Title Design and musical score. 

Way, way back in April 2022, the series was renewed for a second season. The second season is set to premiere on January 17, 2025. So I am right on schedule to watch season two early next year. Which for now is set to conclude next March.

Season one ended on some massive cliffhangers, so I am happy I am not going to wait a super long time to see what unfolds during episode one of season two.

So what does this series resolve around? Biotechnology corporation Lumon Industries uses a medical procedure called "severance" to separate the memories of their employees depending spatially on whether they are at work or not. 

When a severed worker is at work, they are dubbed "innies" and cannot remember anything of their lives or the world outside. When outside work, they are dubbed "outies" and cannot remember their time at work. Due to this, innie and outie experience two different lives, with distinct personalities and agendas. 

Season one centers on one severed employee, Mark (Adam Scott), who gradually uncovers a web of conspiracies at Lumon. This leads to some serious conflict, in and out of the workplace.

SPOILERS BELOW. You have been warned. Here's how the finale went down all the way back in April 2022.

Mark's innie awakens in Devon's home and finds himself hugging Cobel. While excusing himself to find Devon, he calls Cobel by name, alerting her that the overtime contingency has been activated. 

Cobel calls Milchick and has him check the security office. Mark privately reveals to Devon that he is in innie form; Devon tells him of Gemma's death, and learns that "Mrs. Selvig" is Mark's boss. Devon encourages Mark to report Lumon's misdeeds to the press as Lumon likely controls the police. 

Irving wakes up in his apartment, discovering his outie's paintings and background in the U.S. Navy, and finds a map and employee directory in the closet which he uses to locate Burt. 

Helly wakes up at a Lumon gala where she learns that her outie is Helena Eagan – daughter of Lumon CEO Jame Eagan – who underwent severance to build public support for legalising the procedure. Cobel races to the gala and attempts to stop Helly from making a scheduled speech. 

Milchick reaches the security office and cuts his way through the makeshift restraints Dylan has placed on the door. Helly gets onstage and tells the crowd of the innies' subjugation and torment. Irving arrives at Burt's house only to find he is already in a relationship. 

Mark finds a photo confirming Ms. Casey to be Gemma. He rushes to tell Devon, but is only able to say "She's alive!" before Milchick tackles Dylan, deactivating the overtime contingency and reverting the three to their outie state.

So much to unpack, so much to remain excited about for the return in the new year. Bring on 2025! Apple TV+ continues to deliver.

New Financial Year 2024/2025 Streaming - Lady in the Lake - Miniseries

Lady in the Lake is the latest Apple TV+ I smashed. Well that said I also caught up with Severance over the weekend. Yes I have been busy.

This is one of the most random miniseries I have watched in 2024. It is based on the novel of the same name by Laura Lippman. 

The seven episode run commenced in mid-July. The finale, My story concluded on Friday.

Apple TV+ have loads of quality content right now. This sadly isn't their best. But what is this Natalie Portman lead series all about you ask? Cause let's be honest, this is not getting the Presumed Innocent or Bad Monkey press/advertising.

In 1960s Baltimore, an investigative journalist working on an unsolved murder clashes with a woman working to advance the agenda of the city's Black community. She ditches her abusive, overbearing husband and Pikesville home to pursue a career as a newspaper reporter. She becomes obsessed with unraveling the mystery of two separate killings: eleven-year-old Tessie Durst and a bartender named Cleo Johnson.

SPOILER ALERTS INCOMING.

By the time Lady in the Lake‘s finale comes to a close, the two women at the heart of the series have gotten what they wanted. 

Maddie (Portman) has solved the murder of Cleo Johnson (Moses Ingram) & made a name for herself as a journalist. 

Cleo has faked her death, escaped to Europe with her family and launched a new career.

And then there’s Ferdie (Y'lan Noel), whose career and heart are in tatters thanks to his relationship with Maddie.

So why was it not Apple's best? Basically it was a mess. It was super random with musical numbers, plot and storylines happening, then adding in more social issues on top of what could have been a fun murder mystery.

In the end I was disappointed I sat through all seven lacklustre episodes. I was expecting more from a Natalie Portman lead series. Plus I always like a miniseries. Hopefully unlike Presumed Innocent which was also meant to be a miniseries, this doesn't turn into a series. 

Alongside Portman, Ingram and Noel, Noah Jupe, Mike Epps, Byron Bowers. Josiah Cross & Pruitt Taylor Vince also star. If you have nothing else to watch, Lady in the Lake is streaming now on Apple TV+.

Post Strike Cinema 24' - Blink Twice

Blink Twice is the directorial debut by legend,  Zoë Kravitz. Starring an all-star, multi-generational cast. Featuring Naomi Ackie, Channing Tatum, Christian Slater, Simon Rex, Adria Arjona, Haley Joel Osment, Kyle MacLachlan, Geena Davis, and Alia Shawkat. Yes the return of Geen Davis!

Simon Rex also has some very racy videos from back in the day. If you know, you know.

Blink Twice has already received generally positive reviews from critics. But what's this very fresh looking film all about? A cocktail waitress becomes infatuated with a billionaire tech mogul and travels with him to his private island for a luxurious party, where things begin to go wrong after her friend vanishes. Does this sound a little like Jeffrey Epstein's island?

Maybe.

So is this film with a wild idea, interesting soundtrack any good? Absolutely. This for me, could be one of the best films of 2024.

Zoë Kravitz is a legend usually in front of the camera, this time she has done a stellar job behind it. I really enjoyed this film. Its run time was tight, the suspense was real. The cast, incredible.

I don't want to give too much away. As if I tell you some of the plot points, it ruins the whole damn thing!

Blink Twice was a classy, modern thriller. Well done.

4 Stars. This was worth a trip to the movies at the end of this warm AF end to winter.

New Financial Year 2024/2025 Streaming - Evil - Season Four/Series Finale

Evil has literally just concluded. Originally streaming on CBS, before moving to Paramount+ for the seasons two to four. 

Starring Katja Herbers, Mike Colter, and Aasif Mandvi as three individuals from vastly different backgrounds who are tasked by the Catholic Church to investigate possible supernatural incidents.

The series after being renewed for a fourth season, was announced that the fourth season was scheduled to premiere mid-May. Following this announcement, another one, that it would be followed by a shortened, four-episode fifth and final season, which is set to premiere the week after the end of season 4.

So it's the finale, finale of a longer Paramount+ series. One of the only series I currently watch on the streamer. Paramount is in a bit of cash trouble right now and back home here in Australia runs network 10. They are the first station to set their upfront date, in a few Mondays.

So what happens at the end of Evil? SPOILER ALERTS! After some last minute Leland drama, there is a slight time jump.

Kristen and the girls call Ben from Italy. Still no word on Patrick Brammall (Colin from Accounts) as Kristen's estranged husband. Who was only featured a very small amount in the final season.

Ben rolls up the anti-djinn backdrop in his apartment, they talk about how he’ll come visit soon. Then she hangs up and sends the girls home so she can get back to work. 

As Kristen glances at Timothy in his stroller, his eyes get all white and demonic. Then he grins a smile full of evil-looking, sharp teeth. David meets her and, off her perplexed look, asks if anything is wrong. 

She smiles, pops a pacifier in the kid’s mouth as she says everything’s great, and they stroll together in Vatican City.

It all ended a little too soon, despite the fact they were given four extra episodes, and the news of the finale, finale ahead of time. Personally the earlier episodes were a little slow. A little dull.

I was wanting a bit more in this the final season. There were some good cases in amongst the bad. However the procedural did start to wear thin. I think Paramount+ did the right thing ending this series for good. It had very little new ground to cover. Where will it feature on New Financial Year 2024/2025 Streaming RATED list? That is coming soon! Can you believe Spring is basically already here!

New Financial Year 2024/2025 Streaming - Outer Range - Seasons One to Two/Series Finale

I was late to the Outer Range ranch. Which reminds me a little bit of Yellowstone, until you discover it's a science fiction neo-Western series. So mix a western with science fiction. How does that work? Plus a character who also sings a wide range of pop songs from across the years!

Starring Josh Brolin, Imogen Poots, Lili Taylor, Tom Pelphrey, Tamara Podemski and Lewis Pullman.

The first season landed on (now with ad's) Amazon Prime Video in April 2022. So yeah, I am late to this party. However I did do both seasons back to back. Or b2b if you are Charli XCX!

The second season picked up where season one left off, back in May. Critics have given the series positive reviews, with particular praise for the performances of its cast (particularly Brolin and Poots). 

That said though, last month, the series was canceled after two seasons. Saying that, it felt like episode seven, of season two, was not intended to be the finale, finale.

So what's Outer Range all about? Watch the trailer or scroll below.

Royal Abbott is a Wyoming rancher who is fighting for his land and family. He discovers a mysterious black void in the pasture after the arrival of a female drifter, Autumn, who has a connection to Abbott's ranch. While the Abbott family copes with the disappearance of their daughter-in-law Rebecca, they are pushed further to the brink when a rival family, the Tillersons, try to take over their land.

Amazon have been a little savage with cancellations of late. This week cancelling My Lady Jane, after only one season.

Looks like after all the strikes, adding ad's to the basic subscription and competition across streaming services, streamers are looking to get rid of poor performing series.

I enjoyed the weirdness of Outer Range, however at times I did wonder WTF am I watching.

Like Yellowstone, rival families and rural life can be dramatic. Add a science fiction, time travel storyline to the mix and things go wild!

Was this the best series of the New Financial Year 2024/2025 Streaming period? Probably not. However it was nice to check into another Amazon series, post The Boys.

Josh Brolin is a total boss, a little more country than Yellowstone's former head honcho, Kevin Costner. But sadly this series never reached Yellowstone fever, with multiple spin-offs. It's now dead and buried.

Till next time. We are over halfway through the New Financial Year 2024/2025 Streaming period now. Wow 2024 is flying by! Q4 incoming!

New Financial Year 2024/2025 Streaming - Boy Swallows Universe - Miniseries

Now the Logies for 2024 is done and dusted, it's time to catch up with the most nominated show. Boy Swallows Universe received a massive 10 Logie Award nominations!

The limited series for Netflix is based on the semi-autobiographical novel by Trent Dalton. 

Boy Swallows Universe revolves around Eli Bell, a working-class youth who enters Brisbane's underworld to save his mother from danger.

The cast is outstanding, Travis Fimmel, Phoebe Tonkin, Felix Cameron, Lee Tiger Halley, Zac Burgess, Simon Baker, Bryan Brown, Anthony LaPaglia and Sophie Wilde all star in this local series.

UPDATE: Following last nights Logies (as I concluded episode seven, Boy Meets End) the miniseries took home five awards!

So I am totally late to this Aussie series. Premiering on Netflix, in January this year.  It received overwhelming praise from critics and audiences. I too enjoyed this tale of family, crime and growing up in Brisbane's suburbs.

To be honest, it was surprising for me to see a Netflix series do so well. Netflix of late for me has 100% been quantity over quality.

The latest episodes of Cobra Kai, Girls5eva & Unstable, were clearly under cooked.

I am happy Netflix got behind an Aussie story. Considering so many of us Aussie's subscribe to the streaming giant.

It's great seeing former model, Travis Fimmel continuing to get interesting roles on Australian (and international) TV. He delivered in this along with Stan's newly renewed series, Black Snow.

So if like me you waited for the Logies to certify Boy Swallows Universe as a hit, then get into this local Netflix series now.

Well done last night cast and crew!

Post Strike Cinema 24' - Borderlands

Borderlands is sitting on a terribly low Rotten Tomatoes score of 9%! Is it really that bad? Read on to find out.

The science fiction action comedy film co-written + directed by Eli Roth, is based on the video game series developed by Gearbox Software. 

Starring Australia's own, Cate Blanchett as Lillith, an outlaw who forms an alliance with a team of misfits to find the missing daughter of the most powerful man in the universe.

OK, so it does have a dreamy all-star cast, despite the low score on Rotten Tomatoes, Alongside Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Edgar Ramirez, Ariana Greenblatt, Florian Munteanu, Gina Gershon, & Jamie Lee Curtis all star.

The film was released earlier in August, most likely concluding on Thursday. As right now there are limited sessions.

I was one of four in today's session.

Whilst th film has received negative reviews from critics, it has also been a box office bomb. Grossing only $18.5 million worldwide against a production budget of $110–120 million. No that is shit AF!

This is really not the usual film you'd see Blanchett or Jamie Lee Curtis in. Fresh from his role as Dr Doctor, Edgar Ramirez is the bad guy in the wild ride, reminding me a lot of Peacock's series, Twisted Metal. Which I also think is a live action series based on computer game.

As a non-gamer, I have no idea about Borderlands, however I think this film will be quickly forgotten.

I didn't mind it. The action scenes were fun. Blanchett in an action film something new. I am not trying to be a film critic, so I won't shit all over this film, where you could easily do so. That's just boring.

This film has problems, but it also helped me relax, tune out after a long ass week.

I can't pass it (cause it wasn't good) however its 100% not the worst film I have seen this year. 2 Stars.

New Financial Year 2024/2025 Streaming - Critical Incident - Season One

Inspired by real life experiences in Australia’s juvenile justice system, Critical Incident landed on Stan on Monday.

All six episodes dropped with a backdrop of Blacktown, Sydney NSW.

When a police officer pursues a teenage suspect on to a busy train platform, a bystander is critically injured, and the lives of the pursued and pursuer are thrown into turmoil.

Starring, Akshay Khanna, Zoë Boe, Roxie Mohebbi, Hunter Page-Lochard and X Factor contestant, Jai Waetford.

With episode six, Strike ends, you wonder will Stan renew this Sydney based series for a second season? My hope is yes, as where it leaves off, there are definitely more tales out of Blacktown to come. In Strike, the Strike Force descends on Ty's (Page-Lochard) operation, Zil (Khanna) enters a hornets nest to rescue Dalia (Boe), and not everyone makes it out alive.

The finale is brutal, the show is 100% not just another cop drama. I enjoyed this Stan series a lot more than recent local drama, Exposure.

The six episodes that landed right after the Olympics concluded on Nine/Stan, were a breeze to get through.

As we head into the Logies weekend, there really is so much great Aussie content right now. Also incoming. With Last King of the Cross finally making its announcement of its return for the last Friday of August (30 August). 

ABC has announced its next Sunday night drama. A spin-off based around Wollongong, Return to Paradise. That starts September 8th on iView.

While Disney+ are having another crack at a local title (following a Logie nomination for the Clearing) with Last Days of the Space Age starting early October.

But if you need a new Aussie drama right now. Critical Incident's gritty first season streams now on Stan.

Post Strike Cinema 24' - Alien: Romulus

Alien: Romulus landed last night at my local cinema. So I thought what about a midweek treat to check out a film. I used to do it all the time in summer, not so much in Winter.

Directed by Fede Álvarez, who co-wrote the film, with Rodo Sayagues, the film was produced by Scott Free Productions and Brandywine Productions. 

This is the seventh instalment in the Alien franchise and serves as a standalone interquel set between the events of Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986). Set between the events of Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986),[4] the story concerns a group of young space colonists who, while scavenging a derelict space station, come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.

Starring a younger cast of newcomers like Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu.

I have not seen all Alien films, however I did see the previous Ridley Scott film, Alien: Covenant.

So was the high octane, sci-fi/horror/action-thriller any good?

Look it had loads of action (after a slow start) with a few jump scares along the way too. It was fast paced once the young cast visited the space station.

It didn't feel like there was any fresh ground covered, however it was done well.

If outer space, horror is your jam, get out to the cinema now, Alien: Romulus opens today.

3 Outer-Space Stars.

New Financial Year 2024/2025 Streaming - Poker Face - Season One

Poker Face is one of those shows, once I have watched them, I ponder "why did I sleep on this". It was a really fun, "case-of-the-week" murder mystery series.

Created by Rian Johnson for streaming service, Peacock, streaming in Australia on Stan. That was before Stan lost the rights to Peacock series. They sure got the best of Peacock with Poker Face though.

Starring Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale, a casino worker on the run who entangles herself into several mysterious deaths of strangers along the way. I can't believe the first season commenced on Australia Day, 2023.

Following the first season, the series has received critical acclaim. Lyonne was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards.

A month after the series commenced, it was renewed for a second season. 

Poker Face is a murder mystery series stylised as a character-driven, case-of-the-week mystery, with each episode adapting the inverted detective story format popularised by Columbo.

The series centers on Charlie Cale, a casino worker with an innate ability to detect lies, traveling across the United States on the run from a casino boss following a suspicious death. Along the way, she encounters colorful characters and solves homicides in a variety of settings.

So who do we meet along the way? Adrien Brody stars as Sterling Frost Jr., as the manager of the casino where Charlie works. In the first episode we meet Brody and the only other actor who appears across multiple episodes. The excellent Benjamin Bratt as Cliff LeGrand, who works for Brody.

Fellow OITNB star, Dascha Polanco also appears in episodes one as Natalie Hill, Charlie's best friend and a maid at Frost's casino who comes across something insidious.

Following me seeing The Instigators last week, Hong Chau as Marge, a solitary, reclusive trucker who Charlie befriends. Each episode we meet multiple, I know them guest stars who make up the mystery of the week.

Aussie Danielle Macdonald appears as, Mandy Boyle, Taffy's sister-in-law who works with him and George. Much different to her recent role on The Tourist.

Playing a Courtney Love style rocker, Chloë Sevigny is Ruby Ruin, the leader and vocalist of the band Doxxxology, who struggles to find success and hires Charlie. This was one of my favourite episodes. A one-hit wonder band, touring shit hole venues across the US. Perfect for this road style, on the run mystery, whodunnit.

Animal Kingdom, kingpin, Ellen Barkin as Kathleen Townsend, an actress with a fading career who has a long-standing feud with Michael and Tim Meadows as Michael Graves, a mostly retired actor who has a long-standing feud with Kathleen. Now that was a fun at the theatre episodes too.

The super hot, Riverdale star, Charles Melton plays Davis McDowell, a young racer that Charlie befriends. Whilst I hate car racing, I really enjoyed this one. Melton is a hunk of burning love!

Lastly Joseph Gordon-Levitt, played Trey Nelson, a wealthy man on house arrest for insider trading. Maybe one of the weaker episodes, but three stars for the star power play!

Filming and casting is on the way for season two. Its a stacked line up of stars for season two thus far. With Giancarlo Esposito, Katie Holmes, Gaby Hoffmann, Kumail Nanjiani, Kathrine Narducci, Ben Marshall, Kevin Corrigan, and Sherry Cola all signing on.

Bring on season two Peacock/Stan!

Post Strike Cinema 24' - It Ends with Us

Blake Lively is taking on her husband at the box office. Deadpool & Wolverine VS It Ends with Us. Two totally different films, however both have strong sales.

I saw It Ends with Us, peak Saturday date night time with three friends. It was a sell out on Extreme Screen.

It Ends with Us is romantic drama film directed by and starring hunky Justin Baldoni.

Based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Colleen Hoover. alongside Lively & Baldoni, Brandon Sklenar, Jenny Slate, & Hasan Minhaj also star.

Lily Bloom (Lively) has always known the life she wants. While living in Boston, she meets neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni) & believes she may very well have found her soul mate.

With a solid soundtrack with familiar tunes by Birdy, Lana Del Ray, Taylor Swift, Fatboy Slim and man of the moment, Post Malone. This helps create emotions, feeling from the audience with these big tunes.

It is an emotional rollercoaster this film. It has everything to draw in the college girl audience. The date night audience. Although the film covers touchy subjects. Date nights might not end well once the credits roll.

Domestic violence is an important topic. It is covered well, with a sensitive approach.

I had little to no expectations about this film. Meaning I was pleasantly surprised. Lively's wardrobe and floral store alone, needs to be scene to be believed.

Lively could be the most successful cast member of Gossip Girl (including the latest HBO MAX version) of all time. Although Chace Crawford as the Deep is hot AF in The Boys.

So do I recommend this to you dear readers. 100% yes. We (in Australia) have a massive issue with domestic violence. Whilst it's hard to hear truths like this. It is true. Like we drink too much, love sports gambling and yes we are racist. Sorry but the truth, like facing domestic violence is a hard pill to swallow.

It Ends with Us, Blake Lively and the cast/crew do a great job with this film. I was surprised walking out of the cinema thinking just how brilliant this film was.

I'm going big this time, 4 Stars.

Music Update V2.0

OK it's been a minute since my last Music Update in June. A lot has changed over on my other blog, Flashing off the Record.

One major thing has changed. I am still off to Singapore, however the blog will not rest. Both blogs will continue. I am guessing there will just be less posts here, with less TV time. And man is TV coming back next month. Snowpiercer concludes it's final season, Tulsa King finally returns for a second season, The Penguin finally lands on Binge whilst both 9-1-1 series return and The Old Man also returns for a long awaited second season.

Now since June, on Flashing off the Record, the Friday Flash(back), has grown and grown, unearthing loads of classics acts releasing new tunes.

Crowded House, Vampire Weekend, Moby, Kings of Leon, Kate Nash, Kasabian, Travis, Christine Anu and the double act Fanning Dempsey National Park all featured since June.

Charli XCX has had a HUGE 2024. brat became the fifth Album of the Year Nomination for 2024. Charli & fellow Album of the Year Nominee Billie Eilish, have also just gone to number one, with the Guess remix.

What a brat season.

Guess was one of a few new songs added to the record after the record gave us Von Dutch, b2b, Club Classics and fellow charting hit, 360.

More Friday Flash(back)'s incoming. We have had releases from The Smashing Pumpkins, Jack White and an incoming record from Foster & the People. Remember the Pumped Up Kicks crew?

So loads more music still to come in 2024. To leave you with, it's NIMA's season, so here is some of the nominees right now.

New Financial Year 2024/2025 Streaming - Unstable - Season Two

Unstable is Rob Lowe's latest TV effort, given it looks as though 9-1-1: Lonestar is set to wrap up with season five. There is loads of gossip and rumours next month's season is the swan song with key characters all leaving.

Anyway to the second season of this workplace comedy series, starringLowe along with his real life son (not like TK in 9-1-1) John Owen Lowe.

Season one was an easy watch back in March last year. The second season which was released only last week.

In the father-son comedy, the story continues of the socially shy son Jackson (John Owen Lowe) working with his eccentric father Ellis (Rob Lowe). However is the comedy missing the main tell, tale sign of a good comedy? Laughs? See below.

This is criminally not funny. Following Loot and the soon to return Shrinking (both on Apple TV+) which are wonderful (sort of) workplace comedies with great characters and heaps of laughs. This lacks likeable characters and laughs.

I kept wondering why Netflix decided to give this more episodes. Cause it's just super average. It has sweet moments, just no funny moments.

It ends with Lowe senior taking his career down a whole new path. It would make for a very different third season, however in a post strike world is average TV getting renewed? I notice Netflix have still not announced if fellow average comedy Girls 5Eva will return, while giving Heartbreak High a third and final season after a fairly lacklustre second run.

I am banking on possibly one more and done for Unstable or this getting quietly cancelled. Sadly it's just not that funny.

New Financial Year 2024/2025 Streaming - The Way Home - Seasons One - Two

The Way Home is my first dip into the Hallmark Channel. Back in March, the series for a third season, which is planned to premiere in 2025.

The series is a time travel drama about the lives of three generations of strong, wilful and independent Landry family women who embark on a journey to find their way back to each other while learning important lessons about their family's past.

So who's in it? Lead by almost an all girl super team. Supergirl's Chyler Leigh stars as Katherine "Kat" Landry Dhawan, with Alex Hook as teenage and young adult Katherine Landry.

Evan Williams stars as Elliot "El" Augustine, with David Webster as teenage and young adult Elliot Augustine alongside Sadie Laflamme-Snow as Alice "Ali" Dhawan.

And finally, familiar face Andie MacDowell as, mother, matriarch Delilah "Del" Landry.

More than 20 years prior, life changing events prompted Kat to move away from her small Canadian farm town of Port Haven, and she remains estranged from Del to this day. Alice has never met her grandmother and is unaware of the reasons for their fractured family. With Kat's marriage coming to an end and having just been laid off from her job, she decides to return home after receiving an unexpected letter from Del urging her to come back. 

Although Alice is none too thrilled, Kat and her daughter arrive at her family's farm, though the reunion isn't what Kat had envisioned. As the three generations of women slowly work on finding their footing as a family, they embark on an enlightening—and surprising—journey none of them could have imagined as they learn how to find their way back to each other.

Does it sound a little silly? Well it is and it isn't. HBO did a TV series of the Time Travellers Wife a while back, which wasn't half bad. Maybe cause that hunk of burning love Theo James was the lead. But hey!

I am late to the party, smashing both seasons back-to-back. Season one landed mid-January 2023, with season two landing this January.

Would I advise watching both seasons back-to-back? Well they are super easy, 40 minute an episode watches. The scenery in Canada is stunning, it's easy to follow, however the second half going back, way back is a little more tedious.

So with season three hopefully to land in January of next year (on Binge), where does season two leave us? Well, Del makes arrangements to sell the farm. Alice and Elliott try a new theory on how the pond works and they are able to travel back together. Out of their trio they find something that helps Del and Kat mend old fences.

It's a lot to take on.

While enjoyable, I am not sure how many seasons this can continue for. It has serious chick-flick energy. If you want something light and fluffy. This maybe totally up your back alley.

New Financial Year 2024/2025 Streaming - A Good Girl's Guide to Murder - Season One

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder is currently living on Stan in Australia and from the start of the month Netflix around the globe.

The British television series based on the Holly Jackson novel of the same name, originally streamed on BBC Three. 

The first series of the show consists of six 45-minute episodes covering the events of the first book. In which Pip Fitz-Amobi (Emma Myers) is not satisfied that the killing of a local school girl has been investigated enough and takes matters into her own hands, producing her EPQ on the topic.

With two other books by Holly Jackson, if the series is renewed, later series plan to cover the other two books. However, executive producer Frith Tiplady also stressed that the first series has a real end.

Which after watching A Good Girl's Guide to Murder it really does. It also has a banging soundtrack. With indie tunes from recent favourites like The Last Dinner Party, Wet Leg, Billie Eilish and older favourites from The Chemical Brothers, Highasakite and Lykke Li.

So if you like a little murder mystery with intrigue and an ace soundtrack, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder might just be for you.

The six episodes whiz by with twists and turns in most episodes as young sleuth Pip uncovers what happens to Andie Bell.

Stan also has new Aussie series Critical Incident launching next week along with the return of the Walking Dead universe soon.

See you on Friday!

Post Strike Cinema 24' - The Instigators

The Instigators is coming to Apple TV+ this Friday. I was lucky enough to see it at Paddington Town Hall last night. Honestly not the world's biggest Matt Damon fan, but I went in with no prior judgements.

The last time Damon teamed up with Hong Chau, it was one of the worst films I'd ever seen, Downsizing. However let's not dwell on that.

Alongside Damon and Chau, Casey Affleck, Michael Stuhlbarg, Paul Walter Hauser, Ving Rhames, Alfred Molina, Toby Jones, Jack Harlow, & Ron Perlman all star. Yes VMA nominated Jack Harlow! And he is actually decent in this role.

Affleck & Damon also produce the film alongside Ben Affleck under their production company Artists Equity.

Getting a limited theatrical release in the United States, what is The Instigators all about? Check out the trailer and info, plus my rating below.

A botched robbery causes two thieves (Affleck & Damon) to go on the run, dragging along one of their therapists (Chau) in the process. Sounds random? Well it kind of is, however with car chases, corrupt Mayors and Chau with quick wit as therapist Dr. Donna Rivera, there is a lot going on in The Instigators.

The pacing in the film is fast, almost breakneck. We get the heist info, then team ensembles, then like that, it's on.

From there Affleck & Damon cause car chases, explosions and get to a massive ass safe. After an earlier false alarm.

The Instigators will not get any nominations for any awards (despite getting its limited cinema run) however this was actually a little more fun than Deadpool Vs Wolverine. Honestly.

Apple TV+ has honestly been serving up the content lately. Bad Monkey commences this month, The Lady in the Lake will conclude and Shrinking returns next month. Season one was honestly one of the best TV comedies in years!

While The Lady in the Lake is random AF (much like Sugar) Apple TV+ are definitely making a streaming service worth subscribing to.

The Instigators gets a solid 3 stars.

New Financial Year 2024/2025 Streaming - House of the Dragon - Season Two

House of the Dragon is the HBO prequel to Game of Thrones (2011–2019), it is the second television series in Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire franchise. 

The much-hyped second season premiered on mid-June, with eight episodes. Down from the first seasons ten episode run.

Ahead of the second-season premiere, the series was renewed for a third season. Which will no doubt be a few years away. Given the costs behind the series, filming and special effects time. Plus HBO has a stacked 2025 line up!

Being a HBO title, the series currently streams in Australia on Binge.

The first episode, A Son for a Son, kicked off at the Wall, Cregan Stark promises Jacaerys Velaryon 2,000 troops for Rhaenyra's forces. Rhaenys, who secured the Velaryons' shipping blockade of the Gullet, refuses Daemon's command to jointly kill Aemond and Vhagar to avenge Luke. 

Meanwhile, Rhaenyra flies to Storm's End and finds remains of Luke and his dragon Arrax. Upon returning to Dragonstone, she demands revenge on Aemond. Aegon II strives to be a benevolent king, but Otto Hightower, his grandfather and Hand, urges toughness towards the smallfolk to secure war resources, despite the blockade. 

Aegon brings his precocious young son and heir Jaehaerys to the Small Council for training. Larys exploits Alicent's fears of betrayal. Guilt-ridden over Luke’s death, she asks Otto to wage war sparingly. Having survived the brothel fire, Mysaria arrives at Dragonstone and is arrested for treason. 

Daemon offers her freedom in exchange for help recruiting two assassins. Sneaking into King's Landing, Daemon bribes a ratcatcher called "Cheese" and a City Watch guard nicknamed "Blood" to kill Aemond.

Unable to find Aemond in the Red Keep, the two enter Queen Helaena's quarters and instead murder Jaehaerys. Helaena, clutching Jaehaerys’ twin sister, Jaehaera, escapes to Alicent's chambers, finding her and Criston Cole in bed together.

However as the season went on, there was a battle brewing. However as we got to the finale, the viewers were tricked into season two, just being one big, eight episode entree for season three. Clearly the creatives knew season three would be a sure thing, as the finale.... well kinda is much ado about nothing. Reviews and online comments are brutal!

For a quick recap, check below. Warning SPOILER alert!

Tyland Lannister allies with the Triarchy, though he must beat Admiral Sharako Lohar in a mud-wrestle first; impressed, Lohar asks him to sire children on her wives. 

Larys persuades Aegon to sneak off to Braavos where Harrenhal's gold is stashed. Rhaena finds the wild dragon. Gwayne challenges Criston, who regrets the war. Aemond and Vhagar lay waste to Sharp Point.

Rhaenyra, who hoped for her dragons to deter war, decides on war. Ulf's rudeness enrages Jace. Corlys renames his flagship The Queen Who Never Was; Alyn rebuffs his attempts at reconciliation. 

Simon tells Rhaenyra that Daemon may be disloyal; she and Addam fly to Harrenhal. Alys leads Daemon to a weirwood tree, where he envisions a future including a white walker and Daenerys Targaryen; seeing himself as part of a larger story, he swears fealty to the newly-arrived Rhaenyra. 

Aemond wants Helaena to fly Dreamfyre; she and Alicent are unhappy. Helaena tells Aemond he will die, and that killing her will not change that. 

Aided by Orwyle, Alicent sneaks onto Dragonstone, offering to surrender King's Landing to Rhaenyra, who replies that Aegon must die to ensure the transition. Otto appears in a cage. Soldiers from across Westeros prepare for war.

And the credits roll. Eight hours and no battles? No dragons raising hell? Well, that was kind of lame.

HBO really needed a hit. Let's hope The Penguin lives up to all the hype now it will move HBO viewers to Thursday night premium content. Another Games of Thrones spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is set to stream in 2025.

New Financial Year 2024/2025 Streaming - Interview with the Vampire - Season Two

Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire, is back on ABC iView only one month after it concluded on AMC exclusively. That is a better wait time than Disney series to arrive on Disney+. Like I am still awaiting 9-1-1's latest series. Come on!

Like the first season, this season also covers the eponymous novel. Back in June, the series was renewed for a third season, set to cover the second book The Vampire Lestat.

This second season has received critical acclaim. Critics have lauded the series for its writing, costumes, soundtrack, production design, lead performances and their chemistry.

In the finale, titled And That's The End of It. There's Nothing Else, Louis is freed from the coffin by Armand. Louis then sets the Theatre aflame, kills the vampires of the coven, with Sam the only one to escape surviving, and saves Claudia's diaries. 

He reunites with Armand and they meet Lestat in Magnus's old lair, but Louis only kills him symbolically by choosing Armand for the rest of his life. 

We then return to the present, where the interview ends there. Daniel, having been sent Armand's original script for the trial, reveals that Armand was the director of the trial and that Lestat, not Armand, had saved Louis from receiving a death sentence. 

Louis fights with Armand but leaves him and Daniel behind in the Penthouse. He travels to New Orleans and meets Lestat; the pair finally reconcile. Some months later, Daniel, turned into a vampire by Armand, has published the interview as a best-seller book, openly saying that all is true on a random TV interview. I kept thinking a vampire would come out and bite the TV host.

Back in Dubai, Louis hears the telepathic rage of vampires around the world demanding his death but calmly dares them to come for him.

Maybe as a lot of season two (or Part II) was set in a theatre, this feels more like live theatre than TV. It has a less sexy vibe than season one. So here is hoping season three brings sexy back Justin Timberlake style.

The ABC has done well to pick up this series. Streaming it as a binge during the thick of the Olympics as a sort of alternative for streaming freaks like me.

I think I enjoyed season one more in New Orleans than the Europe version. However as every other Aussie is in Europe right now, what the hell, this was still a fun, easy binge. More heavy on the dialogue than skin this season, however still worth a look. Bring on season three. Or a crossover in the next season of Mayfair Witches.

Post Strike Cinema 24' - Trap

Trap is the latest psychological thriller film from M. Night Shyamalan. It's also the return to the big screen for Josh Hartnett.

Now Shyamalan keeps it in the family, with his eldest daughter playing a Taylor Swift style pop star, Night Raven. Saleka Shyamalan sings, dances around the stage, then takes a different turn in the second half of the film.

Alongside Hartnett & Shyamalan, Trap also stars, Ariel Donoghue, M. Night Shyamalan (yes, you will spot him), Hayley Mills, and Alison Pill. 

The funniest character in the film is Marnie McPhail as Jody's mom. This is full blown KAREN!

So what's Trap about? The film, follows a serial killer evading a police blockade while attending a concert with his daughter. Trap was released earlier this week, but damn, it's an edge of the seat kind of film. From the concert to the Butchers chase.

Hartnett is great as Cooper has also has an evil alter ego.

M. Night Shyamalan's works are sometimes a bit hit & miss. This is more hit than miss. It's been a strange US summer blockbuster movie season. Deadpool and Wolverine might be saving the cinema right now, however it's very hit and miss out there.

Trap was fun, interesting while feeling fairly original. I would more than pass this with 3 stars. It's worth the price of the ticket plus struggling in and out of Broadway Shops carpark. Honestly what the fuck is wrong with that place.

New Financial Year 2024/2025 Streaming - Elite (Spanish: Élite) - Season Eight/Series Finale

Elite/Élite has now officially concluded. Following eight sexy seasons!

Created by Carlos Montero and Darío Madrona for Netflix, the show is set in Las Encinas, a fictional elite high school in Spain which caters to privileged and wealthy teenagers. 

The eighth and final season was released, the same day as the Paris Olympics. If sport isn't your thing, maybe this Spanish drama is! Well that is as long as you like lot's of skin. Maybe as much skin as the swimming events at the Paris Olympics.

Season eight kicks off a few weeks after the events of the previous season, the students are going to finish their last year and an association of old students of Las Encinas, the Alumni Club, led by the controversial Héctor and Emilia Krawietz, is searching new recruits. 

Meanwhile Dídac and Rocío moved away from Madrid. 

Eric and Chloe start a turbulent relationship. Sara is trying to overcome Raúl’s death, creating a new bond with Nico. Sonia and Dalmar start a relationship too. 

Isadora is facing with her problems with her family and the police, while Iván, who returned from South Africa, tries to recreate a bond with Joel. However Joel is in deep with the Alumni Club. Particularly Héctor.

Iván is honestly the hottest character ever on this show, how can Joel be that hooked on Héctor? Yes he is good looking, rich, but seriously he is damaged AF!

Across season eight, The Alumni Club become more and more treacherous, while Omar, who knows very well Las Encinas, tries to fight it, also with the help of his sister Nadia. 

Across this season, the flash-forward mystery is Joel’s murder. But who is it? Sadly I accidentally read a full blown spoiler on Wikipedia prior to finishing the season! However I think, as a viewer you will struggle to guess this seasons murderer.

One thing ends the season. It's the definitive closure of Las Encinas school.

Was this the best season of Élite? Absolutely not. Was it the sexiest season of Élite? Maybe. Was it time for Élite to conclude on Netflix. Absolutely. Like Squid Game announcing its third and final run today.

Élite could have been the sexiest foreign language series to hit Netflix. It sure got a quota of sexy nude Spanish folks onto our screen.

Next up I'm desperate for another film!