Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Summer Streamin' 24 - English Teacher - Season One

English Teacher is a new comedy drama series created by Brian Jordan Alvarez, who also stars as main character Evan Marquez. It is not very Disney+ but FX titles, stream on Disney+ down under.

Now straight off the bat, this was excellent. Like easy top five for my Summer Streamin' 24 RATED post, early in 2025.

Alongside Marquez, Stephanie Koenig, Enrico Colantoni, and Sean Patton star in this stellar new series. Only landing at the start of September with a double episode. Sadly last night, it concluded after only eight episodes. I am actually praying this gets renewed. Hopefully receiving generally positive reviews from critics along with decent exposure on the Disney+ app, it will return!

What's it about you ask?

High school teacher Evan Marquez (Brian Jordan Alvarez) finds himself at the intersection of professional, political, and personal aspects of working at a high school. Spoilers about the finale below. You have been warned!


In the finale, it’s Evan’s birthday and turning 35. FB Malcolm talks him into going to a leather daddy bar, wearing a latex T-shirt and short shorts. 

Then outta nowhere, Evan’s school friends are waiting there to party with him. 

My favourite part of the episode was sports teacher, Markie runs into an old high school football teammate, and it takes a while for it to dawn on him that the guy is gay. 

He does have a crush on Gwen too, who broke up with her boyfriend, then at the end of the episode, well...

Guidance counselor Rick is intrigued to learn about poppers. Then hunky Harry shows up.

Remember that kiss. Harry & Evan say an awkward hello, and Harry says he wanted to show up to support him on his birthday. 

Scene stealer this episode, Gwen is getting drunker and more desperate, pestering the DJ to let her do karaoke. 

She also gushes to Markie about how great he is. Sadly for Markie he thinks could be a green light to finally share his feelings for her. 

In the bathroom, Malcolm takes credit for inviting Harry. Evan is as usual with him, unimpressed.

Gwen gets her hands on a microphone and stars singing a cappella about Gay Town City before getting yanked off stage. 

Malcolm then takes the mike to pay tribute to Evan, singing an absolute classic, Mazzy Star’s Fade Into You. I absolutely love that song! Like love it! The first time I heard it, I was like WOW!

Awkwardly Malcolm, brings Harry up to sing with him, and Markie notices Evan is looking at them longingly, encouraging him to go up there. Evan does, it pasues a bit for dramatic effect, who will he choose, messy Malcolm or handsome AF Harry in the open relationship?

He marches up to them and kisses, Malcolm. BOO! 

Evan later explains to a confused Markie that Malcolm has a special place in my heart. Then tells him. Malcolm left the party to go to an orgy. 

Gwen then announces she is back together with her boyfriend Nick, giving Markie all the credit for reuniting them. 

The episode ends with folks eating burgers and debriefing on the nights events. Such a me thing to have done in years gone by after a big night.

That finale was everything. The season was excellent as a whole. I can't say enough good things about English Teacher. That was EXCELLENT!

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Summer Streamin' 24 - Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist - Miniseries

Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist, based on the acclaimed 2020 iHeart true-crime podcast, follows the infamous story of how an armed robbery on the night of Muhammad Ali’s historic 1970 comeback fight changed not only one man’s life but ultimately transformed Atlanta into the Black Mecca. 

With a stellar all star cast, this Peacock true crime drama promises a lot. Kevin Hart, Samuel L. Jackson, Terrence Howard, Dexter Darden, Taraji P. Henson, Myles Bullock, Don Cheadle, Chloe Bailey, Melvin Gregg, Artrece Johnson, Jalyn Hall, Clifton Powell, Lori Harvey and Marsha Stephanie Blake all star in this 8 part miniseries.

The series reunites Taraji P. Henson with Kevin Hart after co-starring with him in Think Like A Man, Think Like A Man Too, and Top Five. Not to mention, it is Henson’s third collaboration with Terrence Howard, whom she had previously collaborated with in Hustle & Flow and the series Empire. Remember Empire. The trainwreck COIVD interrupted final run? Man that show went from top of the pops, to an easy to forget family dynasty series.


So what is Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist all about? Hustler, Chicken Man (Hart) hosts an afterparty to celebrate the fight with a guest list of the country’s wealthiest, the night ends with the most brazen criminal underworld heist in Atlanta’s history.

Suspected of masterminding the crime, Chicken Man is hellbent on clearing his name but must convince his old adversary, J.D. Hudson (Cheadle), one of the first Black detectives in the city’s desegregated police force, who is tasked with bringing those responsible to justice.

The limited series premiered early September, on Peacock with its first three episodes. Then week to week, until last week. It was a quick turnaround with this hitting streaming, with filming only commencing in February this year , in Atlanta, Georgia.

In Australia Binge (Foxtel) was smart getting in early and grabbing a new deal with NBC/Peacock. Originally Stan had the deal meaning they have legacy series like Poker Face, Dr Death and Bel-Air. This is a major loss for Stan. However Binge will need Peacock/NBC to bring the content with HBO new titles likely to disappear sometime next year.

 Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist is a star studded, big name, big crime series. It could have done with a few less filler episodes. However it wasn't all filler. The last few episodes were rather decent. Until next time, enjoy my new Summer Streamin' 24 series.

Monday, October 14, 2024

Post Strike Cinema 24' - The Critic

I ended up at the cinema way more this past week, than previous weeks. On Saturday morning, I checked in with an empty session of The Critic. Yes I was the only one in the entire cinema.

Yes it was windy, the tail end of the October school holidays but all tickets were $8 this weekend!

This British period thriller film, is directed by Anand Tucker and written by Patrick Marber, based on the 2015 novel Curtain Call by Anthony Quinn. 

Starring Sir Ian McKellen, Gemma Arterton, Mark Strong, Ben Barnes, How to Get Away with Murder's Alfred Enoch, Romola Garai, and Lesley Manville.

Premiering last year at the Toronto International Film Festival, The Critic has finally got a 2024 release.

So how does The Critic fair up to critics and bloggers, film goers like me? Check out below the trailer.


But first a little more on the plot. Set in London in 1934, Jimmy Erskine (Ian McKellen) is the theatre critic for The Daily Chronicle. It's a right-wing tabloid newspaper owned and run by Viscount David Brooke (Mark Strong) after the death of his father. 

Erskine delights in writing vitriolic reviews of plays that he believes fall short of his high standards, despite requests from Brooke to tone it down.

They are loads of gay themes in the film too with, Erskine and his secretary and lover Tom Turner (Alfred Enoch - HTGAWM) are arrested for homosexuality, Brooke dismisses him, along with other older employees. 

The old restructure. In Australia though (particularly government) then tend to hang onto the old dead wood. Weird right?

Erskine plots and schemes for the remainder of the film, in an almost sinister fashion.

I wasn't expecting the film to take such a dark turn. Oh well. In the end it wasn't a long film, it did feel a little long with the story dragging a bit in the second half.

I enjoyed the film for the most part, however I feel if Jimmy Erskine was reviewing this in his vile style, he may not pass it.

However I saw this for $8, and I for the most part enjoyed the film. 3 Stars.

Sunday, October 13, 2024

Summer Streamin' 24 - Last King of the Cross - Season Two

Last King of the Cross has just concluded its action pack second season. Following John Ibrahim's (Lincoln Younes) established empire in King's Cross, Ibrahim sets his sights on 1990s Oxford Street in Sydney. When Mardi Gras was pumping and lockout laws were something reserved for the Handmaid's Tale.

The second season commenced it's slightly shorter season late August. It's now done leaving with a real cliffhanger along with more drama tipped still to come.

Paramount+ used to have a lot more Australian dramas on offer, however with Five Bedrooms concluding and NCIS: Sydney also appearing on Channel Ten and CBS in the States, this is one of the only remaining, ongoing local dramas.

 I enjoyed the look at my old haunt, Oxford Street this season as Ibrahim turned his eye to a new patch.


Ibrahim found himself against fellow club owner, Naveen Andrews as Ray Kinnock. While season two also brings popular actor, Luke Arnold as Dean Taylor. Arnold also stars in the recent SBS series, I loved Four Years Later.

This season really (towards the last few episodes) focused on a number of violent crimes. So it brings me to ask, is celebrating criminals on TV OK? Well it sure is popular, true crime.

Ibrahim has always positioned himself as a businessman, however in season two, he plays out more like a criminal.

The weakest link this series had to be the Kylie Sandilands connection. That was really off.

However seasoned actors like Younes, Andrews and Arnold made for a well rounded season, showcasing when Sydney used to have a nightlife, a pulse or as those in power call a "Nighttime economy".

Sadly Sydney's economy passed 10pm goes till sleep till the next day post COVID, lockout laws and the light rail construction.

Apparently Last King of the Cross was conceived as a 3 season kinda show,  however with Paramount+/Channel 10 already doing their upfronts presentation, with no mention of a third season. We will have to wait patiently for news on a third run. Till next time!

Saturday, October 12, 2024

Post Strike Cinema 24' - The Apprentice

Days out from the US election for 2024, comes The Apprentice. The biographical drama film directed by Ali Abbasi & written by Gabriel Sherman. What's it all about? MAGA king himself, Donald Trump's career as a real estate businessman in New York in the 1970s and 1980s. With Sebastian Stan playing DJT as per his number plate, the return of Succession's Jeremy Strong, Martin Donovan, and Maria Bakalova. 

The Apprentice had its world premiere at the 77th Cannes Film Festival back in May, earning some hype and drama.

During the film, we see the early years of Trump's business career, the film focuses on the relationship of Trump and Roy Cohn (Strong), a New York City prosecutor known for working with Senator Joseph McCarthy during the Second Red Scare.


There are some full on scenes in this 2 hour plus film. It was well done with Sebastian Stan going from playing Tommy Lee in the Hulu miniseries Pam & Tommy, to Donald J Trump.

Jeremy Strong was truly outstanding too.

This was one interesting insight into New York in the 70's and 80's. With Trump's real estate empire built on lies and his fathers hard work.

I'm not going to lie, I had no idea what to expect going into this film, however I left with my expectations meet and exceeded.

2024 is getting a strong finish to the year at the cinema, with The Substance and Speak No Evil both recently impressing. Not to mention sweet indie film, Thelma.

I'm not sure what to see next, however for now, The Apprentice is well worth a look. 4 Stars.

Friday, October 11, 2024

Summer Streamin' 24 - Four Years Later - Miniseries

OK, so I am Four Years Later is a miniseries as everyone it's listed as an eight-part Australian-Indian romance drama, plus SBS don't really do long running series.

It premiered on SBS before the October long weekend. My mum smashed it in an afternoon, as all episodes were available to binge on SBS on Demand. I was more restrained and took a week.

Four Years Later follows the love story of two residents from Jaipur, one of them being an aspiring doctor, whose families plan an arranged marriage. The doctor is almost immediately offered a medical traineeship in Australia, while the other resident (Sridevi) stays in India, resulting in the couple being separated for four years.

Filming of the eight-part romance drama series began in the Indian cities of Mumbai and Jaipur in January 2024.

Filming then moved to Sydney in February. Originally titled Four Years, the series was created by Mithila Gupta, who also wrote the series alongside Nicole Reddy and S. Shakthidharan.

The series uses both Hindi and English.


With strong leads in Shahana Goswami as Sridevi & Akshay Ajit Singh as Yash. They are joined by 
Kate Box as Gabs, Taj Aldeeb as Jamal, Roy Joseph as Arun, Luke Arnold as Matt and Yohan Philip as Rohit.

You can read a more comprehensive review here of the lovely romance. However this is realistic, it's not all happy endings and happy-happy joy-joy.

The team behind this and SBS have done well.

Hoping SBS will have some more quality dramas in 2025!

Thursday, October 10, 2024

Summer Streamin' 24 - Bad Monkey - Season 1

Bad Monkey, is another Apple TV+ series featuring another Hollywood player. This time it's Vince Vaughn.

The black comedy/crime/drama series is developed & executive produced by Bill Lawrence. Based on the 2013 novel of the same name by Carl Hiaasen. 

Alongside Vaughn, L. Scott Caldwell, Rob Delaney, Meredith Hagner, Natalie Martinez, Alex Moffat, Michelle Monaghan, Ronald Peet, and Jodie Turner-Smith all star. 

Bad Monkey commenced mid-August, a little before yesterday's Slow Horses. So I have been busy on Apple TV+ series. So what's it all about?

Andrew Yancy (Vaughn) is a former police detective who has been reduced to conducting restaurant inspections in South Florida. A severed arm found by a tourist pulls Yancy into a world of greed and corruption that decimates the land and environment in both Florida and The Bahamas.

It's a little bat shit crazy, but by the finale We're in the Memory-Making Business, it all comes full circle, with a little look into a possible second season.

Currently Bad Monkey has not been renewed.


It all begins with a severed arm is discovered by a fishing boat off the coast of the Florida Keys. Ex-detective Andrew Yancy, suspended for having assaulted the husband of his lover, is tasked to deliver the arm to the Miami morgue. 

The arm is identified by Dr. Rosa Campesino as having belonged to Nick Stripling and is returned to his wife Eve. Eve's step-daughter Caitlin believes she killed her father for his money. At a bar, Yancy witnesses Charles Phinney, the first mate of the boat where the arm was found, being shot dead. 

On Andros Island, resident Neville Stafford consults with the local Obeah, Gracie, known as the "Dragon Queen", to put a curse on the developers seeking to replace his home with a resort. Christopher, the man developing the resort and Eve's new boyfriend, is revealed to have been the one who shot Phinney.

It is part crime, part comedy set in sun of Florida, USA.

The ten episodes breezed by so if you are looking for something new to watch, this might be up your alley. It's a mega series finale week with Fight Night concluding tonight on Binge and tomorrow morning The Last King of the Cross concluding on Paramount+.

Next Week the English Teacher, Reasonable Doubt and Tell Me Lies all conclude and all on Disney+.

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Summer Streamin' 24 - Slow Horses - Season 4

Slow Horses is back for a fourth series, Spook Street, which commenced its six episode run last month.

Back in January, the series scored an early renewal, for a fifth series, which will be based on the fifth book in the series, London Rules.

Episode one one, kicked off with a bang! Literally, a suicide bomb goes off at the Westacres shopping mall in London, carried out by Robert Winters. 

After Winters publishes a video confessing to the attack, a police force breaks into his flat, but three of them are killed by a booby trap. River confesses to Louisa that he thinks his grandfather, David, is suffering from Alzheimer's and becoming paranoid. 

She encourages him to care for David, as David cared for River when he was growing up. Meanwhile, Marcus is struggling to kick his gambling addiction, Roddy claims to have a girlfriend, Standish has been replaced by the seemingly competent Moira Tregorian, and the PTSD-suffering JK Coe has joined Slough House. 

At David's house, a man arrives at night, claiming to be River. David shoots and kills him, and then flees. Lamb is called to identify River's body by Emma Flyte, the new commander of the Dogs, and he does.

Lamb confronts Standish at her flat and learns that David is sheltering at her house and that River is still alive. River is seen to be alive and in the backseat of a taxi in France.


We get to the finale almost as quickly as the season commenced. Hugo Weaving as Frank Harkness, a former CIA operative turned mercenary, has been a great addition to this series.

We also find out in the finale, something rather major. River is taken to meet Harkness, who confirms River's suspicions that he is his biological father. Harkness offers to train River to be part of his organization, which River swiftly rejects. 

The Dogs converge upon River's location at the same time as Louisa and Flyte. Harkness puts a live grenade in River's sweatshirt; Louisa throws it in the water, but Harkness escapes in the chaos. 

River leads the pursuit of Harkness to the train station, where Harkness allows himself to be arrested. 

Meanwhile, Lamb finds Chapman's body where he went to pick up his flight fund; Patrice, who has Chapman's phone, listens to a message left by Tregorian for Chapman saying that David is safe at Slough House. 

Patrice ambushes Slough House, killing Marcus in a shootout before being subdued by Shirley and a returning Lamb. Coe talks Shirley out of killing a restrained Patrice before shooting him dead himself. 

In the aftermath, Harkness negotiates his release by threatening to reveal to the public that MI5 and other security agencies hired his mercenary group to kill their targets over the years, having left letters at Molly's house addressed to Whelan and other heads of service that were set to be uploaded online within 24 hours of his arrest. River has David committed to a care home against his wishes, and joins Lamb for a drink.

We also get a sneak peak at season five. Making me think, if it's filmed already, when will it land on Apple TV+?

Apple TV+ has had a stellar run of late and next week, Shrinking returns for its second season. Remember how good season one was! And Friday Disclaimer with Cate Blanchett as Catherine Ravenscroft, a respected journalist and documentarian, long renowned for uncovering difficult truths lands!

So much TV, so little time. Why do I need work 35 hours a week? DAMN!

Monday, October 7, 2024

Post Strike Cinema 24' - Joker: Folie à Deux

Joker: Folie à Deux was one of those films I was really excited for. The expensive marketing campaign worked. Every poster, thing I saw online made me want to see the film more and more.

The sequel to Joker (2019) also the final dark film of Joker series. Like the current Penguin series, DC is going all dark (and musical, well for the Joker) on their villains of late. What will the villains be like in the upcoming Ed Pat Batman sequel?

Starring Joaquin Phoenix (again) as Arthur Fleck/The Joker, with Lady Gaga joining as his love interest Lee Quinzel. Industry hottie, Harry Lawtey plays Harvey Dent, while co-star, Ken Leung as Dr. Victor Liu, a psychologist who gives his testimony diagnosing Arthur at the trial.

Zazie Beetz also reprises her role from the previous film, while Brendan Gleeson and Catherine Keener join the cast. Joker: Folie à Deux premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on September 4, upon its general release, it has received negative reviews from critics.

Some of these critics, criticised the musical numbers and screenplay, though the performances of Phoenix and Gaga received praise. 

The musical numbers do become tiresome as the film clocks in, at well over two hours. I used one of these numbers to take a piss.


Overall the film is lacking purpose. As a large chunk of the film is filmed whilst Arthur/The Joker is locked up.

I remember loving the OG Joker film. It was dark, disturbing, scary in part, unique. However Batman and the whole comic book thing is really dead now. Following a few more Marvel films, the latest Marvel series, fatigue is real on these characters.

However DC is going dark, real dark. Reflective of a frightening, ever changing world we live in now.

I didn't hate this film, I liked Gaga, but it had major flaws.

If you want to read more from a younger viewer, there is a good review here. For me though after seeing multiple Gotham creations on the big and small screen, this wasn't the best but wasn't the worst. What will Gaga do next? The woman is unstoppable of late.

I can't pass this, if I am always bitching about aimless films with long ass run times. 2 Stars. Sorry crew.

Friday, October 4, 2024

Summer Streamin' 24 - Power Book II: Ghost - Season 4/Series Finale

So another Power Book closes. This time, Book II: Ghost. Commencing in the depths of the first year of CVOID back in September, 2020, this served as a direct sequel and spin-off to Power. Where, spoiler alert, lead Michael Rainey Jr. as Tariq St. Patrick killed his father, Ghost, from the OG series.

We also saw Mary J Blige, SLAY as Monet, however that came to a halt last week. Yep spoiler alert.

This week the body count grew in the series finale. Back in March, it was announced that the fourth season will be the series' final season and is split into two parts; part one premiered on June 7, and part two premiered on September 6. 

The spilt season was slightly annoying, however the break wasn't too much of a punish. The main new cast member for season four, came with fourth season renewal announcement, Michael Ealy joined the cast. Recently seen in the Afterparty and the excellent first season of Reasonable Doubt.


So Stan are saying Power Book III: Raising Kanan returns this summer. While Power Book IV: Force will also conclude (likely in 2025) with its next season.

Apparently Power: Origins, another prequel is in the works.

Will we see Tariq St. Patrick with Tommy again in Chicago in the final Force season? There has already been on crossover.

So how long will the Power Universe live on for? This season of Ghost was fun, fast-paced and action packed. However this crime family is really winding down, the body count is rising up, so time will tell.

Stan do well out of these Power series, they also are struggling for content and Starz is an excellent producer of their current content catalogue.

Oh and welcome to the new series, Summer Streamin' 24. I know it currently doesn't feel like summer yet, however we did have the one hot week recently. Right? Anyway enjoy the long weekend. There is loads of new Aussie content to get around, Four Years Later, Last King of the Cross is wrapping next week and Last Days of the Space Age on Disney+.

Until next time. Boy-BYE!

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

#RATED - New Financial Year 2024/2025 Streaming

It's almost time to say hello Summer 2024/2025! In the meantime here are the TV series I caught up with over a brief Winter, early Spring. Spring has truly sprung now. Also this is the first year in a while the US networks have had no strikes or COVID to contend with. So incoming it's a full US TV season. 

However expect those series to feature next quarter. For now see where the two CW series, All American and it's Homecoming spin-off land below.

That said streaming platforms like Binge, Disney+, Apple TV+ and ABC iView are firing off loads of new and returning series.

Speaking of Aussie content, Colin from Accounts took out the RATED series last quarter, so let's check where ABC, Paramount+, Stan and Netflix's local series RATED this time around.

So much Australian content streaming right now too. For this new quarter we have Four Years Later on SBS, Return to Paradise on ABC & iView, Last Days of the Space Age on Disney+ and Last King of the Cross concluding on Paramount+ next Friday morning.

If you need more series to catch up on, below are my previous RATED's:

Mega Summer 2023-2024 master list

#RATED - Fall Finales

#RATED - Summer Slack Streaming (2023)

#RATED - Spring 2022 TV Finales

#RATED - Winter 2022 TV Finales

#RATED - Summer Slack (Dec-Feb) TV Finales (2022)

#RATED - Autumn 2022 TV Finales

#RATED - Autumn/Winter Binged 2022

#RATED - Sizzlin' Summer Streaming 23'

Winter's Cumin' Streaming 24'

1. Fake - Season One (AU)
2. Poker Face - Season One
3. The Boys - Season Four
4. 9-1-1 - Season Seven
5. The Twelve - Season Two (AU)
6. Presumed Innocent - Season One
7. Critical Incident - Season One (AU)
8. Industry - Season Three
9. Land of Women (Spanish: Tierra de mujeres) - Season One
10. Bel-Air - Seasons One to Three
11. Interview with the Vampire - Season Two
12. Troppo - Seasons One to Two (AU)
13. Boy Swallows Universe - Miniseries (AU)
14. Under the Bridge - Miniseries
15. Return to Paradise - Season One (AU)
16. Elite (Spanish: Élite) - Season Eight/Series Finale
17. The Way Home - Seasons One to Two
18. Severance - Season One
19. All American - Season Six
20. Clipped - Miniseries
21. Silo - Season One
22. Evil - Season Four/Series Finale
23. Outer Range - Seasons One to Two/Series Finale
24. Red Eye - miniseries
25. The Bear - Season Three
26. Clickbait - Miniseries
27. The Perfect Couple - Miniseries
28. House of the Dragon - Season Two
29. Gangs of London - Season Two
30. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder - Season One
31. Fantasmas - Season One
32. All American: Homecoming - Season Three/Series Final
33. Star Wars: The Acolyte - Season One/Series Finale
34. Unstable - Season Two
35. Lady in the Lake - Miniseries

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

New Financial Year 2024/2025 Streaming - All American: Homecoming - Season Three/Series Final

This is officially the last New Financial Year 2024/2025 Streaming post in the last quarters series. Concluding with the final ever episode of, All American: Homecoming.

Created by Nkechi Okoro Carroll, the spin-off of All American, which in June this year, the series was canceled after three seasons.

Where did it all begin on The CW? Well, Simone Hicks leaves behind her boyfriend Jordan (HUNK ALERT) in Los Angeles and attends Bringston University, a historically black college in Atlanta, Georgia where she decides to pursue her dreams of being a pro tennis player. 

Also attending the school is Damon Sims, a fellow freshman who is navigating the college scene to pursue his dream of playing baseball for the university after rejecting an MLB draft to continue to play baseball for Bringston under the guidance of his coach, Marcus Turner. Also included is Amara Patterson, Simone's aunt, who teaches journalism at Bringston.


So how did, Homecoming close out? Simone Hicks’ story ended much like how it began: with a little drama on the tennis court, and even more drama off it.

When season 3 began, Simone found herself romantically caught between Damon Sims and Lando Johnson; this time around, the same quandary presented itself to our protagonist, as Damon made a return visit to Bringston just as Simone and Lando were poised to admit they loved each other.

Actually, Simone did tell Lando she loved him, but Lando, newly insecure after spotting Simone and Damon catching up with each other, told her he couldn’t trust her confession and walked away, leaving her heartbroken. 

Later, though, after giving Cam a love life-related pep talk, Lando realised he was simply letting his own fears stand in the way of a real relationship with Simone. That evening, he met up with Simone and showed her a sweet slideshow of his own life, telling her that she’s filled it with beauty and joy.

Then at long last, Lando reciprocated Simone’s feelings of love.

Meanwhile, on the tennis court (not the footy field like the parent series, All American), rumours began to spread that Simone may have taken performance-enhancing drugs. However these were actually her cancer meds.

At first, Simone planned to keep her cancer battle a secret, even in a sports documentary chronicling the team’s recent success. But when Simone realised that even her own teammates were questioning what kind of substance she’d been taking, she decided to come clean about her breast cancer to her fellow players and to the journalist interviewing her, citing her hope that other young women may be inspired to listen to their bodies and advocate for themselves when seeing a doctor.

On the day of the conference finals, Simone seemed to dread the response she might get from the crowd and the other competitors, telling Lando and Amara that she wasn’t ready to face. When she stepped on to the court, Simone was instead greeted by thunderous applause and a standing ovation from her teammates, her tennis challengers and all of the Bringston spectators.

So while All American returns (to Stan, not Binge where this streams) for a 13 episode seventh season. There was an unresolved storyline, which unlike me, I knew this show in the current climate was lucky to even get a second season, a third was a miracle. But maybe the Homecoming writers knew this would be a series finale, Keisha’s love triangle with Cam and JR never fully sorted itself out. 

On one hand, Keisha appeared to choose herself at the end of the episode, after noting earlier in the hour that she was constantly in a relationship and wanted to fly solo now.

On the other, she and Cam seemed to have some unfinished business together, especially after he served as her partner in her final dance exam. That scene was full on. It was an emotionally intense routine they performed together clearly mirrored their own romantic relationship. 

Lando encouraged Cam not to let his fears keep him from being with Keisha, but last we saw, Cam and JR were in a bit of a standoff over her.

So The CW has two OG series left. Superman & Lois commencing with a double episode next week on Binge, for its final, fourth season. And as above All American returning TBA in 2025.

Looking at a calendar I feel Superman & Lois could come to a close this side of Christmas. Speaking of a new blog series for TV and the next quarter commences with Power soon. The RATED for New Financial Year 2024/2025 Streaming will also land soon. Can you believe it's October 1st 2024 already!