Summer Streamin' 25 - Cobra Kai - Season Six/Series Finale

The sixth and final season of Cobra Kai (also known as Cobra Kai VI) was the legacy Netflix series longest (spilt) season, consisting of 15 episodes.

Originally a YouTube series, the blockbuster film to TV show moved to Netflix in 2021. Right when the world went nuts.

Unlike previous seasons, the sixth season was released in three parts of five episodes each. The first was released on last July, the second mid-November, & the final part on Valentine's eve.

The series is a direct sequel to the original four films in The Karate Kid franchise, focusing on the characters of Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence over 30 years after the titular film.

The season was originally set to be released in 2023, but experienced delays as a result of the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes. 

The season features 13 starring roles, all of which returned from previous seasons, including Gianni DeCenzo who was a series regular in seasons 2–4, but was demoted to a recurring cast member in the previous season.

With such a big cast, so many storylines to wrap the finale starring Ralph Macchio, William Zabka,

Courtney Henggeler, Xolo Maridueña, Tanner Buchanan, Mary Mouser, Peyton List, Jacob Bertrand

Gianni DeCenzo, Dallas Dupree Young, Vanessa Rubio, Martin Kove & Thomas Ian Griffith.

SPOILER ALERT

Johnny prepares for his fight against Sensei Wolf with Daniel and Chozen; Daniel explains that whether he wins or loses the fight, he already has a family and has already won in life and they begin training. On the day of the fight, Wolf berates Johnny in the locker room and Johnny tries to hit him but Wolf easily subdues him and distracts him by talking about defeating him and his family. 

In the match between senseis, Wolf bests Johnny winning two points while performing illegal moves that weaken Johnny. Daniel gives Johnny a Cobra Kai style speech that makes him confident and face Wolf. Johnny and Wolf have an exchange of blows in which Johnny scores the winning point proclaiming Cobra Kai the champion of the Sekai Taikai. 

Some time later, Johnny moves into a new house with Carmen and her daughter while Miguel, Sam, Demetri, Hawk, Robby, Tory and Chozen continue their respective paths. Johnny and Daniel collaborate with their students as senseis to train them in Cobra Kai and Miyagi-Do at the same time.

Truthfully this show was an escape during the COVID period. It was an easy to watch, guilty pleasure to watch.

Overtime though the show got even more cheesy than it started off.

In the end the first ten episodes of this bloated season were just a little too lame.

The last five, with all the action, were an improvement. However I feel like this should have ended on a high around, season four. Airing 65 episodes in total, Cobra Kai had a damn good run.

Apparently Karate Kid: Legends will land at the cinema too this year. So maybe there is a touch more Cobra Kai on the way.

Until then, enjoy the last weekend of (offical) summer. Yes February is coming to an end. The Summer Streamin' 25 continues though till March 31, 2025 when I will be away in Japan! Bring it on!!!

Summer Streamin' 25 - Clean Slate - Season One

Clean Slate is the latest US (streaming) sitcom I have gotten into. Streaming all eight episodes now on Amazon Prime Video. This twenty something minute (very PG) comedy is a mega easy watch.

OITNB's Laverne Cox & George Wallace star as a father/daughter (nee son) duo in the US south. Centring around a woman (Cox) reuniting with her father (Wallace), who she has not seen since her gender transition. 

Streaming from the start of February, Clean Slate has so far received positive reviews from critics.

When Desiree returns to her small town in Alabama to reunite with her father Harry after 23 years away. Harry is excited to reunite with his son, and he has no idea that son is now Desiree—a proud trans woman.

Yep it kinda sounds corny, however it is super warm, big hearted and full of soul.

In the first episode, after 23 years away living as an artist in New York City, Desiree returns home to Alabama to repair her estranged relationship with her old-school father, Harry. Together, they must process their new reality as father and daughter.

There are highs, lows and religion.

The show showcases acceptance, love and the power of family and a good circle of friends. Honestly the world right now needs more simple, cut the special effects and sci-fi/superhero shit, give us loving dramas of forgiveness and love.

This was a fresh take on a family sitcom.

Check it out now!

Summer Streamin' 25 - Invisible Boys - Season One

Invisible Boys is the latest Aussie drama to land on Stan. Which apparently has just turned ten. Happy birthday Stan! The commitment to high quality Aussie series and films, is (almost) second to none.

Invisible Boys premiered all ten episodes last Thursday.

Created & directed by Nicholas Verso, adapted from the novel of the same name by Holden Sheppard. The series follows the challenges of teens in the coastal city of Geraldton in Western Australia following the 2017 same-sex marriage plebiscite, it focuses on finding friendships, solace and understanding on what makes them invisible.

Set against the backdrop of Australia’s 2017 same-sex marriage plebiscite (what an awful time that was! remember), Invisible Boys explores the challenges faced by a group of gay teens in the remote coastal city of Geraldton, Western Australia after one of them is outed on social media following an encounter with a married man. 

As they form a tight-knit friendship, the boys find solace and support in one another, exploring their desires and identities in a world that often renders them invisible.

Starring Joseph Zada (East of Eden), Aydan Calafiore (The Voice 2018), Zach Blampied (New Gold Mountain) and Joe Klocek (Territory), alongside Pia Miranda (Looking for Alibrandi) & David Lyons (Truth Be Told).

Some new stars with Pia Miranda playing an incredibly different role from the lead in Looking for Alibrandi.

Invisible Boys is an interesting look at four (very) different gay stereotypes. While also being from various backgrounds.

It's a tough watch at times. Sexy at other times. A bad reminder about the 2017 same-sex marriage plebiscite. Don't forget how much of a turkey Peter Dutton was back then when voting this year people!

For more on ten years of Stan, visit here.

Summer Streamin' 25 - Dexter: Original Sin - Season One

Dexter: Original Sin is the third in the Dexter TV series created by Clyde Phillips. 

Continuing from Dexter: New Blood, the series' frame story sees vigilante serial killer Dexter Morgan on his deathbed thinking back on his youth, starting in 1991, fifteen years before the first season of Dexter.

Landing on Paramount+ (or in the USA Paramount+ with Showtime, great name by the way!) mid-December. The first run concluded Friday (night) with a cliffhanger.

Sadly no news of season two as I write this.

Set in 1991 Miami, Dexter: Original Sin follows Dexter (Patrick Gibson) as he transitions from student to avenging serial killer. When his bloodthirsty urges can’t be ignored any longer, Dexter must learn to channel his inner darkness. With the guidance of his father, Harry (Christian Slater), he adopts a Code designed to help him find and kill people who deserve to be eliminated from society without getting on law enforcement’s radar. 

This is a particular challenge for young Dexter as he begins a forensics internship at the Miami Metro Police Department. Patrick Dempsey, Molly Brown, James Martinez, Christina Milian (yes the popstar!), Alex Shimizu, Reno Wilson & Sarah Michelle Gellar also star in this new series, with Michael C. Hall returning to voice the iconic inner monologue in Dexter Morgan’s head. 

So how did Code Blues go down on Friday? SPOILERS BELOW!

Talking with his therapist, Brian (Roby Attal) relates how after the Morgans sent him away, he was put into different foster homes. When his new family tried to take advantage of him, he fought back aggressively. As such, he was placed on Harbor Light Mental Hospital, where he was diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder. As he grows older, Brian confronts his nurse for hiding his medicine for the past months. The therapist, Paul Petrie, is content with Brian's progress, but warns him not to contact Dexter (Patrick Gibson). Upset, Brian brutally kills him and steals his car.

Dexter follows Spencer (Patrick Dempsey) to a ship in the docks, which is just half a mile off from the police station. Dexter intercepts Spencer and fight, but Spencer begins flooding Nicky's cell, suggesting to Dexter that Nicky might not be his son. Spencer flees, and Dexter is forced to let him go and jump into Nicky's cell to remove his chain. Nicky (London Thatcher) loses consciousness, but Dexter releases him from the chain and saves him. He takes him outside the ship, and uses a flare gun to alert authorities before fleeing the scene.

While visiting Bobby (Reno Wilson), LaGuerta (Christina Milian) tells Harry (Christian Slater) that Barbara has been murdered, and he realizes Brian is responsible. While checking the crime scene, Harry notices Brian in a nearby building, who is awaiting for Dexter's arrival. Harry confronts Brian at gunpoint, finally connecting him to the two other murders; they were bullies from his foster homes. 

Brian reveals he already met Dexter, and is upset to know that Dexter has forgotten he had a brother. Brian confronts Harry for not telling Dexter over his affair with Laura, and how forcing her to become an informant led to her death. Brian refuses to surrender and asks Harry to kill him instead. Harry hesitates, and Brian seizes this to knock him unconscious and escape.

Spencer breaks into Becca's house and attacks her boyfriend Nelson, confronting her over lying to her about Nicky's true father. Dexter subdues Spencer again and takes him out of the house, seeing a report of Barbara's murder on TV. Dexter places Spencer again on the killing table, but this time in Camilla's boat. As Dexter taunts Spencer for ruining his legacy, Spencer claims that Harry has failed him, but Dexter does not give it importance. He murders Spencer and dumps his body in the ocean, having found a place to dispose of his victims. 

When he returns home, Harry explains Nicky's case is his own fault; had he trusted Dexter, Nicky would have been rescued earlier. Dexter confesses killing Spencer, revealing he saved Nicky as well. Harry is shaken at realizing his lifelong friend was a monster, but Dexter reiterates he was not born like that, unlike Dexter himself. Despite knowing Dexter was affected by his mother's death, Harry comforts him.

The following morning, Debra (Molly Brown) and Sofia (Raquel Justice) reconcile. At Miami Metro, Harry and Angel (James Martinez) discuss Spencer's whereabouts, and Harry dismisses the serial killer case despite LaGuerta's report. Unbeknownst to them, LaGuerta overhears this, and walks away disappointed. Tanya (Sarah Michelle Gellar) informs Dexter that he has been approved to join forensics full-time, officially becoming part of Miami Metro. 

After Bobby recovers, Debra tells Harry that she has enrolled in the police academy, which Harry approves. In private, Harry expresses pride in Dexter for prioritising Nicky's safety over pursuing Spencer, deeming that his Code belongs to Dexter. Dexter and Harry join Debra for a dance, with Dexter narrating that despite his fears, the one thing that could save him is family. Outside, Brian sees Dexter from afar.

Honestly this season was fire. A huge improvement on Dexter: New Blood which was awful. In episode one of this season, we learnt the BIG news Dexter.... lives!

Therefore up next is Dexter: Resurrection, which could potentially stream, this year!

So much Dexter, so little time!

But seriously this was such an improvement on New Blood.

Patrick Gibson as a young Dexter was great. If you need a new serial killer drama/thriller, get onto this now. Paramount+ you are on a good run right now, Dexter, Landman, Yellowjackets and NCIS: Sydney on the local front! Too much to stream pre-Easter! Summer Streamin' 25 RATED list is going to be fire!

Summer Streamin' 25 - How to Die Alone - Season One/Series Finale

How to Die Alone is a cute little one and done Hulu/Disney+ series that I just discovered after hearing it got the axe.

Ahead of The White Lotus returning, Belinda AKA Natasha Rothwell, is the series creator whilst starring as the lead Mel.

How to Die Alone follows a woman who has never been in love, and decides to change her life after a near-death experience. 

Mel is a down-on-her-luck Black woman working at JFK airport. After a near-death experience, she decides to take control of her life and begins a journey of self-empowerment and personal transformation.

Alongside Rothwell, How to Get Away With Murder's Conrad Ricamora, Jocko Sims, & KeiLyn Durrel Jones also star. 

II missed the show when it landed late September.

While receiving positive reception, earlier this month, Rothwell announced that the series had been canceled by Hulu after one season.

This was a mega easy watch, whilst being an interesting little work place comedy, it also had heart.

There were some really funny one liners. Natasha Rothwell is a real talent. Gosh I hope she slays in the upcoming run of The White Lotus in Thailand!

Yes The White Lotus returns to Binge, Monday afternoon. For now though, How to Die Alone lives in Disney+.

Film Influencer 2025 - Presence

Maybe one of my shortest film reviews for 2025 (even this early on) and one of the shortest films of 2025, Presence.

Clocking in at 85 minutes, this fast & furious haunted house tale, hits fast and furious. Whilst also building pace slowly and surely.

As the tension builds with Presence, the supernatural thriller/drama directed by Steven Soderbergh, you see a haunted house, told by the house itself.

Starring Charlies Angels, Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan, & Callina Liang as The Paynes, a family of four, mother Rebecca, father Chris, elder brother Tyler, and younger sister Chloe. 

They move into a large suburban house inhabited by a poltergeist. Presence is presented from the Presence's point of view in a series of long takes.

Presence has currently grossed $7 million on a $2 million production budget, and received positive reviews from critics. What was my reaction? Read on a brief report below the trailer.

So it builds, but does it deliver? There is a moment of climax, then a brief reaction by the family, then credits.

The film struggles to deliver a BIG finish, however from a different angle the tired haunted house story gets a new lease on life.

I'll pass this but it isn't the best horror film of recent times.

2.5 Stars.

Time for Laneway.... BYE!

Summer Streamin' 25 - The Newsreader - Seasons Three/Series Finale

The third and final series of The Newsreader landed on ABC iView on Sunday. Last night I finished episode six, The Fall.

Episodes will continue to air weekly on ABC TV, Sundays at 8:30pm, meaning the time slot home of Australian drama will have no new material for me for five more weeks. Will Mystery Road Origins return next?

Either way here is what went down on the final season of this excellent Australian series.

We first met Dale Jennings and Helen Norville in 1986, when a fledgling Dale was desperate to be a star newsreader and Helen was fighting to be taken seriously as a journalist. 

Now, in 1989, Dale Jennings has become the most beloved name in news, and Helen’s fearless international reporting has won her an opportunity to be the first woman to both anchor and produce her own current affairs show, ‘Public Eye with Helen Norville’. 

Helen and Dale initially take pride in each other’s success, until an unexpected and cynical network move sees them pitted directly opposite each other in the cut-throat 6pm time slot. 

Without warning, these former allies and lovers are plunged into the most ferocious battle in commercial television, and it becomes agonisingly clear that by year’s end, only one of them will maintain their long-

fought-for position.

Episode one highlights TV's night of nights, the Logies. Bob Hawke features in episode two, whilst the Tiananmen Square massacre episode is full on.

The series concludes with the fall of the Berlin Wall. The final episode is dramatic with Sam Reid, as Dale Jennings having a dramatic fall from grace. A place Anna Torv, as Helen Norville has been in almost the entire season.

Both excel in this final season with Mr everywhere, Stephen Peacocke, as Rob Rickards and Michelle Lim Davidson, as Noelene Kim excelling in their supporting roles too. Covering tough topics while bringing up a new child.

NCIS Sydney's (back today on Paramount+) William McInnes, as Lindsay Cunningham is so vile, with some incredible one liner take downs. He has always played the villain so well.

The Newsreader along with Total Control have been brilliant three season ABC TV dramas leaving on highs, not at all outstaying their welcomes on our TV's.

Australian drama is in a good place, but people need to watch these dhows to keep them coming.

So if you need something to watch this Brat Summer Laneway weekend. The Newsreader streams all three seasons now on ABC iView.

Summer Streamin' 25 - Human Error - Miniseries

Human Error is another piece of Australian content floating around right now. It did air on the Nine Network, last September. However I waited for an ad-free six episode binge on Stan.

Of course it falls into the crime drama genre. Created by Greg Haddick, the Human Error is inspired by true events, Holly O'Rourke (Leeanna Walsman) begins investigating a gangland murder that turns her whole life upside down. 

The murder appears to be a case of mistaken identity. The investigation threatens to destroy her career as a conspiracy and a deeper plot emerges, all whilst Holly's family life is crumbling around her.

The cast for the series was announced on 2 February 2023 as production commenced. Yes so I am late to the party on this one too. Joining Walsman as O'Rourke, there are some familiar Australian faces. Particularly Mr everywhere Steve Peacocke as Dylan McKenzie. Peacocke is also currently in ABC's The Newsreader and will appear on RFDS when it returns to Channel Seven later in 2025.

Matt Day plays Walsman's husband, Luke O'Rourke, Steve Bisley plays her father, Bear O'Rourke, while the rest of the cast include, Rahel Romahn, Anthony J Sharpe, Daniela Farinacci, Ethan Lwin, Emily Joy and Rosie Mitchell.

Stan has delivered loads of local content of late. Bump's final run, Black Snow and Invisible Boys lands next week. With Channel Nine as the parent company, they sometimes air previous Stan titles, while Nine titles eventually appear on Stan.

Sadly Nine has no Australian dramas planned for 2025 and in 2024, Human Error was the solo drama on free to air Nine. Stan got all the original, new Australian dramas.

2024 could have been equally as quiet for Nine as Human Error was originally set to lead the 2023 Nine Network drama slate but was ultimately pushed back until the following year, due to Nine airing the Warnie tele-movie.

Wow with MAFS killing it, in 2023 they didn't even have room in their programming slots for one tele-movie and one miniseries?

Miniseries may not be 100% factually correct as the finale ends with an entirely new case. The last episode does feel a little drawn out, so I understood why they dedicated the last few minutes to a new crime.

I think timing/pacing wise they could have easily done this in four episodes in place of two.

Either way this was a super easy watch. Leeanna Walsman deserves more credit. I will hopefully conclude the other half of The Newsreader this week, showing that Australian content is currently killing it!

Until then. OMG Charli XCX might also be in the country. It's LANEWAY, brat summer week! YASS!

Summer Streamin' 25 - Extraordinary - Seasons One - Two/Series Finale

Extraordinary is a British superhero comedy television series created by Emma Moran. This was recommended to me by a friend at the gym, so I actually jumped in fairly quickly to get on this.

Sadly I stumbled on this series got a little sluggish in the second season. By then, I put this aside for fellow English series Big Boys, then Aussie series Optics.

However the first season (which I am totally late to the party for) originally started streaming in January 2023.

Both seasons stream on Disney+, as part of their Star programming banner.

Extraordinary received generally positive reviews, and was renewed for a second season on 23 January 2023, ahead of the series premiere. Season 2 landed in March 2024.

So I am only a year behind the series concluding. Extraordinary ended up being cancelled after the second season. Which only kinda felt fair. Superhero shows (look up The Franchise) have struggled a little more with superhero/Marvel/DC fatigue. Following years of Avengers, Batmans and then the Marvel TV invasion.

So what is Extraordinary all about? Well different to other superhero affairs, it leans largely into the comedy side, whilst everyone in the world develops a superpower at the age of 18, and the show follows Jen, who, six years after turning 18, still hasn't discovered her superpower. 

So if you missed this, like me, watch out spoilers ahead.

The series ends with an episode titled, Well, Goodbye Forever, which really sounds like they knew the end was there and then with two season.

Kash premieres his musical, "The Vigilante". Jen's therapist tells her that to acquire her special power, she'll have to stop talking to her Dad. 

A tearful Jen has one last conversation with him and bids him goodbye. At the wrap party, Jen tries to discover her new power, but fails. 

Later, her mother asks Jen to drop off a microwave into the Void. She is about to do that, but Kash mistakenly knocks Jen into the Void with the microwave door, and is unable to summon her back. 

Jen ends up in a seemingly normal place which she seems to recognise, but is a cliffhanger for the audience.

Yes it does end with a cliffhanger. But does anyone care? This wasn't bad. It just could have been a one and done. Sadly after Big Boys and Optics, this just wasn't the funniest thing out there. Maybe if we were so over done with superhero's this might not have been such a slog. Well the second season, the first has some fun one liners. And again it streams now on, Disney+.

Film Influencer 2025 - Companion

Companion is a fresh science fiction horror/comedy. The film landed at the cinemas last week. Alongside Babygirl, it was a weekend of interesting relationships explored on the big screen.

Starring Sophie Thatcher, The Boys lead Jack Quaid, alongside J. D. Lifshitz. Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén & Rupert Friend.

As a couple on a weekend getaway with friends at a remote cabin, which unravels into chaos after a revelation that one of the guests is a companion robot or as they say in the film a fuck-bot.

Written & directed by Drew Hancock, produced by Zach Cregger, Roy Lee, Raphael Margules and J. D. Lifshitz. This is a fresh take on the whole horror/comedy genre!

Companion thus far, has received positive reviews from critics. What did I think about this AI slasher?...

Companion may not be super original as far as revenge/horror goes, however there was something about this film. Where will AI take us? Will we be able to control fuck-bots on our smart devices? Will autonomous cars actually exist in the future? Will they replace Telsa's?

The film also keeps the pace at just over an hour and a half.

Will it win any awards? Nah, will it make my end of year list? Maybe not. But I did enjoy this film.

3 Stars.

Summer Streamin' 25 - Optics - Season One

Optics is the new ABC comedy, aimed squarely at a younger, new ABC audience. All six (short) episodes stream now on ABC iview.

It kicks off with, a death at PR firm Fritz & Randell sees the forty-something heir-apparent pushed aside and the reins handed to two younger female employees. But have these women been set up to fail? 

Across the six episodes, the series follows two whip-smart 20-something women who are unexpectedly promoted to run crisis management PR firm Fritz & Randell, after the death of office patriarch Frank Fritz.

As they battle weekly public relations crisis from celebrities, sports stars and corporate titans, and power challenges from veteran PR flack Ian Randell, they slowly come to realise that their firm might have a scandal brewing of its own, and start to wonder: have they been set up to fail.

Looking at topical issues such as airlines, AFL stars behaving badly along with Hollywood stars into weird kinks.

Optics commenced last Wednesday, with all episodes instantly airing on ABC iview https://ab.co/Optics

The new series written by Jenna Owen and Vic Zerbst (also known as comedy duo Freudian Nip) and Charles Firth, couldn’t be more timely. 

After the sudden death of the big boss at crisis management PR firm Fritz & Randell, two young female employees, Greta Goldman (Zerbst) and Nicole Kidman (Owen) are given the top job in a move to shake up the company, or cover an impending PR disaster by a bit of diversity box-ticking.

But their male colleagues, including shunned 40-something company heir Ian Randell (Firth), lurk in the shadows. 

With the reading, right out of recent headlines, the smart script, with very funny, one-liners that contain depressing nuggets of truth. 

The show is fast-paced, intelligent that by the end of episode six leaves you wanting more. It also ends on a bit, OK a big cliffhanger!

Michael Hing also guest stars in the finale, while Pippa from Home & Away also pops up once.

If you like new Australian content, definitely give this one a go!

Film Influencer 2025 - Babygirl

Babygirl just landed at the cinemas, gaining much discussion around the subject matter/Nicole Kidman's performance. It gives Saltburn vibes with some seriously good tunes too.

Dancing on My Own, the OG version from Robyn, Aussie classic, Never Tear Us Apart by INXS, an erotic scene to Father Figure by George Michael and the inclusion of indie fav Deceptacon by Le Tigre, made for a solid backing soundtrack.

The erotic thriller film written, directed, and produced by Halina Reijn. This also comes from hit movie studio, A24.

The film stars Aussie, Nicole Kidman as a high-powered CEO who puts her career and family on the line when she begins an affair with a much younger intern (Harris Dickinson). 

Fellow Aussie and Talk to Me star, Sophie Wilde and Antonio Banderas returns to the big screen as Kidman's husband.

Babygirl premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival last August, where Kidman won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress.

Babygirl was named one of the top ten films of 2024 by the National Board of Review, where Kidman was also awarded the Best Actress prize.

This got serious audience reaction throughout the raunchy, close to 2 hour romp. There was laughter, gasps and a lot of toilet breaks for a near sold out Friday evening session.

I was interested to see where this film was headed. What the climax (so to speak would be) would amount to. But it never really got to a satisfying end. Except Kidman's final scene in her office giving it to a coworker.

I am not sure whether this will create the storm, Saltburn did a few years back. However it was an interesting watch.

3 Stars. Kidman has given another Eyes Wide Shut performance. This time less Tom Cruise.

Summer Streamin' 25 - Bookie - Seasons One - Two

Bookie has just concluded its second season. I binged season one about the veteran bookie must fight to survive the legalisation of sports gambling, increasingly unstable clients, and fast-paced life in Los Angeles. Then watched season two week to week along with Max's (HBO) fellow comedy The Sex Lives of College Girls, which in turn concluded last week.

Created by Chuck Lorre & Nick Bakay, while starring Sebastian Maniscalco, Omar Dorsey, Andrea Anders, Vanessa Ferlito, Jorge Garcia, and Maxim Swinton. While Arnetia Walker as Grandma Marion is 100% the MVP in this sitcom/

The first season landed on Max back in November, 2023, which I slept on.

Last January, the series was renewed for a second season which premiered on late last year. After watching the two seasons back to back, I did tire a little towards the end.

Whilst Grandma Marion was a 100% highlight in the series, by the end of the very random (and short) season two finale, it felt like there was little left for this show to say.

That said, the easy breezy last few episodes barely even clocked in at 20 minutes.

So this was a total easy watch. Season one was better, so maybe just smashing all 16 episodes out back-to-back would have been better.

Bookie and The Sex Lives of College Girls have both not been renewed yet. So hopefully we will receive news on each soon. The later had a real series finale feel about it though. Three seasons in the current TV climate is a real achievement anyway.

Speaking of the ABC has gone HAM releasing all six episodes of their new sitcom (and last for 2025, scripted that is) Optics this week. And damn it's good! Also The Newsreader concludes its run this weekend!

ABC iView is 100% the place to be for free scripted Aussie content in 2025. With the release of Foxtel/Binge hit, Love Me also landing.

However for now all 16 episodes of Bookie stream on Binge.

Summer Streamin' 25 - Black Snow - Season Two

Black Snow just concluded its second season, perfectly setting up a third season in the final moments. Stan however is yet to announce a third season. 

Also the two year gap between seasons one and two, may mean even if a third is announced, we will still have a wait.

Black Snow is set in and filmed throughout different locations in Queensland, Australia. Each season follows a different cold case being investigated by Detective James Cormack (Travis Fimmel) as he struggles with his own family demons.

Season two,  is titled Black Snow: Jack of Clubs, focuses on Detective Cormack investigating the missing persons case of Zoe Jacobs in 2003 in the fictional town of Moorevale. 

Cormack is simultaneously informally looking into the disappearance of his younger brother in 1994. This is where the season three set up comes into play. No spoilers though! My lips are sealed!

So what happened to Zoe Jacobs? Premiering New Year's Day with a double episode, then one episode per week on Wednesday's this is a new technique from Stan. Airing in line with the successful Stan/Channel Nine run of the Australian Open, we will see if this new style of streaming from Stan, equals more subscribers.

Travis Fimmel (Vikings, Dune: Prophecy) leads the six-part mystery-drama, and marks his directorial debut with the sixth and final episode of the series. 

He stars alongside new cast members Jana McKinnon (Stan Original Series Bad Behaviour), Megan Smart (Class of ‘07), Alana Mansour (Erotic Stories), Dan Spielman (Bad Behaviour, The Newsreader), Victoria Haralabidou (Stan Original Series The Tourist) and Kat Stewart (Offspring). 

I enjoyed this a touch more than season one. The music featured via the community radio station is EXCELLENT! Think Magic Dirt, Homebake in the late 90's, early 00's.

Stan has a good record of Aussie content. Black Snow is top notch and will hopefully fill the end of year streaming void, Bump will now leave on the streamer.

Till next time! Happy weekend after a short week.

Summer Streamin' 25 - Big Boys - Seasons One - Two

Big Boys has set the bar high for the remainder of the Summer Streamin' 25 blog series. 

The British sitcom created and written by Jack Rooke, streams both season on ABC iView. 

Starring Dylan Llewellyn and Jon Pointing as first-year university students who live together, set in 2013, told from the point of view of Llewellyn's character Jack—a semi-fictionalised version of Rooke, who narrates the series—as he recovers from his father's death and explores his sexuality for the first time.

The second season kicks off during the 2014–15 academic year.

The show is full of laughs, a few tears and some ohhhhhhhhhh moments. It is seriously so damn good.

I honestly urge you to drop any series you are watching now and get on it!

A third series was confirmed in June 2024. This was later confirmed as the final season in January, with the third series set to air in February 2025. Let's hope the ABC fast track this final season. I'm hooked! Up there with some of the best, easy to watch, addictive TV of the last few years.

How does a comedy about two mismatched boys who strike up an unlikely friendship when they’re thrown together at university, end up being heartwarming, funny and just damn amazing TV! They’ll explore, experiment, and try to discover themselves, whilst also helping one another along the way.

You will blitz through all current 12 episodes, being left wanting more and more!

Also the soundtrack is AMAZING too! Gosh damn! This show does everything right, including getting every song, so right! The mood, the moment, the music. Insanely good.

Fire up ABC iView now! Who cares what those Sky News freaks think about the ABC. Oh yeah, go Grace Tame! IYKYK.

Summer Streamin' 25 - The Agency - Season One

Showtime is back baby! Dexter, The Agency, Yellowjackets next month! Paramount+ with Showtime is going ham after a fair break! Well except for The Chi and a few other series.

The Agency is an American spy thriller series produced by George Clooney and Grant Heslov. Also with an all-star cast featuring, Michael Fassbender, Jeffrey Wright, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Richard Gere. 

Streaming in Australia on Paramount+, the series commenced late November, concluding yesterday morning. Good news though, last month, the series was renewed for a second season.

The Agency is based on the acclaimed French series, created by Éric Rochant.

But what's this Showtime thriller all about? Is it their new Homeland?

Covert CIA agent Martian (Fassbender) is ordered to abandon his undercover life and return to London Station. A past love unexpectedly reappears, pitting his mission and his real identity against his heart, hurling them both into a deadly game of international intrigue and espionage.

The thing is with spy thrillers these days, as we have so many. Homeland set the bar high (even airing on the exact same network as The Agency) with other series to follow. Being a remake too of probably better European version too.

Oh well for all that aside, bringing Richard Gere back and Showtime favourite Dominic West, The Agency isn't all bad, it's just not as great and original as it could be.

Paramount+ have gone hard with advertising in my parts recently. Landman was exceptional, I'm vibing the new Dexter and Fire Country returns next week with NCIS Sydney's second season not far behind.

For now, hopefully I'll catch a movie or two this next week. Seeya then! Happy Lunar New Year!

2025 OSCARS Nominations | Predictions

Here are the Oscars nominations, that just dropped yesterday! Here are my predictions in red and bold.

** Admittedly I haven't seen all the films nominated below.

BEST PICTURE

Anora

The Brutalist

A Complete Unknown

Conclave

Dune: Part Two

Emilia Pérez

I’m Still Here

Nickel Boys

The Substance

Wicked

BEST ACTOR

Adrien Brody, The Brutalist

Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown

Colman Domingo, Sing Sing

Ralph Fiennes, Conclave

Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice

BEST ACTRESS

Cynthia Erivo, Wicked

Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez

Mikey Madison, Anora

Demi Moore, The Substance

Fernanda Torres, I’m Still Here

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Yura Borisov, Anora

Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain

Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown

Guy Pearce, The Brutalist

Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown

Ariana Grande, Wicked

Felicity Jones, The Brutalist

Isabella Rossellini, Conclave

Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez

BEST DIRECTING

Sean Baker, Anora

Brady Corbet, The Brutalist

James Mangold, A Complete Unknown

Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez

Coralie Fargeat, The Substance

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Anora

The Brutalist

A Real Pain

September 5

The Substance

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

A Complete Unknown

Conclave

Gladiator II

Nosferatu

Wicked

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

I’m Still Here

The Girl With the Needle

Emilia Pérez

The Seed of the Sacred Fig

Flow

Summer Streamin' 25 - The Sex Lives of College Girls - Season Three

The Sex Lives of College Girls has just concluded its third season.

Created by Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble the HBO Max series was renewed for a third season (back in December 2022)which commenced on Binge last November. Concluding today, we got the third series after a two year break. So damn I needed a recap.

So it kicks off as the sophomore year begins, Whitney has been ignoring Kimberly during the summer after finding out about her and Canaan, with Kimberly unsuccessfully trying to apologise to her. 

Bela's request to transfer schools is rejected due to her low GPA, causing her to decide to take a break from comedy and undergo a personality overhaul; Frude, the residence director, quits his job after contracting pneumonia and Bela takes over, but her attempts at being friendly are met with resistance by everyone, including English freshman Taylor. 

However, Bela reconsiders after successfully carrying out an intervention between Kimberly and Whitney, who forgives her. Canaan and Kimberly also realise that their relationship is not meant to be and agree to remain friends for Whitney's sake. Leighton grapples with Alicia leaving Essex for a job opportunity in Boston and her math class being cancelled due to lack of enrolment, until her professor informs her about a math program at MIT, which happens to also be in Boston, lifting her spirits.

But now to the OMG finale. Not OMG cause of a cliffhanger, but OMG cause this was a beautiful piece of TV. So good! It felt like a perfect send off for the girls.

In today's season three finale, Bela kissed her new comedy pal Haley and came out as bisexual to her friends, which were less than surprised/excited by the news.

However at her new comedy show, hesitated to tell her visiting mum, who dropped by the show, after confessing she follows her on the Gram.

Whitney inspired the entire soccer team to stand up to the athletic board; Kimberly got arrested alongside hottie activist Noah for breaking into Essex’s server room (to stop a bigoted speaker’s livestream) & was picked up from jail by her ex-boyfriend Eli, who had apologised earlier for the way he treated her; Cooper broke up with Kacey after she started making plans for him to meet her mom and go on a cruise with her family; and Taylor told Bela that thanks to her, she didn’t break her sobriety.

In the closing minutes, Kacey belted out a showstopper performance of Never Enough in the Essex musical as Bela sat next to her mother and embraced Haley’s hand. Her mom, in turn, wiped away Bela’s tears and held her other hand. 

The in the final shot of the episode, Bela, Whitney, Kimberly and Kacey laughed and celebrated in the dorm room. It was honestly a perfect final episode. Is this the last romp at Essex for the girls?

HBO Max also has Bookie wrapping next week and The Pitt currently streaming. All on Binge at present in Australia.

Next up the finale of Showtime's new hit, The Agency.

Summer Streamin' 25 - Hysteria! - Season One

Hysteria! is bit of a hoot! I added it to my binge list on Binge, all eight episodes of the first season premiered last October.

The comedy horror-thriller series set deep into the 80's created by Matthew Scott Kane, kicks off in 1989. 

Julie Bowen leads as Linda Campbell, with Emjay Anthony, Chiara Aurelia, Kezii Curtis, Nikki Hahn, Anna Camp, Bruce Campbell, Nolan North, Garret Dillahunt, Elijah Richardson, Milly Shapiro, Allison Scagliotti, and Jessica Treska.

Hysteria! kicks with Satanic panic, a beloved varsity quarterback's disappearance causes whispers of occult activity and Satanic influence throughout the town of Happy Hollow, Michigan. 

Dylan, Jordy, and Spud, a trio of outcasts in a struggling heavy metal band called Dethkrunch, decide to capitalise on the town’s sudden interest in the occult by rebranding themselves as a Satanic metal band, which leads to them becoming the targets of the town's witch hunt. 

Especially when a bizarre series of murders, kidnappings, and reported "supernatural activity" begin happening.

This was a seriously easy watch. There has been a lot to catch up on this summer. I slept on this, however it was a pleasant, camp surprise. Speaking of camp, Anna Camp was seriously fire in this series.

If you need a little horror in your life, stop watching the news and start watching Hysteria!. The town really turns into Sky after dark viewers real quick across the limited eight episode run.

See you for a big few weeks of finales with The Agency, Bookie, Sex Lives of College Girls and local series Black Snow all wrapping real soon.

Summer Streamin' 25 - Silo - Second Season

Silo was a show I recently caught up on season one. Based on the Silo trilogy of novels (Wool, Shift, and Dust) by author Hugh Howey. 

Last month, the Apple TV+ series was renewed for a third season and a concluding fourth season. Giving it time to wrap up and finish the three books.

After watching the first series not long ago, it wasn't too hard to get back into this dystopian future where a community exists in a giant underground silo comprising 144 levels.

Rebecca Ferguson stars as the lead, as an engineer who becomes embroiled in the mysteries of its past and present. 

Joining Ferguson, Rashida Jones, David Oyelowo, Common, Tim Robbins, Harriet Walter, Avi Nash, Rick Gomez, Chinaza Uche, Shane McRae, Remmie Milner, Alexandria Riley, Clare Perkins, Billy Postlethwaite, & Steve Zahn also star.

Both seasons received positive reviews from critics, particularly for the world-building, production design and Ferguson's performance. Apparently though Ferguson may be a little less visible in the third series. Whenever that may land. As Apple TV+ sure have their far share of series on the go.

The much acclaimed Severance just returned as Silo concluded. This followed an almost three year await between seasons.

So where did Silo leave off? SPOILERS BELOW!

Walker works with Knox and the other rebels to use Bernard's camera to send him misinformation. They trick Bernard into sending the raiders below and transferring all rebels up top, after which Pete sacrifices himself to blow up the stairs in between. 

The up top deputies side with the rebels after receiving Billings's message via Sims. Patrick agitates the citizens into a mob that demands answers from Bernard. Lukas tells Bernard what he's learnt and resigns, which causes a despondent Bernard to make Sims his new IT shadow, handing over the vault key and password. 

Sims and his family enter the vault, but the Legacy says only Camille can stay. In Silo 17, Solo tells Juliette about the safeguard, a pipe that can pump enough poison to kill everyone, and how it can be stopped. Juliette uses the firefighter suit and returns to Silo 18, which is seen inside and celebrated, but she shows a message warning them not to leave. 

Juliette enters as Bernard is leaving, and they are locked in the incinerator as it fires up. 

In an apparent flashback in Washington, D.C., a woman named Helen questions a new congressman about the possibility of the US retaliating against Iran for detonating a dirty bomb on US soil.

Could season three act as a prequel season? That is something I would be keen to watch. Also I am getting a little tired of the underground vibe.

Whatever season three maybe, it's 100% confirmed for this growing in popularity Apple TV+ series. Big year ahead for this streamer!

Film Influencer 2025 - Wolf Man

I really wanted to like Leigh Whannell's (former Recovery film critic) Wolf Man.

The reboot of The Wolf Man (1941), the film stars Christopher Abbott, Julia Garner, Matilda Firth and Sam Jaeger, and follows a man seeking to protect his wife and daughter from a werewolf, only to become infected and slowly transform into the creature. 

The film was announced in 2014 and was to be part of the Dark Universe, a shared cinematic universe centered on the Universal Monsters. 

Following the success of Whannell's The Invisible Man (2020) I went into the cinema with high hopes. However the movie (like me on Friday) never really got out of first gear. It sort of struggled a little to ever build tension and pace.

The start of the film was a little slow, with lots of character development. Like lots!

Even Ozark legend Julia Garner, struggled to build excitement in the first half of this film.

Set in Oregon, however principal photography occurred in New Zealand in early 2024. The scenery does look beautiful!

That is definitely one of the highlights. So far, Wolf Man has received mixed reviews from critics. My star rating below the trailer.

The trailer didn't super grab me, however the marketing and cinema emails in the lead up got me excited. Sadly for an average film. In that case I will pass it, but it has nothing on the previous The Invisible Man.

2.5 Stars.

Summer Streamin' 25 - Landman - Season One

Landman is maybe Taylor Sheridan's best series of late. Following all the Yellowstone spin-offs, Lioness and Tulsa King, Landman is funny, raw and real. It's golden age TV.

Based on the podcast Boomtown hosted by Christian Wallace, Landman, stars Billy Bob Thornton in the lead role as a landman at an oil company. 

Paramount+ started streaming the ten part first season mid-November, last year. Concluding early Monday morning, The Crumbs of Hope was almost a movie length episode. Full of drama and plot lines leading into (a hopeful) second season.

No spoilers here for this premium drama though.

So other than Billy Bob Thornton offering some wild, memorable one liners, Landman is set within the world of oilfields in West Texas, where "roughnecks and wildcat billionaires are fuelling a boom so big it’s reshaping our climate, our economy, and our geopolitics."

Thornton's lead character, Tommy Norris, can be abrasive, as is the out-of-town lawyer investigating a fatal accident early in the season.

Alongside Thornton, Jacob Lofland, Ali Larter, Michelle Randolph, Kayla Wallace, James Jordan, Mark Collie, Paulina Chávez, Jon Hamm, Octavio Rodriguez & J.R. Villarreal all star. While Demi Moore plays Hamm's wife.

Whilst being absent for a large chunk of the series, the way things are left off, Moore could be a more major player in season two.

Unofficially too, in May, it was stated by Demi Moore that the series had scored a second season, with production commencing in early 2025.

God I hope this is right. However Paramount+ would be stupid to can this. Alongside a premium Taylor Sheridan drama.

Wanting more Taylor Sheridan? Well, 1923 returns for it's second and final season next month!

Also fingers crossed for news on Tulsa King and Lioness in coming months. Both shows concluded late last year, so come on already Paramount+. With Showtime with Paramount+ dramas also coming to an end soon (The Agency and Dexter prequel), Showtime is finally getting its mojo back.

With Yellowjackets also set to return next month, Paramount+ is on a bit of a roll.

Until next time - BYE!

Summer Streamin' 25 - On Call - Season One

On Call was an unexpected, fast-paced, gripping new cop procedural drama.

I haven't watched much Dick Wolf TV, however I was happy that this was the first series from Dick Wolf to be set in a half-hour format with the running time being 24 minutes.

All eight episodes are streaming now on Prime Video, which follows Long Beach Police Department veteran training officer Traci Harmon and her rookie partner Alex Diaz as they respond to emergency calls on the streets of Long Beach, California while also navigating the fallout of the loss of a fellow officer.

Starring Troian Bellisario and Brandon Larracuente, as the main two beat cops. With support from Eriq LaSalle, Lori Loughlin & Rich Ting.

With a small cast we really get to know Bellisario & Larracuente very well.

I really enjoyed this series. I also wasn't expecting it to be so addictive.

I did think (via reading Wikipedia) this was a miniseries, however episode eight gives us serious hopes for season two.

There is no word on a second season yet, however I feel this is nice, new format for an old story.

So if you get a chance between tennis matches on the Nine network, maybe give this a red hot go.

Also finally Landman will get a post over the weekend. See you then!

Summer Streamin' 25 - Star Wars: Skeleton Crew - Season One

God I wanted to like, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. However like the previous Star Wars trainwreck, The Acolyte, this was awful.

Like just plain awful. Streaming on Disney+, as part of the Star Wars franchise, which has now been flogged so hard the Melbourne Cup horses are already in pain in January, Skeleton Crew was a primary school take on the iconic franchise.

Taking place in the same time frame as the The Mandalorian series and its interconnected spin-offs after the events of the film Return of the Jedi (1983). Skeleton Crew tells a coming-of-age story about four children who make a discovery on their home planet, get lost in the galaxy, and go on an adventure to get back home.

Jude Law is one of few adults in the series, alongside Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Kyriana Kratter, Robert Timothy Smith, & Nick Frost. 

Skeleton Crew landed on Disney+ just in time for the school holidays, commencing at the start of December, with episodes releasing weekly, until this Wednesday. 

Tell me more about the eight episodes? Roughly five years after the fall of the Galactic Empire, four children end up on an adventure to make their way home after being lost in the galaxy following a discovery they make on their home planet At Attin while befriending a Force-user.

SPOILER ALERTS ahead for the average finale. One good thing is, the episodes are super short with super long end credits!

Jod continues to pose as the Republic Emissary and he orders Wim, Neel and KB confined to their quarters while he takes Fern and Fara to meet the Supervisor, which is revealed to be a massive AI droid.

When the Supervisor contradicts his claim about being a Jedi, revealing to have learned of Order 66, Jod is forced to destroy the Supervisor, causing a blackout in the city, as well as shutting down the safety droids. As the pirates invade At Attin with the intent of enslaving the populace, which includes Neel's and KB's parents, Wim, Wendle, Neel and KB race to the Onyx Cinder. 

As the ship is locked in place, Wim distracts Jod so Wendle can restore power, enabling KB to fly the ship past the barrier with a repaired SM-33 to call Kh'ymm for help, shortly before the Onyx Cinder is shot down. 

In a subsequent struggle with Jod, Wim and Fern separate him from his lightsaber while a reluctant Wendle and Fern destroy the barrier, enabling the New Republic forces to arrive to deal with the pirates enough to shoot down the pirates' ship, forcing Jod to admit defeat. Everyone then races to the Onyx Cinder crash site to find KB alive and well. 

The episode ends with Wim looking up at the sky to the arriving New Republic ships in amazement as power is restored to At Attin.

No season two has been confirmed yet, however this was scraping the bottom of the Star Wars barrel. As a massive fan of the space saga back in its hey day, some of these Disney+ series are really taking the piss. Like Marvel its high time, Star Wars take a bit of a break. That's just my opinion.

Summer Streamin' 25 - Tokyo Vice - Season Two/Series Finale

Tokyo Vice joins previously posted Bump as another series that called it a day in 2024.

We lost some big series the past year, however Tokyo Vice (despite being on HBO's streaming platform, Max) never really got out from under the radar.

Streaming on SBS on Demand, based on the 2009 memoir by Jake Adelstein, the first season originally streamed ad-free on Paramount+, however for some reason the series was removed, now it only streams on SBS's platform. 

Starring Ansel Elgort, Ken Watanabe, Rachel Keller, Hideaki Itō, Show Kasamatsu, Ella Rumpf, Rinko Kikuchi, Tomohisa Yamashita, Miki Maya, & Yōsuke Kubozuka. 

The series is set in the late 90's with American aspiring investigative journalist Jake Adelstein (Ansel Elgort) relocates to Tokyo and secures a job at a major Japanese newspaper, becoming their first foreign journalist. 

Taken under the wing of a veteran detective in the organised crime squad, Adelstein delves into the dark and dangerous world of the yakuza whilst living under the city's (and the newspaper's) official line that "murder does not happen in Tokyo".

The real Jake Adelstein in the early 90's became the first non-Japanese staff writer at the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper in Urawa, Saitama, where he worked for 12 years.

After leaving the Yomiuri, Adelstein published an exposé of how an alleged crime boss, Tadamasa Goto, made a deal with the FBI to gain entry to the United States for a liver transplant at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). In 2009, Adelstein published a memoir about his career as a reporter in Japan, Tokyo Vice, in which he accused Goto of threatening to kill him over the story.[5] An April 2022 article by The Hollywood Reporter raised doubts about the veracity of the events described in the memoir.[6] In November 2022, Esquire reported that Adelstein had released via Twitter a folder of source materials which he claimed supported his versions of events.

Adelstein was subsequently a reporter for a United States Department of State investigation into human trafficking in Japan,[8] and now writes for the Daily Beast, Vice News, The Japan Times & other publications. He is a board member and advisor to the Lighthouse: Center for Human Trafficking Victims (formerly Polaris Project Japan).

On April 19, 2011, Adelstein filed a lawsuit against National Geographic Television, which had hired him to help make a documentary about the yakuza, citing ethical problems with their behavior in Japan. However, the court dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning the plaintiff is barred from bringing that claim in another court.

So how does the series wrap? Full details (meaning spoilers) below the trailer.

In the now series finale, endgame, Hiroto and Shoko lead simultaneous raids on Shinzo's properties: the boat reveals his agreement with the FBI. 

Jake (Elgort) is tasked with writing the exposé but Emi realizes the Meicho will not run the story, learning that Ozaki, the leader of the Meicho, destroyed the tape. Hiroto hands the documents to Sato. 

Shinzo abducts Misaki's mother and is lured by her to a hideout led by Sato and the other yakuza clan leaders, including Kazuko: Shinzo commits suicide when confronted. 

Sato is officially appointed oyabun of the chihara-kai. Misaki decides to end it with Jake, while Samantha decides to take an extended break from her current responsibilities. Katagiri claims to have retired, while Maruyama has been offered a new job opportunity if she wants to leave the Meicho. It does all end rather neat and tidy, making me think the producers knew it always had a two season run.

Both seasons received generally positive reviews, with praise for its setting, aesthetic, and characters. With the show concluding in April last year, I am slowly catching up on those 2024 shows.

This is a standout SBS on Demand series. If you haven't already downloaded the free app, get on it now!

Summer Streamin' 25 - Squid Game (Korean: 오징어 게임) - Season 2

The second season of Squid Game, landed like Bump on Boxing Day. Whilst I was on leave, life was busy so this got left a little into the new year. But man this season was addictive. The episodes were long(ish) however they were action packed this time around, making them whiz past.

The second season, stars Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Im Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Wi Ha-joon, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-wook, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-shim, & Jo Yu-ri. 

It picks up three years after Seong Gi-hun won the Squid Game, giving up on going to the United States and returning to the games with the intent of stopping them once and for all. He once again dives into the mysterious survival game, starting another life-or-death game with new participants gathered to win the prize of ₩45.6 billion. 

A side-plot of the season sees Hwang Jun-ho trying to locate Gi-hun with help from hired mercenaries.

The second season has proved the first run wasn't a fluke. Within the first three days of release, the second season had 68 million views, exceeding the highest premiere viewership for Netflix held by the first season of Wednesday at 50.1 million views during its premiere week. 

According to Netflix, the season ranked at No. 1 in 92 countries. 

One complaint though, with the third (and final season), filmed back-to-back with the second season, the last episode kind of just ended. Apparently the third season will be released this year.

Some spoilers below the trailer, so BEWARE!

In Friend or Foe/"Chinguwa Jeok" (Korean: 친구와 적) Captain Park of Jun-ho's team is revealed to be a double agent, having sabotaged their drone. 

Following the bathroom brawl, players realise they can kill others to raise the prize pool and weaken the opposing voters. Gi-hun predicts there will be an attack that night by players who want to continue the game, but convinces a small group of "X" players to avoid attacking, arguing that the game's creators are the true enemies. 

During the anticipated massacre, Gi-hun's group stays hidden as the rest of the group receives heavy losses, and they emerge only once soldiers arrive. Gi-hun's group baits the soldiers, killing all but one and taking their firearms. 

They start a rebellion and force the surviving soldier to lead them to the control room. However, more soldiers open fire en route, and the rebellion starts to falter when the group runs out of ammunition; Dae-ho, tasked with retrieving more ammo, suffers a combat stress reaction and is unable to return. 

Player 001 betrays the group by killing two players and faking his death, while other surrendering players are executed. Gi-hun and Jung-bae are captured. In-ho, now masked as the Front Man, executes Jung-bae in front of a horrified Gi-hun.

So where will we go in the third and final season? Will Seong Gi-hun get his revenge/happy ending with all that cash?

After a slower start with episodes one and two just building the story, then once the games started things accelerated fast!

This was a fun watch. Maybe Squid Game will go down as one of Netflix's biggest titles. With Cobra Kai ending next month, Emily in Paris (or Rome) a way off, the streamer really needs some new hits, not just forgettable fast TV like the Australian production, Territory or The Perfect Couple. Speaking of Australian series, Heartbreak High will also conclude with its third season later this year on Netflix.

Coming up tomorrow more TV our of Asia, it's HBO Max's Tokyo Vice.

Film Influencer 2025 - Conclave

Oh the Catholics! The pope is dead, the throne is vacant, let's watch this drama unfold!

Conclave, starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow & Isabella Rossellini, is doing the rounds now the awards season has started. Well sort of. The California wildfires (in winter BTW) are impacting these now as we speak.

Conclave follows one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events – selecting the new Pope. Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. 

Once the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence uncovers a trail of deep secrets left in the dead Pope’s wake, secrets which could shake the foundations of the Church.

Conclave described as a mystery thriller film. Set in a deeply religious and lavish setting!

Directed by Edward Berger and written by Peter Straughan, based on the 2016 novel by Robert Harris. 

Conclave has taken a minute to get to Australian cinemas, first premiering at the 51st Telluride Film Festival late August 2024. Had a US cinema release (a large number of Hollywood cinemas are also closed now due to the wildfires) back in October 2024, followed by the United Kingdom cinemas in November. 

Conclave has received positive reviews from critics, & grossed $62.1 million worldwide, while being named one of the top ten films of 2024 by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute.

Back to it's spotlight at the awards seasons, the film received nominations for six Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture – Drama and won Best Screenplay, and tied with Wicked for a leading eleven nominations at the 30th Critics' Choice Awards, including Best Picture.

I enjoyed all two hours of Conclave. Yes it was long, but with gripping performances from Lithgow and Fiennes & Tucci, it had me on the end of my seat. Even as someone deeply non religious. The wild process that goes into selecting a new Pope, is like selecting a new member for the deeply divided Northern Beaches seat of Warringah.

This was a solid film, 4 Stars. 

Summer Streamin' 25 - Disclaimer (stylised as DISCLAIMER*) - Miniseries

Disclaimer (stylised as DISCLAIMER*) is one Apple TV+ title I missed late last year. With Shrinking, Bad Sisters and Silo all streaming week-to-week, it was hard to keep up with everything. Including this Golden Globe (and now SAG) nominated miniseries.

This R rated psychological/thriller miniseries written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón, is based on the 2015 novel of the same name by Renée Knight. 

Starring former STC royalty and queen, Cate Blanchett as a documentarian who is forced to confront her past, and Kevin Kline as the father of a boy who died in Italy 20 years earlier. 

Also starring in this all star cast, Borat, I mean Sacha Baron Cohen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Louis Partridge, Leila George, Lesley Manville & features Indira Varma as the narrator.

So what is DISCLAIMER* all about? Catherine Ravenscroft (Blanchett), a famed documentary journalist, discovers she is a prominent character in a novel that purports to reveal a secret she has tried to keep hidden. Catherine built her reputation revealing the misdeeds and transgressions of others. When she receives a novel from an unknown author, she is horrified to realise she is now the main character in a story that exposes her darkest secrets.

As Catherine races to uncover the writer’s true identity, she is forced to confront her past before it destroys both her own life and her relationships with her husband Robert (Sacha Baron Cohen) and their son Nicholas (Kodi Smit-McPhee)

The story is revealed in a non-linear fashion with scenes alternating between a holiday in Italy (young Catherine’s encounter with Jonathan and his subsequent death by drowning) and back home in London twenty years later (the truth emerges, the consequences). 

The series also uses the technique of unreliable narrator in that the events in Italy are told twice: first from Nancy's speculative point of view and later from Catherine's first person experience. Leading to a monster conclusion in episode seven. Watch out spoilers below the trailer. 

In the seventh and final episode, Catherine reveals to Stephen that Jonathan broke into her hotel room, held her at knifepoint, forced her to pose for his photos, then repeatedly raped her before leaving. 

The next day, Jonathan did indeed drown saving Nicholas; Catherine had collected physical evidence of her rape, but got rid of it after Jonathan died, wanting her memory of the experience to die with him. As Catherine finishes her story, she realizes that Stephen has drugged her tea and collapses; Stephen then returns to the hospital to kill Nicholas, but relents when he awakens and calls for his mother. 

Stephen, finally accepting what Catherine told him, informs Robert, who is overcome with guilt. Catherine awakens and rushes to the hospital where she reunites with her family. 

In the aftermath, Stephen burns all the copies of The Perfect Stranger, Jonathan's photos, and Nancy's belongings, while contemplating suicide. He discovers that one of the photos shows young Nicholas witnessing his mother's rape. 

Unable to forgive Robert for what she’s been through, Catherine chooses to divorce him, and later reconciles with Nicholas.

This is seriously good TV. It also continues Apple's brilliant run of titles in late 2024. It was a stellar year for Apple with Shrinking, this and Bad Sisters all becoming big and bigger hits! This year Severance finally returns, Silo will conclude it's second season and one can only hope The Morning Show finally returns.

Apple TV+ is really leading the charge when it comes to quality over quantity (looking at you Netflix) content. Brilliant work!

31st Annual SAG Awards - My Picks

This morning the SAG nominations were announced. My tradition of "My Picks" in Red + BOLD continues with my first time having a crack at the SAG Awards!

Let's see how I go. 

TELEVISION

DRAMA ENSEMBLE

Bridgerton

The Day of the Jackal

The Diplomat

Shōgun

Slow Horses

DRAMA ACTRESS

Kathy Bates, Matlock

Nicola Coughlan, Bridgerton

Allison Janney, The Diplomat

Keri Russell, The Diplomat

Anna Sawai, Shōgun

DRAMA ACTOR

Tadanobu Asano, Shōgun

Jeff Bridges, The Old Man

Gary Oldman, Slow Horses

Eddie Redmayne, The Day of the Jackal

Hiroyuki Sanada, Shōgun

COMEDY ENSEMBLE

Abbott Elementary

The Bear

Hacks

Only Murders in the Buidling

Shrinking

COMEDY ACTRESS

Kristen Bell, Nobody Wants This

Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary

Liza Colón-Zayas, The Bear

Ayo Edebiri, The Bear

Jean Smart, Hacks

COMEDY ACTOR

Adam Brody, Nobody Wants This

Ted Danson, A Man on the Inside

Harrison Ford, Shrinking

Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building

Jeremy Allen White, The Bear

TV-MOVIE OR MINISERIES — FEMALE ACTOR

Kathy Bates, The Great Lillian Hall

Cate Blanchett, Disclaimer

Jodie Foster, True Detective: Night Country

Lily Gladstone, Under the Bridge

Jessica Gunning, Baby Reindeer

Cristin Milioti, The Penguin

TV-MOVIE OR MINISERIES — MALE ACTOR

Javier Bardem, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story

Colin Farrell, The Penguin

Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer

Kevin Kline, Disclaimer

Andrew Scott, Ripley

STUNT ENSEMBLE

The Boys

Fallout

House of the Dragon

The Penguin

Shōgun

FILM

CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE

Anora

A Complete Unknown

Conclave

Emilia Pérez

Wicked

FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Pamela Anderson, The Last Showgirl

Cynthia Erivo, Wicked

Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez

Mikey Madison, Anora

Demi Moore, The Substance

MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Adrien Brody, The Brutalist

Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown

Daniel Craig, Queer

Colman Domingo, Sing Sing

Ralph Fiennes, Conclave

FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown

Jamie Lee Curtis, The Last Showgirl

Danielle Deadwyler, The Piano Lesson

Ariana Grande, Wicked

Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez

MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Jonathan Bailey, Wicked

Yura Borisov, Anora

Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain

Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown

Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice

STUNT ENSEMBLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

Deadpool & Wolverine

Dune: Part Two

The Fall Guy

Gladiator II

Wicked

Summer Streamin' 25 - Bump - Season Five/Series Finale

Bump is one of Australia's most loved and long running series of recent times. Streaming on Channel Nine (mostly) operated Stan. The series is created by Claudia Karvan and Kelsey Munro.

Originally streaming New Year's Day 2021. The series concluded Boxing Day 2024. Now I did finish this series last night. However like Karvan in Love My Way, an episode left me shook.

Episode nine of this season had me in tears. Cinders was one of the most beautiful, honest TV episodes I have ever seen. Maybe since Love My Way's unexpected first season episode.

From the first season Bump centres around a high-achieving teenage girl and her boyfriend, both still at school, who have a surprise baby, and the complications that ensue for them, their extended families, and friends.

Bump has always been a drama about Nathalie Morris as Olympia 'Oly' Chalmers-Davis who is super ambitious, has a surprise baby; and explores unplanned motherhood, unwelcome new relatives, unintended consequences and the complications that ensue for two families.

Carlos Sanson Jnr as Santiago 'Santi' Hernández and Oly have a wonderful TV romance across all five seasons. From having their first baby whilst still being stuck in school, to a second baby and successful careers.

At next year's AACTA Awards, or this year's Logies Claudia Karvan as Angie Davis (Oly's mum) needs to be win, big.

It is hard with such a quality series landing on Boxing Day and for folks like me getting to it in the New Year. I really don't want this series forgotten when it comes to award season in Australia.

The entire cast did such a brilliant job with the finale season. Angus Sampson as Dom Chalmers, Angie's ex husband even had one of the most heartfelt moments of the season. Usually saved for humour, Sampson stepped up in episode nine, hard.

I was a real wreck watching that episode, lucky episode ten, Rebirth, changed gears again. The season was interesting like that. With a couple of time jumps back and forth, the final few episodes really gave the show a final, swan song.

What will Stan replace this popular, Aussie family comedy-drama with next Boxing Day/NYE/NYD period?

Scrublands is set to return this year. Black Snow's third episode of the (so far) brilliant second season. Apparently C*A*U*G*H*T is returning for a second season. Finally Channel Nine's Human Error will stream at the end of January. Yes I could have watched it with annoying ad's on Channel Nine's catch up service. But yeah-nah. I'll wait, I'm good.

Until next time, get some tissues ready for the beautiful final season of Bump. Already a front runner for my Summer Streamin' 25 RATED list. So early on. I know!

Summer Streamin' 25 - The Lake - Seasons One-Two/Series Finale

The Lake is an Amazon Canadian title. Making this Amazon's first scripted Canadian Amazon Original series, originally landing in June, 2022. The plot is based in part on the real-life experiences of series creator Julian Doucet.

The Lake was renewed for a second season, which arrived the following June, 2023. Around this time last year, Jordan Gavaris (who plays the lead, Justin) announced The Lake was not renewed for a third season.

So for me, this was a super easy summer watch. All sixteen episodes, over two seasons. 

So what's The Lake all about? After returning from abroad following a breakup with his long-term partner, Justin plans to connect with his teenage daughter he gave up for adoption. His plans to make new memories with her at the family cottage go awry when he discovers his parents left it to his picture-perfect stepsister, Maisy-May (Stiles).

Alongside Jordan Gavaris (plays lead Justin), with 10 Things I Hate About You & Save the Last Dance star Julia Stiles. Honestly where has Stiles been?

Also starring Madison Shamoun, Jon Dore, Carolyn Scott, Natalie Lisinska, Travis Nelson, Declan Whaley, & Terry Chen. With Lauren Holly, Max Amani, & Jhaleil Swaby joining in the second season.

The series was filmed in North Bay, Ontario, Canada.

This was one of the easiest watches I have completed this entire Summer Streamin' 24/Summer Streamin' 25.

The show was high camp, easy to keep up and one of Amazon's most camp titles.

While we are talking about Amazon, they do have a fairly exciting 2025 line up. Deadloch will finally be back for season two. This time based up north in the Top End. Speaking of the Top End, we will also Top End Bub. The sequel to Top End Wedding.

Also (hopefully) we will get the final seasons of Upload and The Boys. I wouldn't mind seeing The Boys spin-off series Gen V return too.

Until then, enjoy the new Summer Streamin' 25 series. Finales for Silo, Landman, The Agency, Sex Lives of College Girls and more coming this month!

Film Influencer 2025 - Nosferatu

New year, new movie series. U like? Film Influencer 2025, will be the one stop, movie review spot! No I am no influencer, to be honest I don't even know what one is or does for that matter.

However I do love film. I want to influence you to see the good, not the bad. Or maybe just warn you about the bad. Just so you can't say, I didn't warn you, but I did!

2025, a new year and hopefully some new hope for cinema in 2025. Let's just say 2024 was a little, underwhelming. Kinda like a singer you likes Christmas record. What I can bad mouth Christmas albums now! It's the new year OK!

Nosferatu is my first film for 2025!

I am a huge True Blood fan, I didn't really vibe Twilight, but there was eye candy. This was no Hollywood vampire film.

Directed by Robert Eggers, this was a remake of the 1922 silent film Nosferatu, which was inspired by Bram Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula. 

Starring Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, The Idol's Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson, Simon McBurney & Willem Dafoe.

This film has been planned for a good minute. With filming took place primarily at Barrandov Studios in Prague, Czech Republic back in February-May 2023.

Nosferatu has received positive reviews from critics and has grossed $56 million worldwide to date.

While the film is dark, it is lots of fun. However be warned, it is long. You all know my thoughts on a long film.

Even in 2025, I will rage on films for clocking in at over 2 hours. Nosferatu goes just over at 2 hours, 12 minutes.

I did enjoy most of the film. It was a sell out, the session I attended. Which I put down largely to the fact adults have been ignored (again) this year at the cinema for end of year/early new year releases.

Nosferatu is definitely not for the school holidays, however for adults it is exceptionally entertaining.

Well acted, intense and oddly romantic.

3.5 Stars.

Summer Streamin' 25 - Interior Chinatown - Miniseries

I really, really, really wanted to like Interior Chinatown. Which on the title screen is stylised onscreen as INT. CHINATOWN. However, there is a massive BUT. I will come to that soon.

Created by Charles Yu, based on his 2020 novel of the same name. His novel won the National Book Award the year it was published. Starring Silicon Valley legend, Jimmy O. Yang as a waiter in Chinatown who is thrust into the spotlight after witnessing a crime. 

Alongside Yang, almost Australian, Ronny Chieng stars with, Chloe Bennet, Sullivan Jones, Lisa Gilroy, Diana Lin, Archie Kao, Tzi Ma, Lauren Tom and full time Australian hottie, Chris Pang. 

In Australia, the ten episodes stream on Disney+, outside of Oz, it streamed on Hulu last November.

Yes before Christmas was hectic, so I missed this little treat. Sadly in my opinion, this show would have worked way better as a 20-30 minute comedy run, in place of longer 40 odd minute episodes, with a little but too much filler.

So what's Interior Chinatown all about?

Willis Wu is a background character stuck in a police procedural called Black and White. One day he accidentally witnesses a crime, and as he investigates, he starts to uncover family secrets and a Chinatown criminal underground, while learning how it feels to be in the spotlight.

Throughout the ten episodes, I wanted so much to love this. I really enjoy Yang and Chieng's humour at the best of times, however this just felt drawn out. So spoilers below. Here is how Willis. Willis Wu, the finale goes down.

The Painted Faces were friends of Jonathan and reveal that their lives are being watched. Willis flees when police arrive and calls upon Turner and Lana. Lana confirms that the company called Hulu is behind the strange events. 

An event honouring Lily's work is being held at the Golden Palace and the gang race there with Green also arriving. Lily quits Betty's team after suffering a moral dilemma. Turner and Green make amends and resume partnership, while Willis also makes amends with Fatty who started a relationship with Audrey. As the police close in, Willis and Lana race to the roof with cameras on them. Willis decides to tell his story, accepting that he is just a regular guy. 

Lana, who realises that Jonathan was communicating within an arcade game, pushes herself and Willis off the roof where they both fall into a dumpster. Willis ends up in a purgatory where he happily reunites with Jonathan. All the events are revealed to be a script that Willis is writing. He is introduced to his new assistant, Lana, as this reality is revealed to be a show as well.

Slightly random, slightly offbeat, this is not your average cop show or comedy. If you need something to look at over the break, all ten episodes of Interior Chinatown stream now on Disney+.

#RATED - Summer Streamin' 24

Summer was a little delayed, however when it hit, it really hit with a gusto! Firstly though, Happy 2025!

With US network series back on the streamers, I had a hectic week-to-week schedule October to early December. However I did catch up with a few binges I missed. There were a few big series finales this quarter. Yellowstone, Somebody Somewhere, Power Book II: Ghost, with The Old Man getting axed this month, therefore its season two finale, acts as a series finale.

There were loads of Aussie series returning or new titles across the last three months. ABC was going off with content like the return of Fisk, new series Plum and The Newsreader set to launch in February for the third and final season.

It was a massive quarter of TV to be honest. I caught up on a number of titles, smashed new and returning series and waited for news of renewals and cancellations ahead of what to view in 2025. I must say I am very excited to see The White Lotus return mid-February next year.

Speaking of The White Lotus, HBO has also been busy this quarter with The Franchise, The Penguin, Somebody Somewhere, the odd It's Florida, Man and the recently renewed Dune film spin-off, Dune: Prophecy.

Interesting to see one HBO tops my list, one is right down at number fifty. Scroll down to reveal. 

Before we get into my 50 shows of the last three months. 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'

New Financial Year 2024/2025 Streaming

1. Somebody Somewhere - Season Three/Series Final / English Teacher - Season One (TIE)

2. Rivals - Season One

3. Fisk - Season Three (AU)

4. Cross - Season One

5. Grotesquerie - Season One

6. American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez - Season One

7. Shrinking - Season Two

8. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives - Season One

9. American Horror Stories - Season Three (B)

10. The Office - Season One (AU)

11. Yellowstone - Season Five/Series Final

12. Dating Naked UK - Season One

13. Four Years Later - Miniseries (AU)

14. The Penguin - Miniseries

15. It's Florida, Man - Season One

16. Reasonable Doubt - Season Two

17. Plum - Season One (AU)

18. Bad Sisters - Season Two

19. Tulsa King - Season Two

20. Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story

21. Cruel Intentions - Season One

22. Based on a True Story - Season Two

23. Power Book II: Ghost - Season 4/Series Finale

24. Only Murders in the Building - Season Four

25. Last Days of the Space Age - Miniseries (AU)

26. Last King of the Cross - Season Two (AU)

27. Lioness - Season Two

28. Laid - Season One

29. Bad Monkey - Season 1

30. Slow Horses - Season 4

31. Nacho - Miniseries

32. Territory - Miniseries (AU)

33. Sweetpea - Season One (Renewed)

34. Teacup - Season One

35. Tell Me Lies - Season Two

36. Emily in Paris - Season Four

37. The Sticky - Season One

38. The Old Man - Season Two/Series Finale

39. Get Millie Black - Miniseries

40. Joan - Miniseries

41. Agatha All Along - Miniseries

42. Superman & Lois - Season Four/Series Finale

43. Thou Shalt Not Steal - Season One (AU)

44. Snowpiercer - Season 4/Series Finale

45. The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol - Season Two

46. Dead and Buried - Miniseries

47. Nightsleeper - Miniseries

48. Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist - Miniseries

49. Dune: Prophecy - Season One

50. The Franchise - Season One