Bait is yet another Amazon binge for me whilst being on Easter leave. Gosh pre-Easter, the full moon, it was a lot!
This British limited 6-part television series created by + starring Riz Ahmed. Now Ahmed was in one of the best miniseries of all time on HBO (in my mind). The Night Of was incredible. HBO at its best. In it's 2016 prime!
Now on Prime, or Amazon, Ahmed is a struggling British Pakistani actor as he auditions for the role of James Bond amid public backlash and family relationships.
Bait had its world premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, being released for streaming late last month. Thus far, Bait ha received positive reviews from critics. What did I think? Check out a brief public holiday/long weekend take below the trailer.
An actor (Ahmed) in London suffers an existential crisis while auditioning for the role of James Bond. Alongside Ahmed, Guz Khan, Sheeba Chaddha, Aasiya Shah, Ritu Arya, Weruche Opia & Sajid Hasan also star in the six episode limited series.
This is also a rare 20-30 minute series on Amazon. The last I loved was axed after one season. Dick Wolf's On Call.
I wanted to like this. Amazon has been on a roll. Deadloch was incredible. Cross was a fun ride. The Boys final season starts next week.
So I was a little sad to be disappointed by this.
I love Ahmed, I liked the meta concept, however I just didn't find it that funny.
That said, I may not be the target market. Either way, critics love it, so check it out now on Amazon. If you are keen for some long weekend streaming.
Public Holiday Fest Streaming 26' is the new TV series right up until the new financial year on July 1st.
Now I live in NSW. We have very limited public holidays. However, over the next three months we got:
Good Friday - Today
Easter Monday - Next week
Anzac Day make up day - Monday 27 April
Kings Birthday - Monday 8 June
So it doesn't seem like a lot but July - September, there are none. When I lived in British Columbia, Canada, we had like one a month! So April is exciting AF!
So this allowed me to catch up on some Amazon series (like back in Fiji). Cross (which concluded last month) was first up!
Based on the Alex Cross novel series written by James Patterson, starring Aldis Hodge, Isaiah Mustafa, & Juanita Jennings.
The second season was released back in mid-February, airing episodes weekly. Unlike most Amazon series which of late however been a binge affair.
Last month, the series was renewed for a third season. Upon the second season renewal announcement, Jeanine Mason. Along with Wes Chatham, Matthew Lillard & Michelle C. Bonilla.
Amazon does these Jack Ryan, Reacher, male lead crime/action series well. Cross has a few more twists, with less action sequences. However its still damn fine TV.
Aldis Hodge is hot AF! He fits into every outfit like a glove. Then when he has his shirt off. LORDY!
Season one was a big hit on the service. This is the third incarnation of Alex Cross in films or on television. Season two expands on that and gets deeper than season one did.
Season two gets more in-depth on Cross (Hodge), Kayla Craig (Alona Tal), and John Sampson (Mustafa).
Each of the three main characters in season two have their own agendas and storylines that they’re involved in. As always, each season of the show is based on an original that was inspired by the book series.
This season is based on another original story. Pieced together with story elements from season one. This serialised season is broken up to focus on all of the main characters. Each of their stories are very effective in helping to develop their characters and move them forward.
The main story featuring Alex Cross is about a corrupt businessman named Lance Durand (Lillard), the CEO of Crestview Industries. He has a seed that can grow anywhere so he can help people in any country grow food to help starvation and low income families in poor areas of the world. The problem is that he’s using child labor to do his work in his factories around the country.
To get such a lofty lifestyle, he had to leave some collateral damage in his wake. Which in turn, caused some people to want to seek revenge for that collateral damage. It’s an investigation he’s working on with Kayla Craig from the FBI once again. This is a far-reaching investigation that goes to Chicago, the Texas/Mexico border, and Sunrise, Florida. It’s the kind of story that I’ve loved regarding this character.
Two supporting stories revolve around Tal’s character and Simpson’s characters. One deals with something from her path that has creeped up through the cracks and could threaten her career. The other is about a family member who has come back into his life after thought gone for years. The problem is this thought gone family member was arrested for murder and her relative has to investigate said murder to try to prove her innocent, but that doesn’t change their relationship at all. Which is very complicated at best.
The two subplots support the main story very well. They all intertwine together to give the show a well layered experience. Throw in a third with Hodges’ character and the series ups the antenna from season one.
If you like crime thrillers, Cross is 100% for you!
See you for another Amazon series Bait real soon. Bye for now and drive safe, stay safe, this glorious long weekend!
Hows that humidity? Along with nearly 30 degree days everyday. So much for autumn in March. I'm happy with my Scorchin' Summer Streamin' 26 assessment for the last three months in TV.
Aussie content wise, the first three months of the new year have been big, with Sunny Nights and Dear Life on Stan, Goolagong and Dog Park on ABC & Run on Binge.
Q2 is looking big too, with catch ups on the final season of Heartbreak High, Bad Company and Urzila Carlson's sketch series both landing on ABC soon.
This quarter (helped along by Fiji streaming) was even bigger than part one of summer streamin'. 46 series this quarter! SHIT! Some catch ups but a lot of content dropping and smashing this summer.
Amazon has continued its dominance. Scoring another number one, with local series Deadloch's second NT based season. I am halfway through Cross and Bait, with a catch up lined up for Scarpetta and The Boys final season kicking off soon. Plus the Legally Blonde. Elle series incoming!
Australian titles from Stan, ABC, SBS and Binge did well making the top 20 this season. Apple TV, gave some of the best (Down Cemetery Road) and worst (Palm Royale) of TV these past few months. With the latter getting served a cancellation. It should have always been the proposed OG miniseries idea if you asked me.
Either way, here is my full list of this steamy, humid, nasty ass summer streaming below.
So until those series debut, here is a look at the past three months. Before that, go waste your time with my previous quarterly RATED's!
1. Deadloch - Season Two (AU) 2. Landman - Season Two 3. Dear Life - Miniseries (AU) 4. Down Cemetery Road - Season One 5. Dog Park - Season One (AU) 6. The Madison - Season One 7. The Beauty - Season One 8. Steal - Miniseries 9. Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette 10. Industry - Season Four 11. Black Bird - Miniseries 12. Blue Murder Motel - Season One (NZ) 13. Spartacus: House of Ashur - Season One 14. Homebodies - Miniseries (AU) 15. Paradise - Season Two 16. Fallout - Season Two 17. The Better Sister - Miniseries 18. Goolagong - Miniseries (AU) 19. 9-1-1 - Season Eight 20. Run - Miniseries (AU) 21. Sunny Nights - Season One (AU) 22. Dept. Q - Season One 23. The Copenhagen Test - Season One 24. It's Florida, Man - Season Two 25. Squid Game 오징어 게임 - Season Three/Series Finale 26. Hostage - Miniseries 27. The Night Manager - Season Two 28. The Narrow Road to the Deep North - Miniseries (AU) 29. The 'Burbs - Season One 30. ted Season Two/Series Finale 31. Long Bright River - Miniseries 32. His & Hers - Miniseries 33. Power Book IV: Force - Season Three/Series Finale 34. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms - Season One 35. The Imposter - Miniseries (AU) 36. Happiness - Season One (NZ) 37. Agatha Christie's Seven Dials - Miniseries 38. The Nowhere Man - Season One 39. Red Eye - Season Two 40. Tell Me Lies - Season Three/Series Finale 41. Monster: The Ed Gein Story 42. School Spirits - Season Three 43. Wonder Man - Season One/Renewed for Season Two, not a Miniseries 44. Girl Taken - Miniseries 45. Palm Royale - Season Two/Series Finale 46. 56 Days - Season One