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
Paradise just concluded its second run starring Sterling K. Brown, Julianne Nicholson, & guest James Marsden.
The post-apocalyptic political thriller has received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise for its premise, writing, and performances (particularly those of Brown, Nicholson, and Marsden). At the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, the series received a nomination for Outstanding Drama Series and acting nominations for Brown, Nicholson, and Marsden.
Earlier this month, the series was renewed for a third season.
Season two was never just about the bunker! Xavier searches for Teri out in the world and learns how people survived the three years since ‘The Day’. Back in Paradise, the social fabric frays and new secrets are uncovered about the city's origins.
I did love the first season. The second season was highly enjoyable, with a third season potentially planned as the finale. These shows with bir premises seem to have a short life span. Also unlike a lot of streaming series, this one was back after less than a year.
This is rare in this day and age. So how'd the big finale go down? Doom scroll below for more. Be warned! Season two also saw, Shailene Woodley, Thomas Doherty, Michael McGrady, Timothy Omundson, Ryan Michelle Bathe & Patrick Fischler joined the cast.
Before the disaster, Dylan presents Miller with an AI quantum supercomputer, which Redmond helps to develop. However, the AI, named after Miller’s ill wife Alex, begins to manipulate time and Miller requests for the project to be shut down.
In the present, Redmond learns that Alex has started to make correct predictions about events, with the next predicted event being her own death. With Redmond gone and the militia approaching, Torabi orders the doors to be opened in order to stabilise the reactors. However, the cooling systems explode, killing Anders and injuring Robinson, and Torabi is forced to order the bunker’s evacuation.
The militia enters and aids the evacuation, and Collins and Teri reunite with James. Dylan helps Redmond and Collins in rescuing their daughters, Geiger dies trying to fix the cooling system, and the militia rescues Robinson and Jeremy.
Dylan and Collins experience nosebleeds after seeing each other, and Collins persuades Dylan to abandon Alex after revealing that his and Annie’s daughter is with them. Redmond tells Dylan that she is his mother, and she asks Collins to head to a second bunker containing Alex, before sacrificing herself to contain the reactors’ explosion inside the bunker doors.
Collins narrowly avoids the doors closing and reunites with his family, while Dylan meets his daughter for the first time.
Bring on season three. Let's hope it continues the release flow and lands early 2027. Can you believe we are talking about 2027 already! Shit! That concludes the Scorchin' Summer Streamin' 26 series.
Homebodies is a bold, surprising and heartfelt Australian family drama that explores the courage it takes to accept the ghosts of our past.
Starring Bump favourite, Claudia Karvan, Luke Wiltshire & Jazi Hall.
Following Darcy (Wiltshire), a trans man who reluctantly returns to his regional hometown to care for his estranged mother Nora (Karvan). But home isn’t as he left it. Nora has been living with a secret housemate: Dee (Hall), the teenage ghost of Darcy’s pre-transition self.
Homebodies is another one of those short and sharp miniseries on SBS On Demand .
This six × 10 minute series was recently selected for the prestigious Series Mania festival in France. So being that short (compared to recent local series, Deadloch) this was a one night and done affair.
Lead, Luke Wiltshire is terrific, whilst Claudia Karvan brings a name to this SBS original. She will also soon star in The Airport Chaplin. This also takes us back to a shirt lived series on Foxtel, Sprited. Which also starred Karvan.
This felt, original, bold and eye opening. It was beautifully told and shot across NSW.
We have had a solid, diverse and fascinating first quarter of local TV in 2026. I managed to sneak this in ahead of Q2's new blog series.
Tonight Paradise wraps on Disney+, then the RATED for the last few HOT months lands.
They Will Kill You stars Zazie Beetz, Industry's Myha’La, Paterson Joseph, Tom Felton, Heather Graham, & Patricia Arquette.
The film unleashes a blood-soaked, high-octane horror-action-comedy in which a young woman must survive the night at the Virgil, a demonic cult’s mysterious and twisted death-trap of a lair, before becoming their next offering in a uniquely brazen, big screen battle of epic kills and wickedly dark humour.
The plot follows an ex-convict who answers an ad to be a housekeeper at a mysterious New York City high-rise, not realising she is entering a community that has seen a number of disappearances over the years.
They Will Kill You has received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $2 million thus far.
I see exactly why its had mixed reviews. It started OK, then it just went bat shit crazy!
Honestly by the end I was ready for bed. This was a lot.
So much blood, but a lot of the time the kills were for no reason. See the film and you'll get it.
Honestly I have seen some solid films in 2026, sadly this wasn't all that. I have to hold a standard here in 2026. This film sadly isn't going to pass.
Love Story is an American biographical romance anthology television series created by Connor Hines and executive produced by Ryan Murphy, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, D.V. DeVincentis, Kim Rosenstock, and Hines.
This is the fifth instalment in the American Story media franchise, streaming in Australia on Disney+.
The first season, John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette, charts the whirlwind courtship and marriage of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.
The limited series that explores the undeniable chemistry, whirlwind courtship and high-profile marriage of one of the most iconic couples of the 20th century.
The first instalment in Ryan Murphy’s “Love Story” anthology is inspired by Elizabeth Beller’s book “Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.”
The USA/the world, watched John F. Kennedy Jr. grow from a boy to a beloved bachelor and media sensation. She was a star in her own right. Fiercely independent and with a singular style, she rose from being a sales assistant to an executive at Calvin Klein, and became a trusted confidante of its eponymous founder.
As their love story unfolded on a national stage, the intense fame and media attention that came along with it threatened to rip them apart. The series charts the complex and heartbreaking journey of a couple whose private love became a national obsession.
It has undoubtedly been Ryan Murphy TV season. The Beauty just wrapped, 9-1-1 and the spin-off Nashville are currently also streaming on Disney+.
Ryan Murphy is TV royalty. This was back to his best. A short nine episode, highly glamorous season. High fashion, great soundtrack and loads of drama!
The finale was of course heartbreaking by Constance Zimmer, as Ann Messina Freeman, Carolyn's mother. Losing both her daughters in that plane crash.
Also starring Sarah Pidgeon as lead, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, local Naomi Watts as Jackie Kennedy, and Paul Kelly would lead the series as John F. Kennedy Jr.
This was a solid watch. Also a Disney+ title, Paradise season two will wrap early next week. The Scorchin' Summer Streamin' 26 series is almost done. Autumn also finally landed yesterday. Took a hot minute!
Oh Deadloch, Australia's is funniest black comedy crime mystery created by Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan.
Starring Kate Box, Madeleine Sami, Alicia Gardiner, and Nina Oyama. Deadloch's second season landed last week on Prime Video.
Returning home to Darwin to investigate Bushy's death Eddie and Dulcie are thrown into a murder case of a local icon.
Detectives Dulcie Collins and Eddie Redcliffe are in Darwin to investigate the death of Eddie’s former policing partner Bushy. However, their plans are soon diverted when a body part is discovered in a remote town called Barra Creek. With the Northern Territory police force focused on a large-scale search for two missing backpackers, Dulcie and a very reluctant Eddie are tasked with identifying the John Doe.
Sticky, sweaty and juggling comprehensive thrush infections, the detectives find themselves embroiled in a world of crocodile-fuelled tourism, overstretched Indigenous rangers, cagey locals, and seven-metre prehistoric predators – all of whom call Barra Creek’s stretch of land, and water, their home.
As the humidity builds, and Eddie and Dulcie dig deeper, more questions arise for our duo – not only about the case, but the many secrets that lie beneath the surface of this small town.
With season one favourites, Luke Hemsworth joins season two as Jason Wade, alsongside Mentos AKA, Jean Tong as Leo Lee, Genevieve Morris as Pat Heffernan, Steve Bisley as Frank McCallister, Sharri Sebbens as Miki Evans, Damien Garvey as Superintendent Col Culkin, Anthony J Sharpe as DJ Darrell, Ling Cooper Tang as Lynn, Bev Killich as Colleen Darrell & Talijah Blackman Corowa as Alira.
In the action packed finale, Dulcie finds herself in the centre of an illegal operation, and inches closer to the truth at the heart of the case. While at Don's funeral, tensions in the Darrell family erupt as the rains begin to fall.
This was excellent. I enjoyed the backdrop of the NT. The heat, the swearing, the Dulcie/Eddie duo. This needs to come back for season three. I can wait! This was gold!
Amazon needs local content. This and Top End Bub need to return to the NT, stat!
I reckon a Canberra series of Deadloch could be incredible. Or Adelaide. The options are endless.
This was TOP viewing. A late entry to the Scorchin' Summer Streamin' 26, however it is top notch! I didn't think all six episodes were to drop at once. I was imagining this series to land in my autumn TV series.
Q1 has had some solid content. A lot has been on Amazon. Well done Jeff!
The Madison has had one of the most random release schedules of recent times. The Taylor Sheridan/ Paramount+ series, gave us three episodes a week over two weeks, totalling six episodes.
The Madison follows the Clyburn family, originally from New York City, who relocate to the Madison River valley of southwest Montana for emotional recovery following a major life-changing tragedy that both shocks and permanently changes the family.
Michelle Pfeiffer & Kurt Russell lead as the heads of the family, alongside Beau Garrett, Patrick J. Adams, Elle Chapman, Amiah Miller, Alaina Pollack, Ben Schnetzer, Kevin Zegers, Rebecca Spence, & Lost's Matthew Fox.
Last August, (way) ahead of the series premiere, The Madison was renewed for a second season.
So production on this Yellowstone style drama kicked off a while back. The first season began in August 2024, with recording set to take place in Montana, New York, and Texas. Over six weeks was spent shooting in Three Forks, Montana before moving to Boulder in early November.
Crews then moved to Dallas & Fort Worth, Texas later in the month, with with Downtown Fort Worth eventually standing-in for the New York City-set scenes. Filming there continued into December before wrapping that year.
The second season followed a similar filming schedule in 2025. To accommodate Russel's availability all of his scenes in the first season were shot alongside the season two.
Filming started in September in Montana and shifted to Dallas, Denton, and Fort Worth in December. In Texas, the second season held soundstages at new studios co-owned by Sheridan and Glasser in Alliance.Shooting then wrapped shortly before Christmas.
The Madison has had mixed reviews, the SMH weren't kind with a two star review today. However I liked this.
Paramount+ has some solid series right now. Weekly Y: Marshals, a Yellowstone story, NCIS Sydney, with Unspeakable: The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey coming.
56 Days is a buzzy thriller series on Amazon Prime Video. Lots of media interest reporting "lot's" of sex. Realistically though, compared to Pornhub, this was nothing! So TAME
Developed by Karyn Usher and Lisa Zwerling, based on Catherine Ryan Howard's 2022 novel of the same name, and executive produced by James Wan. Yes that Aussie James Wan, who does like MEGAN, Saw, decent stuff. Well this isn't decent, it's trashy AF. Almost not in a good way trashy!
Starring hunky, Avan Jogia, alongside Dove Cameron, Karla Souza, & Dorian Crossmond Missick.
Over eight episodes, the series alternates between two timelines, following Oliver and Ciara's relationship after meeting in a supermarket, and 56 days later, when a corpse is found in their apartment with two detectives trying to uncover what happened.
Landing mid-February, I'm almost up to date with my Amazon series. Just have Cross season two and local series Deadloch to watch. The later only returned Friday with all six episodes.
So give me more info on this trashy, not that sexy series. Oliver Kennedy (Jogia) and Ciara Wyse ( Cameron) start an intense relationship after meeting in a supermarket but police fear it has ended in murder after an unidentifiable body is found.
This was LAME AF in my mind.
With hunky Avan Jogia, James Wan behind the scenes, I was expecting more. Not to mention the hype the series received online.
Amazon has had a CRACKING start to 2026. Steal, The Night Manager and Scarpetta all in the first quarter. Deadloch and Cross returning. The Boys next month! They are shitting on Netflix right about now!
This is a solid AF lineup!
So back to 56 Days, this gave solid, everything is wrapped up miniseries vibes, so I may change this when I publish RATED for Q1, 2026. Here's a line about the dreary finale.
Karl and Lee put together some final pieces to truly understand everything about Oliver and Ciara's intense, charged and fatal love affair.
Well that proved Amazon need to stick to their macho male series, teeny bopper Summer I Turned Pretty's or The Boys franchise. Cause this ain't it!
Before stepping into Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, I was sure I saw the OG at the cinema. And yes I did. It was back in a simpler time. The series that year was Cinema Slut #2019. Here is my review from back then.
This serves as a direct sequel to Ready or Not, with Samara Weaving reprising her role as Grace MacCaullay.
Alongside Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, David Cronenberg, & Elijah Wood all star.
Set immediately after the events of the first film, it follows Grace (Weaving) as she must protect her estranged sister while being hunted by four rival elite families in a high-stakes ritual to claim a seat of ultimate power.
Grace discovers she’s reached the next level of the nightmarish game and this time with her estranged sister Faith (Newton) at her side.
Grace has one chance to survive, keep her sister alive, and claim the High Seat of the Council that controls the world. Four rival families are hunting her for the throne, and whoever wins rules it all.
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come premiered at the 2026 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival earlier this month. The sequel has thus far received generally positive reviews from critics.
What did I think though? I gave the original 3.5 stars, how will the sequel fair?
Look this was a bit of Friday fun. The cinema was mostly packed too! Is cinema making a comeback? Is horror always going to dominate?
A lot of questions. No answers. Just this was a bit of fun. Samara Weaving is fab. Whilst getting TV legends on board for this. Iconic.
Scream queen, Buffy boss and recently Dexter recruit, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Animal Kingdom's moody brother, Shawn Hatosy and recent Yellowjackets, former teen hunk Elijah Wood! What a cast.
I liked this. Will there be a third? Time will tell. Hopefully not another 7 or so year wait.
ted has concluded its Seth MacFarlane created comedy on Peacock/Binge (AU).
ted is the third instalment in the Ted franchise, it serves as a prequel to the, first film and its sequel. Starring MacFarlane reprising his role as the voice of the titular character, alongside Max Burkholder, Alanna Ubach, Scott Grimes, and Giorgia Whigham.
Back in May 2024, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered earlier this month. MacFarlane also confirmed that there were no plans for a third season, citing the show's high production costs.
In the finale season, we land in 1994, and senior year of high school is underway for Ted the foul-mouthed teddy bear and his best friend, likeable but awkward John Bennett. Together they live in a working-class Boston home with John's parents (Matty and Susan) and cousin (Blaire).
Matty is a blustering, blue-collar Bostonian who sees himself as the unequivocal boss of the house and frequently clashes with his liberal niece. Susan is kind, selfless, and almost pathologically sweet when it comes to caring for her family. Blaire is an outspoken college student who often finds herself at odds with her more traditional-minded relatives.
To be honest, this was more enjoyable than the first season from two years ago. It's hard to believe its been two years since the series landed on Binge.
In the (now confirmed last ever episode) its four months after finishing high school, John fails to do anything with his life. Matty angrily calls him out on his laziness, but suffers a heart attack and is ordered to stay calm for a week while recovering from his artery stints.
When the O.J. Simpson verdict is decided, a guilt-ridden John is worried that Matty will die of another heart attack and decides to block him from seeing the actual news with the help of Ted and Blaire. After cutting the house's cable, they print a fake newspaper and rehire Bert to film fake news broadcasts to cushion Matty's worldview. Upon recovering, Matty goes outside and is ridiculed for defending the fake verdict and believing in the fake stories. Tired of lying, Blaire hands Matty the real paper, resulting in another heart attack.
John apologises for making Matty angry in the first place, but Matty reveals he's impressed by the amount of effort he put into his deception and tells him he can do whatever he sets his mind to.
In the end, John decides to hit the gym and become incredibly buff. Incoming Marky Mark to the two ted films.
Seriously a HUGE improvement on season one. What will Peacock stream next? Also Binge is really on the blink. Seriously, the limited new content is really making me consider, should I rest it for a bit.
If Colin From Accounts, High Country and a new version of Wentworth weren't incoming, this streaming service would be getting the axe ASAP.
Blue Murder Motel is a New Zealand murder mystery series which just landed on ABC iView.
All six episodes landed last Saturday. I concluded the final few episodes today on my most relaxing Friday the 13th.
Blue Murder Motel stars Australian actors Michala Banas and Brett Tucker, who previously appeared together in the Australian drama series McLeod's Daughters.
Two married Australian police officers have taken early retirement and have purchased the Blue Motel in New Zealand to run as a business.
Following a series of local murders, the couple being to investigate & to help hunky local sole-charge police officer solve the crimes.
At the end of the first episode, the advertising display for the motel is tagged, changing its name from Blue Motel to Blue Murder Motel. A later episode indicates that local residents also refer to it as that.
The series is located in the fictional seaside community of Mōwai Bay, which is described as being "somewhere near Auckland".
Filming took place at Orewa on the Hibiscus Coast north of Auckland. Locations included the Edgewater Motel as the Blue Motel, and Ōrewa Beach Holiday Park as the Shady Vista Holiday Park, which was featured in episode 3.
So this is the first series I couldn't find a trailer for, so you are stuck with the below promo picture.
Jayden Daniels as Constable Jamie Haira, a recently graduated sole-charge constable is my favourite. He is damn fine.
In the finale, a summer market turns deadly, when a local candy merchant dies in a freak accident. Vinny and Cole dig deeper and discover it was murder.
There is no cliffhanger, however this could easily be back for a second run of episodes. This was easy viewing, with some lovely Kiwi scenery and excellent Aussie leads. Bring on more Blue Murder Motel. Thanks ABC for screaming this one.
The Night Manager is a British spy thriller television serial based on the 1993 novel by John le Carré and adapted by David Farr.
The six-part first series, directed by Susanne Bier and starring Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie, Olivia Colman, Tom Hollander, David Harewood and Elizabeth Debicki, began broadcasting on BBC One on 21 February 2016. So it's honest to say, it's been a while between drinks between seasons.
The Night Manager's first season was nominated for thirty-six awards and won eleven, including two Primetime Emmy Awards (for director Bier and music composer Victor Reyes) and three Golden Globe Awards (for Hiddleston, Colman, and Laurie).
Back in April 2024, The Night Manager was renewed for a second & third series by BBC One and Amazon Prime Video, with Hiddleston and Colman reprising their roles, and Georgi Banks-Davies directing.
The second series concluded on Amazon early last month. Since it's been a number of years between seasons, I just waited till all six episodes streamed to jump back in.
There was a queer/bi baiting screen grab used of Tom Hiddleston (Jonathan Pine), Diego Calva as Teddy Dos Santos, a Colombian arms dealer & Camila Morrone as Roxana Bolaños in a sexy dance scene. This was short lived!
Shame.
Oh well, a third season is set up majorly in episode six, which I will go through below. Warning spoilers ahead!
Roxana, under orders from Roper, calls Pine claiming to have narrowly avoided capture. They arrange to meet, where Pine narrowly avoids being killed by Roper's men thanks to a tip-off from Teddy, who has learned that Roxana is compromised.
Carrascal becomes suspicious of Teddy, who subsequently kills him in an ensuing fight. Roper confronts Roxana, who suggests Teddy harbours feelings for Pine.
Sally facilitates the escape of Chief Justice Arbenz from armed supervision. They assemble a team of journalists to observe the arrival of the electromagnetic pulse bomb and reveal the plot of Roper and British Intelligence.
Meanwhile, Pine and Teddy head to Cabrera's military base, with Pine taking the guise of Teddy's prisoner. Teddy claims Roper and Pine are planning on double-crossing Cabrera by sending 50 armed men instead of the pulse bomb. Cabrera then agrees to divert the shipment to co-ordinates where Sally and Arbenz are waiting.
Roper arrives at the military base, where the group turns against him.
In London, Burr has gathered information against Mayra. The pair meet in a library where Burr announces the coup has been foiled. Back in Colombia, an aeroplane is heard overhead and it is revealed that Roper has sent two shipments.
The pulse weapon arrives at the military base while Sally and Arbenz receive a container empty, but for a red rose. Roper regains Cabrera's trust and Teddy and Pine's deceit is exposed. The unmoved Roper kills Teddy, but Martin and Octavo arrive. Martin shoots to disrupt proceedings, and in the shootout Pine is injured. Martin sacrifices his own life to provide a distraction to allow Pine to escape with Octavo.
Pine walks in the jungle with Octavo before collapsing.
In London, Mayra walks away from the meeting triumphant, and Burr is later killed at her home in France. The episode closes with Roper in England picking up Danny from boarding school, while news of the ongoing Colombian civil war plays on the radio, which Roper changes to play Odetta's version of Bob Dylan's "Masters of War" as they drive away.
Will we have to wait another ten years for the third season? I doubt it. This has been a big hit again for Amazon. Continuing their fine start to 2026. With Cross, Steal and The Boys final season incoming. Plus the erotic hit, 56 Days. Amazon has come out of the blocks stronger than HBO. In mu opinion of course.
That said, can they keep up this pace. Till next time. Stay outta the humidity FML!
The Moment is a 2026 mockumentary film directed by Aidan Zamiri, who co-wrote it with Bertie Brandes from an original idea by Charli XCX.
Starring XCX in her full blown brat era, Rosanna Arquette, Kate Berlant, Jamie Demetriou, Hailey Benton Gates, Isaac Powell, & True Blood's Alexander Skarsgård.
The Moment premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival in January, and was released in cinemas last Thursday.
So far, The Moment, has film received mixed reviews from critics.
I loved brat as an album. I loved Charli before the brat album. So this was a no brainer for me. Completely taking the piss out of fame, blowing up after years and years of working hard in the industry.
After years and years of hits, Charli XCX had her moment with the brat summer. The Sweat tour blew up! She brought a version to Laneway Festival back in 2025.
This was a fun insight into the world of brat! Of course A24 know how to back an indie film. My star score below for the queen XCX.
This was fun, intense, and manic.
Charli's life would have been a chaotic whirlwind following the release of the record. The press, the tour prep, the sponsorships, the lime green brat colour. It was a lot! Thank goodness it's all Wuthering Heights now!
I enjoyed this 3.5 Stars. Get it's not everyone's cup of tea.
School Spirits is one of the only non Taylor Sheridan series on Paramount+. But will they keep it around for a fourth season? Particularly now that apparently HBO Max will be merging into Paramount+. Which is good for subscribers like me! Maybe even Channel Ten too!
The series, adapted from the graphic novel by the Trinruds and Maria Nguyen, stars Peyton List, Kristian Ventura, Milo Manheim, and Spencer MacPherson. The first three episodes of the third season, premiered late January. With the season concluding midweek.
This season, Maddie Nears and her friends dive into a deeper, darker mystery as the veil between worlds grows dangerously thin, delivering twists that challenge everything they thought they knew. After clawing her way back to life, Maddie struggles with terrifying visions and the weight of protecting both the living and the dead while Simon – trapped in the afterlife – becomes obsessed with the secrets buried in Split River High’s scars.
Why have so many people died at Split River High? What was Mr. Martin warning them about? As they search for answers, new dangers and dark secrets begin to surface.
Honestly I don't think this series is aimed at me. I kind of thought the show had run out of ideas last season. This season for me felt like they were flogging a dead horse. However at the end of the season they did leave it (very) open for a possible fourth season.
However (to date) there is no news on a fourth season.
This season went Chucky mad too, introducing Jennifer Tilly as Deborah Hunter-Price. So random and a little trashy.
Paramount+ will soon be getting series like Heated Rivalry and The White Lotus. This is surely the time to jump into an annual subscription before they jack up the prices.
Goolagong landed right in time for the Australian Open at a quieter time in 2026. Sadly life got in the way, so I only finished the third and final episode last night.
The ABC series is based on the real life story of Aboriginal Australian champion tennis player Evonne Goolagong Cawley, played by Lila McGuire.
Directed by Wayne Blair & produced by Werner Film Productions. This is honestly the most wholesome series of the Scorchin' Summer Streamin' 26 blog series.
Goolagong tells the story of the rise of tennis star Evonne Goolagong Cawley, from her childhood through to becoming a champion at Wimbledon. It shows her drive to succeed and her path to the top of her game, including overcoming a career-threatening injury and beating her tennis rivals in the face of adversity.
Goolagong is based on the inspiring true-life story of world champion tennis player Evonne Goolagong, one of Australia’s most revered sporting heroes. From her Wimbledon debut in 1970, to becoming the first mother to win Wimbledon in the modern era in 1980, Evonne’s story is one of family, love, loss, and an unwavering spirit.
In the time of burgeoning black rights and women’s lib, Evonne proved to herself, her people, and the world that she was a true champion.
Alongside McGuire, the three part series stars, Felix Mallard, Marton Csokas and Luke Carroll.
Filming for the series took place across several locations in Victoria, including on location at the Kooyong Tennis Club and South Yarra Tennis Club, using a purpose-built Wimbledon Centre Court.
Other locations include Kyneton, Seaford, Seymour, Sunshine, Tallarook, and Woodend. The shoot brought in over 1,200 local jobs and 100 jobs for local crew.
Last November, it was announced at the ABC Upfronts that the series would go to air this year. The ABC is really punching above its weight for local content this year. With Dog Park also being a super sweet series.
I look forward to the ABC announcing its next Sunday series with some crackers promised. Tonight the ABC has acquired Amazon's Top End Bub streaming tonight, along with Kiwi series (with Aussies) Blue Murder Motel.
Well done to the ABC for bringing this beautiful homegrown story to our screens.
The Beauty is the latest Ryan Murphy series, this time teaming up with Matthew Hodgson.
The science fiction/body horror series is based on the comic book The Beauty, written by Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley.
Starring American Horror favourite, Evan Peters, alongside Anthony Ramos, Jeremy Pope, Rebecca Hall, and Ashton Kutcher. Yes Ashton Kutcher is making a comeback!
The series streams on FX/Hulu, Disney+ which commenced in January, concluding yesterday with a double (short) episode finale.
So what's the drum?
A sexually transmitted treatment known as "the Beauty" spreads rapidly, granting users physical attractiveness through aesthetic-based genetic makeup while concealing lethal side effects that begin to overtake their lives. As deaths and public panic escalate, an FBI investigation and competing interests converge on the forces behind the drug and the epidemic it sparks.
Spoilers for episode eleven, read on at your own risk!
Tig and Gunther (without) consent dose Franny with the Beauty in an attempt to please their father, leading her to attempt suicide, though Byron has doctors keep her body stable with the regenerative properties of the Beauty.
Meanwhile, Bella undergoes the Beauty procedure via sexual intercourse with a man named Conor, who had taken a second dose beforehand to increase the strength. Upon transforming, Bella's mother is horrified to find her with grotesque mutations.
After Byron learns that the public and government no longer support the Beauty as a result of widely reported side-effects, he decides to halt sales and close down the operation to reinvest in cures and fixes, while providing boosters for free.
Tig wishes to continue distributing the drug and inherit Byron's wealth, and enlists the help from Diana, Cooper, Jordan, the Assassin and Jeremy to assassinate him. In exchange, Cooper is given an untested drug to reverse the effects of the Beauty, and the others are startled when he emerges after transforming.
It leaves you on an Evan Peters cliffhanger that may or may not get resolved. Unlike All's Fair, there is no news of a second season as yet. However there are some reports of this being a miniseries.
Will we find out Evan Peters fate? Time will tell.
Either way I did enjoy these shorter episodes. It was a wild look at modern societies obsession with beauty. Who better after Nip/Tuck than Ryan Murphy to explore this world.
It's been a real Ryan Murphy season. Love Story is currently streaming on Friday's on Disney+, whilst The Shards is yet to stream.
Enjoy the weekend. It's the first full weekend of Autumn. A new blog series is incoming next month!
WOW! I Swear is already one of my favourite films of 2026.
The British biographical drama film directed, written, and produced by Kirk Jones. Based on the true life story of John Davidson, a Scottish man with severe Tourette's syndrome, and follows his life, primarily based on the 1989 television documentary John's Not Mad, at a time when his condition was barely identifiable.
Starring Robert Aramayo as Davidson, Maxine Peake, Shirley Henderson, & Peter Mullan. With Scott Ellis Watson makes his acting debut as a young John.
I Swear premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival last September, & was released in the UK last October.
I Swear was acclaimed by critics, who praised the performances of Aramayo and Mullan. The film received five nominations at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, winning two, including Best Actor in a Leading Role for Aramayo. It 100% deserves those awards. This was brilliant!
Diagnosed with Tourette’s at age 15, John Davidson faced and overcame many hardships from adolescence and early adulthood as a result of what was a little known and entirely misunderstood condition in 1980’s Britain. The film is a funny, heartfelt and moving account of John’s experiences.
I was in love with this warm 2 hour drama.
It was a hard watch at times throughout the school. How things have changed since 1983. Kids can be so cruel.
However with education and awareness, people now know what Tourette’s is. Whilst it can shock people or catch people off guard. This film dealt with the swearing, punching, ticks and spitting. It was heartbreaking at times, but warm AF at times.
I honestly loved this film. Total 4.5 star film. Cannot recommend this enough! Such a change of gears from Scream 7 the other day.
The Copenhagen Test is an espionage thriller series follows first-generation Chinese-American intelligence analyst Alexander Hale (Simu Liu) who realises his brain has been hacked, giving the perpetrators access to everything he sees and hears.
Caught between his shadowy agency and the unknown hackers, he must maintain a performance 24/7 to flush out who’s responsible and prove where his allegiance lies.
The Peacock thriller stars Simu Liu & Melissa Barrera, with Liu & Aussie James Wan also serving as executive producers.
The series premiered on Peacock late December last year. However in Australia we had to wait to last month for Binge to drop all eight episodes.
In the near future, an intelligence agent's brain is hacked, allowing the hackers access to everything he sees and hears. He must prove his allegiance and uncover the perpetrators.
Simu Liu is hot! James Wan has a great record, with the Saw film series, The Conjuring universe, Aquaman, the short lived I Know What You Did Last Summer TV series and loads more to mention.
So the boys have form. Sadly The Copenhagen Test just felt same-same.
Even Simu Liu taking his shirt off a few times could not save the series. Not sure if it is meant as a miniseries or ongoing show on Peacock. However I'd be surprised if it gets a second run in the shrinking media market. Bye bye HBO Max as it moves into Paramount+. Thank goodness I never subscribed lol
Industry is the little financial thriller/drama HBO series that was a sleeper series for the Warner Brothers content king. Now the series is a popular hit starring HBO darling, Kit Harington.
Myha'la, Marisa Abela & Ken Leung, continue to star with hunky Handmaid's Tale vet Max Minghella, Kiernan Shipka, Jack Farthing, Toheeb Jimoh, Amy James-Kelly, Claire Forlani, Kal Penn & Charlie Heaton also star in the fourth series.
Industry has been renewed for a fifth and final series. Industry has received critical acclaim throughout its run for its writing, performances, direction, and its accurate portrayal of the banking sector, with high praise for the third and fourth series in particular.
This season continued to turn the volume up the 11. Unlike the first and second seasons, seasons three and four aimed high. Looked to shock. Turned the sex, way up. I for one cannot wait to see where season five takes us. It sure ends leaving you the viewer wanting one more crazy ride.
Spoilers below. BE WARNED!
Bevan defends the government on television after the Tender scandal; Day is arrested while police search Tender’s London headquarters. Yasmin divorces Henry.
Whitney urges Henry to flee with him to Vilnius, revealing Russia’s involvement in Tender and offering him a forged Lithuanian passport. Henry initially boards the plane but refuses to abandon his identity, harshly rebuking Whitney, and returns home, where police arrest him.
Harper, Sweetpea, and Kwabena earn £110 million from Tender’s collapse and distribute £2 million each, later exploring a new office.
Henry accepts a plea deal for breach of fiduciary duty and testifies against Whitney; Otto warns him not to implicate Russia, citing the risk of assassination.
Yasmin cultivates Reform politician Sebastian Stefanowicz and hosts a fundraiser for him in Paris. Harper confronts Yasmin over the extremist views of the guests and the presence of Hayley and other young escorts brought in to entertain them. Yasmin defends her actions, arguing she is creating opportunity rather than exploitation, and shows Harper the compromising video of Eric.
A shaken Harper later tells Kwabena she no longer recognises those closest to her.
Henry serves house arrest at Norton’s estate. Harper is interviewed about the Tender short and ponders her future.
What an ending. This season was a lot. Let's see how this show delivers its epic conclusion.
Scream 7 is out now! And racking in the cash in 2026! An eighth film in the Scream film series is apparently in the works with Kevin Williamson & Neve Campbell.
The slasher/sequel to Scream VI (2023), is the seventh instalment in the Scream film series. It is directed by Kevin Williamson from a screenplay he co-wrote with Guy Busick, from a story by James Vanderbilt and Busick.
The film stars Neve Campbell, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, David Arquette, Matthew Lillard, Courteney Cox, with Isabel May, Anna Camp, Michelle Randolph, Jimmy Tatro, Mckenna Grace, Asa Germann, Celeste O'Connor, Sam Rechner, Mark Consuelos, Tim Simons, & Animal Control's Joel McHale.
Scream 7 follows a new Ghostface killer who targets Sidney Prescott's daughter.
The latest film has received negative reviews from critics, however box office wise, it's done good. Mason Gooding is also awesome coming into his own in the rebooted franchise. Anna Camp was also a bit of a standout.
Random seeing Riverdale's Mark Consuelos acting as the next Gail Weathers too.
It was good to have Neve Campbell back as Sidney Prescott-Evans.
I grew up loving Scream films, so this was some good old nostalgia for me.
Was it perfect? Not really. Were the killer (s) interesting? Kinda weird, but it worked. But hey I enjoyed this. It was a little gory. I ended jumping though a number of times lol
Either way, Scream 7 was a fun little ride, 3 stars.
Addictive, intense, fast-paced, Steal is a British crime/thriller television series streaming all episodes now, on Amazon Prime Video.
Starring Sophie Turner, Archie Madekwe and Jacob Fortune-Lloyd. Steal centres on the fallout of a robbery at a financial management company.
Zara Dunne, an office worker for pension management company Lochmill Capital, is caught up in a major robbery by an armed gang. However, it soon emerges she may have had a key role in the crime.
Steal originally premiered late last month, so I was a little late to the party. However once I got into with the parents on the weekend, it was a quick and nasty binge.
Six high octane episodes just passed by like nothing. This was such as an easy watch. The first two episodes were insanely intense. This heist series was excellent.
But how does finale, Dead Cat Bounce go down?
Spoiler alert!
Sniper takes Zara's cold wallet and steals Milo's after killing him. After obtaining Milo's access codes at the Lochmill offices, Luke and Zara fight Sniper when he prepares to kill them.
Covaci intervenes to save Zara, but is injured when London's team arrives. Zara discovers they don't know who hired them. Luke escapes when Sniper kills his former colleagues. Using Covaci's Taser, Zara is able to kill the injured Sniper, but he implicates the police before dying.
The £4 billion is returned to Lochmill Capital after passing through dozens of public figures' accounts, implicating them in using tax havens.
Milo is named as the mastermind in the press, with Zara and Luke giving their cold wallets to MI5 to avoid prison. Covaci is fired, and sells his house to pay his debts. He deduces Yoshida, a radical former financier now disillusioned with the wealth system, was behind the operation.
They turn down £10 million from him to keep quiet, but Zara reveals she kept a hold of Milo's cold wallet, containing £20 million, for them to share instead.
This was Amazon at it's best. I next need to get into the erotic series, 56 Days. Amazon has started off 2026 with a bang. With Deadloch and Scarpetta landing next month, Amazon is looking ahead at a good year. I also need to get into Cross's second season when I get a hot minute.
His & Hers, was this IT Netflix series this summer following Stranger Things concluding. The mystery/ thriller limited series starring Tessa Thompson, Jon Bernthal, Pablo Schreiber, Rebecca Rittenhouse, & Sunita Mani.
The adaptation of the 2020 Alice Feeney novel of the same name, and premiered on Netflix early in the new year.
I was a little late to this series, set in Atlanta, Anna is a former news anchor living alone after withdrawing from her career and personal life. When she overhears news of a murder in Dahlonega, the small Georgia town where she grew up, the case jolts her back into action.
Drawn by both professional instinct and unresolved ties to her past, Anna returns to Dahlonega and begins digging into the killing, convinced that the truth has been buried beneath layers of silence and half-remembered history.
As Anna's investigation deepens, she repeatedly clashes with Detective Jack Harper, her estranged husband who is officially assigned to the case and is deeply suspicious of her motives and involvement.
Seriously this six episode series had it all. It was sexy, there were twists and turns and that ending oh boy! No spoilers here though baby doll.
In the finale, events of both the past and the present collide as the case reaches a shocking end. Anna makes one last discovery that changes everything.
Seriously this was a vibe. Really enjoyed this. Netflix you did good on this one.
With just over a month of the Scorchin' Summer Streamin' 26, it's gonna be a big list. This series however could go near the top of the list. Let's see what March brings!
Until tomorrow when we jet over to Amazon's UK thriller, Steal.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a prequel to Game of Thrones (2011–2019), it is the third television series in Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire franchise and is an adaptation of the Tales of Dunk and Egg series of novellas, beginning with The Hedge Knight.
Starring Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan "Dunk" the Tall, the titular hedge knight, and Dexter Sol Ansell as his squire Aegon "Egg" Targaryen.
The shorter, GOT series commenced last month, consisting of just six episodes. Most under 31 minutes! Gold. Very different to those long, dark GOT episodes. Particularly towards the end of it's run.
Last November, ahead of the first season premiere, the series was renewed for a second season, which will be based on The Sworn Sword and is expected to be released in 2027.
We will see if it does indeed stream on HBO Max next year. Usually HBO shows have been one year on, one year off.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has been paired with Industry's wild fourth season.
This has been a strong open to the year for HBO.
If you didn't watch the finale last night, do not read ahead for a bit of a much ado about nothing episode.
Co-workers have told me they found this series boring. It definitely was a little less action packed than House of Dragon or the OG, GOT.
Lyonel invites Dunk to move to Storm's End, but Dunk believes that he brings only bad luck. Baelor's body is cremated at his funeral.
Dunk finds Valarr, who questions why his father was killed, but Dunk was spared. Raymun reveals that he has married the pregnant prostitute Rowan.
Maekar informs Dunk that Aerion will spend time in the Free Cities to atone. He laments that Baelor would have been a good king and invites Dunk to live in Summerhall, where Egg can be his squire. Dunk declines, which Egg overhears.
In a flashback, Dunk asks Arlan why he was never knighted, but does not receive an answer. In the present, Daeron tells Dunk that he should mentor Egg to prevent him from becoming like Aerion.
Egg discovers that his hair is regrowing. He takes a knife to Aerion's bedroom, but Maekar calms him down. Dunk asks Maekar if Egg can squire for him on the road, which Maekar refuses. Raymun buys Sweetfoot back for Dunk, who then gifts her to Raymun.
As Dunk leaves Ashford, Egg arrives, and they depart together. Egg suggests that they travel to Dorne. An angry Maekar later realises that Egg is gone.
The Imposter is an Australian-British co-commissioned drama series for Channel 5 (UK) and Channel 10 (Australia). Which is also now streaming on Paramount+.
Yes I was patient and waited till all four episodes were dropped on Channel 10's streaming service, to avoid their awful Ten Play app.
In the UK, The Imposter aired on 15 December 2025 on Channel 5, whilst in Australia, it aired on 21 December 2025 on Channel 10.
The Imposter focuses on matriarch Helen, played by Jackie Woodburne (Neighbours), who refuses to sell her seaside hotel amid pressure from her three children. When the daughter she gave up for adoption appears, a mystery surrounds Helen's secret.
Helen refuses to sell the family property a seaside motel as pressure from her family and someone claiming to be her daughter shows up the hotel hiding it's secrets from years prior will see everyone pushed to their limits.
Alongside Woodburne, the trashy family soap stars British actor Kym Marsh, everyone's favourite, Dannii Minogue, with Jane Harber, Charlie Clausen, Chi Nguyen, Kabir Singh & Adeline Williams.
So its a decent cast right?
However this is completely trashy like previous Aussie/UK co-productions on Ten. Riptide and Heat, came before this, but all had a UK star, some local talent, but never a bad wig that Helen (Woodburne) had to endure across, murder, sex, scheming and Don Hany with his shirt off from time to time.
I did enjoy this easy, breezy watch which my dad thought was one of my mums rom coms when he walked in on me watching this. lol
This is no doubt not going to win a single AACTA award next year, however if you like light entertainment, this sure beats MAFS. And yes I did watch MAFS last night. Fucking terrible bro.
Crime 101 has received a solid Rotten Tomatoes score of 88% thus far.
Starring local Aussie legend, Chris Hemsworth, and an all-star cast, including, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, Halle Berry, Monica Barbaro, Corey Hawkins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, & Nick Nolte.
The film is based on the 2020 novella Crime 101 by Don Winslow. Following positive reviews from critics, the film has currently grossed $32 million worldwide on a budget of $90 million.
I throughly enjoyed this Friday evening session. The session was near full, the film is generating buzz. The cast incredible! Fresh from Task, Mark Ruffalo is excellent, whilst it's refreshing to see Halle Berry back on the big screen!
Really happy to see Saltburn's Barry Keoghan as an unhinged villain.
LA crime is full on. This heist film builds tension and blurs the lines of good and bad.
I was super pumped I caught this excellent film at the cinema. This was really good storytelling, just a little long at 140 minutes.
If you like twisted thrillers with twists and turns. Get into Crime 101 before it leaves the cinema.
Until next time, which may be Scream 7. I booked my tickets today lol.
Plus loads of TV next week. Crime 101 rates a solid 4 stars.
Tell Me Lies Season 3 follows Lucy Albright (Grace Van Patten) and Stephen DeMarco (Jackson White) as they've rekindled their tumultuous romance in time for spring semester at Baird College.
While they promise things will be different this time, past indiscretions hinder their best intentions and Lucy finds herself embroiled in a controversy she wants nothing to do with. Meanwhile, the disastrous repercussions from the previous year also force Lucy and Stephen's friends to face their own destructive behaviours.
As scandalous secrets fester around campus, vicious consequences threaten Lucy and everyone in her circle.
Tell Me Lies the series based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Carola Lovering, has now concluded.
The Hulu series starring Grace Van Patten, Jackson White, Catherine Missal, Spencer House, Sonia Mena, Branden Cook, Benjamin Wadsworth, Alicia Crowder, & Tom Ellis.
Ahead of the final episode, it was announced this was set to be the series finale. I feel Hulu did the right thing by ending this toxic relationship series.
It was getting a bit same-same and Lucy, OMG! But Stephen, why was he so toxic ALL the gosh damn time.
This show at times (whilst popular) was hard to watch. It was a bit much. I am so not the target demo, but the examination in Lucy and Stephens relationship over eight insane years, was a lot!
Scroll down if you have concluded this series on Disney+.
The final episode opens in 2015 still at Bree and Evan's wedding with Bree smoking outside and accidentally gets caught smoking a cigarette by Wrigley who was staying over at Evan's house.
The two get into an argument over how their brief relationship ended and reveals how they never spoke to one another in 6 years.
However, it was proven that the two still had feelings for one another and the two proceeded to briefly have sex before hearing footsteps outside the bedroom door.
The episode flashes back to 2009 to seeing Lucy unexpectedly runs into Diana where she reveals that Stephen gave her the tape, which Diane reveals as strange as that's not Stephen nature and also reveals that she believed her about the night of Macy's death. She also unknowingly tells Lucy about Stephen acceptance to Yale and how he might be in a good mood because of that.
The episode cuts to Bree, who's now furious over learning Evan and Lucy's night together at the end of freshmen year. She tries to confront her, but misses her as Lucy makes her way over to banquet where the Yale acceptance were being celebrated.
Meanwhile, Bree gets a call from Mary, who claims to be on campus and manages to gets Bree to visit her in a building, where she's surprisingly confronted by Marianne, Oliver and Amanda sitting at a table, concocting a story about how Bree made everything up of the accusations, and how she tried to force Amanda to falsely confess to Sexual assault as well. To make matters worse, Mary believed their story, thinking Bree was the troubled one in the problem. As the two exit the meeting, Bree effectively ends her relationship with Mary right then and there as she didn't feel supported by her.
Meanwhile, Lucy secretly crashes the Yale Banquet and tries to inform the host of the event that Stephen was dangerous and that he shouldn't be allowed into the university. However, Stephen catches her and unfortunately puts an end to the conversation.
The next day, Lucy goes over to Bree and Pippa's dorm to find out only Pippa was there alone, and the two resolve their differences with the whole Chris situation. However, the peace is short-lived as Pippa reveals she and been cheating on Wrigley and in the same comfort Lucy reveals that she and Evan slept together after the Hawaiian party last year. Pippa, however, was furious at her decision and chastised her right then and there, calling her pathetic. She promises to not tell Bree, but then effectively ends their friendship right then and there.
The episode next transitions to Wrigley trying to get ahold of Bree to try and connect with her, but is interrupted by Pippa who reveals to him about the cheating and that she's gay. Fortunately, Wrigley was accepting of it and the two decided to remain friends. In that same conversation, Pippa reveals how Stephen is a monster and reveals how he was the one who sent Diana's nudes picture to her parents, forcing Wrigley to grapple with Stephen's actions.
The episode then moves to see Lucy in class only to see a videotape she and Stephen recorded had been posted online for the whole world to see. She confronted Stephen once she spotted him, which he adamantly denied. Due to the tape release, all her friends began to shut her out, including Alex, who hinted at past sexual abuse in the past at his previous foster home. Alex soon ends their little arrangement and sends her away. However, little did Lucy know that Bree was sleeping over in his apartment, where the two had a intense conversation where he reveals that she shouldn't have been so trusting. Lucy decided to shut herself into her dorm, shutting her out from the outside world.
The next day, as Pippa begins to feel guilty for Lucy's action, Pippa reveals to Bree that she was the girl Chris sexually assaulted last semester. This confession forced Bree to mot be mad at Lucy, who was living in a mess and was forced to visit the dean. While at the dean, the dean decides to expel Lucy over the false accusation, which meant she couldn't go on the study abroad program for her junior year.
Elsewhere, Wrigley and Stephen have lunch with one another where Stephen reveals his true colours to Wrigley where he reveals how Lucy should suffer the consequences of her action, which in turn made Wrigley reveal everything to the board of admission of Yale university who later in the episode rescinded Stephen's acceptance into their law program.
Back at Bree and Pippa's dorm, Evan stops by, which cause shim and Bree to confront the secret of him and Lucy, which he admits to and the two decide to keep their relationship going. It's later revealed to Wrigley who subtly learns that Bree knows about him and Pippa's night together. Bree kisses Evan, telling Wrigley that she plans to stay with him. Bree continues to cry and destroy the memory card of that contains Lucy's confession the false rape accusation.
Meanwhile, as Lucy tries to pack up her stuff, Diana learns about her expulsion and reminds her that her life will get better and that this was the worse of it. Soon, Lucy is seen stuffing up her mother's backseat with her stuff with hell of Bree, unbeknownst to the both of then, Stephen is watching her pack her stuff and leave campus for good.
The episode flashes back to 2015 to see Lucy and happy and dancing with Bree as the wedding is beginning to wind down. Stephen is drinking watching them, while Lydia is ready to go due to the fact that it's 3 in the morning and that she doesn't leave him as she knows he would keep giving Lucy a look.
Stephen ends everything right then and there with their relationship, claiming that they were only together to get a rise out of Lucy and reveals they had sex that morning of the wedding. It anger Lydia who dumps him and breaks off their engagement right there on the spot.
Meanwhile, as Wrigley and Pippa take pictures, it's learned that with Stephen not be able to go to Yale, Diana was able to attend without having to worry about him attending. As the wedding is coming to a close, Bree returns back to the table to where she runs into Stephen where the two have an intense conversation over why she was so calm after learning about Lucy and Evan sleeping together, and it didn't take long for him to connect the dots to realise that Bree was the one who released the video of Lucy's confession as it's revealed that she was angry over learning that Evan and Lucy slept with one another.
As the MC announces the wedding is over with one more song, Stephen steals the mic to reveal everything that Bree was behind Lucy's downfall, not him as she knew about her and Evan's night freshmen year, that Stephen and Lucy had sex the morning of the wedding, and also that Wrigley and Bree had been leading a secret affair for months before the wedding.
Chaos erupts after this reveal with Evan yelling Wrigley and almost killing Stephen which ends with him crushing his own wedding cake. In the end, Diana and Pippa leave, finally escaping the chaos that is their friends. Lucy who's still shocked at the reveal gets an offer from Stephen to leave, but Bree claims that if they do, their friendship is officially over which Lucy leaves afterward.
Bree takes a look Wrigley who's still get yelled at Evan and is smiling, confirming they are finally able to get together with one another.
The episode transitions to find Lucy and Stephen having a heart to heart where he manages to get her into the car and drives well into the night and stops at a gas station where she goes into the convenience store to get coffees, only to come out to find Stephen had left her there alone with her purse.
However, instead of being sad that he tricked her again, she lets out a laugh, knowing that he's still the same guy from college. Lucy just stands there just as the series ends there.
Oh the drama. Farewell to another college girl TV series. Huge return to TV week next week, as network TV is back. 9-1-1(s), DMV, Fire/Sheriff Country, Animal Control and the new one Memory of a Serial Killer. Which isn't half bad and streams on Stan.
Whistle is yet another supernatural/horror directed by Corin Hardy.
Starring Dafne Keen, Sophie Nélisse, Sky Yang, Jhaleil Swaby, Ali Skovbye, Percy Hynes White, Michelle Fairley & Nick Frost.
Whistle follows a group of students who find an Aztec Death Whistle and discover that the sound it emits will summon their future deaths to hunt them down.
As the body count rises, the friends investigate the origins of the deadly artefact in a desperate effort to stop the horrifying chain of events that they have set in motion.
It's mildly gory, a few jump scares, but not too hectic.
Whistle premiered at Fantastic Fest last September 2025, whilst being released in the cinemas across the USA, UK, Australia & Ireland this month.
I didn't mind this. With a good looking cast, it was no Aussie smash hit Talk to Me, but it did showcase our deaths coming for us early if we were silly enough to blow a nasty ass whistle.
Horror is still one of the top genres at the cinema.
Look this won't win any awards or make my end of year best of lists, but it was a wee bit of fun.
Until next time at the cinema, Whistle gets a solid pass of 2.5 Stars. Maybe 2.75 Stars if we want to be technical.
Set in present-day suburbia, The ‘Burbs follows a young couple returning to the husband’s childhood home. Their world is upended when new neighbours move in next door, bringing old secrets of the cul-de-sac to light, and new deadly threats shatter the illusion of their quiet little neighbourhood.
The 'Burbs is an American comedy television series created by Celeste Hughey for Peacock. Streaming in Australia on Binge. Landing earlier this month.
The 'Burbs is an adaptation of the 1989 film of the same name and stars Keke Palmer and Jack Whitehall.
Old secrets resurface when a newly married couple relocate to the suburban neighbourhood of the husband's youth.
Alongside Palmer & Jack Whitehall, Paula Pell, Julia Duffy, Mark Proksch, Kapil Talwalkar, Haley Joel Osment, RJ Cyler, Justin Kirk, Max Carver, Erica Dasher, Georgia Leva, Kathleen Kenny & Wendy Schaal, who had a role in the 1989 film, all appear in the series.
So I thought this could have been a miniseries, however the ending... It leaves The 'Burbs wide open for a second run.
Will I tune in? Probably...
Keke Palmer is great as a new mum to the suburbs. I never saw the OG 80's film, however I was keen for this little comedy/thriller.
There hasn't been a load on Binge of late (with Wentworth looking a little while away) so I got stuck into this over 48 hours.
Also with the Winter Olympics a number of my week to wee shows had vanished from my dance card.
There is no news on a second season at the time of the post, however I think this one could crack a second season. Peacock has a number of series on the way. Ted season two (Binge too), The Miniature Wife (which will stream on Stan) and the horror one I am looking forward to, Crystal Lake.
Binge also released The Copenhagen Test late. Landing on Monday, this series was originally released overseas over the holiday period. Simu Lu I will be watching!
Right, back to The 'Burbs . It's not half bad, it's not the best, but it was a bit of fun. There was some good one liners.
Recovering after a massive Valentine's weekend, now Lunar New Year, let's head to the cinema for "Wuthering Heights". The Almost Aussie period romantic drama film written and directed by Emerald Fennell and adapted from Emily Brontë's 1847 novel.
Starring Aussies Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, respectively, alongside Hong Chau, Shazad Latif, Alison Oliver, Martin Clunes, & Ewan Mitchell.
The film received mixed reviews from critics. However what about me?
A bold and original imagining of one of the greatest love stories of all time, Emerald Fennell’s "Wuthering Heights" stars Margot Robbie as Cathy and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, whose forbidden passion for one another turns from romantic to intoxicating in an epic tale of lust, love and madness.
One other huge win is the film features original songs by Charli XCX. The album was released last Friday. I myself am a huge fan of Charli and Chains of Love. You can stream the album below.
Released perfectly in time for Valentine's, with two of Hollywood (Aussies do it right) also doing fun promo stunts, like turning up to sessions and handing out roses.
I love that!
Period dramas are not usually for me. Meaning I won't be watching Outlander's final season anytime soon. However the costumes and the love story was interesting.
Plus Emerald Fennell's previous films are brilliant. Promising Young Woman and Saltburn anyone?
"Wuthering Heights" will be a hit regardless of what critics say. I enjoyed this, love the Charli XCX collab, it's all a vibe.
Love was really in the air over the weekend, which was a nice change. In a divided world, state right now, we need love. If you need some romance in your life, get to the movies NOW!
9-1-1 is the OG of Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, & Tim Minear's 9-1-1 franchise. Moving from Fox to ABC; that's not the Aussie ABC, but US. Disney+ finally popped season eight up, earlier this month. I did manage to get a start on the season last year in Japan. So I only had eight or so remaining episodes to catch up on. The series has always been a bit soapy, however this season jumped the shark hardcore.
The lead disaster was around bees! Yes that's right bees! Apparently season nine goes to space. How much longer can the series try to out do itself.
That said, with the Texas bound Lone Star edition wrapping, 9-1-1: Nashville has commenced. And boy it is bad. Lone Star had heart and (in my opinion) better, more likeable characters than the OG series.
That said, Angela Bassett really had some strong performances. And no the crossover episode to the now cancelled Doctor Odyssey, doesn't go into too much depth. Literally she sees the boat, end scene. End episode, crossover completed on the short lived random Joshua Jackson series.
Alongside Bassett, Oliver Stark, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ryan Guzman, Aisha Hinds, Kenneth Choi, Corinne Massiah, Elijah M. Cooper, & Gavin McHugh all star. Although there was big cast departure towards the tail end of season eight. More on that later.
Last April 9-1-1, the series was renewed for a ninth season, which premiered last October. Hopefully I don't have to wait till next February to watch it! Bloody Channel Seven with their legacy deal on the OG 9-1-1.
So how does the bee drama unfold at the top of the previous season?
Hen and Karen make progress with regaining their foster license; Hen notices that Chimney and Mara are growing close. Buck and Tommy help Eddie throw a birthday party for Christopher over video call, but Christopher is vacant and eventually leaves to celebrate with new friends, much to Eddie's dismay. Bobby is now a technical advisor for firefighting TV show "Hotshots;" he is undermined by production, but idolised by the lead actor, Brad Torrence.
A truck carrying 22 million killer bees crashes downtown, threatening the lives of a mother and daughter and, later, the attendees of a perfume party. Buck's initiative allows the 118 to handle both situations efficiently, but he is punished by Gerrard for unruliness. Buck later saves Gerrard from a flying circular saw, but knocks him unconscious in the process.
Meanwhile, Athena escorts her first fiancé's killer, Dennis Jenkins ("Athena Begins"), to L.A. so he can testify in a trafficking case in exchange for freedom. En route, she detains a fake officer who tries to take Dennis into his own custody; Dennis reveals that someone wants him dead. They board an L.A.-bound plane which, due to the bees obstructing visibility, violently collides with another plane.
The season got dark with Bobby aka Peter Krause passed away in their contagion style emergency at the back end of the season.
With the removal of Bobby Nash, I'll be interested to see how (the current) season nine unfolds. Nine seasons is a big achievement, however it looks set to go even further. Sources say season ten is almost a sure thing.
So how did the final episode of the eighth season wrap?
Before the collapse, the 118 hosts a goodbye lunch for Eddie, where Hen gifts him his 118 turnouts.
Hen also admits she turned down the offer to become captain and Buck says he put in for a transfer from the 118, feeling it is no longer the same without Bobby.
At the apartment building site, Athena tries to help Graham and another civilian who has been crushed by the debris. The 118 arrives on scene and quickly becomes overwhelmed after the building suffers another collapse. Eddie, seeing the event on the news, puts on his old turnouts and arrives at the scene to help. Chimney, hearing Athena has been trapped in the building, goes in by himself to help her get out; they learn Graham was impaled, but said nothing because the other civilian, who he previously had been feuding with, needed their help more. This causes Athena to accept what Bobby did for Chimney and the two reconcile after the team saves Graham.
Back at the firehouse, Chimney tells Eddie he is not living in Texas anymore and tells Buck he's not transferring, making a speech about keeping the importance of Bobby's legacy alive. After the speech, Hen slips up and refers to Chimney as "Cap." Hen and Karen formally adopt Mara, Eddie and Christopher move back to Los Angeles and begin unpacking boxes, Buck starts looking for a new apartment now that Eddie is back, Athena begins work on selling the house, and Maddie gives birth to her son.
Upon Athena arriving at the hospital, Chimney tells her they named the baby Robert Nash Han, after Bobby.
The season wrapped up nicely. I must admit watching it over two parts (partly in Japan last year, last eight episodes this week) felt disjointed. At least I got to watch the first emergency and later Bobby emergency uninterrupted.
9-1-1 is one of Ryan Murphy's longest running series, will it overtake American Horror Story? Speaking of Ryan Murphy. It's his season, with two 9-1-1's returning soon in the USA (Nashville only here), Love Story starting and The Beauty coming to a horrific conclusion early next month.
So expect more Ryan Murphy through my final half of the Scorchin' Summer Streamin' 26 series.
Happy Valentine's Day.
Officially two more weeks of summer. Unofficially March is still HOT AF, hence my Q1, 2026 blog series title.
See you next week for the Tell Me Lies finale and hopefully a movie or two!
