Ryan Murphy season continues with, American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez.
American Sports Story serves as the fourth instalment in the American Story media franchise, streaming on Disney+ in Australia, on FX in the former democratic states of the USA.
The first season, is focused on the rise and fall of former NFL player Aaron Hernandez. The series started off mid-September, with the season being based on the podcast Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc. from The Boston Globe and Wondery.
Over ten episodes (might have been tighter storytelling with eight episodes), the series explores the disparate strands of Hernandez's identity, his family, his career, his suicide and their legacy in sports and American culture.
With principal photography beginning in April, filming was suspended in July due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, then later resuming in December. Filming continued further in March 2024 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
The latest American Story, stars, Josh Andrés Rivera, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Lindsay Mendez, Tony Yazbeck, Jake Cannavale, & Catfish Jean.
Whilst the show does focus on NFL and sports, it really does have a lot of crime across the ten episodes.
It is also rather sexy at times. It wouldn't be a Ryan Murphy show without a bit of spice right?
Overall the show does deliver some strong messages. Injury occurring during contact sports are rough. The implications for a players future are vast and varied.
Josh Andrés Rivera as Aaron Hernandez is excellent. However where will Murphy go after this first season? Will American Sports Story return for a second run? Now this has finished I have jumped straight into a similar series with less crime, Plum on ABC iView.
See how they compare at the end of the year, early 2025 in RATED for Summer Streamin' 24.
Sweetpea AKA Rhiannon Lewis (Ella Purnell) is a downtrodden wallflower, ignored and neglected by many people in her life.
The six part miniseries that streams on Binge, it is a British dark comedy/drama, created by Kirstie Swain. The series is an adaptation of the book of the same name by CJ Skuse.
In episode one, Rhiannon also suffers from the psychological effects of childhood bullying by classmate Julia Blenkingsopp (Nicôle Lecky).
As a result, Rhiannon occasionally entertains murderous thoughts. Her father, Tommy, is the only person who recognises her attributes and encourages her to stand up for herself. However, Tommy suddenly dies, leaving Rhiannon bereft.
In the aftermath of his death, Rhiannon suffers a series of setbacks - she is passed over for a promotion at work by her ignorant boss, Norman; her sister Seren informs her she's selling their family home; and Julia, now an estate agent, returns to town.
Rhiannon is distressed upon learning Seren has asked Julia to handle the property sale. Furthermore, Rhiannon's dog Tink dies in a hit-and-run when Rhiannon is distracted by a billboard of Julia's face.
Angry and drunk, Rhiannon goes to confront Julia but is rudely rebuffed. Afterwards, Rhiannon gets into an argument with a stranger and finally snaps about being invisible, resulting in her stabbing the stranger to death in a rage. Disposing of the body, Rhiannon leaves the scene, finding that murder has inspired her with newfound confidence.
Ella Purnell as Sweetpea is exceptional. This series landed last month from Sky Atlantic in the UK, while airing on Starz in the USA.
I liked the headline for this series, a coming of rage story. A tight six, action packed episodes. It shows, after a childhood of bullying, Rhiannon/Sweetpea's quiet life as an admin assistant at a local newspaper, living with her father and dog.
However, her father's death leads to a chance encounter with a stranger that changes everything. Once the change happens, it is all drama and violence.
This was a highly enjoyable watch, with a banging girl powered soundtrack. From Billie Eilish to Icona Pop/Charli XCX, Labi Siffre and the Spice Girls.
If you need a new binge, go to Binge for Sweetpea!
The Penguin is a direct spin-off from the 2022, The Batman film.
The HBO series (moved from HBO Max) that explores the Penguin's rise to power in Gotham City's criminal underworld.
Colin Farrell stars as the Penguin, reprising his role from The Batman, alongside Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Deirdre O’Connell, Clancy Brown, Carmen Ejogo, Michael Zegen, Berto Colón, Scott Cohen, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Theo Rossi, James Madio, Nadine Malouf, Joshua Bitton, David H. Holmes, Daniel J. Watts, Jared Abrahamson, Ben Cook, Jayme Lawson, Aleska Palladino, Craig Walker, Tess Soltau, Marié Botha, Michael Kelly, and Mark Strong.
The film's director, Matt Reeves, supervised the writing and was involved in hiring the creative team.
The Penguin commenced it's short, eight episode miniseries, mid-September, concluding at lunch today.
The series has received positive reviews for its performances, writing, and direction. It also acts as a promo vehicle for the sequel to 2022's The Batman with Robert Pattinson.
Before I get into the finale (SPOILERS AHEAD), the Penguin is far from my favourite Batman villain. And in the recent The Batman film, I loved Selina Kyle AKA Catwoman.
That said Colin Farrell is remarkable in this series. HBO have also (across all platforms) reported massive ratings for the Batman spin-off.
So how did things wrap up in the finale in this miniseries ahead of the next film in 2026. Where Farrell will return!
In, A Great or Little Thing, using EMG therapy, Rush learns that Francis already knew about Oz drowning his brothers and tried to have him killed but could not bring herself to do it. Oz is brought to Sofia, who makes Francis confess the truth.
When Oz fails to show any remorse for his actions, Francis disowns him before suffering a stroke.
Oz escapes, kills the detective, and brings Francis to the hospital. Meanwhile, the local bosses abandon Oz for Sofia, who puts out a bounty for Oz as she prepares to leave Gotham.
Victor arranges for the bosses to be murdered. Oz abducts Sofia, seemingly to murder her, but instead has his police contacts return her to Arkham.
Oz and Victor visit Francis to celebrate, only to learn that she entered a vegetative state, causing Oz to break down. Deciding that Victor has seen too much, Oz strangles him to death.
Meanwhile, Rush, who has returned to Arkham to care for Sofia, hands her a letter from her half-sister, Selina Kyle.
Oz takes the vegetative Francis to a new penthouse suite, where he dances with Eve dressed as Francis, as the Bat-Signal shines in the sky.
It all ends in one tidy manner. This opens HBO open to showcase their 2025 programming. Let's just say it'g going to be huge. With returning favourites, shows returning after a year or so off, across Max and HBO, Foxtel better hope they get to keep this content on their streamer.
Returning next year, you ask....
The White Lotus, Peacemaker, Hacks (streams on Stan in Australia), The Last of Us, And Just Like That, The Righteous Gemstones, The Rehearsal and The Gilded Age.
Joan is a British crime drama miniseries, which had a rough broadcast in the US of A. Created by Anna Symon for ITV, Game of Thrones star, Sophie Turner plays real-life character Joan Hannington.
So this is like an English Underbelly with Hannington, a figure known as the Godmother by certain aspects of the British criminal underworld.
Joan features Hannington's journey from housewife and mother, to petty offender, to diamond thief and criminal mastermind in 1980s London. Being the 80's it makes for a kickass soundtrack. Not to mention the fashion, FASHION! Joan Hannington however really gives me Princess Di vibes for some reason though.
In Australia Joan streams on Stan, alongside of the return of Yellowstone today! Yay!
Joan takes you on a wild ride of crime, the mother's love of a daughter and a jewellery store robbery gone wrong, ending with dire sequences.
I don't understand why The CW (in the USA) ever thought this was something their viewers would enjoy.
However this was a very fine, little English series, where you actually feel sorry for the crimminal. Joan is a real life Taylor Swift, Anti-Hero.
Heretic has been called the horror film of 2024. That is a big call since this year, we have had horror film after horror film land at the cinemas.
This however is in the niche sub genre of psychological horror, with a splash of religion in the mix for good measure.
Heretic was written + directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods.
Starring Hugh Grant, in a very, very different role to the usual rom-com affair. Honestly this could be the role of his career.
Grant was joined by, Sophie Thatcher & Chloe East.
The film follows two Mormon missionaries who attempt to convert a reclusive Englishman, only to realise he is more dangerous than he seems.
Getting its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, this A24 horror had advance screenings in Oz last Friday.
Filming took place in Vancouver over 30 days from October 3 to November 16, 2023. However as it's largely filmed within a creepy AF house, it could have been filmed in any US or Canadian city.
Now with such a large volume of horror films getting released this year, Heretic goes up against strong competition this year.
However this does feel original, Grant's performance is excellent and I love questioning religion any day of the week.
This will not be everyone's cup of tea, however I was sold, the lady two seats down from me made a large scream at one point and jumped sky high. So it does scare audiences.
3.5 Stars. Hugh Grant, the unlikely new king of horror!
Territory is most likely a miniseries. It is listed online as an Australian six-part neo-Western drama television series. Neo-Western, WTF?
Well it stars Anna Torv, Michael Dorman, Robert Taylor, and Sam Corlett, along with a rather large local supporting cast.
Territory was released on Netflix, late last month. Following Heartbreak High and Wellmania, Netflix really haven't done that much in the way of local productions. Considering how many Aussies subscribe to the streamer in Australia. Particularly during COVID and the hey days of Stranger Things, The Crown and the earlier Cobra Kai seasons.
So what is Territory all about? Well firstly it is set in Australia's top end, the Northern Territory. Where a few other Aussie series are headed. Both on Amazon, Top End Bub and Deadloch's highly anticipated second season.
So what is Territory all about? Is it a Succession x Yellowstone, Australian rip off? Watch the trailer and read on below.
The world's largest cattle station, Marianne Station, has been owned for generations by the Lawson family dynasty.
It becomes a prize to be sought after by rival cattle farmers, various gangsters, Australian Aboriginal elders, and mining magnates after the Lawsons son, Daniel dies on the land, due to inherit the property in a suspicious riding accident.
Episode one, unfolds a major battle for succession beginning at his funeral.
The second centres on the search for a wayward and thieving grandson of the current owner Colin, who bears several grudges against the family but is plunged into the limelight when Colin impetuously announces him as an heir to the property instead of his alcoholic son, Graham.
There is also a vote for the 'Territory Cattlemen's Association' that is powerful in controlling subcontracting and export, lost by Graham Lawson in favour of an ambitious rival.
So is it worth the six hour watch? Well yes and no. It's not as landscape sweeping as the Baz Luhrmann film, then miniseries, Australia. However there is romance and a love triangle. Actually or two. So as summer approaches and the temperature warms up, if you do need a new local series to give a crack, this isn't half bad. Is it the best Australian series of the year? No, but is it entertaining and good to look at, absolutely.
Thou Shalt Not Steal is just another Australian series which has recently landed on streaming platform Stan.
Created by Dylan River and Tanith Glynn-Maloney, the series follows a pair of teenagers as they are chased across the desert by a sex worker and fraudulent preacher.
Starring some newcomers, Sherry-Lee Watson, Will McDonald, along with local favourites Miranda Otto, and Noah Taylor.
Thou Shalt Not Steal is a 1980s-set road drama that follows young Aboriginal delinquent Robyn, who escapes juvenile detention and visits her terminally ill grandfather, Ringer, in the hospital.
Ringer demands to be taken back home, where he claims to have an important errand.
After being unable to pay for a taxi, Robyn is confronted by the driver, Maxine, a madam who tries to recruit her as payment. After a scuffle, Robyn steals the taxi and flees with her Grandfather. Ringer's condition worsens during the drive and he tells Robyn her father is still alive and that he wants her to return a trophy to him. He passes away shortly before they reach the town.
Meanwhile, a fraudulent preacher, Robert, and his son, Gidge, hold court throughout the town, conducting sermons and secretly selling booze. Gidge desperately wants to leave his father and return to his mother in Adelaide.
Shortly after finding the trophy, Robyn discovers that police have come looking for her and she makes a plan to escape in the stolen taxi. Sensing an opportunity to go home, Gidge hides, stowed away under the backseat. Unaware of his presence, she sets off to find her father in Coober Pedy.
The next day, Maxine arrives in the town and begins making enquiries about the whereabouts of her taxi. Robert offers her the use of his car to track the teenagers down and they set off in pursuit.
The episodes are short, sharp with lot's of lip.
It is another Aussie on the road series, story. We do love a road movie, however the longer form (series or this could be a miniseries) is becoming popular too.
I wasn't the world's biggest fan of this series, however gym friends have enjoyed it.
I just didn't believe it was Stan's best local output. I am very excited for the return of Bump and Black Snow!
With so much local content out there at the moment, it makes for stiff competition. Next local series up on my streaming, Territory.
