#SUMMER-BINGE-FEST - The Mandalorian

Tonight is the night I finally get to see The Rise of Skywalker, the ninth and (maybe) final Star Wars feature film in the saga.

However thanks to the latest streaming service arriving on the scene, Disney+ we now could possibly have the biggest show of summer, The Mandalorian.

The show has gone nuts on social media in respects to Baby Yoda, critics have praised the series whilst it's no surprise the show will return for a second series. Only announced yesterday via the socials, the show should return late 2020. Or in the USA, Fall 2020.

To be honest this show has completely exploded since it's launch in mid November.



Disney+ has some huge profile shows still to come, including more Star Wars related series, Marvel spin off series and even a John Stamos lead series.

I strongly believe with Disney's strong (and popular) back catalogue, newly developed series this is a streaming service with gusto behind it. Netflix watch your back, Foxtel, well I'm not sure how much longer you will remain relevant.

Now to The Mandalorian played by Pedro Pascal (Narcos/Game of Thrones) this could be his role of a lifetime. Whilst (SPOILER ALERT) he remains under a helmet for 99.9% of the time.

Baby Yoda does obviously steal the show, whenever he is on the screen you lose it. He is cute, adorable and honestly an internet sensational.

The show also features an impressive number of actors doing smaller roles. From Ming-Na Wen (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) to Gina Carano, who completely slays in a couple of episodes.

At only eight episodes (some clocking in at just 30 minutes) the series is all over before you know it.

Other than falling in love with Baby Yoda, this series is perfect for any Star Wars fan, new or old. All perfect timing for Disney with The Rise of Skywalker doing fairly good business at the box office.

Disney are smart, Frozen II, Disney+ and The Rise of Skywalker all arriving around the same time make them the biggest brand in entertainment right now.

Look out other streamers, Disney have big pockets and The Mandalorian looks literally a million bucks in every scene.

This could be my favourite show of Summer 20'. So keep checking in for more #SUMMER-BINGE-FEST pieces. Or click on the links below for recent series posts -

YOU

The Commons

Upright 

The Other Guy

Now lastly be safe tonight for New Years Eve Australian's, the country is basically on fire, RIP to Samuel McPaul. The RFS are doing such an amazing job looking after houses and folks in fire effected areas.

Thank you, it's not enough, but thank you RFS.

Let's hope 2020 is a much better year in a new decade, a decade of action, a decade of change towards a more positive future, be it action on climate change, action on reducing the number of guns in the USA or even just something simple like, people looking up from their phones and being kind to one another.

#RATED

Here is my list and rank of shows I enjoyed over the past three months as part of the 2019-2020 US TV season.

Some network TV (ABC, NBC, The CW etc) included, some subscription based but no streaming titles, those will be ranked in my next Summer viewing TV list -

1. 9-1-1, Season 3
2. The Blacklist, Season 7 
3. Shameless, Season 10 
4. Batwoman, Season 1
5.  Ray Donovan, Season 7 
6. Silicon Valley, Sixth and final season
7. How to Get Away with Murder, Sixth and final season
8. Supergirl, Season 5
9. The Flash, Season 6 
10. Riverdale, Season 4
11. On Becoming a God in Florida, Season 1
12. Black Lightening, Season 3 
13. Empire, Sixth and final season

YOU | Netflix

Season two is streaming now on Netflix. Last season you could see this week to week on Lifetime or stream it all on Netflix in one big binge. Last September is when I first fell for You, season two arrived on Boxing Day, following The Commons on STAN. It's a late streaming Christmas present.

Developed by TV superpower Greg Berlanti (basically does all The CW shows, this show and Blindspot) and Sera Gamble, the second series of You is extremely addictive, with a few new cast members as well as a shift to LA from New York.

The setting change along with some new characters help make this show so easy to watch.



I am desperately hoping the show will return for a third series.Apparently Caroline Kepnes is working on third and fourth novels to help to keep the show alive.

Netflix has had an up and down year, Orange is the New Black concluded after 91 episodes, The OA also concluded after two short seasons and Stranger Things continued to be one of the biggest things on all of the streaming networks combined. So please Netflix give this one another go, please!

I won't give any spoilers here, the show is up now, watch it yourself. However if you click here, there is a super good recap.

You like What/If is one of Netflix's most easy to watch guilty pleasures. I also hope Dirty John (Bravo produced in the USA) is back soon too, it's been over a year!

Cinema Slut #2019 - Portrait of a Lady on Fire

This year's Boxing Day "Blockbusters" are a little lacklustre. Firstly a comedy about Hitler? A reboot sequel of Jumanji and a musical misfire, however there is cheeky French film which has already managed to stand out from the pack.



Portrait of a Lady on Fire is already up for a number of awards, has a 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes whilst reviewers are lapping up this French period drama.

With all this hype, I had to dive in.

On a warm Summer's day in Sydney this was a perfect film to enjoy. Lush French countryside, forbidden affair between an aristocrat and a painter commissioned to paint her portrait and a film not to heavy on the dialogue side.

The scenes are well done with not too much chit chat, the two leads (Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel) shine, the passion is real.

This is not widely available so do your research, it may not be at your local Hoyts or Event Cinemas, however look a round and if you can see it, it's well worth the Google.

A great effort by Céline Sciamma. 4 Stars.

On Becoming a God in Central Florida

Streaming now on SBS On Demand, this Showtime series has already been renewed for a second season, could On Becoming a God in Central Florida be the most bat shit crazy comedy of 2019?

Well six episodes in (yes in Australia we are a little delayed, the season concluded in the USA in October) I am never sure exactly what I am watching.

The Kristen Dunst lead, two time Golden Globe nominated series is described as being a story about Krystal Stubbs is a minimum-wage-earning water park employee in Greater Orlando who schemes her way up the ranks of Founders American Merchandise, a cultish, flag waving, multi-billion dollar multi-level marketing / pyramid scheme that drove her family to ruin.

Sounds fun right?

On Becoming a God in Central Florida is a ten episode "comedy" that runs slightly longer than normal Showtime comedy series like SMILF, Black Monday (returning next year) and the one and done White Famous.



Kristen Dunst is an interesting lead, since Hidden Figures I haven't seen her in too much. Also starring in this Showtime series is Gossip front lady, Beth Ditto.

It's great seeing Beth in a very different role, far from being a front lady of a killer group or solo star.

You can check out this series now on SBS On Demand, which really has been hosting some top notch drama if late. Years and Years, The Handmaid's Tale and more.

The Commons (STAN) | Season One

STAN's second Australian programming piece for the 2019/2020 is The Commons. Following the brilliant second season of The Other Guy, comes an environmental drama this time around.

This is a very different beast to The Other Guy, landing on Christmas Day this show came at the perfect streaming time.

Since I smashed The Other Guy in less than a weekend, let's see how fast I can get through this series.

There is eight episodes in total, I currently half way through episode three. My opinion is not 100% made up yet for this new series.

STAN has honestly delivered some seriously good original programming thus far. Wolf Creek last two seasons, it could have got a third however John Jarrett's personal life may have put an end to that. Romper Stomper was outstanding, I wish a second season would have been on the cards, however since airing almost two years ago on New Year's Day, I think I am outta luck.

A second season however was approved for Logies hit Bloom. The six episode first season aired on New Year's Day 2019 and was an instant hit. With a great cast on board (Bryan Brown, Jacki Weaver, Phoebe Tonkin, and Ryan Corr (also starring in The Commons) this always had a good shot at a second season.

This New Year's Day we will get another Tasmanian mystery, The Gloaming.

I for one really rate STAN, my own criticism is that Summer/Festive holidays are few and far between. If their only new Australian content is released around Christmas/New Year's each day it leaves them without much new content throughout the long calendar year.

With international shows like Power and Will & Grace concluding in 2020 STAN needs as much content as possible with Disney + and Apple TV + now also in the crowded streaming market.

Power has been a HUGE hit for STAN and has a large following, a spin off (starring Mary J Blige) is apparently in the works, however this will be a while off.

For now, The Commons is currently streaming, I may offer another report on the show coming soon over this Summer slack period.

Happy 2020 dear readers!

Best Movies of 2019

BEST hyped films of 2019 - Joker

BEST jump out of the seat films - Crawl

BEST Teen drama/coming of age/comedy blah - Good Boys

BEST films of 2019 - Parasite // Joker

BEST small (budget) film - 47 Meters Down: Uncaged, Parasite, according to Wikipedia budget was $11 million (US), versus the 47 Metres Down sequel at $12 million, however a shark film needed a mention too.

BEST Aussie Movie - Top End Wedding

BEST Music film - Rocketman

BEST controversial film of 2019 - The Australian Dream

BEST Drama - The Farewell