#RATED - Summer Binges

Here are my shows (stories) viewed during the Australian Summer of 2019/2020. Some however are catch up from shows I missed viewing when they originally aired in 2019.

For a look back at my mid-season #RATED, go HERE.

1. The Mandarlorian, Season One
2 (equal). You, Season Two
2 (equal). 9-1-1: Lonestar, Season One (week to week live viewing, season one concludes March 9)
3. The Morning Show, Season One (two final episodes remaining, saving them for Bali, yes I am back to Bali from tomorrow lunch)
4. The Crown, Season Three (Catch up from November 2019)
5. Power, Sixth and final season
6. Orange is the New Black, Seventh and Final Series (Catch up from July 2019)
7. Sabrina, Part III
8. The Gloaming , Season One
9. Luke Nguyen's Railway Vietnam, SBS On Demand Food series
10. The Other Guy, Season Two
11. Unbelievable, Netflix limited mini-series
12. Stranger Things, Season Three (Catch up from July 2019)
13. Unabomber (Catch up from 2017 #THROWBACK)
14. The Commons, Season One
15. Watchmen, Season One (week to week catch up)
16. The Boys, Season One (Catch up from July 2019)

Box Office Flop or Blockbuster 2020? - The Invisible Man

OMG Blumhouse has done it, they avoided three bombs in a row! Following Black Christmas and the woeful Fantasy Island, The Invisible Man is a certified Box Office Blockbuster for 2020!



I saw this opening night in Australia last night as this weekend I am away, serious FOMO set in for me.

Elizabeth Moss is so outstanding in this role. She largely plays Offred escaping a much more fancy home in Gilead.

The tension, the jump scares, everything is amazing in this film. It builds so much tension at times, whilst the opening scene is pure gold.

I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed this film in comparison to recent features like Fantasy Island.

This is a must see on the big screen in a traditional theatre. It's honestly a good old fashioned epic thriller. For me Leigh Whannell has directed pure gold right here.

Don't wait to see this, go this weekend to celebrate the long, horrid summer ending in Australia!

4.5 Stars, GREAT!

The Walking Dead, is almost Dead

Read a recap of the season 10B season HERE.

Already renewed for an 11th season (huge!) The Walking Dead really feels like it's on it's last legs. Take season 5's opener, it had just over 17 million viewers, when the second part of the season launched, it had just over 15 million eyeballs.

Fast forward to last years season 9, it opened with just over 6 million viewers, the second half of the season slumped to just over 5 million viewers.

Season 10 opened up to only 4 million viewers. Season 10 is the first full season without Rick Grimes, not to mention the last season with his long time girlfriend, Michonne. Negan is also still just hanging around like a bad smell, whilst meeting new villain Alpha.

Negan was once a fierce and terrifying villain, now he is having random nude scenes with the latest baddie Alpha.

Oh how the mighty can crumble. Surprisingly another spin off The Walking Dead: World Beyond is due in April. I am also perplexed Fear The Walking Dead will return for a sixth season this year.

I have a feeling we will see the end of Fear the Walking Dead shortly whilst World Beyond has already been announced to have a two season run.

How much longer can The Walking Dead continue?

(Mini) Monday Spotlight: Banoffee

Look At Us Now Dad, is the debut album from the L.A.-based, Melbourne-born artist, Banoffee.

The 14-track disc, which was released Friday features ‘Contagious’, ‘Count on You’ and ‘Tennis Fan’. It features appearances from American singer Empress Of, rapper Cupcakke and guest-production from SOPHIE.

Banoffee, a fan of ’90s R&B & hip-hop, listening to everyone from Janet Jackson to Snoop Dogg, Banoffee started joined bands at a young age including a Spice Girls cover band. This was followed by an experimental pop outfit called Otouto with her sister, Hazel. When Otouto ended, Banoffee (AKA Martha Brown) decided to go solo, leaving her hometown of Melbourne for the bright lights of L.A.

So it's the start of 2020 (proper) so why not get to know Martha Brown/Banoffee better.

Next week, more local new talent for you, so pop by then :)

Hamish MacDonald kicks major goals on Q&A

I was sad to learn Tony Jones was leaving Q&A at the end of 2019, I was more sad to learn Hamish MacDonald was taking over. However three episodes in, Hamish is literally slaying it.

Episode one covering the bushfire crisis was one of the best ever episodes I had seen. Last night having rogue trader Jacqui Lambie on, proved he could control even the most rogue guests.

In other ABC news, David Speers is also killing it on Insiders. Landing some big interviews to kick off 2020, whilst coming in at number 15 on the ratings for this Sunday's shows.

Getting close to 300,000 viewers at 9am on a Sunday morning (who knows how many more on iView) Speers is definitely proving to be a terrific replacement for the original long standing host Barrie Cassidy.

ABC is also kicking off Australian drama for 2020 in style. Stateless starts early next month, it honestly looks outstanding. Thank god for the ABC.

Here is a first look at the six part series.

(Mini) Monday Spotlight: Returns Monday 24 February, 2020

Returning in a little over a week, the (Mini) Monday Spotlight. Kicking off the year with Melbourne born artist, Banoffee. Banoffee‘s debut album Look At Us Now Dad is out Friday 21st February.

We have already heard her single Tennis Fan (feat. Empress Of), whilst the album also features SOPHIE, Cupcakke and Umru, and is co-produced by Banoffee and Yves Rothman.

It's great to have the feature back and great to kick off 2020 with a an exciting new Australian artist!

NSW artist Jack River is also on the cards for an upcoming (Mini) Monday Spotlight. Take a look at her work with Peking Duk below.

Box Office Flop or Blockbuster 2020? - Fantasy Island

OK I was excited about this film, wondered why on Earth it was given such crappy session times and then I saw Fantasy Island....



According to Wikipedia this film only had a budget of seven million meaning it will be a box office blockbuster no matter how shit it does. Seven million is nothing, people were bagging out Birds of Prey for only making forty two million in it's opening weekend.

However this film SUCKS hard!

Lucy Hale (who btw I am loving as Katy Keene, if you don't know this is a spin off of Riverdale and way better!) stars alongside a number of TV and film favourites of mine.

Michael Peña, Maggie Q, Portia Doubleday and of course Jimmy O. Yang aka JIAN MOTHER FUCKING YANG.

This is now the second Blumhouse Productions flop in a row after the awful Black Christmas! However The Invisible Man looks DOPE!

OK nothing can save this dodgy ass supernatural film, honestly I feel a little ripped off. 1 Star, damn I wanted to like this!