Three crime dramas reviewed this week…but all very different crime stories. The Perfect Couple (Netflix, 6 episodes) sees Nicole Kidman again playing a successful novelist. This time she is preparing for the wedding of one of her sons to something of an outsider to their Nantucket crowd. Don’t miss the excellent cast, an intriguing murder mystery, the dysfunctional family, a cult hit credit sequence and the best book launch you’ve ever seen. Nightsleeper (Stan, 6 episodes) tells the real-time story of the virtual hijacking of a train travelling from Glasgow to London. Plot twists a plenty and enough cliffhangers to keep you engaged until the last minutes. Suspect (S2, SBS 8 episodes) Anne-Marie Duff is marvellous as a therapist grieving the death of her daughter when she learns about an impending murder that no one seems willing to help her investigate.

Two new Australian productions and an ambitious western are reviewed on TV Gold this week. Return to Paradise (ABC) 6 episodes. A spinoff from the dramas Death in Paradise and Beyond Paradise. This new series explores the crime wave hitting sleepy Dolphin Cove. Human Error (Nine) 6 episodes. A look at Melbourne’s underworld in the suburbs as some of the Underbelly producers and writers are reunited for this thrilling crime mystery. Horizon (Stan) This three-hour movie was a flop in cinemas in the US and it has now lobbed on Stan. It looks great, but how engaging is the storyline?

Three shows reviewed this week – a British drama, an Australian drama into its second season, and another great documentary on Netflix. The Jetty (BritBox) 4 episodes. Jenna Coleman returns in a new series where she plays a detective in a Lancashire lakeside village. What starts as an arson investigation soon gets a whole lot more complicated. The Last King of the Cross (Paramount+) 8 episodes. A second season of the series telling the story of John Ibrahim blending fact and fiction. This time the action moves from Kings Cross to Oxford Street, Darlinghurst. Remembering Gene Wilder (Netflix) Documentary that tells the story of the Hollywood actor, writer and director. Great interviews with family and friends including the great Mel Brooks.

Bit of a different TV Gold adventure this week as Andrew Mercado and James Manning start off with the reviews of two drama programs and then divert into reality TV. The series and movies we look at are: • Coma (9Now) 4 episodes • The Instigators (AppleTV+) movie • The Holdovers (Foxtel) movie • Dating Naked UK (Paramount+) • The Boyfriend (Netflix) We finish off the episode with a chat about the TV Week Logies 2024 which includes the drama wins for Boy Swallows Universe. Andrew was unhappy about the length of the awards night and has a few suggestions for fixing it.

This week on TV Gold we review: • Bad Monkey (AppleTV+, 10 ep series) features Vince Vaughan as a wise-cracking Florida detective who takes work as a health inspector after being suspended from the force. • What Remains (BritBox, 4 ep series) a mix of police procedural and gothic horror set in an apartment building in London. • Find Me Falling (Netflix movie) features Harry Connick, Jr as a rock star taking a career break on Cyprus. • The Promise (Stan documentary) features former ABC Newcastle radio host Craig Hamilton. In telling his story, Craig aims to spark a conversation, an action and a solution for mental health and suicide prevention. • Also Great Australian Walks (SBS, 10 eps) and Made in Bondi (Seven).

This week on TV Gold, Andrew and James review: Critical Incident (Stan), The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (Prime) and Rebus (SBS).

This week Andrew Mercado and James Manning review: Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes (HBO Documentary on Binge & Foxtel) Features a newly recovered interview with Taylor and unprecedented access to the movie star’s personal archive. Malpractice (7Plus, 5 episodes) A British medical drama with a memorable performance from Niamh Algar who has quite a few issues she’s trying to deal with. Mr Bigstuff (Binge/Foxtel, 6 episodes) A comedy that explores broken families, brotherhood, manhood and carpet sales. And Andrew explains the cult of Danny Dyer! We also look at The Decameron (Netflix), the Presumed Innocent (AppleTV+) final episode and we farewell BBC First.

This week Andrew and James review Lady in the Lake (AppleTV+, 7 episodes) and Those About to Die (Prime Video). Andrew also reviews Brats (Disney+) and James has been watching Omnivore (AppleTV+).

• The biggest series reviewed this week is the second season of The Twelve (Foxtel/Binge). Sam Neill is back as one of the defence team in the court case this season. He is joined by Frances O’Connor while the prosecution is headed by Fayssal Bazzi. • Let the Canary Sing (Paramount+, documentary) tells the story of Cyndi Lauper in her own words with loads of her hits and insights from Cyndi, her first manager and a number of musical colleagues including Boy George and Patti Labelle. • Fam Times (7Plus, 6 episodes) is a fascinating study of how a sitcom can go wrong. Made by Seven in 2019, the series has only now popped up on 7Plus. It’s not all bad though and listen to our viewing guide about how to get to the good stuff.

Four new releases reviewed this week – two dramas, a documentary and a movie. Fake – (Paramount+, 8 episodes) Asher Keddie and David Wenham star in this drama about liars, cheats, fantasists and phonies. Faye – (Binge/Foxtel documentary) Academy Award-winning actress and multi-decade movie star, Faye Dunaway, recounts the triumphs and challenges of her movie career. The star of Bonnie and Clyde, Chinatown, and Network, plus the controversial Mommie Dearest, speaks honestly about Hollywood and reflects on criticism she has faced along the journey. The Bear – (Disney+, 10 episodes) Season three of The Bear follows Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), Sydney Adamu (Ayo Edebiri) and Richard “Richie” Jerimovich (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as they do what it takes to elevate The Bear, their beef stand turned fine dining establishment, to the next level. A Family Affair (Netflix, movie) Don’t miss what Andrew and James make of this zinger! When Zara (Joey King) quits her job as the personal assistant to Hollywood heartthrob Chris Cole (Zac Efron), she unwittingly sets the stage for a chance encounter between Chris and her famous writer mum, Brooke (Nicole Kidman). And guess what happens next!

Men Up (Britbox, movie) tells the story of the first clinical trial of the drug Viagra and the impact it had on the men and their partners. Land of Women (AppleTV+, 6 episodes) stars Eva Longoria who suddenly flees New York for Spain with her mother and daughter. My Lady Jane (Prime Video, 6 episodes) mixes period drama and fantasy in this story about Lady Jane Grey who was Queen of England for just 9 days. The Responder (S2, SBS On Demand, 6 episodes) continues the story of corrupt Liverpool policeman Chris Carson as played brilliantly by Martin Freeman. Otto by Otto (Stan documentary) is written and directed by Gracie Otto, celebrating her father, Australian theatre and film icon Barry Otto.

The first of some TV Gold bonus episodes: TV Icons with Andrew Mercado. The first episode features Gaynor Wheatley. Listen to the audio only version here. Or watch Andrew on YouTube here https://www.youtube.com/@TVSoaps-pv9su Before marrying promoter Glenn Wheatley, Gaynor Martin was a huge TV star. She was first seen in 1979 on Crawfords' airport drama Skyways before then being relocated to Holiday Island. When that show bit the dust, Gaynor was snapped up by Sons and Daughters to play another rich bitch who locked horns with Pat the Rat. Her TV career was put on hold so she could raise three children with Wheatley, but when he died in 2022, Gaynor stepped up to complete a long cherished project of his. The documentary film John Farnham: Finding The Voice is now the highest grossing Aussie doco of all time as well as winning the AACTA Award for Best Documentary. A generation of soap fans, however, will never forget that amazing run on TV and here she finally talks about how that all happened. 00:00 - Start 01:30 - Skyways debut 05:05 - Carmen Duncan plays mum 09:00 - inspired by Universal's Airport movies? 12:30 - Bill Stalker 14:00 - NASA 15:25 - working with chroma key 18:20 - Skyways cast 21:08 - Holiday Island 30:22 - using her own wardrobe 31:45 - Bunney Brooke 32:38 - Crawfords crossover 34:30 - Hector Crawford 38:10 - Sons and Daughters 39:19 - Rowena Wallace 41:08 - those changing hairstyles! 42:18 - Glenn Wheatley 49:13 - John Farnham

Two Stan dramas this week and an AppleTV+ remake. Presumed Innocent (AppleTV+, 8 episodes) is a remake of the 1990 court-room drama movie of the same name starring Harrison Ford. In this TV version, Jake Gyllenhaal takes the lead role as he investigates the murder of a colleague. Exposure (Stan, 6 episodes) tells the story of Jacs Gould (played by Alice Englert), a photographer, who is coming to terms with the death by suicide of her closest friend. While searching for answers her own buried trauma percolates to the surface. Lost Boys and Fairies (Stan, 3 episodes) is about Welsh gay couple Gabriel and his partner Andy and the challenges they face trying to adopt a child.

This week on TV Gold, a US docudrama with two Australian lead actors, a quirky UK comedy and a much-anticipated Australian drama. Clipped (Disney+, 6 episodes) tells the story of the owner of the LA Clippers NBA team and the trouble he got into over secretly recorded racist comments. Playing the wife and the mistress of the Clippers owner are Aussies Jackie Weaver and Cleopatra Coleman. The Cleaner (ABC/iview and BritBox) stars Greg Davies as a cleaner working on murder scenes after the police finish with the scene. The two series feature some notable guest stars including Helena Bonham Carter, Mark Lewis Jones, Harriet Walter and Zoe Wanamaker. Ladies in Black (ABC/iview, 6 episodes) continues some of the storylines from the 2018 movie of the same name. The key cast is Debi Mazar, Miranda Otto, Jessica De Gouw and they are joined by newcomer Clare Hughes who has an impressive screen presence in her first professional role. A huge supporting cast includes Sascha Horler, Carlos Sanson Jr, Ngali Shaw, Todd McKenny, Krew Boylan, Gemma Ward, Hazem Shammas, and scene stealer Peter O’Brien as a flamboyant fashion photographer.

As the second series of the now iconic Australian comedy Colin From Accounts drops on Binge and Foxtel, TV Gold meets the makers. TV Gold hosts Andrew Mercado and James Manning talk with Easy Tiger producers Ian Collie and Rob Gibson about their first meeting with Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall and how together they turned their idea into a global hit. In addition to Colin From Accounts, we also get an update on their production house that is also home to other TV hits including One Night, Scrublands and The Twelve.

Two Australian sitcoms and a major Netflix drama this episode. Eric (Netflix, series) stars Benedict Cumberbatch as a talented yet troubled New York kids TV guru in this crime thriller. A great supporting cast, New York in the 1980s and a brilliant soundtrack. Colin From Accounts (S2 Binge/Foxtel) continues the great work started by Harriet Dyer, Patrick Brammall and the talented creatives assembled by the Easy Tiger team in Season 1. Austin (ABC/iview) features the talented Michael Theo working with British actors Ben Miller and Sally Phillips with a great supporting cast including Gia Carides and Roy Billing. Laughs galore.

A comedy, a lifestyle show and a new drama this week. Hacks Season 3 (Stan, series) is being labelled by some as the best series yet of the comedy about standup legend Deborah Vance. Restoration Australia (ABC/iview, series) is a factual series James loves. The first episode of Season 6 is set in the Queensland capital. He and Andrew discuss how great a city Brisbane is. Insomnia (Stan, series) is the premium drama reviewed this week. It stars TV Gold favourite Vicky McClure and just might be a trigger for you if you can't sleep!

Shows Andrew and James are reviewing this week are: After the Flood (BritBox, series) In the aftermath of a devastating Yorkshire flood, an unidentified man is found dead, and PC Jo Marshall (Sophie Rundle) becomes fixated on uncovering the truth behind the man's death. Dark Matter (AppleTV+, series) Viewers are being promised a mind-bending thriller. Jason Dessen (Joel Edgerton) is abducted into an alternate version of his own life. To get back to his real family, Dessen embarks on a journey to save them from the biggest foe imaginable: himself. Based on Blake Crouch's bestseller. Bodkin (Netflix, series) Will Forte and Siobhán Cullen (Obituary) play true crime podcasters investigating a disappearance in a small Irish village. They investigate the nefarious goings-on swirling beneath the seemingly idyllic veneer of the titular small town in Ireland, where several mysterious disappearances occurred 25 years ago.

Three major new series reviewed this week including a Donald Trump satire, a Tudor murder mystery and a drama about a Black Panther leader. The Big Cigar (AppleTV+) is a drama that chronicles the story of Black Panther leader Huey P. Newton’s escape to Cuba. Shardlake (Disney+) is a 16th century murder mystery where Sean Bean as Thomas Cromwell sends his lawyer to investigate a murder in a monastery. A Man in Full (Netflix) stars Jeff Daniels is a satire about a Trump-like character who owes a mountain of debt to his bankers. Could getting elected be a way out for him? We also talk this week about Clarkson's Farm (Prime) and its surprise sex scenes warning, The War on Disco (SBS On Demand) and Travel Guides (Nine).

Four programs reviewed this week: The Veil (Disney+, series) Elisabeth Moss stars in this thriller about an MI6 agent bringing in a suspected ISIS senior officer. Red Eye (Stan, series) Richard Armitage plays a doctor who was framed for a murder in China. He spends all of the episode in the air trying to flee the country. We Were the Lucky Ones (Disney+, series) – A Jewish family split apart during WW2 are determined to survive and reunite. The Tattooist of Auschwitz (Stan, series) Holocaust survivor Lali, played by Harvey Keitel, tells his story of his time in a concentration camp and how he met his wife.

Baby Reindeer (Netflix, series) is the latest hit series from the hottest streaming platform this year by a long way. Thank You Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story (Disney+, series) features interviews and archival footage with original band members including former guitarist Richie Sambora. After The Party (ABC iview, series) is a brilliant New Zealand drama starring Robin Malcolm which will keep you riveted until the final moments of episode six.

The New Zealand drama After the Party has just launched on ABC iview where all six episodes are available to watch. TV Gold’s Andrew Mercado called it “one of the best dramas of the year”. Nine Publishing gave it 5 stars and called it a must-watch. TV Tonight called the series “an uncomfortable but utterly compelling ride” and give it 4 1/2 stars. Robyn Malcolm joined TV Gold hosts Andrew Mercado and James Manning to talk about the Lingo Pictures series she co-created and stars in. Malcolm talks too about one of the best TV series of 2023 she also starred in – Far North. Don’t miss this special podcast episode.

We start this episode with a very different love story, Alice & Jack (BBC First/Binge/Foxtel, series). Swift Street (SBS, series) tells the story of petty crime in suburban Melbourne. White Lies (Stan, series) is a crime investigation starring Natalie Dormer set in South Africa. Sugar (AppleTV+, series) sees Colin Farrell playing LA detective John Sugar. How to Poison the Planet (Stan documentary) is a brilliant documentary made in collaboration with The Sydney Morning Herald that tells a chilling tale about how we are impacted by poisons let loose by the chemical industry.

This week’s TV goes from suburban Sydney to Saigon and Paris. Stars in the series include Robert Downey Jr, Sandra Oh, Angus Sampson and Michael Douglas The Sympathizer (Binge/Foxtel, series) tells the story of a half-French, half-Vietnamese spy during the final days of the Vietnam War. The second series of Heartbreak High (Netflix, series) starts with a school fire at the end of term. But it’s then back to the start of the school year. Benjamin Franklin and his diplomatic efforts are the subject of Franklin (AppleTV+, series). Michael Douglas is the lead and the series details the years one of America’s founding fathers spent in France.

Four very memorable pieces of television this week for very different reasons. We start with the compelling British crime drama Truelove (BBC First on Fetch, Binge or Foxtel, series.) Next is Ripley (Netflix, series) with a standout performance from Andrew Scott as Tom Ripley in a new version of the Patricia Highsmith novel The Talented Mr Ripley. The sole Australian production under review this episode is White Fever (ABC/iview, series) which starts off at a furious pace with an episode you are not likely to forget. Finally, we watch the TV movie Scoop (Netflix) with Rufus Sewell as Prince Andrew. It’s a dramatisation about how the BBC’s Newsnight managed to convince the Prince to be a guest and be interviewed by journalist Emily Maitlis.

3 Body Problem (Netflix, series) is the much-anticipated new series from the creators of Game of Thrones. This is the first of 4 shows reviewed this week. One of the TV Gold hosts checked out immediately, while the other hung around. A Gentleman in Moscow (Paramount+, series) is a stunning piece of television starring Ewan McGregor as a Russian count sentenced to spend his life inside one Moscow hotel after the Russian Revolution of 1917. Steve (AppleTV+ 2-part documentary) chronicles the life of American comedian and actor Steve Martin. Finally this week, the latest work from Sally Wainwright, the creator of Happy Valley and Gentleman Jack. Renegade Nell (Disney+, series) tells the story of a women who accidentally becomes a notorious outlaw with a magical spirit that protects her when needed. It might sound strange, but Wainwright makes this drama set in 18th century England work.

Two new dramas set in the media and a series set at the end of the American Civil War. Obituary (BritBox, series) tells the story of an obituary writer for a small Irish newspaper. She needs more bodies to keep her job. You’ll be surprised at her initiative. The Girls on the Bus (Binge/Foxtel, series) is set on the campaign trail for a US election in what is an election year in the US. We meet four very different reporters who chase their stories in four different ways. Even though it is set in the current day, it manages to feature cameos from a character playing gonzo journalist Hunter S Thompson. Manhunt (AppleTV+, series) is a dramatic recreation about the hunt for the killer of American president Abraham Lincoln. As an Easter extra, Andrew and James detail their greatest hits of the year so far with some viewing tips if you have time over Easter for catch-up viewing.

The important, yet challenging to watch, story of Jimmy Savile is recreated in The Reckoning (Binge/Foxtel, series). Savile is played by Steve Coogan and the disc jockey manages to land a job with the BBC in the 60s on the then new music show Top of the Pops. The series explores the impact of his crimes and the difficulties faced by those who tried to raise the alarm. Palm Royale (Apple TV+, series) features Kristen Wiig as an ambitious woman trying to become a member of the most exclusive club in Palm Beach at the end of the 60s. Watch it for the wonderful period recreation and the excellent supporting cast. Our third series up for review this week is The Gentlemen (Netflix, series), from creator/writer/director/executive producer Guy Ritchie. It is really the surprise package out of these three series. It tells the story of a son who surprisingly inherits the family estate instead of his older brother. And wow, does he uncover a few surprises hidden in that family!

High Country star Leah Purcell is the guest on this bonus edition of TV Gold. She join’s TV Gold hosts Andrew Mercado and James Manning to talk about her new series now on Binge and Foxtel. Set in the Victorian north east around Jamieson, Purcell talks about what drew her to the series and the wonderful location that is the setting for the 8 episodes. In addition to talking about her character Andie Whitford, Purcell also discusses working with some of her acting colleagues including Ian McElhinney, Aaron Pederson and Henry Nixon. Listeners will also hear a scoop about plans to make a sequel to The Drover’s Wife. Purcell also discusses the possibility of a second season of High Country. Make sure you follow the TV Gold podcast to get alerts about the regular weekly review episodes plus these bonus specials.

Three series we are calling Australian dramas this week. Starting with Apples Never Fall (Binge/Foxtel series, 7 episodes). Filmed in Queensland from an Australian author’s book is enough for us to claim it. Sam Neill and Annette Bening star in this family drama set in West Palm Beach, Florida. Next up is Population 11 (Stan, series 12 episodes) which is another quirky comedy/thriller set in outback Australia. Filmed in Derby, WA, it tells the story of the US son of the local tour guide returning home to discover his dad has gone missing. Finally, another powerhouse performance from Leah Purcell. This time in High Country (Binge/Foxtel series, 8 episodes) as a country police officer thrown into a missing person investigation.

Three very ambitious dramas this week – two set in Europe and the third in 17th century Japan. Shōgun (Disney+ series, 10 episodes) tells the story of how a British sailor was captured in Japan after his ship ran aground. It’s a big budget, sprawling historical drama. The Regime (Binge/Foxtel series, 6 episodes) brings Kate Winslet back to television in this satire about a Central European regime. After her brilliance in The Mare of Easttown, does Winslet bring the magic again? Mary and George (Binge/Foxtel series, 7 episodes) is a British history drama about King James I and the male lover he takes after the young man’s mother hatched a plot to get him into the royal household. The series features some wonderful scenes with Julianne Moore facing off against Nicola Walker.

A Netflix triple-play this week and a quirky New Zealand comedy. The Netflix productions start with the Tyler Perry movie Mea Culpa with Kelly Rowland as an ethically-challenged criminal lawyer. The movie is already #1 on the Netflix movie chart. Next up is Can I Tell You A Secret?, a 2-part docudrama about a very creepy UK stalker and how he created chaos for many women and how they ultimately trapped him. Thirdly from Netflix is Loudermilk, 3 seasons of a Canadian sitcom overlooked on Prime and now getting a big crowd on its new platform. Finally, this week we have another sitcom about two lesbians who get more than they bargained for when trying to have a baby – Double Parked (ABC iview, 8 episodes).

A deeper dive on two very different dramas that do have connecting themes. First up for review is House of Gods (ABC/iview, series) telling the story of the Messenger Mosque and the ambitious family involved in its leadership. Next up is Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon (AppleTV+, movie). James manages to find some connections with his favourite drama Billions. When it comes to Show of the Week, Andrew decides to choose another program not on the original running sheet! The hosts also talk about the launch of Hubbl and Andrew has been watching MAFS!

Two major new dramas are reviewed this episode. The first is a real surprise package – Three Women (Stan, series). It features Shailene Woodley and Betty Gilpin starring in a story adapted from the book of the same name. We guarantee there’s a few scenes in those first two episodes you won’t forget in a hurry. The other new release is The New Look (AppleTV+, series). Ben Mendelsohn stars as Christian Dior and Juliette Binoche is Coco Chanel. The series starts with the story of how the fashion designers survived the Nazi occupation of Paris and then how their businesses grew after the war.

You shouldn’t overlook the brilliant Mr Bates vs The Post Office (Seven & 7plus, series) which tells the tale of what is being called the worst miscarriage of justice ever in the British legal system. Also this week we look at the latest adaption of the David Nicholls’ novel One Day (Netflix, series). Also the Australian feature film Five Blind Dates (Prime, movie), a romcom from Goalpost Pictures that is set in Townsville and Sydney.

Five new series reviewed this week. A brilliant cast is the reason not to miss the second season of Feud (Binge/Foxtel series), sub-titled Capote vs The Swans. Also this week is Griselda (Netflix, series) from the creators of Narcos. Three Little Birds (BritBox, series) from writer and producer Lenny Henry. Also Mr & Mrs Smith (Prime, series) and finally, the brilliant doco Nemesis, about the three recent Liberal Party prime ministers Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison.

Three impressive dramas this week, all with good reasons to watch. It was a challenging week to pick a Show of the Week (at least for James…Andrew was decisive). First off Masters of the Air (AppleTV+, series) was under the microscope. The World War II airforce drama cost a bomb to make and you see where they money went the moment you start watching. Next up is Maryland (Britbox, series) which features the brilliant Suranne Jones and Eve Best as estranged sisters dealing with a family tragedy. Finally TV Gold reviews the Nicole Kidman-led drama about life in Hong Kong, Expats (Prime, series). It’s an impressive piece of work on-screen and off by Kidman, her production company and the cast.

The new Australian drama Prosper (Stan, series) is a must-watch for many reasons. Especially for the great work of Rebecca Gibney, Richard Roxburgh and Ewen Leslie as family members running the U Star church. Also this week we review True Detective S4 (Binge/Foxtel, series) featuring the work of Jodie Foster, Culprits (SBS On Demand, series), Role Play (Prime, movie) and Criminal Record (AppleTV+, series). Don’t miss our separate episode on Stan’s Prosper, with special guest Rebecca Gibney.

Andrew and James both nominated new Stan drama series Prosper as the TV Gold Show of the Week in the January 18 episode. In this bonus episode, they talk to one of the stars of the Stan series, Rebecca Gibney. In the Stan Original about an evangelical megachurch run by the wealthy and powerful Quinn family, Rebecca plays Abi Quinn, a pastor at the U Star church and the husband of the U Star founder Cal, played by Richard Roxburgh. On the podcast, Rebecca talks about what drew her to the character of Abi, her own experience with religion, and the amazing cast she co-stars with. She also discusses the main locations scouted by the team at Lingo Pictures –the U Star HQ and the Quinn family home which looks like a house that appears in another recent Australian hit drama series. This is the ultimate TV Guide to Prosper.

First show back for 2024 and there’s already a long hist of quality TV to watch. We start this week with the Australian epic Boy Swallows Universe (Netflix, 7 episodes). Michelle Keegan and Joanna Lumley star in the UK crime thriller Fool Me Once (Netflix, 8 episodes). The incredible true story of the 1972 plane crash in the Andes is told in Society of the Snow (Netflix, movie). More compelling Australian drama with an impressive cast joining Deborah Mailman and Wayne Blair in the third and final season of Total Control (ABC, iview, 6 episodes). We also look at a sitcom with a difference, Ted (Binge, 7 episodes) and the sci-fi movie shot in Australia, Foe (Prime).

There were so many great TV shows this year we have recorded two episodes listing them all. Joining Andrew Mercado and James Manning in both these episodes is TV Tonight founder David Knox. There is a comprehensive selection of over 40 international dramas, comedies and documentaries to choose from if you are catching up on the best of 2023. Those series include Stonehouse (Britbox), Beef (Netflix), The Sixth Commandment (Binge), The Long Shadow (Stan) and The Last of Us (Binge). See a complete list of all the shows we mention at mediaweek.com.au. Don’t miss the other TV Gold Year in Review podcast episode which covers Australian TV.

There were so many great TV shows this year we have recorded two episodes listing them all. Joining Andrew Mercado and James Manning in both these episodes is TV Tonight founder David Knox. There is a list of over 20 shows we all enjoyed including The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart (Prime), Scrublands (Stan), Bay of Fires (ABC iview) and While the Men Are Away (SBS On Demand). See a complete list of all the shows we mention at mediaweek.com.au. Don’t miss the other TV Gold Year in Review podcast episode which covers International TV.

Five big productions as the year draws to an end. The podcast starts with a review of Archie (Britbox, series), the dramatised life of Cary Grant and his relationship with Dyan Cannon. Then it’s our sole movie this week, the Australian-made horror film Talk To Me (Netflix). Suranne Jones always gets plenty of time on a TV Gold podcast and this week we look at season two of the crime thriller Vigil (Binge/Foxtel, series), then there is a change of pace with the hilarious Smothered (Binge/Foxtel, series) and the very popular Australian comedy from John and Dan Edwards, Bump (Stan S4, series).

Three big drama releases this week, all featuring strong female lead characters plus we have another Australian documentary original from Stan. The three dramas are Asher Keddie as a character “inspired” by Mia Freedman in Strife (Binge, series); Julia Garner and Jessica Henwick as backpackers in The Royal Hotel (Binge, movie); and Jodie Whittaker, Bella Ramsey and Tamara Lawrence on the wrong side of the law in the second season of Time (BBC First, series). Andrew also talks about the Australian original documentary Ben Roberts-Smith: Truth on Trial (Stan) and James has a preview of Archie, the dramatized biography of Cary Grant, a series they will be discussing next week.

Three of this week’s shows under review are Australian dramas and the fourth is a UK documentary that owes much to Aussies. The dramas are Paper Dolls (Paramount+, series), The Artful Dodger (Disney+, series) and Baz Luhrmann’s reimagining of his movie Australia, now a six-parter, called Faraway Downs (Disney+, series).

This week we examine the first four episodes of the final season of The Crown (Netflix, series). It’s all about Diana and Dodi, but there’s much more too as Queen Elizabeth and (then) Prince Charles are called on by their country. Other new shows this week reviewed are Fargo (SBS, series), A Murder at the End of the World (Disney+), Jones Family Christmas (Stan, movie) and Signora Volpe (UKTV).

Stan has another Australian Original hit on its hands with Scrublands based on the novel by Chris Hammer. Also this week The Killer (Netflix, movie), 007: Road to a Million (Prime) and Robbie Williams (Netflix). A couple of quick mentions too for the movie NYAD with Jodie Foster and Annette Benning (Netflix) and the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne (SBS).

The four TV series looked at this week live on just two streaming platforms. The fifth instalment of the NCIS franchise is reviewed this episode as NCIS: Sydney (Paramount+, series) launches in Australia before it debuts in the US on CBS. Also this week we look at World War II drama All The Light We Cannot See (Netflix, series), a time-traveling thriller Bodies (Netflix, series), and the patience-testing reality TV parody The Curse (Paramount+ series).

That was awkward! Bit of sensitivity this week when one host’s choice for Show of the Week is slammed by the other host. What could it be? Andrew and James power through five programs this week: Milli Vanilli (Paramount+, doco), Boiling Point (BBC First, series), A Friend of the Family (7plus, series), Night Bloomers (SBS On Demand, series) and Australian Epic (ABC and iview, series).

We start this episode with The Fall of the House of Usher (Netflix series). No spoilers, but the Shows of the Week (two this week) come from these four programs – Hot Potato: The Story of the Wiggles (Prime doco), Fellow Travelers (Paramount+ series), Erotic Stories (SBS series) and Darradong Local Council (7mate and 7plus).