First Ladies
Each episode of this six-part documentary focuses on the life of a First Lady – Eleanor Roosevelt, Lady Bird Johnson, Jackie Kennedy, Nancy Reagan, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Michelle Obama. With in-depth interviews, rare archival footage and compelling recreations, the series explores how each woman was transformed by their years at the heart of American power and the mark each left on their nation. While they certainly helped shape their husband’s legacy, this series uncovers the pivotal, often hidden moments that shaped each woman’s own journey.
Threesome
Thank goodness for comedy. This one’s about Alice, who, on the eve of her 30th birthday, drunkenly suggests a threesome to her boyfriend Mitch and their gay best mate, Ritchie. What began as a concerted effort not to become boring, soon turns their lives upside down when Alice discovers she’s pregnant. From the UK, Threesome stars Amy Huberman, Stephen Wight and Emun Elliott. With half-hour episodes, this series is easy to smash through for much-needed light relief.
The Witnesses
From the Emmy Award-winning producers of the Deutschland trilogy, eight-part German crime drama The Witnesses centres around the chase for a child who’s kidnapped in Berlin’s crowded Natural History museum. Eight key witnesses house the only clues. Exploring the power of memories and how tenuous they can be, this tense emotional drama follows Dr Jasmin Braun as she evaluates the witnesses’ memories in a desperate attempt to reconstruct the event and find the child, the daughter of a prominent politician, before it’s too late. Alexandra Maria Lara is outstanding as Dr Braun, who must confront difficult memories of her own as the case unfolds.
The Machinery
From Germany we travel to Sweden where we meet Olle Hultén, a seemingly regular family man. Staying on the theme of memory, Olle hasn’t a clue how he ended up on the ferry between Sandefjord in Norway and Strömstad in Sweden, the morning after a big night out with his workmates. Nor does he know how a bag of money, a gun and a ski mask came to be next to him. What he does know is to run when police chase him. As Olle sets out to find who’s framing him, we’re left wondering about his true identity. Is he guilty of what he’s being accused of?
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Brand-new season 8 of beloved comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine will be its last. While information about what to expect is thin on the ground, we can reveal that the four episodes that had been written were scrapped to focus on the Black Lives Matter movement and acknowledge the New York first responders at the front line of the pandemic. Episodes will be fast-tracked to SBS On Demand ahead of going to air on SBS on Friday nights as usual.
The eighth and final season of Brooklyn Nine-Nine is being fast-tracked from the US straight to SBS On Demand for its exclusive Australian premiere. Episodes will also air on Friday nights on SBS from 13 August.
Episodes will only be available for a limited time after they go to air, so be quick to catch up! Catch episodes 1 and 2 till 3 September:
War of the Worlds
Gabriel Byrne? We’re in like Flynn! Luckily, this is yet another show in which the Irish star is as magnetic as ever. New season 2 of War of the Worlds sees the human survivors of the alien attack mount a fight to take back their planet. Four months after the initial attack, among Bill’s many discoveries is how similar the aliens and humans are, especially Emily. Just what is her strange connection to them? We also reunite with Catherine and Sophia in France where they’re dealing with a fresh round of personal problems as well as the ever-present external threat. With the human resistance struggling, could sheer desperation drive some to take extreme measures to save humankind? Fans of this brilliant show, rejoice.
Season 2 of War of the Worlds premieres exclusively in Australia on SBS and from Wednesday 18 August. Episodes air weekly on SBS. All season 1 and 2 episodes are now streaming at SBS On Demand, also available subtitled in and . Here is season 2 episode 1:
What Does Australia Really Think About…
This three-part documentary investigates what Australians really think about disability, obesity and old age, revealing how stigma and prejudice can have a devastating impact on the lives of millions of us. Five-time Paralympian Kurt Fearnley, screen and stage legend Noni Hazlehurst and talented singer Casey Donovan host. Along with sharing their personal experiences, they present the results of an in-depth nationwide survey and confronting social experiments to help us discover whether Australia really is the land of the fair go.
What Does Australia Really Think About… world premieres at 8.30pm on SBS and on Wednesday 18 August. The three-part series continues weekly on 25 August and 2 September. Episodes are also available to stream subtitled in , , , and .
La Garçonne
When Louise witnesses the murder of a family friend, and is then framed for it by state agents, she figures the best hiding place is in the police force. Only, we’re in Paris in the 1920s, so to gain entry, she assumes the identity of her twin brother, Antoine. Alongside Roman, a maverick journalist, she’s drawn into the underbelly of high society while investigating the disappearance of several young models posing for the painters of Montparnasse where she learns some unsavoury truths about people she thought she knew well. This six-part drama was France 2’s biggest hit of 2020, and vividly brings the Roaring Twenties to life. Stars Yves Saint Laurent’s Laura Smet and ’s Gregory Fitoussi.
Chad
Remember when you were 14? We’d rather not, either. It’s a tough time, and for Chad – played to scintillating effect in this comedy series by Saturday Night Live’s Nasim Pedrad – it’s made even tougher, between grappling with his newly single mother’s dating life and coming to terms with his cultural identity and, that old chestnut, being ‘different’. With its supporting cast of sibling, bestie and parents and the high school setting, this sitcom feels nostalgic and cutting-edge at once.
Wild Republic
From cutting-edge comedy we turn to an edge-of-your-seat thriller. Eight-part German series Wild Republic also puts young people at the front and centre, but this group are serious offenders. Left to their own devices to undergo an experiential education program in the Alps, one of the youths dies a violent death. What happened is a mystery, leaving them to face a difficult decision – to wait for authorities to arrive or escape and take their fate into their own hands?
Exit
Critics and fans can’t seem to get enough of the hedonism in this Norwegian crime drama, back for a second season. Inspired by real life, we’re in for even more sex, drugs and moral depravity. Mega rich playboys, Adam, Henrik, William and Jeppe confront the consequences of their debauchery while corruption leads to more outrageous behaviour, if you can believe it, while Hermine and Celine descend to a dirty level of play in a world where naked ambition and sheer disrespect for self and others is the norm.
Season 2 of Exit premieres exclusively in Australia and is now streaming . (Season 1 is also there for catch-up.)
Celebrity Mastermind
Returning for a brand new season from 28 August, well-loved Australian celebrities will battle it out for the winning title, facing the pressure as they answer questions based on their speciality subjects. Hosted by Marc Fennell, one celebrity each episode will advance to the Grand Final. Stay tuned for the celebrity guest announcement. In the meantime, you can stream season 1 .
Season 2 of Celebrity Mastermind begins Saturday 28 August, airing weekly at 8.30pm on SBS and SBS On Demand.
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